I’ve heard him say more than once that salvation is by grace through faith.
Many people say that, then they'll go on to say that a person could lose their salvation for x, y and z. They are trusting in their own works to be righteous. Pentecostals are especially notorious for this.
If you believe you can lose it, you never had it. Once saved, always saved. By faith alone.
I'm not going to heaven because of anything I did; I'm only going to heaven because Christ died for me.
It's a free gift that can never be taken away.
Obviously it’s different for catholics but for those of us who follow the teachings and commandments of God rather than man we find the truth of scripture is clear and unequivocal.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 7 KJV
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. John 15 KJV
As any good protestant will be able to explain to you; we are saved by grace through faith.
Given this we are able to understand all the other scriptures exhorting us to bring forth good fruit as showing us that the evidence of our salvation is seen in our works.
We were given a perfect example of how to walk by our saviour at the greatest possible cost. Good sense and scripture should tell us that this was not some meaningless act on His behalf, but was done to show us things that we should strive to imitate, however imperfectly.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. John 5 KJV
Consider: Jesus and the apostles risked and gave up their lives to follow the commandments as well as to teach them. Perhaps if they had been given the opportunity to hear the word of the vatican they would have acted differently, but as things stand I will take my chances with them rather than with those who follow men.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12
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