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.
“Scripture tells us time and again that we are to pray to God alone.”
Indeed, and in no place in the Jewish Scriptures or the N.T. does anyone of God pray to anyone in Heaven but God. The only persons who prayed to anyone else are pagans, such as burned incense to the queen of heaven (Jer. 44).
(Psa 62:5-6) “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. {6} He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.”
In the context of prayer we are only called to cast our burdens upon God, whom we are assured (by Peter) cares for us (1 Pt. 5:7).
(Heb 7:25) “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing
The role of the high priest and Heavenly intercessor is uniquely that of Christ (1 Tim. 2:5), of whom alone the Spirit declares “ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25), and this office is His right, and to pray to another impugns His honor and efficacy.
Nor is there any need to pray to anyone else, seeing as Jesus alone “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”, and thus not only can empathize with the feeling of our weakness but very uniquely is qualified to enable us to overcome (Heb. 4:15).
(Heb 2:18) “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
(Heb 7:25) “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing
The role of the high priest and Heavenly intercessor is uniquely that of Christ (1 Tim. 2:5), of whom alone the Spirit declares “ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25), and this office is His right, and to pray to another impugns His honor and efficacy.
Finally, no manner of universal adoration is given by anyone of God to in Scripture but the Lord, “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. {14} And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.” (Rev 5:13-14; cf. Is. 2:17).
To truly follow after the example of Mary we will pray only to the one who is made the object of Heavenly prayer and universal worship, even God my Savior.
It really matters what you bring into your house. There can be demons and curses put on them. That includes statues, paintings, icons, figurines, jewelry, etc.
= = =
I agree entirely . . . we found that rock music etc. heavy metal . . . was particularly vulnerable to such influences . . . some of the lyrics are rather brazenly satanic.
Soooooooooo
thoughtful and kind when a rabid RC rep notes when someone in the pack has cushioned a truth-arrow’s trajectory.
Thanks.
What did it cost to have yourself animated that way?
[Pray for these souls, brother, as will I.]
Indeed I will.
They start with a significant disadvantage in that they have a false belief that all Catholics are ignorant of Holy Scripture and other religious study, whereas the truth of it is they demonstrate an ignorance of the totality of Divine Revelation.
Whereas the Church arrived at Truth by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they arrive at their false truth by cherry picking verses from Holy Scripture (and scholarly writings) to justify their heresy...which they believe to be truth.
In all of the above they come across as shallow, uneducated and, unfortunately, as not truly seeking God.
Spare me the shabby Calvinism.
Baptism washes all sins clean. Those who are Baptised and do not sin again before their death are taken immediately to Heaven by the loving will of God Himself.
RC edifice heresies and DOUBLE STANDARDS
hardly = heresy!
Thanks for that link...I will study it...
[I guess one might need such a book if one couldn’t hear Holy Spirit about such things.]
That’s kind of funny.... what one might think is the Holy Spirit might just be a space alien.
I’ll stick with the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, founded by Jesus Christ, and protected by the Holy Spirit, on that one. The track record of protestantism when it comes to being guided by the Holy Spirit can only be described as ... confused and ever increasingly so.
Wellllllllllll,
Dearums . . .
y’all just trot on down this heah street
thinkin’ y’all got the bestest
cunstruction on rahlity thar is . . . now, yuh heah?
Cuz the rest of us will just watch
and laugh our fool heads off at the absurdity of y’all’s well exercised puntifications.
Given that they thought I was so remarkably handsome, they volunteered to do it for free.
Do you really believe that someone hanging a crystal prism, in their front room window, so that when the sun shines through it, colors of the rainbow sparkle in the room, that this is somehow evil? I just thought people who did that, just liked looking at the colors, and I can hardly see something evil or sinister in it...I just dont buy into the notion, that somehow a crystal prism used in such a manner, is dangerous...
I’ll stick with the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, founded by Jesus Christ, and protected by the Holy Spirit, on that one. The track record of protestantism when it comes to being guided by the Holy Spirit can only be described as ... confused and ever increasingly so.
= = = =
My goodness!
I didn’t realize you’d left the Roman edifice!
What blessed news!
Your creepiest post yet.
I forget if I pinged you to post 1762 but here is my Presbyterian take on it...
Lord-Calvinus' posting of the Westminster Confession of Faith on the sacraments is an great Biblical defense of Scriptural truth, via the Presbyterian denomination in particular...
[I didn’t realize you’d left the Roman edifice!]
I have no idea what a “roman edifice” is.
I was baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit, through a priest, by the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church..uh a few years ago (tongue in cheek) and, despite my many failings, have remained a loyal son of God since then.
Every night I pray for all who are outside of His Church, and often mocking His Church, to be awakened by the Holy Spirit so that they may come home to Holy Mother Church and receive the fullness of Graces that can only be found there.
I’d ask you to open your heart, reject Satan and come home and join us.
An understatement.
Agreed.
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