Reading the Bible cannot save you.

[Techno2000]

The Bible says “if you seek me you shall find me”. If someone is sincerely looking for truth God will lead him to a source that will allow him to understand the salvation message whether it is oral or written. The point is the Bible is the final authority on matters of faith because it explains the salvation message. Every book of the Bible has a salvation message in it (I don’t know if the apocrypha books do) and that is why it is the final authority so it doesn’t really matter if it is explained to someone orally if it is explained exactly as it is written in the Bible but you do need a source of authority to back up what is being told to an individual . It is like the US constitution which is a statute of laws that guarantee an individuals rights.

What about all those poor souls that were led to Jim Jones and
David Koresh ???

 

[Zooey]

Nancie Lew

That is actually against forum rules. We Catholics do not poke fun out of our Protestant and other brethren.

For Scripture says: ‘you will know them by their fruits’. If Christ’s Holy Church is something you hold for nothing better than ridicule, it begs the question why are you here!

She [the Holy Catholic Church was robust 2000-years ago, she is as robust now, which is of course exactly what Christ promised

I have reported that particular post of Nancie’s…I was ready to, after the remarks she made earlier. Let’s leave her to the mods.
[/quote]

 

[Nancie_Lew]

What about all those poor souls that were led to Jim Jones and
David Koresh ???

The people who followed Jim Jones and David Koresh were not really seeking God. These people were greedy. Both of these guys told their followers they would prosper materially and live happily ever after .The people who went to Guyana to live with Jim Jones tried to set up a Utopia on Earth. They were greedy.

 

[Nancie_Lew]

I have reported that particular post of Nancie’s…I was ready to, after the remarks she made earlier. Let’s leave her to the mods.

How about the remarks Wisdom made to James Swan on the
Deutrocanonical Books thread? Were you equally offended by that? Did you report him for being uncharitable? What offends me is someone like you who pretends to be Methodist and having been banned from the CARM forum before even posting on it…not! If the moderators wish to ban me so be it. I do apologize for posting that picture…It was tasteless… but I will not apologize for any remarks I have made to you. There are other Catholic forums I can register on.

 

[Sixtus]

How about the remarks Wisdom made to James Swan on the Deutrocanonical Books thread? Were you equally offended by that? Did you report him for being uncharitable? …].

I was offended when someone was uncharitable about the Catholic Catechism, which is equally as valid as the Bible. Did you protest to the Mods?

I think that you are being uncharitable to Zooey. It appears that you are attacking her. That is also against Forum Rules.

I repeat what I have said: ‘You will know them by their fruits’! I and no doubt Zooey also will pray for you

 

[Sixtus]

believers said:

Eph 2:8 “For it is by grace that you are saved”!

Eph 2:9 “It is God’s gift”

Which is precisely what Mannyfit said

You’ve only quoted part of Eph 2:8. Where’s the rest of it?

Eph 2.8 ‘It is by His grace that you are saved, through trusting Him, not by your own doing’!

Eph 2.9 'It is God’s gift not a reward for work done.

Eph 2.10 ‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to devote ourselves to the good deeds for which God has designed us’.

Eph 3: 21 ‘to Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus from generation to generation evermore! Amen’

 

[Nancie_Lew]

To moderator Rachael Malloy. Where is my last post? Why did you delete it? This is outrageous! I’ll save you the trouble of banning me. Please remove my name from your membership list.

 

[Sixtus]

Nancy, on seeing your personal attack on Zooey I replied in support of my Methodist sister ‘Zooey’ but as your attack had been removed, I reciprocated by deleting my reply.

Bye Nancy, may God keep you safe. Your Catholic Brethren will pray for you now and for always.

 

[MaggieOH]

The Bible cannot save anymore than the Catechism can. They both are books that are given to us by said Church.

We are saved SAVED SAVED by God’s grace.

To profess that we are saved by a book is surely to draw judgment to ones self. We are saved by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross which embodies God’s grace

I agree that we are saved by God’s Grace alone. If we read the Bible and continue to commit sin then we are not saved. It makes no difference to what will happen in the after-life.

 

[SyCarl]

Reading the Bible does not save in and of itself. However, reading the Bible and accepting the truth found therein can save you.

 

[Grateful4mercy]

Reading the Bible does not save in and of itself. However, reading the Bible and accepting the truth found therein can save you.

Sounds like Faith and Works to me

Simply knowing the truth is not enough…
Simply accepting that it IS true is not enough…
We are called to ACT on that acceptance.

We can’t read the bible, say ‘that was a terrific story, I believe it all to be true’, then go on about our lives as if nothing had changed. Like you just watched a great documentary, but it really didn’t change your life much.

We are called to action on our faith. That’s the only way we can express our unending gratitude to our Savior, to return his love by respecting his wishes.

:twocents:

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

The claim that reading the Bible saves you is false. If that were true how then can you those who cannot read be saved? Through images, orally preachings… so yes reading the Bible cannot save you, and the Bible is not easily read. Remember the words of St. Peter.

2 Peter Chapter 15-16

15And account the longsuffering of our Lord, salvation; as also our most dear brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, hath written to you:

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.

Neither can:​

• Going to Mass
• Saying the Rosary
• Going to Benediction
• Receiving the Eucharist
• Using holy water
  or any thing else we do. In every case, & in the case of the reading of the Bible, it is the work of the Holy Spirit that makes these things, & any others, contribute to our salvation.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

So Manny, I take it that you believe that someone who has no faith in God can pick up a bible, read about the sacrifice that Jesus made and with the HS guiding this person lead them to choose Christ?

I have heard many stories of people choosing Christ because of what they have read.

I’ve heard the same story .​

 

[Sixtus]

SY Carl said:

Reading the Bible does not save in and of itself. However, reading the Bible and accepting the truth found therein can save you.

So too the teachings of the Catholic Church which of course preceded and includes the Bible.

 

[Sixtus]

Gottle of gear said:

Neither can:
Going to Mass
Saying the Rosary
Going to Benediction
Receiving the Eucharist
Using holy water

These will not save you but once saved they WILL help keep you saved

I would add to the list ‘Liturgy of the Hours’!

 

[Mannyfit75]

I’ve heard the same story .​

How about people who cannot read? How are they saved?

 

[Sixtus]

Manyfit 75 said:

How about people who cannot read? How are they saved?

Amen

 

[Katie1723]

Reading the Bible may not save me, but it sure makes for some interesting reading.
Kathy

 

[Mannyfit75]

Reading the Bible may not save me, but it sure makes for some interesting reading.
Kathy

There one thing I do acknowledge. If I am an unbeliever and read the Bible the first thing I might ask to be saved is to be baptized. Since Jesus said baptize them "In the Name of the Father, And of the Son, and Of the Holy Spirit, "

and Peter also said that baptism saves you.

God’s grace pours out in baptism and thus saves us. To be saved demands actions for our part.

 

[RobNY]

How about people who cannot read? How are they saved?

My post was unclear before, Manny, but I think part of it bears repeating:

Saying that someone was saved by means of reading the Bible is not equivalent to saying the only way to be saved is by reading the Bible.

Thus, trying to show the contradiction by asking how people who can’t read can be saved doesn’t work-- it’s not strictly a contradiction.

As for baptism: indeed, that reminds me of the Ethopian eunuch who is so anxious to be baptized, it is the first thing he asks about upon seeing water (Acts 8:36).