DEFENDING  THE  BRIDE

 


153 Fish Bible. 153 Large Fish in John Bible - John explains his purpose for the use of 153 Fish, 153 large fish in John 21:11, as a metaphor.  Bible points to the context.

 

Biblical Injunctions in using Material Wealth to Gain Grace

 

Proverbs 16:6

“By kindness and piety guilt is expiated,

and by the fear of the LORD man avoids evil.”

 

Daniel 4:24 (27)

“Therefore, O king, take my advice; atone for your sins by good deeds, and for your misdeeds by kindness to the poor; then your prosperity will be long.”  NAB

 

Sirach 3:30

“Water extinguishes a blazing fire:

so almsgiving atones for sin.”

 

Tobit 4:10-11

“Almsgiving frees one from death, and keeps one from going into the dark abode.

11 Alms are a worthy offering in the sight of the Most High for all who give them.” NAB

 

Sirach 12:3

“No good will come to the man who persists in evil

or to him who does not give alms.”

 

Sirach 29:12

“Store up almsgiving in your treasure house,

and it will save you from every evil”

 

Matthew 6:2

“Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing …”

 

Luke 11:40

“You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you.”

 

Tobit 12:8-9

“Prayer is good when accompanied by fasting, almsgiving, and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to treasure up gold. 9 For almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin. Those who perform deeds of charity and of righteousness will have fulness of life”

 

This passage from Tobit speaks of the expiation of sin through faithful works done in love (almsgiving) - another clear reason why Luther had to throw it out. because he claimed Faith Alone covers our sins.  But let's look at how the NT deals with this.

 

Acts 10:3-4

“About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror, and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.” 

Remember, this Cornelius was a Roman centurian who was God fearing in that he respected the God of the Jews, but did not yet know Christ...yet God still recognized his almsgiving.

 

Acts 10:31

“Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.”

1 Peter 4:8

“ … love covers a multitude of sins.”

 

Luke 16:9-13

“And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal habitations. … 13

You cannot serve God and mammon.”

 

So, we need to ask, Does the Bible teach we can buy grace ?

NO  !

 

These verses do not explain this point, yet we know from the greater context of Christian teaching that we cannot buy grace. 

It is the disposition of the heart that God cares about.  See Widow's mite 

Mark 12:41-44.

 

The Catholic Church has always required that a person confess with his lips - receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation or called Confession - and receive God's forgiveness of all mortal sins before obtaining an Indulgence. 

 

This sacrament was clearly required at the time of Martin Luther, (as it has always been.)

This sacrament requires contrition on the part of the sinner, and a firm and heartfelt commitment to amend one's life.

 

So, the defense of how these Bible verses above do not approve of the selling of grace, can also be seen as to apply to the Catholic Church's teaching on indulgences.

 

Indulgences and grace were never sold by the Catholic Church, and she has never taught or proclaimed otherwise.

 

Articles :

A  Proof  That  The  Catholic  Church  Did  Not  Sell  Indulgences

 

Indulgences : Important Distinctions

 

What Does It Mean to Sell Grace ?

 

Why Would a Person Need Grace, or an Indulgence,
For A Sin Already Forgiven ?


Correction of Indulgences’ Abuses and Misunderstandings 

 

       
   
   
   
   
   
   

 

 

 

 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
     
     

 

 

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