12/12/2018 The Pillar of Fire, The Pillar of Truth. (Part 4)
https://www.catholic.com/tract/pillar-of-fire-pillar-of-truthTALKING WITH GOD AND HIS SAINTS
One of the most important activities for a Catholic is prayer.
Without it there can be no true spiritual life.
Through personal prayer and the communal prayer of the Church, especially the Mass.
We worship and praise God, we express sorrow for our sins, and we intercede on behalf of others.
(1 Timothy 2:1–4)
Through prayer we grow in our relationship with Christ and with members of God’s family.
(CCC 2663–2696)
This family includes all members of the Church, whether on earth, in heaven, or in purgatory.
Since Jesus has only one body, and since death has no power to separate us from Christ.
(Romans 8:3–8)
Christians who are in heaven or who, before entering heaven, are being purified in purgatory by God’s love.
(1 Corinthians 3:12–15)
Are still part of the Body of Christ.
(CCC 962).
Jesus said the second greatest commandment is to "love your neighbor as yourself.”
(Matt. 22:39)
Those in heaven love us more intensely than they ever could have loved us while on earth.
They pray for us constantly (Revelations 5:8)
And their prayers are powerful.
(James. 5:16, CCC 956, 2683, 2692)
Our prayers to the saints in heaven, asking for their prayers for us, and their intercession with the Father do not undermine Christ’s role as sole Mediator.
(1 Timothy 2:5).
In asking saints in heaven to pray for us we follow Paul’s instructions:
"I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone," for "this is good and pleasing to God our Savior.”
(1 Timothy 2:1–4)
All members of the Body of Christ are called to help one another through prayer.
(CCC 2647).
Mary’s prayers are especially effective on our behalf because of her relationship with her Son.
(John 2:1–11)
God gave Mary a special role.
(CCC 490–511, 963– 975).
He saved her from all sin.
(Luke 1:28, 47)
Made her uniquely blessed among all women.
(Luke 1:42)
And made her a model for all Christians.
(Luke 1:48)
At the end of her life he took her, body and soul, into heaven—
An image of our own resurrection at the end of the world.
(Revelations 12:1–2).
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE ?
Old catechisms asked, "Why did God make you?" The answer:
"God made me to know him, to love him, and to serve him in this world and to be happy with him forever in the next."
Here, in just 26 words, is the whole reason for our existence.
Jesus answered the question even more briefly:
"I came so that [you] might have life and have it more abundantly.”
(John 10:10)
God’s plan for you is simple.
Your loving Father wants to give you all good things—especially eternal life.
Jesus died on the cross to save us all from sin and the eternal separation from God that sin causes.
(CCC 599–623)
When he saves us, he makes us part of his Body, which is the Church.
(1 Corinthians 12:27–30).
We thus become united with him and with Christians everywhere (on earth, in heaven, in purgatory).
What You Must Do to Be Saved
Best of all, the promise of eternal life is a gift, freely offered to us by God. (CCC 1727).
Our initial forgiveness and justification are not things we “earn."
(CCC 2010).
Jesus is the mediator who bridged the gap of sin that separates us from God.
(1 Timothy 2:5);
Jesus bridged it by dying for us. He has chosen to make us partners in the plan of salvation (1 Corinthians 3:9)
The Catholic Church teaches what the apostles taught and what the Bible teaches:
We are saved by grace alone, but not by faith alone (which is what "Bible Christians" teach;
See James 2:24)
When we come to God and are justified (that is, enter a right relationship with God), nothing preceding justification, whether faith or good works, earns grace.
But then God plants his love in our hearts, and we should live out our faith by doing acts of love.
(Gal. 6:2)
Even though only God’s grace enables us to love others, these acts of love please him, and he promises to reward them with eternal life.
(Romans 2:6–7, Galatians 6:6–10).
Thus good works are meritorious. When we first come to God in faith, we have nothing in our hands to offer him.
Then he gives us grace to obey his commandments in love, and he rewards us with salvation when we offer these acts of love back to him. (Romans 2:6–11, Galatians 6:6–10, Matthew 25:34–40).
Jesus said it is not enough to have faith in him;
We also must obey his commandments. "Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do the things I command?"
(Luke 6:46, Matthew 7:21–23, Matthew 19:16–21).
We do not "earn" our salvation through good works. (Ephesians 2:8–9, Romans 9:16)
But our faith in Christ puts us in a special grace-filled relationship with God so that our obedience and love, combined with our faith, will be rewarded with eternal life. (Romans 2:7, Galatians 6:8–9)
Paul said, "God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work.” (Philippians 2:13)
John explained that "the way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments.
Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
(1 John 2:3–4, 3:19–24, 5:3–4).
Since no gift can be forced on the recipient—gifts always can be rejected—even after we become justified,
We can throw away the gift of salvation.
We throw it away through grave (mortal) sin.
(1 John 5:16, Romans 11:22–23, 1 Corinthians 15:1–2; CCC 1854–1863).
Paul tells us, "The wages of sin is death.”
(Romans 6:23).
Read his letters and see how often Paul warned Christians against sin! He would not have felt compelled to do so if their sins could not exclude them from heaven.
(see, for example, 1 Corinthians 6:9–10, Galatians 5:19–21)
Paul reminded the Christians in Rome that God "will repay everyone according to his works:
Eternal life for 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.”
(Romans 2:6–8).
Sins are nothing but evil works
(CCC 1849–1850)
We can avoid sins by habitually performing good works.
Every saint has known that the best way to keep free from sins is to embrace regular prayer, the sacraments (the Eucharist first of all), and charitable acts.
Are You Guaranteed Heaven ?
Some people promote an especially attractive idea:
All true Christians, regardless of how they live, have an absolute assurance of salvation, once they accept Jesus into their hearts as "their personal Lord and Savior."
The problem is that this belief is contrary to the Bible and constant Christian teaching.
Keep in mind what Paul told the Christians of his day:
"If we have died with him [in baptism;
See Romans 6:3–4]
We shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him.”
(2 Tim. 2:11–12).
If we do not persevere, we shall not reign with him. In other words, Christians can forfeit heaven.
(CCC 1861).
The Bible makes it clear that Christians have a moral assurance of salvation (God will be true to his word and will grant salvation to those who have faith in Christ and are obedient to him.
[1 John 3:19–24])
But the Bible does not teach that Christians have a guarantee of heaven.
There can be no absolute assurance of salvation.
Writing to Christians, Paul said, "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.”
(Romans 11:22–23; Matthew 18:21–35, 1 Corinthians 15:1–2, 2 Peter 2:20–21).
Note that Paul includes an important condition:
”Provided you remain in his kindness."
He is saying that Christians can lose their salvation by throwing it away.
He warns, "Whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.”
(1 Corinthians 10:11–12)
If you are Catholic and someone asks you if you have been "saved," you should say,
"I am redeemed by the blood of Christ”
I trust in him alone for my salvation, and, as the Bible teaches,
I am ‘working out my salvation in fear and trembling.’
(Phil. 2:12)
Knowing that it is God’s gift of grace that is working in me."
(End Part 4)