Heiser-The-Facade - Sparkling Eyes

difference of opinion is over grace—what it is, how you get it, and what it does for you.Catholicism teaches that grace is something deposited in you—in the infant, actually, atits baptism. But for the average person who grows beyond childhood, their baptismdoesn't guarantee them heaven. They have to keep receiving grace through the mass andthe sacraments, and `cooperating,' as their theologians put it, with the grace originallygiven to them in their baptism. Grace is essentially something that is dispensed inCatholic theology, and over and over again at that. You need as much as you can get, andyour works have to blend with it to make sure it does what it's intended to do.""And you don't believe that?""No. I believe grace refers to God's disposition, His kindness toward us when wewere undeserving of any kindness due to our sinfulness. Regeneration is the work of theSpirit to enable us to believe that God loves us, wants to forgive us, and will do just thatif we believe in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrectionspecifically, that hesuffered on our behalf. Grace encompasses all this. The whole scope of salvation reflectsGod's kindness in giving it to us freely, no strings attached. We didn't earn it, so we don'tneed to maintain it. He transfers our sins to Christ, forgiving us for everything.""Catholicism would teach," he continued, "that faith and works both are the resultof grace, but adds the notion that a person needs to keep receiving grace—through thesacraments—and needs to keep doing good works in order to have eternal life in heaven.It sort of views salvation like two railroad tracks," he continued. "One track is grace,which is needed perpetually; the other is one's good works. The two tracks run paralleland lead to heaven. Both faith and works are necessary for salvation. Protestant theologybelieves a person is made righteous by God the instant he or she trusts in the gospel. Yourgood works extend from that faith, but you don't have to maintain your standing beforeGod by keeping him happy with you by your works. Catholic theology blurs thedistinction between having a spiritual birth and progressing as a Christian. Do you wantanything in this?" he asked, stirring."Just some sugar. So is Andrew going to hell and would you say that to him?" shegrinned mischievously."You go right for the jugular, don't you?" he laughed. "You should be used to itby now.""Only Andrew and God know where Andrew has his faith, and no, I would nevertell him that. I might say that to someone—Catholic or Protestant—who claimed to befollowing Christ but who showed no good works. If Andrew has his faith in Mary, or hisbaptism, or the fact that he goes to mass, then I have my doubts about him. But if hebelieves in his heart of hearts that the only way he's accepted by God is because of Jesus'death, burial, and resurrection, then his faith is well-placed—and I think his is. I won't sitin judgment on someone just because they don't use the nomenclature I do, or becausetheir doctrine may be off a little. The issue is," he looked Melissa squarely in the eye,"are you trusting Christ for your eternal destiny, or aren't you? Here's your tea.""Thanks ..." she said, taking the cup, "... and for the tea, too.""Hope I answered your question.""You've given me something to think about," she said, taking a sip. "You're agood teacher.""I used to be ..." he sighed."1 thinkI wonder who that is?" Melissa reacted as a knock286