The Truth: We Are Saved By Faith Alone

[Prayer_Warrior]

I don’t believe that anything I do alone is going to save me. What an erroneous notion and flatly contradictory to scripture. GOD’S GRACE saves us. Guess what else? We can’t even have faith without first being given the Grace to have it.

By the way, your post reveals your ignorance of the Catholic Church’s teachings. If you want to be taken seriously, why don’t you learn what is taught by the Church before you post. No Catholic believes that Mary saves us. We love and honor Mary as our mother, because we are striving to be as Christ like as possible. Those who do not love and honor her certainly are not acting as Christ did.

Oh, and yes, the Catholic Church existed prior to the fourth century. It is referenced by name by St. Ignatius in 107AD. I’m not sure when they shifted from being called “Christians” to being called Catholic but it was within 100 years of Christ’s death and resurrection. Perhaps they wanted to pick a name that represented the Church’s universality? Maybe they looked to scripture to find such a title. Perhaps they looked to Acts 9:31 and saw “the Church throughout all” (ekklesia kath olos) and thought that it had a nice ring to it. It is indeed, the Church throughout all. Exactly as Christ intended it to be.

 

[BrandenRush]

The sad thing is up until this point, you’re right. Just going to mass and confession isn’t going to buy you a ticket to heaven. Doing good deeds isn’t either. IF you don’t have faith. Because without faith in Jesus, none of that will do you any good. But it is through our faith in Jesus and God that we receive grace, and it is through that grace given to us by God that we do good works. And we do them as an act of faith, to increase and multiply that faith. Just like we do the sacraments through faith to receive grace from God. Without faith, just going through the motions of mass and the sacraments won’t save us at all.

But with faith, the good works we do to spread that faith and strengthen that grace. And with faith, the sacraments we receive through the church multiply God’s grace.

As a catholic, faith in Jesus IS the center of my life and the reason for salvation. Thankfully, He gave us His church on earth, the catholic church, to help us along with that salvation.

It’s easy for someone who has never received the grace of the sacraments to dismiss them. It’s too bad you’ll never know that, simply reading your bible and starting fights with catholics on message boards.

I do agree with what you said here on faith. But, I do not rely on scripture alone and I do receive the sacrements, just not in the Roman church. Catholics have a real problem with others possessing real sacrements in other churches, but I am here today because of them. You do have the real sacrements but you are not the only church that does.

 

[thomasf]

I do agree with what you said here on faith. But, I do not rely on scripture alone and I do receive the sacrements, just not in the Roman church. Catholics have a real problem with others possessing real sacrements in other churches, but I am here today because of them. You do have the real sacrements but you are not the only church that does.

As a catholic, I know this is not true, so I can see how you would think so. But I am also saddened that you do not know the truth. And that if you are an ex-catholic, that you have turned your back on the church that Jesus founded on earth. That’s a very sad thing.

 

[BrandenRush]

As a catholic, I know this is not true, so I can see how you would think so. But I am also saddened that you do not know the truth. And that if you are an ex-catholic, that you have turned your back on the church that Jesus founded on earth. That’s a very sad thing.

You have just simply bought into everything that the church procliams whether it be in accordance with scripture or not and whether you understand it or not. This is certainly not what Jesus preached in the Gospels. I am an Ex-Catholic because of what I know to be the truth and how it is profoundly different from what comes from Rome.

 

[mercygate]

The eucharist is receiving the real Jesus but if you only have faith in the saving mechanisms of the church and not in him, you’re dead. I’ll bet on my belief over yours, thanks.

You know, Branden, for someone who was taught by nuns, you didn’t learn much. Maybe not your fault but before you come on here with fewer than 20 posts, you might want to learn what Catholics REALLY believe before you snipe at the faith.

On another thread, you seem to imply that you are an Episcopalian/Anglican. If so, as a former Anglican, you are an embarrassment.

People around here are fond of saying, "Object to my religion if you wish, but at least object to what we REALLY believe, and not to what you THINK we believe.

 

[BrandenRush]

I don’t believe that anything I do alone is going to save me. What an erroneous notion and flatly contradictory to scripture. GOD’S GRACE saves us. Guess what else? We can’t even have faith without first being given the Grace to have it.

By the way, your post reveals your ignorance of the Catholic Church’s teachings. If you want to be taken seriously, why don’t you learn what is taught by the Church before you post. No Catholic believes that Mary saves us. We love and honor Mary as our mother, because we are striving to be as Christ like as possible. Those who do not love and honor her certainly are not acting as Christ did.

Oh, and yes, the Catholic Church existed prior to the fourth century. It is referenced by name by St. Ignatius in 107AD. I’m not sure when they shifted from being called “Christians” to being called Catholic but it was within 100 years of Christ’s death and resurrection. Perhaps they wanted to pick a name that represented the Church’s universality? Maybe they looked to scripture to find such a title. Perhaps they looked to Acts 9:31 and saw “the Church throughout all” (ekklesia kath olos) and thought that it had a nice ring to it. It is indeed, the Church throughout all. Exactly as Christ intended it to be.

You should spend more time with your faith in Jesus rather than trying to paint me as ignorant of Catholic faith. If everything you said here is the truth, then why did jesus tell the man dying next to him on the cross that he would be with Jesus today in paradise. This does not correspond at all with your conception of salvation. Sorry.

 

[mercygate]

You have just simply bought into everything that the church procliams whether it be in accordance with scripture or not and whether you understand it or not. This is certainly not what Jesus preached in the Gospels. I am an Ex-Catholic because of what I know to be the truth and how it is profoundly different from what comes from Rome.

It is very hard to resist a bratty ad hominem response to a comment like this. You have no idea what you are dealing with here, my friend. I would guess that at least 40 percent of the contributors to these forums are former Protestants, who came into the Church kicking and screaming all the way because we believed drivel such as you are spouting here but were forced by the power of Scripture, History, Tradition, and reason expressed in consistent and coherent doctrine to embrace the fullness of Our Lord’s person through the Church he founded with his own sacred Blood.

Stick around. Try not to be so peremptory. You might be pleasantly surprised that the Church you have rejected really IS what she claims to be. You need some serious education.

 

[Harpazo]

You have just simply bought into everything that the church procliams whether it be in accordance with scripture or not and whether you understand it or not. This is certainly not what Jesus preached in the Gospels. I am an Ex-Catholic because of what I know to be the truth and how it is profoundly different from what comes from Rome.

Is this even what the Anglican Church teaches? They adopted theology from a heretic, known as Martin Luther? I’m finding it hard to believe that Anglicans teach Sola Fide…

Your intention here is quite obvious: you want to come and bash the Catholic faith as much as possible, and bring people out of it to your strain of Protestantism. You’ll find that at CAF, we are devoted to our Catholic faith and most of us are converts from Protestantism. We know how they think, because we’ve been there.

Now, on with Sola Fide. St. James clearly counters that, as he has for 2,000 years. End of story.

In Pax Christi
ANdrew

 

[mercygate]

I am so sorry that you really feel that way. Do you really feel that way or are you just trying to be the best Catholic you think you can be? The truth here is that what I said is backed totally by scripture after scripture. What so you have but statements from mere men who claim that their Tradition trumps scripture. I’m sorry to say here that it is your ignorance that makes you look embarrassing in front of the saints and other fellow Christians. God bless and forgive you.

Branden: fess up. You were never Catholic, were you?

 

[mercygate]

You should spend more time with your faith in Jesus rather than trying to paint me as ignorant of Catholic faith. If everything you said here is the truth, then why did jesus tell the man dying next to him on the cross that he would be with Jesus today in paradise. This does not correspond at all with your conception of salvation. Sorry.

Branden, you came here making wildly absurd claims about Catholic teaching. We did not go to a Protestant forum and attack you. The story of Jesus and the good thief is perfectly consistent with the Catholic conception of salvation, which someone who claims the authority you do should know.

 

[BrandenRush]

It is very hard to resist a bratty ad hominem response to a comment like this. You have no idea what you are dealing with here, my friend. I would guess that at least 40 percent of the contributors to these forums are former Protestants, who came into the Church kicking and screaming all the way because we believed drivel such as you are spouting here but were forced by the power of Scripture, History, Tradition, and reason expressed in consistent and coherent doctrine to embrace the fullness of Our Lord’s person through the Church he founded with his own sacred Blood.

Stick around. Try not to be so peremptory. You might be pleasantly surprised that the Church you have rejected really IS what she claims to be. You need some serious education.

You have bought into the the propaganda that has consumed you and scripture even warns of that but you have obviously traded in much of scripture for what you think is the only institution where the sacrements are truly celebrated. You can go shooting off your mouth about me not knowing the faith that I belonged to for decades, but the truth is everything comes to us from Jesus and not the obedience of the Catholic church. I know plenty about the CC. Probably more than 90% of the faithful that attend mass every Sunday. That is precisely why I left and thank God for it.

 

[thomasf]

You have just simply bought into everything that the church procliams whether it be in accordance with scripture or not and whether you understand it or not. This is certainly not what Jesus preached in the Gospels. I am an Ex-Catholic because of what I know to be the truth and how it is profoundly different from what comes from Rome.

I assure you that is not true. I am a cradle catholic that left the church for 17 years and after exploring other protestant brands, and then turning back to my church and actually learning about my catholic heritage, reverted with great enthusiasm. Whereas I find the other protestant brands to be shallow and somewhat empty, I joyously find that the catholic church is deep and full and contains the entire faith. I did not ‘buy into’ anything, I examined the faith, and after vigorously turning away in my teens because I DIDN’T know my faith, came back home gladly and with (finally) a full understanding of Christianity and KNOWING the catholic church contained the truth.

I suspect you’re an ex-catholic because, as you’ve shown here, you know nothing about the catholic faith. Believe me, I’ve been there. Take some time with an open heart to learn about the truth.

 

[mercygate]

You have bought into the the propaganda that has consumed you and scripture even warns of that but you have obviously traded in much of scripture for what you think is the only institution where the sacrements are truly celebrated. You can go shooting off your mouth about me not knowing the faith that I belonged to for decades, but the truth is everything comes to us from Jesus and not the obedience of the Catholic church. I know plenty about the CC. Probably more than 90% of the faithful that attend mass every Sunday. That is precisely why I left and thank God for it.

The ‘truth’ is that you clearly do not know the faith you belonged to for decades.

I apologize for “shooting my mouth off.”

 

[BrandenRush]

I assure you that is not true. I am a cradle catholic that left the church for 17 years and after exploring other protestant brands, and then turning back to my church and actually learning about my catholic heritage, reverted with great enthusiasm. Whereas I find the other protestant brands to be shallow and somewhat empty, I joyously find that the catholic church is deep and full and contains the entire faith. I did not ‘buy into’ anything, I examined the faith, and after vigorously turning away in my teens because I DIDN’T know my faith, came back home gladly and with (finally) a full understanding of Christianity and KNOWING the catholic church contained the truth.

I suspect you’re an ex-catholic because, as you’ve shown here, you know nothing about the catholic faith. Believe me, I’ve been there. Take some time with an open heart to learn about the truth.

I would dare say that I know more about the Catholic faith than you probably know now. I read the Catechism, attended mass every Sunday, on holy days of obligation and many days during the week. I attended many Eucharistic adorations and went to confession once a week and also said the rosary every single day. I’ll say this with all that I am. Jesus is not there. He is not present in all of the obedient acts of the church. He is present only in our faith in him. The teachings of the CC have distorted what is clearly written in scripture. You are on dangerous ground. Get out before its too late. I’ll never go back… ever.

 

[Harpazo]

I would dare say that I know more about the Catholic faith than you probably know now. I read the Catechism, attended mass every Sunday, on holy days of obligation and many days during the week. I attended many Eucharistic adorations and went to confession once a week and also said the rosary every single day. I’ll say this with all that I am. Jesus is not there. He is not present in all of the obedient acts of the church. He is present only in our faith in him. The teachings of the CC have distorted what is clearly written in scripture. You are on dangerous ground. Get out before its too late. I’ll never go back… ever.

I find it hard to believe you reached such a conclusion all by yourself, without the help of someone nudging you along the way.

Regardless, you didn’t seem to put the faith in it while you were in the Church. It seems that you were more concerned with orthopraxis. Had you have truly studied the Catechism, I’m of the opinion that you would have seen how it compliments the Bible in its entirety.

In Pax Christi
Andrew

 

[BrandenRush]

I find it hard to believe you reached such a conclusion all by yourself, without the help of someone nudging you along the way.

Regardless, you didn’t seem to put the faith in it while you were in the Church. It seems that you were more concerned with orthopraxis. Had you have truly studied the Catechism, I’m of the opinion that you would have seen how it compliments the Bible in its entirety.

In Pax Christi
Andrew

The problem with all of that is that there is no true tempering of truth there. You will find that what scripture actually says about many things clearly does not square at all with Catholic teaching. Can you show me where Mary is a mediator between us and Jesus or how we come to Jesus through her like Jesus came to us through her in using Scripture?

 

[Cymreig]

If we are saved by faith alone, then what is the point of everything else? Why do we not ascend at adult baptism?
Once baptised can I go around killing and raping?
Is there no consequence to my actions?

BTW don’t get all technical on me…I don’t have the skills and knowledge of many here.

 

[Penitant]

The problem with all of that is that there is no true tempering of truth there. You will find that what scripture actually says about many things clearly does not square at all with Catholic teaching. Can you show me where Mary is a mediator between us and Jesus or how we come to Jesus through her like Jesus came to us through her in using Scripture?

1. The Davidic Kingdom is a prefigurement of Christ’s Kingdom.
2. The Queen in the Davidic Kingdom was the mother of the King.
3. The purpose of the Queen was to intercede for the people.
4. Mary is the mother of Christ.
5. Mary is Queen of the Kingdom of Christ (by 1,2, and 4)
6. Mary intercedes for us (by 3 and 5).

Pax Tecum,
Zach

 

[Zooey]

some more brainwashing. So so sad that you don’t know Jesus

How sad–and infuriating–that you dare to presume to know who does & who doesn’t know Jesus!!!
You are being extremely rude!!

 

[catholic_sean]

Before I begin I would like to say this is my first post and I’m glad to be connected to so many people who love and live thier faith. May God bless all of you!

Now to comment on Branden’s original statement that “We are saved by faith alone” I will refute this with only two bible verses.

1. Rom. 3:28 “For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of he law”
2. James 2:17 “So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead”

…I think that we can all agree that if your faith is dead you can not enter heaven. Now let’s recap
a) You can only enter heaven if you have a living faith. “Rom. 3:28”
b) You can only have a living faith through your works.
“James 2:17”

Gee the Bible is sounding pretty Catholic!