Let’s take the easy one first: “Churche
S”
The Bible was fully authored by the end of the 1st Century or very early 2nd Century.
Flowing from that reality: Today’s Catholic Church historically [omitting Gnostics and other wanna-be Christ Church apostates]; was the Only; the singular Christian / Catholic Church to exist anywhere in the world until the Great Eastern Schism of 1054. That dear friend is about 1,000 years of Exclusive Catholic [acknowledged Roman centered] belief. Obviously as the One Church grew & expanded; Paul and John in Revelations referred to “churche
S” Plural and what we call today Dioceses
BUT their existence ADDS TOO, the One True Body and Church Christ desired to; and DID establish. Like more branches on THE Vine; bound together by ONE set of Faith beliefs and One Magisterium [teaching authority] of the RCC, which is exercised in two ways.
Now to your “both,” not one or the other question. Again I am greatly restricted by the CAF’s space limits; prudently imposed. Please send me a private message if you desire more info.
Some years ago I was asked by a student “if you HAD TO explain the Entire Bible in a single word; what would that word be? My reply was “LOVE”
Everything that exist in the Universe is there so that man MIGHT acknowledge God’s existence. In discussing Christianity; fathered by Catholicism; one would need to omit Jesus Himself if they were to try to minimize His Teachings and Personal-example of LOVE. The two, are not unlike the Trinity; are separate; but literally inseperatable.
Non Catholics have been taught that NO ONE CAN WORK THEIR WAY INTO Heaven; and we agree! Which is why I [and the RCC] teach that just as one can’t [absolutely cannot!] have “True Faith” without it stemming from God’s GRACE. In that same way, salvation is impossible without love: **Eph. 2: 8 **“For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, for it is the gift of God”
Man need not keep a balance sheet. That is God’s territory. The issue though is more complicated; and certainly more profound that “Just” [if I man phrase it so?] Jesus and Love being always tied together. It’s tied into how GOD has CHOSEN to forgive us our sins. His WAY; not some fabricated man-made it easier, modern day innovation.
Please **look up and read the following:
1 Jn. 1: 8-10
1 Jn. 5: 16-17
John 20:19-23**
These 3 passages summarize what GOD wants; expects and Himself-initiated as a Sacrament [a source of Actual-Grace]. Then it gets even more complex as it deals with God’s Love and His establishing Purgatory [which IS a bible teaching]; tied into the FACT that all who do attain heaven MUST absolutely either be “perfect” upon dying; OR if dying without unremitted Mortal sins; perfected after our physical death; until in God’s record keeping; we have re-paid for “the Temporal Punishment” ALL sin accrues; and which only God can track **] and our Charity makes partial payment for. The Nature of sin, and indulgences; too factor in, but require a separate discussion.
There is it seems, a slippery sloop to Protestantism’s teaching; failing to accept “A” leads naturally to rejecting “B” and so on; one error just leads to more and more. Let’s discuss it.
**Mt 5: 48 **“You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”
**Mt 19:21 **“Jesus saith to him: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me”
As I have expressed in other post; there is an infallible rule; not commonly understood outside of Catholicism:
In brief it explains that the “bible literally cannot contradict itself.” Therefore extreme prudence is necessary in culling particular passages. No one teaching CAN contradict another.
James DOES SAY: 2: 21-26
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou, that faith did co-operate with his works; and by works faith was made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God. Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only? And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers, and sending them out another way? **For even as the body without the spirit is dead; so also faith without works is dead.”
**
My friend, please send me a PM if you’d like a more detailed explanation.
**Heb.6: 10 **“For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love which you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do.”
**Rev.2: 23
“and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches shall know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works **deserve.”
God Bless you,
Patrick
Take for example the Marian Dogma’s