I have my doubts that Catholicism is Christianity

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shepherdsword

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Am I to understand that you believe prodigies—something extraordinary or inexplicable—that come from God don't always infuse peace and solemn joy, and ones that come from a demon, be it a demon spirit or demon man, don't always bring about perturbation and sorrow?
Demons can deceive by sending good feelings and God can chasten us by sending bad ones. How old are you by the way?
 

shepherdsword

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How do you reconcile that belief with Matt. 7:18;20: "A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit";"Therefore by their fruits you will know them"?
Fruit is the deeds of a person. Fruit has nothing to do with feelings. Why are you making that comparison?
 

Lizbeth

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There is an unerring way to find out whether a prodigy—something extraordinary or inexplicable—comes from God or from a demon. And it is what a soul feels. If the extraordinary event comes from God, it infuses peace into the soul, peace and solemn joy. If it comes from the demon spirit, it brings about perturbation and sorrow. And peace and joy come also from the words of God, whereas perturbation and sorrow come from those of a demon, be it a demon spirit or a demon man. And also the closeness of God grants peace and joy whereas the closeness of wicked spirits or men bring about perturbation and sorrow. (PV4)
Not so. Going by "feelings" is unreliable and we can be deceived by our feelings. Demon spirits can counterfeit the Holy Spirit.
This is why the word of God says to test the spirits, and test all things, not go by how we feel or by leaning on our own understanding.

This is why

2Co 11:12-15

But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.


Jesus said we must be born again, and we must receive His Spirit to belong to Him......it is by His Spirit that we can discern and understand the things of God....scripture says the carnal mind is enmity with God and the natural man cannot perceive the things of God because they are spiritually discerned. Seek and ask that Jesus might give you His Spirit and the new birth. "The Spirit is life....", ie, eternal life. There is no other way to be saved, ie, have eternal life.
 

Lizbeth

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Perhaps not but there are Christians within its members.
Very few. And that does not mean at all that Catholicism is true Christianity. If those who truly come to Christ remain there, they are at risk of becoming captives. We are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers but come out from among them and be separate. False man made religion brings the life of the spirit to death, because it is artificial...meaning it has no life in it.
 

Behold

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No all is well, I just was wondering, it's not just you, there are many that seem to put a focus on Catholicism.

A person posts a THREAD, that is a Topic, and people respond.... as that is the FOCUS of the THREAD.
The one you are one is focused on "the cult of Mary" so, everyone who is posting is going to post, regarding this topic.

That's how it works on a Forum. , as per every "Thread".

There are many more Threads that talk about "OSAS" then there will ever be Threads found on this Forum that talk about the Catholic Religious system.

Its good to talk about it, as this can hopefully lead someone OUT OF IT, or prevent them from being decieved by it.

There are 2 types of Catholics I believe, born again and not born again.

Exactly.

The Catholics who are water baptized and religious, who were told the Catholic lie that "water washes away your sin"......have very little chance of being born again, because they have not heard the GOSPEL.......they have only been told about water baptism.

Its possible that the saddest situation for a Catholic is to be "infant sprinkled" and told all your life you are going to heaven, and then you die and find out that your "infant baptism", was just a cult teaching that kept you away from Salvation, which sent you to Hell.
 
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Lizbeth

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So I think we can reach the conclusion here that true Catholics are indeed Christian and true protestant Christians are indeed also Christians.

1. We all worship the same God, the Lord Jesus almighty

2. We all believe Jesus was sent to earth so that we may have eternal life, we all believe He died on the Cross and cleansed us of our sins by His grace through His blood.

3. We all believe Jesus resurrected on the 3rd day. We all believe God is alive, and He is risen!

4. We all believe He ascended up to Heaven weeks after His resurrection and sent His Holy Spirit to live within us and help us.

Since we agree on the key points, we too can classify true Catholics as Christians and classify true Christians from other denominations as Christians.

You see it's not about the traditions of men, it's not about what we do differently, it's about Jesus, the common link between true Christians, both Catholic and Protestant.

Oh yeah, and we all believe the same one God created the world. And that Jesus is coming back.
There is a difference between nominal belief of the carnal mind and the faith that is not of our own but comes from Christ's Spirit when we receive Him into our being. The bible says if you have not the Spirit you are none of His. Remember Cornelius in the bible....he was a sincere and devout man with a nominal belief............but he still needed to hear the gospel and to receive the Holy Spirit.....so the Lord sent Peter to him.
 

Lizbeth

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Well I said many for many are! How many is many? I do not know, that is up to the Lord and not me pretending to take a census of saved Catholics.
You can ask them about their testimony of coming to faith in Christ and their current living relationship with Him. We are saved by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony....if any have not a testimony of coming to Christ and Him coming to them, they are very likely not born again and saved. If anyone truly loves Catholics they will tell them that salvation is by the Spirit of God/Christ and no other way. They will warn them about the false religious institution they are serving and putting their faith in, instead of in Christ.

Those having a form of Godliness but denying the power....we are told to turn away from such. My understanding of that word is that it means to not accept/embrace them as brothers and sisters in Christ, and not be unequally yoked with them. Of course it doesn't mean we are to be unloving or neglect to witness to and evangelize them. But you will find nominal believers are the hardest to evangelize because they think they are fine as they are....this is why Jesus said He would rather anyone be cold or hot....it's generally easier to evangelize those who are completely stone cold unbelievers than those who are lukewarm nominal believers not knowing their need of Christ.
 

Dash RipRock

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With all due respect, you need your head examined.

With all due respect, you need to study God's Word!

By posting the above as answer to my comment that one needs to be "born again" in order to receive salvation, it is clear that you don't understand what "true born again" means.

I was pointing out prevalent false doctrine taught in churches these days.

You are apparently either woefully uninformed or you are a closet sinner who engages in sinful behavior claiming to still be born again.

True born again people do the following once converted:

Ephesians 4:22-24 - put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Romans 13:14 - put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Colossians 3:10 - And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created Him:

2 Corinthians 6:17 - come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

How do you reconcile that belief with Matt. 7:18;20: "A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit";"Therefore by their fruits you will know them"?

The false doctrines of the catholics is certainly not good fruit coming from a good tree

Perhaps not but there are Christians within its members.
One can ignore God's Word and follow false doctrine and still be saved?

I got a bridge I'd like to sell you! And some ocean front property in Arizona! :Ohz
 

Lizbeth

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Am I to understand that you deny prodigies—something extraordinary or inexplicable—that come from God, as well as the closeness of God, infuse peace into the soul, peace and solemn joy, and that prodigies that come from demons, be it demon spirits or demon men, as well as the closeness of them, bring about perturbation and sorrow?
God's communication by His Spirit often comes with His peace and joy, but not always. Sometimes there may be no feelings/emotions at all, and sometimes we may even be troubled or perplexed by what the Lord is communicating. But the devil can counterfeit the Spirit of God too....demonic spirits can also bring a false peace and false joy, so just because something feels good doesn't necessarily mean it is from the Lord. The devil is a deceiver. And even as born again believers we may not have yet learned to discern the difference between our own fleshly emotions and those of the Spirit of God.

For example a sense of self-righteousness can bring a feeling of happiness but that is not the same thing as the righteousness of Christ and His joy. Man's religion causes us to seek to establish our own righteousness, like the Jews under the Law, whereas when we are born again by the Spirit of God, we seek to submit to the righteousness of Christ in us, because He has come to dwell in us by His Spirit.
 

Dash RipRock

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You have no idea what the term "Born Again" means.

Keep telling yourself that so you can keep that smug false superiority complex thing going in your mind as you reject what the Lord instructs His people to do in Ephesians 4:22-24, Romans 13:14, Colossians 3:10, 2 Corinthians 6:17.

You false doctrine people crack me up. It's like comedy central up in here!
 

Lizbeth

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How do you reconcile that belief with Matt. 7:18;20: "A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit";"Therefore by their fruits you will know them"?



I'm 36 years old.
The good fruit (specifically peace and joy that we are speaking of), is of the Lord, of His Spirit. It doesn't include human emotions which are of the flesh, but is the peace and joy of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit is life but the flesh profits nothing.
 
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Triumph1300

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The term "born again" signifies a spiritual rebirth, a renewal of the human spirit through the work of the Holy Spirit.

It's a change of heart, moving from indifference or hostility towards God to a love for Him and a "desire to live according to His will".
------------------------------

What's your problem with this, Origen?????
 

Lizbeth

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The New Testament is very clear as in those that walk after the flesh disqualify themselves from salvation

But you eternal security people claim one can live in sin and still be saved causing many to stumble. Really sad.
Yes, the scriptures teach we are to bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance. Otherwise we could end up as a tree that gets cut down, or a branch that is cut off, as we are warned in the word of God. A three-fold cord is not easily broken, but it can be, if people choose to keep on wilfully sinning without repenting of it. We are to work out our salvation in the fear of the Lord and in sincerity. God is not mocked.
 
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Dash RipRock

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All of this comes as a result of "being born again".

OK goodie, you are finally starting to get it.

Good for you!


we could end up as a tree that gets cut down, or a branch that is cut off, as we are warned in the word of God. A three-fold cord is not easily broken, but it can be, if people choose to keep on wilfully sinning without repenting of it. We are to work out our salvation in the fear of the Lord and in sincerity. God is not mocked.

That's absolutely correct, and the eternal security teachers teach against this and by default are claiming one can live in sin and still be saved as they continually and falsely claim one cannot lose their salvation