Orthodox Greek
Do Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox Christians consider Protestants to be not saved?
I read it some book that the Greek Orthodox church believes that justification by faith alone is not enough. You must have works as well. Does that mean then that they believe Protestants are not saved?
I'm neither Catholic nor Protestant but it doesnt matter - heres what I know 2 b true:
In the Bible it severely warns us that we rnt 2 trust humans, not even ourselves (Jer 10:2-5,23; Is 2:22; Job 12:11; Prov 14:12; Acts 17:11). So carefully think over what I say. Dont just believe or disregard what I write. It might save u from making the same mistakes many have made, getting caught up in religious beliefs that have nothing 2 do with finding & knowing God.
Anything practiced as a ritual has no meaning under the NT Covenant. The Hebrew rituals were by the instruction of God the best 1 could do under God's Law (None in NT). Other religions (including many Christian) either copied or invented rituals (the best humans could do within the limits of being human). Jesus' perfect sacrifice canceled the need 4 any rituals (doing them calls God a liar as they make it appear Jesus failed His mission).
Many dont know the difference btwn a ritual done as a ritual & genuine "rememberance" - not possible without knowing Jesus' actual Biblical instructions - absent in Cc teachings (the Cc didnt write any part of the NT [not a Cc text or their writings - NT was written in the 1rst century by Apostles, Cc possession was not until 3rd century] which contradicts their teachings/practices & God's will, 1 in truth & Spirit not rituals - God allowed them 2 produce the Bible dispite their wrong teachings like He allowed the Romans 2 fulfill prophecy without their knowledge [happening again today). A teaching can have a truth in whats written but the action taken can be superficial - The Cc like the Pharisees know how 2 clean the outside of the cup but dont understand how the inside is 2 be cleaned with respect to Jesus' actual message. The fact that the Cc & other religions retain an altar @ the center of their religious pracrtices is 1 sure sign of their being about religious rituals not the truth which leads u 2 salvation.
The problem is theres many religions & different varieties. 1 day I realized they cant all be right (i.e. theres 1 Bible, why so many interpretations? - II Pet 1:**19-21). Most religions came thru people who thought up things for a God they & others liked. Some realized religion could be good 2 control the masses & 4 other agendas. However, religion cant teach u much about God (they cant teach what they dont know). Who knows more about a house the Builder or he who moves in later?
For Christians, the trouble began when the Apostles/disciples were killed off or died during the 1rst century (Christianity was illegal for most of that time). Over the next century others, whom either didnt know Jesus or were less informed than Jesus' 1rst generation of believers &/or (un)intentionally added in their own ideas/agendas replaced the original believers. By the time the Cc became a "state - Jn 18:36" recognized, organized religion around the time of Constantine (about AD 325), most of what Jesus taught & the original Apostles practiced were no longer present.
The Cc mixed in things of Pagan & religions practices 2 please & draw in people, thus, creating a new religion they decided 2 label "Christian/Catholic". The Cc's, like other religions' agendas (some mayve been well-intentioned), was mostly 2 control masses & 2 influence politics (II Tim 2:*4; I Jn 2:*15-17; Col 2:*8; Jer 10:*2-5). The Cc claims they didnt distribute Bibles 4 over a century b/c people couldnt read so why didnt they just teach people 2 read?
God & Jesus have never been about pleasing man. In fact, the Cc RCc & Oc had made religions just like the Pharisees, which Jesus emphatically stated was an abomination b/c they were about pleasing man not God (Mt 23:15; LK 16:15). Even when others like the Protestants split off from the Cc they retained the same wrong Cc format/structure.
Even though these churches got rid of some of the Cc nonsense they still didnt know much about Jesus (most ignored or skipped over Biblical instructions due 2 various agendas) nor did they go 2 the Bible 2 find out all of Jesus' instructions [a huge mistake, as they're fulfilling prophecies against their practices (Amos 8:*11; Jr 12:*10: Is 5:*9 (large houses r churches - Mt 24:*1-2); Hos 4:*6: Mk 7:1-23 (John 3:*3,5 & Ez 36:24-27,*26); Lk 16:**15 (see Rv 21:27; Jr 10:**2-5; Is 1:*11-15)].
Wrong Cc teachings:
1. The CC claims 2 be the 1rst church & since they r the longest existing church, they r the only "official" church. Jesus' Apostles never named their church "catholic (not in the Bible)" nor did they ever practice Cc religious rituals. There was nearly a 250 year gap btwn Jesus' original Apostle's church & the start of the "official" Cc - there4, the Cc was never a part of or the true 1rst Christian Church (neither a label, title, name, its history or amount of time it existed proves anything in & of itself - its its substance & whats practiced that makes all the difference btwn truth & fatal error).
2. Peter was never a pope nor was he or his fellow Apostles ever a member of the Cc - it isnt in the Bible - the use of the word pope is a Cc invention - the Bible instructs us not 2 go beyond whats written (I Cor 4:6; Rev 22:18-19). Peter was never a bishop of the Cc (he died about 250 years be4 the Cc was a church. Peter wouldnt call himself a pope b/c calling 1self Father is an abomination.
Some other wrong Cc practices that cant lead u Jesus:
Mass (not in the Bible) is full of non-biblical rituals, Statues (God isnt in2 dead things - non-living things can't help or save anyone - praying 2 them is an abomination), the Rosery, mother Mary as interceder (Jesus is the only way 2 God - not His Apostles/disciples - Jn 14:6; 5:39; 10:1,7; Acts 4:12; IS 1), candles, incense, the cross (its more a symbol of the curse & 4 same reasoning against statues), making the sign of the cross, stations of the cross, the pope's & other leader's garb they wear, confirmation, the Catholic creed & other Catholic organization documents, raising people to the status of "saint" (only God & Jesus have authority 2 do this), catechism, devotionals, sacraments, holy eucharist, penance, traditional/repetative type prayers & many other things they do rnt coming from the Bible.
Its b/c religion is about man & what he likes, not what Jesus mandated for 1 2 do 2 follow Him. The result is that few will end up saved thru most of them (no1 can save themselves by their own inititve nor will good deeds save them - theres no good in any man - Rom 1:23). 1 must be very careful not 2 get sucked in or going 2 various denominations (especially if u dont have a good handle on whats actually written in the Bible) as u can only add 2 any confusion u may have.
Just b/c religions made many fatal mistakes doesnt mean God doesnt know what He's doing. The main point thats not clear 2 many: Jesus is the only 1 in history whom stated that no1 can find our real God except thru Jesus (Jn 14:6; 5:39; 10:1,7; Acts 4:11). This means "the" truth was complete & there4 finished thru what Jesus taught & did. Any so-called new teaching & any other religious beliefs r null & void & cant lead u 2 God. The truth is either the whole truth or it isnt the truth. The truth is the absence of any lie. Either Jesus told the whole truth or He's a false prophet, among many, whom should be disregarded. This would also mean that God must not exist either (He either knows what He's doing or He cant b God).
But, heres evidence God knows what He's doing. Jesus couldntve done nor said what He did unless He had full understanding of the entire Old Testament (the New Testament didnt exist @ the time of Jesus - the only way Jesus couldve known the whole OT is if God was with Him). & the Apostles couldnt remember & write down the NT unless Jesus allowed them 2 remember & know His purpose (Lk 24:25-27,45). Only an incredibly Intelligent Being could cause it.
But God outsmarted man, b/c the Bible's the only 1 known 2 man that cant b properly understood without going thru Jesus (Jn 14:6; II Cor 3:14, Is 29:11-12 - If the Jewish people cant pierce the veil over the OT without going thu Jesus then neither can all gentiles). This is why theres many interpretations & people thinking its all just fairytales (Jesus came with the sword of division).
A church thats very serious about finding the Biblical truth, understands what being Born Anew is about, might be able 2 help u but no1 can save u except Jesus (Jn 3:1-14 - note: Nicodemus was very religious but Jesus flatout told him he had missed the 1rst most important step, that he must be Born Anew or no matter how religious or good he thought he is he couldn't go 2 Heaven (Jn 3:3,5; Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12). No1 can live without breaking God's Law.
Whoever seeks Jesus Christ with all his heart & soul will find Him (u shall know the truth & it will set u free). But u can lead a horse 2 water but u cant make them drink. Why should God want u 2 live with Him forever if u dont want 2 know Him (reason 4 free will - Jn 1:12-13)? The truth of God remains forever while things of a man dies with him, including his religions & gods made in his image. Theres everlasting hope only in Jesus Christ.
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