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To: Pyro7480

In the Bible, the apostle Paul always used the phrase "in Christ" to designate genuine Christians. He never once used the phrase to designate non-Christians.

Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come (2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB, emphasis added).

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus (Romans 16:3 nasb, emphasis added).

To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:1, emphasis added).

And I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ (Galatians 1:22 nasb, emphasis added).

When these people are designated to be "in Christ," this is an important designation to the apostle Paul. It is so important that he leaves no ambiguity whatever about how a person gets to be "in Christ." He goes to great lengths to show that it is not by sacraments or by works of any kind. It is not by accepting simultaneously two different paths of salvation. It is only by faith in Jesus Christ.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23 nasb).

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy (Titus 3:5).

Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses (Acts 13:38,39).

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:8-10 NASB).

So how can Roman Catholics be considered "in Christ" if they continue to deny the only basis for coming to be in Christ—justification by grace through faith alone?


329 posted on 04/07/2005 11:37:59 AM PDT by wolfman
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To: wolfman
Aren’t We Saved by Faith Alone?
341 posted on 04/07/2005 11:41:54 AM PDT by Pyro7480 ("All my own perception of beauty both in majesty and simplicity is founded upon Our Lady." - Tolkien)
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To: wolfman

So now Roman Catholics aren't Christians! I really am in awe that you hold the knowledge of who is a Christian, who is not, who will be saved, and who won't. I was always under the impression that only God knew this, but what do I know, I'm just a Mary-worshipping blasphemer.


342 posted on 04/07/2005 11:42:24 AM PDT by jamesissmall218
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