Protestants, Explain this Verse

[OneTrueCathApos]

My dear friend in Christ I respect and enjoy the writings of C.S. Lewis but anyone of US can write or qoute on issues regarding things of HEaven and GOD but it does not mean it is right! The only GUIDE to issues of FAITH is the WORD of GOD!!!
One of the Greatest Mind of our Church is ST. Thomas Aquinas but again his writing is an enhancement but not the WORD of GOD! EVEN the book of REVELATION says that no one can add or substract to the WORD of GOD! REVELATION 22:18

C.S. Lewis’s writing about prayers and purgatory should not be taken as the WORD of GOD! Should you want to be CORRECT and PRESICE then refer to the WORD of GOD. According to HIS WORD, once a person is called Home you are either UP or DOWN and no inbetween! If there is INBETWEEN then I can live my life like there is NO GOD and then pay my way UP by asking and paying people to PRAY FOR ME 7-24 so that I can be lifted up to HEAVEN!!! I don’t think so! This is why it is very important to read HIS WORD so that we are full aware of what GOD wants to reveal to us in regards to our salvation. Again It is important to note that ONLY the WORD of GOD will suffice GOD! WHY? HE WROTE IT! NO ONE CAN DISPUTE THIS unless you are not a believer!!! Our MUSLIM Brothers in their QUORAN even says that OUR BIBLE is a SACRED BOOK and it should be read!!!
The Bottomline, there is no other book that you can compare with the WORD of GOD and I suggest to give it a try and it will change the way you see our GOD!

Blessing and Peace to you,
brother rommelh

With all due respect here, the bible didn’t just drop down from Heaven. The bible was written UNDER THE GUIDANCE of the Holy Spirit. Written by men. But the church came first. How can you just ignore that? Have you even read the NT? What is it you don’t get here?

 

[look3467]

Then you do not follow the Word of God. The Word of God, Jesus, has told Peter to start His church. And the Gates of Hell will not prevail. For someone who states the bible is “everything”, you certainly contradict yourself.

I can appreciate your enthusiasm for the Catholic Church, and I will try not to convince you otherwise.

The gates of hell are, by me, those things in this world that would entice me to indulge to my own gluttonous and own destruction.

But those gates shall not prevail, for greater is He that is in me than he (Gates)that is in the world.

As for contradicting my self, well, that is a matter of understanding, of which neither you or I are condemned for it.

Blessing’s, AJ

 

[look3467]

Peace to you AJ:
I am glad to hear at the end you refer to the WORD of GOD as the light to your path. As you describe the Hierarchy of Learning you then summed it up to a step by step process. Not only in Faith but in General we should go to a process to get a solid ground on the subject. Like for example RELATIONSHIP? There are steps to follow so you can develop a solid relationship. First I call it EYE to EYE- this stage start with eyeing someone. Second MOUTH to MOUTH - this where you approach the person and engages into conversation. When all things goes right this is the stage where parents go crazy for their Phone bills or cell bills goes HIGH!!! as you spend more time conversing and getting to know each other more then the THIRD HAND to HAND- this stage is where you walk hand and hand and your friends get to know the other person. FOURTH is HAND to HAIR - this is the stage where a guy can fart and the girl can burst into laughter while her snotch comes out of her nose! It is amazing to note that you can’t touch someone hair unless you guys are close already! FIFTH is HAND to WAIST - this is the stage where you walk closely together and starts conversing on a personal matters. SIXTH is LIPS to LIPS ! - a stage where you face each other and the it is now more intimate. SEVENTH is Hands to BREAST! - This stage is the MATRIMONAL Stage and you both passionate with each other and share the GREATEST GIFT GOD gave US HIS children… This is why too many relationship does not last for many if not all wants to jump from EYE to EYE to HAND to BREAST! Dear Friend AJ this is what you want to convey of taking time and allow the natural process to take place to keep us in line. I Just want to remind you my dear friend in CHRIST that you must take a stand. You can only be HOT or COLD when it comes to your FAITH or GOD! Don’t fall into the trap of going by the flow!!! With such attitude we can never attain the full blessing of GOD.
I hope I shed a few light on this matter through the Love of CHRIST JESUS.

Yours in Christ,
ROmmelh

Good analogy of getting to know someone. But I didn’t get your point of it.

My relationship with God has been since a child, intimately close. I mean, I always had faith.
The experience of life with God guidance is what I believe has given me my current understanding.

And thank you for your concern, for I have lack of nothing, since I have all that I need in Christ.

Blessing’s, AJ

 

[Selene]

How many Scriptures do I need to show you before you get it?

The concept of Purgatory can be found in the Second Book of Maccabees, which is a book that is not found in any Protestant Bible. It is found only in a Catholic Bible. The concept of Purgatory has to do with praying for the dead. The Jewish people commemorate Judas Maccabees every year as they celebrate Hannukah, and that is important because the root and heritage of the Christian faith is in Judaism. The Jews prayed for the dead just as the Catholics do. Catholics pray for the dead because we believe in more than just a Heaven and Hell. We also believe in a Purgatory. Within Judaism, prayers for the dead form part of the Jewish service. In a Catholic service, we follow the same thing because the Christian faith actually came from the Judaism. After all, Christ was a Jew and being a Jew, He was also in the Jewish synogugue praying for the dead with the rest of the Jewish people.

 

[look3467]

The concept of Purgatory can be found in the Second Book of Maccabees, which is a book that is not found in any Protestant Bible. It is found only in a Catholic Bible. The concept of Purgatory has to do with praying for the dead. The Jewish people commemorate Judas Maccabees every year as they celebrate Hannukah, and that is important because the root and heritage of the Christian faith is in Judaism. The Jews prayed for the dead just as the Catholics do. Catholics pray for the dead because we believe in more than just a Heaven and Hell. We also believe in a Purgatory. Within Judaism, prayers for the dead form part of the Jewish service. In a Catholic service, we follow the same thing because the Christian faith actually came from the Judaism. After all, Christ was a Jew and being a Jew, He was also in the Jewish synogugue praying for the dead with the rest of the Jewish people.

One thing that should be considered when comparing Jewish believes with Christian beliefs is the crossroads.

The crossroads between the old and the new is the point where they cross.

The standard hen for the new is the cross.

There at that point, the Jewish beliefs no longer apply, since the curtain was: And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

The cross between the old and the new has been crossed at Calvary.

The new now applies to all peoples of the world, whether they want to believe it or not, makes no difference.

What does make a difference, is how we live.

What we sow, that we shall reap is the only condition that is applicable to the flesh.

For the wages of sin is death, not spiritual death, because we are all spiritually dead until we become born again, but physical death.

So, we either come under the cleansing blood of the lamb for life, or we attemp to enter some other way.

Blessing’s, AJ

 

[Selene]

One thing that should be considered when comparing Jewish believes with Christian beliefs is the crossroads.

The crossroads between the old and the new is the point where they cross.

The standard hen for the new is the cross.

There at that point, the Jewish beliefs no longer apply, since the curtain was: And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

The cross between the old and the new has been crossed at Calvary.

The new now applies to all peoples of the world, whether they want to believe it or not, makes no difference.

Hello AJ.

The verse you stated above has nothing to do with Purgatory. The destruction of the veil in the temple indicates the abrogation of the old Mosaic cult and the way opeend up by Christ into the messianic sanctuary, but this does not indicate that we are to completely ignore everything in our roots and heritage. After all, the Jewish people still celebrate the Passover just as Jesus did, and so do we. The Jewish people still fast today just as Jesus did and so do we. Catholics follow Jesus in everything that He has done even before His death on the cross. Jesus fasted 40 days in the desert before He died. Catholics also fast for 40 days. Like every Jew, Jesus also prayed for the dead in the synagogues and so do we. It is not just His teachings that are to be followed, but also what He did. Jesus is the Way, and that is why we follow Him in everything that he did and teach.

Peace be with you,
Selene

 

[look3467]

Hello AJ.

The verse you stated above has nothing to do with Purgatory. The destruction of the veil in the temple indicates the abrogation of the old Mosaic cult and the way opeend up by Christ into the messianic sanctuary, but this does not indicate that we are to completely ignore everything in our roots and heritage. After all, the Jewish people still celebrate the Passover just as Jesus did, and so do we. The Jewish people still fast today just as Jesus did and so do we. Catholics follow Jesus in everything that He has done even before His death on the cross. Jesus fasted 40 days in the desert before He died. Catholics also fast for 40 days. Like every Jew, Jesus also prayed for the dead in the synagogues and so do we.

Peace be with you,
Selene

One thing that Jesus affords us, and that is liberty.

Gal 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

The key note is liberty by Christ, but the responsibility is ours, that we should not use it as an occasion to the flesh.

Whether you do or… you don’t, that is up to the individual.

We are set free from all requirements, especially from the Jewish traditions for the salvation of the soul.

But, for the safe keeping of your flesh, it is your choice of practices.

Now, to require another to practice the same things we do just because we believe it to be so, is the means to divisions.

The only true requirement that God wants from us is in His two Commandments.

If we try to conform our lives to those two, we shall have met all the requirements.

Apart from those two, you can pretty much worship God any way you deem good and necessary.

Remember, that God looks at your heart.

If your herat is right with God, then anything you do will be right also.

Blessing’s, AJ

 

[look3467]

Sure that is a given. But what’s this third heaven St Paul speaks of?

Quoting Albert Barnes - Notes on the bible.
To the third heaven - The Jews sometimes speak of seven heavens, and Muhammed has borrowed this idea from the Jews. But the Bible speaks of but three heavens, and among the Jews in the apostolic ages also the heavens were divided into three:
(1) The aerial, including the clouds and the atmosphere, the heavens above us, until we come to the stars.
(2) the starry heavens, the heavens in which the sun, moon, and stars appear to be situated.
(3) the heavens beyond the stars. That heaven was supposed to be the residence of God, of angels, and of holy spirits. It was this upper heaven, the dwelling-place of God, to which Paul was taken, and whose wonders he was permitted to behold - this region where God dwelt; where Christ was seated at the right hand of the Father, and where the spirits of the just were assembled. The fanciful opinions of the Jews about seven heavens may be seen detailed in Schoettgen or in Wetstein, by whom the principal passages from the Jewish writings relating to the subject have been collected. As their opinions throw no light on this passage, it is unnecessary to detail them here.

Pretty much explained above.

Now Paul speaks of the abode of God, as the third heaven, there receiving His revelation.

If one wants to explore the number 3 in conjunction with the word of God, it can be deduced that 1 and 2 took place here on earth IE. 1. When Adam was first created (on earth)
2. When Jesus was here on earth. Remember when Jesus said, the kingdom is here?

3rd, is where Jesus now resides.

So, the one verse where that is mentioned means nothing more than the place where you and I want to be after this one.

Blessing’s, AJ

 

[look3467]

Hello AJ.

The verse you stated above has nothing to do with Purgatory. The destruction of the veil in the temple indicates the abrogation of the old Mosaic cult and the way opeend up by Christ into the messianic sanctuary, but this does not indicate that we are to completely ignore everything in our roots and heritage. After all, the Jewish people still celebrate the Passover just as Jesus did, and so do we. The Jewish people still fast today just as Jesus did and so do we. Catholics follow Jesus in everything that He has done even before His death on the cross. Jesus fasted 40 days in the desert before He died. Catholics also fast for 40 days. Like every Jew, Jesus also prayed for the dead in the synagogues and so do we. It is not just His teachings that are to be followed, but also what He did. Jesus is the Way, and that is why we follow Him in everything that he did and teach.

Peace be with you,
Selene

Purgatory is a choice you want to believe in, and I don’t have any problem with you doing so.

The veil was a statement of division, of isolation, a gate dividing the heavens (God’s abode) from the earth. Mans abode.

The one is spirit while the latter is fleshly.

That division was done away with in Christ to where now we have an open door to heaven via spiritually reborn, where we are presently dead, until we become spiritually reborn.

We become spiritually reborn at the point of accepting Jesus sacrifice for our lost and dead soul for life in Him.

Once that happens, there are no intermediary levels to go through to get to heaven.

Either your in, or your not yet in, but you will be in, because He already paid the price for your entry.

Blessing’s, AJ

 

[Selene]

The key note is liberty by Christ, but the responsibility is ours, that we should not use it as an occasion to the flesh.

Whether you do or… you don’t, that is up to the individual.

We are set free from all requirements, especially from the Jewish traditions for the salvation of the soul.

But, for the safe keeping of your flesh, it is your choice of practices.

Hello AJ,

What makes you think that we are following the flesh rather than God’s Will? Yes, we do have liberty. We have the liberty to do God’s Will or to follow our own will. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). Everything that Jesus did was in accordance to God’s Will. Therefore, praying to the dead is in accordace to God’s Will. That means, if it was okay for Jesus to pray for the dead in the synagogues then the Catholics are correct in doing the same thing because everything that Jesus did was in accordance to God’s Will. Christ was a Jew who did everything in accordance to God’s Will, and Jesus is the one we follow.

Peace be with you,
Selene

 

[look3467]

Hello AJ,

What makes you think that we are following the flesh rather than God’s Will? Yes, we do have liberty. We have the liberty to do God’s Will or to follow our own will. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). Everything that Jesus did was in accordance to God’s Will. Therefore, praying to the dead is in accordace to God’s Will. That means, if it was okay for Jesus to pray for the dead in the synagogues then the Catholics are correct in doing the same thing because everything that Jesus did was in accordance to God’s Will. Christ was a Jew who did everything in accordance to God’s Will, and Jesus is the one we follow.

Peace be with you,
Selene

Perhaps we are not seeing the same view. When I say liberty, I meant it free from eternal damnation.

Once liberated from that condition, we are free for life from all earthly things.

If then we are set free, ie, liberated for life, then there are no conditional requirements other than being born again.

That being the case then, practices have nothing to do with the eternal requirement, which is life.

The behavioral choices only contribute to blessings or cursing yet while in the flesh.

We ought, as we believe, bring our flesh into conformity to that of Christs, for that is the will of the Father.

Here’s a verse: Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

My works are nothing but dead works, for only those works of Christ matter, that’s why I live by the faith of the Son of God.

Blessing’s, AJ

 

[Selene]

Perhaps we are not seeing the same view. When I say liberty, I meant it free from eternal damnation.

Once liberated from that condition, we are free for life from all earthly things.

If then we are set free, ie, liberated for life, then there are no conditional requirements other than being born again.

That being the case then, practices have nothing to do with the eternal requirement, which is life.

The behavioral choices only contribute to blessings or cursing yet while in the flesh.

We ought, as we believe, bring our flesh into conformity to that of Christs, for that is the will of the Father.

Here’s a verse: Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

My works are nothing but dead works, for only those works of Christ matter, that’s why I live by the faith of the Son of God.

Blessing’s, AJ

Hello AJ,

What makes you think that what the Catholics do are nothing but mere works and practices? Did not Jesus say to come and follow Him? Did not Jesus say that those who did not take up their cross and follow in His footsteps are not worthy of Him? Are you assuming that all the things that Jesus did before He offered Himself on the cross are earthly things?

We understood that Jesus offered Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins and this was in accordance to God’s Will. We also understand that the things that Jesus did before he offered Himself on the cross was also in accordance to God’s Will; therefore, the things that we do in His footsteps were never earthly things as you assume. They were all in accordance to God’s Will because Jesus always put God’s Will first before any Jewish customs and traditions. We are not speaking about Jewish traditions. We are speaking about Jesus. Jesus is God.

You quote the scriptures as though we are not following the Bible. However, we do follow the Bible because we also believe that the Bible is the Word of God. But we also follow something much more. We follow the Living Word - a Living Word that has a name and who existed before the world was created and even before the Bible was written. The name of that Living Word is Jesus Christ. Everthing that Christ did was in accordance to God’s Will and has nothing to do with earthly things. Therefore, praying for the dead was in accordance to God’s Will because the Living Word (Jesus Christ) did it Himself when He was in the synagogues and so did the Apostles.

Praying for the dead was never invented by the Catholics. Praying for the dead goes all the way back to Judaism and to Christ. Christ and the Apostles prayed for the dead. The Apostles continued to pray for the dead even after Christ’s death and this is one of the apostolic tradition the Catholic Church continued to carry on in her. The word “Purgatory” doesn’t exist in the Bible just as the words “Trinity” and “Incarnation” also doesn’t exist in the Bible. The word “Purgatory” only means “purging of sins.” Purgatory is not considered a second chance for salvation. Rather, it is a sign of God’s mercy toward those who have honestly sought to know God and to do His Will in this life, and yet who die in some degree of bondage to sin before he/she could repent.

Like you, Catholics believe that all sin is totally forgiven and removed through the passion, death and resurrection of Jeus Christ. And Catholics understand purgatory as a way that this salvation in Jesus actually “happens.” If a person who believes in Jesus suddenly died in an accident before he/she could repent and still carries sin, those sins will be “purged” before the person sees God face-to-face. Why? Because of God’s holiness. Sin and God are diametrically opposed. God is so pure, so holy, that nothing impure or sinful can enter into his presence (See Revelations 21:27). Purgatory means that as a person is drawn nearer to God and finally drawn into the full glory of His presence, the remaining sin in a person’s life is just burned away by the consuming fire of God. Sin is purged because it cannot exist in the presence of the all-holy God. When we pray for the souls in Purgatory, we are praying for their speedy purification and that is all.

This concept becomes more clear in the Book of Isaiah who had a vision of God upon a throne with the angels surrounding him cyring, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.” (Is. 6:1-3). Isaiah’s respone was “Woe is me!..For I am a man of unclean lips…for my eyes have seen…the Lord of hosts!” (Is. 6:5). But the Lord sent an angel to purify Isaiah’s lips with a burning coal from the altar of God. “And he touched my mouth, and said, ‘Behold, this had touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin forgiven’” (Is. 6:7).

Christ prayed for the dead in the synagogues because He followed God’s Will. He certainly was not following any earthly work or practice.

Peace be with you,
Selene

 

[look3467]

Hello AJ,

What makes you think that what the Catholics do are nothing but mere works and practices? Did not Jesus say to come and follow Him? Did not Jesus say that those who did not take up their cross and follow in His footsteps are not worthy of Him? Are you assuming that all the things that Jesus did before He offered Himself on the cross are earthly things?

We understood that Jesus offered Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins and this was in accordance to God’s Will. We also understand that the things that Jesus did before he offered Himself on the cross was also in accordance to God’s Will; therefore, the things that we do in His footsteps were never earthly things as you assume. They were all in accordance to God’s Will because Jesus always put God’s Will first before any Jewish customs and traditions. We are not speaking about Jewish traditions. We are speaking about Jesus. Jesus is God.

You quote the scriptures as though we are not following the Bible. However, we do follow the Bible because we also believe that the Bible is the Word of God. But we also follow something much more. We follow the Living Word - a Living Word that has a name and who existed before the world was created and even before the Bible was written. The name of that Living Word is Jesus Christ. Everthing that Christ did was in accordance to God’s Will and has nothing to do with earthly things. Therefore, praying for the dead was in accordance to God’s Will because the Living Word (Jesus Christ) did it Himself when He was in the synagogues and so did the Apostles.

Praying for the dead was never invented by the Catholics. Praying for the dead goes all the way back to Judaism and to Christ. Christ and the Apostles prayed for the dead. The Apostles continued to pray for the dead even after Christ’s death and this is one of the apostolic tradition the Catholic Church continued to carry on in her. The word “Purgatory” doesn’t exist in the Bible just as the words “Trinity” and “Incarnation” also doesn’t exist in the Bible. The word “Purgatory” only means “purging of sins.” Purgatory is not considered a second chance for salvation. Rather, it is a sign of God’s mercy toward those who have honestly sought to know God and to do His Will in this life, and yet who die in some degree of bondage to sin before he/she could repent.

Like you, Catholics believe that all sin is totally forgiven and removed through the passion, death and resurrection of Jeus Christ. And Catholics understand purgatory as a way that this salvation in Jesus actually “happens.” If a person who believes in Jesus suddenly died in an accident before he/she could repent and still carries sin, those sins will be “purged” before the person sees God face-to-face. Why? Because of God’s holiness. Sin and God are diametrically opposed. God is so pure, so holy, that nothing impure or sinful can enter into his presence (See Revelations 21:27). Purgatory means that as a person is drawn nearer to God and finally drawn into the full glory of His presence, the remaining sin in a person’s life is just burned away by the consuming fire of God. Sin is purged because it cannot exist in the presence of the all-holy God. When we pray for the souls in Purgatory, we are praying for their speedy purification and that is all.

This concept becomes more clear in the Book of Isaiah who had a vision of God upon a throne with the angels surrounding him cyring, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.” (Is. 6:1-3). Isaiah’s respone was “Woe is me!..For I am a man of unclean lips…for my eyes have seen…the Lord of hosts!” (Is. 6:5). But the Lord sent an angel to purify Isaiah’s lips with a burning coal from the altar of God. “And he touched my mouth, and said, ‘Behold, this had touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin forgiven’” (Is. 6:7).

Christ prayed for the dead in the synagogues because He followed God’s Will. He certainly was not following any earthly work or practice.

Peace be with you,
Selene

You still are not understanding my point.

I am not saying you can’t believe in purgatory, praying for the dead or anything else you want to do.

What I am saying is that you are free to do all those things if not at all.

God’s gift of life is free from all those things of which there are no things to be done to achieve it.

Jesus achieved it for us, alls we have to do is believe it, and live it.

By living it, we are free to exercise our love for God any way we choose, as long as it conforms to His two commandments.

If you desire to practice as a Catholic, then that is a good thing.
If I desire to practice as a non denominational, that’s a good thing to.

We are not rated by what we do as a requirement for heaven, but are rated by being born into heaven.

We can not be part of the family of God without rebirth, which is optional.

The good news is that we can!

Catholics can do all the good works they want to their own gain, but for heavens gain, rebirth is the only option.

I am here to to criticize Catholics or Protestants, but to share information.

If it helps, good and if doesn’t, well nothing is lost.

Blessing’s, AJ

 

[Selene]

You still are not understanding my point.

I am not saying you can’t believe in purgatory, praying for the dead or anything else you want to do.

What I am saying is that you are free to do all those things if not at all.

God’s gift of life is free from all those things of which there are no things to be done to achieve it.

Jesus achieved it for us, alls we have to do is believe it, and live it.

By living it, we are free to exercise our love for God any way we choose, as long as it conforms to His two commandments.

If you desire to practice as a Catholic, then that is a good thing.
If I desire to practice as a non denominational, that’s a good thing to.

We are not rated by what we do as a requirement for heaven, but are rated by being born into heaven.

We can not be part of the family of God without rebirth, which is optional.

The good news is that we can!

Catholics can do all the good works they want to their own gain, but for heavens gain, rebirth is the only option.

I am here to to criticize Catholics or Protestants, but to share information.

If it helps, good and if doesn’t, well nothing is lost.

Blessing’s, AJ

Hello AJ,

Much of what you said is also what we believe in. Many Christians today say that a person must be “born again,” “Spirit-filled,” or “baptized in the Holy Spirit” in order to be saved. Catholics and other Christians often ask what the Catholic Church teaches about this. The simple answer is that the Catholic Church basically affirms the reality and truth of what these phrases point to. John 3: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the Kingdom of God…Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

Salvation is a lifelong process that depends upon the continually living in the power of the Holy Spirit and by the Spirit’s guidance. St. Paul stresses that;it is those who live according to the Spirit of God who will attain salvation, “…for if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Romans 8:13-14). Therefore, in this teaching, we are in communion regardless of what Christian denomination you follow. As a Catholic, I can also say that I am born again because I have been baptized by the Holy Spirit. I have received the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit continues to guide me.

Also, we do not pray for the dead to attain salvation. We pray for the dead because we love our brothers and sisters who have already passed away and we prayed for their speedy purification so that they can see God. We love our brothers and sisters despite that they were sinners. We love them when they were alive and even after they have passed away from this earth. Love is greater than death. Death can never separate us from God nor can it separate us from our brothers and sisters in Heaven and Purgatory. In this, we follow God’s two greatest commandments.

Peace be with you,
Selene

 

[look3467]

Hello AJ,

Much of what you said is also what we believe in. Many Christians today say that a person must be “born again,” “Spirit-filled,” or “baptized in the Holy Spirit” in order to be saved. Catholics and other Christians often ask what the Catholic Church teaches about this. The simple answer is that the Catholic Church basically affirms the reality and truth of what these phrases point to. John 3: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the Kingdom of God…Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

Salvation is a lifelong process that depends upon the continually living in the power of the Holy Spirit and by the Spirit’s guidance. St. Paul stresses that;it is those who live according to the Spirit of God who will attain salvation, “…for if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Romans 8:13-14). Therefore, in this teaching, we are in communion regardless of what Christian denomination you follow. As a Catholic, I can also say that I am born again because I have been baptized by the Holy Spirit. I have received the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit continues to guide me.

Also, we do not pray for the dead to attain salvation. We pray for the dead because we love our brothers and sisters who have already passed away and we prayed for their speedy purification so that they can see God. We love our brothers and sisters despite that they were sinners. We love them when they were alive and even after they have passed away from this earth. Love is greater than death. Death can never separate us from God nor can it separate us from our brothers and sisters in Heaven and Purgatory. In this, we follow God’s two greatest commandments.

Peace be with you,
Selene

I am happy that you know the Lord, as I can tell by your words.

However it is that we demonstrate to God that we love Him can only be pleasing to Him.

I don’t pray for some one who has lived and died, even if it where my mother.

I see salvation as a gift to all mankind excluding none.

The problem is that not everyone knows it.

Hence the good news proclamation to a lost world, that we may by our testimony, save some from the this hellish world to a heavenly rebirth in this hellish world.

The difference being, that being part of the family of God by birth makes this hellish world a bearable place to endure, while we wait for our graduation day to that glorious abode.

Blessing’s, AJ