Differences between Catholic faith and Baptist?

[ahimsaman72]

I know a guy who read the Bible from cover to cover. He actually thought a husband owned and should control his wife. I told him he was wrong here but he just said to me, “hey man, it’s in the Bible”. I don’t think he’ll ever learn the truth unless someone points out to him his error. I know protestants who believe in divorce, abortion, and birth control. They have no authority to tell them the immoralities of these situations. They will say God didn’t mean it this way or that way, or God wouldn’t want me to suffer the rest of my life without getting remarried etc. God was no dummy when He built the Church upon Peter the Rock. He knew we need authority that cannot fail especially in difficult questions in dealing with morality. A church that is the ground and pillar of Truth.
By rejecting the Catholic Church, you reject the very Teachings of the Apostles handed down by Sacred Tradition. By rejecting your pastor, you simply reject a man who has no authority over you whatsoever.

That man obviously didn’t read the entire passage of Scripture that says the husband is to love his wife as himself. Listen, people will take some things the wrong way. That’s obvious. They go to the Bible with what they want to get out of it and create their own philosophy. That is irresponsible. They do it to their own destruction.

People find themselves in difficult situations in regards to marriage, abortion and contraception. They have to answer for those themselves. I must answer for my own actions and beliefs.
If they deny the sanctity of life and marriage, they can’t claim they didn’t know or that it wasn’t in the Scriptures. Although the Catholic church teaches these things are mortal sins, that doesn’t make it so.

The teachings of the apostles are found in Scripture. The apostles were not given authority over one another. Neither is any brother over another as can be found in the below Scriptures:

Matthew 20:20-28

1. Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
2. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
3. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
4. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
5. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
6. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
7. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
8. And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
9. Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Everyone has some authority over them. I have society, the police, the government and lastly God Himself. I don’t deny man’s authority where it is relevant. I deny it where it is not warranted.

 

[Des]

ahimsaman72:

Frankly, I don’t think we can speak for those learned men and know for sure what is going on in their minds as they study the ancient languages and hermeneutics. I believe most to be very sincere, though I can’t prove that.

I’m not saying they are not sincere, just when you sometimes look at the neutral side of things you can’t grasp the whole passage and it’s context.

And again, you presume that I wouldn’t even consider something which you have not even given me the opportunity to accept or reject. Growing up, I wasn’t told that Catholics or other groups view was wrong. Again, you presume something that isn’t true.

Perhaps I shouldnt have assumed this. I just wonder why someone would claim the Baptist faith for themselve if they thought that their basic doctrines had the possibilites of being false.

Of course my view would be that these “Sacred Deposits of the faith” need not contradict God-breathed Scripture. I suppose we wouldn’t get around this issue.

It was these God breathed Scriptures that came from the Church and not other way around. The Catholic Church doesn’t come from the Bible like rest of the protestant churches.

Official doctrine is not what is taught in every sermon. Usually, evident matters of faith, such as love, patience and discipleship are central themes. So, going to church to listen to the teachers and preachers is not about interpretations, it is about living the Christian life.

If your pastor ever gave a sermon about faith alone, the symbolism of baptism for adults only, once saved always saved etc. then these are connected with interpretations regarding the Baptist basic doctines. I’m sure your pastor would never contradict these basic beliefs.

That man obviously didn’t read the entire passage of Scripture that says the husband is to love his wife as himself.

As I previously said, this guy not only read the entire passage but the entire Bible. A man can still love his wife as himself and control her as he would control himself…so he thinks.

cont…

 

[Des]

cont…

They go to the Bible with what they want to get out of it and create their own philosophy. That is irresponsible. They do it to their own destruction.

That is precisley my point. Who without authority has the right to tell them what the Bible means in this passage?

People find themselves in difficult situations in regards to marriage, abortion and contraception. They have to answer for those themselves. I must answer for my own actions and beliefs.
If they deny the sanctity of life and marriage, they can’t claim they didn’t know or that it wasn’t in the Scriptures.

They only say that the passage didn’t mean “that” but meant “this”. An adventist believes the Church to be the Whore of Babylon and they feel they can back it up with scripture. They feel saturday is still binding and sunday is the sign of the beast. Who are we to tell them they are wrong? We are all reading the same Bible except of course the 7 extra books in the Catholic one. Are you impying that God doesnt want us to know if abortion is evil or not. As for contraception, up untill the 1930’s all the protestant churches thought it to be extremely evil. Now many if not all have reversed this positon. How do I find truth if the believers can reverse their beleifs?

The apostles were not given authority over one another.

Peter was given authority over the rest of the Apostles
.
Matthew 16:16-18
**16 Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven. **

Although the Catholic church teaches these things are mortal sins, that doesn’t make it so.

Actually, the Church teaches these things to be intrinsically evil. For a sin to be mortal 3 conditions must be together. CCC 1857 “Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.”

I don’t deny man’s authority where it is relevant. I deny it where it is not warranted.

You obeyed mans authortiy when the Bible was put together and told by these same men that it was Inspired. And then you were told by men that the Bible is all you need. Your sole rule of faith even when the Bible doesnt say this.

ahimsaman72, by looking at your post count you’ve been around here enough to understand why we consider the Church to be the only Universal one that existed in Apostolic times. There are many threads dealing with this by intelligent Catholics, many who are ex-protestants.
Personally, I believe you to be very sincere about wanting seek God’s Truth and I pray that one day you will be lead, with the aid of His Grace into full Communion with the Catholic Church.

 

[mayra_hart]

Are Baptist Teachings About Salvation Biblical?

Baptists believe in the concept of “Eternal Security”, or, “Saved Once, Saved Forever”. As the Southern Baptists have recently explained: “All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end” (Baptist Faith and Message, June 14, 2000). Surely, we agree that God in His omniscience knows who shall endure until the end! But can the average believer share in God’s omniscience? Can the average believer know with certainty that he or she shall persevere in the faith until the end? Is the Baptist doctrine of Eternal Security in fact a repudiation of the Lord’s statement that “not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father” (Mat. 7:21)?

 

[ahimsaman72]

Des:

cont…

That is precisley my point. Who without authority has the right to tell them what the Bible means in this passage?

They only say that the passage didn’t mean “that” but meant “this”. An adventist believes the Church to be the Whore of Babylon and they feel they can back it up with scripture. They feel saturday is still binding and sunday is the sign of the beast. Who are we to tell them they are wrong? We are all reading the same Bible except of course the 7 extra books in the Catholic one. Are you impying that God doesnt want us to know if abortion is evil or not. As for contraception, up untill the 1930’s all the protestant churches thought it to be extremely evil. Now many if not all have reversed this positon. How do I find truth if the believers can reverse their beleifs?

Peter was given authority over the rest of the Apostles
.
Matthew 16:16-18
16 Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.

Actually, the Church teaches these things to be intrinsically evil. For a sin to be mortal 3 conditions must be together. CCC 1857 “Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.”

You obeyed mans authortiy when the Bible was put together and told by these same men that it was Inspired. And then you were told by men that the Bible is all you need. Your sole rule of faith even when the Bible doesnt say this.

ahimsaman72, by looking at your post count you’ve been around here enough to understand why we consider the Church to be the only Universal one that existed in Apostolic times. There are many threads dealing with this by intelligent Catholics, many who are ex-protestants.
Personally, I believe you to be very sincere about wanting seek God’s Truth and I pray that one day you will be lead, with the aid of His Grace into full Communion with the Catholic Church.

Thanks for your post - John Schneider (one of the “Duke” boys) put out an album many years ago. One of the songs was “I’ve been around enough to know”, which is one of my favorite songs from him. You reminded me of that - Thanks.

Yes, I’ve been around for a while and know from personal knowledge of studying the Catholic Church and from dealing with good people like yourself the teachings of the Church on these many issues.

I am very sincere, though others would question my integrity. I’ve always sought to live my life for God. I’ve backslidden and went my own ways at times, but in the end, my life has been surrounded by the thoughts of God and His Son, Jesus and I continue my pilgrim’s journey on earth in constant search for deeper truths. That’s what led me here to this forum and to studying the Cathlolic faith.

Thank you and God bless for your kind words.

 

[ahimsaman72]

Are Baptist Teachings About Salvation Biblical?

Baptists believe in the concept of “Eternal Security”, or, “Saved Once, Saved Forever”. As the Southern Baptists have recently explained: “All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end” (Baptist Faith and Message, June 14, 2000). Surely, we agree that God in His omniscience knows who shall endure until the end! But can the average believer share in God’s omniscience? Can the average believer know with certainty that he or she shall persevere in the faith until the end? Is the Baptist doctrine of Eternal Security in fact a repudiation of the Lord’s statement that “not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father” (Mat. 7:21)?

Those who say, Lord, Lord are those like the Pharisees who claim they know Him with their mouths, but their hearts are from Him.

 

[mercygate]

ahimsaman72:

Those who say, Lord, Lord are those like the Pharisees who claim they know Him with their mouths, but their hearts are from Him.

Here’s a question like “Catholics and contraception:”

By your guesstimation, what percentage of Baptists believe in eternal security?

 

[ahimsaman72]

Des:

I’m not saying they are not sincere, just when you sometimes look at the neutral side of things you can’t grasp the whole passage and it’s context.

Perhaps I shouldnt have assumed this. I just wonder why someone would claim the Baptist faith for themselve if they thought that their basic doctrines had the possibilites of being false.

It was these God breathed Scriptures that came from the Church and not other way around. The Catholic Church doesn’t come from the Bible like rest of the protestant churches.

If your pastor ever gave a sermon about faith alone, the symbolism of baptism for adults only, once saved always saved etc. then these are connected with interpretations regarding the Baptist basic doctines. I’m sure your pastor would never contradict these basic beliefs.

As I previously said, this guy not only read the entire passage but the entire Bible. A man can still love his wife as himself and control her as he would control himself…so he thinks.

cont…

The Baptist faith is not infallible. The Baptist faith has errors. It can be improved. Hasn’t the Catholic Church reformed and changed its ways? Bishop Tetzel ring a bell?

I would never say they are. I simply believe they are closer in beliefs to the whole counsel of God, whereas other faith groups are not as close.

Other faith groups and their interpretations are not doctrines of the Baptist Church. You can find the statement of faith at the sbc.net site. It doesn’t include the phrase “All other faith groups are going to hell” as some might think.

Yes, faith, perseverance of the saints and other doctrines are taught in sermons from the pulpit. More often than not though - the sermons are built around admonitions to love one another and improvement of one’s Christian life and calls to be holy in our daily living.

My pastor definitely believes in faith alone and perseverance of the saints.

 

[ahimsaman72]

mercygate:

Here’s a question like “Catholics and contraception:”

By your guesstimation, what percentage of Baptists believe in eternal security?

By my own personal experience in 5 Baptist churches, 3 Southern Baptist, 1 Baptist Bible Fellowship and 1 Independent Baptist (I know, I know - all these different “kinds” of Baptists), I would estimate 75% as a conservative number. It is probably higher, but I’m basing my that number on the teachers, pastors and laypeople that have shared their views with me.

It must be noted that there are small groups like the Freewill Baptist Churches that do NOT believe in the perseverance of saints (as their name obviously implies). But, this is a rather small number of people compared to the SBC (the biggest Baptist group).

 

[mercygate]

ahimsaman72:

By my own personal experience in 5 Baptist churches, 3 Southern Baptist, 1 Baptist Bible Fellowship and 1 Independent Baptist (I know, I know - all these different “kinds” of Baptists), I would estimate 75% as a conservative number. It is probably higher, but I’m basing my that number on the teachers, pastors and laypeople that have shared their views with me.

It must be noted that there are small groups like the Freewill Baptist Churches that do NOT believe in the perseverance of saints (as their name obviously implies). But, this is a rather small number of people compared to the SBC (the biggest Baptist group).

Thanks. I would have suspected a similar number. The whole TULIP is really hard to take; some people are bound to demur.

Freewill Baptists are cool.

 

[ahimsaman72]

mercygate:

Thanks. I would have suspected a similar number. The whole TULIP is really hard to take; some people are bound to demur.

Freewill Baptists are cool.

:bigyikes:

I never thought I would hear you say something like that!

Definitely made me smile…

If I don’t get to talk to you later - happy thanksgiving!

 

[Katholikos]

ahimsaman72:

The Baptist faith is not infallible. The Baptist faith has errors. It can be improved. Hasn’t the Catholic Church reformed and changed its ways? Bishop Tetzel ring a bell?

The Catholic Faith is infallible; i.e., it is wholly and completely True; it is without error. The Truth can be restated but it cannot be improved upon. There’s a difference in stopping illicit and unauthorized practices (e.g., Tetzel) and changing doctrine.

I would never say they are. I simply believe they are closer in beliefs to the whole counsel of God, whereas other faith groups are not as close.

Christianity is a revealed religion. You’re admitting that Baptist knowledge of the revelation is incomplete? I regard such a religion as a waste of time. If “close” is as good as it gets, forget Christianity.

Other faith groups and their interpretations are not doctrines of the Baptist Church. You can find the statement of faith at the sbc.net site. It doesn’t include the phrase “All other faith groups are going to hell” as some might think.

Interpretations are the problem. All Protestant churches result from yet another misinterpretation of the same 66-book cut version of the Bible.

There are many different beliefs among the approximately 250 denominations that call themselves “Baptist.” The SBC is the largest of the groups, though historically the split which created it did not take place until 1845.

Yes, faith, perseverance of the saints and other doctrines are taught in sermons from the pulpit. More often than not though - the sermons are built around admonitions to love one another and improvement of one’s Christian life and calls to be holy in our daily living.

Don’t forget that all important, unbiblical “altar call.”

My pastor definitely believes in faith alone and perseverance of the saints.

Authentic Christianity as it was “delivered once for all to the saints” (Jude 3), did not teach Sola Fide or OSAS. These novel doctrines can be traced directly to the “Great Reformer,” Martin Luther. POS is the twist of Luther’s rival, John Calvin.

Neither Jesus Christ nor the Apostles taught Faith Alone or Once Saved Always Saved, which made their first appearance in the historical record in the 16th century.

Peace be with you,

JMJ Jay
Ex-Southern Baptist, ex-agnostic, ex-atheist, ecstatic to be Catholic!

 

[Cubby]

ahimsaman72 wrote:

But, Christ did not institute the SBC, nor the Catholic Church,

Actually, Christ did institute the Catholic Church. He gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven and earth to Peter - and said “upon this “rock” I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it”. Peter moved on to become the head of the church in Rome, and his long line of successors leads to today’s Pope, Pope John Paul II.

Peace

Cubby

 

[ahimsaman72]

Katholikos:

Christianity is a revealed religion. You’re admitting that Baptist knowledge of the revelation is incomplete? I regard such a religion as a waste of time. If “close” is as good as it gets, forget Christianity.

Don’t forget that all important, unbiblical “altar call.”

Peace be with you,

JMJ Jay
Ex-Southern Baptist, ex-agnostic, ex-atheist, ecstatic to be Catholic!

Jay,

I cherry-picked your post so that I could respond better.

Be careful that your eyes are off of Christ. Christ is not a religion. He is a person.

So, you believe that we on earth are omnipotent - like God?

We know all things?

Baptist knowledge is as “incomplete” as any other if you are speaking of “all” knowledge. The gospel of Jesus Christ is apparent. It is this gospel that saves. We have the gospel. Even if that’s all we had it would be enough.

Romans 10:9

1. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved

When someone goes before the altar - they can publicly reconcile with God and become “saved” as the above Scripture shows.

It’s not unBiblical.

 

[Cubby]

ahimsaman72:

Jay,

I cherry-picked your post so that I could respond better.

Be careful that your eyes are off of Christ. Christ is not a religion. He is a person.

So, you believe that we on earth are omnipotent - like God?

We know all things?

Baptist knowledge is as “incomplete” as any other if you are speaking of “all” knowledge. The gospel of Jesus Christ is apparent. It is this gospel that saves. We have the gospel. Even if that’s all we had it would be enough.

Romans 10:9

1. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved

When someone goes before the altar - they can publicly reconcile with God and become “saved” as the above Scripture shows.

It’s not unBiblical.

What’s the purpose of the altar in a Baptist church service?

Thanks,

Cubby

 

[ahimsaman72]

Cubby:

What’s the purpose of the altar in a Baptist church service?

Thanks,

Cubby

You really have to think geographically: the altar is at the end of the room (usually) with the pulpit behind or above and the congregation sitting in front of the altar in rows.

When the invitation to renounce sins and accept Christ comes (after the sermon) the pastor/preacher asks if people wish to repent and turn to God and be saved and so they have the public opportunity to do so. It is called as you know, the altar call.

Usually, sitting on the “altar” is a copy of the Holy Bible with candles and flowers. The call is to the truth of God’s Word revealed in the Bible.

Hope that helps. This is from my knowledge and experience as a Southern Baptist (predominantly).

 

[mayra_hart]

Why do Catholics believe that their Church is the one true Church of Jesus Christ? Wouldn’t it be more reasonable to believe that Christ’s true Church is a spiritual union of all Christian denominations?

Catholics believe that theirs is the one true Church of Jesus Christ, firstly, because theirs is the only Christian Church that goes back in history to the time of Christ; secondly, because theirs is the only Christian Church which possesses the invincible unity, the intrinsic holiness, the continual universality and the indisputable apostolicity which Christ said would distinguish His true Church; and thirdly, because the Apostles and primitive Church Fathers, who certainly were members of Christ’s true Church, all professed membership in this same Catholic Church (See Apostles’ Creed and the Primitive Christian letters). Wrote Ignatius of Antioch, illustrious Church Father of the first century: “Where the Bishop is, there let the multitude of believers be; even as where Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church.” Our Lord said: “There shall be one fold and one shepherd”, yet it is well known that the various Christian denominations cannot agree on what Christ actually taught. Since Christ roundly condemned interdenominationalism (“And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” Mark 3:25), Catholics cannot believe that He would ever sanction it in His Church and happy thankgiving to all

 

[Katholikos]

ahimsaman72:

Jay,

Christ is not a religion. He is a person.

Hey, I didn’t know that.

So, you believe that we on earth are omnipotent - like God? We know all things?

No. But we know what God has revealed about Himself and His Holy Religion and about salvation. The Catholic Faith was “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3 RSV) by the Holy Apostles before the New Testament was ever written or conceived of.

Baptist knowledge is as “incomplete” as any other if you are speaking of “all” knowledge. The gospel of Jesus Christ is apparent. It is this gospel that saves. We have the gospel. Even if that’s all we had it would be enough.

We need to know all that God revealed. If these things were not important, why would God have bothered to reveal them? You have the gospel as you interpret it. But any interpretation that does not comport with the teaching of the Catholic Church who received her knowledge from the Apostles is a misinterpretation.

Romans 10:9

1. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved

When someone goes before the altar - they can publicly reconcile with God and become “saved” as the above Scripture shows.

It’s not unBiblical.

(1) There is no biblical account of an “altar call,” of “accepting Jesus Christ as personal Lord and savior.” An altar is for sacrifice. Only the Catholic and Orthodox churches offer sacrifice. This practice in Protestant churches should be called a “table call.”

(2) One verse does not make a theology. Proof-texting the scriptures has resulted in thousands of different denominations with as many different beliefs. To know what the NT has to say about salvation, one must read it thematically and wholistically
with the mind of the Church that wrote it.

Example: Romans 10:13 says: “For, everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” Jesus says, Luke 7:14, “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few. . .” v. 21 "Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

The sinner’s prayer and instant salvation are not biblical. Are people who can’t “confess with their mouth” denied salvation? We Catholics “confess with our mouth” every time we receive Holy Communion – daily or weekly.:yup:

Peace, Jay

 

[ahimsaman72]

Katholikos:

Hey, I didn’t know that.

No. But we know what God has revealed about Himself and His Holy Religion and about salvation. The Catholic Faith was “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3 RSV) by the Holy Apostles before the New Testament was ever written or conceived of.

We need to know all that God revealed. If these things were not important, why would God have bothered to reveal them? You have the gospel as you interpret it. But any interpretation that does not comport with the teaching of the Catholic Church who received her knowledge from the Apostles is a misinterpretation.

(1) There is no biblical account of an “altar call,” of “accepting Jesus Christ as personal Lord and savior.” An altar is for sacrifice. Only the Catholic and Orthodox churches offer sacrifice. This practice in Protestant churches should be called a “table call.”

(2) One verse does not make a theology. Proof-texting the scriptures has resulted in thousands of different denominations with as many different beliefs. To know what the NT has to say about salvation, one must read it thematically and wholistically
with the mind of the Church that wrote it.

Example: Romans 10:13 says: “For, everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” Jesus says, Luke 7:14, “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few. . .” v. 21 "Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

The sinner’s prayer and instant salvation are not biblical. Are people who can’t “confess with their mouth” denied salvation? We Catholics “confess with our mouth” every time we receive Holy Communion – daily or weekly.:yup:

Peace, Jay

Hey friend - sorry, didn’t mean to imply you didn’t!

If we needed to know everything about God to be saved, we are all in trouble. You can’t know enough, do enough, pray enough, live good enough. We simply can’t do enough to save ourselves. If we have faulted in one part of the law, we are guilty of the whole law. Our works cannot save - else our salvation is not of grace.

I agree an altar in the OT was a sacrificial altar. An “altar call” to come to Christ is also a sacrifice - a spiritual sacrifice. You sacrifice your whole self to God’s leading and control and commit to living a faithful life.

Oh, but there are many verses which explain God’s salvation - and none have to do with men saving themselves. We must decide if God is in control or man is in control. If you say man is in control of his destiny, then God is not all-powerful. If man can control his own life, then God is finite and is just an exalted man (as Mormons claim).

God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. We didn’t choose Him. Man is totally depraved and has not the capacity to regenerate himself. God must do this.

Those who cannot confess - infants, mentally disabled, etc. are covered by God’s grace. Since they are unable even if they tried, God will perform righteous judgement and declare them as His own. Matter of fact, we are all covered by God’s grace. He expects obedience - and we will be accountable for our actions.

There is no more need for Christ to be sacrificed. He has entered the Holy of Holies once and for all.

Hebrews 9:11-12

1. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
2. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Peace…

 

[Cubby]

ahimsaman72:

I agree an altar in the OT was a sacrificial altar. An “altar call” to come to Christ is also a sacrifice - a spiritual sacrifice. You sacrifice your whole self to God’s leading and control and commit to living a faithful life.
…
There is no more need for Christ to be sacrificed. He has entered the Holy of Holies once and for all.

First, thanks for your earlier response to my question about the altar in the Baptist church. I’m interested in a Baptist girl who is interested in me, but thinks I’m going to Hell because I’m Catholic - so I’m trying to understand her faith. And all it’s led to is a reaffirmation of my own.

You do know that we don’t re-sacrifice Christ in the Catholic Church, right? Christ’s sacrifice which was made once and for all for our salvation, is made present in real form through the miracle of the Eucharist. It has been explained to me as a space/time continuum mystery. What do you think?

Peace,

Cubby