Something important I think the board needs to hear to help keep this war in perspective:
T total depravity: we are inherently sinful
U unconditional atonement: we need to pay nothing for forgiveness (indeed we cannot)
L limited atonement: not all are saved
I irresistible grace: once called, your eyes will be open, you won’t be able to shut them anymore
P perseverance of the saints: we will face difficulties in this world, since our enemies consist of our own selves, other sinners and the devil himself.
I say this because fixing our government (even permanently) does not solve the God sized hole in our hearts, and there’s no good within ourselves apart from God. This is important to remember as we continue the battle, to know none of us earned salvation or righteousness so we ought to show grace for those not yet awake.
And that, my friends, is true strength.
No true Catholic believe’s in man based salvation. We are saved by grace through faith—as a Catholic convert, this is squarely what the Church teaches. The Catholic view, however, is that our actions demonstrate our faith. I can’t run around killing people, but saying I have faith (better translated from Greek as trust). I have to live my life following Jesus and God’s laws.
Jesus did the saving, I have to accept this by living my life accordingly, otherwise I have the risk of losing Jesus’s saving grace. I do NOT save myself.
Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.
Here’s the problem with Catholicism, and what makes it hard. The hard part is that 99% of Catholicism is fine, very little issues. The problem I have is the 1% problem is a snow ball effect into an avalanche. There are things that the pope can say (I know not everything, but particular times in history) that can be counted to be worthy of the same honor as God’s word (the Jews to the same with the Talmud).
“Praying to the Saints” meaning asking a saint to pray for you, like you would ask a friend to pray for you is also wrong. The Bible isn’t unclear on this.
3 examples:
Saul, a necromancer, and Samuel (post death). Saul calls up Samuel’s spirit to ask him to ask God for wisdom in an upcoming battle, Samuel instead punishes him for the use of the necromancer and tells him why God won’t speak to him through the prophets.
The story of Lazarus where the one who wronged him wanted to save himself, was denied, said at least let me tell my family, and it is said, if they will not believe the prophets, will they believe you?
Isaiah 8:19
[19] And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?
If you can lose salvation based on your behavior, then it’s based on your works. I don’t see how this idea is compatible with grace.
So if I violate the Ten Commandments, I’m still saved? My actions don’t matter? I don’t have to choose salvation (and by extension live according to Christ’s example)?
Daily you violate the Ten Commandments, as do I. Read the interpretation Jesus gives on them, pretty insane to follow them. as I wrote elsewhere, God removes the scales from our eyes and we have no good choice but to follow him. This is what people call effectual calling.
Christ isn’t an example; he’s a savior. If you could follow his example, then his death wasn’t necessary.
Grace is a gift freely given. I can still say “no thanks” to the gift.
if your eyes are truly opened, you would never deny it, knowing what the opposite will give you.