Recall my post from Saturday morning regarding an ongoing discussion I’m having with a mere Christian friend of mine. We had lunch in the middle of a very hectic day but managed to squeeze in some great conversation.
I expressed the Catholic belief in the assurance of salvation in this manner. We are sure that Jesus will keep His promises but our fallible intellects can’t be sure of our state of Grace at all times. It is not a failure of faith but rather a sincerity – a striving for sanctity and a trust in the boundless mercy of God.
On the nature of Christ’s sacrifice. Rather than a “once for all” over and done event, it is a state. I compared it to marriage in that she got married and has subsequently been in a marriage. Maybe that anaology doesn’t work on all levels but it’s pretty good nonetheless. Redemption can be called a state of God’s relationship with His people. I have to think about that more – any thoughts you have would be appreciated!
My friend said the Catholic description of Christ’s sacrifice seems to fly in the face of the curtain of the temple being torn in two, allowing all of us to approach God where we were not permitted before. I said the Eucharist is just that – Communion with our Lord.
We discussed the notion of sola scriptura and I mentioned the importance of tradition to the earliest Christians who had no New Testament to read as well as how crucial Apostolic Succession has been with regard to the purity of teaching. She found those arguments compelling and wanted to do some research. She cited the passage in Timothy, “Scripture is useful for….” but here’s the clincher – there was no New Testament when Paul wrote that. Even if there was you can’t stretch the word “useful” to mean the sole source of Divine Revelation and Truth.
Lastly I spoke to her about looking at what the Church Fathers have to say. There is a pile o’ stuff on newadvent.org including writings of the Church Fathers.
One last thing. This friend of mine works for Young Life and wants me to help out with the kids. I think I can help them if they suffer from insomnia but that’s about it!
ME: The temporal aspect of Christ’s sacrifice can not be expressed in terms of finality, rather it is a state, an accomplished event that is ongoing. It has a beginning in time but no end….
THE KIDS: …..zzzzzz……zzzzzzz……*SNORT*…….zzzzzzzz………