Author Topic: Faith in Christ Necessary for Salvation -- DOGMA (Read 11595 times)

Ladislaus · « **on:** February 05, 2015, 08:45:16 AM »

It was the UNANIMOUS TEACHING OF THE CHURCH FATHERS that faith in Jesus Christ is absolutely necessary for salvation. Consequently, this was clearly part of the Deposit of Revelation and a DOGMA. To say otherwise is HERESY. Anyone who says that Muslims, Jews, pagans, or any manner of infidel can be saved DENY CATHOLIC DOGMA. Tragically, most "Traditional Catholics" believe this today. While I do not accuse anyone of formal heresy, it's heresy nonetheless. THIS IS THE CORE HERESY OF VATICAN II, and it's also the core heresy held by most Traditional Catholics. I am dedicating this thread to citing Church Fathers who taught this. EVERY CATHOLIC needs to read this and then honestly try to answer the question of whether he holds the faith of the Fathers. I do not put this in the "Feeneyism" section because this has nothing to do with the question of Baptism of Desire; I am prescinding entirely from that discussion.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2015, 08:46:44 AM »

Saint Ignatius of Antioch, a disciple of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (died A.D. 107): "Let no man deceive himself. Unless he believes that Christ Jesus has lived in the flesh, and shall confess His cross and passion, and the blood which He shed for the salvation of the world, he shall not attain eternal life, whether he be a king, or a priest, or a ruler, or a private person, a master or a servant, a man or a woman." (Epistle to the Smyrnaeans)

Ladislaus · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2015, 08:48:37 AM »

Saint Justin Martyr (died A.D. 165): "But there is no other way than this, - to become acquainted with this Christ, to be washed in the fountain spoken of by Isaiah for the remission of sins, and for the rest to live sinless lives. [...] Further, I hold that those of the seed of Abraham who live according to the law, and do not believe in this Christ before death, shall not be saved." (Dialogue with Trypho the Jew.)

Ladislaus · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2015, 08:51:27 AM »

Saint Martial of Limoges (died A.D. 165): "All who do not confess Christ to be true God shall go into eternal fire."

Ladislaus · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2015, 08:54:14 AM »

Saint Cyprian (died A.D. 258): "For whereas in the Gospels, and in the epistles of the Apostles, the name of Christ is alleged for the remission of sins; it is not in such a way as that the Son alone, without the Father, or against the Father, can be of advantage to anybody; but that it might be shown to the Jews, who boasted as to their having the Father, that the Father would profit them nothing, unless they believed on the Son whom He had sent. For they who know God the Father the Creator, ought also to know Christ the Son, lest they flatter and applaud themselves about the Father alone, without the acknowledgement of His Son, who also said, "No man cometh to the Father but by me." But He, the same, sets forth that it is the knowledge of the two that saves, when he says, "And this is life eternal, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." Therefore, from the preaching and the testimony of Christ Himself, the Father who sent must be known first, then afterwards Christ, who was sent, and there cannot be a hope of salvation except by knowing the two together.[/b] [...]"