Greg,
In regards to your last post. May I extrapolate a tad on what I meant by "can of worms"?
You state:
I also believe many Catholics are and will be saved in spite of their stance on justification.
Do you understand what you are saying? You are saying that people can be saved outside of trusting solely in Christ. Christ alone justifies. If a person gets this one wrong, there are eternal consequences. Do you understand that the whole idea of protestantism is built on this doctrine. It is this doctrine that Luther was enlightened to. It was this doctrine that drove Luther to abandon Rome and nail his thesis on the Wittenberg Door. Without this doctrine, men do not need Jesus, they can be justified by some other means.
Hate to be the one to tell you this, but when it comes to saving faith, if you HAVE the wrong doctrine, i.e. Christ plus a works salvation, example: If I am good enough, If I do enough good things, etc, you are probably not trusting solely in the work of Christ, hence you are probably still perishing in your sins.
Jesus Himself said:
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
What truth do believers need to know to be saved?
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
How is that hearing the word of God brings about faith?
What exactly do you think one needs to know to gain eternal life?
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 12:42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Jam 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Seriously Greg, no one is saying that all RC's are perishing. However, those whom are trusting in something other than Christ are sorely mistaken. Those whom come upon the doctrine of Justification by faith alone will abandon the RC error and seek out a true church.
Sola Christos
Christ alone = salvation
Rome + Christ = error
Christ + Rome = error
Mary + Christ = error
Christ + Mary = error
Christ + Anything = error
[Edited on 3-1-2004 by Scott Bushey]