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NASB | Matthew 22:32 'I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 22:32 'I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB'? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living." [Ex 3:6] |
Bible Question: purgatory is it true? |
Bible Answer: Diosdado, John Reformed is correct in saying: "The reason for the existance of the protestant denominations is directly linked to Roman Catholic doctrines such "Purgatory". " although it is a little more complex than that simple statement. However, I would disagree with his phrasing of the following: "Rome insisted on "faith plus works" as the way of salvation. The Protestants insisted on Faith alone in Christ alone by Grace alone." I would rather say that Catholics were opposed to the novel doctrine of "faith alone" because they believe that that faith and works in Christ are as intrically linked as a body and soul, so that James 2:17-26 would say 17: So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. 18: But some one will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. 19: You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe -- and shudder. 20: Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren? 21: Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? 22: You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works, 23: and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness"; and he was called the friend of God. 24: You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25: And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26: For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead. And Paul says: 5: For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait for the hope of righteousness. 6: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love. (Galatian 5:5-6)And "There are three things that last; faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is loves." (1 Cor 13;13) And Paul also says in opening his letter to the Romans that he is sent "to preach the obedience of faith" (Romans 1:15) and closes the same letter in 16:26 saying that the gospel must be preached everwhere "to bring them to the obedience of faith." It should also be pointed out that Catholics do not believe in a "works righteousness." The first three canons on Justification by the Council of Trent make this clear. Canon 1. If anyone says that man can be justified before God by his own works, whether done by his own natural powers or through the teaching of the law,[110] without divine grace through Jesus Christ, let him be anathema. Canon 2. If anyone says that divine grace through Christ Jesus is given for this only, that man may be able more easily to live justly and to merit eternal life, as if by free will without grace he is able to do both, though with hardship and difficulty, let him be anathema. Canon 3. If anyone says that without the predisposing inspiration of the Holy Ghost[111] and without His help, man can believe, hope, love or be repentant as he ought,[112] so that the grace of justification may be bestowed upon him, let him be anathema." It is works in Christ, not our works of the law, such as circumcision or any other works before justification, that the Catholic believes are necessary for sanctification and are a intrical part of the gratuitous gift of faith and justification by grace. For if Christ is in you and you are in Him He is working in you and you are working in Him. Faith is an active theological virtue, not passive. Emmaus |