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Thank you for your comments last week.

This gentleman, bless his soul, seems to have had a very shallow understanding of evangelical Christianity.

"All these arcane arguments out of the Reformation about extrinsic justification were only so much hooey."

Here's Paul's clear statement of this "hooey"...

"Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." - Rom 5: 18-19

"God doesn't merely impute righteousness to you, but He does something in the soul to make you righteous."

God's imputation of righteousness on a sinner should NEVER be referred to as merely. That mere act cost Christ his life.

"Paul also expected the obedience of faith."

We are saved in order to do good works - not as a result of good works.

"Most of the gospel preaching you hear is, "come to Jesus because He will fulfill you; you'll receive some benefit."

That is taught by some. They may be guilty of leading people astray if they do not finish teaching that in coming to Jesus you are accepting a role of servant to the Lord.

"It's as though people have to be reminded that there's no crown without the cross. Our baptism into Jesus is a baptism into His death. Christ's work is quite complete, but the application of it has to go on in the world, and so it's in that sense that we share His suffering because we are members of His body, applying the work of redemption which He wrought for us on Calvary."

This is solid evangelical teaching - I've been taught it all my life. If he missed this then he was in a very shallow church.

"Thirdly, I became aware that the apostles believed in sacraments of some sort; undeveloped, I think."

Undeveloped???

"In the mind of the apostles, water and spirit were not separate entities. "

I guess Paul never got around to reading Matthew's gospel...

"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

"where do you find unbaptized Christians in the New Testament? "

In Acts 10...

"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Then Peter said, Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."

The Holy Spirit does not come though water baptism, he precedes baptism. He regenerates the heart of those who believe the message and water baptism is a secondary, outward sign of an inward change.

Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part IV: Crucifix and Altar(Al Kresta)

Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part III: Tradition and Church (Al Kresta)
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part II: Doubts (Al Kresta)
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part I: Darkness(Al Kresta)
Conversion Story - Matt Enloe (former Baptist) [prepare to be amazed!]
THE ORTHODOX REVIVAL IN RUSSIA

Conversion Story - David Finkelstein (former Jew)
Conversion Story - John Weidner (former Evangelical)
12 Reasons I Joined the Catholic Church
Conversion Story - Tom Hunt
The Tide Is Turning Toward Catholicism: The Converts

John Calvin Made Me Catholic
Journey Home - May 21 - Neil Babcox (former Presbyterian) - A minister encounters Mary
Going Catholic - Six journeys to Rome
My (Imminent) Reception into the Roman Catholic Church
From Calvinist to Catholic

A Convert's Pilgrimage [Christopher Cuddy]
From Pastor to Parishioner: My Love for Christ Led Me Home (to the Catholic Church) [Drake McCalister]
Lutheran professor of philosophy prepares to enter Catholic Church
Patty Bonds (former Baptist and sister of Dr. James White) to appear on The Journey Home - May 7
Pastor and Flock Become Catholics

The journey back - Dr. Beckwith explains his reasons for returning to the Catholic Church
Famous Homosexual Italian Author Returned to the Church Before Dying of AIDS
Dr. Francis Beckwith Returns To Full Communion With The Church
Catholic Converts - Stephen K. Ray (former Evangelical)
Catholic Converts - Malcolm Muggeridge

Catholic Converts - Richard John Neuhaus
Catholic Converts - Avery Cardinal Dulles
Catholic Converts - Israel (Eugenio) Zolli - Chief Rabbi of Rome
Catholic Converts - Robert H. Bork , American Jurist (Catholic Caucus)
Catholic Converts - Marcus Grodi

Why Converts Choose Catholicism
The Scott Hahn Conversion Story
FORMER PENTECOSTAL RELATES MIRACLE THAT OCCURRED WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD
John Calvin Made Me Catholic
Journey Home - May 21 - Neil Babcox (former Presbyterian) - A minister encounters Mary

Going Catholic - Six journeys to Rome
My (Imminent) Reception into the Roman Catholic Church
From Calvinist to Catholic
A Convert's Pilgrimage [Christopher Cuddy]
From Pastor to Parishioner: My Love for Christ Led Me Home (to the Catholic Church) [Drake McCalister]
Lutheran professor of philosophy prepares to enter Catholic Church

Patty Bonds (former Baptist and sister of Dr. James White) to appear on The Journey Home - May 7
Pastor and Flock Become Catholics
The journey back - Dr. Beckwith explains his reasons for returning to the Catholic Church
Famous Homosexual Italian Author Returned to the Church Before Dying of AIDS
Dr. Francis Beckwith Returns To Full Communion With The Church

Catholic Converts - Stephen K. Ray (former Evangelical)
Catholic Converts - Malcolm Muggeridge
Catholic Converts - Richard John Neuhaus
Catholic Converts - Avery Cardinal Dulles
Catholic Converts - Israel (Eugenio) Zolli - Chief Rabbi of Rome

Catholic Converts - Robert H. Bork , American Jurist (Catholic Caucus)
Catholic Converts - Marcus Grodi
Why Converts Choose Catholicism
How I led Catholics Out of the Church [Steve Wood]
The Scott Hahn Conversion Story
FORMER PENTECOSTAL RELATES MIRACLE THAT OCCURRED WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD

Conversion Story - Rusty Tisdale (former Pentecostal)

**Another thing I learned while teaching through Romans was the inescapability of suffering if we are to share in His inheritance and glory.**

Very true interpretation of precepts as taught by the Catholic Church. A lot of people (including some Protestants) don’t understand the suffering part of life. We can suffer as Christ suffered (and even offer it up for the Poor Souls in Purgatory.)

Granted — our suffering is minute in comparison with the suffering that Christ suffered for us.

I really don’t understand why this concept is so misunderstood, when we are encouraged to take up our Cross daily and follow Christ.