Posted on 11/19/2013 6:10:28 AM PST by Gamecock
I cannot imagine why it so pushes RC’s over the edge to think that Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us, credited to our account, without us having to earn it. Nothing seems to set them off more than to think that God is merciful and gives us His salvation and righteousness as a gift.
You’d think anyone in their right minds would jump at the chance.
Go figure.
Shows thier wordliness. Everyone else in the world thinks they are good enough. Modern day Roman Catholicism thinks the same.
Eph. 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not by works, lest any man should boast.”
“Hardly. Too many Roman Catholics high fiving when one does.”
Here’s a high five for you: last week representatives from a small but very influential Protestant denomination visited the Vatican to meet with a high ranking cardinal to formally request opening up dialogue between the Catholic Church and the aforementioned Protestant denomination. I wont tell you the denomination’s name until it is revealed by that denomination and the Catholic Church, but it will be a big deal when it becomes public.
Are you feeling any better now? Somehow I doubt that.
Your response: Rome maintains nothing of the sort. Why do you guys have to keep making up nonsense like this?
The truth.
THE COUNCIL OF TRENT
Session VI - Celebrated on the thirteenth day of January, 1547 under Pope Paul III
CHAPTER XVI
THE FRUITS OF JUSTIFICATION, THAT IS, THE MERIT OF GOOD WORKS, AND THE
NATURE OF THAT MERIT
we must believe that nothing further is wanting to those justified to prevent them from being considered to have, by those very works which have been done in God, fully satisfied the divine law according to the state of this life and to have truly merited eternal life,
Would you like to apologize to metmom?
In America, whites are leaving Catholicism, mass democrat immigration keeps the numbers somewhat steady.
People searching for truth will be swimming the Tiber 2,000 years from now “so that they all may be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you.”
It is inconceivable to me that a Spirit indwelt Christian would take on a religion which teaches that you are in error and not indwelt with the Holy Spirit...I'd say it's impossible for a born again Christian to become a Catholic...
Depends on what side of the Tiber you swam to...The far side feeds you the father once a week or so and you're good for about 20 minutes...
A simple clear statement like, "This is my body" isn't at all the same as the typical silly comparisons those who deny the power of the Holy Spirit try to compare it to but that's OK since by agreeing with the other two things I mention makes my point for me.
Thank you for posting this. The doctrine of justification by faith alone in Christ alone was the MAJOR reason why I rejected the religion I was born and raised in and there is NO impetus for me to ever need to return to it. It is for that very reason that Bellarmine stated - there can be no assurance of salvation in a religion that makes personal righteousness the cause of it. This assurance - the imputation of Christ's righeousness clearly and unambiguously taught in Scripture - is something NOTHING can steal from me!
For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Romans 10:2-4)
... we at least agree that people who believe Mary is dead believe Christ lied to the thief on the cross...
Which direction are you talking about? :o)
I swam away because of theological reasons but many Catholics have asserted (here, especially) that that isn't possible and the only reasons could have been for moral ones (i.e., disagreement over divorce, sex outside of marriage, contraception, etc.). Yet, when I left it was because I recognized that the gospel of Catholicism was NOT the gospel of Christ.
Nailed it!
Not to become protestants, not any more. More to become pagans, just like the children of the evangelicals. Neither side has any bragging rights.
But yes, in either direction. Such a choice shouldn't be made on a whim or a "what the heck?" it seems to me.
If any one saith that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary unto salvation...and that without them, or without the desire thereof, men obtain from God, through faith alone, the grace of justification...let him be anathema (The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent. Found in Philip Schaff, The Creeds of Christendom (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1919), Canon IV, p. 119).
As regards those who, by sin, have fallen from the received grace of Justification, they may again be justified...through the sacrament of Penance...For, on behalf of those who fall into sins after baptism, Christ Jesus instituted the sacrament of Penance...and therein are included not only a cessation from sins, and a detestation thereof, or, a contrite and humble heart, but also the sacramental confession of said sins...and sacerdotal absolution; and likewise satisfaction by fasts, alms, prayers, and the other pious exercises of the spiritual life...for the temporal punishment, which...is not always wholly remitted. If any one saith that he who has fallen after baptism...is able to recover the justice which he has lost...by faith alone without the sacrament of Penance...let him be anathema (The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent. Found in Philip Schaff, The Creeds of Christendom (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1910), Decree on Justification, Chapter XIV. Canon XXIX.
In this divine sacrifice...that same Christ is contained and immolated in an unbloody manner who once offered himself in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross...This sacrifice is truly propitiatory...If any one saith, that the sacrifice of the mass is only a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; or that it is a bare commemoration of the sacrifice consummated on the cross, but not a propitiatory sacrifice...and that it ought not to be offered for the living and dead for sins, pains, satisfactions and other necessities: let him be anathema (The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent. Found in Philip Schaff, The Creeds of Christendom (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1910), Doctrine on the Sacrifice of the Mass, Chp. II, p. 180, Canon III).
The doctrine of purgatory clearly demonstrates that even when the guilt of sin has been taken away, punishment for it or the consequences of it may remain to be expiated and cleansed. They often are. In fact, in purgatory the souls of those 'who died in the charity of God and truly repentant, but who had not made satisfaction with adequate penance for their sins and omissions' are cleansed after death with punishments designed to purge away their debt...Following in Christs steps, those who believe in him have always tried to help one another along the path which leads to the heavenly Father, through prayer, the exchange of spiritual goods and penitential expiation. The more they have been immersed in the fervor of love, the more they have imitated Christ in his sufferings. They have carried their crosses to make expiation for their own sins and the sins of others. They were convinced that they could help their brothers to obtain salvation from God who is the Father of mercies. This is the very ancient dogma called the Communion of Saints...The treasury of the Church is the infinite value, which can never be exhausted, which Christs merits have before God. They were offered so that the whole of mankind could be set free from sin and attain communion with the Father. In Christ, the Redeemer himself, the satisfactions and merits of his Redemption exist and find their efficacy. This treasury includes as well the prayers and good works of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They are truly immense, unfathomable and even pristine in their value before God. In the treasury, too, are the prayers and good works of all the saints, all those who have followed in the footsteps of Christ the Lord and by his grace have made their lives holy and carried out the mission the Father entrusted to them. In this way they attained their own salvation and at the same time cooperated in saving their brothers in the unity of the Mystical Body...Gods only-begotten Son... has won a treasure for the militant Church... he has entrusted it to blessed Peter, the key-bearer of heaven, and to his successors who are Christs vicars on earth, so that they may distribute it to the faithful for their salvation. They may apply it with mercy for reasonable causes to all who have repented for and have confessed their sins. At times they may remit completely, and at other times only partially, the temporal punishment due to sin in a general as well as in special ways (insofar as they judge it to be fitting in the sight of the Lord). The merits of the Blessed Mother of God and of all the elect ... are known to add further to this treasure (Paul VI, Indulgentiarum Doctrina, January 1, 1967).
Justification...is not the remission of sins merely, but also the sanctification and renewal of the inward man. If any one saith, that the good works of the one that is justified are in such manner the gifts of God, that they are not also the good merits of him that is justified, by the good works which he performs through the grace of God and the merit of Jesus Christ, whose living member he is, and does not truly merit increase in grace, eternal life, and the attainment of eternal life, if so be, that he depart in grace, and an increase in glory, let him be anathema (The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent. Found in Philip Schaff, The Creeds of Christendom (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1910), Decree on Justification, Chapter VII, Canons X, XXXII).
And of what does that assurance consist, becoming a saint or just feeling justified, or something else?
Yes, I agree. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.
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