That’s a great image!
It’s a blessing and a grace that the Cathplic Church does not teach works based salvation.
Can I say "it doesn't look that way to me" without it turning into a million post argument?
I believe God wants us to know we are saved from the start.Paul talks about believers in God who have a great zeal for God but who are not saved because they are too busy trying to establish their own righteousness and are not submitting themselves to the righteousness of God.I mean,that somehow sounds a little threatening to me,believers not saved because they are doing what they think the work of God is and not what God says the work of God is.
"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1John 5:13)
I read that verse as you who believe on Jesus name may know you have eternal life and that you can now do the work of God.
I'm sure you'd agree that it would be tragic that someone could believe and not know where they stand with God.I know I'm ranting but judging by the tone of your posts I'm sure you'll forgive me.
grace and peace to you.
Beg to differ here.
You have to be baptized, have to take communion, have to go to confession, have to do penance, have to, have to, have to, and the best any Catholic I've ever met, including myself, can hope for is purgatory.
It's works based simply because of all the restrictions the church puts on one in order to receive *grace*. There's a lot thrown back on the person that they are responsible for when Jesus says just to believe.
So yeah, people have to do something. They have to believe to activate that salvation, but they don't have to do something to earn forgiveness for their sins. or make up for the past.
I"m done with keeping a laundry list of do's and don't's hoping against hope that I didn't miss anything.
The only image of God I left the RCC with was one of a harsh, condemning, judgmental, capricious, God who is ready to zap me for the slightest infraction, one who you have to access through Mary because she was the only one who had compassion on us and God couldn't deny her what she asked. All of which led me into fear and bondage instead of the freedom Jesus offers. I too used to hope that if I died, it would be right after confession or that I wouldn't sin before taking communion the next day, which would give me a few more hours and increase my chances of making it.
Jesus tells me and shows me I'm loved and accepted and still His, even when I do sin. He is the good shepherd.
When I stamp my feet and say *Do it myself!* and mess things up, God lets me. It's like a preacher I heard say, as a parent he would sometimes let his four year old *Do it himself*, thinking, well, it's not going to be pretty, but when you're done, I'll be here and pick you up and dust you off and get back on the right track.
But that father doesn't disown the child for petulance. The child wasn't written out of the will or disowned for the temper tantrum.
And isn't sent to hell for it as punishment.
It’s a blessing and a grace that the Cathplic Church does not teach works based salvation.Would you say it's Faith and Works?