Why Catholic ?

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I further pointed out:
Wrong. We access this grace through FAITH.

“For by grace are ye saved through FAITH…”

By grace through faith, by grace through faith…can you say that with me and think about what it says?

We are saved BY GRACE and access it THROUGH FAITH…Nothing else is added here.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
So…then why is it that you cannot see the sacraments for exactly what they are, expressions of the very faith that you make such an issue of?

Consider:“Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6, & James 2:23) Yet, just exactly how was Abraham’s faith expressed?

Genesis 22:[1] After these things God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.”
[2] He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Mori’ah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”…

[9] When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.
[10] Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

Rahab the prostitute: How was her faith expressed?
Hebrews 11:31 By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with the unbelievers, receiving the spies with peace.

James 2:25 And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers, and sending them out another way?

Even though it was their faith that saved them, what was the expression of that faith? Go ahead, say it…The Word of God does. It was what they did.
Ro 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Communion is works. Good deeds are works. Baptism is works. The only thing is says to do is trust Him for salvation by FAITH.
So then, why do you deny what the apostle St. James clearly writes about, and what Our Lord plainly tells us about how we will all be judged in Matthew 25:31-46?

You are propounding the errant teachings of men, and in fact that constitutes a different gospel.

The fact is that the very Word of God that you tell us is your sole authority teaches that faith that doesn’t express itself by works is not saving faith at all.

Can a person confess Christ with their mouth (as you harp upon from the scriptures) and still not be saved? Oh wait! You tell me that I must confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in my heart that God has raised Him from the dead in order to be saved, (to which a faithful Catholic will say AMEN! ALLELUIA! but confessing Him like that is a work isn’t it? And my participation in the sacraments, what is that? A faith induced work that merits the more grace to feed the “breeder reactor” of love for Our Lord that is me.

No xFBx, your gospel is different from the one I find in the Bible and the one the Catholic Church preaches lines up perfectly with both the Bible and the writings of the early church all down through the 2,000 years of Christian history.
 
I’m not sure if I read this from which Catholic Saint but they said that Protestants (similar religions) spend an enormous time in Purgatory due to their lack of belief in praying for the dead.

With no one to pray for them, they languish as opposed to the Catholic who hopefully will have Masses, Rosaries and abundance of prayers said for their Soul.
 
Here’s a question I had posed to me. “If you Catholics believe protestants can get to heaven too, what difference does it make whether I stay protestant or join the Catholic Church”?
Anybody got an answer ??
The analogy that was given to me was whether or I not I would prefer to live in a tent or the castle. Do I want to sleep in the backyard or in my own bed? The Roman Catholic Church has a richness of tradition and devotions that trace back to the very teachings of Christ and His Apostles. I like being in the castle where I can eat of the rich fare that I find on the table.
I have the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist where Jesus comes to me in the guise of bread and wine. I have the history of the saints who lived heroic lives and serve as an example to follow. I have Mary as my mother, given to me as she was given to John at the foot of the cross. I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that is richer than I can imagine having outside the Church.
This is not denying the intimacy with Jesus Christ that many nonCatholics share but it is an invitation to do more than sit on the sidelines or the outskirts and come join the party.
 
Why do Catholics say you should be catholic while tecognizing that others [protestants, hidus, moslems, etc] may be saved?

Well, Jesus founded a Church…and Jesus is the Way - the Truth - and the Life… there cannot be multiples of Truth but only One Truth…like there is only One God…

Jesus gave the Church a promise and a mission…to go and spread the Gospel to All Peoples and All Nations! That is the mission that has been given to the Church.

The Church has to pass on the message of the redemptive salvation through Jesus Christ. The Church has to give the Eucharist, the Spritual Food from Heaven and the Mass and all of the Truths that have been entrusted to her… The Church cannot teach another way of Salvation.

That said, only God determines who gets into heaven…Only God is the just Judge, the one who decides who gets into heaven [and Thank God for that!]. God will determine the state of everyones’s soul, the level of everyones understandings of the truths revealed to them…

St. Paul says it very well in the Letter to the Romans…to whom much has been given, much is expected…everyone has a law of God written on their hearts…that is the foundation upon which all revelations regarding the laws of God and the truth of salvation are built … God will take it from there…
 
Why would I want to study hard to have a good career if I can still survive with a minimum wage and my mom still loves me despite of how much money I make?
  • One thing I know is that my mom would be very happy.
Following the Full Truth is what we should pursue.
 
Why would I want to study hard to have a good career if I can still survive with a minimum wage and my mom still loves me despite of how much money I make?
  • One thing I know is that my mom would be very happy.
Following the Full Truth is what we should pursue.
Let us not forget that the people of the world are wiser than this.

They know full well, as do Catholics, that some of the non-Catholics may be the ones having a good career while many, many Catholics are making the minimum wage, if even that.

Your analogy does not quite fit, and even Catholics admit that this state of affairs is the reality.

What the world is left with is that it’s not necessary to be Christian (repent and believe the Gospel) for salvation, and also not even necessary to have that “good career.”

That is not the message the Apostles spread all over the known world.

…
 
Let us not forget that the people of the world are wiser than this.

They know full well, as do Catholics, that some of the non-Catholics may be the ones having a good career while many, many Catholics are making the minimum wage, if even that.

Your analogy does not quite fit, and even Catholics admit that this state of affairs is the reality.

What the world is left with is that it’s not necessary to be Christian (repent and believe the Gospel) for salvation, and also not even necessary to have that “good career.”

That is not the message the Apostles spread all over the known world.

…
Would you want to work as a minimum wage if you can get a better job?
 
The way I look at it is this. When we both get to heaven (Protestants and Catholics) they will find out we were right !!!
I can’t be quite so sanguine. After years of hesitance I left the only vocation I knew (Protestant minister) to become a Catholic. I don’t think the Lord misled me.

CDL
 
Br.Rich, What you said struck a cord with me. Makes a lot of sense…Thanks…
If you are traveling to a destination and several routes lead there. Would you not take take the one with the least obsticles, the least pitfalls and dangers. The one with the most helps and directional signs, the one with the most experienced guides?
 
Br.Rich, What you said struck a cord with me. Makes a lot of sense…Thanks…
If you are traveling to a destination and several routes lead there. Would you not take take the one with the least obsticles, the least pitfalls and dangers. The one with the most helps and directional signs, the one with the most experienced guides?
I thought Catholics have the most obstacles not the least. Thankfully, it is also the one with …
the most helps and directional signs, the one with the most experienced guides
 
Ya, only about 4 or 5 Prots will go to Heaven. We know this because Catholics are God’s chosen people and besides, His Supreme, Grand Pu-bah, Almighty pope says so, so it must be. We Prots are really missing the boat, we need more laws, more idols, Really big hats and funny clothes.:mad:

Sorry for the rant but it really ticks me off when someone plays God. May the real God have mercy on your soul SemperFidelis for judging others. The wide road that leads to destruction will be those that don’t follow our Savior Jesus Christ, not those that don’t follow your church. I can’t tell you how happy I am that Jesus will be my Judge and NOT the Catholic church.
Actually, we don’t have a census on who goes to heaven or hell. That is out of our own limits. Yes, the Bible few will enter into heaven. That’s everyone. Catholics, Protestants, Atheist, Pagans, Mormons, any one of them who reject him by committing serious sin.
 
Who would want to go on a long journey without a guide who already knows the terrain?
 
For me, every time the Holy Spirit filled those shoes, it was while there was a man in them.
 
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