Nehemiah6:
Oops, it seems you are stuck way in the past -- around the time of the Reformation (1517 to 1648). Time to do some research so you can try to remain up to date (at least to the 20th century). Let me help.
The "Joint Declaration On The Doctrine Of Justification" was signed by the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church on 31 October 1999. On 23 July 2006, the World Methodist Conference signed that same declaration. It said: "15. In faith we together hold the conviction that justification is the work of the triune God. The Father sent his Son into the world to save sinners. ... 16. All people are called by God to salvation in Christ. Through Christ alone are we justified, when we receive this salvation in faith. ... 25. We confess together that sinners are justified by faith in the saving action of God in Christ. By the action of the Holy Spirit in baptism, they are granted the gift of salvation, which lays the basis for the whole Christian life. They place their trust in God's gracious promise by justifying faith, which includes hope in God and love for him. ... 26. According to Lutheran understanding, God justifies sinners in faith alone (sola fide). In faith they place their trust wholly in their Creator and Redeemer and thus live in communion with him. God himself effects faith as he brings forth such trust by his creative word. ... In the doctrine of 'justification by faith alone', a distinction but not a separation is made between justification itself and the renewal of one's way of life that necessarily follows from justification and without which faith does not exist."
In other words, the Catholic Church, the Lutheran World Federation, and the World Methodist Conference agree that the faithful are justified by faith -- alone, but they also acknowledge that good works are a product of and an affirmation of that faith. Just in case you were unaware, Lutheranism has its roots in the work of Martin Luther, who sought to reform the Western Church to what he considered a more biblical foundation (that means it is Protestant).
You can find the full text of the declaration at: < http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_31101999_cath-luth-joint-declaration_en.html >
I totally disagree. It was written as the end result of fighting heresies especially Gnosticism. It almost took over the church back then. The elders first created the Roman Creed but by 390 decided a more complete Creed was required to fight Gnosticism. It's heresie was God created Jesus, Jesus then created another semi god then that one created another, etc. The Creed demolishes that being part of Christianity. You need to understand church history. It explains why some things happened and were written.The Creed is no more and no less than the affirmation by a written oath that a given person reciting it is "saved."
I believe Jesus, let your yes be yes and let your no be no. Anything else proceeds from evil, andyes, this applies to taking any oath or affirming any creed............also, the faithful have no need of such exaggerations and demonstrations, love and obedience are sufficient.
I totally disagree. It was written as the end result of fighting heresies especially Gnosticism. It almost took over the church back then. The elders first created the Roman Creed but by 390 decided a more complete Creed was required to fight Gnosticism. It's heresie was God created Jesus, Jesus then created another semi god then that one created another, etc. The Creed demolishes that being part of Christianity. You need to understand church history. It explains why some things happened and were written.
Addendum because of the foolish 5 minute rule
We have religious groups claiming to be Christian. Mormons for example. The creed can be used against them since they claim Jesus was just a man that was the first to reach god head status that all are supposed to achieve. Their website is misleading unless you drill down to understand their changed definitions of Christian words.
The problem is, this doesn't' seem to be what most Catholics actually believe, therefore, it is most likely not what most Catholics are actually taught.
You have to wonder about a religion that teaches that Mary is the mother of God.
Brian, in the New Testament the word "God" (Theos) generally refer to God the Father. So in order for Mary to be the mother of God, she would have to be the mother of God the Father, as well as the triune Godhead. Do you see how absurd that is? And do you NOT SEE that since God the Holy Spirit did not want Christians to fall into this error, He has taken care to refer to Mary always as "the mother of Jesus".Ergo, by extension, Mary is the mother of God -- Jesus -- one of the three Divine Persons of the Triune God.
You ignore the later elders were still fighting the encroaching heresies and so created the creeds to fight them. Faced with proponents of the heresies they would use the Roman and Apostles Creed to define the heresies as non Christian!Reading the New Testament we find Jesus and Paul mention the already present apostasy. No man will bridle its steady progress to a world dominating church built on materialism and apostasy in general.
This is true yet there are many who are truly faithful to Jesus Christ as best they are given to be able in all the apostte churches.......it is written.
Brian, in the New Testament the word "God" (Theos) generally refer to God the Father. So in order for Mary to be the mother of God, she would have to be the mother of God the Father, as well as the triune Godhead. Do you see how absurd that is? And do you NOT SEE that since God the Holy Spirit did not want Christians to fall into this error, He has taken care to refer to Mary always as "the mother of Jesus".
I totally agree! I have several issues with the Catholic Church. But it still preaches the gospel!!!Nehemiah6
Do you NOT SEE that if God the Holy Spirit did not want Christians to fall into this error, He would have taken care to ensure that all references to "God" would refer exclusively to the Father? In which case, we would have three distinct Gods with different names rather than a unified triune God.
Perhaps you missed it the first time, so I'll repeat it for you: "one God in three Divine Persons." According to your reasoning then, and to avoid confusion, we should never refer to "God" unless we mean all three Divine Persons of the Trinity together. We should refer only to the Father, the Son or Jesus Christ or the Saviour, and to the Holy Spirit. Do YOU not see how absurd that is?
"For Mary to be the mother of God, she would have to be the mother of God the Father." Not so. To be the mother of God, Mary would have to be mother of only one of the three Divine Persons since each is God. And lo and behold, she is !! She is the mother of Jesus, God the Son.
But, you also failed to perform due diligence before writing your first post. The Catholic Church is quite specific that its teaching of Mary as the "Mother of God" is in direct reference to the Redeemer, and that personage of God is Jesus Christ. You may dislike the Catholic Church for a broad range of reasons -- many of which, I'm sure, are justifiable, given its history, but that dislike should be based on facts.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
(the official teaching of the Catholic Church)
Part One: The Profession of Faith
Section Two: The Profession of the Christian Faith
Chapter Three: I Believe in the Holy Spirit
Article 9:
Paragraph 6. Mary - Mother of Christ
963 ... "The Virgin Mary ... is acknowledged and honored as being truly the Mother of God, of the Redeemer. ... "Mary, Mother of Christ."
Perhaps it would be more productive to spend time on substantive issues rather than on interpretive semantics.
It is more than a matter of semantics. Had the RCC (and the EOC) been content to let well enough alone, they would have simply continued with the Bible doctrine that Mary was the mother of Jesus. However the RCC has made Mary into a goddess and worships her.Perhaps it would be more productive to spend time on substantive issues rather than on interpretive semantics.
How do you know this? Did you speak with this Muslim G-D?
This kind of confusion arises when people follow the false sunday resurrected jesus who leads astray MANY whoever they are...proving scripture true Mat 24.
You ignore the later elders were still fighting the encroaching heresies and so created the creeds to fight them. Faced with proponents of the heresies they would use the Roman and Apostles Creed to define the heresies as non Christian!
I follow Jesus, He Rose from the dead, why you care when he Rose? Is that make any different?