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To: hfr
G, good points. Back to the "subtle distinctions:

Thanks! If you don't mind I'm going to address one point at a time.

2010, "...Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification, for the increase of grace and charity, and for the attainment of eternal life."

Note it is "sanctification" addressed here.

Note there is more than sanctification addressed here. Keep reading and you see that we "merit" the attainment of eternal life.

18 posted on 03/12/2011 10:28:01 AM PST by Gamecock (The resurrection of Jesus Christ is both historically credible and existentially satisfying. T.K.)
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To: Gamecock
One thing about language is that we always need to be explain what we said.

That's the same thing here. What does a canon doctor say this paragraph means? The understanding isn't always immediately clear from one statement.

Witness Peter saying of Paul: "And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." (2 Peter 3:15-16)

I'm not trying to be rude, but a facile reading of one paragraph in the CCC won't be definitive.

The CCC is addressing salvation in its parts and in its whole - and I think what we have in this paragraph speaks to some of the things Paul said that have engendered vast quantities of thought and verbiage since he wrote them down. One example is this: "If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:11-12)

This Scripture also: "Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain." (Philippians 2:16)

And this: "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

The point to quoting these Scriptures here is that there are difficult questions that require study and guidance and don't yield to a facile reading. Please don't exegete them here to make a point, I have many commentaries available ranging from JN Darby to Henry to Gill to JFB to Barnes to etc etc.

And it becomes apparent that the CCC is addressing these issues as part of the total theology of our salvation.

And don't think I'm in agreement with the RC theology, I'm just pointing out where I think our real disagreement stands.

26 posted on 03/12/2011 11:20:16 AM PST by hfr (Phillip Schaff has an excellent eight volume history of the Church.)
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