Washed, Sanctified and Justified in the Sacraments of the Catholic Church.
Showing posts with label Commandments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Commandments. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 21, 2021
Friday, July 31, 2020
The Catholic order is the best
DE MARIA May 8, 2013 at 7:29 pm
UK said:
Catechism1257 The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation. …The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care … to see that all who can be baptized are “reborn of water and the Spirit.” God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.
My reading of Jn 3 v5 AND 6 is that ‘water’ related to the natural birth of man through his mother’s uterine waters.
Because one is naturally born through the “uterine waters” of their mother, water is an apt symbol of birth. Therefore, in Water Baptism, the water poured on our bodies signifies and brings about the new birth of the Creature by the Spirit.
What then matters is subsequently being born of the Spirit. ‘Reborn’ is incorrect and very misleading if it implies that water is an agent of rebirth.
On the contrary, your statement simply shows a lack of faith in Christ. It is akin to Namaan who denied that God could cure him by the action of washing seven times in the waters of the Jordan. We believe that God can cause our new birth through water.
This antithesis between earth and heaven is continued in v6 with flesh v spirit.On the contrary. Christ certainly accepted the Good Thief. But there are reasons why he is called the Good Thief and which are the basis of his salvation by Jesus Christ.
The first line of 1257 is clearly wrong because Jesus Himself accepted the thief on the cross into His kingdom unbaptised.
1. Scripture does not say that the Good Thief was not baptized.
2. Scripture says that everyone in Judea was baptized by St. John.
Matthew 3:5-7
King James Version (KJV)
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
3. Jesus and His disciples also baptized many.
John 3:22-24
King James Version (KJV)
22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
4. In addition, Catholic Doctrine says that one may be baptized of blood. The Good Thief definitely meets this criteria since he was crucified alongside Jesus.
5. Catholic Doctrine also says that one must suffer with Christ to be saved. The Good Thief meets this criteria.
And finally, Catholic Doctrine says that one is saved if God says that one is saved. Jesus is God and Jesus saved the Good Thief, whether he was baptized or not.
Fortunately the last sentence of 1257 gainsays the first by removing it as an essential step.1257 also states “The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism…” Jesus mentions only belief in John 5 v 24. Yes, water baptism is important but I am not even sure that the Great Commission must of necessity mean water baptism as opposed to baptising in/into/with the Spirit
God has set out a normal means of salvation by the Church. If anyone strikes out on their own to be saved according to their own ideas, they are on their own. But God has been very clear that He saves the obedient:
Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
I hope you will retain any earlier appreciation that creeds and catechisms are fallible.
Perhaps. But Catholic Doctrine is infallible because the Church is the Pillar of Truth (1 Tim 3:15).
This came home to me forcibly when I saw that Catholic Teaching had massaged and thereby set out 10 different Commandments from the ones listed in Exodus (and Deuteronomy)
They are the exact same Commandments. Protestants have changed some things but the Catholic order is the best.
Sincerely,
De Maria
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Don’t neglect to do the good works which God commands.
Discussing and debating religion is not as important as keeping God's Commandments. In essence, they amount to claims of faith. In other words, everything is important. But the most important thing, is to keep God's commandments.
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
And it is they who will be saved:
1 Corinthians 7:19
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
Galatians 5:6
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Faith which works by love is the equivalent of keeping the Commandments:
And it is they who will be saved:
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.
In my opinion, the most important thing to God is that we keep His Commandments. Those Christians who keep His Commandments will be saved in this life by virtue of the Sacraments and in the age to come by virtue of the righteous judgement of God.
Those non-Catholics who keep His Commandments will be saved in the age to come by virtue of the righteous judgement of God.
Those who do not keep His Commandments will not be saved. For God, actions speak louder than words. Speaking and teaching is great, but don’t neglect to do the other good works which God commands.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Evangelical Protestants say that keeping the Ten Commandments is wrong
Some people get really animated and upset when I say that Protestants believe it is wrong to keep the Commandments. But it is true. Here are some examples.
This is an excerpt from an article, by Matt Slick. If you haven’t heard of him, he’s a very influential Evangelical Protestant.
What is legalism?
by Matt Slick
In Christianity, legalism is the excessive and improper use of the law (10 commandments, holiness laws, etc.,). This legalism can take different forms. The first is where a person attempts to keep the Law in order to attain salvation. The second is where a person keeps the law in order to maintain his salvation. The third is when a Christian judges other Christians for not keeping certain codes of conduct that he thinks need to be observed. Let’s examine each one more closely.
The first kind of legalism is where the law of God is kept in order to attain salvation. This is a heresy, a completely false doctrine….
1. Notice that he equates the Law with the Ten Commandments.
2. He considers it “excessive and improper” to keep the Commandments to be saved or to stay in a state of grace (i.e. maintain salvation).
3. He considers it “heresy” to do so.
Ok, that’s Matt Slick. A lot of people hate him. Even other Evangelicals. Let’s try this guy, Steve Reynolds. I never actually heard of him. But he writes for a group that’s got a slick webpage at “Christianity Without the Religion/Plain Truth Ministries”. They even seem to have a radio program. Here’s an excerpt from his article.
Confessions of a Recovering Legalist
by Steve Reynolds
Legalists often place a high premium on commandment keeping and obedience.1 They are extremely zealous for God’s law. The standard that they bear is the Ten Commandments, and they are diligent to point out every misstep in the lives of people they come in contact with. They can also be very diligent in pointing out their own missteps as well. As a result, they can carry around an extraordinary amount of self-imposed guilt. I know. I am a recovering legalist.
Legalism is a Christian heresy…..
That tracks really closely with Matt Slick’s article. What do you think?
These are just two Evangelicals. But they represent the thoughts of a large segment of that group of Protestants.
Monday, November 30, 2015
Thursday, September 10, 2015
What happened between Genesis 12 and 15?
Error - Protestants say, "Before Abraham did anything he was made righteous by faith."
Response:
What happened between Gen 12 and Gen 15 or 22, whichever you prefer as the point of Abraham's justification?
Hebrews 11:8 By 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.
Genesis 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Protestant logic is based upon that premise and therefore they arrive at false conclusions.
If the Law is no longer in force, why does St. Paul say:
1 Corinthians 6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Don't they recognize these Commandments enumerated there?
Thou shalt not - commit idolatry, lie, commit adultery, steal, covet.
Its not the law which is the difference. Its the advent of Jesus.
Before Jesus, no saving grace.
After Jesus, saving grace provided in the Sacraments.
Before Jesus, the Jews did all their good works and as it says in Heb 11:
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. 32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
BY FAITH they did all that good. But they didn't receive the promise.
So, salvation is not BY FAITH. Nor is it by all the good that they did.
Why is it then? By the mercy of God which was poured out to them from the Cross.
So, how do Christians receive that mercy? In the Sacraments. When we approach the Sacraments, we approach the Cross of our Lord, we remember His Sacrifice and He pours out to us His mercy.
All Christians? No! Only those who, in obedience to His word, have kept the Commandments.
Exodus 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Romans 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Response:
What happened between Gen 12 and Gen 15 or 22, whichever you prefer as the point of Abraham's justification?
Hebrews 11:8 By 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.
Genesis 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Protestant logic is based upon that premise and therefore they arrive at false conclusions.
If the Law is no longer in force, why does St. Paul say:
1 Corinthians 6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Don't they recognize these Commandments enumerated there?
Thou shalt not - commit idolatry, lie, commit adultery, steal, covet.
Its not the law which is the difference. Its the advent of Jesus.
Before Jesus, no saving grace.
After Jesus, saving grace provided in the Sacraments.
Before Jesus, the Jews did all their good works and as it says in Heb 11:
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. 32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
BY FAITH they did all that good. But they didn't receive the promise.
So, salvation is not BY FAITH. Nor is it by all the good that they did.
Why is it then? By the mercy of God which was poured out to them from the Cross.
So, how do Christians receive that mercy? In the Sacraments. When we approach the Sacraments, we approach the Cross of our Lord, we remember His Sacrifice and He pours out to us His mercy.
All Christians? No! Only those who, in obedience to His word, have kept the Commandments.
Exodus 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Romans 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Saturday, August 22, 2015
If you don't keep the Commandments, how do you claim to know that you have eternal life?
1 John 5:1-7
King James Version (KJV)
1 Whosoever 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.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This 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.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Do you keep the Commandments? If you don't, how do you claim to know that you have eternal life?
That's in regards to our daily walk, not in regards to eternal destiny.
Luke 9:23
King James Version (KJV)
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Matthew 10:38
King James Version (KJV)
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Sincerely,
De Maria
Thursday, July 30, 2015
The works which Jesus commanded; those works.
Hebrews 5:9
King James Version (KJV)
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Salvation is by faith; faith is demonstrated by works.
Again, what works had you in mind?
John 14:21-23
King James Version (KJV)
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
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.
Those works.
Sincerely,
De Maria
Saturday, July 18, 2015
1st. God wants us to keep His commandments. If we don't keep them, He won't save us.
That article was long... not to mention all the thousands of [size 3] being put on every line of text!
Some big problems with it though...
It fails to be true.
First, James 2 is not telling us that faith and works together are what God requires in order for Him to justify us.
James 2:24
King James Version (KJV)
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
When he says that it is not by faith "only", that means that faith is necessary. But note that he says justification is by "works". Therefore, both are necessary.
If we go back to James 2:14, we see that he asks:
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?
Can faith save? Note that the faith which he is questioning is faith without accompanying works.
James is explaining that just claiming to have faith... but not actually having any proof to show it is motivating or active is a useless kind of believing. a dead kind of faith.
It can't save us. A real living faith will, and it will have lot's of evidence because it is motivating us to do things because it is real.
Second, we are truly justified by faith in Christ because that is how God wants it to be... because he does not want anyone to boast about how they were good enough to merit their own justification.
1st. God wants us to keep His commandments. If we don't keep them, He won't save us.
2nd. God doesn't want us to boast that we kept His Commandments as though we did it without Him. Just look at the Pharisee in the Temple:
Luke 18:9-11
King James Version (KJV)
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
The Pharisee boasted in keeping the Commandments and therefore trusted in himself instead of God.
3rd. This is why faith is so important. Read Heb 11. It is by faith that we must work in order to be saved.
The Gospel is very clear about that.
Thirdly, Obedience is one of the fruits of this supernatural faith... and your mistake is thinking that by us saying we are saved or justified by faith alone... you think we are saying by just saying we believe, and we don't need to be obedient! That is not what we are saying.
And in conclusion... you are misreading scripture in order to justify your misunderstandings, and coming to some wild conclusions about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Ten Commandments teach us we need Jesus Christ, and we receive Him into us through faith inwardly, and there is no amount of works that achieve that for us. If we do have a saving faith our lives will change and we will be concerned in obeying Christ, and following Him.
It is not about adding works to faith.
2 Peter 1:5-11
King James Version (KJV)
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Keep trying, If you are truly concerned with the truth some day you may find it.
The very best to you!
And to you!
Sincerely,
De Maria
Keep the Commandments
1 John 2:2-4
King James Version (KJV)
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Sincerely,
De Maria
Friday, May 15, 2015
Protestants deny the power of the Gospel to save
LG:I do but you don't.
James 2:18
King James Version (KJV)
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Here's the problem which Protestants can't overcome.
1. They don't believe anyone can be perfect in this life.
2. Scripture says that only those who are perfect will enter heaven:
Revelation 21:27
King James Version (KJV)
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
3. Therefore they deny themselves heaven:
Ezekiel 7:27
King James Version (KJV)
27 The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them; and they shall know that I am the Lord.
4. But Scripture tells us that those who die in an imperfect state of grace will be purified by the Consuming Fire of our Lord:
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
King James Version (KJV)
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
5. Therefore, we know that God purifies those who partake of His Blood offering:
1 Peter 1:7
King James Version (KJV)
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Revelation 1:5
King James Version (KJV)
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
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.
Hebrews 13:17
King James Version (KJV)
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Sincerely,
De Maria
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