What is the “Catholic Gospel”? What is the “Good News” that Jesus came to give us? I can’t even imagine a “bumper-sticker-sized” slogan that does justice to His saving work. I don’t believe that reducing His work to a slogan is either appropriate or possible. But we so often hear non-Catholics trying to do just that (example: “the sinner’s prayer” that makes one saved?), that we ought to think about the issue.
This is not an attempt to shrink the Gospel into a slogan - but merely to try to express at least part of it briefly….
No one can "think himself" into the Life that Christ died to give us. Those who die with Him, can then and thereby live with Him - and dying with Him is not merely thinking it, or insisting upon it, or imagining it, or declaring or professing or in any way "doing it" merely by act of will. Only by grace is one saved, through faith. Only by grace is one sanctified, in human works of supernatural faith. Only by grace is one saved, by persevering in faith unto death - all possible only by His grace. This is the path of “the obedience of faith" that Paul wrote of - Paul, who " received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations..." (Rom 1:5).
And grace is not merely claiming or imagining to have God's favor! Grace is a share in the supernatural substance of God's very Life. He made us in His image and likeness, making, designing a place for Him - for His life - within us. Grace does something to us, in us! In the beginning - in Baptism - it infuses the human soul with sanctifying grace, and the virtues of faith and hope and holy charity, all in potency. And the seven gifts or spirits of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2-3) which have the power to bring to perfection those supernatural virtues of faith, hope and charity. And the moral virtues including the "cardinal" supernatural virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. All these, infused - given - in the sacrament of Baptism into the human soul by and with grace that we might live - actually live - a just and holy life that honors Him and magnifies His Name here among men, and thus do we find fulfillment in our lives, in the vocation set in us By God in the moment of our conception in the womb: we are called into true holiness in Him.
This is not an attempt to shrink the Gospel into a slogan - but merely to try to express at least part of it briefly….
No one can "think himself" into the Life that Christ died to give us. Those who die with Him, can then and thereby live with Him - and dying with Him is not merely thinking it, or insisting upon it, or imagining it, or declaring or professing or in any way "doing it" merely by act of will. Only by grace is one saved, through faith. Only by grace is one sanctified, in human works of supernatural faith. Only by grace is one saved, by persevering in faith unto death - all possible only by His grace. This is the path of “the obedience of faith" that Paul wrote of - Paul, who " received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations..." (Rom 1:5).
Rom 16:25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret for long ages
Rom 16:26 but is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings is made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—
Rom 16:27 to the only wise God be glory for evermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Rom 16:26 but is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings is made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—
Rom 16:27 to the only wise God be glory for evermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
And grace is not merely claiming or imagining to have God's favor! Grace is a share in the supernatural substance of God's very Life. He made us in His image and likeness, making, designing a place for Him - for His life - within us. Grace does something to us, in us! In the beginning - in Baptism - it infuses the human soul with sanctifying grace, and the virtues of faith and hope and holy charity, all in potency. And the seven gifts or spirits of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2-3) which have the power to bring to perfection those supernatural virtues of faith, hope and charity. And the moral virtues including the "cardinal" supernatural virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. All these, infused - given - in the sacrament of Baptism into the human soul by and with grace that we might live - actually live - a just and holy life that honors Him and magnifies His Name here among men, and thus do we find fulfillment in our lives, in the vocation set in us By God in the moment of our conception in the womb: we are called into true holiness in Him.
