Eph 2:8-10
For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, for it is the gift of God; [9] Not of works, that no man may glory. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus in good works, which God hath prepared that we should walk in them.
[9] Not of works: as of our own growth, or from ourselves; but as from the grace of God.
~ ~ ~
boatbums,
From my heart, you must come home to Catholicism. You could know every verse in Scripture but if you misinterpret it, what does it matter?
God did not give every person the authority to interpret
Scripture. Protestants believe this heresy and the whole
world sees the fruit, error and division.
You can’t isolate verses or give your “private judgment.”
The above, from the Douay-Rheims and footnote to follow.
Everything is by God’s grace, it’s true AND any showy false works will not save you. Darn Luther, Protestants believing his Sola Fide reject “works” so end up misinterpreting the “works” verses.
God bless you,
God gave every believer the Holy Spirit so that every believer has the ability to interpret Scripture.
Where does Scripture give only a select few the authority to interpret Scripture? If not Scripture, then where does the authority come from?
Also, according to John 1:12, GOD gives all who receive Jesus the right and authority to become th children of God. If we are His children, then we DO have the right and ability to interpret His word to us because we have the mind of Christ.
And from my heart I CANNOT nor would I want to "come home" to the Roman Catholic Church. I cannot because I KNOW that Scripture tells me quite clearly that I CAN know I have eternal life and that my deeds are not what saves me. I have assurance of my salvation because the Holy Spirit has confirmed in my heart that I have heard the truth from Scripture. By going back to the RCC, I would have to give up this assurance because it teaches no person CAN know they are saved and won't know until they die and face judgment. But this is NOT what Scripture says and is why I have no desire to "come home". I already AM home and I AM part of the Body of Christ because I have received Him as Savior. I don't "reject" good works that God has prepared for us to do, but I see them in their true context - not as a means to merit the gift of eternal life.
The "heresy" here is in presuming that God does not reward those who diligently seek Him - something He DID promise to do. The heresy is in denying that God wants us to have the assurance of our salvation which He offers to us as a gift through His grace and which we receive by faith alone. The heresy is perverting the Gospel of grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone and making salvation dependent upon the works done in the flesh and calling it "cooperating with God's grace". The heresy is in calling everyone who disagrees with the Roman Catholic Church a heretic and presuming Scripture is not perspicuous or plain to the understanding especially because of clarity. Irenaeus said: