The Scriptures give us ample ways to know whether or not the faith we profess is genuine or not. The doctrine of Eternal Security is based upon the promises of God and His grace which saves us to the uttermost who put our faith in Him. When we sin - and we all will - God forgives and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. But those who are saved by grace through faith will not be judged according to their sins - as the punishment for sin has been borne by the Savior. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Jesus said those who believed in Him were not condemned (John 3:18).
Who picked Judas to be an Apostle? Catholics don't claim that popes are impeccable.
Jesus picked Judas already knowing what he would do and it fit within God's plan. The College of Cardinals, who decide who will lead ALL Christians (according to the Catholic Church) are NOT God. Jesus didn't pick Judas for his role in the ministry of reconciliation after the resurrection. The CofC is said to have a divine responsibility to choose the successor to Peter to lead the entire church. Neither Peter nor God would have had anything to do with those Popes who were abominations to the faith. There is a great deal of difference between failings of men that are Christians and gross sin among men that call themselves Christians and the leaders of all Christians. There is no logical reason why God would have specifically chosen all those men who got picked to be Pope who got there through simony and bribery of other Cardinals and Bishops and who had and continued to have gross sin in their lives. That the cardinals and bishops thought so little of their responsibilities to the faithful that they knowingly anointed men to the very top rung of church leadership further demonstrates that the Apostolic Succession that the Catholic Church likes to propose it alone possesses is pure myth.
From what I know about Peter's faith, I don't doubt for a moment, that had Judas lived, he wouldn't have found ANY position available to him in the community of believers. And that really is what we are talking about.
You're reading more into this than is there. God always loves us. True.
But this doesn't mean that we always love Him. We can separate ourselves from the love of God when we choose not to love Him --when we sin.
Jesus said those who believed in Him were not condemned (John 3:18).
"In the same way, faith by itself, if it does not prove itself with actions, is dead." (James 2:17) Faith is more than intellectual.
The College of Cardinals, who decide who will lead ALL Christians (according to the Catholic Church) are NOT God.
The Church doesn't teach that they are.
The CofC is said to have a divine responsibility to choose the successor to Peter to lead the entire church. Neither Peter nor God would have had anything to do with those Popes who were abominations to the faith.
Jesus and Peter would have nothing to do with sinners? Aren't we all sinners? Didn't Peter deny Jesus three times? Didn't all of the Apostles abandon Jesus? Weren't they "abominations to the faith?" Yet Jesus forgave them.
And don't forget the many saintly popes, and the fact that the first 31 popes were martyred.
1 John 5:13
I write these things to you who believe in the name of God's Son so that you can know that you have eternal life.
Why do so many people NOT believe this Scripture?