Posted on 11/19/2013 6:10:28 AM PST by Gamecock
I think it speaks to the nature of man, of the degree that sin has corrupted that nature. Luther, in his spiritual struggles, came to have a very low opinion of himself as a human being. Whatever he did, he saw the pit of hell yawning before him, a veritable black hole from which no light emerged, and every step brought him closer to that pit.
The government is assailing and threatening the Catholics right now. Last year on the days of our Stand Up for Religious Freedom rallies, Protestants joined us, and one, a Baptist, said, "We're all Catholic today."
I think we'd do better and give better witness if we focused more on making common cause these days.
In Richard Strauss's searing opera, Salome, the Jews are represented as people always quarreling. The opera was first performed in 1905. Look what happened a generation later.
When Caesar comes for us, there will be not only Maximilian Kolbes but also Bonhoeffers. I'm just sayin'.
Good question. It is the assurance that I am, right now, redeemed by the blood of Christ and that the Holy Spirit within me has been given as a GUARANTEE of my redemption. It is in knowing that the very fact that I have received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord that I am positionally seated already in the heavenlies with Christ and that my ultimate sanctification is assured as I live here on earth. It is explained well in Ephesians 2:1-10
Just an ironic incident regarding things degenerating into a “donnybrook”. My daughter, Brooke, married a guy named, you guessed it, Donny. I didn’t want to think the marriage was doomed, but...and sure enough, it quickly degenerated into a you guessed it again. NAMES MEAN SOMETHING PEOPLE!! :)
To put it in Catholic talk, you are convinced that you are in a state of grace, and that no matter what you do, you will so remain, because the Holy Spirit is within you?
We should each be responsible for our own online conduct and I try hard to contain my urges to answer fire with fire. I've learned that, of course, it only makes the fire hotter. I've learned that a "soft answer turns away wrath" most times. I appreciate that quality in yours.
Whoah! How ironic.
lol! Isn’t it though?! ANother one, my sister’s secretary is named Sandy Klause. I am not kidding.
EXCELLENT!
However, her parents need a spanking.
That’s a great story! So sad but so funny,
Thank you.
I can’t think of anything to add. Thank you.
God's word assures me that I have been saved by grace through faith and that it's not of my own works or efforts. All those who come to Christ in faith are IN a state of grace because that is how we ARE saved - by grace. Just as we are not saved by our own merits (say, not sinning, doing good works, saying prayers, etc.) we are also not KEPT saved by those efforts. We are found In Christ, not having our own righteousness, but the righteousness which is of God by faith (Philippians 3:9). The grace that saves us, keeps us saved.
And, in anticipation of your next tack, saving faith IS a faith that is demonstrated in a changed life. The "old nature" is crucified with Christ and we have been given a new nature - a SPIRIT nature - that internally renews our minds. This is a "living faith" that the lives we now lead we lead by the grace of God in gratitude for His mercy and because we are now geared towards righteousness in order to honor and glorify God. We may slip from time to time, because that old nature keeps crawling off the altar, but the spirit always draws us back to Christ and repentance. We never are cast away, lost or unadopted, that same grace which redeemed us keeps us saved - even if/when we slip. When that awesome truth is finally revealed to our hearts, how can we EVER desire to remain in sin?
NO, that’s the irony of the whole thing: THAT’S her married name! SHE did it, not her parents! Meant to be together?? you tell me...)
Roman doctrine and practice offers "order." Those that go to Evangelical/Baptist/Protestant churches that end up with Rome are seeking "order" and "tangible" religion.
Rome feeds the senses and gives concrete "stereo instructions" on how to be "righteous" before God. So people seeking order in their lives who do not have the Holy Spirit guiding them, go to something that they can "control" by DOING somethings. That is the allure.
Pastors probably see it coming but most don't. They are the veiled questions of "how do I know for sure I am saved?" I am sure pastors lead them to God's Word and if God's Word is not enough, they shop for a religion that gives them written instructions on what they can DO. At that point you put 'salvation' in your our hands (control, kind of like at the tower of Babel) and the hands of others who tell you that what you are doing is right because "God has his rep right here on earth" to confirm your beliefs...which are in yourself and not God.
If Rome wants to build a major theology on a similtude that does not correspond to the Last Supper, that is fine, but they need to be honest about other similtudes Jesus spoke as well. He is the Door; the Vine; the Word. We understand what Jesus meant by "the Door." He is the door to the Father. We don't have an earthly door in which to enter, because it is in the Person of Jesus Christ. We understand the term “Word” (Greek logos) designates God the Son with respect to His deity; “Jesus” and “Christ” refer to His incarnation and saving work. We do not "eat" a Bible to receive the Word. The Vine is used to show The Father is in the Son, the Son in the Father, The believer in the Son and the Son in the believer. Quite a 'complicated' circuit thus the Vine.
These are powerful similtudes, pictorals if you will of a definate REALITY of Jesus Christ. None of them are giving us a physical reality other than the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. That happened once for all.
We are told by the Master in verse 63:
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
I didn't say you "made anything up". The article you pasted flatly states a falsehood. It tells a lie.
Anti-Catholic evangelicals always say, "Oh, we don't hate Catholics! We love Catholics!". REALITY CHECK! Telling a falsehood about someone else is slander. It's objectively a sin. It's -- objectively -- *never* an act of love.
(Subjectively, it can be done out of ignorance, and be innocent. However, I just popped any bubbles of ignorance on that topic, and am happy to pop them again. Do you want me to quote Ott, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, on the topic? I'm happy to.)
Luke 18:
9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Catholics do not believe we are saved by our own efforts, but we do believe that we are made in the image of God, and our nature was not so corrupted by sin that our inborn gifts have no efficacy. As to assurance, I am not quite sure how to reconcile the confident attitude of modern evangelicals with that of, say , say the Puritans who kept spiritual journals so they might discern whether they were among the Elect or not. You all seem to have more in common with John Wesley and his methodism than Calvin.
People by nature, love the ability to "see" and "touch"...the tangible things. It gives people "control" over their own lives. We are a fallen people of demanding "litmus tests" and "metrics." Rome gives people what they want---the ability to merit their own salvation, which makes folks feel like they are in control.
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