Sorry for the confusion…

Concept: a general notion or idea.
Attribute: a quality, character, characteristic, or property.

One thing I’ve learned is to define terms…I’m kind of anal about it. One of those character flaws, I suppose. Attribute is better in this case.

“What are the concepts of God?” He is……etc.

“What are the attributes of God?” He is…..etc.

You need to get that thang autographed now! BTW I do mean “thang”.

Your use of “attribute” is better. You win. Are you happy now?!

Actually, I happen to have a special hardbound copy of Life With God (don’t ask how I obtained it;). I haven’t had it autographed yet, though…I guess I should do that.

Hey you too can be an encyclomatic95. When it comes to theology, I use a cheat sheet–it’s called “Dr. Laurance White’s Life With God”.

I agree with you, things such as “Truth” and “Justice” are attributes that make up our God, but you don’t receive salvation from attributes, you receive salvation from the God who holds these attributes. There is no other name under heaven by which we are saved, and that name is “Jesus”.

“Currentlyporkchop”,

Thanks for commenting on some posts! We’re glad to have you, we hope to see you around some more.

Orthodox Catholics have a different conception/definition of a few key terms within the argument of salvation and justification. I have a good little book by Robert Preus (“Justification and Rome”) that gives a detailed look at the differences. I also have a Catholic friend who I spar with on occasion. Just something to think about when reading material from Roman Catholics. For the record, I don’t agree with the RC definitions, but terms must be defined when discussing these things.

I say this because I’ve often run into the idea that “Christ is Truth” or something similar…John 14:6 and others. Dulles says, “Even atheists can be saved if they worship God under some other name and place their lives at the service of truth and justice.” There seems to be this underlying attempt by RC’s that I’ve dealt with (conscious or not) to directly associate Christ with concepts such as “Truth” or “Justice”. While the statement, “Christ is Truth” may be true, somehow it seems misleading. My gut, however rotten it may be, tells me that “Truth is Christ” doesn’t follow. It seems to remove the “person” of Christ…then you end up with the theological idea that one may worship Truth and Justice and receive salvation. Obviously, anything that removes Christ from the picture is to be anathema.

The concepts must not be mistaken for the Person…

Thoughts?

There is no comfort in this false doctrine because you are still relying on your works, and this flies in the face of Hebrews which says the works of unbelievers are a stinch to God. Or how God calls unbelieving Israel’s works “menstrual garments”. Without faith in Christ, we can’t even please God. I hate to say this….No….actually I am dang proud to say this, but I know that our 13 year old confirmands are smarter and have a better grasp on the doctrine of Justification than this “cardinal”. More bluntly put; in a debate, I’d put all my money on a 13 year old Lutheran confirmand than this “Dull” Cardinal.

I’m sorry Andy, I had to go all “Luther”. Never the less, it’s not perfect faith that saves a man, but a perfect Savior. On the last day, God will wash this Cardinal clean of His Old Adamic mind.