Posted on 05/24/2014 8:26:44 PM PDT by NKP_Vet
When I, a “cradle Catholic,” am accosted by a “born again” Christian, and asked whether I am “saved,” my thoughts usually go to St. Paul’s frequent admonitions to work out your salvation in “fear and trembling.” Even St. Paul, after having been raised to the “seventh heaven,” felt it necessary to chastise his body, lest he become a castaway. (1Cor. 9:27)
The conviction that one is “saved” may be the result of a powerful religious experience. (Catholics have those too!) But people sometimes interpret it like Freud, as something psychological, or just some friendly divine encouragement to keep trying, or perhaps as a sign of God’s mercy in spite of one’s sins.
Personally, I am convinced that, if two-thirds of the angels, who never had to suffer, and had clear insight into what would happen if they rebelled, were saved (Rev. 12:4) – certainly at least that percentage or more of us humans, working our way with limited vision through suffering and often messy lives and bad choices, will be saved. Of course, I try to stand clear of the “universal salvation” heresy of Origen and others, condemned at the Council of Constantinople in 543.
That said, it seems to me that Protestants are really missing out on the multiform assistance that the Church could provide, if they were open to it.
(Excerpt) Read more at thecatholicthing.org ...
As a PS, believe what you want to believe, NKP. Just don’t be too shocked if a lot of other people fail to agree with you.
This raises an interesting point, for later discussion I suppose: different religions, certainly Christian, Jewish and Muslim, make one another non-believers.
But even within Christianity, different strongly held beliefs make us atheists, in one sense of the word, to one another.
If you follow what I’m saying, two people holding contradictory opinions on a specific issue cannot both be right. So one is in error, or both, but both cannot be right.
First of all, Protestantism is essentially a religion based on a book – i.e., over 30,000 often-incompatible interpretations of the Bible – a Bible compiled by the councils of Rome, Hippo, and Carthage in the fourth century, and confirmed by Pope Siricius. Unfortunately, in many Protestant versions, parts of the Bible are missing – e.g. the epistle of James, who emphasized (to Luther’s dismay) that faith without works was empty, and the book of Maccabees, which supports the doctrine of Purgatory. (It would certainly be helpful to Protestants if, somewhere in the Bible, it were declared that the Christian religion should be based on sola scriptura.)
First of all, I know a retaliation thread when I see one. That paragraph alone should tell you this blogger is not the religious expert he imagines himself to be. He bases his article on straw men and then gleefully ignites them!
Protestant denominations that have ritual commemorations of the Lord’s Supper (not just coffee and doughnuts, or grape juice and wafers), but, following the path of the Protestant reformers, deny the Catholic doctrine of the Real Presence, end up at most with what Catholics who do not receive communion at Mass sometimes call a “spiritual communion.” But they are missing what Catholics, if they are properly prepared, experience in receiving the substantial body and blood of the Redeemer and allowing him to operate as He wishes in the secret recesses of their souls.
Pretty sad that he only gets worse the more one reads his post. Yes, ANYONE can be saved who receives Jesus Christ as Savior and believes on Him. One doesn't HAVE to be a Roman Catholic church member, either, in order to receive the gift of eternal life by the grace of God THROUGH faith.
I'm surprised at you, NKP_Vet, I thought you told me you were done with posting provocative, Protestant-bashing threads. Didn't you learn your lesson from the last time?
As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord [by grace], so walk in him (Col 2:6).
And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come [starting now] he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus (Eph 2:6-7).
By the blood of Christ and without man’s foolish traditions and dogma.
it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works,
so that no one may boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Romans 4:16 For this reason it is by faith,
in order that it may be in accordance with grace,
so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants,
not only to those who are of the Law,
but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham
We have no need for Rome’s sacrificial priesthood for those born again are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and our once for all time perfect blood sacrifice was made and accepted roughly 2,000 years ago.
lutherans do. wels and lc-ms i know do.
technically - luther and rcc - consubstantiation vs transubstantiation.
I don’t have any sort of a mental picture of anybody getting into heaven on the basis of theology....
What if they stole from Caesar?
Maybe that's because it doesn't. Here is a question for you. When Jesus instituted the practice of Communion at the Last Supper, was the bread and wine He served to the disciples the actual blood and body of Jesus?
Some of us do. However we believe that the bread and wine still exist as a vehicle for the Body and Blood, both are present together. We do however stop short of worshipping the wafers once they are consecrated.
To answer the original question on this thread, we are saved the only way it is possible to be saved. We believe with our hearts and confess with our mouths that Jesus Christ is Lord and has provided the atoning sacrifice to cover our sins.
Lutherans do
According to Peter, it’s pretty simple ...
Acts 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
It if faith in Christ given by God, an something you can’t earn through works, sacraments, etc.
Religious experience will not save a person, but being “born of the spirit” (John 3) will!
“Ye must be born again’
Born again is nothing in the world but being baptised. Something that many protestants dont think is necessary for salvation.
I guess as a compassionate former “cradle Catholic,” who is now an evangelical Christian I will ask you are you born again?
Life Vests...
Right. Luther says Christ is present in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine .
“That paragraph alone should tell you this blogger is not the religious expert he imagines himself to be”
Now I can say that about another poster on this boards, but you’re not supposed to make it person so I won’t.
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