Protestants, what do they believe ?

[chaz0426]

I come across so many protestants that say something along these lines

" By accepting Jesus as Lord redeemer in baptism and confessing Jesus my sin is forgiven I just need to be able to forgive my self since Jesus did the forgiving over 2000 years ago."

How does that work, where did they pull this out of the bible?

so by saying “Jesus, I am a sinner. Please forgive me and come into my heart bla bla bla” you are assured permanent salvation?

So if I said that right now would I get my plane ticket to heaven?

Do all 30,000 churches believe that?

If so do you believe you can never loose your “ticket” to heaven like you could loose a plane ticket?

If yes how do you justify that (example: people who sin all their life and do evil things because they believe they are going to heaven because they said they believed in Jesus) ?

Also are you suppose to take the bible literally and for all truth (even scientific)?

Because I haven’t met one protestant or bible guy who doesn’t believe the earth is older than 5000 years old. Who does belief life could exist on other planets. Who does believe evolution could have been God’s work of creation.

How do support that? (bible references, evidence, sources ect.)

Also do all of you believe the bible alone is the only authority?

Why do you condemn the CC for structure and authority on important beliefs that can be interpreted in wrong ways?

How are you able to believe in something that a man interpreted (John Calvin, John Wesley, Martin Luther, Joseph Smith, King James, ect.) and at the same time accuse the CC of being corrupted by man?

I don’t deny the mistakes the CC made in the past but it’s founder was un-doubtly Jesus Christ himself with it’s own history and bible references that prove it. Why follow a man?

Why do you condemn a lot people to hell even those who were never introduced to Christianity ( like some guy in the jungle of Africa?)

Most importantly why do you condemn catholics to hell?

Do all of you condemn catholics? If so why?

I respect all faiths and I’m not trying to make fun of anything I’m just trying to get the facts straight so I don’t form any so to say “protestant stereotype” from catholic perspectives.

I ask any protestants to correct me or give me a better understanding as a catholic. I am very reasonable, logical, scientific, philosophical which makes me very open minded so I am open to any explanations and/or debates.

I also invite catholics who know more about it too to give an unbiased answer.

.

 

[Robbinson]

I’ll take shot at this (a Protestant, albeit one with an affinity for the Catholic Church). My replies will be in bold italics.

I come across so many protestants that say something along these lines

" By accepting Jesus as Lord redeemer in baptism and confessing Jesus my sin is forgiven I just need to be able to forgive my self since Jesus did the forgiving over 2000 years ago."

How does that work, where did they pull this out of the bible?

In fairness to your Protestant bretherin, there are many verses in the Bible that support this widely held belief. A commonly cited verse is Romans 10:9 (“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”)

so by saying “Jesus, I am a sinner. Please forgive me and come into my heart bla bla bla” you are assured permanent salvation?

Not quite - you must not just say it, you must mean it, have faith and repent of your sins

So if I said that right now would I get my plane ticket to heaven?

No - see answer above

Do all 30,000 churches believe that?

No - there are, as you might imagine with 30,000 plus denominations, varient views on this and other theological views - some believe in the necessity of sacraments, some do not

If so do you believe you can never loose your “ticket” to heaven like you could loose a plane ticket?

There are varying views within the Protestant world on “eternal security”. Some belief that once saved, always saved (eternal security), some believe that while saved through faith, we can lose salvation by sinning and choosing to walk away from God. There are vereses supporting both views. Personally, I’m more of an Arminian thinker so I believe in choice and thus not in eternal security

If yes how do you justify that (example: people who sin all their life and do evil things because they believe they are going to heaven because they said they believed in Jesus) ?

I’d say those people aren’t truly repentent - wouldn’t you agree?

Also are you suppose to take the bible literally and for all truth (even scientific)?

I believe in inerrancy of scripture and that it is literal, except where the context suggests not. I think this is the Catholic view as well. As to science, it does not purport to be a science book - thought there is nevertheless science in the bible

Because I haven’t met one protestant or bible guy who doesn’t believe the earth is older than 5000 years old. Who does belief life could exist on other planets. Who does believe evolution could have been God’s work of creation.

Well - now you do (kind of). I don’t know whether the world is 5,000 or 5,000,000 years old - but my faith would not be effected either way and a “literal” interpretation of the Bible, IMO, supports either view because we don’t know if each “day” refers to a 24 hour day or an age, etc. As to life on other planets - I have no idea - I don’t think so, but God didn’t tell us either way in the Bible. As to evolution, I believe in micro evolution (evolution within species, but not in macro evolution - the concept that we evolved across species lines. Is it possible we “evolved” as part of God’s plan and consistent with the Genesis account - perhaps - it would be an odd interpretation - but not an outrageous one depending upon whether God’s breathing life into Adam is a metephor or not. On this one, I guess I’m not your dream protestant, because I personally do not subscribe to that metephorical intrepretation of those versese

How do support that? (bible references, evidence, sources ect.)

Its mostly about the Genesis account

Also do all of you believe the bible alone is the only authority?

I used to - I’m coming around to the view that tradition can be authoritative when not inconsistent with scripture

Why do you condemn the CC for structure and authority on important beliefs that can be interpreted in wrong ways?

I dont - though I admit many, if not most, Protestants do****

How are you able to believe in something that a man interpreted (John Calvin, John Wesley, Martin Luther, Joseph Smith, King James, ect.) and at the same time accuse the CC of being corrupted by man?

Its a fair point - if it makes you feel better, the CC is not the only target - there is some aweful mudslinging between Calvinists and Arminian thinkers; those who believe in tounges and those who do not; those who believe in infant baptism, and those who do not, etc.

I don’t deny the mistakes the CC made in the past but it’s founder was un-doubtly Jesus Christ himself with it’s own history and bible references that prove it. Why follow a man?

Ah but you put your finger on “the” biggest issue that Protestant’s have with the Catholic Church. We should follow Christ, but protestants will say the Pope is just a man and we should all be free to be guided by the Holy Spirit. I acknowledge the dangers of everyone making up their own mind and theology - that’s one of the reasons I’m here on this Board but its still a big and fair issue from the Protestant perspective

Why do you condemn a lot people to hell even those who were never introduced to Christianity ( like some guy in the jungle of Africa?)

I’d say I don’t condem anyone - its God’s Bible. Scripture tells us we are all convicted and sinful and its only God’s grace through Christ that provides, through his mercy, the possibility of salvation for any of us. That being said, I’m attracted by the relative inclusiveness of the Catholic Church on this issue. Scripture has some conflicting verses in this area

Most importantly why do you condemn catholics to hell?

I absoluetly do not do this - though many Protestants do believe that by not accepting the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrafice (e.g, by requiring sacraments and Holy Orders) and through idolotry (a misunderstanding, IMO, in the use of images and relics in the Catholic Church) that Catholics have abandoned the true gospel. I want to stress, I could not disagree more with this and arguments with my bretheren on this issue have, more than anything else, got me initially thinking about Catholicism.

Do all of you condemn catholics? If so why?

No

I respect all faiths and I’m not trying to make fun of anything I’m just trying to get the facts straight so I don’t form any so to say “protestant stereotype” from catholic perspectives.

I ask any protestants to correct me or give me a better understanding as a catholic. I am very reasonable, logical, scientific, philosophical which makes me very open minded so I am open to any explanations and/or debates.

I also invite catholics who know more about it too to give an unbiased answer.

.

 

[chaz0426]

I’ll take shot at this (a Protestant, albeit one with an affinity for the Catholic Church). My replies will be in bold italics.

Thank you for responding, your answers are very informative and sensible. You seem to be one of the more “catholic” minded protestants out there like you said so it’s tough to argue.

Maybe anyone else out there has answers with stronger objections?

 

[TriuneUnity]

I come across so many protestants that say something along these lines

" By accepting Jesus as Lord redeemer in baptism and confessing Jesus my sin is forgiven I just need to be able to forgive my self since Jesus did the forgiving over 2000 years ago."

How does that work, where did they pull this out of the bible?

John 1:12: But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

**John 5:24: **Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

John 6:29: Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

John 20:31: but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Acts 10:43: To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Rom. 4:5: And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.

**Rom. 10:9: **because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

The Scripture’s teach clearly that whoever has faith in the work of Christ on the cross will be justified by the Father. Some of what you said is incorrect. One doesn’t have to “forgive oneself.” The person is forgiven as long as they trust that by Christ’s work for sinners, God forgives them. Self-esteem does not equal salvation.

I do not believe Baptism is something that is done merely as a sign of professed faith. Baptism grants faith to those who receive it and gives new life in spiritual regeneration.

so by saying “Jesus, I am a sinner. Please forgive me and come into my heart bla bla bla” you are assured permanent salvation?

One must persevere in faith. One time repentance does not equate to assured salvation. As long as the person has faith in Christ, they will be saved. Faith, however, can be lost.

So if I said that right now would I get my plane ticket to heaven?

If you die in the faith, you will enter Paradise.

Do all 30,000 churches believe that?

Can you name them all?

If yes how do you justify that (example: people who sin all their life and do evil things because they believe they are going to heaven because they said they believed in Jesus) ?

You and I sin every day. Jesus is not half a Savior.

Also are you suppose to take the bible literally and for all truth (even scientific)?

The Bible is not false in any way. Literally doesn’t mean literalism. The Bible is literal according to the genre in which it is written. Poetry is literal poetry; historical narrative is literal narrative.

Because I haven’t met one protestant or bible guy who doesn’t believe the earth is older than 5000 years old. Who does belief life could exist on other planets. Who does believe evolution could have been God’s work of creation.

Evolution contradicts the doctrine of the Fall and the literal sense of the creation account of Genesis 1.

How do support that? (bible references, evidence, sources ect.)

Also do all of you believe the bible alone is the only authority?

God’s Word is the only infallible authority because only God is infallible.

How are you able to believe in something that a man interpreted (John Calvin, John Wesley, Martin Luther, Joseph Smith, King James, ect.) and at the same time accuse the CC of being corrupted by man?

It is not dependent on Luther or any other reformer. Do you know why they interpreted Scripture the way they did? Have you ever researched whether someone before them held their views? How can you make a blanket statement without any evidence that their interpretation was wrong?

I don’t deny the mistakes the CC made in the past but it’s founder was un-doubtly Jesus Christ himself with it’s own history and bible references that prove it. Why follow a man?

The founder of the Christian faith is Jesus Christ. Those who possess faith in Christ are part of the Church. The external, visible Church is found where the Word of God is proclaimed rightly and where the Sacraments are administered rightly. The Western Church prior to Luther had fallen from proclaiming God’s Word faithfully and rightly administering the Sacraments. That situation still exists as it concerns those congregations in union with the See of Rome.

Why do you condemn a lot people to hell even those who were never introduced to Christianity ( like some guy in the jungle of Africa?)

They are not condemned for rejecting Christianity or never having been introduced to it. They are condemned for their sins against the Law of God and their rejection of their Creator. The Gospel rescues them from that condemnation. Outside of Christ there is no hope for the lost. The guy in the African jungle is guilty before God’s Holy Law.

Most importantly why do you condemn catholics to hell?

I don’t.

Do all of you condemn catholics? If so why?

I cannot speak for anyone who does condemn Catholics.

 

[Ted_in_Charlott]

Some protestents have more in common with Muslims than Catholics. They believe in sola scrirptura just like Muslims.

Some actually believe in things like saying an incantation like the “Sinners prayer” will allow them to go out and commit murder and still go to heaven.

Some believe in things like lost tablets being found and pulling their gospel out of a hat. And Jesus is the spirit brother of Lucifer.

Some say baptism saves, some say it is just a sign, some have a liturgy, some have high school educated pastors arranging “worship and praise” services that can’t put together a coherent sentence.

Some believe Jesus is God, some He is the highest creation. Some deny the Trinity.

What is the state of their soul? If they can be saved outside the whole truth, why can’t Muslims, Buddhists?

 

[Jonathan_Cid]

Protestantism is the inversion of all the dogmas of the Catholic faith that make our faith living, and the selecting of a few of them to claim authority from Christ, so as to make certain that they are in no way, “God forbid”, Catholic, but make up some other source of authority.

Thus they’ve rejected the Real Presence of Christ, taken up sola scriptura, ignored conveniently how the canons of the Bible came to be, changed what a church service should actually look like, and sprouted all sorts of denominations without any continuity in the Christian tradition - the Catholic Church.

Martin Luther was the first to make a clear cut from the Catholic Church, invert the dogmas of the Catholic Church, and maintain only a few tid-bits here and there, watered-down of course. I guess he just knew Jesus better than all his predecessors. What can I say? Maybe that one guy was the Way, the Life, and the Truth, the Mediatrix of Jesus’ Grace, who saved Christianity from “falsehood”? He was the rock upon which Christ built his Church, and while the gates of hell prevailed against him for a few thousand years, he eventually got the strength to fight back! No, not really.

I’ve always been critical of Protestantism. Ask a Protestant.

 

[historyb]

I come across so many protestants that say something along these lines

" By accepting Jesus as Lord redeemer in baptism and confessing Jesus my sin is forgiven I just need to be able to forgive my self since Jesus did the forgiving over 2000 years ago."

How does that work, where did they pull this out of the bible?

I was a Protestant so I would like to take a shot at these if I may.

For if thou confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thy heart that God hath raised him up from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For, with the heart, we believe unto justice; but, with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. 11For the scripture saith: Whosoever believeth in him, shall not be confounded. 12

DRC Version

so by saying “Jesus, I am a sinner. Please forgive me and come into my heart bla bla bla” you are assured permanent salvation?

Some believe that, some don’t.

So if I said that right now would I get my plane ticket to heaven?

Yes

Do all 30,000 churches believe that?

In Eternal Security? Some do, some don’t

If so do you believe you can never loose your “ticket” to heaven like you could loose a plane ticket?

I did

If yes how do you justify that (example: people who sin all their life and do evil things because they believe they are going to heaven because they said they believed in Jesus) ?

If you sin after Salvation, than you never meant it.

17If then any be in Christ a new creature, the old things are passed away, behold all things are made new. 18But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Christ; and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation

2 Cor 5:17-18

Also are you suppose to take the bible literally and for all truth (even scientific)?

Because I haven’t met one protestant or bible guy who doesn’t believe the earth is older than 5000 years old. Who does belief life could exist on other planets. Who does believe evolution could have been God’s work of creation. {/quote]

Some do, some don’t. I am a Catholic and a YEC though I think the Earth is older than 5,000 years old.
chaz0426;3959039:

How do support that? (bible references, evidence, sources ect.)

Genesis

Also do all of you believe the bible alone is the only authority?

I did, now I don’t know.

Why do you condemn the CC for structure and authority on important beliefs that can be interpreted in wrong ways?

I don’t know why I did, I guess I believed it was wrong.

How are you able to believe in something that a man interpreted (John Calvin, John Wesley, Martin Luther, Joseph Smith, King James, ect.) and at the same time accuse the CC of being corrupted by man?

Because of Sola Scriptura

I don’t deny the mistakes the CC made in the past but it’s founder was un-doubtly Jesus Christ himself with it’s own history and bible references that prove it. Why follow a man?

Protestants would say that to you in reverse

Why do you condemn a lot people to hell even those who were never introduced to Christianity ( like some guy in the jungle of Africa?)

The Scriptures

Most importantly why do you condemn catholics to hell?

At one time I did

Do all of you condemn catholics? If so why?

No

I respect all faiths and I’m not trying to make fun of anything I’m just trying to get the facts straight so I don’t form any so to say “protestant stereotype” from catholic perspectives.

I ask any protestants to correct me or give me a better understanding as a catholic. I am very reasonable, logical, scientific, philosophical which makes me very open minded so I am open to any explanations and/or debates.

I also invite catholics who know more about it too to give an unbiased answer.

.

How’s my answers?

 

[KingAlfred]

The three most important Protestant principles are these, and they never change. They are the foundation upon which all of Protestantism is founded, whether its individual practitioners realize it or not:

1. Priesthood of all believers.
2. Sole authority of scripture alone.
3. Salvation by faith.