Protestants vs the Bible, Romans 10

How often do Protestants approach people and ask, "Are you saved?"  And, if you're Catholic and say, "I don't know", they belittle our attitude and claim that we have no faith.  Essentially, uplifting themselves and putting us down.  But, as I said before, the Catholic attitude is the biblical attitude.

I was reminded of this recently when I was listening to the audio bible on the Biblegateway, it was Romans 10.  And it came to this verse.

6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

It occurred to me that this verse advises us not to judge who is going to heaven.  Why?

Because when we judge one another, even when we judge ourselves, we bring Christ down from heaven.  Not in a good way.  But in a bad way.  We remove Him from His throne.  That is why the Catholic Church counsels against presumption of salvation.

Trent VI

CHAPTER XIIRASH 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. 

We are not our own judge.  Scripture says elsewhere:

1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.  3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.  4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

Let's continue.  The next verse says:

7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

Remember, he says, don't say who shall ascend to heaven, NOR who shall descend to the deep.  In other words, don't judge who shall be saved nor who shall be condemned.  Why?

Because this is putting yourself in God's place.  It is God who brought Christ up from the dead.  Not you.  But in judging whether someone is condemned, you put yourself in God's place.

Let's go on.  The next verse is:

8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

Now, he says, “if you believe in the Lord, you will be saved.” Not, “if you believe in the Lord, you are saved.” As he says elsewhere, we can live in confidence, putting our hope in the Lord. But we don’t put our hope in our works or in our faith. It is God who judges us.

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Hebrews 10:35-36 KJV

It is only AFTER we have done the will of God that we MIGHT be recompensed. It is only then, that we MIGHT receive the promise of eternal salvation.

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

To believe unto righteousness means that we do righteous deeds because of our faith in Jesus Christ:

Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

The irony of the whole thing is that Protestants continually use this verse to proclaim themselves saved .  Yet, understood in context, this verse teaches us the opposite.  This verse counsels us to restrain our boastfulness and to live in a confident hope of salvation.

Sincerely,

De Maria