Good comparison, I do believe.
Living with my wife for over 10 years?
"We are saints who have no need of saints.All who have believed in the gospel of grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone have already been declared saints by God (see Romans 1:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:1-3, 2 Corinthians 1:1-2, and Ephesians 2:19-21).
We are God’s holy people, called by him and to him. Jesus Christ is the full and final mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5) who invites us to confidently approach the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) believing that his Spirit is already interceding on our behalf (Romans 8:26-27).
We are the saints of God who have no need for the intercession of saints who have gone before.
It takes a certain breathtaking insolence to tell God what you do and don't need. How about finding out what God thinks you need?
But since you have no need of the intercession of the saints who stand in the presence of God, you have no need of the intercession of the saints who don't yet stand there. I will make it a point not to pray for you today.
Sound right to you? It shouldn't.
I'm a catholic and I struggle with this because I don't think it's man's role to decide who got into heaven. We cannot know. For all we know Mother Theresa murdered several people over the span of her life and never confessed or repented. We see her good acts and think "what a wonderful person, surely she is in heaven!" but we can't truly know. On the other hand that crazy cat lady down the road who used to yell at you when you walked past her house might be in heaven right now and nobody ever considers it.
Eventually one thing is assured: we will leave this world beyond and the truth of the afterlife will be revealed. Until then, we mortals cannot know.
I thought the Catholic bashing threads were done away with some months ago. It looks like they’re creeping back in.
#3. Almost but not quite right. Catholics do not worship Mary. She is venerated. She is the highest Saint.
The Lives of the Saints serve to remind and inspire us. They are thrilling!
It sounds to me, in all this, that it is virtually impossible for a saint to exist on earth.
This contradicts many of the epistles of Paul, who often greeted “the saints” in his letters.
Only this: Believe that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, and confess that He is your Lord.
RCC sainthood process: an example of bloated government, and added regulations.
At least they don’t dodge, for the most part, the conversion commands of Jesus Christ and his apostles. Although, if I understand correctly, the RCC doesn’t use the name of Jesus Christ in baptism, diverting from the way shown by Peter in Acts 2:38.
The Lord gives very explicit instructions in being born again, beginning with John 3:5-8. Then, at the end of the Gospels, we read his words of commission to his apostles.
Matt. 28:19; the Lord commanded that THEY baptize souls.
Mark 16:16; The Lord commanded to his disciples that one must believe and be baptized.
Luke 24:47; The Lord commanded that repentance and remission of sins are to be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
John 20:23; The Lord commanded that whose soever sins YE remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins YE retain, they are retained.
Then following those commands, the apostles preached Jesus Christ, commanding repentance, and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and receiving the Holy Ghost.
In Acts 2:37 (Jews) we find convicted souls asking, “what shall we do?”
2:38; Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
By claiming to be able to believe on Jesus, yet skirting (or devaluing) his commands, one is in danger of trying to enter in by another door.
We are called to holiness, but please do not call me a living saint.
I always wonder how it is explained that so very few prayers for intercession of “saints” actually DO get answered. Why aren’t ALL of them granted? And why is the “saint” given glory when it is Almighty God who really does the healing?
I even read recently that it cost quite a bit of money to get someone declared a “saint” in the Roman Catholic church.
There is no special class of saint.
So, one part of the Body of Christ says to another, "I don't need you."
This 'foundation of the world' is the greek word a noun katabole.. It means the casting down - overthrow... Genesis 1:2 Isaiah 14:12 How art thous fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!..... God has already pre-ordained the 'saints', he does NOT need man's traditions to marks saints.. Going to be a shock and awe when the many return to the Maker.
Beeing born again/saved/regenerated/ whatever you want to call having experiened the new birth.
Its just so sad to imagine so many people walking in such darkness, when the Light is so readily available and waiting to be enjoyed.
All it takes is a smidgen more faith than no faith whatsoever for a saving faith.