M
mmmcounts
Guest
How many people do you think will choose the third option?
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I don’t know, but, even though I answered number 1 I could have just as easily answered number 2. For me at least, the distinctions between the two have grown to be more semantics.
Jon
T
Tyuiop411
Guest
The distinction between number 1 and number 2 is not great, but in spite of that i chose number 2.
The only people that will choose 3 are OSAS Protestants
The only people that will choose 3 are OSAS Protestants
M
MatthewBerkeley
Guest
I said number one, because I don’t think any of our good deeds can merit eternal life.
Everything God chooses to grant us is a grace, and we can’t deserve it, just be open to receiving what God wants to give us.
God bless
Everything God chooses to grant us is a grace, and we can’t deserve it, just be open to receiving what God wants to give us.
God bless
W
Whitacre_Girl
Guest
I voted for number one, although none of them really explain how I feel. I don’t think faith alone is what saves us (scripture states exactly the opposite in James). But I think that Faith produces good works, and faith grows through the comission of good works when one may not feel they have the strongest faith. It’s a circular existence with one leading to another with no real beginning and no real end. It’s the classic “which came first, the chicken or the egg” argument.
W
Whitacre_Girl
Guest
I said number one, because I don’t think any of our good deeds can merit eternal life.
Everything God chooses to grant us is a grace, and we can’t deserve it, just be open to receiving what God wants to give us.
God bless
R
Roman_Catholic_1
Guest
I picked #1 although having re-read #2 I think that more closely fits my beliefs on salvation. That is if it is saying what I think it is saying and that is that even our faith and our works are a Grace from God. I can live with #1 though.
God bless
God bless
M
Marie5890
Guest
That’s pretty much how I feel. And am just beginning to understand what it means to be open to receive His grace…and in such abundence…I said number one, because I don’t think any of our good deeds can merit eternal life.
Everything God chooses to grant us is a grace, and we can’t deserve it, just be open to receiving what God wants to give us.
God bless
But the operative word being “open”…
I had a particularly grace-filled Advent season that it left me…mmmm…profoundly awe struck …
and Im humble at His Mercy
A
Angainor
Guest
The difference between 1 & 2 is absolutely huge.
C
Cat
Guest
I don’t really think #1 or #2 is a description of Catholic belief regarding salvation.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines “salvation” as “the forgiveness of sins and restoration of friendship with God, which can be done by God alone.”
(P 169, 620)
As for those who chose the 3rd option–in the evangelical churches that I grew up in, we were taught the theology of the 3rd option, but at the same time, we were expected to follow a “Code of Conduct” that proved that we had sincerely asked Jesus into our heart. People who did not follow that “Code of Conduct” were considered “carnal” and we said that they had never really asked Jesus into their heart, so they were never really saved or they wouldn’t be practicing sin.
All my life I questioned the logic of the evangelical viewpoint of salvation. If Christ’s blood truly covered all our sins for all time and our salvation could not be lost, then it didn’t matter what we did or didn’t do.
And if we TRULY could do NOTHING to contribute to our own salvation, and if the only good works that we could do were those stemming from our gratefulness for Christ, then what did if mean if we didn’t feel “grateful” to Christ? How could we know that our good works were truly of Christ and not useless dross done in our own human power?
I felt that the evangelical theology of works and faith encouraged indolence.
And yet, there was the “Code of Conduct.” It isn’t written down anywhere, but any evangelical can list what is on that “Code of Conduct.” It changes over the years; e.g., at one time, it was considered “sinful” to go to a movie. Then it became sinful only if the movie was on Sunday. Then it became sinful only if the movie were R or X rated. Now it is only sinful if the movie is pornographic. I suspect that pretty soon porn will be OK for evangelicals. And eventually, I suspect that evangelicals will be producing “porn” (as a marital aid, of course).
Another rule of the evangelical “Code of Conduct” has to do with Bible study and prayer. EVERY evangelical knows that real Christians, those who truly love Christ and have asked Him into their hearts, WILL have a Quiet Time every day during which they read the Bible and pray. This is one reason why Catholics can’t possibly be REAL Christians–many of them never read the Bible (Mass doesn’t count, since the reading is out of a “book,” not the actual Bible.)
A third rule of the evangelical “Code of Conduct” is no drinking of alcohol. Now that rule is being erased, and more and more evangelicals are drinking wine and beer, and some even drink harder liquor! To me personally, this is utterly amazing. I cannot even fathom the idea of evangelicals drinking alcohol in public. I knew one German family in my evangelical church that nearly got ousted from the membership because it became known that they drank beer with their meals at home! Because of the way my evangelical church trained me, today, when I see evangelicals drinking alcohol, it is no different than if they were soliciting a prostitute or dealing drugs or sinning in some other way. I can’t fathom it. I can’t accept it!
A fourth rule of the evangelical “Code of Conduct” was involvement in at least one, preferably more, church ministries. I have often said that if I listed my ministries in my evangelical churches in my first 47 years, this forum would not have enough room to contain the list! Those who just sit back and do nothing are questionable in their faith, unless there has been a recent death in their family. Then we gave them a few weeks to recover. But after that, they’d better get busy again. (When my mother died, I received a call two weeks later from my evangelical church pastors asking when I was going to get back to work on the children’s choir.)
That’s what I mean when I say that the rules of the evangelical “Code of Conduct” change over time. Very confusing, and perhaps you can see why I questioned evangelical theology over the years. A true Christian could not work their way to heaven, but they had to work their way to acceptance here on this earth.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines “salvation” as “the forgiveness of sins and restoration of friendship with God, which can be done by God alone.”
(P 169, 620)
As for those who chose the 3rd option–in the evangelical churches that I grew up in, we were taught the theology of the 3rd option, but at the same time, we were expected to follow a “Code of Conduct” that proved that we had sincerely asked Jesus into our heart. People who did not follow that “Code of Conduct” were considered “carnal” and we said that they had never really asked Jesus into their heart, so they were never really saved or they wouldn’t be practicing sin.
All my life I questioned the logic of the evangelical viewpoint of salvation. If Christ’s blood truly covered all our sins for all time and our salvation could not be lost, then it didn’t matter what we did or didn’t do.
And if we TRULY could do NOTHING to contribute to our own salvation, and if the only good works that we could do were those stemming from our gratefulness for Christ, then what did if mean if we didn’t feel “grateful” to Christ? How could we know that our good works were truly of Christ and not useless dross done in our own human power?
I felt that the evangelical theology of works and faith encouraged indolence.
And yet, there was the “Code of Conduct.” It isn’t written down anywhere, but any evangelical can list what is on that “Code of Conduct.” It changes over the years; e.g., at one time, it was considered “sinful” to go to a movie. Then it became sinful only if the movie was on Sunday. Then it became sinful only if the movie were R or X rated. Now it is only sinful if the movie is pornographic. I suspect that pretty soon porn will be OK for evangelicals. And eventually, I suspect that evangelicals will be producing “porn” (as a marital aid, of course).
Another rule of the evangelical “Code of Conduct” has to do with Bible study and prayer. EVERY evangelical knows that real Christians, those who truly love Christ and have asked Him into their hearts, WILL have a Quiet Time every day during which they read the Bible and pray. This is one reason why Catholics can’t possibly be REAL Christians–many of them never read the Bible (Mass doesn’t count, since the reading is out of a “book,” not the actual Bible.)
A third rule of the evangelical “Code of Conduct” is no drinking of alcohol. Now that rule is being erased, and more and more evangelicals are drinking wine and beer, and some even drink harder liquor! To me personally, this is utterly amazing. I cannot even fathom the idea of evangelicals drinking alcohol in public. I knew one German family in my evangelical church that nearly got ousted from the membership because it became known that they drank beer with their meals at home!
Because of the way my evangelical church trained me, today, when I see evangelicals drinking alcohol, it is no different than if they were soliciting a prostitute or dealing drugs or sinning in some other way. I can’t fathom it. I can’t accept it!A fourth rule of the evangelical “Code of Conduct” was involvement in at least one, preferably more, church ministries. I have often said that if I listed my ministries in my evangelical churches in my first 47 years, this forum would not have enough room to contain the list! Those who just sit back and do nothing are questionable in their faith, unless there has been a recent death in their family. Then we gave them a few weeks to recover. But after that, they’d better get busy again. (When my mother died, I received a call two weeks later from my evangelical church pastors asking when I was going to get back to work on the children’s choir.)
That’s what I mean when I say that the rules of the evangelical “Code of Conduct” change over time. Very confusing, and perhaps you can see why I questioned evangelical theology over the years. A true Christian could not work their way to heaven, but they had to work their way to acceptance here on this earth.
A
AmericanJosiah
Guest
.
My choice wasn’t in the poll…
My choice: We are justified by God’s grace (a gift) in Christ through faith in Christ. Such faith is active in love/ good works in obedience to God (sola fide).
.
My choice wasn’t in the poll…
My choice: We are justified by God’s grace (a gift) in Christ through faith in Christ. Such faith is active in love/ good works in obedience to God (sola fide).
.
A
Angainor
Guest
Yea, there was something missing in the poll answers. Christ! Lots of mentions of “faith”, but faith in what?
Z
Zooey
Guest
None of the answers is correct.
We are saved by the grace of God. Period.
Everything is** grace.**
Because of His grace, we can be saved through the sacrificial death of Christ Jesus. We have been saved, we are being saved, and we have hope of salvation through Him.
We are saved by the grace of God. Period.
Everything is** grace.**
Because of His grace, we can be saved through the sacrificial death of Christ Jesus. We have been saved, we are being saved, and we have hope of salvation through Him.
Y
yellowbird
Guest
This is my thought as well. I’m going with #1 because I do believe I am saved by God’s grace alone. I can do good works all day long and they wouldn’t provide the justification for Him saving me. He does so because he is merciful, loving and kind.
However I reject the notion that there’s nothing required on my part. He asks me to have faith… I believe He actually GIVES me faith… and I demonstrate I accept His gift of faith by my actions. Just like I demonstrate I love Him by being obedient.
Y
yellowbird
Guest
Z
Zooey
Guest
I
Ignatius
Guest
None of the options is accurate.
B
BenBornAgain
Guest
None of the three
B
bridgeforsale
Guest
I have this good friend named Grace (we call her Gracie)
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