God's Word alone is to be our guideline -- This thread is focusing on the RCC beliefs and Bible. But the same can be applied to Any belief system. Who is Jesus Christ -- did He come into this world through a virgin -- did He die on the cross shedding His blood for our sins and did He rise again bodily from the dead. Yes, to all of those. According To Scripture. Jesus Christ is the Son of God -- not simply a good religious teacher of that time in history.
Various groups take Bible Plus the church fathers' Or writings from other people.
As born-again believers, we Are to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. God Does have things He wants us to do for Him. But those are not Unto salvation they are the result Of our salvation.
Anything we hear we are to verify that they are Indeed correct teaching as per God's Word. Most of the time we Don't because we trust the pastor or S. S. teacher to be teaching God's Word. And when we read on our own -- we Do recognize correct teaching As well as that which is Off.
@KingJ -- Scripture says that even in our sin -- while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. He Didn't say -- clean up your act 1st and Then I'll do what I can to save you. Jesus Christ went to hell and back up In Our Place.
In post 155 you agreed with what I was saying about salvation, but in realty you don't. You use the term 'purify / purified' in a different way -- you equate the hell part of Abraham's bosum as a time of purification. No one is purified in Haddes / hell / whatever title applies. It's where all non-believers go -- waiting in agony until the real agony starts After the great white throne judgement takes place. There Is a verse that seems to indicate that Jesus Christ Does present salvation to the people who died with out placing their faith in the coming messiah in the Old Testament -- that they are given One More Chance to accept what He did for them and Then He takes the people waiting in Paradise back up with Him.
You've commented that the RCC seems to have That right -- but they Don't because there's no such place. But that's already been discussed.