I have become convinced that the RCC position is grossly influenced by the 7th century appeal to establish the 3 C’s: Canon, Creed, and Church (authority of).
The establishment of the Church, though, as with the other elements, are considered to by the worldly to be man made works, rather than Divine Work.
The authority then of the Church, from the worldly perspective, demands faith in the Church as having authority from God, rather than God establishing His Church as a body of His believers through faith in Christ in all things.
The worldly RCC believer then has a temptation to place faith in the Church’s authority prior to his faith in Christ, but will allow the Canon, the Creed, and the Church to buttress the faith in the authority of the Church.
They also will attack those who hint at disagreeing with the authority of the Church by then appealing to the authority of the Canon, Creed, and Church.
Funny thing is that through faith alone in Christ alone, every believer as a new man, automatically performs through the work of God in Him, all the things God has predestined to each of us individually as members of His Body.
Amen!
There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved - that is Jesus.
Those who are trusting in the Catholic church to save them are going to be in for a big surprise.