common beliefs

[peary]

(grin)

Sorry about that.

(timidly raising hand…) I have problems with a few of those. So would half the Christians on the planet, and…our answer to your objection to our problem would also be “Jesus Christ.”

See the problem?

Again, when we talk about common beliefs among Christians, we aren’t really talking about ‘truth’, or even “Truth.” We are simply talking about the beliefs that ALL people who believe they are Christians have in common.

Well, Truth is Truth. You can’t have opinions about Truth. As a Catholic Christian, I believe that the Church has the full body of revealed Truth as given to it through Jesus Christ. Everything proclaimed by the Nicene Creed (and Apostles’ Creed) I believe without question. Whatever the Church officially teaches in Faith and morals I also believe.

Faith is a gift of the Spirit. You can’t ‘make’ Faith; you can’t ‘do’ Faith, and you can’t ‘get’ Faith. Belief is not Faith, however, as I understand it.

 

[jblake]

Roman_Catholic;:

Do you have a denomination in mind?

I do, but I don’t know how they refer to themselves.

[They aren’t quite Trinitarian, and they aren’t quite Modalist.]

jonathon

 

[peary]

Diana, you are right.

There are Christians with false beliefs.

You just stated a major one.

Immaculate conception or becoming pregnant some other way.

I conclude with a biblical verse which is one reason why I believe in the immaculate conception.

Diana, it is hard for me to imagine what Joseph’s initial response was when He found out Mary was pregnant.

The bible tells us he wanted to leave her. Thank God an angel spoke to him and encouraged Him not to leave.

Since I am not a woman, I can not begin to imagine being told by an angel that I was pregnant and knew in my heart I never been with a man.

It is a complete physical impossibility.

However, with God, mind and reason and logic do not factor in what God has done … can do today… and will do in the future
If God can create man from the dust of the ground and then woman from the man’s rib then why wouldn’t you believe that God can cause Mary to become pregnant.

The only way Jesus can be connected with God is by the immaculate conception.

If Mary became pregnant in any other way, there is no way Jesus could be who He claimed HE was.

I and the Father are one. John 10:30

The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION has NOTHING to do with Mary getting or being pregnant with Our Savior! She (Mary) was conceived and born normally.

It means that at Mary’s own conception, God kept her free from the stain of Original Sin. This also means that she was infused with God’s Grace from the very moment of her conception, so that the Angel could say to her: “HAIL, FULL OF GRACE”

 

[dianaiad]

Do you have a denomination in mind? I cannot think of any Christian Church which ignores Christ.

God bless

I can’t think of any belief that claims to be Christian (whether or not other Christian beliefs agree with that self assessment or not) that does.

 

[mpjw2]

FWIW, there are groups within Christianity that utterly ignore Christ. The only time the phrase “Jesus Christ” or “Christ” is said in those congregations, is when they read a passage in the Bible that contains those words.

jonathon

If this is the case, just try to image what Jesus must feel about these people who would call themself Christian and ignore Jesus and His love He has for them

They may call themself Christian, but if they never have a change of heart and accept Jesus for who He is and not just a word in th bible…

in Jesus’s eyes I do not believe they will be welcomed home into heaven should they die and never knowing Jesus for who He is.

My prayer is that they may know the truth, and the truth will set them free.

 

[dianaiad]

Well, Truth is Truth

OK.

You can’t have opinions about Truth.

Of course you can. Those opinions may not change what truth IS, but they certainly affect what a person believes it is.

As a Catholic Christian, I believe that the Church has the full body of revealed Truth as given to it through Jesus Christ. Everything proclaimed by the Nicene Creed (and Apostles’ Creed) I believe without question. Whatever the Church officially teaches in Faith and morals I also believe.

Faith is a gift of the Spirit. You can’t ‘make’ Faith; you can’t ‘do’ Faith, and you can’t ‘get’ Faith. Belief is not Faith, however, as I understand it.

Of course, as a Catholic Christian, you believe that the Truth is found in Catholicism. You would be the worst sort of hypocrite if you did not, wouldn’t you? I imagine that most of us believe, rather firmly, that the belief system we claim is the one with the Truth; if it wasn’t, we’d leave it and go find the one that did, join it, and THEN we would believe that the belief system we belong to has the Truth.

As to what Faith is…well, from what I have gleaned from the bible, about 'faith without works is dead," and “the devils also believe, and tremble” and that sort of thing, I have come to believe that faith–is the willingness to behave as if what you believe to be true IS true.

Please don’t make me trot out my bridge analogy. I think someone here might threaten to hurt me. ( I HAVE to come up with a new analogy for that one!)

 

[mpjw2]

I agree. It’s not the “Good News but just for some”.

Please explain newbie why you said it is only good news for some?

To a non believer (non christian) who has never heard or accepted the gospel story, I will agree with you.

But to a Christian, by Jesus’s life, suffering, death and resurrection has made the only way for anyone to have eternal life in heaven.

Jesus even declared “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the father except through me.

 

[mpjw2]

Parthenogenetic reproduction is a characteristic of several species of animals.

In human populations, the only thing that is unknown is the frequency with which it occurs. The question is not if it occurs, but how often it occurs. (This runs counter to nearly everything that is “known” in biology, but there are reproductive process researchers scratching their heads, wondering just what is going on here, and more specifically, why it is occuring.)

jonathon

johnathon if you belief it is possible for a woman to become pregnant without any physical contact or devine intervention more power to you.

It is not the way Mary became pregnant.

 

[mpjw2]

:tiphat:

I just thought it was strange that a non-Catholic Christian stated they believed in the Immaculate Conception. I got my hopes up and then I read the rest of the post

God bless you

Roman Catholic I do believe that at the time when Mary was conceived God already had in his plan that some 16 or 17 years later He would send an angel to her. The only thing is I do not believe that Mary knew of God’s plan.

That is why she was scared when the angel first approached her.

 

[mpjw2]

The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION has NOTHING to do with Mary getting or being pregnant with Our Savior! She (Mary) was conceived and born normally.

It means that at Mary’s own conception, God kept her free from the stain of Original Sin. This also means that she was infused with God’s Grace from the very moment of her conception, so that the Angel could say to her: “HAIL, FULL OF GRACE”

thank you peary for correcting me. Roman Catholic has done the same.

Read my previous post to RC about my belief regarding Mary’s conception

 

[dianaiad]

Roman Catholic I do believe that at the time when Mary was conceived God already had in his plan that some 16 or 17 years later He would send an angel to her. The only thing is I do not believe that Mary knew of God’s plan.

That is why she was scared when the angel first approached her.

Actually, she was closer to thirteen or fourteen.

 

[peary]

OK.

Of course you can. Those opinions may not change what truth IS, but they certainly affect what a person believes it is.

Of course, as a Catholic Christian, you believe that the Truth is found in Catholicism. You would be the worst sort of hypocrite if you did not, wouldn’t you? I imagine that most of us believe, rather firmly, that the belief system we claim is the one with the Truth; if it wasn’t, we’d leave it and go find the one that did, join it, and THEN we would believe that the belief system we belong to has the Truth.

As to what Faith is…well, from what I have gleaned from the bible, about 'faith without works is dead," and “the devils also believe, and tremble” and that sort of thing, I have come to believe that faith–is the willingness to behave as if what you believe to be true IS true.

Please don’t make me trot out my bridge analogy. I think someone here might threaten to hurt me. ( I HAVE to come up with a new analogy for that one!)

Of course you can. Those opinions may not change what truth IS, but they certainly affect what a person believes it is.

OK, a person may have a certain perception of what he or she thinks Truth is, but if it affects him or her in a negative way, then I would question who is causing the fault - the Truth or the person.

*Of course, as a Catholic Christian, you believe that the Truth is found in Catholicism. You would be the worst sort of hypocrite if you did not, wouldn’t you? I imagine that most of us believe, rather firmly, that the belief system we claim is the one with the Truth; if it wasn’t, we’d leave it and go find the one that did, join it, and THEN we would believe that the belief system we belong to has the Truth. *

To be honest, I would not have a choice, and I would not want one. Even historically, the Church (Catholic) had had apotolic succession without disruption, and this for two-thousand years…and more. Jesus said that the gates of Hell would never prevail against it. And I believe that, as the true Church of Christ, it is protected from errors in Faith and morals when teaching through the pope and its bishops.

*As to what Faith is…well, from what I have gleaned from the bible, about 'faith without works is dead," and “the devils also believe, and tremble” and that sort of thing, I have come to believe that faith–is the willingness to behave as if what you believe to be true IS true. *

Faith goes way beyond the old adage, “Act as if…” Just because you behave in a manner that what you believe to be true IS true doesn’t make it true. The whole notion that every person has his/her own ‘truth’ is about the most ridiculous thing I ever ran across when it comes to ‘belief’ in God. One religion is NOT the same or as good as the other.

 

[peary]

Roman Catholic I do believe that at the time when Mary was conceived God already had in his plan that some 16 or 17 years later He would send an angel to her. The only thing is I do not believe that Mary knew of God’s plan.

That is why she was scared when the angel first approached her.

I don’t think Mary knew God’s Plan. She may have been familiar with the OT prophecies concerning a virgin bearing the Messiah, but I don’t think she even thought that it might be her.

 

[Newbie2]

Please explain newbie why you said it is only good news for some?

To a non believer (non christian) who has never heard or accepted the gospel story, I will agree with you.

But to a Christian, by Jesus’s life, suffering, death and resurrection has made the only way for anyone to have eternal life in heaven.

Jesus even declared “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the father except through me.

Some people believe in predestination, meaning some are predestined to hell no matter what they believe or do. The Gospel message is irrelevant to them, and therefor not particularly good news.

Catholic theology leaves room for those who have never heard the Gospel story to achieve salvation through God’s mercy, but not for those who have heard and rejected it.

 

[mpjw2]

I don’t think Mary knew God’s Plan. She may have been familiar with the OT prophecies concerning a virgin bearing the Messiah, but I don’t think she even thought that it might be her.

agree

 

[mpjw2]

Some people believe in predestination, meaning some are predestined to hell no matter what they believe or do. The Gospel message is irrelevant to them, and therefor not particularly good news…

what people believe is true may not be what is actually true. The Gospel news is good news for them, they just dont realize it yet

Catholic theology leaves room for those who have never heard the Gospel story to achieve salvation through God’s mercy, but not for those who have heard and rejected it.

I understand this about Catholic theology but Jesus declares in the bible no one comes to the father except through Him.

 

[Newbie2]

what people believe is true may not be what is actually true. The Gospel news is good news for them, they just dont realize it yet

Well, yes, that’s my point. IF predestination was true, there ain’t any good for those not predestined for heaven…so, there is a problem squaring predestination with the good news of the Gospel.

I understand this about Catholic theology but Jesus declares in the bible no one comes to the father except through Him.

Yep, and that’s what Catholics believe too.

 

[mpjw2]

newbie, thank you for your last reply that catholics also believe what Jesus said in the bible, that no man comes to the father except through Him.

That said…it is hard for me to understand as to why, as faithful and devoted catholics are to Jesus, most catholics I talk to are not sure of their eternal destination. God gave all believers a promise in John 3:16

I believe I will see you and all the Catholic believers in the presence of Jesus Christ one day in Heaven.

It will be their that we Christians no longer be separated by religion. It will be a massive celebration as we all witness together the face of God.

Alleluia

Just imagine what that day will be like

I invite you or anyone to take a few minutes of your time and go to
www.youtube.com/index

enter…

i can only imagine

in the search window

watch any of the videos and let God speak to you through these awesome presentations

God bless

 

[Love_is_Patient]

newbie, thank you for your last reply that catholics also believe what Jesus said in the bible, that no man comes to the father except through Him.

That said…it is hard for me to understand as to why, as faithful and devoted catholics are to Jesus, most catholics I talk to are not sure of their eternal destination. God gave all believers a promise in John 3:16

If you don’t mind me jumping in here, I’d like to try to explain this for you.

You, naturally, like all Christians, believe that eternal life is a gift from God, right? “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith…” (Ephesians 2:8)

And, naturally, I’m sure you also agree that we have to make a personal decision to accept that gift, right?

But here’s where we might differ. Some Protestants believe that once you’ve made a one-time decision to accept that gift, there is NO WAY you could ever choose to throw it away.

Catholics, on the other hand,note the numerous passages in the New Testament that note “but the one who endures to the end” will be saved.

Salvation and eternal life is a gift.

But, like all gifts, you have the free will to throw it away or to keep it.

Hope that helps. God bless you! And thank you so much for your respectful approach to our faith!

Love is Patient

 

[mpjw2]

hi love is patient

love is also kind like you

If you don’t mind me jumping in here, I’d like to try to explain this for you.

please do

You, naturally, like all Christians, believe that eternal life is a gift from God, right? “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith…” (Ephesians 2:8)

right

And, naturally, I’m sure you also agree that we have to make a personal decision to accept that gift, right?

not only the gift … but mainly the source of the gift, Jesus Christ and the precious blood He shed on the cross

But here’s where we might differ. Some Protestants believe that once you’ve made a one-time decision to accept that gift, there is NO WAY you could ever choose to throw it away.

I know what you are saying. Once one accepts the gift…ten years from now they may have a change of heart and deny Jesus does not exist.

Does that now make that person unsaved?

I cant answer that because I do not know the person’s heart.

Remember Peter denied Jesus at a very crucial time. Had Peter died immediately after denying Jesus, where would Peter be today?

However, we do believe that once one accepts the gift and keeps living their life being faithful to Jesus and God right up to their last heartbeat on earth …then yes they will be awarded heaven

Catholics, on the other hand,note the numerous passages in the New Testament that note “but the one who endures to the end” will be saved.

as i just said in another way

Salvation and eternal life is a gift.

absolutely

But, like all gifts, you have the free will to throw it away or to keep it.

for sure

Hope that helps.

it sure does

God bless you!

god bless you too

And thank you so much for your respectful approach to our faith!

you are most welome

love is patient… as faithful as you are at this moment, should you die in your sleep tonight, I believe you are going to heaven, do you??

I hope your answer is yes

this is the reason for my comment to newbie …

it is hard for me to understand as to why, as faithful and devoted catholics are to Jesus, most catholics I talk to are not sure of their eternal destination…should they die right now. I forgot the last part in my previous post. Now I believe you see my concern a little clearer.

by the way…did you watch the i can only imagine video??

God bless