ohndeerefan: I participate in prayers groups with Baptist, attend a Baptist church more often than many Baptist do and have a lot of respect for Baptist who are making in effort to bring the lost to a saving knowledge of Christ. I love Baptist. It just makes me sad when I run across ones who are so dogmatic in their beliefs that they aren't even able to see another Christian from another denomination as being redeemed by the blood of Jesus.
I certainly don't hate my Baptist brothers and sister in Jesus
Here is what Paul said:
Romans 9:1-3 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
--Paul had such a burden for his unsaved "kinsmen" the Israelites, that he said he would take their place in being condemned to Hell (if possible) just so that they would be saved. This prayer is incomprehensible. Only one other time in Scripture do we see such a sacrificial prayer, and that is with Moses who prays that his name be blotted out of the Book of Life if the Lord would not forgive the Israelites. Again, an example of a very sacrificial prayer born out of love.
Romans 10:1-2 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
--Again, look at the heart's desire and prayer of Paul. It is that Israel might be save. Now consider the reason.
They have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
You may be in the same boat. You pray. You go to prayer groups--both Catholic and Baptist. You say you believe both Catholic and Baptist doctrine, else why would you go to Baptist prayer groups. But the truth is that you cannot be both and believe in both at the same time. The one preaches a gospel of grace. The other preaches a message of salvation by works. Only a gospel of grace saves. A message of works cannot save. You have zeal, but not according to knowledge. There are many on this board that have nothing against Catholics per se, but are horrified against the doctrine they teach--doctrine which has and is sending millions to Hell.
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Are you able to explain this verse. Grace and works do not mix. For example baptism is a work. It is man that does the baptizing and man that receives the baptizing. It is a work of man done in obedience to God, just like prayer, reading God's Word, going to church, evangelizing, partaking in the Lord's Supper, etc. All of these are works. They are commands that we as believers keep. And we keep them
after we are saved, not before. They are not requirements to be saved. They are commands to be kept after we are saved. Baptism is the first command that a believer does in obedience to the Lord after he is saved. The command is "Repent and then be baptized." Repentance (salvation) is always first. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (salvation), and then be baptized. That is always the order. Baptism is a step of obedience after salvation. It is a work. Salvation is a one time event in a person's life where God does a work in a person's life and the Spirit of God comes and indwells that person for life. He is changed at that time. The change is forever. At that time, the time when he trusts Christ as Saviour, he is made a new creature in Christ. He is born into God's family. He does not keep on being born. It is a one time event, not a process. His sins: past, present and future are forgiven right then and there. He is given eternal life. He is justified, made righteous in the sight of God. All of this happens at one time in a person's life, just as marriage happens one time in a person's life, and then the person remains married.
RCC doctrine and Bible doctrine are totally incompatible. You cannot believe both at the same time. You must decide between the two. You have a zeal (are religious) but (like the Jews) not according to knowledge.
I pray you find the "right knowledge." Christ, not works, saves. He is the only one that can save; not the church, not the magesterium, not baptism, but Christ and Christ alone. Salvation is by grace and grace alone. One must accept that grace by faith and faith alone.