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.
Here's what she said:
#1,337 "If you cannot lay off the creepy fake greetings, do not post to me at all."
She is not your judge. Only you know your intentions.
What’s up Doc?
The usual, plus some beginnings of some sea changes . . .
especially on the geopolitical front and on the spiritual front . . . as well as . . . the UFO front . . . witness the Larry King dramatic changes in approach:
SEQUENCE OF EXPERTS making the debunker clearly show up as the clueless idiot for the first time on the MSM in 60 years.
http://www.realufos.net/2008/07/larry-king-ufos-over-us-military-sites_18.html
CANADIAN INCREASE 12% ABOVE 2006
http://www.canada.com/cityguides/toronto/info/story.html?id=a1963bcf-7bbf-4601-b9f1-ead46014867d
Amen! And AMEN! to that, Dr. E. !!!
For anyone to think that A-G has ever "attacked" any tradition or confession of Christianity would only signify to me that they had not read A-G's consistent witness over many, many years. Rather than "picking off offending docrintes," she has ever been active in promulgating the true understanding of the Body of Christ of the Holy Scriptures, envisioned as a seven-faceted diamond, or considered in the light of Christ's selection of completely different types of human personalities to serve Him, and many other examples.
A-G's outlook on Christianity is perfectly "catholic," with a small "c." "Catholic" — with a small "c" — means "universal." As in universal humanity, which Christianity embodies. All Christians drawn to the Trinitarian God are finally brothers, and "equals" in the Body of Christ.
If anyone out there in FReeperland says that A-G ever has impugned or denigrated any particular confession of Christianty — or even of any other faith tradition for that matter — I'd need to see the evidence.
Meanwhile, I'll just say that A-G and I have been correspondents and collaborators for many, many years now. She is an American Baptist; I am a Roman Catholic. In all the time we've spoken and worked together, never once has any disputation on point of doctrine ever come up.
We both understand that we live and move and have our being in the Holy Spirit of God, by His Grace. We were called by the Father to be His children; and we have been redeemed by the Son of God, Jesus Christ, so to fit us for that eternal destiny. For which spectacular divine gifts we are eternally grateful.
So yes, A-G cares ultimately about spiritual truth, and the truthful speaking of it:
For she lives for, and in it.
I feel quite similarly toward you betty.
Honored to know you.
And I pray off of you any hindrances from any curses anyone might toss your way for agreeing to be in the same general Christian ball park as those dastardly Prottys! LOL.
And may The Blood of Jesus and the Anointing of His Spirit abundantly overshadow you and all you love and all you do.
LUB,
BLPH,
Why don’t you start by giving it up? Petronski is the one who has been wronged.
That may have been beneath even you.
The rot is typically in the attitude of the heart.
And NO amount of RELIGIOUS activities, rituals, recitations of dogma or even of Scripture will avail.
All such must be confessed, repented of, taken to The Cross and forsaken.
However, to get to that starting block, it must be admitted to God and one's self and likely a fellow believers.
For anyone to think that A-G has ever "attacked" any tradition or confession of Christianity would only signify to me that they had not read A-G's consistent witness over many, many years. Rather than "picking off offending docrintes," she has ever been active in promulgating the true understanding of the Body of Christ of the Holy Scriptures, envisioned as a seven-faceted diamond, or considered in the light of Christ's selection of completely different types of human personalities to serve Him, and many other examples.
A-G's outlook on Christianity is perfectly "catholic," with a small "c." "Catholic" — with a small "c" — means "universal." As in universal humanity, which Christianity embodies. All Christians drawn to the Trinitarian God are finally brothers, and "equals" in the Body of Christ.
If anyone out there in FReeperland says that A-G ever has impugned or denigrated any particular confession of Christianty — or even of any other faith tradition for that matter — I'd need to see the evidence.
Meanwhile, I'll just say that A-G and I have been correspondents and collaborators for many, many years now. She is an American Baptist; I am a Roman Catholic. In all the time we've spoken and worked together, never once has any disputation on point of doctrine ever come up.
We both understand that we live and move and have our being in the Holy Spirit of God, by His Grace. We were called by the Father to be His children; and we have been redeemed by the Son of God, Jesus Christ, so to fit us for that eternal destiny. For which spectacular divine gifts we are eternally grateful.
So yes, A-G cares ultimately about spiritual truth, and the truthful speaking of it:
For she lives for, and in it.
What a slimey thing to say. I hope you’re proud of yourself, Alamo Girl, for what you have perpetuated here.
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
If you find a matrix route back to this multiverse from the one you seem to have fallen into . . . it might be interesting to know about it.
Go away. I have no use for you.
Lots of paradoxes and absurdities in life are best laughed at.
It’s one of the healthiest responses.
Besides . . . God Himself says He’ll have some folks in derision.
Your thoughts mean less than nothing to me.
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