RELIGION....(part 2)

[dacs]

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QUAESITUM EST
Declaration on Masonic Associations
Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith


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It has been asked whether there has been any change in the Church's decision in regard to Masonic associations since the new Code of Canon Law does not mention them expressly, unlike the previous code.

This sacred congregation is in a position to reply that this circumstance is due to an editorial criterion which was followed also in the case of other associations likewise unmentioned inasmuch as they are contained in wider categories.

Therefore, the Church's negative judgment in regard to Masonic associations remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and, therefore, membership in them remains forbidden. The faithful, who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.

It is not within the competence of local ecclesiastical authorities to give a judgment on the nature of Masonic associations which would imply a derogation from what has been decided above, and this in line with the declaration of this sacred congregation issued Feb. 17,1981. [1]

In an audience granted to the undersigned cardinal prefect, the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II approved and ordered the publication of this declaration which had been decided in an ordinary meeting of this sacred congregation.

Rome, from the Office of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Nov. 26, 1983


Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger Prefect

Father Jerome Hamer, O. P. Titular Archbishop of Lorium
Secretary


Notes

1. Cf. AAS 73 (1981) pp. 240-241.

[baliguat]

bisan pa ug unsaun..... unsa man ang katuyuan if you are a believer of jesus?
diba ang maluwas...

FAITH + GOOD WORK= SALVATION

hala timan e na ninyo nga formula kay murag mao ra gyud ning atong katuyuan nganong nabuhi ta niining kalibutana.... peace

[oliver_g0110]

Good work is just part of it but not included in the formula. I should say your total surrender to God and giving up all your life to Him. Believing Jesus Christ and by following His footsteps (through the Bible) will give us Salvation.

[dacs]

How about baptism (1 Peter 3:21)?

How about the thought of the early Christians about salvation?

If everything should be in the Bible, then the Christians mentioned in the Bible had no rule of faith because the Bible did not exist then. To your way of thinking, there was no Christian before the Bible. That's weird.

If you say there were Christians then but their rule of faith was different, where in the Bible could you find that 'that' rule of faith had been changed?

The Constitution is the rule of law in our land. Yet, it is the Supreme Court who has the right and jurisdiction to interpret the Constitution. The Bible may be your rule of faith, but who will interpret it? You?

[baliguat]

bisan pa jud lagi if suheto ta sa tanan nga naka tala sa HOLY BIBLE, and then wala ka niining mga formulaha...

alaut gihapon... all saints are not Well-educated but their Faith and Good work made them peace

[oxford]

How about baptism (1 Peter 3:21)?

How about the thought of the early Christians about salvation?

If everything should be in the Bible, then the Christians mentioned in the Bible had no rule of faith because the Bible did not exist then.Â* To your way of thinking, there was no Christian before the Bible.Â* That's weird.

If you say there were Christians then but their rule of faith was different, where in the Bible could you find that 'that' rule of faith had been changed?

The Constitution is the rule of law in our land.Â* Yet, it is the Supreme Court who has the right and jurisdiction to interpret the Constitution.Â* The Bible may be your rule of faith, but who will interpret it?Â* You?

The Bible is not the Final Authority, it is THE Authority.Â* The ONLY Authority.

For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.Â* Matthew 5:18

Old Testament Saints salvation was also by faith.Â*

Hebrews 11:13

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

2 Peter 1:20-21

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.Â*
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.

These men were not merely writing from their own interpretation or from their own knowledge but were moved by the Hold Ghost.Â* That's the inspiration of the Bible.

Salvation has always been and will be by faith...

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:9
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ....."

[dacs]

@oxford:

Since you are replying on my post (i.e., you are quoting my previous post), don't you think it is better if you answer my initial proposition?

If everything should be in the Bible, then the Christians mentioned in the Bible had no rule of faith because the Bible did not exist then.Â* Reply please.


The Constitution is the rule of law in our land.Â* Yet, it is the Supreme Court who has the right and jurisdiction to interpret the Constitution.Â* The Bible may be your rule of faith, but who will interpret it?Â* You?

After you answer my propositions, I will deal with your own propositions.

[somar]

@oxford: :mrgreen:

No religion can save or bring us to heaven, it is only through Jesus' done work on the cross and His resurrection.
Salvation is a free gift through faith, not of works. Even the faith that we have is a gift from God. A gift is not something
you need to work for, it is freely given.

Eph 2:8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.

Grace - unmerited favor, something that we don't deserve.

[dacs]

@oxford: :mrgreen:

No religion can save or bring us to heaven, it is only through Jesus' done work on the cross and His resurrection.

that act of justice by which we render to God, both privately as individuals, and publicly as social beings, the honor, gratitude, and obedience due to Him, and in the way prescribed by Him

Salvation is a free gift through faith, not of works. Even the faith that we have is a gift from God. A gift is not something you need to work for, it is freely given.

James 2: 14-26 – "You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble. Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless?" Why did St. James need to say this? He was speaking to Christians! If good works is just an effect of having faith in Christ, no non-Christian would be saved just because he never heard of Christ. Faith and reason will tell you that good works - caritas or charity - is a necessary part of the life of a Christian. Not just an effect of faith. Matthew 7: 21-23 – "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?' Then I will declare to them solemnly, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.'" - further support my proposition. These verses from Matthew tell you that someone who can call Christ as his Lord is not necessarily a good Christian (remember that only through the Holy Spirit that one can call Christ as Lord). One who does the will of the Father will enter the kingdom of heaven.

You can also read a lot of verses in the Bible that we are judged according to our good works (e.g., Romans 2:5-11). Why are we judged according to our works if we are saved by faith alone?

If you read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 ('If I speak in human and angelic tongues 2 but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.'). Love is always rendered here in the different forms of the word caritas (or charity). That is good works!

Eph 2:8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.

Yet, Ephesians 2:10 says that we are created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance. That same chapter in Ephesians also qualifies what kind of works is beneficial to our salvation. This fits snugly with the proposition that we are judged according to our good works.

Grace - unmerited favor, something that we don't deserve.

Amen!

[mannyamador]

The Bible is not the Final Authority, it is THE Authority. The ONLY Authority.

If that's true, then it should be in the Bible. Please show me even a single verse that clearly and explicitly teaches that.

Can't find any, right?

These men were not merely writing from their own interpretation or from their own knowledge but were moved by the Hold Ghost. That's the inspiration of the Bible.

But you aren't one of these men. So how can you say YOUR interpretation of the Bible will always be right? There are many bible-believing Christians who come up with contradictory interpretations. But they all think they are insporied by the Holy Spirit!

Salvation has always been and will be by faith...

Read James 2:14-26. It doesn't agree with your interpretation.