Catholics Vs. Protestants (I don't get it)

[JohnD]

On 10/15/2022 at 7:52 AM, Not of the World said:

I was raised a Catholic but decided to become non-denominational about 6 years ago (I'm 56) as I gleaned that the RCC is not, in spite of their claims, the true church of Christ here on Earth.  With that said, it is my experience and my belief that there are MANY Godly Catholics and I believe that they are saved.  

The main tenants of Catholicism and Protestantism are the same, right?  Jesus is God, he came to Earth and sacrificed himself for our sins, whoever believes in him and who lives a life that is pleasing to him will receive eternal life, right?  

On some social media sites I see Catholics that believe that the only path to salvation is through the RCC and, conversely, I see Protestants that claim that all Catholics are going to Hell.  

I think both views are extreme and erroneous.  What are your thoughts?

 

 

There are indeed Roman Catholics who are saved despite Roman Catholicism. As there are indeed Protestants who are saved despite Protestantism.

What infests both is the traditions of man.

Mark 7:13 (KJV)
13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

The Bible is the only way we have to test the spirits to prevent false prophets (1 John 4:1):

Acts 17:11 (KJV)
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (KJV)
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The traditions of man nullify the word of God. They also make even the worship of Jesus in vain:

Mark 7:7 (KJV)
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

True one can be witnessed to without the Bible, but how can one be certain they believe in the genuine Jesus? And not the Mormon Jesus? Or the Jehovah's Witness Jesus?

2 Corinthians 11:3–4 (KJV)
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Matthew 7:21–23 (KJV)
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.

The will of the Father is to believe in his Son. The genuine one.

John 6:29 (KJV)
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Remember what Jesus said to Simon Peter?

Matthew 16:15–17 (KJV)
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Roman Catholicism is the outcome of the Roman Imperial take over of the early Church circa 4th century C.E.

Emperor Constantine saw in burgeoning Christianity (a despised sect of refuseniks as far as Romans were concerned) a cohesiveness his crumbling empire sorely lacked. It required a second capital city (Constantinople) in those days to manage. Constantine and his mother Helena concocted a plan to make Christianity (their version of it) the Roman religion. Rome eventually morphed into Catholicism.

• Instead of an Emperor a Pope
• Instead of a senate, a body of Cardinals
• Instead of regional governors, Bishops
• and its capital is mighty close to Rome... ahem...

Watch the coronation of Cardinals on the Catholic channel, right out of the Imperial playbook. 

And for all their non-Catholic hype, Protestants brought most Roman Catholic doctrines and dogma into their Reforms... to the point Roman Catholics no longer saw the need to slaughter Protestants for heresy since there was not all that much difference between the two when all is said and done.

The Truth belongs in the hands of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit alone.

John 16:13 (KJV)
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

2 Peter 1:20–21 (KJV)
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

All scripture is prophetic (coming to us in the way described in verse 21) so all interpretation of all scripture is only that of the Author of it. Which we test to be certain it is his interpretation (1 John 4:1) by the scriptures themselves (Acts 17:11, Proverbs 25:2, Deuteronomy 29:29, Isaiah 28:9-13). 

This way you don't get conflicting opinions that Protestants and Catholics consider doctrines, dogmas, eschatology, theology... etc. But straight scoop from the Author of the Bible the Holy Spirit.

An example of just how much the Church is infested with the traditions of man:

Hebrews 9:16–17 (KJV)
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

This clearly puts the dividing line between New and Old Testaments on the cross of Christ NOT between Malachi 4 and Matthew 1. But open any Bible and see for yourself where the traditions of man places that division of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

As I said in the beginning of this post, there are people who are saved despite the infested churches they belong to... but it is by happenstance that they even believe in the genuine Jesus.

Any old Jesus cannot save. Only the true, authentic, genuine Jesus can save.

[Not of the World]

3 minutes ago, JohnD said:

There are indeed Roman Catholics who are saved despite Roman Catholicism. As there are indeed Protestants who are saved despite Protestantism.

What infests both is the traditions of man.

Mark 7:13 (KJV)
13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

The Bible is the only way we have to test the spirits to prevent false prophets (1 John 4:1):

Acts 17:11 (KJV)
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (KJV)
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The traditions of man nullify the word of God. They also make even the worship of Jesus in vain:

Mark 7:7 (KJV)
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

True one can be witnessed to without the Bible, but how can one be certain they believe in the genuine Jesus? And not the Mormon Jesus? Or the Jehovah's Witness Jesus?

2 Corinthians 11:3–4 (KJV)
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Matthew 7:21–23 (KJV)
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.

The will of the Father is to believe in his Son. The genuine one.

John 6:29 (KJV)
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Remember what Jesus said to Simon Peter?

Matthew 16:15–17 (KJV)
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Roman Catholicism is the outcome of the Roman Imperial take over of the early Church circa 4th century C.E.

Emperor Constantine saw in burgeoning Christianity (a despised sect of refuseniks as far as Romans were concerned) a cohesiveness his crumbling empire sorely lacked. It required a second capital city (Constantinople) in those days to manage. Constantine and his mother Helena concocted a plan to make Christianity (their version of it) the Roman religion. Rome eventually morphed into Catholicism.

• Instead of an Emperor a Pope
• Instead of a senate, a body of Cardinals
• Instead of regional governors, Bishops
• and its capital is mighty close to Rome... ahem...

Watch the coronation of Cardinals on the Catholic channel, right out of the Imperial playbook. 

And for all their non-Catholic hype, Protestants brought most Roman Catholic doctrines and dogma into their Reforms... to the point Roman Catholics no longer saw the need to slaughter Protestants for heresy since there was not all that much difference between the two when all is said and done.

The Truth belongs in the hands of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit alone.

John 16:13 (KJV)
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

2 Peter 1:20–21 (KJV)
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

All scripture is prophetic (coming to us in the way described in verse 21) so all interpretation of all scripture is only that of the Author of it. Which we test to be certain it is his interpretation (1 John 4:1) by the scriptures themselves (Acts 17:11, Proverbs 25:2, Deuteronomy 29:29, Isaiah 28:9-13). 

This way you don't get conflicting opinions that Protestants and Catholics consider doctrines, dogmas, eschatology, theology... etc. But straight scoop from the Author of the Bible the Holy Spirit.

An example of just how much the Church is infested with the traditions of man:

Hebrews 9:16–17 (KJV)
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

This clearly puts the dividing line between New and Old Testaments on the cross of Christ NOT between Malachi 4 and Matthew 1. But open any Bible and see for yourself where the traditions of man places that division of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

As I said in the beginning of this post, there are people who are saved despite the infested churches they belong to... but it is by happenstance that they even believe in the genuine Jesus.

Any old Jesus cannot save. Only the true, authentic, genuine Jesus can save.

Did you write all that just for me?  That is an AMAZING post my brother!  I owe you tuition, or at least lunch if you're ever in central Florida.   

[Not of the World]

32 minutes ago, ayin jade said:

because of the admonition not to let the right hand know what the left hand is doing

I had to look that up!  Thanks for sharing!

Matthew 6:3-4

English Standard Version

3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Edited October 17, 2022 by Not of the World

[JohnD]

1 minute ago, Not of the World said:

Did you write all that just for me?  That is an AMAZING post my brother!  I owe you tuition, or at least lunch if you're ever in central Florida.   

My pleasure.

Grew up in Clearwater / St. Pete many many moons ago.

Haven't been back since 1989 or so.

But thanks anyway!

[Not of the World]

25 minutes ago, ayin jade said:

I have attempted to witness to them. I prefer not to discuss what I do, because of the admonition not to let the right hand know what the left hand is doing ... that is I do not want to appear bragging. The Lord knows what I do, no one else needs to know. 

I don't mean to be nosy or impolite but I was just curious if you were able to convert any of them but I'll understand if you prefer not to discuss it.  

[Not of the World]

1 hour ago, Your closest friendnt said:

Revelation 1:17-18

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Thank you!

[Not of the World]

7 minutes ago, JohnD said:

My pleasure.

Grew up in Clearwater / St. Pete many many moons ago.

Haven't been back since 1989 or so.

But thanks anyway!

 

May I ask, how did you end up in Israel?  

 

[Not of the World]

53 minutes ago, Saved.One.by.Grace said:

Luther spoke against these purchased indulgences and was excommunicated.

Didn't Luther also call Jews "liars"?  

[ayin jade]

55 minutes ago, Not of the World said:

I don't mean to be nosy or impolite but I was just curious if you were able to convert any of them but I'll understand if you prefer not to discuss it.  

Mormons here are pretty well indoctrinated. Some are even multigenerational mormons. No one converted on the spot, but one never knows what seeds got planted. My husband came across someone he knew from college, some 20 plus years earlier. The guy in college was not a Christian but my husband had witnessed to him. Somewhere along the way, the words stuck and he got saved. 

[Not of the World]

50 minutes ago, ayin jade said:

Mormons here are pretty well indoctrinated. Some are even multigenerational mormons. No one converted on the spot, but one never knows what seeds got planted. My husband came across someone he knew from college, some 20 plus years earlier. The guy in college was not a Christian but my husband had witnessed to him. Somewhere along the way, the words stuck and he got saved. 

 

That's great to hear!