Who has the possibility of salvation?

[Latin]

Continuation

THREE THEOLOGICAL FACT ACCORDING TO THE ABOVE TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
.

1. WITHOUT God’s grace The Gift of Final Perseverance everyone would positively end up in hell. – INFALLIBLE teachings of the Trent.
   .
2. WITH God’s grace The Gift of Final Perseverance every Initially Justified has Everlasting Life. – DE FIDE Dogma of the Catholic Church.
   .
3. If even one receiver would/could reject/resist God’s grace The Gift of Final Perseverance would end up in hell and God would lose His omniscience. – DE FIDE Dogma of the Catholic Church.

.
As we see above, if anyone say: A receiver can reject/resist the grace of Initial Justification and the grace The Gift of Final Perseverance that would mean, a receiver of The Gift of Final Perseverance would has the power to destroy God’s omniscience.
.
Of course NO ONE can reject/resist the above graces, so God’s omniscience is safe.
.
If a receiver would has the power to reject/resist the grace of Initial Justification and the grace The Gift of Final Perseverance God would lost His omniscience about 2000 years ago.
.
So, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, God made sure no one rejects/resists the grace of Initial Justification and the grace The Gift of Final Perseverance.

.

CONCLUSION

1. It is God’s sole responsibility to give every member of the entire human race His free gift of Initial Justification.
   .
2. Furthermore, it is God’s sole responsibility to give every member of the entire human race His free gift of grace The Gift of Final Perseverance at their Initial Justification.
   .
3. God’s free and undeserved gift of Initial Justification saves the Initially Justified and His grace The Gift of Final Perseverance keep saved the Initially Justified and infallible makes sure every Initially Justified dies in the state of Grace. – DE FIDE Dogma. + Infallible teachings of the Trent.
   .
   As you see above Steve, for the receivers of the undeserved grace of Initial Justification and the undeserved grace of The Gift of Final Perseverance to die in mortal sin and end up in hell DOES NOT EXIST!!! – DE FIDE Dogma, the highest degree of theological certainty. + Infallible teachings of the Trent.

To refuse to give (which NO ONE can resist – Theological FACT + DE FIDE Dogma) the grace of God’s call (CCCS 1996-1998) and the grace of The Gift of Final Perseverance to anyone or to the majority of the helpless human race is ABSOLUTELY EQUAL with PREDESTINATION TO HELL of the HELPLESS majority of the human race.

OFFICIAL TEACHINGS
Strictly the receivers of the grace of God’s call (CCCS 1996-1998) and the grace of The Gift of Final Perseverance has the possibility of salvation and in fact, their salvation is an absolute certainty. – Predestination of the elect, which is a DE FIDE Dogma. + Infallible teachings of the Trent.

.
God bless you Steve and God bless every readers of the CAF.

 

[steve-b]

Latin,

1996 Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life.

1997 Grace is a participation in the life of God. It introduces us into the intimacy of Trinitarian life: by Baptism the Christian participates in the grace of Christ, the Head of his Body. As an “adopted son” he can henceforth call God “Father,” in union with the only Son. He receives the life of the Spirit who breathes charity into him and who forms the Church.

1998 This vocation to eternal life is supernatural. It depends entirely on God’s gratuitous initiative, for he alone can reveal and give himself. It surpasses the power of human intellect and will, as that of every other creature.

in your previous 3 posts, You are reading into these passages that you quote often, your own ideas and wishes that are not there in the texts.

When Jesus said few make it to heaven, that means most people reject the graces freely given by God for their everlasting happiness…

Jesus said

Matthew 7:13-14

13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy,[a] that leads to destruction, [ ἀπώλεια, ] and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

_Luke 13:23-28 ,**
23 And some one said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us.’ He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, **‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!_**’ 28 There you will weep and gnash your teeth,"

Jesus knowing in advance what He is going to go through for our salvation, and what all humanity will go through, down to the last person born, answers the question for us.

Jesus didn’t deny the questioner’s point, that few are saved
Jesus actually validated the point, and expanded on it. Only a few are saved.
meaning most go to hell.

He gives tht point twice, and doesn’t change His answer.

 

[Latin]

God bless you Steve and God bless every readers of the CAF.

PLEASE JUST FOCUS ON ONE POINT AT THE TIME

You said Steve:
Most people reject the graces freely given by God for their everlasting happiness…

I know, the large majority of the Christians has the same view on the subject, maybe even 99 out from 100, only God knows the number.

Yet according to the Scripture and the highest level of Catholic teachings nothing can be further from the truth than the above view.
.

According to the above view NOT God choose the people, but people choose or reject God by accepting or rejecting The Grace of God’s Call (1996-1998), and God’s great and special grace The Gift of Final Perseverance.

.

According to the highest degree of Catholic teachings and the Scripture, God choose the people by UNDESERVED GRACE and MERCY out of His LOVE, without regard to any future supernatural merits, NOT the people choose God by rejecting or accepting The Grace of God’s Call (1996-1998), and God’s great and special grace The Gift of Final Perseverance.
.

Titus 3:5; He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

The Grace of God’s Call (1996-1998)
Justification comes from grace (God’s free and undeserved help) and is given to us to respond to his call.

This call to eternal life is supernatural, coming totally from God’s decision and surpassing all power of human intellect and will. End quote.

John 15:5; “… for without Me you can do nothing.”

John 15:16; You did not chose Me, but I chose you.

Acts 13:48; And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
.

Furthermore, God’s chosen ones NEVER EVER rejects The Grace of God’s Call (1996-1998), and God’s great and special grace The Gift of Final Perseverance. – DE FIDE Dogma. + Infallible teachings of the Trent.
.

Continue

 

[Latin]

Continuation
.

The Catholic Church affirms predestination as a DE FIDE Dogma (the highest level of binding theological certainty).

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA

THE CATHOLIC DOGMA. – The predestination of the elect.

Consequently, the whole future membership of heaven, down to its minutest details, has

been IRREVOCABLY FIXED FROM ALL ETERNITY. Nor could it be otherwise. For if it

were possible that a predestined individual should after all be CAST INTO HELL or that

one not predestined should in the end REACH HEAVEN, then God would have been

MISTAKEN in his foreknowledge of future events; He would NO LONGER be omniscient.

.
(2) The second quality of predestination, the DEFINITENESS of the number of the elect,

follows NATURALLY from the first. For if the eternal counsel of God regarding the

predestined is UNCHANGEABLE, then the number of the predestined must likewise be

UNCHANGEABLE and DEFINITE, subject NEITHER to ADDITIONS nor to

CANCELLATIONS. Anything indefinite in the number would eo ipso imply a lack of

certitude in God’s knowledge and would DESTROY His omniscience.

.
THE THEORY OF PREDESTINATION prævisa merita

THIS THEORY, CHAMPIONED BY all Thomists and a few Molinists (as Bellarmine, Francisco Suárez, Francis de Lugo):

Asserts that God, by an absolute decree and without regard to any future supernatural merits, predestined from all eternity certain men to the glory of heaven, and then, in consequence of this decree, decided to give them all the graces necessary for its accomplishment. End quote.

.

The Grace of God’s Call (1996-1998)
This call to eternal life is supernatural, coming totally from God’s decision and surpassing all power of human intellect and will.

Acts 13:48; … As many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

.
Continue

 

[Latin]

Continuation
.

Did you notice Steve?

1. God, by an absolute decree and without regard to any future supernatural merits, predestined the Bride of Christ to heaven from all eternity.
2. In consequence of the absolute decree, God gives them all the graces necessary for its accomplishment.
3. God’s call to eternal life is supernatural, coming totally from God’s decision and surpassing all power of human intellect and will.
4. If even one person would reject in all Christian history, The Grace of God’s Call (1996-1998), or God’s great and special grace The Gift of Final Perseverance, God would instantly lose His omniscience.

These four points above are the FOUNDATION of predestination and salvation, if we don’t get the FOUNDATION wright, all things we build on it comes down like the house of cards!!!
.

Do you still believe Steve: Most people reject the graces (The Grace of God’s Call (1996-1998), and God’s great and special grace The Gift of Final Perseverance) freely given by God for their everlasting happiness…?
.

Or now, Do you believe Steve, elect of God ordained to eternal life (Acts 13:48) NEVER rejects The Grace of God’s Call (1996-1998), and God’s great and special grace The Gift of Final Perseverance?

The right answer of the above question is the FOUNDATION of understanding salvation!!!
.

Of course there are graces sometimes we can reject, but this kind of graces does not effects our entrance to heaven, but negatively effects our glory and position in heaven, so we pay a price for it.
.
Continue

 

[Latin]

Continuation
.
In my next post I like to answer your other part of your post which is as follows, it is a very important issue,

(Matthew 7:13-14

Luke 13:23-28 ,

Jesus didn’t deny the questioner’s point, that few are saved
Jesus actually validated the point, and expanded on it. Only a few are saved.
meaning most go to hell.
He gives that point twice, and doesn’t change His answer.)

but until we are agree with the foundation of predestination and salvation it would be a useless exercise.
.

God bless you Steve and God bless every readers of the CAF.

 

[steve-b]

God bless you Steve and God bless every readers of the CAF.

PLEASE JUST FOCUS ON ONE POINT AT THE TIME

You said Steve:
Most people reject the graces freely given by God for their everlasting happiness…

I know, the large majority of the Christians has the same view on the subject, maybe even 99 out from 100, only God knows the number.

Yet according to the Scripture and the highest level of Catholic teachings nothing can be further from the truth than the above view.
.

According to the above view NOT God choose the people, but people choose or reject God by accepting or rejecting The Grace of God’s Call (1996-1998), and God’s great and special grace The Gift of Final Perseverance.

.

According to the highest degree of Catholic teachings and the Scripture, God choose the people by UNDESERVED GRACE and MERCY out of His LOVE, without regard to any future supernatural merits, NOT the people choose God by rejecting or accepting The Grace of God’s Call (1996-1998), and God’s great and special grace The Gift of Final Perseverance.

Not me but Jesus said few make it to heaven
Matthew 7:13-14 & Luke 13:23-28 ,

Latin:

Titus 3:5; He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

The Grace of God’s Call (1996-1998)
Justification comes from grace (God’s free and undeserved help) and is given to us to respond to his call.

This call to eternal life is supernatural, coming totally from God’s decision and surpassing all power of human intellect and will. End quote.

John 15:5; “… for without Me you can do nothing.”

John 15:16; You did not chose Me, but I chose you.

Acts 13:48; And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
.

Furthermore, God’s chosen ones NEVER EVER rejects The Grace of God’s Call (1996-1998), and God’s great and special grace The Gift of Final Perseverance. – DE FIDE Dogma. + Infallible teachings of the Trent.
.

Continue

it doesn’t change Matthew 7:13-14 & Luke 13:23-28

 

[Jamie5]

Only God knows, but I believe with all my heart that “there’s no one you can save who can’t be saved.”

 

[Vonsalza]

Who has the possibility of salvation?

Emphasis on “possibility”?

Literally everyone, without exception as it pertains to real people.

 

[steve-b]

Continuation
.

The Catholic Church affirms predestination as a DE FIDE Dogma (the highest level of binding theological certainty).

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA

THE CATHOLIC DOGMA. – The predestination of the elect.

Consequently, the whole future membership of heaven, down to its minutest details, has

been IRREVOCABLY FIXED FROM ALL ETERNITY. Nor could it be otherwise. For if it

were possible that a predestined individual should after all be CAST INTO HELL or that

one not predestined should in the end REACH HEAVEN, then God would have been

MISTAKEN in his foreknowledge of future events; He would NO LONGER be omniscient.

.
(2) The second quality of predestination, the DEFINITENESS of the number of the elect,

follows NATURALLY from the first. For if the eternal counsel of God regarding the

predestined is UNCHANGEABLE, then the number of the predestined must likewise be

UNCHANGEABLE and DEFINITE, subject NEITHER to ADDITIONS nor to

CANCELLATIONS. Anything indefinite in the number would eo ipso imply a lack of

certitude in God’s knowledge and would DESTROY His omniscience.

.
THE THEORY OF PREDESTINATION prævisa merita

THIS THEORY, CHAMPIONED BY all Thomists and a few Molinists (as Bellarmine, Francisco Suárez, Francis de Lugo):

Asserts that God, by an absolute decree and without regard to any future supernatural merits, predestined from all eternity certain men to the glory of heaven, and then, in consequence of this decree, decided to give them all the graces necessary for its accomplishment. End quote.

.

The Grace of God’s Call (1996-1998)
This call to eternal life is supernatural, coming totally from God’s decision and surpassing all power of human intellect and will.

Acts 13:48; … As many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

.
Continue

Re: the elect

Bottom line, the elect refers to God’s holy people, now or in eternity. Unless they have a private message from God, telling them who they are, it’s not known who they are. Even Paul didn’t presume election.

1 Corinthians 9:27 RSVCE - - Bible Gateway

www.biblegateway.com

 

[steve-b]

Continuation
.
In my next post I like to answer your other part of your post which is as follows, it is a very important issue,

(Matthew 7:13-14

Luke 13:23-28 ,

Jesus didn’t deny the questioner’s point, that few are saved
Jesus actually validated the point, and expanded on it. Only a few are saved.
meaning most go to hell.
He gives that point twice, and doesn’t change His answer.)

but until we are agree with the foundation of predestination and salvation it would be a useless exercise.
.

God bless you Steve and God bless every readers of the CAF.

Matthew 7:13-14 & Luke 13:23-28 , ought to scare the hell out of everyone.

Since God says only a few are saved, and God knew that from all eternity, then God predestines what He knows, and that means it is predestined only a few are saved.

Look at the great flood. How many were saved of all that were alive? 7

 

[Latin]

God bless you Steve and God bless every readers of the CAF.

.
THE THEORY OF PREDESTINATION prævisa merita

THIS THEORY, CHAMPIONED BY all Thomists and a few Molinists (as Bellarmine, Francisco Suárez, Francis de Lugo):

Asserts that God, by an absolute decree and without regard to any future supernatural merits, predestined from all eternity certain men to the glory of heaven, and then, in consequence of this decree, decided to give them all the graces necessary for its accomplishment. End quote.

John 6:44;
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.
.
Titus 3:5; He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
.
The Grace of God’s Call (1996-1998)
This call to eternal life is supernatural, coming totally from God’s decision and surpassing all power of human intellect and will.
.
John 15:16; You did not chose Me, but I chose you.

.
God is the One who are chosen the people to predestine, He is know whom He has chosen and predestined.
.
Man can do nothing to save himself, only God can save people by recreation in Christ. – Ez.36:25-28; 2 Cor.5:17; etc.
.
God’s will is that everyone saved, God is Almighty, His will is unlimited. – 1 Tim.2:4;
2 Pet.3:8-9.
.

God already demonstrated His ability to perform Universal Salvation in Nineveh. – Jonah 3:4, 11.
.
In Jonah 3:4 God promised to destroy everyone in Nineveh, yet (Jonah 3:11) God demonstrated His Universal Salvation/Universal Reconciliation in Nineveh.
.

In Matthew 7:13-14 & Luke 13:23-28 God promise, only a few people will be saved, corresponds with Jonah 3:4 that God promised destroy everyone in Nineveh, yet God saved/reconciled everyone in Nineveh.
.

In Rom.8:21-24; Eph.1:9-10 & Col.1:20 God promise universal reconciliation/recreation in Christ.
.

Do you think Steve, it is possible the way God promised to destroy everyone in Nineveh and He has changed His mind and saved everyone in Nineveh, in the same way God promise to save only a few people and He will change His mind and He will save everyone as it is HIS WILL???
.

As NO ONE can save himself, I believe it is God’s DUTY OF CARE to save everyone!!! – Do you agree with me Steve?
.
As NO ONE can save himself, I also believe, God’s JUSTICE and LOVE DEMANDS to save everyone!!!
.
John 6:44;
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them. – Whose responsibility to draw the helpless people to Christ???!!!
.
Thank you in advance.
.
God bless you Steve and God bless every readers of the CAF.

 

[steve-b]

God bless you Steve and God bless every readers of the CAF.

.
THE THEORY OF PREDESTINATION prævisa merita

THIS THEORY, CHAMPIONED BY all Thomists and a few Molinists (as Bellarmine, Francisco Suárez, Francis de Lugo):

Asserts that God, by an absolute decree and without regard to any future supernatural merits, predestined from all eternity certain men to the glory of heaven, and then, in consequence of this decree, decided to give them all the graces necessary for its accomplishment. End quote.

The Church has already officially taught on this. No one is predestined to hell without their free will being interactive.

2012 “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him . . . For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

1037 God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end. In the Eucharistic liturgy and in the daily prayers of her faithful, the Church implores the mercy of God, who does not want “any to perish, but all to come to repentance”:

Latin:

John 6:44;
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.

IF they respond properly.

Latin:

Titus 3:5; He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

Doesn’t apply to those who die in mortal sin,

Latin:

The Grace of God’s Call (1996-1998)
This call to eternal life is supernatural, coming totally from God’s decision and surpassing all power of human intellect and will.
.
John 15:16; You did not chose Me, but I chose you.

.
God is the One who are chosen the people to predestine, He is know whom He has chosen and predestined.
.
Man can do nothing to save himself, only God can save people by recreation in Christ. – Ez.36:25-28; 2 Cor.5:17; etc.
.
God’s will is that everyone saved, God is Almighty, His will is unlimited. – 1 Tim.2:4;
2 Pet.3:8-9.
.

God already demonstrated His ability to perform Universal Salvation in Nineveh. – Jonah 3:4, 11.
.
In Jonah 3:4 God promised to destroy everyone in Nineveh, yet (Jonah 3:11) God demonstrated His Universal Salvation/Universal Reconciliation in Nineveh.

In Nineveh there was repentance.

Latin:

In Matthew 7:13-14 & Luke 13:23-28 God promise, only a few people will be saved, corresponds with Jonah 3:4 that God promised destroy everyone in Nineveh, yet God saved/reconciled everyone in Nineveh.

If you are going to be selective, why not point to the great flood where only 7 were saved?

Jesus in those passages I quoted, is talking about all of humanity. Matthew 7:13-14 & Luke 13:23-28, only a few are saved

 

[Ron_Conte]

COUNCIL OF QUIERSY 853 A.D. [quoted from Denzinger]

(Against Gottschalk and the Predestinarians)

Redemption and Grace

316 Chap. 1. Omnipotent God created man noble without sin with a free will, and he whom He wished to remain in the sanctity of justice, He placed in Paradise. Man using his free will badly sinned and fell, and became the “mass of perdition” of the entire human race. The just and good God, however, chose from this same mass of perdition according to His foreknowledge those whom through grace He predestined to life [ Rom. 8:29 ff.; Eph. 1:11], and He predestined for these eternal life; the others, whom by the judgment of justice he left in the mass of perdition, however, He knew would perish, but He did not predestine that they would perish, because He is just; however, He predestined eternal punishment for them. And on account of this we speak of only one predestination of God, which pertains either to the gift of grace or to the retribution of justice.

317 Chap. 2. The freedom of will which we lost in the first man, we have received back through Christ our Lord; and we have free will for good, preceded and aided by grace, and we have free will for evil, abandoned by grace. Moreover, because freed by grace and by grace healed from corruption, we have free will.

318 Chap. 3. Omnipotent God wishes all men without exception to be saved[1 Tim. 2:4 ] although not all will be saved. However, that certain ones are saved, is the gift of the one who saves; that certain ones perish, however, is the deserved punishment of those who perish.

319 Chap. 4. Christ Jesus our Lord, as no man who is or has been or ever will be whose nature will not have been assumed in Him, so there is, has been, or will be no man, for whom He has not suffered- although not all will be saved by the mystery of His passion. But because all are not redeemed by the mystery of His passion, He does not regard the greatness and the fullness of the price, but He regards the part of the unfaithful ones and those not believing in faith those things which He has worked th rough love[ Gal. 5:6], because the drink of human safety, which has been prepared by our infirmity and by divine strength, has indeed in itself that it may be beneficial to all; but if it is not drunk, it does not heal.

 

[Luke-Suncook]

adfh wru jwfgurt wrt

 

[Latin]

In Nineveh there was repentance. End quote.

.

God bless you Steve and God bless every readers of the CAF.

Thank you for your answer.
.

You said Steve and correctly:
In Nineveh there was repentance.
.

God demonstrated His Universal Salvation in Nineveh and everyone repented without exception.

The crux of the knowledge is, to know the way Gad managed that in Nineveh everyone repented without exception.

.

FOUNDATIONAL BIBLE VERSES TO UNDERSTAND THE PEOPLE’S SPIRITUAL CONDITION AND THEIR WAY OF LIFE IN NINEVEH

1. The people’s way of life in Nineveh was that evil, violent and wicked that went up before God. – Jonah 1:2; Jonah 3:8.
2. They were carnal enmity with God, they had no fear of God. – Rom.8:6-8; Rom.3:10-18; 1 Cor.2:14; etc.
3. They accepted nothing from the Spirit of God, because they were spiritually dead. – 1 Cor.2:14; Col.2:13 etc.
4. They were slaves of sin. – Rom.6:16; CCCS 1996-1998.
5. They were under God’s CONDEMNATION. – Rom.5:18a; John 3:18b.
6. They were in BONDAGE OF CORRUPTION. – Rom.8:19-21.

Continue

 

[Latin]

Continuation
.

THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE INHABITANTS OF NINEVEH (OR ANYONE) FROM ENSLAVEMENT TO SIN INTO THE GLORIOUS FREEDOM OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD

THE WAY GOD SAVES A PERSON

When God calls and draws an un-regenerated/carnal man into His service/salvation WITHOUT stimulus, merit, or condition and without regard to any future supernatural merits, His calling is backed up with an ABSOLUTE DECREE and in consequence of this DECREE, God gives them all the graces necessary for its accomplishment. – DE FIDE Dogma. + Infallible teachings of the Trent.
.

Ez.36:25-28;
25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

27 And I will put my Spirit in you and CAUSE YOU (our cooperation is produced (not just enabled) by God’s operation) TO FOLLOW MY DECREES and be careful to keep my laws. – In the brackets added.

28 Then “you will live in the land,” I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. End quote.

.

Explaining Justification
CCCS 1990-1991; Justification is God’s free gift which detaches man from enslavement to sin and reconciles him to God.
Justification is also our acceptance of God’s righteousness. In this gift, faith, hope, charity, and obedience to God’s will are given to us.
.

The Grace of God’s Call (1996-1998)
Justification comes from grace (God’s free and undeserved help) and is given to us to respond to his call.

This call to eternal life is supernatural, coming totally from God’s decision and surpassing all power of human intellect and will. End quote.
.

John 15:16; You did not chose Me, but I chose you.
.
At Initial Justification God’s special grace The Gift of Final Perseverance given which grace INFALLIBLE makes sure the Initially Justified dies in the state of grace. – DE FIDE Dogma. + Infallible teachings of the Trent.
.

CCC 2019
Justification includes the remission of sins, sanctification, and the renewal of the inner man.
.
COUNCIL OF TRENT Session 6 Chapter 8
. . . None of those things which precede justification - whether faith or works - merit the grace itself of justification.
.

Continue

 

[Latin]

Continuation
.

AFTER THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE ENSLAVEMENT TO SIN INTO THE GLORIOUS FREEDOM OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD, GOD IS THE ONE WHO WORKING IN HIS CHILDREN BOTH TO WILL AND TO ACT
.

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND MERIT by James Akin

Quote: One is saved the moment one is initially justified.

Of course, a Calvinist can say (as a Thomistic Catholic would say) that both cooperations in the giving and the embracing of the eternal call are themselves produced (not just enabled) by God’s grace, and this is perfectly fine.

A Calvinist and a Catholic alike can say that our cooperation is produced (not just enabled) by God’s operation. No problem at all. End quote.

.

Aquinas said, “God changes the will without forcing it.
But he can change the will from the fact that He himself operates in the will as He does in nature,” De Veritatis 22:9.

.

Phil.2:13; “For it is God who works in you BOTH TO WILL and TO ACT for His good pleasure.”

.

Similarly, the Council of Orange Canon 25 states, "In every good work, it is not we who begin … but He (God) first inspires us." (#329.2)

.

CCC 2022; “The divine initiative in the work of grace PRECEDES, PREPARES, and ELICITS the free response of man. …”
.
In other words, when God commands, He capacities the hearer to respond.
.
Our cooperation is produced (not just enabled) by God’s operation.

Yet the ability to respond is also His gift.

.

As you see above Steve, all those above works of God on the people of Nineveh PRECEDED their confession.
.
MEANING
The Ninevite’s confession or anyone’s confession is PRODUCED (not just enabled) by God’s OPERATION.

Phil.2:13; “For it is God who works in you BOTH TO WILL and TO ACT for His good pleasure.”
.

THEOLOGICAL FACT
Our ability to say YES to God’s call, always PRODUCED and PRECEDED by God’s OPERATION.

Our salvation is PRODUCED BY God’s OPERATION!!!

For the above reason (and for other reasons) God is solely responsible for the salvation of the entire human race.

When God wants to save a person, that person is saved, NO ifs or buts!!!..

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When you said Steve:
In Nineveh there was repentance.

Did you know Steve how much works God invested into the people of Nineveh before they are able to repent???

Did you know Steve, their repentance produced by God’s operation???

No God’s operation to repent, no repentance, when God wants to save anyone God operates IN THE PERSON and salvation is CERTAIN!!!

Philippians 1:6;
And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Phil.2:13; “For it is God who works in you BOTH TO WILL and TO ACT for His good pleasure.”

John 15:5; “… for without Me you can do nothing.”

God’s grace The Gift of Final Perseverance ALWAYS makes sure, the receiver CAN NEVER die in the state of mortal sin. - INFALLIBLE teachings of the Trent!!!
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God bless Steve and God bless every readers of the CAF.

 

[Latin]

God bless you CajunJoy and God bless every readers of the CAF.

God’s grace The Gift of Final Perseverance ALWAYS makes sure (NO IFS OR BUTS), the receiver CAN NEVER die in the state of mortal sin. - INFALLIBLE teachings of the Trent!!!

God is able to make anyone a Christian by recreation.
So, anyone can be saved whom God saves.

The Grace of God’s Call (1996-1998)
… This call to eternal life is supernatural, coming totally from God’s decision and surpassing all power of human intellect and will. End quote.

To whom God saves, is TOTALLY up to God’s DECISION, God’s will is that EVERYONE SAVED.

God is more than able to make His Will the reality by saving everyone.

Can anyone doubt God’s ability to make His Will reality?

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Of course I agree with you CajunJoy, we always need to do our best by actively cooperating with the grace of God.

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God bless you CajunJoy and God bless every readers of the CAF.

 

[De_Maria]

I have a question that has been bothering me and I haven’t been able to find an answer. I was hoping someone could help me clear it up. The question is that the athanasian creed says that unless a man believes in the Holy Trinity he can’t be saved,

Correct.

but then Vatican II said that muslims, jews and athiests have the possibility of salvation, none of them believe in the Holy Trinity.

But they believe in God. And whether they understand it or not, God is a Trinity.

How can this be?

To me, the answer is in this parable:

Matthew 21
The Parable of the Two Sons.

28 “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. 30 The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. 31 [c]Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. 32 [d]When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.

Here, Jesus is talking to Pharisees. The most knowledgeable religious people of that time. They would be the equivalent of someone who understands the Athanasian Creed today. Notice how Jesus says, "“Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.

Tax Collectors and Prostitutes were not known for their vast theological knowledge. So, Jesus is saying, your knowledge of religion will not save you.

Don’t misunderstand me. Jesus is not saying that all prostitutes and tax collectors will enter heaven before the Pharisees. But there are some who are doing those things out of necessity and would obey God if they had the opportunity. An example which comes to mind, is the prostitute who is forced to ply that trade because she has been kidnapped.

The bottom line is that simply knowing things does not guarantee salvation. Here’s another:

Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes[a] of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. [But] these you should have done, without neglecting the others. 24 Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!

I hope that helps.