***If you belong to the RCC, then you must also belong to the Pope. I do not belong to the Pope.***
The Pope is the servant of the servants of God. I do not belong to him either. More backwards possessive?
***I also note that many Catholics refer to “Our Mother” in a theological sense. ***
It’s only Scriptural - Our Lord giving us to Mary from the Cross. Theological nonsense, I suppose.
***The Holy Spirit is fully capable of converting men’s hearts who would never have access to the written word, and presumably He has done so. However, under the normal course the Spirit will convert a heart and then see to it that the person HEARS the word and then believes. In either case, no works of men are done or needed, and God gets all the credit.***
The normal course? Sees to it that the person hears the word and believes? No works of men are done or needed?
Are we embarking on a magical mystery tour?
***Yes, to the extent they did not accept Him that was a part of God’s plan. God alone chooses who are to be His. In addition, I don’t think that every last man of Israel was lost, but it does seem clear that many were.***
How do you know it was God’s plan? We have every evidence that He tried sincerely to get Israel to accept Him. And failed.
***A judgment on deeds, but the judgment to get into Heaven is by grace through faith, and not by works. God decides who are the goats and who are the sheep.***
If you read the NT, it is our deeds that are judged. God decides who are the goats and the sheep based upon what we have done or not done.
Once we have received the Grace of God, like the parable of the talents, it is up to us what we do with it.
The Pope is the servant of the servants of God. I do not belong to him either. More backwards possessive?
Nice words, but would you compare the Pope being a servant to Jesus being a servant? You obviously know where I'm going with this. :) On earth, the Pope wields the power of a king.
FK: ***I also note that many Catholics refer to “Our Mother” in a theological sense. ***
It’s only Scriptural - Our Lord giving us to Mary from the Cross. Theological nonsense, I suppose.
So, when Jesus spoke to John "Behold thy mother", He was speaking to all Christians, but when Christ gave the Great Commission He was only speaking to the Apostles and their successors? :)
FK: ...... However, under the normal course the Spirit will convert a heart and then see to it that the person HEARS the word and then believes. In either case, no works of men are done or needed, and God gets all the credit.***
The normal course? Sees to it that the person hears the word and believes? No works of men are done or needed?
All I mean by "normal course" is to exclude exceptions like abortion victims, etc. For every elect who reaches the age of reason I stand by my statement. And yes, the Holy Spirit loves His children and ushers them along to belief. Because of His love no chances are taken, else God's will is thwarted. He chose us first.
FK: ***Yes, to the extent they did not accept Him that was a part of God’s plan. God alone chooses who are to be His. In addition, I don’t think that every last man of Israel was lost, but it does seem clear that many were.***
How do you know it was God’s plan? We have every evidence that He tried sincerely to get Israel to accept Him. And failed.
Because our God is not exceptionally weak. He is omnipotent and gets everything He truly wants. If you believe that God fails, then what possible confidence can you have in any of His promises? What if He fails to keep them? Is that a chance that your side just lives with every day?
If you read the NT, it is our deeds that are judged. God decides who are the goats and the sheep based upon what we have done or not done. Once we have received the Grace of God, like the parable of the talents, it is up to us what we do with it.
Apostolics always bristle when I say that I think your salvation paradigm is merit-based, by points. Yet, we know that the parable of the talents is totally based on points. Will you now say that your salvation is also based on points earned, as you appear to say above?