Martin Luther added the word "alone"?

[Peter_J]

Are you threatning me? Don’t make me bring out my upgraded Potiphar Pokemon.

By the way, to try and be serious LOL…no non-Christians refers to modern times, not pre-Christian. Although the Old Testament saints were “Christian” in that they were “saved.”

If you mean, like, everyone who is being saved has faith, hence we can apply the name “Christians” to all of them, then I can agree with that. (Recall my explanation of Unam Sanctum: everyone who is being saved is subject to the pope’s authority.)

 

[TriuneUnity]

If you mean, like, everyone who is being saved has faith, hence we can apply the name “Christians” to all of them, then I can agree with that. (Recall my explanation of Unam Sanctum: everyone who is being saved is subject to the pope’s authority.)

Correct…but more germaine to the topic they must have faith in the right object.

 

[ralphinal]

TU,

I was hoping that you were saying “Once you get to heaven you will know the Truth and therefore be a Christian.”

 

[MDK]

It is not quite clear which ecumenical document Cardinal Ratzinger was referring to in his 1993 letter. However, the most likely candidate would be the joint statement from Lutherans and Catholics in Dialogue IV: Eucharist and Ministry (1970). This is what it says in paragraph 54:

“As Roman Catholic theologians, we acknowledge in the spirit of Vatican II that the Lutheran communities with which we have been in dialogue are truly Christian churches, possessing the elements of holiness and truth that mark them as organs of grace and salvation. Furthermore, in our study we have found serious defects in the arguments customarily used against the validity of the eucharistic Ministry of the Lutheran churches. In fact, we see no persuasive reason to deny the possibility of the Roman Catholic church recognizing the validity of this Ministry. Accordingly we ask the authorities of the Roman Catholic church whether the ecumenical urgency flowing from Christ’s will for unity may not dictate that the Roman Catholic church recognize the validity of the Lutheran Ministry, and, correspondingly, the presence of the body and blood of Christ in the eucharistic celebrations of the Lutheran churches.”

Unless you can come up with an alternative document that Cardinal Ratzinger was referring to in his 1993 letter, I think this proves that he was indeed sympathetic to the concept that eucharistic validity can exist outside of Catholic/Orthodox apostolic succession.

Once again, please understand what it means, and what it does not mean. The following explanation was approved by former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger after becoming Pope Benedict XVI, 265th successor of Peter.

Near the end of June 2007, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a document approved by Benedict XVI “because some contemporary theological interpretations of Vatican II’s ecumenical intent had been ‘erroneous or ambiguous’ and had prompted confusion and doubt.”

The document went on to say “Christian Communities born out of the Reformation of the sixteenth century… do not enjoy apostolic succession in the sacrament of Orders, and are, therefore, deprived of a constitutive element of the Church. These ecclesial Communities which, specifically because of the absence of the sacramental priesthood, have not preserved the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic Mystery cannot, according to Catholic doctrine, be called “Churches” in the proper sense.”

I hope this adds perspective you requested.

What say you now, about the Lutheran priesthood and sacraments?

Does the Catholic Church officially teach that the Lutheran eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ?

Does the Catholic Church officially teach that the Lutheran priesthood is valid?

Does the Catholic Church teach that the Lutheran priest can forgive sins with authority given by Christ to His Apostles?

 

[RobGentner]

It’s certainly true that Abimelech believed in God because God directly spoke to him. Also at that point in time, the God worshipped by Noah and his offspring was known.

It does not say that Abimelech was saved, however. Nor does faith in God come through the knowledge given by Abraham alone.** The point here is that the Word must still come to sinners in some way for salvation./**QUOTE]
Not according to the Catholic Church. We teach that is a person does not KNOW Jesus, Does not Know that the Catholic Church is the correct church “through no fault of his own” he can be saved Through the graces of the catholic church. That isn’t contained in the Bible but is written in other catholic documents which we follow. Knowing that the Scriptures were made to teach in Mass and did not contain every thing nor were they infallable as some religions would like to pretend. Yes, the Scriptures were inspired but as said they are not without fault! If you know of Jesus and reject Him you reject salvation. If you don’t know of Him how could you be judged? My God is merciful and wants all of us to be saved. He condems no one because He wants to He condems them because the reject Him through their free will.

God Bless

 

[RobGentner]

Tomorrow Is My Birthday!
As My Gift To You, I Present The Following:

’MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL’
**
You say you will never forget where you were when
you heard the news On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say ‘Good-Bye.’ I
held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the
peace to say, ‘Honey , I am not going to make it, but it
is OK…I am ready to go.’

I was with his wife when he called as she fed
breakfast to their children. I held her up as she
tried to understand his words and as she realized
he wasn’t coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to Me for help. ‘I have been
knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!’ I said.
‘Of course I will show you the way home - only
believe in Me now.’

I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He
heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
believers there, comforting and assuring them that their
faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan …
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me
for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn’t hear Me calling to them through the
smoke and flames; ‘Come to Me… this way… take
my hand.’ Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You
may not know why, but I do. However, if you were
there in that explosive moment in time, would you have
reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey
for you. But someday your journey will end… And I
will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may
be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are
‘ready to go.’

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

God **

During the next 60 seconds, stop whatever you are doing, and take this opportunity. (Literally it is only 1 minute.) All you have to do is the following:

Stop and think and appreciate God’s power in your life, for doing what you know is pleasing to Him.