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.
Should be interesting when it is discovered that
The Lord disagrees.
When you read that to yourself in the mirror, do you smile?
True.
However,
accurate history
accurate Bibles
accurate dictionaries
do very well with a vivid poster boy on the other side.
I hate to tell you, but I have been studying the Early Fathers of The Catholic Church for over twenty years. All you have demonstrated is the same false exegesis in reading and understanding the fathers that you have demonstrated in reading and interpreting Holy Scripture. Heresy will do that to you.
Scripture tells us time and again that we are to pray to God alone.
Otherwise, we are no better than pagans who presumed their silver and gold idols represented some supernatural force that could affect their lives.
“Beloved, flee from idolatry.”
= = = =
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
I don’t believe any of us have said we’re the ONLY Christians. Most of us here want to dispel the myths of the Catholic church so that Catholics don’t have to wonder if they’re going to be saved. You CAN know you are saved before the lid comes down on your casket. Why wouldn’t you want to? Many Catholics are bigoted pests. At least some of the ones here certainly seem to be. Pot calling kettle black?
Strive for accuracy, not the big lie.
THANK YOU, i THINK.
I don’t think this Pope is.
I don’t know how wittingly, unwittingly, willingly, unwillingly he is cooperating with the globalist puppet masters. I’d be shocked if it was not at all.
Supposedly the Pope after this one will be a very dark fellow.
My experience has been similar.
Amazing praise of a sick anti-Catholic bigot.
Why on earth were you too ashamed to post WCF XXV:VI?
Are these global puppet masters, the Illuminati or some other group?
[Amazing praise of a sick anti-Catholic bigot.]
You mean “my favorite Martian”?
AMEN, Dr. E.
Just read your Bible for yourself and see what God has to say about all of this.
Many of us read our Bibles through every year. We try not to take verses out of context and build a religion around them. You need to take the whole counsel of God into consideration, both Catholics and non-Catholics.
Well, I can read the Bible, and obviously as this thread proves, can come a differing conclusion from you....
So, what is your take, since you appear to have read the Bible, and know about this....
From what is being said, it appears that a demon can appear anytime at all, we could be surrounded by them everywhere, and spirits and curses can exist in anything at all....not just in statues, or pictures or jewelry or whatever but could exist as well in a can of tomato soup, from the grocery store....
Is this really what you are saying?...
I hear you. I figure let God osrt it out. I know what I know!
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