Why I rejected Sola Fide

[mepatri]

I can see why Luther called James “an epistle of straw” as it flies in the face of Sola Fide.

Yes. And Peter, the apostle that the whole of the Roman Catholic Church rests its faith and trust on, betrayed Christ. The apostles weren’t perfect.

 

[mepatri]

Here’s an explantion I read that explains sola fide:

James does not teach a faith which is the opposite of Paul (James 2:14-26) but rather the same faith with a different emphasis. James teaches that this faith produces good works. This is not the same as the Catholic teaching which declares that faith comes by works. The distinction here can best be summarized by the notion that the Scripture declares that we are saved by grace through a faith that works rather than faith and works. Or another way to think of Sola Fide is that we are saved by grace through faith alone but not through a faith that is alone. It is faith alone that is the basis for our salvation, but our salvation is made clearly evident by our works. Compare also 2 Peter 1:1-11.

Also:

Ephesians 2:1-10 declares that the basis of our salvation is the grace of God in the perfect fulfillment of the law in His Son. This perfect righteousness, which is the righteousness from God, is imputed to us through faith. Knowing that the heart is deceitfully wicked, God knew that some might be tempted to boast even in this faith. Therefore, God, protecting grace, provided the faith necessary for salvation as a gift so that even the faith could not be the object of boasting. Our boasting is then in the Lord alone.

There is no disagreement between James and Paul regarding Sola Fide. If anything, Luther’s understanding of James was off the Mark. Since I don’t follow “Luther” but the Bible - I have no problem with this.

 

[mikeledes]

2 Peter 1:5-9 (New International Version)

**For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. **

My question to anyone who believes in Sola Fideis this. What will happen to the man that does not add these qualities to their faith, is unporductive, and has thus “forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins?”

Now let’s take a look at James 2:14

"What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith SAVE Him?

What is James’ answer to this question? Is it yes or no? If faith must be productive in order to be genuine, then how do you explain the unproductive Christian of 2 Peter 2:9 who has “forgotten he has been cleansed from his past sins?” If not, then why would James ask the question in the first place?

Finally:

James 2:24

“You see that man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

1. Is the faith mentioned in this verse genuine faith?
2. Is this verse talking about justification? If not, why does James use the word “justified”?
3. Is this a response to the question he poses in verse 14, namely, Can that faith save him? If not, where is the response to this question?

I have several questions here.

God Bless,
Michael

 

[Sean_Boyle]

Yes. And Peter, the apostle that the whole of the Roman Catholic Church rests its faith and trust on, betrayed Christ. The apostles weren’t perfect.

Are you perfect? Why should your interpertation be believed over that of Peter and the apostles???

All the people that believe that Christ’s present here on earth is the Catholic Church, aren’t perfect either. BUT since Christ is the head of His Church, the Catholic Church, the Church is perfect in matters of faith and morals.

 

[Bennie_P]

stultas autem et sine disciplina quaestiones devita sciens quia generant lites servum autem Domini non oportet litigare sed mansuetum esse ad omnes docibilem patientem cum modestia corripientem eos qui resistunt nequando det illis Deus paenitentiam ad cognoscendam veritatem et resipiscant a diaboli laqueis a quo capti tenentur ad ipsius voluntatem
I’m sure glad I came home to Rome…

pax

 

[mepatri]

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

My question to anyone who believes in Sola Fideis this. What will happen to the man that does not add these qualities to their faith, is unporductive, and has thus “forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins?”

First of all, this Scripture merely states that these are the things one does to grow in the faith. There is no mention in this Scriputre that if one does not do one or all of these things that that person will loose their salvation. The qualities spoken about are added to your faith, not because you are in danger of loosing grace, as the Catholic Church teaches, but are actions to take to enhance your walk with God and to produce more fruit after you have been saved by God’s grace. Grace is unmerited. Grace (as opposed to mercy) is receiving something you do not deserve. If you deserved grace because of somehing you did, it would be something God would “owe” to you. The Bible states that God is a debtor to no man.

Now let’s take a look at James 2:14

"What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith SAVE Him?

James points out that a faith without works is a dead faith, and probably not able to save a person. A faith with no works would betray a heart that is not changed, and therefore a heart that doesn’t truly have a relationship with God. James asks a rhetorical question, expecting his audience to know the answer. A person that does works might conceal a person with no real heart for God, so James lets us know that we cannot fool God. Works are of no merit, because grace is an unmerited gift from God.

What is James’ answer to this question? Is it yes or no? If faith must be productive in order to be genuine, then how do you explain the unproductive Christian of 2 Peter 2:9 who has “forgotten he has been cleansed from his past sins?” If not, then why would James ask the question in the first place?

James focuses on “genuuine” faith. Catholics miss the mark here. I can attened a Catholic mass, receive the sacraments, and be “good” by doing my good works, and at the end of the day, sexually abuse a child. I’ll get up the next day, and receive my grace all over again by following the rituals over again in order to receive my grace, but my heart is not with God - as this Scripture explains:

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.”
(Isaiah 29:13)

You should be able to see that your inerpretation of James is in error if you believe that the sacraments, instead of your heart condition, saves you. Catholics are in a perpetual mode of constantly trying to earn grace because they keep “loosing” it, and therefore cannot develop as healthy, and robust relationship with God as they otherwise might.

James 2:24

“You see that man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

1. Is the faith mentioned in this verse genuine faith?

Reference my points above. Man is justified by faith alone. Perhaps you miss the point that we are only talking about one’s salvation, not the ongoing work that is done to grow in one’s faith.

1. Is this verse talking about justification? If not, why does James use the word “justified”?

Let Paul answer that question. Paul said:

“By the deeds of the law, no deeds of the flesh will be justified in His sight” Romans 3:20.

So, if we can’t be justified by our deeds, how can we be justified? By God’s imputed grace.

1. Is this a response to the question he poses in verse 14, namely, Can that faith save him? If not, where is the response to this question?

See my responses above, and add these scriptures to the list…

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in [God’s] sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
Romans 3:28 – “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

Titus 3:5 – “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.”

 

[mepatri]

Are you perfect? Why should your interpertation be believed over that of Peter and the apostles???

All the people that believe that Christ’s present here on earth is the Catholic Church, aren’t perfect either. BUT since Christ is the head of His Church, the Catholic Church, the Church is perfect in matters of faith and morals.

I’m not saying my interpertation is to be believed over Peter and the apostles. However, I would say that Peter betrayed Christ, and all of the apostles, after being taught by Christ for three years, still missed the point that He was to be killed and rise again in order to save us all. If I had been a student of the apostles right after Christ died, I would have thought Him dead and gone, never to return, because that’s what they believed. They were wrong. They were in error. Why do Catholics believe that the Pope is infallible when speaking ex cathedra, when even Peter and the other apostles were not correct regarding the Resurrection right after Christ had just left them?

Paul said “work out your own salvation…” In other words, don’t look to infallible men for your salvation. They will be judged just as you will be - on the same grounds.

 

[GoldenArrow]

For me, rejection of Sola Fide was based on this:

If you really, truly believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and God, and if you truly believe all that He taught, you will be changed in such a way that hope and Charity will spring from the foundation that faith in Him has laid in your heart.

For example, if I truly believed that a nuclear weapon was going to be detonated tomorrow in my town, I would not sit around and do nothing! I’d get on the phone, call everyone I could think of, and I’d get out of town pronto!

The true reflection of the heart is through the actions generated by our free will.

So if you really, truly believe all that Christ taught you, this will be reflected in your works. Your works will be a reflection of Christ working His love through you. You will be like unto another christ, but with a little “c.”

I’ve got protestant relatives who think they are saved and that all their sins, past present and future are automatically forgiven, so they can continue living a sinful life without any consequence. They’re saved and waiting for The Rapture. Meanwhile, they turn around and accuse me of being swallowed up whole by the Whore of Babylon and that the religion I practice is based on paganism. (Obviously they’d been reading the lies of Jack Chick).

I’ve tried telling them that Christ didn’t nullify the Ten Commandments, that in fact, he actually added more!

This is the actual truth.

There’s no way around it. Your heart must reflect your beliefs, or else you’re a hypocrite.

God Bless!

 

[RNRobert]

I’m not saying my interpertation is to be believed over Peter and the apostles. However, I would say that Peter betrayed Christ, and all of the apostles, after being taught by Christ for three years, still missed the point that He was to be killed and rise again in order to save us all. If I had been a student of the apostles right after Christ died, I would have thought Him dead and gone, never to return, because that’s what they believed. They were wrong. They were in error. Why do Catholics believe that the Pope is infallible when speaking ex cathedra, when even Peter and the other apostles were not correct regarding the Resurrection right after Christ had just left them?

The Apostles had not yet received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, so it is not fair to judge them by their actions prior to that time.

Paul said “work out your own salvation…” In other words, don’t look to infallible men for your salvation. They will be judged just as you will be - on the same grounds.

Paul’s statement in Phillipians 2:12 is another reason I rejected Sola Fide (and OSAS). If salvation is by “faith alone,” then why do I need to ‘work’ at anything, and if it’s a done deal, then why the ‘fear and trembling?’
As to “looking to infallible men for salvation,” I look to Christ.However, I also obey the leaders that Christ placed over me (Hebrews 13:17), for, as Christ Himself said to the Apostles, “He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me.”

 

[mepatri]

For me, rejection of Sola Fide was based on this:

If you really, truly believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and God, and if you truly believe all that He taught, you will be changed in such a way that hope and Charity will spring from the foundation that faith in Him has laid in your heart.

For example, if I truly believed that a nuclear weapon was going to be detonated tomorrow in my town, I would not sit around and do nothing! I’d get on the phone, call everyone I could think of, and I’d get out of town pronto!

The true reflection of the heart is through the actions generated by our free will.

So if you really, truly believe all that Christ taught you, this will be reflected in your works. Your works will be a reflection of Christ working His love through you. You will be like unto another christ, but with a little “c.”

This is confusing, since the belief you give above is the Protestant view of salvation - not the Roman Catholic view. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that you are saved by way of a faith combined with works salvation. Roman Catholics believe that if you do not combine your faith with works, you are lost. You say you reject Sola Fide, and yet you make a statment that you embrace it. Very confusing.

I’ve got protestant relatives who think they are saved and that all their sins, past present and future are automatically forgiven, so they can continue living a sinful life without any consequence. They’re saved and waiting for The Rapture. Meanwhile, they turn around and accuse me of being swallowed up whole by the Whore of Babylon and that the religion I practice is based on paganism. (Obviously they’d been reading the lies of Jack Chick).

I’ve tried telling them that Christ didn’t nullify the Ten Commandments, that in fact, he actually added more!

What you describe above is not the true Protestant view, but rather a view that was rejected by the Protestant reformation. The view you describe is called “Antinomianism”, and is the exact opposite of the legalism of the Roman Catholic Church. It teaches that a person is freed from the moral laws given by God. This is NOT Protestanism, and is what confuses many Catholics. Most Protestants believe that you are saved thorough your faith I Christ, just as the Bible says, but that you are still bound by the Law in the sense that if you are a true Christian, you will do your best to do God’s will. Actually, both Protestants and Catholics want the same thing - they just go about it differently. They both want to please God - Protestants by accepting Christ and following as close as possible the Scriptures, and Catholics who want to please God by works and observing the Sacrements.

The Law however cannot save you. It is intended to be a measuring rod to show you what you must live up to, but cannot. Thus your need for Christ. He alone can cover your sins, not by anything you do, but by what He has alread done for you:

The Bible says the Law profits nothing, and it also says:

*“Under the old covenant, the priest stands before the altar day after day, offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as one sacrifice for sins, good for all time. …‘This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts so they will understand them, and I will write them on their minds so they will obey them.’ Then he adds, ’ I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.’” (New Living Translation) *

This is the actual truth.

There’s no way around it. Your heart must reflect your beliefs, or else you’re a hypocrite.

God Bless!

Agreed. I do however think you’re a Protestant without realizing it.

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

St Paul also says:

St John gives us several warnings to this effect in his first epistle:

and

and

Paul tells us

This is true. Salvation is purely the gift of God. It is not something we can accomplish on our own. However, as Paul continues in verse 10, we are “created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.” How we respond to that grace is of paramount importance. Paul also stated the need to show one’s repentance by one’s deed (Acts 26:20), and tells us in 1 Tim 5:8 that those who neglect their families are worse than unbelievers. If we fail to respond to the grace that God gives us, we are like the foolish servant who buried his talent in the field. The Bible makes it clear that we will be judged according to our works.

As a Protestant I desperately wanted to believe in the doctrine of Sola Fide. However, as someone who read and accepted the whole Bible, I could not reconcile that doctrine with what I read in Scripture. Additionally, when I discovered what the Catholic Church actually taught (as opposed to what non-Catholics told me it taught), I realized that it and not the Protestant doctrine of Sola Fide, was in sync with the Bible.

Amen! As Catholics we believe that saving faith is a faith that works in love.

 

[Bennie_P]

This is confusing, since the belief you give above is the Protestant view of salvation - not the Roman Catholic view. Says Who?

Agreed. I do however think you’re a Protestant without realizing it.

How do you know what is the Catholic View of Salvation? were are you getting your information? You have come with pre-conceived idea on what Catholics believe not what the Church actually teaches nor what most Catholics believe.

A Catholic gives their view and you turn around and tell them no that is not what the Catholic Church teaches. Were are you getting your information? Have you read the CCC? or someone elses interpretation of the CCC?

Are you doing your own research or using information from an anti-Catholic web site such like the one produced by John Ankerberg? or Jack Chick?

stultas autem et sine disciplina quaestiones devita sciens quia generant lites servum autem Domini non oportet litigare sed mansuetum esse ad omnes docibilem patientem cum modestia corripientem eos qui resistunt nequando det illis Deus paenitentiam ad cognoscendam veritatem et resipiscant a diaboli laqueis a quo capti tenentur ad ipsius voluntatem

 

[crisco]

James points out that a faith without works is a dead faith, and probably not able to save a person. A faith with no works would betray a heart that is not changed, and therefore a heart that doesn’t truly have a relationship with God. James asks a rhetorical question, expecting his audience to know the answer. A person that does works might conceal a person with no real heart for God, so James lets us know that we cannot fool God. Works are of no merit, because grace is an unmerited gift from God.

Well honestly, I don’t see where James says any of this. He does emphasize that a faith which exists on its own (intellectual assent) without any accompanying works is dead - but he doesn’t discuss the relative worth of works which exist on their own. In fact, he goes out of his way to link the two James 2:26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead… If works are **“of no merit”, **then how can he state in 2:24 “You see that a person **is justified **by works and not by faith alone.”

I’ll agree that the linchpin is Grace and Grace alone - but this provides a faith that must be kept and accompanied by God inspired works in order to be efficacious.

 

[mikeledes]

James focuses on “genuuine” faith. Catholics miss the mark here. I can attened a Catholic mass, receive the sacraments, and be “good” by doing my good works, and at the end of the day, sexually abuse a child. I’ll get up the next day, and receive my grace all over again by following the rituals over again in order to receive my grace, but my heart is not with God - as this Scripture explains:

Wrong, wrong, wrong… In order to be truly forgiven of sin, you have to be truly repentant in your heart. If you commit a sin like “abusing a child”, you cannot receive Communion unless you have reconciled yourelf with God in the sacrament of confession. If your repentance is not genuine, then going to confession will not be of any value. The external must reflect the internal.

God Bless,
Michael

 

[mepatri]

Wrong, wrong, wrong… In order to be truly forgiven of sin, you have to be truly repentant in your heart. If you commit a sin like “abusing a child”, you cannot receive Communion unless you have reconciled yourelf with God in the sacrament of confession. If your repentance is not genuine, then going to confession will not be of any value. The external must reflect the internal.

God Bless,
Michael

Okay - let’s say I don’t tell anyone, as was the case with so many priests? If the issue truly is that I must reconcile with God in my heart, and truly repent, then why is there a need to receive the sacrament? No, the real receiving of grace comes from God, not the sacraments. Even so, the Catholic Chruch teaches that I receive the infilling of grace through the act of the sacrament. Thus we see the Catholic teaching of faith + works. I must repent, truly seek God in my heart (faith), and then go though the sacrament (work), to reach God and appease Him. This is not Biblical.

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.”

 

[Bennie_P]

Okay - let’s say I don’t tell anyone, as was the case with so many priests? .

Preists, bishops and the Pope are required to go to confession as well as any one else in the church.

 

[Bennie_P]

Okay - let’s say I don’t tell anyone, as was the case with so many priests? If the issue truly is that I must reconcile with God in my heart, and truly repent, then why is there a need to receive the sacrament? No, the real receiving of grace comes from God, not the sacraments. Even so, the Catholic Chruch teaches that I receive the infilling of grace through the act of the sacrament. Thus we see the Catholic teaching of faith + works. I must repent, truly seek God in my heart (faith), and then go though the sacrament (work), to reach God and appease Him. This is not Biblical.

Again you claiming to know the teachings of the church, yet are twisting them to your prejudice.

Please do explain away these scriptures where Jesus gives authority/ to the apostles to either forgive or not forgive sins?

John 20:21 -23 He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. CCC 976

In light the scripture mention in John let us look at Matthew Henry’s commentary on 2 Cor 5:18 -20 concerning reconcilliation (confession)(oh! he is a protestant), *“He has appointed the ministry of reconciliation, 2Cor - 5:18. By the inspiration of God the scriptures were written, which contain the word of reconciliation, showing us that peace was made by the blood of the cross, that reconciliation is wrought, and directing us how we may be interested therein. And he has appointed the office of the ministry, which is a ministry of reconciliation: ministers are to open and proclaim to sinners the terms of mercy and reconciliation, and persuade them to comply therewith.” And in his commentary on 2 Cor 5:20 “Faithful ministers are Christ’s ambassadors, sent to treat with sinners on peace and reconciliation: they come in God’s name, with his entreaties, and act in Christ’s stead, doing the very thing he did when he was upon this earth, and what he wills to be done now that he is in heaven.” *
Here it is bibically in scritpture…
2Cor 5:18- 20 But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Christ and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. For God indeed was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their sins. And he hath placed in us the word of reconciliation. For Christ therefore we are ambassadors, God as it were exhorting by us, for Christ, we beseech you, be reconciled to God.

Now the Catholic Church teaches that Christ is our only mediator to the Father, but we also understand that our Bishops and his helpers (priests, which is an English variant for presbyter) , through apostolic succession have been ordained to be His representative and conduit for his sheep until his return.
CCC para 77 “In order that the full and living Gospel might always be preserved in the Church the apostles left bishops as their successors. They gave them their own position of teaching authority.” Indeed, “the apostolic preaching, which is expressed in a special way in the inspired books, was to be preserved in a continuous line of succession until the end of time.”

And the Church does’t teach faith + works = salvation. It teaches Salvation is a Gift from God which calls us to holiness. We cannot even express our faith without the help of the Holy Spirit. Once we accept that Gift we are to follow Chirst commandments, which we cannot do, but through Grace recieved from Holy Spirit. You view Grace as only the Gift, but we Catholics see Grace as a Gift which strengthen us to grow in Christ. Faith is not something that you turn on and you are in full power mode, it is something that grows, matures over time as you leave your will behind and follow Christ’s will.

If you believe I’m wrong in my comparison then once one accepts Christ into their heart then he or she should be fully like Christ in an instant, right? of course not.
But you know your walk with Chirst it is a journey, for as you pray, read scripture and study you understand more and even slowly grow to love as Christ does, right? As you pray, read scripture, study, etc. the power of Chirst grows in you, you become mature in your faith, right?

That is what the sacraments do to help us along in your journey. It is work of the Spirit through us as we practice our faith.

 

[Traditional_Ang]

Again you claiming to know the teachings of the church, yet are twisting them to your prejudice.

Please do explain away these scriptures where Jesus gives authority/ to the apostles to either forgive or not forgive sins?

John 20:21 -23 He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. CCC 976

In light the scripture mention in John let us look at Matthew Henry’s commentary on 2 Cor 5:18 -20 concerning reconcilliation (confession)(oh! he is a protestant), *“He has appointed the ministry of reconciliation, 2Cor - 5:18. By the inspiration of God the scriptures were written, which contain the word of reconciliation, showing us that peace was made by the blood of the cross, that reconciliation is wrought, and directing us how we may be interested therein. And he has appointed the office of the ministry, which is a ministry of reconciliation: ministers are to open and proclaim to sinners the terms of mercy and reconciliation, and persuade them to comply therewith.” And in his commentary on 2 Cor 5:20 “Faithful ministers are Christ’s ambassadors, sent to treat with sinners on peace and reconciliation: they come in God’s name, with his entreaties, and act in Christ’s stead, doing the very thing he did when he was upon this earth, and what he wills to be done now that he is in heaven.” *
Here it is bibically in scritpture…
2Cor 5:18- 20 But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Christ and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. For God indeed was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their sins. And he hath placed in us the word of reconciliation. For Christ therefore we are ambassadors, God as it were exhorting by us, for Christ, we beseech you, be reconciled to God.

Now the Catholic Church teaches that Christ is our only mediator to the Father, but we also understand that our Bishops and his helpers (priests, which is an English variant for presbyter) , through apostolic succession have been ordained to be His representative and conduit for his sheep until his return.
CCC para 77 “In order that the full and living Gospel might always be preserved in the Church the apostles left bishops as their successors. They gave them their own position of teaching authority.” Indeed, “the apostolic preaching, which is expressed in a special way in the inspired books, was to be preserved in a continuous line of succession until the end of time.”

And the Church does’t teach faith + works = salvation. It teaches Salvation is a Gift from God which calls us to holiness. We cannot even express our faith without the help of the Holy Spirit. Once we accept that Gift we are to follow Chirst commandments, which we cannot do, but through Grace recieved from Holy Spirit. You view Grace as only the Gift, but we Catholics see Grace as a Gift which strengthen us to grow in Christ. Faith is not something that you turn on and you are in full power mode, it is something that grows, matures over time as you leave your will behind and follow Christ’s will.

If you believe I’m wrong in my comparison then once one accepts Christ into their heart then he or she should be fully like Christ in an instant, right? of course not.
But you know your walk with Chirst it is a journey, for as you pray, read scripture and study you understand more and even slowly grow to love as Christ does, right? As you pray, read scripture, study, etc. the power of Chirst grows in you, you become mature in your faith, right?

That is what the sacraments do to help us along in your journey. It is work of the Spirit through us as we practice our faith.

Bennie:

Well said.

I believe that the problems some here have understanding certain Catholic doctrines along with the Sacred Scriptures, in spite of their claims otherwise, is evidence of the need not only for a Tradition of the Church which teaches what the Church has taught throughout its history on all matters of faith (ranging from how Jesus is both God and Man and how his mother Mary is the “Mother of God” to how the Communion of Saints is present here, in purgatory and in heaven), but also for a Teaching Authority or Service gifted from the Holy Spirit which can authoritatively address the issues coming up today (Abortion, Contraception, Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Euthanasia, Gay Marraige, Women “Priests”).

Your Brother in Christ, Michael

 

[mikeledes]

Okay - let’s say I don’t tell anyone, as was the case with so many priests? If the issue truly is that I must reconcile with God in my heart, and truly repent, then why is there a need to receive the sacrament? No, the real receiving of grace comes from God, not the sacraments. Even so, the Catholic Chruch teaches that I receive the infilling of grace through the act of the sacrament. Thus we see the Catholic teaching of faith + works. I must repent, truly seek God in my heart (faith), and then go though the sacrament (work), to reach God and appease Him. This is not Biblical.[/QUO

I guess the “Sinner’s Prayer” is also unbiblical because it is a work.

God Bless,
Michael

[/quote]

 

[mikeledes]

2 Peter 3:

**17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.**

Mepatri, how do we grow in grace?

God Bless,
Michael