We are Saved by our Works
Not exactly. The Church teaches
– and has always taught that we are saved by God’s grace. The Scriptures assure us that we as Christians are
ALREADY SAVED (Rom. 5:1, 8:24,
Eph. 2:5–8). This is Initial
Salvation – God give us the initial grace to believe.
However, because Salvation is a lifelong process – it also says that I am BEING SAVED (1 Cor. 1:8, 2 Cor. 2:15, 7:1, Phil. 2:12, Heb 12:14). This is Ongoing Sanctification – God is sanctifying us throughout our life as we cooperate with his grace.
Because of this, I have the hope that I WILL BE SAVED (Matt. 24:13, Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). This is Final Sanctification/Salvation – We die and go to heaven having endured to the end.
This cooperation and endurance is based on our DOING the will of God (Matt. 7:21-23, Matt. 25:31–46). Faith is not simply “believing” in God. James 2:19 states that even the demons believe and tremble. Our cooperative works are part of our faith – not merely an addendum to it.
However, because Salvation is a lifelong process – it also says that I am BEING SAVED (1 Cor. 1:8, 2 Cor. 2:15, 7:1, Phil. 2:12, Heb 12:14). This is Ongoing Sanctification – God is sanctifying us throughout our life as we cooperate with his grace.
Because of this, I have the hope that I WILL BE SAVED (Matt. 24:13, Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). This is Final Sanctification/Salvation – We die and go to heaven having endured to the end.
This cooperation and endurance is based on our DOING the will of God (Matt. 7:21-23, Matt. 25:31–46). Faith is not simply “believing” in God. James 2:19 states that even the demons believe and tremble. Our cooperative works are part of our faith – not merely an addendum to it.
The Catholic Church hates homosexuals
On the contrary – the exact opposite is true. While it is true that the Catholic Church condemns the homosexual act, as we read in Scripture (Lev. 18:22, 20:13, Rom. 1:26-7), homosexuals themselves are our fellow human beings deserving of the same dignity that is given to all people.
On the contrary – the exact opposite is true. While it is true that the Catholic Church condemns the homosexual act, as we read in Scripture (Lev. 18:22, 20:13, Rom. 1:26-7), homosexuals themselves are our fellow human beings deserving of the same dignity that is given to all people.
However, simply because every human is to be respected as a
person, this does not mean that we are to condone their sin any more than
we would condone the actions of bank robbery or rape or murder.
Catholics believe that sex is only for procreation
That’s not what the Church teaches.
Whereas, the Church does
teach that sex is only for those who are married, as does Scripture (Gen 2:24, Acts 15:20, 1 Cor. 5:1, 6:13, 18,
7:1-5, 7:36, 10:8, 2 Cor. 12:21, Gal. 5:19, Eph. 5:3, Heb. 13:4, Col. 3:5, 1
Thess. 4:3, Jude 7) – its purpose is twofold: It is both Unitive and Procreative.
As we read in the Catechism: 2366 "This particular doctrine, expounded on numerous occasions by the Magisterium, is based on the inseparable connection, established by God, which man on his own initiative may not break, between the unitive significance and the procreative significance which are both inherent to the marriage act."153
As we read in the Catechism: 2366 "This particular doctrine, expounded on numerous occasions by the Magisterium, is based on the inseparable connection, established by God, which man on his own initiative may not break, between the unitive significance and the procreative significance which are both inherent to the marriage act."153
Because the marital act is holy, to be shared only by those who have been indissolubly made “one flesh” in the Lord in matrimony and is a gift from God - it must be open to life as well as being unitive. Therefore, it is not solely unitive or procreative.
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