Catholic friend, do you desire this “so great salvation” (Hebrews 2:6)? If so, all you must do is receive it (John 1:12) through faith (Romans 5:1). God loves us and offers us salvation as a gift (John 3:16). If we receive His grace, by faith, we have salvation as our eternal possession (Ephesians 2:8-9). Once saved, nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). Nothing can remove us from His hand (John 10:28-29). If you desire this salvation, if you desire to have all your sins forgiven, if you desire to have assurance of salvation, if you desire direct access to the God who loves you – receive it, and it is yours. This is the salvation that Jesus died to provide and that God offers as a gift.
Christians believe in Christ hence the name. Do Catholics believe in Christ?
Maybe I just travel in different circles than the author, but in all my many decades on this earth I have NEVER ONCE heard a Catholic say that, or anything close to that.
Sigh. Catholics are the original Christians. I will never cease to be amazed at the voluminous verbiage I see on our FreeRepublic from my Protestant buddies.
Want a real challenge? Go after Muslims and leave the rest of us alone. Might be a bit hazardous, though.
Catholics look at Protestants and cry “Sola Scriptura”. Likewise Protestants look at Catholics and cry “Sola Eccliesia”.
I have observed that the term “prima” should be used instead of “sola”. This small change would avoid much of the us versus them conversations.
Oh here we go ... another religious war at FR.
THIS is what turns people off to Christianity.
Great post. Once upon a time I was married to and converted to Catholicism. I’m divorced without an annulment (never understood that concept) and I walked back into my Christian tenets. I have never been able to reconcile praying to saints or Mary when the Bible is very clear on our direct line to God through Christ. Confessing my sins directly to a priest as if he can absolve them? He isn’t God any more than the Pope is the Holy Father. Truly no disrespect intended to my Catholic friends. These are my opinions.
I am both a Catholic and a Bible Christian. I pray directly to God and read the Bible. I personally have no conflicts being both a Bible Christian and a Catholic.
Be very careful. This is what the Jews said during Jesus’ time. “We have Abraham, why do we need Jesus?” (Not a quote, but what they believed). They felt that being born right was enough. Jesus, on the other hand, says: “I never knew you; depart from me, you evil doers.” It’s not enough to say, “I believe in Jesus.” After all, Satan agrees. The question is, “Does Jesus know me.” This is about a relationship, not knowledge.
Be very careful!
Catholics and Orthodox are the original and continuing Christians. Everyone else who uses the word are results of modifications and alterations.
There was a time when the Catholic Church was the only game in town. And for many centuries, the Catholic Church followed God’s Word. However even Catholics admit that the Catholic Church today is far from what it ever was in the past. With tears in my eyes I remind everyone that it has been invaded by Homosexuals and Pedophiles. The Pope calls Allah, the God the Christians worship. There are still churches that stand up to these abominations...but the Roman Catholic Church is not on the list...;-(
The premise of the title is odd.
Catholics are Christians.
“I am a triangle. Why should I become a polygon?”
What planet is this writer from?
Here on earth, I have never, not once in my entire life, ever, heard a Catholic say he/she was not a Christian.
When did you stop beating your wife?
I had to smile..there was more truth to that than they realized
This question, indeed, the entire thread, can only feed hopelessness.
How can a catholic, any Catholic, even conceive of such a question?
Ignorance is universal, but for me, the hopelessness derives from the reality that such people actually vote.
But please understand if you are SERIOUS about witnessing your beliefs to Catholics, this is the worst possible way to start.