What do Catholics Believe?

[Wesrock]

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my questions.
But doesn’t Romans 3:28 say “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.”
This has led me to make the conclusion that we are not saved through deeds, but for deeds. Paul emphasized the first part of salvation: Faith. And James emphasized what people with faith do: Works.
Collossians 2:13 13 “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins”

One of the primary issues Paul had to deal with was the question that came up in mixed Jewish and gentile Christian communities: Must the gentiles be circumcized? Must they worship on Saturday? Must they keep to the old prescribed feasts? Must they keep up the sacrifices? Must they not wear clothing of mixed fabric? Must they avoid the foods forbidden in the Torah? Does keeping these add to what’s granted under the new covenant through Jesus Christ? There were some Christian groups, commonly called Judaizers, who preached that the gentiles must do all these things, or if they must not, they at least would be better for it than if they didn’t. This is where Paul’s emphasis on faith over works of the Law comes from, especially since his focus was on the gentile communities and this was the most common heresy he had to deal with everywhere. This isn’t the same as Jesus’ golden rule, or carrying out what we cinsider to be spiritual or corporal works of mercy (educating in the faith, tending the sick, giving alms to the poor, visiting those in prison). Not that those things merit salvation in and of themseles, but neither does a simple intellectual assent to dogma if we then refuse to actual cooperste with God’s grace in pursuing Christian values.

 

[porthos11]

"Depart from me, you cursed, into the everlasting flames prepared for the devil and his angels…

For I was hungry and you gave me no food.
…gave me no drink…did not welcome me…
…did not clothe me, did not visit me…"

Ultimately, I often wonder why the words of the Lord himself ring so hollow to so many.

 

[dragonclaw45373]

Thanks for the answers!

 

[JimG]

"Depart from me, you cursed, into the everlasting flames prepared for the devil and his angels…

For I was hungry and you gave me no food.
…gave me no drink…did not welcome me…
…did not clothe me, did not visit me…"

Ultimately, I often wonder why the words of the Lord himself ring so hollow to so many.

Exactly. Here is a discourse on the last judgment wherein our fate depends on what we did or did not do–that is, good works. But the words of Jesus here seem to be widely ignored.

 

[rcwitness]

Thanks for the answers!

You are most welcome.

Btw, my last quote was from Romans 8
And Porthos11 quoted Matthew 25, I believe.

 

[porthos11]

Exactly. Here is a discourse on the last judgment wherein our fate depends on what we did or did not do–that is, good works. But the words of Jesus here seem to be widely ignored.

And often by Catholics, who somehow forget to cite this plain discourse when explaining what we believe.

 

[JustaServant]

In Ephesians 2:8-9 it says 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I heard that Catholics believe that you must do good works to get to heaven. If the answer is no, thank you for taking the time to read my post. If the answer is yes, can you tell me why. I am trying to learn more about catholic beliefs.

Welcome to the forum DC. Unique username…
Anyway, no. I have never met a Catholic in their right mind who believe they are ‘working their way to heaven’. We are saved by the grace of God.

 

[alwayswill]

"Depart from me, you cursed, into the everlasting flames prepared for the devil and his angels…

For I was hungry and you gave me no food.
…gave me no drink…did not welcome me…
…did not clothe me, did not visit me…"

Ultimately, I often wonder why the words of the Lord himself ring so hollow to so many.

Romans 5:9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!

1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1:9 … and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him."

Have goats been justified by his blood?
Have goats turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God?
Do goats believe in the Son have eternal life?

If true believers will not suffer the wrath of God
and goats **will **suffer the wrath of God
then is it true that goats are not true believers?

 

[rcwitness]

Romans 5:9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!

1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1:9 … and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him."

Have goats been justified by his blood?
Have goats turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God?
Do goats believe in the Son have eternal life?

If true believers will not suffer the wrath of God
and goats **will **suffer the wrath of God
then is it true that goats are not true believers?

We are telling dragonclaw the importance of suffering with Christ, since He is in us, who claim the faith.

 

[alwayswill]

We are telling dragonclaw the importance of suffering with Christ, since He is in us, who claim the faith.

Every true believer will suffer with Christ, since He is in them
The goats are not true believers

 

[rcwitness]

Every true believer will suffer with Christ, since He is in them
The goats are not true believers

Every true believer will what?

 

[rcwitness]

Every true believer will suffer with Christ, since He is in them
The goats are not true believers

So do the goats have faith without works?

 

[alwayswill]

So do the goats have faith without works?

The goats do not have the gift of a life changing faith from God that saves.
If they did : there would be evidence

 

[rcwitness]

The goats do not have the gift of a life changing faith from God that saves.
If they did : there would be evidence

what evidence?

 

[Wesrock]

The goats do not have the gift of a life changing faith from God that saves.
If they did : there would be evidence

Life changing implies a change in lifestyle, in actions, which is exactly what works is. Catholics do not believe God simply sweeps you along once you have faith. Being a Christian is a lifelong journey or transformation, enabled but not forced by God. Catholics believe we must cooperate with God’s grace, that we must participate. And that requires more than knowing Jesus died for your sins, but action which you must willingly assent to.

 

[alwayswill]

what evidence?

All from 1 John
"If one finds that he is walking in the light (1:7),
confessing his sins (1:9),
obeying Christ’s commands (2:3-5; 5:2,3),
loving fellow believers (2:9-11; 3:14-17; 5:1),
believing in Jesus as the incarnate God (2:22,23; 4:1-6; 5:1,5),
and practicing righteousness (2:29; 3:6-10) -

Scripture teaches that real faith inevitably produces a changed life (2 Cor. 5:17).
Salvation includes a transformation of the inner person (Gal. 2:20).
The nature of the Christian is new and different (Rom. 6:6).
The unbroken pattern of sin and enmity with God will not continue when a person is born again (1 John 3:9-10).
Those with genuine faith follow Christ (John 10:27),
love their brothers (1 John 3:14),
obey God’s commandments (1 John 2:3; John 15:14),
do the will of God (Matt. 12:50),
abide in God’s Word (John 8:31),
keep God’s Word (John 17:6),
do good works (Eph. 2:10),
and continue in the faith (Col. 1:21-23; Heb. 3:14).
**
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."**
John 13:35

Goats don’t do that

 

[alwayswill]

Life changing implies a change in lifestyle, in actions, which is exactly what works is. Catholics do not believe God simply sweeps you along once you have faith. Being a Christian is a lifelong journey or transformation, enabled but not forced by God. Catholics believe we must cooperate with God’s grace, that we must participate. And that requires more than knowing Jesus died for your sins, but action which you must willingly assent to.

You won’t find me disagreeing with that.
Every true believer will desire that:

 

[rcwitness]

All from 1 John
"If one finds that he is walking in the light (1:7),
confessing his sins (1:9),
obeying Christ’s commands (2:3-5; 5:2,3),
loving fellow believers (2:9-11; 3:14-17; 5:1),
believing in Jesus as the incarnate God (2:22,23; 4:1-6; 5:1,5),
and practicing righteousness (2:29; 3:6-10) -

Scripture teaches that real faith inevitably produces a changed life (2 Cor. 5:17).
Salvation includes a transformation of the inner person (Gal. 2:20).
The nature of the Christian is new and different (Rom. 6:6).
The unbroken pattern of sin and enmity with God will not continue when a person is born again (1 John 3:9-10).
Those with genuine faith follow Christ (John 10:27),
love their brothers (1 John 3:14),
obey God’s commandments (1 John 2:3; John 15:14),
do the will of God (Matt. 12:50),
abide in God’s Word (John 8:31),
keep God’s Word (John 17:6),
do good works (Eph. 2:10),
and continue in the faith (Col. 1:21-23; Heb. 3:14).

Sounds Catholic to me.

Saving faith produces righteous deeds/keeps the Commandments of Jesus/confesses if there is sin/working through Charity…

And faith without works/evidence/Charity is dead and vain, selfish and blasphemous.

God is the judge, and He will judge by our evidence (though He sees our heart in our deeds), and faith alone will be cast away from Him.

 

[alwayswill]

Sounds Catholic to me. Saving faith produces righteous deeds/keeps the Commandments of Jesus/confesses if there is sin/working through Charity…

And faith without works/evidence/Charity is dead and vain, selfish and blasphemous.

God is the judge, and He will judge by our evidence, and faith alone will be cast away from Him.

yes, Yes, YES!!

** Saving faith produces **righteous deeds/keeps the Commandments of Jesus/confesses if there is sin/working through Charity…

 

[rcwitness]

yes, Yes, YES!!

** Saving faith produces **righteous deeds/keeps the Commandments of Jesus/confesses if there is sin/working through Charity…

Let’s establish the Scriptural definition of faith:

Hebrews 11
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.*For by it the men of old received divine approval.*By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear.
In light of what faith is, what is more accurate to Teach:

We are saved through:

A) faith

B) works

C) faith and works