Faith, works, merit

Hi Lutero

Good to talk to you.

Lutero said:

But did you say those works save?

Did I? No. I didn't. I simply quote the Scripture. Unless one does the works of the law, one won't be justified. 

Romans 2:13

King James Version (KJV)
¹³ (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Are works not the fruit of faith? 

Absolutely! Good works are the fruit of faith. And God saves those who do good works as a result of their faith:
James 2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith savehim?

Yes, Christ tells us to confess our sins.

Amen!

Yes, Christ told the Apostles whose sins they forgive are forgiven. But how are they forgiven? Did He tell them it would be by them saying an absolution over them or did He order them, the Apostles, to go out and share the Gospel in a clear way so others could believe and be forgiven by the acceptance of the only one who can stand in our place and take the payment for our sins. I don't see anywhere where Christ says we have to confess our sins over and over to a man in a booth.

I don't see Christ saying we need to make altar calls or pass out Bibles, either.

However, Christ did say, 
Luke 10:16

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁶ He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

And that is a description of Confession. What? No booth? Booths aren't necessary. They are like the pews in churches today. In Jesus time, there were no pews. But there were Priests and there were Temples where people gathered to worship God.

Funny thing is even the Roman Catholic Church didn't use to believe in repeated confession to a priest in a dark room. Actually they gave you one shot, then you were damned to Hell. Yes, the Church that has never changed, has certainly changed many times in their beliefs in regard to confession.

You are mistaken. Certainly, heresies and errors were made by men of the Church. But the Magisterium of the Church always taught the truth.

Could you show me where Christ said that we were to offer up his body and blood in atonement for our sins over and over?

I can show you where Scripture says it.

Hebrews 10:25-31

King James Version (KJV)
²⁵ Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
²⁶ For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
²⁷ But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
²⁸ He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
²⁹ Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
³⁰ For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

That is a description. And those who intentionally disregard it, trample on the Body and Blood of Christ, like swine trampling on all which is beautiful. And there is no more sacrifice for their sin. Because they have committed the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

I only see where the Bible tells us it was offered once for all time.

That's because you don't understand the spiritual things of God:
1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Let me explain. Christ is our Passover:
1 Corinthians 5:7

King James Version (KJV)
⁷ Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

That is why He is called the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world:
John 1:29

King James Version (KJV)
²⁹ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

In order to participate in the Passover, the Jews had to slaughter a lamb. But that wasn't all. They also had to eat it.
Exodus 12:4
⁴ And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.

And that is why Jesus gave us His flesh in the guise of bread:
John 6:51

King James Version (KJV)
⁵¹ I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Because He knew that we would need to participate in our Passover:
Matthew 26:26

King James Version (KJV)
²⁶ And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.


That is why Christ's sacrifice is once for all. For all men in all time. We participate in His Sacrifice in the Mass.

Yes, Christ told us to remember Him and what He did for us every time when we eat and drink of the cup and that if we didn't remember His sacrafice that we would be drinking and eating unworthily, but where did He say we had to continually reoffer it or where exactly did HE tell the Apostles that they would be able to stand in His place outside of time and offer up His body and blood for Him to Him.

He told that to the Church. And the Church tells it to us:
Ephesians 3:10

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁰ To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Where did Christ say they would be able to make His sacrifice physically present at all times. I only see where He told them to do it in remembrance of Him discerning His sacrafice.

He said His sacrifice was physically present when He revealed that it was His Blood in the Cup:

Matthew 26:28

King James Version (KJV)

²⁸ For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

The works we need to do are not the sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church they are the works of feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, comforting the sorrowful,etc.

They are if you want to walk with the Saint sin this life.

But if you want to await the Judgement before you are saved, then don't participate in the Sacraments of Jesus Christ. Because the Sacraments of Jesus Christ are pre-Judgement events. Wherein, those who believe are washed in the bath of regeneration and renewed by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).

But even so we don't do it, as a way to merit salvation we do it because we have Faith in the one who saves us. Faith first, then works....

Amen! That is the Catholic teaching. Faith first, then works, then salvation, if God so wills. It is God who judges our works. Not we. 

Revelation 22:12-15

King James Version (KJV)
¹² And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
¹³ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
¹⁴ Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
¹⁵ For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Romans 14:10

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁰ But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Sincerely,

De Maria