Posted on 07/07/2008 10:39:05 PM PDT by Gamecock
A caller to our weekly radio program asked a question that has come up before: Are Roman Catholics saved? Let me respond to this as best I can. But I need to offer a qualifier because I think this is going to be somewhat dissatisfying for some because I am not going to say a simple "aye" or "nay." My answer is: It kind of depends. The reason I'm saying that is because of certain ambiguities.
My point is this, I think that in the area of the doctrine of salvation, Roman Catholic theology, as I understand it, is unbiblical because salvation depends on faith and works, not just faith alone. This was the specific problem Paul addressed in the book of Galatians and was the subject of the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15: Is simple faith in Jesus adequate, or must gentile followers of Christ now keep the Law as a standard of acceptance before God?
I know not all Catholics would agree that this is a fair way of putting it, but I think that most Catholics would actually say the faith/works equation is accurate. Your faith and your works are what save you. I was raised Catholic and that’s what I was taught. (For my take on the biblical relationship between faith and works, see “Faith & Works: Paul vs. James.”)
Now, I need to add this too. Many Protestants feel the same way. Many Protestants are confused on this issue, so this is not a Catholic vs. Protestant concern so much. It's just that Catholicism across the board has more of an official position that amounts this, where Protestants have a more diversity of views, some that don't even seem to be consistent with Protestantism.
But the fact that one believes Jesus is the Messiah and that He is the savior, not our own efforts, is critical. If you reject this notion, like the Jews do, then as far as I can tell from the biblical revelation, there is no hope for you. That seems to be clear. But when somebody says they believe in Jesus and He is their Savior, but somehow works are mingled in with the picture, then I can't really say to you how much faith that person is putting in Jesus and how much faith that person is putting in their own efforts to satisfy God. If a person has all their faith in their own efforts, then they are going to be judged by their own efforts. It's as simple as that. If they have their faith in Jesus, they will be judged by the merits of Jesus. Anyone judged by their own merits is going to be found wanting. Anyone who is judged by the merits of Jesus is not going to be found wanting because Jesus is not wanting.
What if you are kind of a mixture? I think most Catholics are, frankly. Many Protestants are, as well.
I reflect often on a comment that was made by a friend of mine named Dennis. He was a Roman Catholic brother in Christ that I knew when I was a brand new Christian. He asked me this: "Greg, how much faith does it take to be saved?" I said, "A mustard seed." And he said, "There you go."
And so, it seems to me, there are many Christians—Protestant and Catholic—who believe in Jesus as their savior and have a mustard seed of faith, but are confused about the role of works. I think that Jesus is still Savior in those cases.
Notice anything there?
= = =
YEAH!
The usual rabid RC rep mangling of reality.
What a lovely story. Thanks, Mom.
Oh,dear. How sad.
AG is NO fake. She truly loves you. She sure has more patience with you than I ever could.
Her good intentions are for YOU, Petronski. It saddens me you won’t recognize it but just rant on about her.
Seems to me that many – and especially those on the receiving end of their words and deeds - would think that about Moses and David. And yet we know, despite their outward behavior, they were humble men.
From these examples I assert that to be assigned the mission of firebrand by the will of God is to suffer by His will whatever is necessary to remain humble.
BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!
Praise God for His faithfulness and for your noting these important Biblical Truths and realities.
I will have a bit more to add in this . . . uhhhh . . . vein . . . down thread. Sigh.
UTTM
UNBELIEVABLE TO THE MAX
. . . except for the old addage about considering sources.
I believe that “the Church” is not identified by anything on this earth, anything in human organizations; it is the body of believers that Yeshua Himself knows as His, and they exist in and outside of every kind of organization of man but are not His because they are or are not believers in those organizations or their theologies.
INDEED! and wonderfully, accurately put. Thanks.
ATTM
AMEN TO THE MAX.
Sadly.
Did you mean to ping xzins?
Unexpected?
So much for YOUR discernment! LOL.
Now you’re going to roll through the entire thread four hours later.
Let me know when you get to #1433.
INDEED! AMEN! AMEN!
EXCELLENT QUESTIONS.
You are welcome...the happy couple will be returning home at the very end of the month....they had insisted that no one give them any sort of a gift for their wedding, because considering their ages, they have need of absolutely nothing at all....still, we plan to send either a lovely plant or big bouquet of flowers, to welcome them home and wish them all the best in their married life...they are both so spry, and active and alert, they are probably already planning their next cruise, while they are still on their honeymoon...way to go...
I don’t live on this computer, Petronski. I DO have a life, and this IS Sunday. I look through my posts and then go through the threads I want to look at. Too bad it bothers you but actually, I don’t care that it does.
I don’t live on this computer, Petronski. I DO have a life, and this IS Sunday. I look through my posts and then go through the threads I want to look at. Too bad it bothers you but actually, I don’t care that it does.
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