Posted on 11/08/2014 6:51:24 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Billy Graham is ringing in his 96th year with friends and family on Friday, and fellow faith leaders are sending an outpouring of well wishes to the famed evangelical preacher today.
In a far cry from last year's birthday celebration involving over 800 guests, Graham is marking his birthday this year with a quiet celebration at his Montreat, NC home, according to a press release issued on Nov. 7. Will Graham, the grandson of Billy Graham, was unavailable for comment to The Christian Post, but his father Franklin assured fans that the 96-year-old is doing well.
"Although his physical condition keeps him homebound, he remains interested in current events and the ongoing work of the ministry that he began more than 60 years ago," said Billy Graham's eldest son.
The president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association also announced the debut of "Heaven," the latest "My Hope with Billy Graham" film, which features a never-before-seen message from Billy.
"Opportunities like 'My Hope' and the 'Heaven' film are ways that we can help my father to continue the work that God called us to do," Franklin added. "Please pray for my father, and for those who will watch this film, that they too may know the peace found in Jesus Christ."
Recorded last year, the message conveys a still-passionate Billy Graham who discussed his imminent death.
"I know I'm going to heaven. I'm looking forward to it with great anticipation," Graham says in the film before explaining how people can share that same faith.
Despite his struggle with deteriorating eyesight and hearing, Graham still enjoys daily devotions, Bible reading and prayer with his staff, as well as visits with family and close friends. On his 96th birthday, many of Graham's friends, including Saddleback Church's Rick Warren, posted special messages on social media.
"Happy #96th to my oldest mentor #BillyGraham. Thanks for guiding, defending and loving me for 35 yrs," the pastor wrote on Twitter.
Jesus does the same regarding the new birth in John 3:3-7. Jesus explains the new birth isn't physical but spiritual.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”
Jesus gives us other examples that are not physical, but spiritual types.
Luke 9:23-24 “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” Are we required to physically pickup a piece of wood each day to haul around?
John13:8-16 “Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
I have yet to see anyone taking their socks off in Church to fulfill this one. As a foot note to the last supper it is to be noticed that Judas partook with the disciples.
John 13:18 “I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.”
If it was the physical bread that saved then why was Judas not?
Indeed If it were the physical eating that saves Jesus it would be quite out of place for Jesus to have said in Matthew 15:11-18 “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.”
What is seen on the physical is elevated to the spiritual. This can be seen again in Jesus’s encounter with the woman at the well. It was not physical water that Jesus offered that was the water of life. Should we be washing our communion down with a glass of water?
Luke 4:4 “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” ... verse 14 “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
the Lord's Supper is also discussed in I Corinthians 11. Verses 24-26 “And wen he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.”
From this passage I would note it says “as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup,” it does not say eat this body and drink this blood, because it is not a physical application. We do this in remembrance of Christ's death his body was broken for us on the cross. He does not physical give up pieces of himself every time mass or the Lord's supper is done in remembrance of him. If salvation were to found in the mass why does I Corinthians 11 warn of chastisement for those who do not first judge themselves prior to taking the Lord's Supper?
Returning to John 6 I would draw on verses 47-51 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. this is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
If the bread of life were the physical body then like the manna which preceded it we would find not life in it but death. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof and, not die. As it does not save us from physical death, I do not think this is a reference to the physical. This is the bread that came down from heaven: not as your father's did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live foever. verse 58.
So for what it is worth, my two cents on how to build a consistent understanding of the scripture line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.
Romans 6:22”But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”
We have a problem for without Christ, there dwelleth in us no good thing. You can't fake fruit; it comes not through our own efforts, but is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives.
Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Even our good works and our best efforts simply can't count for our salvation.
How God views sin, the purpose of the cross: God views our sin and our righteousness differently than we do. To God sin is sin and our best efforts fall far short of his standard. Here’s how God’s scale for salvation works: one sin on the sin side and it is bottomed out no matter how many good works you pile on the other side. In fact, because you were born with a sin nature you were born with the scale bottomed out on the sin side.
Isaiah 64:6 “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” That’s how God views our best works. Nothing we can do on our own can please God. However, there is a remedy.
Romans 5:8-9 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
Romans 3:22-23 “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34) we have all sinned and all that believe are saved. Jesus’ blood paid for our sins once and for all on the cross (Hebrews 10:10). It is belief not works that count for salvation.
Romans 4:3-8 “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin”
Only Jesus Christ can cleanse our sins. Faith in Jesus is the only thing that we can put on our side of the salvation scale that will tilt it to our favor. God does not impute, charge us for our sin because Jesus is our advocate, our representative. Like a lawyer in a court case he stands before God, the Almighty judge, reminding Him that our sins have been paid in full on the cross.
I John 2:1-2 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation (payment) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Jesus is in heaven making intercession for us, because in this case we have an accuser. The devil comes before God to point out our sin, but Christ is there for us.
Hebrews 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” The Bible makes it clear that when we are saved, we are freed from the law. If works cannot earn us our salvation, works cannot lose us our salvation. This is the liberty that Paul wrote of in Galatians.
Galatians 5:13 “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Paul also makes it clear that we can sin and still be covered by the blood of Christ. He implores not to sin, but not because it will cost us our salvation.
Why did you not read the Bible link to The Last Supper? If you lack understanding you are supposed to pray and ask God. “The Holy Spirit will teach you the deep things of God.” Okay, let me try to explain it.
Jesus showed everyone how to live by example, and COMMUNIION is the taking of his body and his blood ...and he took that ‘bread’ and that ‘fruit of the vine’ from The Last Supper and gave it to his DISCIPLES as the first example of Communion...at that time he explained that his blood and his body would be sacrificed for the sins of the many.....this was their last meal together before the cross.
In VS 29 Jesus tells his disciples he will not be drinking ‘the fruit of the vine’ until he drinks it with
‘you’ MEANING HIS DISCIPLES, in his Father’s Kingdom.
** That means The LAST SUPPER OR THE LORD’S SUPPER is a preview of the BRIDE’S SUPPER OF THE LAMB, after all Christians are RAPTURED (a latin word for ‘calling away’)when we are caught up to be with Jesus.
So by that scripture you know....The Disciples will be at the head table.... so to speak. Because Jesus said he will not drink ‘the fruit of the vine’ until he does it with them’ in his Father’s kingdom.(Heaven).
Jesus did not say it was on that night ...his actual blood because he called it the ‘fruit of the vine’.
That was the symbolism of what his body and blood would represent after his death, and what his death stood for!
(Calvary) Salvation could NOT be completed without his death, because he was the ‘Passover Lamb’ that was sacrificed that year for sin, ‘once and for all’. In that one Adam (man) brought sin into the world and one man(Jesus) redeemed it...is the simple explanation.
It is not complicated. John 3:16
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Here is a link to understanding the ‘shedding of blood for sin’....The Passover Lamb. On the left is the Old Testament and on the right is the explanation of Jesus as the New Testament ‘Passover Lamb’. If you study this, you should understand the purpose of the CROSS, AND THE SHEDDING OF JESUS BLOOD AND What COMMUNION represents.
http://endtimepilgrim.org/passover.htm
So for the hundredth time what is the import of this? That the instruments and stewards of express Divine revelation are the assuredly infallible interpreters of it?
They were studied by theologians for several years, several meetings and countless discussions, on which books to include, which to exclude, what arrangement they form etc,..Your view of scripture and Marian doctrine has not been tested in the intellectual climate of colleges and universities...
So scholars must be followed in discernment of both which men and writings are of God? Or more specifically is the historical magisterium essential for assurance of that, so that dissent from them cannot be correct?
The central truths of the Catholic Church is the Credo and the source, center, and summit of all worship is the Holy Eucharist. Without it, all the rest is pablum.
So this what you see in the life of the church in Scripture, that of taking part in the Lord's supper being the "source and summit of the Christian life," in which "redemption is accomplished," by its separate class of priests offering Christ as atonement as he did upon the Cross, and by which believers obtain spiritual life in themselves?
I await your answers.
Certainly Westminster affirms the teaching office and of synods and councils, ministerially to determine controversies of faith, and cases of conscience; to set down rules and directions for the better ordering of the public worship of God, and government of his Church; to receive complaints in cases of maladministration, and authoritatively to determine the same..., (http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/wcf.htm ) but not as assuredly infallible, but as with the NT church, their veracity rests upon the weight of Scriptural substantiation.
But in contrast, it would seems your argument is that an assuredly (if conditionally) infallible magisterium is essential for determination and assurance of Truth, etc.;, And that being the historical instruments and stewards of Divine revelation (oral and written) means that such is that assuredly infallible magisterium. Thus those who dissent from the latter are in rebellion to God.
4. We have seen evidence of this rot, with now mainline Lutheran, Evangelical, Presbyterian churches and their bishops now approving married gay and lesbian pastors.
Rather, such declension is due to departing from the primary distinctive of the Reformation, that of holding Scripture as the supreme authority as the accurate and wholly inspired actual word of God, while those who do so most strongly as the most conservative.
In contrast, the fruit of Rome is that of a majority being liberal, following what Rome effectually teaches by treating even proabortion, prosodomite, promuslim pols as members in life and in death, and their supporter, showing what she really believes.
That is your church and you must own them as she does, yet you want us to join her? Absurd!
The cross attracted by Koresh are no less empty vessels like those who flock to hear prosperity gospel’s Joel Osteen or “Bishop” TD Jakes.
An absurd argument, which as before, invokes dissenters who reject primary aspects of Reformers, while ignoring the corrupt condition of Rome. Which by the time of the Reformation realized an almost entire abandonment of equity in ecclesiastical judgments; in morals, no discipline; in sacred literature, no erudition; in divine things, no reverence; and religion was almost extinct, so that the true Church had to be sought outside the institution.
J Vernon McGee was not an original Jewish Apostle who learned doctrine directly from the LORD Jesus Christ. The LORD Jesus Christ often speaks of works and directly taught and commissioned James. Neither were Mcgee's words inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit in James does not simply warn. He also gives us doctrine that will not ever change, the protestations of Protestants having no effect with the divinely inspired scripture, Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Peter warned us. Paul warned us. We have a 500 year old religious movement that spawned thousands of disparate denominations, sects, groups, and cults, with more being formed every year as new prophets search for sheep to eat. as certain also of your own poets have said,
Almost aflame still you don't feel the heat
Takes all you got just to stay on the beat
You say it's a living, we all gotta eat
but you're here alone there's no one to compete
If mercy's in business I wish it for you
More than just ashes when your dreams come true
Rather, those whom you invoke are rejected by those who hold most strongly to Scripture as being the supreme and accurate authority, while under the Roman model when the leadership goes liberal then so do the people. for "the one duty of the multitude is to allow themselves to be led, and, like a docile flock, to follow the Pastors." (VEHEMENTER NOS)
' Nor did the Reformation begin, and the rejection of apocryphal books , apart from scholarly support.
And thus Rome has made good use of forgeries (Donation of Constantine ; Pseudo-Isidorean Decretals , etc.)
And in reality, even RC scholarship testifies against past RC propaganda, and Rome's history abundantly testifies to how South Rome went, as scholars can also attest. Meanwhile, the EOS substantially disagree with Rome about what Tradition teaches.
From the latter,
Roman Catholicism, unable to show a continuity of faith [context] and in order to justify new doctrine, erected in the last century, a theory of "doctrinal development."
Following the philosophical spirit of the time (and the lead of Cardinal Henry Newman), Roman Catholic theologians began to define and teach the idea that Christ only gave us an "original deposit" of faith, a "seed," which grew and matured through the centuries. The Holy Spirit, they said, amplified the Christian Faith as the Church moved into new circumstances and acquired other needs....
On this basis, theories such as the dogmas of "papal infallibility" and "the immaculate conception" of the Virgin Mary (about which we will say more) are justifiably presented to the Faithful as necessary to their salvation. http://www.ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/reading/ortho_cath.html
For history is seen as showing the deviations of Rome from it, which is why Newman had to work at the theory of the Development of Doctrine due to lack of actual unanimous consent ” of the fathers.
Thus in reality, your basis for what Scripture, history and tradition teaches does really rests upon the premise of the assured veracity of Rome, which has presumed to infallibly declare she is and will be perpetually infallible whenever she speaks in accordance with her infallibly defined (scope and subject-based) formula, which renders her declaration that she is infallible, to be infallible, as well as all else she accordingly declares.
Thus when faced with contrary evidence, no less than Bellarmine resorts to asserting,
It was the charge of the Reformers that the Catholic doctrines were not primitive, and their pretension was to revert to antiquity. But the appeal to antiquity is both a treason and a heresy. It is a treason because it rejects the Divine voice of the Church at this hour, and a heresy because it denies that voice to be Divine.... I may say in strict truth that the Church has no antiquity. It rests upon its own supernatural and perpetual consciousness. — Most Rev. Dr. Henry Edward Cardinal Manning, Lord Archbishop of Westminster, “The Temporal Mission of the Holy Ghost: Or Reason and Revelation,” (New York: J.P. Kenedy & Sons, originally written 1865, reprinted with no date), pp. 227-228.
Thus Newman,
the immediate motive in the mind of a Catholic for his reception of them is, not that they are proved to him by Reason or by History, but because Revelation has declared them by means of that high ecclesiastical Magisterium which is their legitimate exponent.” — John Henry Newman, “A Letter Addressed to the Duke of Norfolk on Occasion of Mr. Gladstone's Recent Expostulation.” 8. The Vatican Council http://www.newmanreader.org/works/anglicans/volume2/gladstone/section8.html
Likewise Keating:
"The mere fact that the Church teaches the doctrine of the Assumption as definitely true is a guarantee that it is true.” — Karl Keating, Catholicism and Fundamentalism (San Francisco: Ignatius, 1988), p. 275.
Works and faith, just as James indicates, are in Messiah's parable, albeit the domain is not the church per se, but the world, yet some sizable portion of the parable receive and then do not continue in works. Are they redeemed ? Are altar calls a con game ? I think a majority of the tendency of Western young people leaving the Catholic faith after confirmation can be summed up in unconfessed sin, especially contraception and fornication. The same problem occurs amongst Protestants/Evangelicals and Jews. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Thanks. I know I will always learn something from you. How can anyone believe man over the Bible?
you had written "I did not read “holy and Catholic” in the text of John." To which I replied. Corinth's problems were deeper than gluttony, riot, and and fornication. Paul dismisses their feasts entirely. Then he explains the body and blood of the LORD Jesus Christ For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
This matches what is recorded. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
What do the words "meat indeed" and "drink indeed" signify ?
Drinking blood? An absolute anathema for a Jew.
Paul’s idea, but I doubt very seriously it was Jesus’.
Yup. The Catholic church can do no wrong.
When Catholics do right, the church takes credit.
Something Catholics don't do right, it's everyone else's fault.
Where does Rome unequivocally infallibly teach that one cannot by sure they are a child of God now, and will go to be with the Lord at death or at His return, as Scripture teaches?
Romans 5:15-18 "But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."
Ephesians 2:8-10 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
We should walk in them, we are saved and called to do good works, but they are not what secure our salvation.
Another verse for consideration would be John 6:28-29 “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
I think this verse may be the key to making sense of what some might say are contradictory ideas. I don't think they are contradictory, but two views of the same thing.
Romans 4:3-5 "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
James 2:21-23 "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God."
I did read them. You avoided to answer me directly. So I will have to conclude you take the position the disciples were literally consuming Christ while He stood before them, before His actual death and resurrection in a glorified body.
Which tells me the actual death and resurrection of Christ is not necessary for those who believe the literal eating and drinking of Christ via communion saves.
Indeed. Communion or the Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of an actual one time for all sacrifice. So why do you keep inferring that literal blood is in the cup and the bread is literal flesh?
Arrogant Protestant!
How can he KNOW something like that?
--Catholic_Wannabe_Dude(I may not understand Catholic teaching, but By GOD! I'd better believe it!)
My child; you may THINK you know what that verse means; but you CAN rely upon what the Church has taught you.
Go and sin no more.
Listening to Protestants will only confuse you.
Salvation is a free gift. One does not earn salvation, one works with faith, which ends in salvation. Be a doer of the word (works with faith), and not a hearer only (faith without works which test and prove the faith). Don't contend with Messiah or his Apostles. Receive them as a little obedient child. If you love him, keep his commandments. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say ? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
As an example, it does not mean making pictures and jokes to insult blessed Mary, the mother of God with us, nor those who love and honor both her and the Jewish brethren our LORD commissioned.
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