I have been having a fun theological conversation with @grandpapulse on X over the past few days. I would have preferred to have it on chain so I could upvote his comments but alas....Hive police!
Anyways, these conversations we have can get heated at times but I do find them very respectful. I have spoken about this before how he is a Catholic and I am as Protestant as it gets. (I need to include @artgirl into these in the future lol)
We disagree on many things but at the end of the day, we believe in Christ and we both serve a risen Savior.
I will admit, I have a lot of trouble with Catholic doctrines simply because there is a whole lot of church tradition mixed into what they believe. Which I can't understand because as a Protestant, my guide book is the bible.
Sure, we learn from history, we learn about traditions....But for me personally, it's the bible first and foremost. If it's not in the bible, I can't really adopt it. So when I have religious discussions with people, that is my measuring stick...Scripture.
A point came up that I wanted to bring up for anyone who is interested in these kind of discussions...
What do believers do with John 14:15.....
Now before anyone starts pointing the finger and scream 'legalism!!!!' let me state this for everyone....
We are saved by grace ALONE!
I do not think we are saved by keeping God's commandments, it's all through faith. And for that, you should read Hebrews 11 to really understand examples of old testament faith.
But Christ challenges us to the core with this statement....If you are My disciple, if you claim to follow me, and if you LOVE me....Keep my commandments!
How does this work without making it a works based request?
The answer is right smack in the middle of Christ's request.
It's love.
We don't keep God's commandments to be saved, we keep them because we are saved. We LOVE what was done for us. We are not worthy of anything, yet here is our Savior, on the cross, dying for our sins.
This gets into Christ's righteousness which I admit, I have had a hard time over the years truly understanding it. But I will attempt to break it down in a few short words...
We don't need to do a thing. Christ did it and paid it all.
That's His righteousness. And we now keep His commandments because we love Him. ot because we have to. Not because it's forced. But because out of love....We obey!
It's some next level theological science if you ask me. And sometimes it's hard to put into words exactly how amazing this gift is.
Christ....Our righteousness!