The bible..
Out of context: Reply #208
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- gramme0
*I should clarify that no one know beyond any shadow of a doubt whether a person has the genuine article of faith...that's a matter between each person and God. However, you can tell by a person's actions what is in their heart.
Also, I didn't mention what the Reformed church believes in contrast to Rome:
Salvation is only by grace, through faith. Neither works nor sacraments help in any way. Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
We believe that Christ is the only person who can plead on our behalf before God. This is not the province of saints in heaven, nor of Mary. There is simply no Biblical evidence that anyone besides Christ led a perfect life and can even hear much less answer our prayers.
We also believe that baptism and communion are signs and symbols, not methods of salvation. We believe the communion cup and bread is a metaphor, not the actual transubstantiated blood and body of Christ. In Mark 1:8, John the Baptist says: "I have baptized you with water, but he [speaking of Jesus] will baptize you with the holy spirit."