Posted on 10/03/2018 7:21:05 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
Let us begin with a church history exam question. Cardinal Robert Bellarmine (1542–1621) was a figure not to be taken lightly. He was Pope Clement VIII’s personal theologian and one of the most able figures in the Counter-Reformation movement within sixteenth-century Roman Catholicism. On one occasion, he wrote: “The greatest of all Protestant heresies is _______ .”
...How would you answer? What is the greatest of all Protestant heresies?
...What he wrote was: “The greatest of all Protestant heresies is assurance.”
A moment’s reflection explains why. If justification is not by faith alone, in Christ alone, by grace alone — if faith needs to be completed by works; if Christ’s work is somehow repeated; if grace is not free and sovereign, then something always needs to be done, to be “added” for final justification to be ours. That is exactly the problem. If final justification is dependent on something we have to complete it is not possible to enjoy assurance of salvation. For then, theologically, final justification is contingent and uncertain, and it is impossible for anyone (apart from special revelation, Rome conceded) to be sure of salvation. But if Christ has done everything, if justification is by grace, without contributory works; it is received by faith’s empty hands — then assurance, even “full assurance” is possible for every believer.
(Excerpt) Read more at ligonier.org ...
Great Ligonier post.
Blessed assurance
1
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Chorus
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
2
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
3
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
So, taking up the Cross is optional?
BTTT.
God doesn’t lie.
When He says we are sealed with the Holy Soirit until the day of redemption, being the guarantee of our inheritance, He means it.
“Amazing Grace,
How Sweet the Sound.”
.
This will stir up the Hornets!
Ping the CC?
It’s only heresy to Catholic teaching.
It’s not heresy according to Scripture.
>>God doesn’t lie.
When He says we are sealed with the Holy Soirit [sic=”Spirit]until the day of redemption, being the guarantee of our inheritance, He means it.<<
God does not infantilize Man. God provides information to Man to understand how and why.
This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt. 7 For the ground that drinks the rain that often falls on it and that produces vegetation useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and about to be cursed, and at the end will be burned. - Hebrews 6
True, but still God’s promises are true and dependable.
Bmk
(Warning: no, I did not read all, just the beginning and end.)
Perhaps.
My problem with the “Protestant” “faith-only” is that it means people can glibly fly in the face of God even while professing to “believe” and even “love” Him.
To happily, knowingly carry on with sinfulness - especially blatant, obvious, horrible sin - is extremely disrespectful to God. I fear it has led to our society stating to itself “I can do anything I want, because God will still love me and save me” (along with the Calvinist vision of “God will do whatever He wants with me so it matters not if I am immoral or good”). That may be true, but it’s like stabbing Him in the back.
I truly appreciate the Protestant idea that it’s “grace” alone, God’s will to reward faith only.
But honestly, perhaps it IS both - more emphasis on the faith, but still some acknowledgement that “you better be good”.
People are excusing themselves too much nowadays with the “but God will forgive me”.
Luther’s movement against the Jews.
Through the gates of heaven came a large group of Baptists. St. Peter escorted them past a room full of people and he said "SSSssshhhhh! Keep it quiet!" as they passed by. A short time later, St. Peter escorted a group of Anglicans into Heaven and he said the same thing, "SSSssshhhhh! Keep it quiet!" as they passed by the room full of people. Then it happened again and again, as he escorted into Heaven groups of Lutherans and Methodists and Catholics and even a few from other faiths, each time admonishing them with "SSSssshhhhh! Keep it quiet!" as they passed by that room. Finally, someone stopped for a moment and asked him just why they had to keep quiet.
"Oh," said St. Peter. "Didn't I tell you? Those are the Presbyterians, and they think they are the only ones here!"
Born-again Christians are going to take seriously the opinion of a Catholic cardinal? Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
Why are the Catholic FReepers always poking the bear and stirring up trouble? That’s what the Catholic Caucus is for, as I’ve been told. We see “Catholic Caucus” in the title, and we know to move on.
Catholicism is well designed to control humans here in earth. It i simply a non-hereditary monarchy. They call it heresy if someone rejects that monarchy and it’s associated hierarchy.
Justification probably has nothing to do with works. In fact His word pretty much rules that out. (It is complete). Sanctification probably does include some works and a fruit or two.
I think if you read the article you’ll see you agree with the author. He deals with the subject you raise and how Scripture addresses the problem.
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