Posted on 03/02/2015 11:21:42 AM PST by RnMomof7
The New Testament is clear about the nature of saving faith. “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law” (Romans 3:28). “A man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus . . . since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified” (Galatians 2:16). “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:4-5).
According to Scripture, salvation is by faith in Christ alone through God’s grace alone. When you put your trust in Jesus Christ He declares you righteous—not because you are, but because He imputes His righteousness to you, and because He paid the penalty for your sin. Christ bears our sin and we receive His righteousness. That is the indescribable glory of the doctrine of justification (2 Corinthians 5:21).
The teaching of the Roman Catholic Church stands in stark opposition to that biblical understanding. Rather than salvation by grace through faith, they preach a false gospel of works.
The words of the Council of Trent—convened to affirm and codify the teaching of the Catholic Church in response to the Reformation—clearly spell out the Catholic version of justification that still stands today. “Hence, to those who work well unto the end and trust in God, eternal life is to be offered, both as a grace mercifully promised to the sons of God through Christ Jesus, and as a reward promised by God himself, to be faithfully given to their good works and merits.” Salvation in the Catholic system is something you earn “by those very works which have been done in God, fully satisfied the divine law according to the state of this life and to have truly merited eternal life.”
That is an absolute and total contradiction of the Word of God. It’s a completely foreign gospel, manufactured by the Catholic Church and able only to condemn, not save. No amount of repetitious prayers, veneration of the saints and other church relics, or masses attended can redeem a sinner’s soul. No priest has the power to forgive sins, and no indulgence bought and paid for can hold back the due punishment of those sins.
At the heart of the merit-based Catholic system is the unbiblical concept of purgatory. In fact, it’s the invention of purgatory that makes Catholic dogma attractive at all—without it, Catholicism would be a very hard sell. Catholics are never really on solid spiritual ground. They can’t know for certain if they’re saved or whether they will ever make it into heaven. And even confident, pious Catholics live in perpetual fear of committing a mortal sin that will throw them out of favor with God and the church.
It’s the false doctrine of purgatory that provides Catholics their spiritual safety net, bringing false hope to people trapped in a hopeless system. It’s the one relief in their entire guilt-ridden, fear-ridden system of works righteousness. And it is complete fiction—a tragic farce that’s led countless souls to hell.
The apostle Paul could not have been clearer about the true nature of justification: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). That gracious, glorious gospel has been rejected by the Catholic Church, and they have replaced it with a corrupt, unbiblical system of works righteousness and merit-based salvation.
Presiding over that twisted system of satanic lies is the pope. And that is where we’ll pick it up tomorrow.
Grace ping
I needs me some indulgences! I hear there’s a sale going on.
What a miserable way to muddle through life. If I believed that, even for a minute, I would be suicidal.
KEYWORDS: faith; frdoesnotneedthis; freepingembarrassing; salvation; truth; works; Click to Add Keyword
... God's grace does not depend on our efforts or works it totally depends upon God. (Romans 9:15-16 NIV) For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. If we are willing to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us then God does the work of changing our heart to love Him and love others, so that we can be obedient to His Word. (2 Thessalonians 3:5 NKJV) Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience (endurance) of Christ. (Deuteronomy 30:6 NKJV) "And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. ... -Seek God. org
Sidebar.
Please help me understand how making up a keyword such as “frdoesnotneedthis” and “freepingembarrassing” negatively impacts any discussion. Thanks. R2z
I will show you my faith by my works not the other way round.
Wrong. Your quotes reject context. The verses in James are written in the context of being justified before men. "If a man shall say . . "
Please help me understand how making up a keyword such as “frdoesnotneedthis” and “freepingembarrassing” negatively impacts any discussion. Thanks. R2z
Don't look at me! Find the anonymous FReeper who's doing it and you might just get an answer.
I meant...
What does it matter?
That drivel It leads straight to hell! It is useful if you want to form a cult requiring adherence to the "party line"!
It reveals a profound ignorance of God's precious gift. Gifts require only a recipient, not a payment!
... God's grace does not depend on our efforts or works it totally depends upon God. (Romans 9:15-16 NIV) For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. If we are willing to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us then God does the work of changing our heart to love Him and love others, so that we can be obedient to His Word. (2 Thessalonians 3:5 NKJV) Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience (endurance) of Christ. (Deuteronomy 30:6 NKJV) "And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
Hebrews 11.....by faith, by faith, by faith, by faith, etc!
Let me rephrase that statement slightly and see if you still agree with it ...
Gifts require only a recipient, not gratitude!
Maybe in a Roman Catholic mind...
... We must always understand that our failures and weakness are no match for God's grace and love that He has for us. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV) But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. {10} That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Our works always end in failure and suffering, demonstrating our weakness, then we come to the end of our self and call out to our Father of Compassion. Then God gives us His strength and ability to overcome, causing us to love Him and trust Him more and more. (Galatians 3:11 KJV) But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. In rescuing us God is glorified, if it was by our efforts we could claim the glory. ... -seekGod.org
Typical misrepresentation of Catholic teaching, regurgitated for the umpteenth time.
I’m actually getting familiar with the names of these peddlers of anti-Catholic poison and hate.
What a way to make a living: Lying about somebody else’s religion.
As the link in my first post indicated ... The Bible is clear that faith holds a first and prominent role in the salvation of every person. (The Bible is equally clear on the saving role of good works in the lives of the faithful.)
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