***It certainly would explain his hatred of the Catholic Church. Psychologically, he would have hated that which accused him.
It is kind of like my atheist brother who somehow has the misconception that you’re supposed to be perfect to be a Christian. The truth is that he has several behaviors that he is unwilling to change so he tries to convince himself that there is no God.***
Either you convince yourself that there is no God and you dream up behaviours, or else you convince yourself that God didn’t really mean what He says in the bible. Either way, it’s a really fascinating methodology of denying the significance of what you do.
The Reformed kinda hitch onto this. Their once saved always saved doctrine provides justification for not living up to the message of Christ.
I don't know about the Reformed but any sect that says grace is given mechanically, by the performance of an act (”ex opere operato”) whether by decision or sacrament, regardless of the condition of the participant's or administrator's heart or lifestyle at the time of the decision or sacrament provides justification for not living up to the message of Christ.
That’s a lie. Born again believers HAVE to live up to the message of Christ. The indwelling Holy Spirit doesn’t let us get away with NOT living that way. Shows me you have no idea of how we live. Just because we don’t believe Mary is our mommy and that the wafer is our daddy doesn’t mean what we believe is wrong. JESUS is our strong tower and our salvation. Nothing else.