Dear friends,
I fear what we have here in our discussion of Salvation by Faith Alone or in the 2000-year Old Catholic teaching, of Faith as proven and practiced through works is a failure to communicate.
We have on countless OP Threads replied to non-Catholic Protestant Theology that Faith is the only requirement to Salvation. Meaning Christ has already done all that is necessary. It’s interesting that the position held, seems to be that it is “not only Christ Sacrifice on the Cross, but belief in the same, that “assures one’s salvation.” Friend, “Faith” is a “Work!”
We have provided Bible Quotes that make clear your position is factually anti-biblical. The common response is not to acknowledge receipt of this information, and to gloss over that it even exists.
One wonders if there might be some intellectual dishonesty in this tactic? If you hold the single truth, then you should NOT be afraid to be challenged on the validity of that truth to see if it withstands the evidence, wisdom and logic of the current time? There seems little opportunity, and willingness to discover truth.
Pope Benedict shared this profound thought (paraphrased): There can’t be your truth and my truth, or there would be NO truth, which is THE TRUTH.
Can we agree that we cannot know the mind of God? Isaiah 55: 8-9
We can get a glimpse of the working of God’s Mind and Heart, by understanding God’s Nature, which is and has to be Good. Another truth we can know, is that whatever attributes God possesses, God must possess them to a much higher degree than we can. **God is Perfect, and possesses every Good attribute to it’s Highest Perfection. **
What are some of these attributes that God possesses to their Perfection? God is All Good, Wise, Knowing, Loving, Kind, Powerful, Merciful, Generous and of course All Just (fair). God being God, the perfection of goodness, is and must be in each and every one of these manifestations of His Love.
We Christians are quick to acknowledge the attributes of God that we are comfortable with, but naturally tend to, at least, a little, to gloss over the fact that Yahweh God in the Old Testament was feared, more than loved.
The Hebrew relationship with Yahweh-God was a fearful one. God was quick to exercise His right for Just- Vengeance. (Deut. 32:35, Rom. 12: 19, Heb. 10:30.) But time and time again He relented, showed His Compassion and Merciful Love, and gave them another opportunity. **But first, He punished them with Just retribution. **
Fulton Scheen, points out in his book: ”The Imitation of Christ” that from God calling to Adam in the garden; “Where are you?” (Gen. 3:9), to Saving Noah, to Abram, changing his name to Abraham, and making him the Father of His chosen people, to Moses, the Prophets, Judges, and Kings like David and Solomon, right through to His Apostles “follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mt. 4:19.) **To the present day, Christ calls us, Mt, 16: 24 **“Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
” It is the very issue of God Justice, that is the stumbling block to the truth about Salvation and Justification.
Webster’s Dictionary definitions… Proves that “Redemption and Salvation” have different meanings.
Redemption, “to redeem -the act, process, or an instance of redeeming “
Our Blessed Lord’s Sacrificial Death the Cross (dare I use this word?) “Only” makes Heaven possible, and reverses the most notable effect of the Sin of Adam and Eve, access to Heaven is now possible.
Salvation: ““1 a: deliverance from the power and effects of sin b: the agent or means that effects salvation 3 a: preservation from destruction or failure b: deliverance from danger or difficulty”
Both are Necessary!
At this juncture it seems prudent to ask ourselves why, in all of God’s awesome Creations, are God Himself, The Angels and humanity blessed and gifted with “intellects and free-wills?” Surely God had something in mind, in bestowing these gifts upon and within us!
Zecharich 8:1, Exodus 34:14 and Psalm 79:5 explain God’s Jealously. “How long, O LORD? Wilt thou be angry forever? Will thy jealous wrath burn like fire?
God’s desire to have a permanent and Personal Relationship with His Created Humanity, which flows from unfathomable Love, that permits Divine Justice to INSIST, and require, that we Love Him in return, not only for His many gifts, but also for God’s many Sacrifices.
2nd. Cor. 6:1 Working together with him, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, “At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation.” Now is the acceptable time; Now is the day of salvation, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, labors, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, **and yet are true;**as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
2 Tim. 4: 1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead. Preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching”
Carlan