Have you resolved your doubts regarding the Immaculate Conception?

For a doubter, you sure seem to have doubts about every facet of Catholicism.

And ongoing debates with non-believers.

Maybe you're not doubtful, just heavily distracted?

When Protestants debate each other - usually it follows the same lines as what you have posted.

You use Scripture and then attempt to use exegesis to justify Catholic Doctrine hoping that right reason will prevail.

Tell me , when has that ever happened?

Most of the Saints lives are filled with Catholic Action.

If you want to convert your friend - Fast - Do Penance - Offer Sacrifice and the Mass. Offer Penitential Suffering.  

GOD 's Grace prevails on those of good will.

Many Protestants choose to be Protestant.

And Scripture is filled with enough proof for any doubter.

If you want to justify Our Lords Doctrine its simple - the Catholic Church is formed by Jesus Christ both GOD and Man on the 7 Sacraments which are Scriptural.

Baptism.  Scripture shows that John's baptism was a symbol of repentance, but not a sacrament. It did not confer grace. In the Acts it is clear that those who received Christian baptism also received the Holy Spirit, had their sins forgiven and became members of Christ, and thus of the Church. It is the foundational sacrament, the only one Philip thought necessary to confer on the Ethiopian eunuch. Matthew 3:16; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:8; Mark 16:16; John 3:5; Acts 1:4-5; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:16; Acts 8:36-38; Acts 11:16; Acts 16:15; Acts 16:33; Acts 18:8; Acts 19:3-6; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 5:25-26; Col. 2:12; 1 Peter 3:20-21, and many others.

 Confirmation. Completes Baptism by a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit and enables the Christian for mission. This was seen at Pentecost with respect to the apostles. In the early Church it was often accompanied by charismatic signs, though these are not intrinsic to the sacrament. Conferred by the laying on of hands. In Acts 19:3-6, especially, it is clear that John's baptism, Christian baptism and Confirmation are all distinct realities. Also, in Hebrews 6:2 baptizing and laying on of hands are distinguished. Isaiah 44:3; Ezekiel 39:29; Joel 2:28; John 14:16; Acts 2:4; Acts 8:14-17; Acts 19:3-6; Hebrews 6:2.

 The Holy Eucharist. The Eucharist is visibly bread and wine but is in reality the Body and Blood of Christ. No mere symbols can effect eternal life. And abuse of no mere symbol can be worthy of damnation. In the early centuries the name of the Mass was the breaking of the bread. Yet, when word got out of what the Eucharist really was the Romans accused Christians of sacrificing babies and cannibalism, because they heard they ate human flesh. Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 24:35; Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 11:24-27;

Penance. Christ gave authority, the keys, to the apostles to forgive sin, to decide between absolving or retaining guilt. This requires "confession" of sins for this judgment not to be arbitrary, hence the popular name of the sacrament. This authority was passed on to bishops, and from them to priests, with ordination. Matthew 16:19; John 20:21-23; Rev. 1:18.

Anointing of the Sick. Anointing prepares the person for death, and only incidentally may produce physical healing. The salvation and resurrection spoken of in James are in the first place spiritual. James  5:14-15.

Holy Orders. The threefold division of sacred ministers (bishops, priests and deacons)  prefigured in the Old Law (high priest, priests, Levites) is clearly revealed in Scripture. Yet, most so-called "bible-believing" Protestant churches do not have them. Acts 6:3-6; Acts 13:2-3; 1 Tim. 3:1; 1 Tim. 3:8-9; 1 Tim. 4:14; 1 Tim. 4:16; 1 Tim. 5:17-19; 1 Tim. 5:22.

Matrimony. Marriage is, as St. Paul states, a mystery (mysterion).  The Latin word used to translate mysterion is "sacramentum". The sacraments are mysteries (as Eastern Christians still call them), for  one thing is visible and something else is known by faith. By faith, matrimony is a sign of Christ and the Church, as well as a special calling. Mt. 19:10-11; Eph. 5:31-32.

John Chapter 3

1 And there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jєωs.

2 This man came to Jesus by night, and said to him: Rabbi, we know that thou art come a teacher from God: for no man can do these miracles, which thou dost, unless God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said to him: Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith to him: How can a man be born, when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born again?

5 Jesus answered: Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh, is flesh: and that which is born of the spirit, is spirit.

7 Wonder not that I said to thee, you must be born again.

8 The Spirit breatheth where he will, and thou hearest his voice; *but thou knowest not whence he cometh, nor whither he goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

9 Nicodemus answered, and said to him: How can these things be done?

10 Jesus answered, and said to him: Art thou a master in Israel, and knowest not these things?

11 Amen, amen, I say to thee: that we speak what we know, and we testify what we have seen, and you receive not our testimony.

12 If I have spoken to you earthly things, and you believe not: how will you believe if I shall speak to you heavenly things?

13 And no man hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended from heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.

14 *And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man to be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting.

16 *For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son: that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world, to judge the world, but that the world may be saved by him.

18 He that believeth in him is not judged: but he that doth not believe, is already judged: because he believeth not in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the judgment: *because the light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.

20 For every one that doth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, that his works may not be reproved.

21 But he that doth truth, cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, because they are done in God.

22 After these things, Jesus and his disciples came into the land of Judea: and there he abode with them, *and baptized.

Chapter 6

27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man will give you. *For him hath God the Father sealed.

28 They said, therefore, to him: What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered, and said to them: *This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he hath sent.

30 They said, therefore, to him: What sign then dost thou shew that we may see, and may believe thee? what dost thou work?

31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert, as it is written: *He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

32 Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen, I say unto you: Moses gave you not bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

33 For the bread of God is that which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world.

34 Then they said to him: Lord, give us always this bread.

35 And Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life: *he that cometh to me, shall not hunger: and he that believeth in me, shall never thirst.

36 But I said to you, that you also have seen me, and you believe not.

37 All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me: and him that cometh to me, I will not cast out:

38 Because I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39 Now this is the will of the Father, that sent me: that of all that he hath given me, I should not lose thereof, but should raise it up again at the last day.

40 And this is the will of my Father, that sent me: that every one who seeth the Son, and believeth in him, may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

41 The Jєωs therefore murmured at him, because he had said: I am the living bread which came down from heaven.

42 And they said: *Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then saith he, I came down from heaven?

43 Jesus, therefore, answered, and said to them: Murmur not among yourselves.

44 No man can come to me, except the Father, who hath sent me, draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

45 It is written in the prophets: *And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard of the Father, and hath learned, cometh to me.

46 *Not that any man hath seen the Father, but he, who is of God, he hath seen the Father.

47 Amen, amen I say unto you: He that believeth in me, hath everlasting life.

48 I am the bread of life.

49 *Your fathers did eat manna in the desert, and they died.

50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven: that if any one eat of it, he may not die.

51 I am the living bread, which came down from heaven.

52 If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread which I will give, is my flesh for the life of the world.

53 The Jєωs, therefore, disputed among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

54 Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you: Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you.

55 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

56 *For my flesh, is meat indeed: and my blood, is drink indeed:

57 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him.

58 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me.

59 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna, and died. He that eateth this bread, shall live for ever.

60 These things he said, teaching in the ѕуηαgσgυє, in Capharnaum.

61 Many, therefore, of his disciples, hearing it, said: This saying is hard, and who can hear it?

62 But Jesus, knowing in himself, that his disciples murmured at this, said to them: Doth this scandalize you?

63 If then you shall see *the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

64 It is the spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken to you, are spirit and life.

65 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that did not believe, and who he was that would betray him.

66 And he said: Therefore did I say to you, that no man can come to me, unless it be given him by my Father.

67 After this many of his disciples went back: and walked no more with him.

Have him explain these things to you - The Catholic Church is formed on the Sacraments so unles you belong to the Church that Jesus Christ formed on this earth that has the Four Marks - you are not of his one flock and one fold.

Period

Pax

 :applause:

Quote from: St.Robert Bellarmine

Let prayer delight thee more than disputations, and the charity which buildeth up more than the knowledge which puffeth up.

Quote from: Thomas Kempis, the Imitation of Christ

What good does it do to speak learnedly about the Trinity if, lacking humility, you displease the Trinity? Indeed it is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God. I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it. For what would it profit us to know the whole Bible by heart and the principles of all the philosophers if we live without grace and the love of God? Vanity of vanities and all is vanity, except to love God and serve Him alone.

Shun too great a desire for knowledge, for in it there is much fretting and delusion. Intellectuals like to appear learned and to be called wise. Yet there are many things the knowledge of which does little or no good to the soul, and he who concerns himself about other things than those which lead to salvation is very unwise.

The more recollected a man is, and the more simple of heart he becomes, the easier he understands sublime things, for he receives the light of knowledge from above.

:applause:

Precisely.

All the Knowledge and Understanding and then Giving Good Council as is humanly attainable are useless without Wisdom, Piety, Fear of Offending God , and the Fortitude to be a completely orthodox Catholic in these trying times.  There are seven gifts of the Holy Ghost for a reason.

St Francis of Assisi and St John Vianny slept on stone floors for a reason - they lived impoverished they gave good example - they denied themselves - it is because of their austere life in pleasing Almighty GOD that such Grace flowed to their laity in such abundance. Indeed , Catholicism is all encompassing - we cannot merely think we have an eloquent speech and that our efforts alone will win the day , no , it is GOD's Grace that converts by men of good will who accept and act upon that grace - so it is up to us to live in a manner so as to be a conduit for that Grace - to be able to call down the Grace based on our Love of GOD and Neighbor - then and only then can the work of GOD and the mission of the Church be realized.

This is one of the best posts I have read - Great job.............