Grace has been defined as “God’s favor toward the unworthy” or “God’s benevolence on the
undeserving.” I believe “God’s unmerited favor” sums up both of those definitions very well. It is God’s
grace and His grace alone that allows mankind to even be in His presence, let alone to be forgiven of sin
and saved unto an eternal life in His presence. It is that distinction that makes me frown on some of the
teachings of the Catholic Church.
I copied the following from a Catholic website as I sought their reasoning for what is known as the 7
Sacraments of the Catholic Church: “But, if it be shown that God has appointed external, visible
ceremonies as the means by which certain graces are to be conferred on men, then in order to obtain
those graces it will be necessary for men to make use of those Divinely appointed means”. (The italics
are mine).
Their belief, then, is that a person must perform those things in order to receive God’s grace. In short,
those sacraments earn God’s grace. God’s grace is not a gift: a person must earn it. Doesn’t that ignore
this powerful scripture: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)”?
The Bible is fairly specific about a lot of things that will prevent a person from entering the Kingdom of
God: “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:
Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves
nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”. 1
Corinthians 6:9-10 NIV. I haven’t found in scripture where that list would include people who haven’t
been baptized, confirmed or taken a first communion. Nor have I found any place that insinuates that
one who hasn’t been married or received last rites would be excluded. Quite the opposite. Read Verse
11: “And that is what some of you were, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
Washed, sanctified, and justified by the Spirit of our God. When you’re saved, you have received the
totality and fullness of God’s grace without a drop to be added when you participate in any ritual. Be
thankful for the grace of God and where you are because of it!
Say good things about your Savior and about His church here on the Bluff.
Bro. Tony
undeserving.” I believe “God’s unmerited favor” sums up both of those definitions very well. It is God’s
grace and His grace alone that allows mankind to even be in His presence, let alone to be forgiven of sin
and saved unto an eternal life in His presence. It is that distinction that makes me frown on some of the
teachings of the Catholic Church.
I copied the following from a Catholic website as I sought their reasoning for what is known as the 7
Sacraments of the Catholic Church: “But, if it be shown that God has appointed external, visible
ceremonies as the means by which certain graces are to be conferred on men, then in order to obtain
those graces it will be necessary for men to make use of those Divinely appointed means”. (The italics
are mine).
Their belief, then, is that a person must perform those things in order to receive God’s grace. In short,
those sacraments earn God’s grace. God’s grace is not a gift: a person must earn it. Doesn’t that ignore
this powerful scripture: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)”?
The Bible is fairly specific about a lot of things that will prevent a person from entering the Kingdom of
God: “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:
Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves
nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”. 1
Corinthians 6:9-10 NIV. I haven’t found in scripture where that list would include people who haven’t
been baptized, confirmed or taken a first communion. Nor have I found any place that insinuates that
one who hasn’t been married or received last rites would be excluded. Quite the opposite. Read Verse
11: “And that is what some of you were, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
Washed, sanctified, and justified by the Spirit of our God. When you’re saved, you have received the
totality and fullness of God’s grace without a drop to be added when you participate in any ritual. Be
thankful for the grace of God and where you are because of it!
Say good things about your Savior and about His church here on the Bluff.
Bro. Tony