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 ...
Most Protestant denominations that I’m aware of have communion with the body & blood.
John 10:8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
But I don’t think they believe in the Real Presence, as in the bread and wine actually becoming the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus.
that’s not what people asked the apostles. they asked how they could be saved. and the answer was not you have to be a roman catholic.
Awful broad brush you’re holding there. I’ll bet not every Catholic believes or even knows of that. So, in your opinion, belief in transubstantiation is the ticket to salvation?
That’s probably because such a belief is absolute nonsense.
It is also abhorrent to God.
“Most Protestant denominations that I’m aware of have communion with the body & blood.”
Actually exactly none of them do.
1) The vast majority don’t believe they do.
2) None of them can - for they have no sacrificial priesthood from Christ.
Except God gave it to us.
Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Exactly right.
if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved (Rom 10:9).
For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God (Eph 2:8).
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us (Titus 3:5).
whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21; Rom 10:13).
Enough said!! Nothing else is necessary.
Jesus is my savior....the rest is fluff and noise.
Some Protestants (Anglicans, Lutherans ) believe in the Real Presence, but not as it is understood in the doctrine of transsubstantiation. That is different from other Protestants who regard the Lord’s Supper as a spiritual communion or purely symbolic. One point of contention between Luther and Calvin was on that issue. Luther insisted that “This is my body...This is my blood” meant exactly that.
The Romans didn’t execute common criminals by that method.
Crucifixion was reserved for crimes against Rome. So it is highly unlikely that Jesus was flanked on Cavalry by thieves.
You know, I suppose I could have been charged with heresy and burned for saying such things not too very long ago, or at least flogged. But that was then and this is now.
Today, you may not have enough self-respect to control yourself by not making outlandish statements—such as that Welch’s grape juice and unsalted crackers actually become flesh & blood—but if you do, you’ve got to expect to be called on it by those of us who do have some respect for ourselves and the truth.
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