We will all stand before the Just Judge. Including you.

Luther:

The fact that you are lost is clear to any saved reader ..one does not have to search hard or try to "discern" your spiritual state...
One day when you stand before God you will not be able to claim ignorance, because christians have tried to bring you to the Christ of the scriptures.. and you refuse.. We are called to warn the lost and give them the gospel ..

Jhn 15:22

If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

We will all stand before the Just Judge. Including you. No matter how much you proclaim yourself too good for God's judgement, it is He who will Judge you. And you wlll not be able to claim ignorance either. Because Catholics have explained to you the Scriptures that your attitude of judging yourself is the mortal sin of presumption. We are called to warn the lost and give them the gospel and we have done our duty.

As for me, my conscience is clear. I recognize that God is my Judge and I leave my salvation to Him.

Sincerely,

De Maria

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

Heeding the Church

Luther:
In 1 Timothy 4:16, It’s the teachings of Paul. As it applies to you, it would be the Holy Scriptures.

Lets go over it.

1 Timothy 4:16
King James Version (KJV)¹⁶ Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

That says that we should attempt to save ourselves by heeding the doctrine of the Church. So, that disproves your contention.

Jesus saves us from God’s wrath. What is Paul telling Timothy to save himself from in 1 Timothy 4:16? Is Paul telling Timothy to save himself and others from God’s wrath or something else?

Lets look at the context:

1 Timothy 4
King James Version (KJV)1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;² Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;³ Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

First, in this Chapter, St. Paul warns Timothy that in the end many will depart from the truth. 

⁴ For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:⁵ For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.⁶ If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.⁷ But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.⁸ For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

Then he admonishes him to hold on to his faith and do good.

⁹ This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.¹⁰ For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

Then he says, it is because we trust in God that we labour and suffer reproach. The implication here is that we labour and suffer in order that God, the Saviour, may not disqualify us from salvation.

¹¹ These things command and teach.¹² Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Then he says, be an example of faith with your words and your works.

¹¹ These things command and teach.¹² Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

And then he says, if you continue in these things, you will save yourself and those who listen to you. In other words, you will guide these men to salvation by Jesus Christ. But this is metaphorically referred to as save thyself and others.

Now, show me where Scripture says we must not try to save ourselves by turning to Jesus.

You haven’t demonstrated that understanding yet.

I'm pretty sure it is you who have shown your lack of understanding.

I never claimed that I “save myself” by faith.

It is the Protestant motto.

God gave me that faith.

In order that you would act upon it and produce good fruit.

I never usurped God’s right to judge me.

You do it everytime you claim to be saved by your faith alone.

Christ is going to judge me but, If I’m already “saved” (and I am),

There you go again. By your words, demonstrating that you don't trust God.

Christ isn’t going to judge whether or not He is going to let me into Heaven. I'll already be there. He is going to judge what I’ve done for him in the body.

Exactly!

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.

Matthew 25:31-46

King James Version (KJV)
³¹ When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
³² And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
³³ And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
³⁴ Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
³⁵ For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
³⁶ Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
³⁷ Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
³⁸ When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
³⁹ Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
⁴⁰ And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
⁴¹ Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
⁴² For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
⁴³ I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
⁴⁴ Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
⁴⁵ Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
⁴⁶ And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Sincerely,

De Maria

You teach that you save yourself by your faith ALONE

Lutero:

Keep trying to save your own soul.

Thank you. We will:
1 Timothy 4:16

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁶ Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

The rest of us Christ followers will continue to rely on and look to our Saviour.

That's not what you teach. You teach that you save yourself by your faith ALONE. You even judge your salvation yourself by that criteria. But God never says you have that right. You simply took it from God. You stole God's right to judge your soul, right out from under Him. But, go right ahead and judge yourself. You will receive the reward which you deserve.

1 Corinthians 4:3-4

King James Version (KJV)
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.

But if you have a verse which says that God is not your judge and you have the right to declare yourself saved, by all means, introduce it.

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

What is the advantage of the Catholic?

What is the advantage of the Catholic?
The Jewish religion was validly established by God. But in the fullness of time, the Old Covenant wore out:
Hebrews 8:13
In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

And therefore, the Jews were expected to transfer their allegiance, so to speak, from Moses to Jesus:
Romans 7:2-4
King James Version (KJV)
2For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

3So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

But many of them did not do so. They are not, in my opinion, therefore condemned:
Acts 10:33-35
King James Version (KJV)
33Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

35But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

And although the Old Covenant is fading away, the Law of the Commandments remains the foundation of our joint faiths:
Revelation 22:14
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.

What advantage then is the Christians?
Romans 3

1What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
3For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

Yes, it is true that the Jews were first committed the Scriptures and the Word of God. However, in the New Covenant, we are given the Sacraments. Justification by faith without works. We are entitled, by God, to enter heaven itself, being members of the Body of Christ:
Matthew 11:11
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

That, in a nutshell, is the GOOD NEWS. We, being baptized, become children of God and walk with the Saints of God:

Hebrews 12:22-24
King James Version (KJV)
22But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

23To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Whereas they, the Jews and all other religions, have to await the Final Judgment before they will be permitted into the Kingdom, if God so wills.

Sincerely,

De Maria

Lutero said:

But what you ask is irrelevant to the Great White Throne Judgment. There are NO questions asked at that judgment, not one. The books are opened, and those appearing at that judgment are NOT asked anything they are judged by their works according to what is written in those books and also the Book of Life is opened, anyone not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire prepared for the devil and his angels. So all those works in the one book excludes one from being found in the other Book, the Book of Life.

Yeah.

Revelation 20:12
King James Version (KJV)
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

The LORD knows who are His already and they are already with Him by the time the Great White Throne judgment takes place. See Rev 20:11-15

True. And these are they who do His Will.

Philippians 4:3
King James Version (KJV)
3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

Here for your perusal. Do you want to appear there?

Re 20:11 (KJV) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

We will all stand there, including you:

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.

Do you see any questions being asked here?

No. That is the entire point. God will judge all men by our works.

Sincerely,

De Maria

Lutero said:

First, Matt 25 is about judgment of the nations, not individual judgment.
Second, they are separated by WHO they are....sheep and goats....sheep are believers, goats are unbelievers.

The goats call Him Lord.

Then according to YOU, Christ died in vain....
21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

Non Sequitur. Christ died so that we might receive Grace through the Sacraments. Those who obey Christ receive the His Grace therein:

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

Those who do His commandments are born again believers, who walk in the works God prepared for them beforehand.

Doers of the Commandments will 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.

We are not saved before we prove that we have faith by our works.  We are saved after we prove the merit of our works in the eyes of God:

James 2:14
King James Version (KJV)
¹⁴ What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

You just refuted your own argument according to the above Scripture....NOT by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to HIS MERCY, He saved us.

Hm?  Are you responding to a different message?

First of all, we are not saved by works.  But if we don't work, God won't save us.  That is taught in Scripture early on:

Exodus 20:6
King James Version (KJV)
⁶ And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

We can't save ourselves.  God saves those who keep His Commandments.  God saves those who obey Him.  God saves those who merit salvation in His eyes.

And God saves those who believe and obey His Son, in the Sacraments.  We don't do anything in the Sacraments.  All we do is approach the Throne of Christ in the proper disposition.  The Sacraments  are the work of God. We simply believe in His Great Mercy.  And He bestows it upon us.

Thank you for showing us all that Catholicism teaches a WORKS based salvation....contrary to Scripture which teaches salvation by grace through faith, NOT OF WORKS....

Salvation by grace apart from works is only in the Sacraments. And the Sacraments are only admininstered to those who please God by their faith expressed in works of love:

Revelation 22:13-15
King James Version (KJV)
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.

It's a shame to see how you mishandle God's word trying to prove of your false theology.

Its the other way around. The Catholic Church teaches the Word of God. It is you who teach contrary to the Word of God. The solas, your pillars are a perfect example.

Sola Fide, is it in Scripture?  No.  It contradicts Scripture:

James 2:24
King James Version (KJV)
²⁴ Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Sola Scriptura, is it in Scripture?  No.  It contradicts Scripture:

2 Thessalonians 2:15
King James Version (KJV)
¹⁵ Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

 Sincerely,


De Maria

The Judgement is not Multiple Choice

God won't ask you anything. He'll tell you what you did good:

Matthew 25:31-45
King James Version (KJV)³¹ When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:³² And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:³³ And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.³⁴ Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:³⁵ For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:³⁶ Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.³⁷ Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?³⁸ When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?³⁹ Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?⁴⁰ And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Or what good you should have done and didn't:

⁴¹ Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:⁴² For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:⁴³ I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.⁴⁴ Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?⁴⁵ Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

Salvation is like this:

Keep the Commandments and you will be saved according to your works in the Judgement:

Revelation 22:13-15
King James Version (KJV)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.

But if you want to walk with the Spirits of men made perfect in this life, then submit to the Sacraments of our Lord:

Acts 22:16
King James Version (KJV)¹⁶ And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Titus 3:5
King James Version (KJV)⁵ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Sincerely,

De Maria

Will it be multiple choice or essay?

Neither.  Someone was saying on the internet, "I don't understand doctrines and I don't have time to study.  How can I be saved?"

The answer is:
Well, God isn't going to give us an exam.  This is what is going to happen at the Judgment.