How do Catholics answer to John 3: 16?

[ryan]

I am wondering what the Catholic response is when Protestants site John 3:16(“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”) in support of their “saved by faith alone” belief.

I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father

Faith is power! This is a message to live with faith and to believe in our greatness. Here is why…

How can we say “I can’t do that.” when Jesus says we can? Belief in ourselves is the first step to a successful life.

We are such great souls. It is obvious when we are acting like Jesus did. Here is how…

To be innocent, like a child, is to truly love. We open our hearts just like a little child. Just like Jesus wanted us to. Because we know, that eternal life is ours.

Warm wishes,
Ryan
PS if you want more information about Jesus and Catholic religion check out

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alternative-spiritual-healing.com/history-of-roman-catholic-religion.html​

 

[kentuckyliz]

I didn’t read the whole thread, but this Catholic’s answer to John 3:16 is AMEN!

It was the text used in one of my favorite choir pieces in church choir growing up. St Teresa in Des Moines IA.

So I guess I don’t see what the problem is.

God bless!

 

[Nathan_Wagar]

Yeah, ashamed to say, I did not read the whole thread either, but I have copied and pasted a part of a relevant response I made earlier on another thread:

Here is what the Protestant NIV will say:

John 3:36: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

Now here is the Catholic NAB version:

John 3:36: “Whoever believes in Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Notice the difference in the underlined words. I fortunately have the New Interlinear Greek translation of the NT, and the correct word in the Greek is “disobey.” Why is this important? Because if the opposite of believing is disobedience, then believing must equal obedience, according to John and the rules of logic. This is borne out earlier in John ch.3, when Jesus talks quite a bit about this necessity of belief, but then goes on to speak of how those who do wicked things hate the light (the light already having been connect with Christ in chapter 1), and those whoever lives the truth comes to the light. Basically, according to Jesus, faith equals obedience, and particularly in this chapter, one of the things Jesus tells you to do is get baptized as well.

 

[pzona]

This is a very interesting topic. I was raised Protestant and I always had a problem with the idea that faith alone is what saves. I’m by no means trying to bash Protestant dogma, but this always seemed a little bit lazy. Honestly, I never thought about whether or not the Bible explicitly stated that faith ALONE is enough for salvation, so this should make for an interesting conversation with my dad (a Methodist minister). I don’t have much to add as far as answering the OP’s question, but thanks to everyone for the insight

 

[benedictus2]

I am wondering what the Catholic response is when Protestants site John 3:16(“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”) in support of their “saved by faith alone” belief.

The doctrine of salvation is not contained in one verse of a 73 book Bible.

Otherwise, we might as well get rid of the rest.

 

[benedictus2]

Hey, look. I’m not sure if I can give the definitive answer on this but I have a comment.

But first, in the second edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, you can do a kind of reverse look-up on John 3:16. In the back, there’s a listing of Bible verses cross-referenced to the paragraphs in the Catechism where they are mentioned, directly or indirectly. This would help in a literal answer to the title question.

For the sake of discussion, let’s look at the verse for a moment. If you “believe” in Jesus, you’d better believe a whole lot of things that Jesus taught, and not only believe in John 3:16.

For example, when asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus said that it was to love God (etc.) and to love our neighbor as ourself. He taught us about forgiving others and taking care of others (which is one level of what the parable of the Good Samaritan is about), etc.

If you really believe in Jesus, you’re not just having a passing thought, while you’re sunning yourself at the side of the pool. Many things are required of us as His disciples.

Good points there. If you “believe” in Jesus you will “believe” in everything He says.

John 6, Matthew 16:18, John 20:21 all come time mind. Verses that some protestants don’t seem to believe at all.

Believe in the the whole Jesus and not in some constract of a pre-determined theology.

 

[panevino]

What you’re saying is that people are robots. Once we accept faith, things just kick in and we run on automatic pilot…getting baptized, obeying His commandments. No, that’s not how it works. We believe in Christ, and that faith is made alive by our getting baptized, doing good works, obeying His commandments on our own free will. Those things do not just “happen” because we have faith. We must choose to do them. If we don’t, our faith is dead.

That’s what I wanted to say!
1st - free gift of grace offered by god
2nd - faith alone (accepting god) - door opens
3rd- striving in faith In our daily lives to actually do the good works preparedd for us. (against the tendancies of free will to take the easy road)

Grace only enables faith which drives (but does not ensure given free will) good works made in faith throughout life.

to me that is the formula to enable salvation.
Works are integral but are nothing without grace and faith

faith alone opens the door
faith with works allows us to walk in.

Works alone - no door

 

[benedictus2]

Yeah, ashamed to say, I did not read the whole thread either, but I have copied and pasted a part of a relevant response I made earlier on another thread:

Here is what the Protestant NIV will say:

John 3:36: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

Now here is the Catholic NAB version:

John 3:36: “Whoever believes in Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Notice the difference in the underlined words. I fortunately have the New Interlinear Greek translation of the NT, and the correct word in the Greek is “disobey.” Why is this important? Because if the opposite of believing is disobedience, then believing must equal obedience, according to John and the rules of logic. This is borne out earlier in John ch.3, when Jesus talks quite a bit about this necessity of belief, but then goes on to speak of how those who do wicked things hate the light (the light already having been connect with Christ in chapter 1), and those whoever lives the truth comes to the light. Basically, according to Jesus, faith equals obedience, and particularly in this chapter, one of the things Jesus tells you to do is get baptized as well.

Great post! Thanks for the clarification on “disobey”.

 

[sw777]

The bible clearly states that we are saved through our faith in Jesus not by works also Mary has nothing to do with our salvation it is not biblical at all it is a sin to worship or prAy to anyone. But God

 

[una_fides]

The bible clearly states that we are saved through our faith in Jesus not by works also Mary has nothing to do with our salvation it is not biblical at all it is a sin to worship or prAy to anyone. But God

Friend, no where in the Bible does it say that everything has to be in the Bible. Sola Scriptura itself is unbiblical. Also the Bible clearly says that we are saved “by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:24). In fact, that is the only time the words “faith alone” (sola fide) ever appear in Scripture. Both must be true–salvation by faith and works in Christ together. We are truly saved by faith, but it also is a faith that must be working by charity and can never be alone. The “works of the law” that St Paul was referring to were the works of the Old Covenant Judaic law that we are no longer obliged to follow since Christ fulfilled it, and thus, we are now under the New Covenant.

Also who canonized the Bible? Who decided which books to include and exclude? The same Church that said that when you die you are still alive in heaven and able to pray for others, which is what we on earth do when we ask the saints to pray for us. We are not praying “to them” as if they themselves have some independent power on their own. We are asking them to pray for us. And yes that too is biblical (see the book of Revelation when the saints are interceding to God, their prayers rising like incense, and Jesus himself spoke with saints Moses and Elijah during the transfiguration).

And yes, the blessed virgin Mary (who in Scripture says “behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed”) does play an essential role in our salvation. Her fiat, her saying Yes to God brought Salvation, Jesus, into the world. It was by her cooperation with God’s plan. God chose to make salvation dependent upon her Yes and at those words, “behold the handmade of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word,” that “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”

The Catholic Church has been teaching these same things for 2000 years. If you don’t believe me, read the early Church fathers, the first successors of the apostles. It’s all in there. Read Ignatius of Antioch, disciple of St John the apostle, who wrote letters on his way to be martyred in Rome.

I used to say those same things before I discovered the Church fathers, and ever since I have my life has never been the same. Thanks be to God.