MariaG:
Hi Edwin, For Catholics, there is absolutely no difference in asking those who have died alive in Christ and those who are living but united with Him on earth. :bible1: Mk 12:26-27 tells us that God is the God of the living not the dead. So we are not asking anyone dead to pray for us, just those who are living in Christ.
Hi Maria,
Thank you for this reply, I now do understand completely why you pray to those who have died to earth but are living in Jesus. You have not convinced me of the righteousness of this position. I do not agree with your scriptural support. I find nothing at all in James to make me change my mind and the heavenly quotes can just as easily apply to our “the saints on earth, before we died” prayers as to those saints who are already in heaven. Do you have any references for saints praying in heaven for other reasons or do you think the only reason they pray is for intercession. The other problem with praying to the saints in heaven is judgment. You have passed judgment on a person who has died. Admittedly, in favour of the person, but that is still judgment. Where does the bible say we have the authority to pass judgment on those who have died. Our wisdom is only in part. Can we give God a list of names and say " Dear God is Fred, Alice,etc Ok" and who is “we”? Can you ask God and if not why? This line of thought opens a can of worms.
More perfectly united. Do you believe that the more you “walk the walk” the more Holy you become
Yes and No, the more you walk the walk, the more use you become to Him to spread His love on earth among His people.The more your faith grows and so on, until you come to some part of your life you dont want to surrender to Christ. That may be over eating. sex or a hobby or sport or anything that takes up too much of your time and does not edify the church here on earth.
or do you believe that the moment you were saved you were completely sanctified and made completely Holy?
Yes, but now I have to try to stay that way, by following the Holy Spirit. That is all Jesus had, The Holy Spirit, He did not learn from the synagogues. His sole teacher was the Holy Spirit. Do you believe Jesus was fully man. If so , if He can do this why can’t you? Don’t tell me you can’t do it because someone else cant do it. That is a cop out.Jesus didnt come to earth then follow the synagogues teachings even though he came especially for the Jewish people,even though he said for us to follow their teaching.
In fact by following the Holy Spirit you are fullfulling the law in total, not in part. (ie the sabbath, eating , hand washing etc)
Catholics believe sanctification is a process.
bible1: Phil 2:12) The more we walk with Christ, the holier we become. Eventually, we can become so united that the Holy Spirit will guide us and we will hear His guiding as clearly as the apostles did.
It is the Holy Spirit who guides you to Jesus. You dont choose Him. He choose you. By coming to Jesus, you have already followed the Holy Spirit, if you are really His and not a tare, and this process does not stop if you allow it to continue. You dont wait until you are " so united". Now I will never ask anyone to change his christian religion, but in the Roman catholic church you miss out on the benefits and joy of the Holy Spirit because firstly you listen to the Roman Catholic church. As the jews listened to the official church in their day.
Nah, we’re brothers and sisters
Love it, nice one Maria.
Christ be with you
walk in love
edwinG