ONE Can Happen

Karlo Broussard is a Catholic theologian. *Some* of their ideas are more Biblical than what’s mainstream among Protestants.

NOTE/DISCLAIMER: I am NOT promoting Catholicism by posting this. I strongly reject praying to Mary and people who may be in heaven who can’t hear us to know how to pray for us. Adoring Mary and praying repetitive prayers to her in the Rosary borders on blasphemy. Also, Mary was not born sinless, like Jesus. This one really bothers me: the Catholic church (CC) teaches that Christians should NOT be like the Bereans, who Paul considered “more noble” because they eagerly received what Paul said and studied the Bible daily to make sure what Paul told them was true. The CC teaches that they are the true church, and their leaders and tradition decides what is true and not true. They believe their tradition and what the Pope says can trump what the Bible says. I completely reject that, and that there even is a pope. And Peter was NOT the first pope. James was the leader in Jerusalem, and was an apostle, not a pope. The CC didn’t start until centuries later. Priests (mediators) and calling them “Father” is also not Biblical. In the new covenant, Jesus is our only Priest. They teach that purgatory is a fact that people can depend on, instead of making sure we’re right with God and people now so we’ll have clear consciences, “no condemnation” before God when we die; though, some Catholic teachers do emphasize being right with God and people now so we’ll have saving grace when we die, which I applaud! Another dangerous doctrine: like the Lutherans, they believe infant baptism saves them, instead of “believe and be baptized,” which infants cannot do, but Catholics believe they can forfeit their salvation, unlike Lutherans, who are taught that their infant baptism seals their salvation, which is responsible for sending billions to hell, as is the Protestant teaching of “once saved, always saved” because we said the born-again prayer. We must actually abide in Christ to be “in Christ.” I am encouraged in seeing more and more Catholics being closer to what the New Testament actually says about who goes to heaven, especially my friend, David Anders, who hosts a show on EWTN called “Called to Communion.” However, I’m deeply disheartened by serious false teaching still taught and practiced by the Catholic church.

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This is what I’ve often said regarding Paul’s “what can separate us” passage at the end of Romans 8:

The “who shall separate us” promise in Romans 8:35 and “no condemnation” statement in verse 1 only applies to those who actually are “in Christ” based upon what Paul says in three different ways in verses 1-17:

Verse 1b: “who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

Verse 4b: “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Verse 13: “For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

Verse 14: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.”

Verse 17b: “joint-heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.”

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I say salvation is guaranteed for those who have “no condemnation” because we actually abide in Christ, not walking to the flesh but according to the Spirit. As long as we stay in this condition, nothing can take our salvation away from us, Paul’s promise near the end of Romans 8.

Broussard’s emphasizes here is that Paul’s list of things that can’t take our salvation away in Romans 8:38-39 are all external. Our own willful and unrepentant sin is not in this list. We can forfeit our salvation if we don’t walk in Love.

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