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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Saved by belief or belief and baptism? | NT general Archive 1 | Emmaus | 164240 | ||
Mark, "Ephesians 2 tells us we are saved by faith, and not of works (not just works of the Law of Moses, but any works). Baptism is a work, therefore, how could it save us?" Those who believe in baptismal regenration believe that baptism is a work of Christ, not a work of man. It is Christ who baptizes, working in and through His body, which is the Church.(Romans 6:4; 7:4; 12:5; 1 Cor 12:27; Eph 3:6; 4:12; Matt 28:19) The Catechism: "1088 "To accomplish so great a work" - the dispensation or communication of his work of salvation - "Christ is always present in his Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He is present in the Sacrifice of the Mass not only in the person of his minister, 'the same now offering, through the ministry of priests, who formerly offered himself on the cross,' but especially in the Eucharistic species. By his power he is present in the sacraments so that when anybody baptizes, it is really Christ himself who baptizes. He is present in his word since it is he himself who speaks when the holy Scriptures are read in the Church. Lastly, he is present when the Church prays and sings, for he has promised 'where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them."'Matthew 18:20)" "1084 "Seated at the right hand of the Father" and pouring out the Holy Spirit on his Body which is the Church, Christ now acts through the sacraments he instituted to communicate his grace. The sacraments are perceptible signs (words and actions) accessible to our human nature. By the action of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit they make present efficaciously the grace that they signify." "1127 Celebrated worthily in faith, the sacraments confer the grace that they signify.48 They are efficacious because in them Christ himself is at work: it is he who baptizes, he who acts in his sacraments in order to communicate the grace that each sacrament signifies. The Father always hears the prayer of his Son's Church which, in the epiclesis of each sacrament, expresses her faith in the power of the Spirit. As fire transforms into itself everything it touches, so the Holy Spirit transforms into the divine life whatever is subjected to his power." "1128 This is the meaning of the Church's affirmation49 that the sacraments act ex opere operato (literally: "by the very fact of the action's being performed"), i.e., by virtue of the saving work of Christ, accomplished once for all. It follows that "the sacrament is not wrought by the righteousness of either the celebrant or the recipient, but by the power of God."50 From the moment that a sacrament is celebrated in accordance with the intention of the Church, the power of Christ and his Spirit acts in and through it, independently of the personal holiness of the minister. Nevertheless, the fruits of the sacraments also depend on the disposition of the one who receives them. " http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s1c1a1.htm#1088 http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s1c1a2.htm#1127 Emmaus |
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2 | Saved by belief or belief and baptism? | NT general Archive 1 | mark d seyler | 164242 | ||
Hi Emmaus, Thank you for this information. I want to say a bigger thank you to you as well, as over time when you have posted material on the sacraments, you have helped me to learn the greater significance of these things, and how they join us in the physical realm to the spiritual. If I understand you correctly, you are saying that while the motion we go through is ours, the actual work that is performed is Christ's. But if the work is wholly His, how is it that it cannot be performed unless I also perform an action? When we say "works", are we not talking about particular behaviors, actions, that we perform, whether giving alms, attending church, mass, or being baptized? I believe, as you do, that the work of salvation is wholly Christ's to perform, but I do not believe that salvation requires of me a complementary "work" or action. I consider that salvation comes, on my part at least, through an act of will rather than an act of behavior. I believe that I become born again when I choose to repent, and to obey Christ. Love in Christ, mark |
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3 | Saved by belief or belief and baptism? | NT general Archive 1 | lionheart | 164247 | ||
Mark, Bless you brother.Sometimes I think when we refer to works it's almost like we are saying one of those nasty four letter words. It has alway been the tenet of our faith that we are saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8,9). It's impossible to argue the point,the bible is quite clear regarding salvation.James chapter 2 does a quite credible job on the subject of faith and works.In closing I will make this statement- What we do (works If one so chooses to call them)evidences what we have or in more instances than I care to addmitt myself what we may lack. I heard a learned man of God say a number of years ago that if we were put on trial for our faith would there be enough evidence to convict. In Christ, lionheart |
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