You wrote:
“What we have here is a difference of opinion.”
Nope. We are disagreeing about facts. Protestants often push a relativistic tact when they don’t like the facts.
“You and I both think there is only one catholic church. You think it’s the Roman Catholic church. I think it’s all who trust in Christ for salvation.”
No. There is only one catholic Church and it is the Catholic Church. Show me where I said anything about “Roman Catholic church” in this thread? The very term is a Protestant invention. I am not a Protestant and am not beholden to Protestant terminology, but to the truth.
“As for correcting me, does or does not the official Roman Catholic doctrine teach that people outside the Roman Catholic church can be saved?”
Show me where I said the Catholic Church did not teach that some nor formally in the Church might not be saved. Can you do that? No, you can’t. My statement in the last post was clear: “Can be, yes. But there is stil only Church that is catholic - and that Church is the Catholic Church.”
“That’s what I was seeking correction on.”
Can you read? Did I not make a clear declarative statement?
“If they teach you can be saved outside of the RC church, then apparently, people outside of the one holy Roman catholic apostolic church can be saved; which begs the question, why have a church at all?”
Because that is the agency of salvation on earth. The Church is necessary for salvation - it preaches the gospel and baptizes. Catholics just do not believe that those not formally in it are automatically damned.
“I do believe we should indeed have a church, formal, with sacraments and so forth; I am just pointing out the logical consequence of saying on the one hand the Roman Catholic church is the only church; yet you can be saved if you are outside of it.”
I don’t think you even understand the “logical consequence”. 1) Presumption that you will be saved is not a good thing. 2) God sent the Church and you don’t have what it has unless you have the Church.
“I say there is only one catholic church, consisting of all believers over all of time; and you can’t be saved if you are outside of it.”
You’re outside of the Church. Christ sent it. You’re outside of it.
“We are disagreeing about facts”
We are disagreeing as to what the facts are. You say the fact is, the Roman Catholic Church is the only real church. I say it is not. We can’t both be right.
“Roman Catholic Church. . . is a Protestant invention.”
It most certainly is not!
You admit a person can be saved if they are not members of the Roman Catholic church. On this point, we agree.
“1) Presumption that you will be saved is not a good thing. “
Jesus told me to trust Him. Shall I refuse? He said if I believe and am baptized, I will be saved. Shall I deny His words?
“2) God sent the Church and you don’t have what it has unless you have the Church.”
God sent His Son. His Son set up the church. Some local bodies adhered better to His scriptural instructions than others. Obviously I think the Protestants do a better job; you think the Roman Catholics do a better job.
“You’re outside of the Church. Christ sent it. You’re outside of it.”
You, Vladimir, do not hold the keys of the kingdom. You have not looked into the Lamb’s Book of Life. You do not have the authority to declare me outside of the body of Christ. I have elders, duly ordained and appointed, who are responsible and accountable for my walk with Christ. You are not one of them. You therefore have no authority to declare this.