Featured For Catholics Only ...

So is the idea that Catholics are engaged in the cannibalistic ritual of eating human flesh and drinking human blood.

It is a good thing that Calvinists do not actually believe or teach unconditional hatred and Catholics do not actually believe or teach cannibalism.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

 

Catechism of the Catholic Church

• PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
  • SECTION ONE "I BELIEVE" - "WE BELIEVE"
    • CHAPTER ONE MAN'S CAPACITY FOR GOD
      • II. Ways of Coming to Know God

35 Man's faculties make him capable of coming to a knowledge of the existence of a personal God. But for man to be able to enter into real intimacy with him, God willed both to reveal himself to man, and to give him the grace of being able to welcome this revelation in faith.(so) the proofs of God's existence, however, can predispose one to faith and help one to see that faith is not opposed to reason.

 

Saved by the command of Jesus Christ himself, nothing further was needed.

 

As we all have been. Nothing further was needed.

 

So why do the scriptures say to do this or do that in addition to having faith that Christ is the savior?

 

I would need to know the passage you are referring to (not just one sentence or two). I would contend that a sentence can easily be misused, but an entire paragraph and passage can guide our understanding.
The thief on the cross shows us what grace is. His response is how every person responds when God graciously reveals his redemption.
If you add more to it for salvation, you are doing so without God's endorsement.

 

God needs to extend grace just for you to take your next breathe and heartbeat.

Where your overboard is on a false claim that grace in the capacity to do what is right has been withheld.

Which is not found in scripture.

 

"It is a good thing that Calvinists do not actually believe or teach unconditional hatred"

Excellent we'll take that one back, then God just loves everyone from the foundation before they are even created.

 

God extends mercy when you take your next breath and your heart beats.
God extends saving grace to whom he wills. We see it on the cross with the thief. Jesus would have been equally good in saying to the thief, "Your sin is justly meted out in your damnation." But, Jesus chose to say "This day you will be with me in paradise." In that verbal exchange with the thief we see Jesus showing his Sovereign rule over his creation. Jesus makes the decision and no one else. In either decision, Jesus is loving and good. Remember that the other thief also received his just decision from the same King.

Finally, humans have the capacity to follow the law or not to follow the law. We both agree. However, humans do not have the capacity to save themselves. They cannot will that into existence. God must will their salvation or they cannot be saved. Therefore, humans cannot express free will in salvation because they do not have the capacity to will their own salvation.

 

So where do the sacraments come into play?