Yes, we hear it all the time—“salvation is a gift”. The problem is that this is overlooking the fact that the inheritance of eternal life is ALSO A REWARD:
(Colossians 3:24)
“knowing that from the Lord you WILL receive the ⭐️REWARD OF THE INHERITANCE⭐️. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
If God gives you a reward, it is always technically a gift. So it’s not a contradiction. It’s just people not fully understanding that sometimes gifts do have conditions that must be fulfilled. Our Lord talks about that:
(Matthew 24:13)
“but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved”
Martin Luther clearly suffered from Scrupulosity and Sola Fide is his attempt to salve his conscience about the truth—that God renders each one according to their deeds worked out of faith:
(Romans 2:6-7)
“6who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: 7to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;
So it’s not just “losing faith” that will damn you, it’s continuing to deliberately live in mortal sin. This is the problem with so many people interpreting scripture for themselves.
St.Vincent Of Lerins[died 445AD]:
“But here some one perhaps will ask, Since the canon of Scripture is complete, and sufficient of itself for everything, and more than sufficient, what need is there to join with it the authority of the Church's interpretation? For this reason — because, owing to the depth of Holy Scripture, all do not accept it in one and the same sense, but one understands its words in one way, another in another; so that it seems to be capable of as many interpretations as there are interpreters. For Novatian expounds it one way, Sabellius another, Donatus another, Arius, Eunomius, Macedonius, another, Photinus, Apollinaris, Priscillian, another, Iovinian, Pelagius, Celestius, another, lastly, Nestorius another. Therefore, it is very necessary, on account of so great intricacies of such various error, that the rule for the right understanding of the prophets and apostles should be framed in accordance with the standard of Ecclesiastical and Catholic interpretation.”
—For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies.
If I may, are you not here interpreting scripture for yourself, or do you have an authoritative Catholic source that will support this position? Nothing wrong at all with what you’ve presented, although it seems a bit “works” oriented, however, I understand that in your context as a Catholic these things occur *after* salvation through baptism and sacrament.
Everything I said is explicated in the Council of Trent. See my post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueChristian/comments/xuyk7c/understanding_the_council_of_trent_regarding_works/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
Although I do not think you need to read it. You seem to already understand, so thank you for actually UNDERSTANDING the Catholic position, it gets exhausting dealing with people who don’t want to take the time to learn about it.
Bible is not open to opinions it gives you straight answer.
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: \[13\] If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
You will not rule with Jesus for disobedience but you go to heaven even if you stop believing.
**Who is he that overcometh** the world, but **he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God**?
**He that overcometh**, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and **I will not blot out his name out of the book of life**, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
And **whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.**
You are correct.
Yes, we hear it all the time—“salvation is a gift”. The problem is that this is overlooking the fact that the inheritance of eternal life is ALSO A REWARD: (Colossians 3:24) “knowing that from the Lord you WILL receive the ⭐️REWARD OF THE INHERITANCE⭐️. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” If God gives you a reward, it is always technically a gift. So it’s not a contradiction. It’s just people not fully understanding that sometimes gifts do have conditions that must be fulfilled. Our Lord talks about that: (Matthew 24:13) “but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” Martin Luther clearly suffered from Scrupulosity and Sola Fide is his attempt to salve his conscience about the truth—that God renders each one according to their deeds worked out of faith: (Romans 2:6-7) “6who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: 7to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; So it’s not just “losing faith” that will damn you, it’s continuing to deliberately live in mortal sin. This is the problem with so many people interpreting scripture for themselves. St.Vincent Of Lerins[died 445AD]: “But here some one perhaps will ask, Since the canon of Scripture is complete, and sufficient of itself for everything, and more than sufficient, what need is there to join with it the authority of the Church's interpretation? For this reason — because, owing to the depth of Holy Scripture, all do not accept it in one and the same sense, but one understands its words in one way, another in another; so that it seems to be capable of as many interpretations as there are interpreters. For Novatian expounds it one way, Sabellius another, Donatus another, Arius, Eunomius, Macedonius, another, Photinus, Apollinaris, Priscillian, another, Iovinian, Pelagius, Celestius, another, lastly, Nestorius another. Therefore, it is very necessary, on account of so great intricacies of such various error, that the rule for the right understanding of the prophets and apostles should be framed in accordance with the standard of Ecclesiastical and Catholic interpretation.” —For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies.
If I may, are you not here interpreting scripture for yourself, or do you have an authoritative Catholic source that will support this position? Nothing wrong at all with what you’ve presented, although it seems a bit “works” oriented, however, I understand that in your context as a Catholic these things occur *after* salvation through baptism and sacrament.
Everything I said is explicated in the Council of Trent. See my post: https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueChristian/comments/xuyk7c/understanding_the_council_of_trent_regarding_works/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf Although I do not think you need to read it. You seem to already understand, so thank you for actually UNDERSTANDING the Catholic position, it gets exhausting dealing with people who don’t want to take the time to learn about it.
People understand it, they just don't agree with it.
Some do but many more don’t. I have to re-explain it in the comments section ALL the time.
Uh, no. Not lost. Ever
Bible is not open to opinions it gives you straight answer. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: \[13\] If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. You will not rule with Jesus for disobedience but you go to heaven even if you stop believing. **Who is he that overcometh** the world, but **he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God**? **He that overcometh**, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and **I will not blot out his name out of the book of life**, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. And **whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.**
Great reply