There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

[Reformed]

Here is a good tool for various translations:

bible.com/

 

[mikeledes]

Good morning Michael. Does your peace with God fluctuate up and down based on how you are personally doing at the moment? If we are honest, all Christians struggle in this world.
If the Eucharist is the key to growing, why don’t Catholics partake in the Eucharist three times a day, seven days a week? If the Catholic Church dispenses the grace of God, why not live next to the Catholic Church and hang out there 24/7/365 days? The Christian life is one of repentance and faith. But when we repent, where do we turn to and what is our faith based on?

Good morning Reformed. When we repent, we turn to God and God uses means to impart His grace. One of the means that God uses to impart His grace is the sacrament of confession.

God Bless,
Mcihael

 

[Reformed]

Two sacraments? You do not believe baptism is a sacrament?

You think reading the Bible is a sacrament?

The verse does not conflict with our belief?

Baptism and communion are the two sacraments.

I believe the Bible is a means of grace.

 

[mikeledes]

Hey, where is TriuneUnity? I’m interested in seeing how a Lutheran defends confession and absolution.

God Bless,
Michael

 

[Reformed]

Good morning Reformed. When we repent, we turn to God and God uses means to impart His grace. One of the means that God uses to impart His grace is the sacrament of confession.

God Bless,
Mcihael

I think you glossed over my questions. There is much fear for the typicial Roman Catholic Christian.

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

 

[mikeledes]

Catholics do not make works the basis of our justification. I think you really know better, and realize that this is not what we believe. No one is saying that the work of Christ is not enough. Instead, it is crucial to understand the meaning of covenant as it applies to Jesus work of redemption. Even non-Catholics appreciate this in so far as faith is concerned. Your logic would, otherwise, also have to apply to “faith alone” vis-a-vis your view of Christ’s work on the cross as being insufficient.

You have no problem believing that a person must be a Christian believer in order to be saved, yet you have a problem understanding why the Church has taught that you must be a believing member of Christ’s Church in order to be saved. Likewise, you have a very underdeveloped understanding of what the Church is saying and has stated concerning this point.

Remember, at one time there was but one Christian Church and it was the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church was the exclusive Christian body of believers. Now, we are, unfortunately, terribly divided. I would recommend going to Catholic sources to understand the circumstances and environment in which the Church made the statement that “there is no salvation outside the Catholic Church” and to also read what the Church says now hundreds of years later. The statements do not contradict but, instead, complement one another. If you thoroughly study the Catholic position on this from Catholic sources, you will understand and appreciate exactly what the Church is teaching and you will not be receiving a second or third hand-hearsay polemic from someone that doesn’t grasp the truth of the matter.

God Bless,
Michael

 

[Reformed]

I don’t see the difference because they’re both the same!

BTW, Calvinist Dr. Sam Storm of Enjoying God Ministris provides a biased history of the doctrine of justification, but even he can’t deny that the Protestant understanding of justification makes it’s first appearance in Christian history with Martin Luther.

enjoyinggodministries.com/article/16-the-doctrine-of-justification/

God Bless,
Michael

I’m not familar with Sam Strom and Enjoying God Minstries. It sounds similar to Desiring God ministries in ministry name.

desiringgod.org/

I would like your view on Piper’s coined phrase of “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” when time permits. I’m not sure if Roman Catholicism is compatible with Christian Hedonism.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_hedonism

 

[mikeledes]

I think you glossed over my questions. There is much fear for the typicial Roman Catholic Christian.

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

As a Roman Catholic Christian, I can assure you that that is not the case for many Catholics. But what about those Calvinists who struggle with their assurance? Don’t they fear that they may not be of the elect and hence damned?

God Bless,
Michael

 

[Pax]

I believe I understand our differences. I don’t have issues with infused grace within the process of sanctification. However, our division is grounded in the forensic (legal declaration) view of justification according to Scripture. Scripture teaches that we are imputed the guilt and condemnation of Adam. In addition, Adam was a pattern of the 2nd Adam in the sense that Jesus’ righteousness is imputed (credited to our account) to us for our eternal justification before God. Christ is our substitute. We exchange our sins for His righteousness (2 Cor 5:21). Adam was also a pattern of the new Adam because both Adams represent groups of humanity (old humanity and new humanity). What Christ did in His perfect life and sacrifical death, He did for those who makeup the new humanity. What Adam did, He did for all humanity - curse and condemnation (Rom 5).
…
…

The sin of Adam is not merely “imputed” to man. The fall brought about an ontological change in man, thus damaging his nature.

Likewise, there is an ontological change in justification. Romans 5:19 says:

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”

The fact of the matter is that we do not receive Christ’s personal level of righteousness (which is impossible), but we are made righteous on His account by God’s mercy and the Lord’s work on the cross. The word “made” in Greek is “katestathesan” which refers to a real, actual, ontological change in the person’s soul. NOT a merely legal declaration.

Scripture helps us understand this in both the New and Old Testaments. God tells us the following in Isaiah 55:10-11

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

In Ezk 36:25-28 God says:

“I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.”

ACTS 2:37-38
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

An examination of the passage Isaiah reveals that God’s grace goes out in power and that it accomplishes his purpose and that it prospers in the thing which he sends it. What is God’s purpose in giving us his grace and the gift of faith? God’s purpose is to reconcile us to himself and to make us a new creation in Christ Jesus for good works.[Eph 21:8-10]
It can further be said that God’s purpose is to make us “…conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren.”[Romans 8:29] Jesus is the first born and we are born anew among many brethren. It is God’s design that grace will accomplish the purpose of conforming us to the image of his son Jesus.

An examination of the passage from Ezekiel reveals that it is a solid prefiguring of baptism and Christian initiation as outlined in the passage from the book of Acts. In baptism we born are anew.[John 3:7] Both Ezekiel and Acts tell us something about what it means to be a new creation.

–Ezekiel says, “…you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.”
–The Book of Acts says, “so that your sins may be forgiven.”

–Ezekiel says, “A new heart I will give you.”

This is a prefiguring of baptism in Acts 2:37-38.

Paul says the following:

2 Cor 5:14-17
For the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once regarded Christ from a human point of view, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.

Gal 6:15
**For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. **

This is justification and it is ontological.

 

[mikeledes]

I’m not familar with Sam Strom and Enjoying God Minstries. It sounds similar to Desiring God ministries in ministry name.

desiringgod.org/

I would like your view on Piper’s coined phrase of “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” when time permits. I’m not sure if Roman Catholicism is compatible with Christian Hedonism.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_hedonism

I never heard of “Christian Hedonism,” but I’ll look into it. Dr. Sam Storms is a Calvinist, as the website’s statement of faith indicates.

God Bless,
Michael

 

[Reformed]

As a Roman Catholic Christian, I can assure you that that is not the case for many Catholics. But what about those Calvinists who struggle with their assurance? Don’t they fear that they may not be of the elect and hence damned?

God Bless,
Michael

Well, the Reformed community is broad in perspective just like the diversity of Rome. Reading too much of the Puritians can lead to over self-examination. I like the perspective of Jonthan Edwards, CS Lewis and John Piper in Christian hedonism. Afterall, the battle of the Christian life is for our affections. We battle between idols and our love for God. That is why truth and theology matters.

 

[Love_is_Patient]

Well, the Reformed community is broad in perspective just like the diversity of Rome. Reading too much of the Puritians can lead to over self-examination. I like the perspective of Jonthan Edwards, CS Lewis and John Piper in Christian hedonism. Afterall, the battle of the Christian life is for our affections. We battle between idols and our love for God. That is why truth and theology matters.

Dear Reformed,

I have a question for you as a Calvinist.

What is the role of hope in your Christian journey? As a Catholic, I believe that there are two sins against hope: despair (believing that your sins are too great that God can’t save you) and presumption (believing that you, yourself are too good that you could never fall away from God.) What do you believe about hope?
(Also, Catholics, feel free to correct me if I misrepresented the sins against hope. I’m still learning…

God bless,
Love is Patient

 

[Reformed]

I never heard of “Christian Hedonism,” but I’ll look into it. Dr. Sam Storms is a Calvinist, as the website’s statement of faith indicates.

God Bless,
Michael

I know I know…it’s just popular to be a Calvinist. It really isn’t a battle between Calvinism and Roman Catholicism. The 5 points of Calvinism cannot save sinners. The battle is between sola scriptura and Roman Catholicism.

 

[PerryJ]

I know I know…it’s just popular to be a Calvinist. It really isn’t a battle between Calvinism and Roman Catholicism. The 5 points of Calvinism cannot save sinners. The battle is between sola scriptura and Roman Catholicism.

I am sure you are tired of hearing this; however, with the many denominations would not SS be fighting SS also? I do not hear a unified SS doctrine.

People with the RC may not believe the teachings of the Church; however, this is at their own peril.

People with different interpretations of the Bible could be in peril. Is this why you believe in Calvinism? To solve the problem of some that believe in the Bible may go to Hell. They may being trying but misunderstand the Bible. Perhaps concerning a grave sin. Therefore they are not part of the elect?

 

[Reformed]

Dear Reformed,

I have a question for you as a Calvinist.

What is the role of hope in your Christian journey? As a Catholic, I believe that there are two sins against hope: despair (believing that your sins are too great that God can’t save you) and presumption (believing that you, yourself are too good that you could never fall away from God.) What do you believe about hope?
(Also, Catholics, feel free to correct me if I misrepresented the sins against hope. I’m still learning…

God bless,
Love is Patient

I think of several verses when you bring up hope. My hope is in the precious promises He makes to those who are in Christ. I know it is impossible for God to lie, so I have faith and hope in the promises of God. Once God unites you to Christ, you are eternally adopted into the family of God and become co-heirs with Christ. All the treasures and the unsearchable riches are found in Christ. Nothing in all creation (including self) can seperate us from the love of God in Christ. What is your hope as a Christian?

Colossians 1:27
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

2 Corinthians 1:20
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

2 Peter 1
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

 

[Love_is_Patient]

I think of several verses when you bring up hope.

Colossians 1:27

To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

I think that’s a good verse.

But, (and maybe I’m articulating my question poorly and it’s my fault) it just doesn’t seem like you directly addressed my question.

Perhaps when you’ve a free minute you could try to answer it?

God bless,
Love is Patient

 

[Reformed]

I think that’s a good verse.

But, (and maybe I’m articulating my question poorly and it’s my fault) it just doesn’t seem like you directly addressed my question.

Perhaps when you’ve a free minute you could try to answer it?

God bless,
Love is Patient

Please go back to my post. We have 20 minutes to complete it. I know people think that I edit for a different reason. However, this is the best way for me to post by editing it for 20 minutes to complete my thoughts and post the relevant Scripture.

 

[Reformed]

I am sure you are tired of hearing this; however, with the many denominations would not SS be fighting SS also? I do not hear a unified SS doctrine.

People with the RC may not believe the teachings of the Church; however, this is at their own peril.

People with different interpretations of the Bible could be in peril. Is this why you believe in Calvinism? To solve the problem of some that believe in the Bible may go to Hell. They may being trying but misunderstand the Bible. Perhaps concerning a grave sin. Therefore they are not part of the elect?

It all honesty, it seems Roman Catholics as a group are trusting in the Roman Catholic Church as compared to trusting in Christ. For Protestant Christians, trusting in the teachings of the Catholic Church does not necessarily mean you are trusting in Christ alone. I cringe when I read exclusive claims such as you need to be a member of the Catholic Church to be saved. Catholicism tends to make the Magestrium as the savior of mankind. I sincerely believe God is neither Roman Catholic nor Protestant. We are here to proclaim the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. We are not here to glorify the Roman Catholic denomination.

2 Corinthians 4

The Light of the Gospel

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

I’m not here to point anyone to John Calvin, Martin Luther, or any Protestant denomination. I am pointing everyone (including myself) to the person of Jesus Christ. The Scriptures point to Jesus Christ.

 

[TriuneUnity]

As a Roman Catholic Christian, I can assure you that that is not the case for many Catholics. But what about those Calvinists who struggle with their assurance? Don’t they fear that they may not be of the elect and hence damned?

God Bless,
Michael

For what it is worth, the Westminster Larger Catechism does state that assurance is not of the essence of saving faith. That is, assurance is not a condition.

 

[East_and_West]

It all honesty, it seems Roman Catholics as a group are trusting in the Roman Catholic Church as compared to trusting in Christ. For Protestant Christians, trusting in the teachings of the Catholic Church does not necessarily mean you are trusting in Christ alone. I cringe when I read exclusive claims such as you need to be a member of the Catholic Church to be saved. Catholicism tends to make the Magestrium as the savior of mankind. I sincerely believe God is neither Roman Catholic nor Protestant. We are here to proclaim the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. We are not here to glorify the Roman Catholic denomination.

2 Corinthians 4

The Light of the Gospel

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

I’m not here to point anyone to John Calvin, Martin Luther, or any Protestant denomination. I am pointing everyone (including myself) to the person of Jesus Christ. The Scriptures point to Jesus Christ.

My concern is that protestants are trusted in man made religions (while claiming to follow the word of God) while Catholics really do follow and worship Jesus because we follow the teachings of the Church he founded and the Church to which he spoke “He who hears you, hears me.”