Do you think the Galatians were doing the same things the Catholics are doing?

Question

http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults.php?passage1=galatians+3&version1=9

This passage quite clearly calls this church out on trying to save themselves by their works. And tells very clearly that faith and not the law is what makes us children of God.

Other verses also clearly state that salvation is through faith: "by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God not of works lest any man should boast."

1 John 5:13: 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.

Romans 10:9-10: 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.
10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confess

Alot of catholics will quote Philippians 2
12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,

As meaning work to keep your salvation, but the verse never says that. It says "work out" which mean more to act out Christ who is in you now, so that once judgement comes we will be blameless. For even the saved will be jugded on the bad they have not confessed. As you can see verse 13 says: for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

2 Corinthians 5:10:
10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

granny annie, you seem to forget how many people in the Bible did horrible things, but are now in heaven. Dont underestimate God's grace. Paul killed christians and yet was converted and is now in heaven. So you should really watch your words.

To me it is very sad that Catholics can study Jesus' words and yet twist so much, even to the point of ignoring.

I agree Terry.

"..shall we continue in sin that grace may abound--God forbid!"

Answer 1

Hi there. Don't forget not only the other New Testament passages about showing one's faith with works (James), but also the Old Testament Law of Purity and Law of Holiness (Lv chapters 11-15, Lv 17-16) which deal with preparing oneself to be open to God and then responding to God's action in one's life by how one lives.

The gift of God is the gift of God and that is received by faith. But in order to have a proper disposition (this very faith and the necessary humility, it is a good thing to avoid sin... hence certain "works," like prayer, almsgiving, and fasting can dispose us to have the proper attitude to be more open to God). Also, after one has entered into a relationship with God, one doesn't just sit back and say "I'm saved. The rest of you can go spit." No, one must look to respond to God's great gift by living a holy life and giving example. This is why in the gospel Jesus tells so many parables about people being judged by their works... that is, how they responded to the gift they were given... the gold coins... the servant who was forgiven but didn't forgive, etc.

By the way, the Catholic Church has never said that salvation does not comes about by faith, or that works alone can save. The whole debate came about due to the abuse of the sale of indulgences and a mentality of performing works for a reduction of the time in purgatory (which Catholics believe in). Luther and the other reformers were right to criticize this.

However, due to polemics between Catholics and Lutherans, the original message about the role of faith and works got obscured. It is not works that justify, but however, without works, one's faith is useless, because it is assumed that what happens in the interior of the person will then manifest itself in the life of the person. Today, after the debate has become less polarized, the Catholic Church and Lutheran Church actually signed a document (in Oct. 1999) that came to a mutual understanding about faith and works.

It's called the JOINT DECLARATION ON THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION. (not meaning to shout... I just copied and pasted, the title was all caps).

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_31101999_cath-luth-joint-declaration_en.html

Let's take the biggest sinner who on his death bed confesses faith in Jesus. If this is a sincere confession, it will be accompanied by some sort of remorse for sins, some sort of act of sorrow, even if it is simply tears. He will most likely, if he can speak, say outloud that he repents of his ways. See, faith and works (an act of piety) are intimately connected. In fact, saying one believes is called "an act of faith." Seeing as faith is an action, it is a doing (the submission to the will of God, and trust in His merciful love) it will naturally manifest itself in what one does. This is natural and spontaneous.

The problem comes when we do something and expect God to reply, and this can go for any Christian... Catholic or not, who thinks that by praising God or pressing into his Word, that he or she will then get God to bless him or her. One cannot purchase anything from God. He gives, and the best we can do is practice ways of being open to Him and then letting Him touch our lives so that actions give witness to the Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Peace.

Answer 2

See the Epistle of James, chapter 2, verses 14 through 26.

Wherein the Apostle makes it quite clear that faith without works is DEAD! USELESS!

Why do you think Martin Luther so hated this Epistle that he would have tossed it from the New Testament except that his followers assured him that messing with the "Christian" Scriptures would lose him more followers than it it would gain? It kinda screws his contention that faith is all you need. You really think that if Hitler was a faithful Lutheran he'd make it into heaven just by saying, "I believ that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God" and doing so publicly!? Gimme a break.

And remember, the Catholic Church has been studying Christ's word for 2,000 years. We got an edge there.

Answer 3

Here we cross once more. According to you: Luke, who knew Mary and the opposite apostles and was once selected via the Holy Spirit to put in writing a Gospel, is someway much less riskless than Paul. Luke, who definitely heard the parties of the Annunciation immediately from Mary's lips, is absolutely deceived via the "apparition," who, by the way, is the Archangel Gabriel. Said archangel despatched from God then proceeds to salute her with what's going to end up the primary verse of the Hail Mary, at the same time Elizabeth who's approximately to deliver start to John the Baptist, is prompted via the Holy Spirit to talk the phrases so we can whole the Hail Mary prayer. So now Paul is smarter than an archangel and the Spirit-prompted lady wearing the little one who will cross earlier than Christ as a prophet. Yeah. . .righhhhhht. I hate to wreck the scoop to you, however your studying with the "energy of the holy spirit" is not anything however deception. You're within the equal entice that cultists like David Koresh and Jim Jones fell into: you could have set your self up as an expert, and as such, you feel your interpretation is the one proper one. Being your possess sole authority on Scripture is not just unbiblical, it is dull, and it will possibly lead you down an excessively hazardous street. For your possess sake, get concerned in a truly Bible research with folks who recognise what they are doing -- now not a few computer virus-eyed frothing on the mouth fundie who has no clue approximately what the Bible rather teaches.

Answer 4

Excellant point.

May I add that it is not Catholics alone but many Christian denominations that follow this teaching . Salvation was purchased by Jesus Christ alone and although it goes against our nature to by faith trust Jesus Christ alone for our salvation this is the way that God planned it. The Book of Galations along with many other scriptures outlines this quite clearly.

Answer 5

I don't want to get into a big discussion about eternal security, and, of course, you're right about salvation by faith, not works. However, I do believe that modern Christians tend to forget the importance of actually FOLLOWING the commands of God - in other words, our Christianity should show in our BEHAVIOR.

"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me." John 14:21

Answer 6

I think that the Roman tradition of having Priests who intercede for men with God, of not allowing Priest to marry, and of having a faith plus works doctrine of salvation is the modern equivalent of what Jesus upbraided the Pharisees of his day for.

Matthew 15:1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat."

3 He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.' 5 But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is given to God, 6 he need not honor his father.' So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 8 "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

1 Timothy 3:2 It is necessary, therefore, for a bishop to be irreproachable, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, well-behaved, hospitable, skillful at teaching; 3 not given to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not loving money; 4 one ruling his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence; 5 (for if one does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Answer 7

Your a fine example of the brotherly love that is most important aren't you?

Always studying -- never learning