How much time would you like to spend reading or listening to the Bible each day?Whether you would like to read the Psalms & Proverbs, the New Testament, the Old Testament, or the whole Bible, there is a simple chronological plan inside to help guide & encourage you.Be sure to check out the many helpful resources included at the end of the book and online as well!
This book is the formulation of years of guiding myself and my church family through Bible reading. It is a simple but helpful tool to help with the discipline of drawing near to God through regular Bible reading and listening.
The Catholic Blog - Helping people find answers to the most common questions about Catholicism with answers from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible. (www.catholic.blog )
“Do different sins need different sacrifices?” - Important Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church to Consider:
“The distinction between mortal and venial sin, already evident in Scripture, became part of the tradition of the Church. It is corroborated by human experience” (CCC 1854)
“Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude by preferring and inferior good to him” (CCC 1855)
“Venial sin allows charity to subsist, even though it offends and wounds it” (CCC 1855)
“Mortal sin…necessitates a new initiative of God’s mercy and a conversion of the heart which is normally accomplished within the sacrament of reconciliation” (CCC 1856)
“Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent” (CCC 1857)
“Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments” (CCC 1858)
“Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life” (CCC 1472)
“every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified here on earth, or after death in a state called Purgatory” (CCC 1472)
“this purification frees one from what is called the ‘temporal punishment’ of sin” (CCC 1472)
“Do different sins need different sacrifices?” - Important Scriptures to Consider:
1 John 2:16–17 “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. [17] And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." (ESV)
Galatians 2:16 “yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” (ESV)
Romans 3:19–20 “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. [20] For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” (ESV)
Matthew 5:20 "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (ESV)
Galatians 2:20–21 "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. [21] I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” (ESV)
Mark 10:26–27 “And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” [27] Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (ESV)
James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” (ESV)
James 4:17 "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (ESV)
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (ESV)
Hebrews 7:27 “He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.” (ESV)
Romans 8:1–2 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (ESV)
“Do different sins need different sacrifices?” - Important Questions to Consider:
Is 1 John 2:16-17 distinguishing between different levels of sin or different ways in which we are tempted to sin?
Is tradition alone such a valid tool to determine whether someone goes to Heaven, Hell or Purgatory?
Where does the Bible rank, compare, and evaluate the seriousness of sin?
What does James 2:10 mean? What does James 4:17 mean?
What is the purpose of the law according to Romans 3:19–20? Can fulfilling the law save us?
Is it possible to fulfill the Ten Commandments? Who is the only one who has fulfilled the law?
How can we obtain a righteousness that “exceeds the scribes and the Pharisees”?
In the story of the rich young man (Mark 10:17-27), how did Jesus answer his question? Is it possible for man to save himself by fulfilling the Ten Commandments?
Does 1 John 1:9 say anything about different kinds of sins or different ways of obtaining forgiveness? How do we receive forgiveness? Who do we confess to according to this verse?
Where does the Bible speak about purgatory? If purgatory exists, why would it exist if we are already forgiven “from all unrighteousness”?
You can download the free eBook "A Biblical Study of The Catechism of the Catholic Church" at www.catholic.blog or purchase a Kindle, paperback, or hardback version at Amazon (www.amazon.com/gp/product/B098L1MRLK).
The Catholic Blog - Helping people find answers to the most common questions about Catholicism with answers from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible. (www.catholic.blog )
“Is the Catholic Church the Only True Church?” - Important Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church to Consider:
“The Church is the Temple of the Holy Spirit” (CCC 809)
“This is the sole Church of Christ” (CCC 811)
“The sole Church of Christ [is that] which our Savior, after his Resurrection, entrusted to Peter’s pastoral care, commissioning him and the other apostles to extend and rule it. … This Church, constituted and organized as a society in the present world, subsists in (subsistit in) the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him.” (CCC 816)
“For it is through Christ’s Catholic Church alone, which is the universal hope toward salvation, that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained” (CCC 816)
“Is the Catholic Church the Only True Church?” - Important Scriptures to Consider:
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, [20] for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (ESV)
1 Corinthians 3:16–17 “Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? [17] If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.” (ESV)
2 Timothy 3:15 “the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (ESV)
1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, [10] who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.” (ESV)
Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near”
Ephesians 1:22-23 “the church, which is his body”
1 Corinthians 12:20 “As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.”
1 Corinthians 12:27-31 “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.”
“Is the Catholic Church the Only True Church?” - Important Questions to Consider:
Is God’s Spirit constrained to a building or a denomination?
What is a church? What is the purpose of a church?
Are all churches valid? What constitutes a true church?
Does salvation come through a church or through Jesus?
