Catholicism Archives

The Sacramental View of Salvation

March 9, 2007 7 Comments

At the heart of Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox theology we find what may
be called the "sacramental" view of salvation. In this view, true
salvation from sin and the judgment of God can only come through certain
rites and rituals of the church – the "sacraments". These rites and
rituals are seens as channels through which the saving grace of God must flow.
According to this view, the rite of baptism, for example, confirms upon the
recipient the status of being "born again", while partaking of the
Eucharist (i.e.

Kings AND Priests

February 19, 2007 1 Comment

“To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:5,6)

Jesus not only washed us from our sins in His own blood, but He has also lifted us up to two very important offices. The believer has the potential to operate as BOTH a king and a priest to God. One of the fundamental revelations of the Reformation was ‘the priesthood of all believers’ but I believe the Reformers themselves had a very limited idea of what this means.

The Nature of God

February 15, 2007 1 Comment

The Issue of Worship

In the previous lesson we saw that the Bible is God’s word to us and speaks with the authority of God to us regarding many things. One of the most important revelations we can receive from the Bible is the character of God. The Bible tells us what God is like – his attributes, his ways in dealing with mankind, his heart. Our traditions, preconceptions, experiences and reasonings do not always tell us the truth about God. The Bible does however.

Other Religious Options

February 10, 2007 1 Comment

Many Ways to God or Many Errors in the Name of Religion?

Many people in the west believe “there is something out there” while others affirm with conviction that they know there is no God.

Eastern religions teach that “everything” is God and through meditation we can come to realise our inherent divinity. Those in the Judaeo-Christian traditions believe that the creation is not part of God at all.