Genuine believers (Christians) are not in darkness

Lutero said:

King James Version (KJV)
⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
⁸If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
¹⁰If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Genuine believers (Christians) are not in darkness, but are in the light (2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:8; Colossians 1:12,13). If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie anddo not practice the truth; (descriptive of unbelievers) but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, (descriptive of believers) we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." Those who claim they have no sin or have not sinned, make Him a liar and the truth/His word is not in them. In 1 John 1:9, rather than focusing on confessing every single sin that we commit as we commit them as an additional requirement to remain saved, (what if we forget a sin?) in light of verse 8 and 10, John especially has in mind here a settled recognition and acknowledgment that one is a sinner in need of cleansing and forgiveness.

De Maria replies:
IF, IF, IF. He isn't saying anything about assurance of salvation. You are reading that into the Scripture. He is explaining. IF you do this but don't do that, you are lying.

Those are not descriptions. They are "if" statements which set out the criteria for salvation.

You are trying to turn this into works salvation.

No. It is salvation by faith. But not faith alone. It is by a saving faith which is perfected in works.

Genesis 15:6 says that Abraham BELIEVED God and it (faith, not works) was credited to Him as righteousness. This was many years BEFORE his action of attempting to sacrifice Isaac in Genesis 22.

Exactly! NOW read St. James:
James 2:20-24

King James Version (KJV)
²⁰But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
²¹Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
²²Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
²³And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
²⁴Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it (faith, not works) was accounted to him for righteousness" (Romans 4:2-3).

But that only happened after Abraham performed:
Romans 4:
¹⁹And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
²⁰He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
²¹And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

It was his faith,

But not his faith ALONE.

not his works,

Abraham showed his faith by his works:
Genesis 26:5

King James Version (KJV)
⁵Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

that was imputed to him as righteousness (justified - accounted as righteous) and his actions substantiated and confirmed his faith afterward (justified - shown to be righteous).

Ask yourself these questions:

If Abraham had not left Ur, would he have been considered faithful?
Hebrews 11:8

King James Version (KJV)
⁸By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

If Abraham, although old to the point that his body no longer functioned and Sarah so old that she no longer had pleasure in sex, had not joined his wife in an effort to conceive a child, would he have been considered faithful?

Romans 4:18-20

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁸Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
¹⁹And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
²⁰He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

If Abraham had not offered his son on the altar, would he have been considered faithful?
Hebrews 11:

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁷By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, ¹⁸Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: ¹⁹Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

So you were told.

So I can see.

Read more.

I invite you to do so.

Philippians 3:3-7 - for we are the true circumcision,

Exactly! The true circumcision is that Baptism which washes our sins from our soul:
Colossians 2:10-12

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁰And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
¹¹In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
¹²Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

And you have more with which to contend. Because the true circumcision worketh by love:
Galatians 5:6

King James Version (KJV)
⁶For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,

Exactly! And you, who are in the flesh, place confidence in yourself to save yourself.

Whereas WE rely upon God's judgement to save us.

although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee ; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Amen! We follow Christ. The Old Law has passed away:
Galatians 6:2

King James Version (KJV)
²Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Romans 7:6

King James Version (KJV)
⁶But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

He suffered the loss of all things (went from being a self righteous Pharisee who trusted in works salvation) to placing his faith in Christ for salvation and winning Christ.

Precisely! He, like those who claim salvation by faith alone, claimed that he was saved because of his deeds. But he was wrong. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled.
Luke 18:9-14

King James Version (KJV)
⁹And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Philippians 3:9 says through FAITH, NOT through the Sacraments.

Philipians says through faith. That implies the Sacraments. Because if you believe in Christ, you will keep the tenets of His faith.

You are substituting the law of Moses with the law of the Roman Catholic church.

The law of the Cathoiic Church is the Law of Christ.

Difference in style, but same in substance. "Works based salvation." You refuse to count works righteousness as dung in order to win Christ through FAITH.

On the contrary, we do not count ourselves righteous. We leave that to Christ. Whereas, you trust in yourself and crown yourself saved.

Christ teaches salvation through faith, not through the Sacraments of the Roman Catholic church.

Baptism is the first Sacrament of the Catholic Church. Here is what Scripture says:
Mark 16:16

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁶He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

cont'd

cont'd

Wow. You are more deeply indoctrinated than I thought.

And you are more deeply indoctrinated than I thought.

Paul had not yet attained the resurrection and neither have we, but he knew that he was saved.

???

What is the point in claiming you are saved if you don't know if you will be resurrected?

No assurance of salvation is for unbelievers, not believers.

That is true. We have assurance of salvation. But we don't claim ABSOLUTE assurance of salvation. That is why we HOPE IN SALVATION. Just as Scripture says we ought to do.

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13).

Read more:
1 John 5

¹Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
²By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
³For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
⁴For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
⁵Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
⁶This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
⁷For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
⁸And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
⁹If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
¹⁰He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
¹¹And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
¹²He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
¹³These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Paul himself stated in 2 Timothy 4:8 - Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. Paul does not indicate any insecurity about his position (also see 2 Timothy 1:12 and Romans 8:30-39).

That is true. Not at that point. But he did indicate insecurity in other points of his JUSTIFICATION. There is a point at which one achieves a level of holiness when God MAY reveal to that person that he is saved. This is Catholic teaching as well. Perhaps you were not aware of it:
CHAPTER XII
RASH PRESUMPTION OF PREDESTINATION IS TO BE AVOIDEDNo one, moreover, so long as he lives this mortal life, ought in regard to the sacred mystery of divine predestination, so far presume as to state with absolute certainty that he is among the number of the predestined,[74] as if it were true that the one justified either cannot sin any more, or, if he does sin, that he ought to promise himself an assured repentance.
For except by special revelation, it cannot be known whom God has chosen to Himself.
http://www.ewtn.com/library/councils/trent6.htm

His salvation is not in doubt.

Nope. But it is not ABSOLUTELY ASSURED either.

Paul has made great progress in Christlikeness, but the goal is still before him. Becoming sinless and perfect in order to earn his salvation is not the reason for the goal here.

Nope. But becoming sinless and perfect in order to live be united to the one he loves in eternity, is the goal.

Might here does not mean maybe. This is not an expression of doubt, but of humility.

Agreed. When have you or any other Protestant expressed such humility?

Whosoever believes in Him shall receive remission of sins (Acts 10:43). The Sacraments are not mentioned as a supplement.

The Sacraments are not a supplement.

Titus 3:5 - It's not by works of righteousness which we have done,

That is Catholic Teaching. Now read the rest:

but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.

That describes the Sacrament of Baptism specifically and every other Sacrament by inference.

This is a reference to the spiritual washing or purification of the soul, accomplished by the Holy Spirit at the moment we have been saved through faith.

Nope. It describes that which happens at the moment one is Baptised and at the moment one receives any of the other Sacraments.

Only those who are saved and granted eternal life keep His Commandments.

Only those who keep His Commandments are granted eternal life.

Unbelievers do not keep His Commandments

Precisely.

no matter how much so called obedience that they attempt to conjure up through the flesh.

False. Those who do not believe in God have no reason to obey God.

Romans 8

⁵For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
⁶For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
⁷Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
⁸So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Many people who are religious, but not right with God, keep the Commandments of their church, not the Commandments of Christ. Their motivation is flawed from the start. Without faith it's impossible to please God.

Many people who claim faith alone have no faith at all. Whose business is it to judge their souls? Yours or God's?

Romans 14:4

King James Version (KJV)
⁴Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

That statement is ironic and you need to take your own advice.

I have. I am pointing out for you the verses which you disregard.

This is the evidence that we believe in Christ, not the means of our salvation.

I never said they were the means of our salvation. I have continually said it is Christ who saves. But Christ doesn't save those who do not keep the Commandments.

Why do we love Christ? We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:13). Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:5). We must be careful not to put the cart before the horse.

And you should take your own advice. The verses which you quoted speak of love. Not faith. You are thereby disproving faith ALONE.

You trust in the Sacraments (works) and not in Christ. You obey your church, not Him.

On the contrary, Christ established the Church and the Sacraments. Why would I ignore them?

Actually, my faith trusts in Christ alone for salvation and not in works. My faith is not without works because it's a living faith, so it's not alone in that sense (solitary, unfruitful, barren). You still cannot grasp this.

It is you who can't grasp. If your faith is not alone. Good for you. In so saying you prove the Catholic doctrine.

I keep the Commandments BECAUSE I'm saved, not to become saved. Where does His Word say, for by grace, you have been saved through keeping the Commandments? It says through FAITH.

You keep the Commandments? Good for you. But God will judge whether you have actually kept the Commandments. Not you.

This sounds like sugar coated double talk when compared with everything else that you said.

You have not been listening. I have continually said that we don't save ourselves. Nor do you save yourself claiming faith alone. God saves.

I'm calling it as I hear it. I feel that you are putting words in my mouth and making a straw man which you can put down.

Claim what ever you want. I can prove that I haven't done so. And I can prove that you have.

Sincerely,

De Maria