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Consider:
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Think the only 'mortal sin' for believers is unbelief? Click here
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Think you are saved by faith alone? Click here
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How can you be 'saved' when you have yet to die and be judged? Are
you usurping Christ's role as judge in predetermining the outcome
of your judgment? Is this simply a way of speaking of your
"hope" for salvation or do you really believe you are
actually "saved"?
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How is it that you are already "saved" when Scripture
speaks of "work[ing] out your salvation with fear and
trembling" (Phil. 2:12)? Why is it that Jesus so often speaks
of being watchful and prepared (cf. Mk. 13:33-37)? Do you think salvation is easy? Why
does Scripture indicate that salvation is not easy and
that few are saved? "For it is time for the judgment to
begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, how will it
end for those who fail to obey the gospel of God? 'And if the
righteous one is barely saved, where will the godless and the
sinner appear?'" (1 Pt. 4:17-18)
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How is it that you are already "saved" when Scripture
clearly indicates that one must persevere to the end to be saved?
For example, consider the following passages (emphasis added):
Mt.
10:22: You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end
will be saved.
Mt.
24:13: But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
Mk.
13:13: You will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who perseveres to the end will be
saved.
Jn.
15:4-10: Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be
burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love.
Rom.
11:22: See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but God's kindness to you,
provided you remain in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off.
1
Cor. 15:2: Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast
to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
Gal.
6:9: Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we
shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up.
Col.
1:21-23: And you who once were alienated and hostile in mind
because of evil deeds he has now reconciled in his fleshly body
through his death, to present you holy, without blemish, and
irreproachable before him, provided that you persevere in
the faith, firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope
of the gospel that you heard, which has been preached to
every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, am a minister.
2
Tm. 2:12: if we persevere we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him he will deny us.
Heb.
3:14: We have become partners of Christ if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the
end
Heb.
10:36: You need endurance to do the will of God and receive
what he has promised.
1
Jn. 2:24: Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the
Father.
1
Jn. 2:28: And now, children, remain in him, so that when he
appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at
his coming.
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How can one expect to have a 'guarantee' - in advance - of
salvation when Scripture is clear that certain things are required
in order to be saved? Scripture never promises you 'guaranteed' salvation,
but rather indicates that a number of things that are required to
be saved.
For example, consider the following passages (emphasis added):
Mt.
5:20: I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of
heaven.
Mt.
6:14-15: If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.
Mt.
7:21: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter
the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of
my Father in heaven."
Mt.
10:37-39: "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross
and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and
whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
Mt.
18:3: "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."
Mt.
19:16-17: "Now someone approached him and said, 'Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal
life?' He answered him, 'Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good.
If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.'"
Mk.
8:34-35: He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow
me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel
will save it."
Mk.
10:15: Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child
will not enter it.
Lk.
10:25-28: There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?"
He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as
yourself." He replied to him, "You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live."
Lk.
14:26-27: "If any one comes to me without hating his
father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and
even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not
carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."
Lk.14:33:
"In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my
disciple."
Jn.
3:36: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon
him.
Jn.
15:1-6: "Anyone who does not remain in me will be
thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and
throw them into a fire and they will be burned."
Rom. 8:13: For
if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Rom.
8:16-17: The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Rom.
13:2: Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon
themselves.
Heb.
12:14: Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the
Lord.
1
Jn. 3:10: In this way, the children of God and the children of the devil are made plain;
no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, nor anyone who does not love his
brother.
Scripture
also indicates that certain things exclude persons from heaven.
For example, consider the following passages (emphasis added):
Mt.5:21-22:
"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'You
shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.' But
I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be
liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, 'Raqa,' will
be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will
be liable to fiery Gehenna."
Mt.13:40-42:
Just as weeds are collected and burned (up) with fire, so will it
be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and
they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to
sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery
furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
1
Cor. 6:9-10: Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of
God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor boy prostitutes nor practicing homosexuals nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of
God.
Gal.
5:19-21: Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness,
idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy,
drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of
God.
Eph.
5:5: Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of
God.
1
Jn.3:15: Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and
you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.
Rv.
21:22-27: I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord
God almighty and the Lamb. The city had no need of sun or moon to
shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was
the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and to it the kings
of the earth will bring their treasure. During the day its gates
will never be shut, and there will be no night there. The treasure
and wealth of the nations will be brought there, but nothing
unclean will enter it, nor any (one) who does abominable things or
tells lies. Only those will enter whose names are written
in the Lamb's book of life.
Rv.
21:8: But as for cowards, the unfaithful, the depraved, murderers, the unchaste, sorcerers, idol-worshipers, and deceivers of every sort, their lot is in the burning pool of fire and
sulfur, which is the second death.
Rv.
22:15: Outside are the dogs ["a
term of contempt", does not refer to animals], the
sorcerers, the unchaste, the murderers, the idol-worshipers, and
all who love and practice deceit.
Scripture
NEVER speaks of sins "not being imputed"
after justification and never says that those who have been
justified can no longer sin (which should be patently obvious!).
Such ideas are simply wishful thinking - and are contrary to
Scripture! How can one claim to be 'bible only' and yet believe in
ways so completely contrary to Scripture? In fact, we see
clearly in Scripture that sins are imputed directly
to one who commits them - even after justification.
For example, consider the following passages (emphasis added):
Mt.
12:36-37: I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak.
By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be
condemned.
Jn.
5:28-29: Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but
those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation.
Rom.
2:5-8: By your stubbornness and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself for the day of wrath and revelation of the just judgment of God, who will repay everyone according to his
works: eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through perseverance in good works, but
wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey
wickedness.
2
Cor. 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or
evil.
Jms.
5:12: But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven
or by earth or with any other oath, but let your
"Yes" mean "Yes" and your "No" mean
"No," that you may not incur condemnation.
2
Jn. 1:8-11: Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for but may receive a full
recompense. Anyone who is so "progressive" as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have
God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son.
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him;
for whoever greets him shares in his evil works.
Don't
forget that St. Paul spoke of 'excommunicating' a believer who was guilty
of sin (see 1 Cor. 5:2) and two believers died at the feet of St.
Peter for lying (see Act 5:1-10)! In light of these facts, how can
it be said that sin is not imputed after justification? How can
such a belief be reconciled with St. Paul's statement in 1 Cor. 5:11-13:
"But I now write to you not to associate with anyone named a brother, if he is immoral, greedy, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunkard, or a robber, not even to eat with such a person.
For why should I be judging outsiders? Is it not your business to judge those within?
God will judge those outside. 'Purge the evil person from your
midst.'"...? Or with St. John's clear statement that brothers
may commit sin (see 1 Jn. 5:16-17)?
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How is it that you are feel that your salvation is
"guaranteed" when Scripture speaks of salvation only as
a "hope" and a "goal" (cf. Ti. 3:7, 1 Pt. 1:9)?
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How is it that you are feel that you are already "saved"
when Scripture speaks of "grow[ing] into salvation"
through "spiritual milk" (see 1 Pt. 2:2)
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How is it that you feel your salvation is "guaranteed"
when Scripture speaks of the possibility of being "put to
shame" at His coming (see 1 Jn. 2:28)
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Do you believe that you are "saved" because you call on
the Lord? Why does Scripture say that not all who say "Lord,
Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven (cf. Mt. 7:21, Lk.
6:49-49)?
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How is it that you are sure of your own salvation when St. Paul
wasn't sure of his (cf.
1 Cor. 4:3-5,
1 Cor. 9:27,
Phil. 3:12-14)?
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How is it that you are feel that your salvation is
"guaranteed" if you don't do good works? As Scripture
indicates... (emphasis added)
Mt.
25:41-46: Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.' Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you,
what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' And these will go off to eternal
punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Jn.
5:28-29: Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out,
those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation.
Rom.
2:5-8: By your stubbornness and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself for the day of wrath and revelation of the just judgment of
God, who will repay everyone according to his works: eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through perseverance in good works, but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey
wickedness.
Jms.
2:14-26: What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have
works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?
So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Indeed someone might say, "You have faith and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble.
Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works. Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called "the friend of God."
See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by a different route?
For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
1
Pt. 1:17: Now if you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one's
works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your
sojourning
Jn.
20:12-13: I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Then another scroll was opened, the book of life.
The dead were judged according to their deeds, by what was written in the scrolls. The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades
gave up their dead. All the dead were judged according to their
deeds.
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How is you think your salvation is "guaranteed" when Scripture
clearly warns that those who think they are secure may
fall?
1
Cor. 10:12: Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to
fall.
2
Pt. 3:17: Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability.
*
Why is it you believe your salvation is assured when Scripture says
that salvation may be lost and not recovered?
1
Cor. 8:11: Thus through your knowledge, the weak person is brought to destruction, the brother for whom Christ died.
Heb.
6:4-8: For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift
and shared in the Holy Spirit and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to
come, and then have fallen away, to bring them to repentance again, since they are recrucifying the Son of God for themselves
and holding him up to contempt. Ground that has absorbed the rain falling upon it repeatedly and brings forth crops useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God.
But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is rejected; it will soon be cursed and finally burned.
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Why is it you believe that those who are "saved" won't
undergo judgment, when Scripture say the opposite? For example,
consider the following passages (emphasis added)...
Heb.
10:26-31: If we sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins but a fearful prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the
adversaries Anyone who rejects the law of Moses is put to death without pity on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Do you not think that a much worse punishment is due the one who has contempt for the Son of God, considers unclean the covenant-blood by which he was consecrated, and insults the spirit of grace? We know the one who said:
"Vengeance is mine; I will repay," and again: "The Lord will judge his people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Jms.
5:19-20: My brothers, if anyone among you should stray from the truth and someone bring him back,
he should know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of
sins. [Note: From this it is clear that those who stray from
truth and are not brought back suffer death.]
2
Pt. 2:20-22: For if they, having escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of (our) Lord and savior Jesus Christ, again become entangled and overcome by them, their last condition is worse than their first.
For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment handed down
to them. What is expressed in the true proverb has happened to them, "The dog returns to its own vomit," and "A bathed sow returns to wallowing in the mire."
1
Cor. 11:27-30: Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the
Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup.
For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment
on himself. That is why many among you are ill and infirm, and a considerable number are dying.
1
Tm. 5:11-12: But exclude younger widows, for when their sensuality estranges them from Christ, they want to marry and
will incur condemnation for breaking their first pledge.
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How is it that you believe you are "saved" regardless of
your future actions when Scripture says that (emphasis added)...
Gal.
6:7: Make no mistake: God is not mocked, for a person will reap only what he
sows
Mt.
12:36-37: I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak.
By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be
condemned.
Mt.
16:27: For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his
Father's glory, and then he will repay everyone according to
his conduct.
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If persons are already "saved", why does Scripture speak
of a continued spiritual war?
Eph.
6:10-12: Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.
Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.
Heb. 12:4: In
your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
1
Pt. 2:11: Beloved, I urge you as aliens and sojourners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against the
soul.
1
Pt. 5:8: Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is
prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to
devour.
Rv.
12:17: Then the dragon became angry with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God's commandments and bear witness to
Jesus.
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If persons are already "saved", how can there be
"deadly sin" (see 1 Jn. 5:16-17)?
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If believing women were already "saved", how can Scripture
speak of
their being saved through motherhood (see 1 Tm. 2:15)?
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If persons are "guaranteed" salvation due to their faith
in Christ, why is it that Scripture says "If anyone thinks he
is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his
heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled
before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows
in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the
world" (Jms. 1:26-27)?
*
Why is it that if you hear someone judging another, you might
rightly admonish them, yet you do not realize that you have
already judged yourself? Do you think you - rather than Christ -
decides who goes to heaven and who doesn't? Or do you suppose that
Scripture's command not to judge applies only to negative judgments? Even so, you would have to "judge" simply to
determine whether your decision was favorable or not! Do you not
see how this makes a mockery of judgment? As St. Paul says in Holy
Scripture: "I do not even pass judgment on myself; I am not conscious of anything against me, but I do not thereby stand acquitted; the one who judges me is the Lord."
(1 Cor. 4:3-4) Furthermore, what judgment would be left if
all that was necessary for salvation was whether or not one believed?
*
How is it you feel you are "guaranteed" salvation if you
reject baptism or the Holy Eucharist considering that Jesus
says...?
Jn.
3:5: "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and
Spirit [that is, Baptism]."
Jn.
6:53: "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you."
*
Does it not trouble you that the concept of "guaranteed"
salvation completely destroys any sense of fear of the Lord? Do
you not see that if one is not fearful of sin, one may fall into
it? Do you not realize that it is presumptuous not to fear
judgment? How can believe there are no consequences for sin simply
because one believes in Christ? Does this belief not rather
aggravate the sin than lessen it? How can you disregard the
seriousness of sin despite the fact that Scripture is teeming with
references to the dire consequences of sin? Despite the fact that Christ
took on human flesh and was crucified precisely because of
sin? How
is it the angels "tremble before God", yet you have no
fear? How is it that you do not see that the theory of
"guaranteed salvation" wholly eliminates fear of the
Lord? How is it that you can discount the many Scriptural
references
to fear of the Lord? For example, consider the following (emphasis
added)...
Job 28:28: And to man he said: Behold,
the fear of the LORD is wisdom; and avoiding evil is understanding.
Ps. 111:10:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; prudent are all who live by it. Your praise endures forever.
Prov. 1:7:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction fools despise.
Prov. 9:10:
The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the LORD, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Prov. 15:33:
The fear of the LORD is training for wisdom, and humility goes before honors.
Sirach 1:12: The beginning of wisdom is fear of the LORD, which is formed with the faithful in the womb.
Sirach 1:14:
Fullness of wisdom is fear of the LORD; she inebriates men with her fruits.
Sirach 1:16:
Wisdom's garland is fear of the LORD, with blossoms of peace and perfect health.
Sirach 1:18:
The root of wisdom is fear of the LORD; her branches are length of days.
Sirach 25:10:
He who finds wisdom is great indeed, but not greater than he who fears the LORD.
Lk. 1:50:
His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
Lk. 12:5:
I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that
one.
Acts 9:31:
The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. It was being built up and walked in the fear of the
Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.
Acts
10:34-35: Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, "In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to
him."
2
Cor. 5:11: Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade
others; but we are clearly apparent to God, and I hope we are also apparent to your consciousness.
2
Cor. 7:1: Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of
God.
Eph.
6:5-6: Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to
Christ, not only when being watched, as currying favor, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
Phil.
2:12: So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent,
work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
Col. 3:22: Slaves, obey your human masters in everything, not only when being watched, as currying favor, but in simplicity of heart,
fearing the Lord.
1
Pt. 2:17: Give honor to all, love the community, fear God,
honor the king.
Rv. 14:7: He said in a loud voice,
"Fear God and give him glory, for his time has come to sit in judgment. Worship him who made heaven and earth and sea and springs of water."
Rv. 15:4:
Who will not fear you, Lord, or glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All the nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."
Do
you respond that 1 Jn. 4:18 says "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in
love"? Why is it you use one seemingly contradictory passage
to rule out a great number other passages in Scripture? Do you
really think that the all-wise and perfect God contradicts
Himself? Do you not realize that this passage in St. John's
letter "in
no way excludes the wholesome fear of God's judgments", but
refers to "the fear of men; as also all perplexing fear,
which makes men mistrust or despair of God's mercy; and that kind
of servile fear, which makes them fear the punishment of sin more
than the offence offered to God" (DR)? While imperfect fear
concerns punishments, a perfect fear assists one to avoid
displeasing God. All are called to have this fear of God. As Dom
Gueranger has said of those who do not fear the Lord, "...
seeing that these people scout the very idea of their ever
trembling before the great God of heaven, we may well ask them if
they know who God is."
*
Do you not see how the concept of "guaranteed salvation"
completely discards any sense of justice? If there is no
recompense for evil deeds (not even purgatory!), there is no
justice. If a court of law was to act as you propose that the Lord
acts, you would call the court unjust - yet Scripture calls the
Lord a God of justice (see Isa. 30:18)! Why do you make a mockery
of the Lord's justice?
*
Does it not trouble you that the idea of a believer being saved no
matter what sin he or she committed never occurred to the Apostles or
the earliest Christians? Doesn't it trouble you that it is not
biblical?
*
Do you not see that references in Scripture to being saved are not
absolute guarantees of salvation, but rather refer to the promise
of salvation if one "compet[es] according to the rules"
(2 Tm. 2:5)? The fact that you may be able bodied and have food at
hand does not mean you cannot starve to death if you choose not to
eat this food! "For without food we
cannot live; and yet, although food be at hand, it does not cause
a man to live as if he should will to die." (St. Augustine,
Doctor of the Church)
*
Do you not see that the concept of "guaranteed salvation"
means that there are no spiritual consequences to your free-will
decisions and those of other believers? Can you imagine living in
a world where there were no consequences to anyone's decisions?
Would you ever step outside? How is it you see that civil laws
must be obeyed but do not consider the absolute necessity of
obeying God's laws? How is it that you feel that believing "spiritual criminals" are simply "covered
over"? How is this just? What must the consequences be to
others? How
do you allow the "impure" to enter heaven, hiding under
this "cover", contrary to Scripture (see Eph. 5:5)?
*
If one has a "guarantee" of salvation, why does Jesus
say to be "afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and
body in Gehenna" (Mt. 10:28)? If one is already saved, why
must one fear?
*
If sin is "covered over" or "not imputed", why
does Scripture say that sin leads to death (see Rom. 6:16, Jms.
1:15, Jms. 5:20 )? In response, do you bring forward Romans 8:1-2?
If so, do you not realize from the whole of Scripture that this refers to the ability to break the bonds of sin (e.g. to be
released from slavery to sin), thanks to Christ's redemption on
the Cross? It is clear from the statement made a few sentences down...
"For
if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the
spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will
live." (Rom 8:13)
...that
the phrase "no condemnation for those who are in Christ
Jesus" isn't an absolute, unconditional promise, otherwise the
fact that one who lived according to the flesh wouldn't
die. Although the redeemed are freed "from slavery to
sin", it is clear that they may re-enslave themselves by
again committing sin (see Jn. 8:34, Rom. 6:16, Gal. 4:9, Gal. 5:1,
2 Pt. 2:19).
Do
you protest that no one who is begotten by God can sin (cf. 1 Jn.
3:9, 1 Jn. 5:18)? Do you not see that this refers to those who remain
in God's grace? If one loses this grace, he surely can (and will!)
sin. Have you not noticed that this very same letter also contains
the following...?
1
Jn. 1:8: If we say, "We are without sin," we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1
Jn. 1:10: If we say, "We have not sinned," we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1
Jn. 2:1 (emphasis added): My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does
sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.
Have
you not realized that Scripture also says that...
Those
who sin outside the law will also perish without reference to it, and all who sin under the law will be judged in accordance with
it (see Rom. 2:12-13)
That
those who sin should be "reprimand[ed] publicly" (see 1
Tm 5:20)
That
the one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it sins
(see Jms. 4:17)
And
finally, rather than indicate that sins are already
"covered", Scripture tells us that love covers sin (see 1 Pt .4:8).
*
If believers have a "guarantee" of salvation, why does
Scripture say that those who do not obey (not those who do
not believe) will pay the penalty of eternal ruin (2 Thes. 1:8-9)?
Why does Scripture say that the "angels will go out and separate the wicked
from the righteous [and not the believer from the unbeliever] and
throw them into the fiery furnace" (see Mt. 13:49-50)?
*
If believers have a "guarantee" of salvation, why does
Scripture indicate that the unmarried believers who could not exercise
self-control would be condemned to eternal fire (see 1 Cor.
7:8-9)?
*
If believers have a "guarantee" of salvation, why does
Scripture say that St. Paul worried that their toil would
"come to nothing" (1 Thes. 3:5)?
*
If believers have a "guarantee" of salvation, why does
Scripture say that the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient
(Eph. 5:6)?
*
If believers have a "guarantee" of salvation, why does
Scripture indicate that those who do not produce good fruit will
be condemned (cf. Lk. 3:9, Mt. 7:19)?
*
If believers have a "guarantee" of salvation, why does
Scripture imply that persons can be erased from the book of
life (see Rv. 3:5)?
*
If believers have a "guarantee" of salvation, why does
Scripture indicate that those who are lovers of the world are
enemies of God (see Jms. 4:4)? Do you imagine that God grants
salvation to His enemies? Do you really think that no believers are lovers of the world?
*
Why is it that Scripture repeatedly shows that:
(1)
God has an interest in what man does
And
(2)
That God often punishes sin and attempts to turn people back
from a sinful path
...but
you now argue that God no longer punishes sins of believers or
seeks to turn them back from a sinful path? We are now expected to
believe that He no longer cares about the sins of believers - that
He simply "covers them" over or fails to "impute
them" to the sinner? How is it loving for a Father to ignore
the sins of his children? Scripture tells us that those who don't
endure discipline are "not sons but bastards" (see
Heb. 12:8).
*
How are we expected to believe that the sins of believers no
longer matter, that they are simply "covered over" or
"not imputed"? Even disobedient angels did not escape
God's wrath! Scripture also indicates that "every transgression and disobedience received its just
recompense" (Heb. 2:2) and that "the wrongdoer will
receive recompense for the wrong he committed, and there is no
partiality" (Col. 3:25), yet we are supposed to believe that
sin is now simply "covered over"? Are we really
expected to ignore the whole of Scripture that God's wrath is
enkindled towards those who disobey Him, and instead limit punishment
simply to unbelievers who don't obey Him? Are we supposed to
discount the great seriousness of sin that Christ discussed in Mt.
18:6-9 and Mk. 9:42-48?
*
In addition to all the passages in the New Testament that the idea
of "guaranteed salvation" contradicts, how is it that
you can also entirely disregard the numerous Old Testament
passages which point to the folly of the concept of "guaranteed"
salvation? Do you not see how you have to
"rewrite Scripture" to support such a belief? For example,
a very small sampling of items that would need to be "rewritten" follows...
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True Scripture
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(Blasphemously!)
Rewritten to Support "Guaranteed Salvation"
Theory
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Tobit 12:10: ... those habitually guilty of sin are their own worst enemies.
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Those
habitually guilty of sin are simply "covered
over"
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2 Macc. 4:17: It is no light matter to flout the laws of God, as the
following period will show.
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It
is a light matter to flout the laws of God. In such cases,
the sinner is simply "covered over".
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Job 13:16: And this shall be my salvation, that no impious man can come into his presence.
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Impious
men are simply "covered over" and can come into
the Lord's presence.
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Ps. 1:5:
Therefore the wicked will not survive judgment, nor will
sinners in the assembly of the just.
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The
sinful and wicked believers will survive judgment and will
sit in the assembly of the just since their sins are simply
"covered over".
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Ps. 5:5-7: You are not a god who delights in evil; no wicked person finds refuge with you; the arrogant cannot stand before you.
You hate all who do evil; you destroy all who speak falsely. Murderers and deceivers the LORD abhors.
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Wicked
and arrogant persons who believe are "covered
over" and can find refuge with you and stand before
you. You hate no believers who do evil nor do you destroy believers who speak falsely.
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Ps. 7:13-14: If sinners do not repent, God sharpens his
sword, strings and readies the bow, Prepares his deadly shafts, makes
arrows blazing thunderbolts.
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Sinners
do not need to repent, nor are they punished. They are
simply "covered over"
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Ps. 9:18: To Sheol the wicked will depart, all the
nations that forget God.
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No
believers will depart to Sheol. Their sins are simply
"covered over"
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Ps.
11:5-7: The LORD
tests the good and the bad, hates those who love violence, And
rains upon the wicked fiery coals and brimstone, a scorching wind
their allotted cup. The LORD is just and loves just deeds; the
upright shall see his face.
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The
Lord hates no believers. There is no allotted cup of fury,
coals and brimstone for believers. The Lord ignores justice.
All believers shall see his face.
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Ps. 37:37-38: Observe the honest, mark the upright; those at peace with God have a
future. But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will
be cut off.
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Sinful
and wicked believers will not be destroyed, but will have a
future along with the upright since their sins are simply
"covered over" (or "not imputed").
|
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Ps.
58:12: Then it will be said: "Truly there is a
reward for the just; there is a God who is judge on earth!"
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All
believers will receive a reward. There is no judge for those
who are "saved".
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Ps.
68:19: No rebels can live in the presence of God.
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Rebels
can live in the presence of God as long as they believe.
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Wisdom
1:15: For justice is undying.
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There
is no justice in the case of believers.
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Wisdom
1:6-8: For wisdom is a kindly spirit, yet she
acquits not the blasphemer of his guilty lips; Because God is
the witness of his inmost self and the sure observer of his
heart and the listener to his tongue. For the spirit of the
LORD fills the world, is all-embracing, and knows what man
says. Therefore no one who utters wicked things can go unnoticed,
nor will chastising condemnation pass him by.
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The
Lord acquits the blasphemer if he is a believer. The Lord
ignores man's heart and tongue and simply "covers
over" all sin. Chastising condemnation will pass by believers who utter wicked things.
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Sirach 12:7: The Most High himself hates sinners, and upon the wicked he
takes vengeance.
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The
Lord hates no believers and takes no vengeance on them.
Their sins are simply "covered over".
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Sirach
15:9: Unseemly is praise on a sinner's lips, for it is
not accorded to him by God.
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Praise
on a sinner's lips - if he is a believer - is not
unseemly since the sins are simply "covered
over".
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Sirach 21:2: Flee from sin as from a serpent that will bite
you if you go near it; Its teeth are lion's teeth, destroying the
souls of men.
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It
is not necessary for believers to flee sin - for believers there is now no sin that can destroy the soul.
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Isa.
48:22: There is no peace for the wicked, says the LORD.
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There
is peace for the wicked, as long as they believe.
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Isa. 57:11: Was I to remain silent and unseeing, so that you would not have me to fear?
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The
Lord is to remain silent and unseeing, simply covering over
sins of believers.
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Isa. 59:2: Rather, it is your crimes that separate you from your God, It
is your sins that make him hide his face so that he will not hear
you.
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Crimes
and sins of unbelievers no longer separate one from God or
make him hide his face from you. They are simply
"covered over".
|
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Jer. 44:22: The LORD could no longer bear your evil deeds, the horrible things which you were doing; and so your land became a waste, a desert, a thing accursed and without inhabitants, as it is today.
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The
Lord can now bear all manner of evil deeds as long as those
guilty of them accept Christ as their "personal
Lord and Savior".
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Jer. 51:56: The LORD is a God who requites, he
will surely repay.
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The
Lord no longer requires or repays. The Lord simply
"covers over" sin.
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Nahum 1:3: The LORD is slow to anger, yet great in power,
and the LORD never leaves the guilty unpunished.
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The
Lord leaves the guilty unpunished. Their crimes are simply
"covered over".
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Mal.
3:18: Then you will again see the distinction between the just and the wicked;
Between him who serves God, and him who does not serve him.
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There
is no distinction between believers who are just and believers
who are
wicked. All sins are simply "covered over".
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How
can you not see that such is a false gospel? Not to mention
blasphemy? It is not clearly based on lies and wishful thinking?!
Do you seriously propose that the unchangeable God has changed?
*
When all is said and done, whether you believe it or not and whether
you like it or not, you are not guaranteed salvation. It
doesn't matter whether or not you think or "feel" you
are already saved - you are not! The bible does not promise
"eternal security" but rather says that you must
"work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil.
2:12)!
*
In light of the above, you should consider that Catholics acknowledge
God's great love and mercy, but realize sin that is a
great evil which risks one's eternal future. Thankfully, Christ
has provided the priests of His Church - the Catholic Church - the
power to forgive all sin (Jn. 20:23). These authorized
representatives of Christ have the authority and power to apply
the merits of Christ's redeeming Sacrifice to individual souls.
Now please consider for a moment what
it means for your eternal future if you are wrong (which you are)
that sin is not imputed (or that it is simply "covered")
and you ignore the only means established by Christ to forgive sin
after baptism - priests who are invested with His power and
authorized to forgive all sin.
In
Closing...
"If
we say, 'We are without sin,' we deceive ourselves, and the truth
is not in us." (1 Jn. 1:8)
"Sin directs the heart of the wicked; their eyes are closed to
the fear of God. For they live with the delusion: their guilt will
not be known and hated." (Ps. 36:2-3)
"You have wearied the LORD with your words, yet you say, 'How have we wearied him?' By your saying,
'Every
evildoer is good in the sight of the LORD, And he is pleased with
him'; or else, 'Where is the just God?'" (Mal. 2:17)
"Though I say to the virtuous man that he shall surely live, if he then presumes on his virtue and does wrong, none of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered; because of the wrong he has done, he shall die. And though I say to the wicked man that he shall surely die, if he turns away from his sin and does what is right and just, giving back pledges, restoring stolen goods, living by the statutes that bring life, and doing no wrong, he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the sins he committed shall be held against him; he has done what is right and just, he shall surely live. Yet your countrymen say,
'The way of the LORD is not fair!'; but it is their way that is not fair.
When a virtuous man turns away from what is right and does wrong, he shall die for it. But when a wicked man turns away from wickedness and does what is right and just, because of this he shall live. And still you say,
'The way of the LORD is not fair!'? I will judge every one of you according to his ways, O house of Israel."
(Ezek. 33:13-20)
"The heavenly Powers see and ardently love their God,
their infinite and eternal good; and yet, they tremble before His
dread Majesty: Tremunt Potestates. And shall we, covered as we are
with the wounds of our sins, disfigured by countless
imperfections, exposed on every side to snares, obliged to fight
with so many enemies - shall we flatter ourselves that we can do
without this strong and filial fear? And that we need nothing to
stimulate us, when we are in those frequent trials - a want of
fervor in our will, or of light in our mind? O Holy Spirit! Watch
over us! Preserve within us Thy precious gift! Teach us how to
combine peace and joy of heart with the fear of our Lord and God,
according to those words of the psalmist: Serve ye the Lord with
fear, and rejoice unto Him with trembling!" (Dom Gueranger)
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