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One half will believe... follow the False Prophet, the Pope who will follow Pope Benedict XVI
TheWarningSecondComing.com ^

Posted on 04/13/2012 4:35:34 PM PDT by stpio

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To: boatbums

Spending your time searching Catholic writing to disprove
what the Church teaches. It’s comical and kinda sad.
Some of your Catholic quotes show the “woman” is Mary. You’re so defiant.

NO!,says boatbums and other non-Catholic Christians here. The “woman” that gave birth to the man-child Jesus is a country not Mary. Sorry, you’re wrong.

Your list, the first, why in Heavens do you post the
Septuagint? Martin Luther rejected the Septuagint. He
wasn’t guided by God. The Septuagint was the Old Testament
Canon Our Lord and the Apostles most quoted from, it’s
the Alexandrian Canon.

I am going with John Salsa, remember what he said and since I can’t read Latin, I’ll trust the English version (the DR) of the first Bible, the Latin Vulgate. I trust St. Jerome. In a way, you do too, without him, you would not have a Bible. And thank you to Pope Damasus, he decided the Canon.

This is what St. Jerome translated from the original writings ~

I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.

footnote to explain in the Douay-Rheims Bible:

[15] She shall crush: Ipsa, the woman; so divers of the fathers read this place, conformably to the Latin: others read it ipsum, viz., the seed. The sense is the same: for it is by her seed, Jesus Christ, that the woman crushes the serpent’s head. http://www.drbo.org/

God bless you boatbums,


161 posted on 04/17/2012 7:25:35 PM PDT by stpio
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To: stpio

“Israel did not bring forth Christ just because you say it. Israel is a nation not a “woman.”

I have referenced and placed this before you before (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2871838/posts?page=135#135), but it seems as if you have a one track mind, and suffer from ignorance of Scripture:

“Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. “ (Romans 9:4-5)

“The church did not become the “Israel of God”, this is the New Covenant.”

Those ar the words of the Holy Spirit, and I also referenced this to you:

“And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. “ (Galatians 6:16)


162 posted on 04/17/2012 8:15:00 PM PDT by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a damned+morally destitute sinner,+trust Him to forgive+save you,+live....)
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To: stpio
Spending your time searching Catholic writing to disprove what the Church teaches. It’s comical and kinda sad. Some of your Catholic quotes show the “woman” is Mary. You’re so defiant. NO!,says boatbums and other non-Catholic Christians here. The “woman” that gave birth to the man-child Jesus is a country not Mary. Sorry, you’re wrong.

What is TRULY sad and not at all "comical" is your ignorance of Holy Scripture and your insistence that "you" are right and EVERY OTHER theologian is wrong. Do you have a degree in Theology? Have you studied what you believe and why you believe it or do you simply swallow whatever you're told and trust "they" are right? If Mary is really the one spoken of in Revelation 12, then you must address the "woman in this text is suffering from the stain of original sin. The Vatican approved NAB Bible’s footnotes state this fact, “Because of Eve’s sin, the woman gives birth in distress and pain (Gn 3, 16).” Also from another Vatican approved Bible we learned that “this is not the Blessed Virgin…By accommodation the Church applies this verse to the Blessed Virgin.” Therefore, a choice must be made; either Mary was Immaculately Conceived or she is the woman in revelation, she cannot be both." (http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/roman-catholic-maryology-mary-roman-catholicism-part-8-immaculately-conceived)

Since no one seems to be able to break through to you about this point, nor the truth that it is JESUS that defeats Satan, I'll not continue to try. You really should go back and read the comments from others on this thread and think about it a bit more. No one here has said Mary is unimportant. No one here has said Mary did not play a part in the salvation of humanity. No one here has disrespected Mary. What you have done is construct a theology based upon a mistranslation of ONE verse and then parlayed that into an interpretation of other verses all in the effort to glorify Mary and impart to her powers that nowhere in Scripture is she given them.

My main intent in adding my thoughts on this thread is to warn people against false prophets who tempt them to place their trust and hopes in someone who CANNOT save them. Only Jesus Christ is our Savior. ONLY faith in Him and his sacrifice for our sins grants us eternal life. If anyone is telling you differently, run away, it is THEY that are leading you astray.

You started this thread with a supposed "prophecy" from a woman who claims to be speaking for Mary, the mother of Jesus. In it, "she" says that half of the Catholics will follow a false prophet and, presumably, into their doom. Other than being a relater of this message, what are you really trying to do? If the prophet is correct, there's nothing you can do to stop it. If you somehow could, then the prophesy would be proven wrong, right?

One final thing...I do not hate Mary, nor do I hold any bad feelings towards her. She is not responsible for things others claim for her. As a matter of fact, I think she probably despises the way some people exalt her and place her at the center of their worship - and MANY do. I think she is just as grateful as all other believers that Jesus Christ came to save sinners. She even said, "My heart rejoices in God my savior.". I think it would be a good thing if people started placing their worship on who really deserves ALL glory and honor and praise - Jesus Christ. It is to Him that, one day, EVERY knee shall bow and EVERY tongue confess that HE is LORD to glory of God the Father. Mary will be the first among them!

163 posted on 04/17/2012 8:17:30 PM PDT by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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To: boatbums

It can’t be both ways, you go back and forth saying the Church has no authority and is wrong then search to show the Church agrees with you. Another poster was doing the same.

I kinda have an idea of who you “esteem” as your authority.

You said ~
The Bible, if it was hers, the Church “WOULD HAVE made sure it was stored away in secret”. This goes against the well known protest that is what she did? It’s history, hand printed, not until the invention of the printing press was
there much access, there were only a few Bibles.

~ ~ ~

“Yes, Jerome was wrong in this part and we have the Hebrew version with which to KNOW that.”...

~ ~ ~

Who is “we?” It’s been a long time, most of the original
writings are gone, so which “part” of the Hebrew do you all
still have and what of the rest of Scripture? Do you not have to trust St. Jerome for that? Yes you do.

You “cut and paste” is a long read, what is your point? Is it, the Vulgate is in error again? That’s silly, God wouldn’t allow His written Word to be wrong, that makes the oral passed down first from the Apostles wrong. No way.

You put Martin Luther’s errors in bold. Catholics follow the correct Old Testament Canon, the Alexandrian OT Canon, Protestants follow the Hebrew. It’s your loss.

St. Jerome wasn’t sure on some of the Pope Damasus’ choices
for the Canon but he obediently translated them and now
in modern history, the world sees Pope Damasus was correct,
ie: The Dead Sea Scrolls.

Change on two things and you’ll make it through the
Great Tribulation, all in God’s will. Believe in the Real Presence, the most Holy Eucharist and speak to Lord’s mother in prayer, she is your mother too. You will feel closer to her just like you do when you speak to Our Lord.

The Blessed Trinity has given Mary all graces to dispense,
she will help you if you ask. It makes Our Lord very happy. Mary has influence with Him. I give you example, He wasn’t ready but at His mother’s request, He did as she requested at the wedding of Cana. That’s a teaching moment
in the Gospel for us all.


164 posted on 04/17/2012 8:31:16 PM PDT by stpio
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To: boatbums

Please stop claiming Catholic “authorities” agree with the Protestant rejection of Mary. You reject Catholic authority, sadly, the Pope and make yourself your own authority.

Mary is the first, she is the “woman” in Genesis 3:15 and the “woman” in Revelation 12. There is a secondary meaning and we see it in Revelation 12, that of the faithful, the Church.

You never did, not a one objecting, explained why the Son called His mother “woman.” Why would Jesus do that? Answer
the question. Men in the Old and the New call other women in Scripture “woman” and so did Our Lord but not their mothers.

This is getting old, you can’t give an answer.

Everything Our Lord stated was perfectly said.


165 posted on 04/17/2012 8:45:23 PM PDT by stpio
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To: stpio
It can’t be both ways, you go back and forth saying the Church has no authority and is wrong then search to show the Church agrees with you. Another poster was doing the same.

The purpose of showing YOU YOUR church's opinions about certain things is to show YOU that THEY disagree with YOU. Got it? The Roman Catholic Church is not my authority because they have erred on many doctrines that were communicated to us from the Apostles in their writings (the New Testament of the Holy Bible). These were truths taught to them by Jesus Christ himself, both while he was physically present with them on earth and also when he ascended back to heaven. The "Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit". Sorry, but no pretend mystic or prophet can supersede what God has stated in his word.

Change on two things and you’ll make it through the Great Tribulation, all in God’s will. Believe in the Real Presence, the most Holy Eucharist and speak to Lord’s mother in prayer, she is your mother too. You will feel closer to her just like you do when you speak to Our Lord.

I don't need to change on anything I believe for the simple fact that I have already placed my trust in Jesus Christ and have received him as my Savior and Lord. He is ALWAYS present with us and participating in the Lord's Supper is done in "remembrance of Him", just like he said. According to Scripture, I am born again into the family of God never to be cast out, lost or separated from His love. The Tribulation is no threat to me because all believers in Christ will be taken up before this "Time of Jacob's Trouble" starts. Read I Thessalonians 4 and 5. I do not need to pray TO Mary because I pray directly to Jesus Christ, who is the ONLY mediator between God and man. Mary is NOT my mother but a sister in Christ like all other female believers. "The Blessed Trinity" has NOT given Mary "all graces to dispense". That is a false doctrine dreamed up by Mary worshippers as no Apostle spoke of such things in Scripture. Don't you think if that was the truth, God would have seen fit to say it in Scripture?

Go ahead and believe what you want, your preaching has NO effect because I am already redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Something I pray you may one day be assured of as well.

166 posted on 04/17/2012 9:01:06 PM PDT by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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To: stpio; metmom; boatbums; RnMomof7; Iscool; caww; smvoice; presently no screen name; Quix

The words of Genesis 3:15 in the first Bible were altered drastically because of the rejection of Mary.

I have posted before the NAB rendering of this, which is of the church you want to convert us to, while you are at odds with your own official Bible:

KJV: Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

DRB: Gen 3:15 I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.

NAB: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel.

Because “the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil” (1 Jn 3:8), the passage was understood as the first promise of a redeemer for fallen humankind, the protoevangelium. Irenaeus of Lyons (ca. A.D. 130–200), in his Against Heresies 5.21.1, followed by several other Fathers of the Church, interpreted the verse as referring to Christ, and cited Gal 3:19 and 4:4 to support the reference

Meanwhile, do a search on the word (hû' / hı̂y') used for “it” in “it shall bruise thy head and find out how many times it is translated as “she” versus “he” or “it” and i think you find out who is changing the Bible to fit their doctrine.

The Church canonized Scripture and it follows, God gave her the same authority to interpret it.

Why do you simply reiterate an assertion as if that made it true, and ignore my refutation of it? As said, it took Rome over 1400 years to finally provide an indisputable canon, as the weight of Scripture is not critical for her doctrines. And in addition, even being the instrument and steward of Holy Writ does not make such the assured infallible interpreters of it, and if it did then the church would have needed to submit to those who sat in the seat of Moses in all that it taught.

...by maintaining God’s providence with regard to copying, a person claims something which is not written in Scripture, and therefore, by the very definition of Sola Scriptura, cannot serve as a rule of faith

That is a straw man SS, as this does not require explicit texts to constitute Scriptural teaching, and the preservation of the Word of God is promised in principle, in which God preservation is promised, and the “the word of the Lord/God” normally was subsequently written, and as Scripture alone is the only transcendent and material revelation that is wholly inspired of God then it is the assured word of God, versus amorphous oral tradition, which is not codified, and by nature is supremely subject to undetectable corruption, and must be subject to examination by Scripture.

He safeguarded its oral transmission as well (recall 2 Thessalonians 2:14 [15]

That is not speaking about eons-old mysterious nebulous oral tradition, but something that was know, and could have been written, as was the norm for truth called “the word of the Lord/God.”

And Paul upheld Scripture as the standard for obedience and testing truth claims, which it is abundantly evidenced to be, and it manner was to “reason out of the Scriptures,” and his preaching was proven thereby. (Acts 17:2).

And unlike Rome, Paul was manifestly Divinely inspired preacher and writer, yet preachers today can call their hearers to obey their oral words, as substantiated by Scripture.

It was not until later on that some of the oral tradition was committed to writing

Much of Scripture was first oral, but Scripture is the part of tradition that is the assured word of God, being established as being so due to its heavenly qualities, like as a true man of God is, even if not affirmed by men as he should be. To make oral tradition by decree is contrary to how Scripture was established, most of which took place b there was a church in Rome, and to make it equal to it is to essentially add to the canon, and makes the magisterium like inspired writers, even if they deny being on that level.

The prophecy given Anna Marie is being fulfilled, the awful rejection of Mary because of the revolters.

You have already been reproved by your own on this, and blithely dismiss evidence to the contrary in order to promote your own ideas, and i have lots to do. May God grant you grace unto repentance. (2Tim 2:25)

167 posted on 04/17/2012 9:36:33 PM PDT by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a damned+morally destitute sinner,+trust Him to forgive+save you,+live....)
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To: Natural Law; boatbums; metmom; RnMomof7; presently no screen name; Quix

I am certainly interested in revealing truth - and for the Truth to be victorious- which requires objectivity, and more than superficial examination and analysis, which i present for others to judge, but when the other party asserts we need to be subject to Rome, even though the prophecies he publicly promotes have no official sanction, and dismisses reproof by his own, and requires his interpretation and choice of Bible be accepted even when the church he promotes does not, then it appears he is the one who sees himself right regardless, and is the supreme judge.


168 posted on 04/17/2012 9:48:17 PM PDT by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a damned+morally destitute sinner,+trust Him to forgive+save you,+live....)
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To: OLD REGGIE

That was shown him and more, but continues undeterred,


169 posted on 04/17/2012 9:49:24 PM PDT by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a damned+morally destitute sinner,+trust Him to forgive+save you,+live....)
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To: boatbums

I have been busy elsewhere, and have much to do, so i have not been following this for a couple days, but thanks.


170 posted on 04/17/2012 9:52:16 PM PDT by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a damned+morally destitute sinner,+trust Him to forgive+save you,+live....)
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To: stpio
You never did, not a one objecting, explained why the Son called His mother “woman.” Why would Jesus do that? Answer the question. Men in the Old and the New call other women in Scripture “woman” and so did Our Lord but not their mothers. This is getting old, you can’t give an answer. Everything Our Lord stated was perfectly said.

It's not that no one has answered your numerous questions but rather that you do not accept the answers. You have your own ideas and beliefs and those who do not agree with you, you disparage. THAT is what is getting old, stpio.

Why did Jesus call Mary "woman"? First of all, those are the times recorded in Scripture where he used that name, not every time are we told what Jesus called his mother as he was growing up, are we? When he was three, did he call, "Woman!"? I doubt it. So the question must be why in the few times Mary and he are even mentioned in the same passage, he used the term. You say because he was giving us hints that would compliment the other times in Scripture the same word is used and we'd get it that Mary is the woman referenced. The problem with that is, of course, plenty of women in the Bible are addressed as "woman". Should we interpret that to mean ALL those women are also referenced in the Scripture passages such as Genesis 3:15 and Revelation 12? Hardly!

What the smart thing to do is to look at passages in their context and think about why certain words were used. When Jesus was preaching one day, a woman in the crowd yelled out, "Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked." (Luke 11:27) That would have been a perfect time for Jesus to introduce his mother and brag on her, don't you think? But what did he say? "Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." "Rats!", Stpio says, "Why didn't Jesus do what I think he should have done and tell everybody how they need to worship Mary too and pray to her because she could save them?". Get over it, he didn't and the reason is because Mary is not who we should worship or pray to nor count on to save us. It is only Jesus that can do that and he alone deserves all praise and glory and honor.

So, why do I think Jesus called Mary "woman" in front of others? I think it goes back to that time in Luke 11 when maybe the first person came up with the idea to prop up Jesus' mother and, rather than agree with them, he wanted them to understand that ALL believers are equal in his eyes.

In Matthew 12, we are told of another occasion where Mary and Jesus' brothers and sisters were outside where he was preaching and they wanted to talk to him. Someone said to Jesus, "Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee." (Matthew 12:47) Wouldn't that be a good time to exalt his mother and family before the people just so they could "get it" that Mary was to be the "Queen of Heaven" and they should worship and adore her? But what did Jesus say? "But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother". Do you get it now? Jesus called his mother woman not because he was disrespecting her, but rather to demonstrate he did not have "favorites" and all were equal in his eyes. He is Almighty God incarnate, he existed before Mary was born. She was certainly blessed to be chosen to have the honor of bearing the Messiah, but she was not worthy to be worshiped. Through Jesus Christ were ALL things created and without Him was not anything made that was made. (John 1) He is Mary's creator, she gave birth to his incarnation. His incarnation had a beginning, but not his deity - He always was and always will be. Scripture says that all generations will call her blessed, and she was and is, but she is still a redeemed human being who was saved by the blood of Jesus Christ shed for all sin. It is because of this Jesus is:

Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me’” (Matthew 28:18).

“And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy” (Colossians 1:18).

“He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father” (Revelation 2:27, Jesus quoting Psalm 2:8-9).

“in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (Ephesians 1:20-23).

God “has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe” (Hebrews 1:2).

“‘you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.’ In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him” (Hebrews 2:7-8).

171 posted on 04/17/2012 10:17:19 PM PDT by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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To: boatbums

“Why did Jesus call Mary “woman”? First of all, those are the times recorded in Scripture where he used that name, not every time are we told what Jesus called his mother as he was growing up, are we? When he was three, did he call, “Woman!”?”

~ ~ ~

Here you go again, avoiding the subject of discussion
and the divine help in the prophecy and Scripture.

Now instead of your excuse, saying Jesus called other women “woman” in the Gospel. Now you really grasping, saying did He call His mother “woman” when He was three years old.?

So what to both friend. Our Lord had an intention for addressing His mother as “woman.”

You still haven’t answered the question, why did Jesus
address His mother as “woman?”


172 posted on 04/17/2012 11:05:11 PM PDT by stpio
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To: boatbums

No one has to as you say “prop” up Our Lord’s mother.

Since 1517, non-Catholic Christians interpret this verse to
say...seee...Mary isn’t extra special. Nor is she in Our Lord’s eyes.

Proof again, private interpretation of Scripture is a heresy.

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother”.

What human person followed the will of God the Father more
than Mary? Proof, the first words to Mary from God the
Father in greeting...”Hail full of grace.” That’s pretty
special. Full of grace means full of God. Mary is sinless.

I’ll have to post for others, you are too set, Satan’s rejection of Mary when he heard the plan of Redemption.

You are dear though...


173 posted on 04/17/2012 11:21:30 PM PDT by stpio
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To: daniel1212; Alamo-Girl; Amityschild; AngieGal; AnimalLover; Ann de IL; aposiopetic; aragorn; ...
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

!ABSOLUTELY INDEED!

I hope you didn't expect a miraculous attitude change after lo, these many years. . . . the most apt Scripture I can think of is I Samuel 15:23

New International Version (©1984)
For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."

New Living Translation (©2007)
Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."

.

With some RC's it seems that the addiction to worshiping idols is as tenacioiusly, dogmatically held to as the addiction to stubbornness and arrogance. Though certainly plenty of Proddys in noxious places give them a good run for their idol fondling as well as their stubbornness and arrogance.

Am reading GOD ATTACHMENT by Dr Tim Clinton and Joshua Straub . . . [Quixicated emphases added]

Came to this passage . . .

THE RISK OF GRACE

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. --Eph 2:8

.

BROKENNESS BEGS FOR HEALING. Bondage begs for freedom. Addiction is only satisfied by grace.

From the opposite ends of the literary spectrum, we find observations about our relationship with God. Irish playwright . . . George Bernard Shaw noted with wry wit, "God created us in His image and we decided to return the favor."

It is impossible for flawed, finite human beings to truly grasp the transcendent nature of Almighty God . . .

Some of us it seems, don't even try. In Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Ricky prays,

"Dear Lord baby Jesus, lyin' there in your ghost manger, just lookin' at your Baby Einstein developmental videos, learning' 'bout shapes and colors. I would like to thank you for bringin' me and my mama together, and also that my kids no longer sound like retarded gang-bangers."

.

We can laugh at the absurdity of Ricky's prayer, but our laughter may have an edge of irony if we realize that we, like Ricky, try to make God into someone we can relate to--someone we can !!!CONTROL!!! and use for our benefit. To the extent that we "dumb God down" and create our own image of him {a la the example of the 1400 years of the RC Magisterical Power Mongers brazenly majoring in just that}, we miss out on the joy and the adventure of having a relationship with the REAL GOD.

One of the most poignant moments in C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia is in the first book ... The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Mrs. Beaver tells Lucy about Aslan, the elusive lion of Narnia, who is a symbol of Christ in Lewis's stories.

Mrs. Beaver tells the little girl of Aslan's power and majesty, and how he sometimes appears just in time when people need Him most desperately.

Little Lucy feels overwhelmed with the thought that she might someday actually face the awesome beast. She asks timidly,

"Is He safe?"

"Oh, no, derie." Mrs Beaver laughs at the thought. "He's not safe. But He's Good."

.

When Jesus stepped onto the planet, He didn't make everybody feel warm and comfortable.

He accused His enemies of hurting the people they were supposed to protect, and these leaders were often furious with Him.

And Jesus challenged His followers to give up their selfishness and devote themselves more fully to God than they ever thought possible.

They were undoubtedly inspired, but often, also quite perplexed.

Jesus' goal wasn't to win a popularity contest, His message was at the same time the most comforting and the most threatening ever heard.

Wherever He went, no one took Him for granted. He was--and still is--the dividing point of history. Paul says that He came to bring freedom.^1 Jesus said it was His mission to bring life.^2

However, we have to take up our cross and follow Him.^3

To devote ourselves leads to life. And to experience His grace changes everything. Knowing HIm risks everything we thought we could !!!CONTROL!!! in our lives.

Amazingly, it is the best and highest risk that we should ever take, for it is the difference between life and death, now and for all eternity. A God-centered life is soaked daily with an understanding and awe of Grace.

Above all the grace and
the gifts that Christ gives
to His beloved
is that of overcoming
self. --Francis of Assisi

.

In the Gospel story of the prodigal son we mentioned earlier, the younger brother's selfishness and sin is obvious. He wasted all he had on "wild living." The elder brother, though did everything right. He worked hard, sweated in the fields, and "never disobeyed" his father.

At the end of the story, however, the younger brother was enjoying his father's love and acceptance at a lavish feast, while the elder brother bitterly remained outside.

Obedience, then, isn't the highest virtue for a believer; it's faith.

Throughout the Scriptures, we find people who did the right things but for the wrong reasons.

In their self-sufficient pride, theyd din't want to admit that they needed a Savior.

Instead, they tried to be their own saviors, giving until it hurt, attending services all day every day, praying for hours on end, {{Qx: fondling endless beads and statues}}, and sacrificing time, energy and resources to prove that they were "good and acceptable to God."

Their obedience and hard work only fed their {{Qx: my}} pride and pushed them {{me}} further from God's heart.

This is the great paradox of Grace.

Sooner or later, we have to realize that we can never measure up to God's standard of perfect holiness.

HE IS HOLY.
WE'RE NOT.

Life with God is a pure gift, not a grind that we have to endure day after impossible day.

We may do a lot better than "that other guy," and that measure of comparison makes us feel good about ourselves--but that's not the way of Grace.

Genuine humility flowing from our recognition of how impossible it is for man to earn his way to God is the first step in grasping God's Grace. To illustrate this point, Jesus told a story:

{{The Pharsiee & the tax collector}} Luke 18:9-14

. . . In the story, the mark of Grace is seen in the tax collector's humble confession of sin, but the hard-hearted Pharisee believed he was better than everybody else because HE HAD DONE SO MUCH FOR GOD.

{{Qx: He had followed the organizational Magicsterical soooo faithfully . . . He'd jumped through all the hoops, landing adroitly almost always in the laps of the proper statues so properly . . . }}

Jesus' listeners that day would have been astounded. The prostitutes and tax gatherers were thrilled that God's Grace extended even to them, but the Pharisees would have been furioius that all their good deeds, loyalty, and giving amounted to nothing {{actually, as Isaiah 64:6 says our works of righteousness--amounted to used Ktx}}.

To experience God's Grace, we have to give up on ever trying to earn it. IT's a gift--nothing less and nothing else.

.

Reading that section has been a renewal challenge and encouragement . . .

HE IS HOLY

I'M NOT.

HIS HOLINESS is imparted to me via Christ's Blood. I could never remotely possibly earn it regardless of how many Magistericals I pleased or complied with.

Faith in Christ's Blood . . . so essential. So sufficient for Salvation.

What can wash away my sins . . . nothing but The Blood of Jesus, as the old hymn exalts so truly and majestically.

All else at least risks, if not wallows well over the lines of stubbornness, arrogance, idolatry, witchcraft.

174 posted on 04/18/2012 1:03:47 AM PDT by Quix (Times are a changin' INSURE you have believed in your heart & confessed Jesus as Lord Come NtheFlesh)
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To: All

Who will crush the head....?

Take a few moments and watch a short Youtube, The Vortex. Michael Voris answers better than I can the question, who is the “woman” in Genesis 3:15? He explains and returns the Latin Vulgate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMygWgRGw_Y


175 posted on 04/18/2012 2:59:46 AM PDT by stpio
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To: Quix
Obedience, then, isn't the highest virtue for a believer; it's faith.

That's Romans 4 in a single sentence. Thanks!

176 posted on 04/18/2012 3:00:58 AM PDT by .30Carbine (God bless you with the spirit of wisdom and understanding)
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To: .30Carbine

Certainly

OBEDIENCE IS A SUPER HIGH PRIORITY WITH GOD

AS

Abraham offering Isaac up was an illustration.

However, I believe the authors are correct . . .

FAITH IS A HIGHER PRIORITY

and an over focus on obedience vs RELATIONSHIP results in

the SEDUCTIVE DEADLINESS OF

RELIGION.


177 posted on 04/18/2012 7:59:12 AM PDT by Quix (Times are a changin' INSURE you have believed in your heart & confessed Jesus as Lord Come NtheFlesh)
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To: All

We’ve been discussing private revelation, the 5th Dogma and
arguing over who is the “woman” in Genesis 3:15. We just
go around, especially on the last. People are not going to change until the Great Warning (Rev 6:12-17).

Sharing today, from Yahoo Groups - Seers 2, a yet to be approved Roman Catholic private revelation that is SO VERY serious, we are closer to the Great Tribulation. Our Lord mentions the Great Warning, it has different names, Protestants often hear it called the “awakening.” You’ll see the link to the seer, Anna Marie’s messages.

~ ~ ~

Apostolate of the Green Scapular April 11, 2012

http://www.greenscapular.org

MESSAGE FROM OUR SAVIOR JESUS YOUR NATION HAS GONE DARK WITH SIN

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012 @ 1:03 AM

Anna Marie: My Lord, are you calling me?

Jesus: Yes my dear one.

Anna Marie: My Lord are you Father, Son or Holy Spirit?

Jesus: Beloved, it is I your Savior, Jesus of Nazareth.

Anna Marie: My Lord may I ask, will you bow down and adore God Your Eternal Holy Father, Who Is the Alpha and Omega, the Creator of all life of all that is seen or unseen, visible or invisible?

Jesus: Yes my daughter, I your Divine Savior Jesus of Nazareth will now and will always bow down and adore my Holy Eternal Merciful Father, Who is the Alpha and Omega, the Creator of all life, of all that is seen or not seen, visible or invisible.

Anna Marie: Yes my Lord, please speak for your sinful servant is listening. And Jesus, may I also have a Scripture?

Jesus: Jeremias 9:10-15 and Ezechiel 14:8-22 (Refer to page 10 for Scripture).

Anna Marie: Thank you my Lord.

Jesus: As you know, your nation has gone very dark with sin. It has separated itself from my Father’s love because evil has pervaded man’s minds with every form of sin, lust, anger and occult activities. Now it will become darkened with hostile demonic possessed persons out to destroy my good and faithful servants.

Jesus: Prepare for the great awakening. Prepare your homes for a matter of time that you will need to care for those whom you love. The stores will be shut, supplies will be scarce and if you do not prepare now and during the Summer months, you will find yourself and your family members wanting.

Jesus: Look to the East, a storm is on the horizon. Behold an Angel of Death is coming to your shores. Prepare now while there is still time. Soon you will be tested, you must not be afraid to declare your love for Me, Jesus Christ, Savior and Redeemer of souls.

Anna Marie: My Lord, what does this mean? Is it a plague?

Jesus: No.

Anna Marie: Is it an Army?

Jesus: Yes. Be prepared to stand up for your family and my Churches on earth.

Anna Marie: Yes my Lord.

Jesus: Prepare now, before it is too late.

Anna Marie: Thank you my Lord, praise you Jesus for the warnings.

END OF MESSAGE

PLEASE NOTE: This Heavenly Message may be referring to another country who is involved in a war because the referenced Scripture. Although we do not know, we ask every person reading these pages to pray daily to God our Father for the mitigation of any war.

PLEASE NOTE: Our Spiritual Director believes this refers to the false prophet who is part of the unholy trinity as described in the Book of Apocalypse and what sufferings Jerusalem will endure in the near future.


178 posted on 04/18/2012 12:39:30 PM PDT by stpio
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To: stpio
You still haven’t answered the question, why did Jesus address His mother as “woman?”

What's wrong, you got to the first sentence and stopped reading? I certainly DID answer the question and you are doing exactly what I said you would. Go back and read my post so you'll know what that was. Gee, am I a prophet now, too???

179 posted on 04/18/2012 3:45:08 PM PDT by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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To: stpio
What human person followed the will of God the Father more than Mary? Proof, the first words to Mary from God the Father in greeting...”Hail full of grace.” That’s pretty special. Full of grace means full of God. Mary is sinless.

I guess you believe St. Augustine was also guilty of "private interpretation" then? Here are a few of his writings concerning the issue of anyone's sinlessness BESIDES our Lord Jesus Christ:

From http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php?itemid=4165:

Moreover, just a short time before writing "On Nature and Grace," Augustine wrote "On Merits and Forgiveness of Sins," in which he spoke more clearly:

    Augustine (354-430):
    This being the case, ever since the time when by one man sin thus entered into this world and death by sin, and so it passed through to all men, up to the end of this carnal generation and perishing world, the children of which beget and are begotten, there never has existed, nor ever will exist, a human being of whom, placed in this life of ours, it could be said that he had no sin at all, with the exception of the one Mediator, who reconciles us to our Maker through the forgiveness of sins.
    NPNF1: Vol. V, On Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants, Book II, Chapter 47.

And again...

    Augustine (354-430):
    Let us hold fast, then, the confession of this faith, without filtering or failure. One alone is there who was born without sin, in the likeness of sinful flesh, who lived without sin amid the sins of others, and who died without sin on account of our sins. “Let us turn neither to the right hand nor to the left.” For to turn to the right hand is to deceive oneself, by saying that we are without sin; and to turn to the left is to surrender oneself to one’s sins with a sort of impunity, in I know not how perverse and depraved a recklessness. “God indeed knoweth the ways on the right hand,” even He who alone is without sin, and is able to blot out our sins; “but the ways on the left hand are perverse,” in friendship with sins. NPNF1: Vol. V, On Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants, Book II, Chapter 57 [XXXV].

Likewise, at the very end of his life, in his "Unfinished Work in Answer to Julian," Augustine wrote something similar:

    Augustine (354-430 AD): See, here is Ambrose; see what he says about what you are attacking. He says, “He could not alone be righteous, since the whole human race went astray, if it were not that, because he was born of a virgin, he was not held by the law of the guilty race.” Listen further; listen and stop the impudent tongue of your effrontery by shedding tears: “For intercourse with a man did not open the gates of the Virgin’s womb; rather, the Holy Spirit poured spotless seed into that inviolable womb. For among those born of a woman the holy Lord Jesus was absolutely the only one who did not experience the contagion of earthly corruption because of the new manner of his immaculate birth; rather, he shrugged it off by his celestial majesty.” John E. Rotelle, O.S.A., ed., Works of Saint Augustine, Answer to the Pelagians III, Unfinished Work in Answer to Julian, Book I:66, Part 1, Vol. 25, trans. Roland J. Teske, S.J. (Hyde Park: New City Press, 1999), p. 91.

And if you will not accord weight to the testimony of an unfinished work, consider what Augustine wrote in his letters.

First, his letter to Jerome that was the same year as his publication of "On Nature and Grace":

    Augustine (354-430):
    Therefore it is true that in the sight of God “shall no man living be justified,” and yet that “the just shall live by his faith.” On the one hand, “the saints are clothed with righteousness,” one more, another less; on the other hand, no one lives here wholly without sin—one sins more, another less, and the best is the man who sins least. NPNF1: Vol. I, Letters of St. Augustin, Letter 167 - To Jerome, Chapter 3, §13.

Second, his letter to Optatus about two years later:

    Augustine (354-430):
    For, if no soul is propagated from another, while all souls are enclosed in flesh descended from sinful flesh, how much less credible is it that His soul could have come by propagation from a sinful woman, whereas his flesh came from a virgin and was not conceived in lust, that He might be ‘in the likeness of sinful flesh,’ not in sinful flesh! See FC, Vol. 30, Saint Augustine Letters 165-203, Letter 190, to Optatus (New York: Fathers of the Church, Inc., 1955), p. 287.

And then again to Optatus five years after writing "On Nature and Grace":

    Augustine (354-430):
    In the advice and admonition he gives that I rather apply my effort to stamping out this deadly heresy from the Churches, he refers to that same Pelagian heresy which I urge you, my brother, with all my strength, to avoid with the utmost care, whenever you either think or argue about the origin of souls, so that the belief may not steal upon you that any soul at all, save that of the unique Mediator, was free from inheritance of Adam, that original sin under which we are bound when we are begotten but from which we are freed by our second birth. FC, Vol. 30, Saint Augustine Letters 165-203, Letter 202A, To Optatus (New York: Fathers of the Church, Inc., 1955), p. 420.

And while my correspondent simply asserts that Augustine did not come up with the content quoted in "On Nature and Grace," we can prove that Augustine -- in holding to the universality of original sin to those born from sexual intercourse -- was following his teacher Ambrose.

    Ambrose (c. 339-97) commenting on Luke 1:35:
    For wholly alone of those born of woman was our Holy Lord Jesus, Who by the strangeness of His undefiled Birth has not suffered the pollutions of earthly corruption, but dispelled them by heavenly majesty.

      Saint Ambrose of Milan, Exposition of the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke, trans. Theodosia Tomkinson (Etna: Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies, 1998), Book II, §56, p. 59.

      Ambrose (c. 339-97):
      No Conception is without iniquity, since there are no parents who have not fallen. (Nec conceptus iniquitatis exsors est, quoniam et parentes non carent lapsu. ) Prophetae David ad Theodosium Augustum, Caput XI, PL 14:873; for translation, see I. D. E. Thomas, The Golden Treasury of Patristic Quotations (Oklahoma City: Hearthstone Publishing, 1996), p. 258.

      Ambrose (c. 339-97):
      So, then, no one is without sin except God alone, for no one is without sin except God. Also, no one forgives sins except God alone, for it is also written: “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And one cannot be the Creator of all except he be not a creature, and he who is not a creature is without doubt God; for it is written: “They worshipped the creature rather than the Creator, Who is God blessed for ever.” God also does not worship, but is worshipped, for it is written: “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shall thou serve.” NPNF2: Vol. X, On the Holy Spirit, Book III, Chapter 18, §133.

      Ambrose (c. 339-97):
      Let us therefore consider whether the Holy Spirit have any of these marks which may bear witness to His Godhead. And first let us treat of the point that none is without sin except God alone, and demand that they prove that the Holy Spirit has sin. NPNF2: Vol. X, On the Holy Spirit, Book III, Chapter 18, §134.

    And we don't have to speculate whether Augustine was consciously agreeing with Ambrose:

      Augustine (354-430 AD):
      Hilary says that all flesh comes from sin apart from the flesh of the one who came without sin in the likeness of sinful flesh. He says that the one who cried out, I was conceived in iniquities (Ps 51:7), “was born from a sinful origin and under the law of sin. Saint Ambrose says that “the little ones who have been baptized are changed from their wickedness back to the original state of their nature.” He says that “by reason of his immaculate birth the Holy Lord Jesus alone of those born of a woman experienced no infection from earthly corruption." He says that we all die in Adam, because through one man sin entered the world (Rom 5:12) and his sin is the death of all. He says that in his wound “the whole human race would have died, if that Samaritan had not come down and healed his grave wounds.” He says that Adam existed and all existed in him, that Adam perished and all perished in him. He says that we are stained with infection before we were born and that a human being is not conceived free of iniquity, because, as he says, we are “conceived in the sin of our parents and we are born in their transgressions. Birth itself has its own infections, and nature itself does not have only one infection.” He says that the devil is a money lender to whom sinful Eve “put the whole human race in debt with succeeding generations subject to usury.” He says that Eve was deceived by the devil “in order to trip up her husband and place their descendants in debt.” He says that Adam was so wounded by the bite of the serpent “that we all limp because of that wound.” He says that through the union of the bodies of the man and the woman no one is immune from transgression, but that “the one who is immune from transgression,” that is, Christ the Lord, “is also immune from that manner of conception.” See John E. Rotelle, O.S.A., ed., Works of Saint Augustine, Answer to the Pelagians III, Answer to Julian, Book I:7, 32, Part 1, Vol. 24, trans. Roland J. Teske, S.J. (Hyde Park: New City Press, 1998), pp. 290-291.

      Augustine (354-430 AD):
      Say to this man [i.e., Ambrose], if you dare, that he makes the devil the creator of human beings who are born from the union of both sexes. He, after all, exempted Christ alone from the bonds of the guilty race, because he was born of a virgin. All the others coming after Adam are born under the debt of sin, the sin which the devil, of course, planted in them. Refute this man for condemning marriage, for he says that only the son of the virgin was born without sin. Charge this man with denying the attainment of virtue, since he says that vices are implanted in the human race at the very beginning of conception.

      See John E. Rotelle, O.S.A., ed., Works of Saint Augustine, Answer to the Pelagians III, Answer to Julian, Book II:2, 4, Part 1, Vol. 24, trans. Roland J. Teske, S.J. (Hyde Park: New City Press, 1998), p. 306.

      Augustine (354-430 AD):
      Moreover, when expounding the Gospel according to Luke, he [i.e. Ambrose] says: “It was no cohabitation with a husband which opened the secrets of the Virgin’s womb; rather was it the Holy Ghost which infused immaculate seed into her unviolated womb. For the Lord Jesus alone of those who are born of woman is holy, inasmuch as He experienced not the contact of earthly corruption, by reason of the novelty of His immaculate birth; nay, He repelled it by His heavenly majesty.”

      NPNF1: Vol. V, Augustin’s Anti-Pelagian Works, The Grace of Christ And on Original Sin, Book II On Original Sin, Chapter 47. This same citation of Ambrose is likewise found in John E. Rotelle, O.S.A., ed., Works of Saint Augustine, Answer to the Pelagians III, Unfinished Work in Answer to Julian, Book I:66, Part 1, Vol. 25, trans. Roland J. Teske, S.J. (Hyde Park: New City Press, 1999), p. 91; and again later in the same work, 4:121, p. 485; as well as in His Answer to Julian, as set forth above.

    Perhaps you should ask yourself why your church only decided to define the dogma of Mary's sinlessness to be a dogma of faith until December 8, 1854, by Pope Pius IX? It isn't my private interpretation that is at issue here.


180 posted on 04/18/2012 4:11:53 PM PDT by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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