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S.Benedict -> RE: Salvation and Catholicism (5/9/2005 10:50:07 PM)
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This is in a short form what Catholics believe about salvation, or what one must do to be saved. It is an excerpt from a pamphlet called Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth published by Catholic Answers.
WHAT MUST YOU DO TO BE SAVED
Best of all, the promise of eternal life is a gift, freely offered to us by God (CCC 1727). Our initial forgiveness and justification are not things we "earn" (CCC 2010). Jesus is the mediator who bridged the gap of sin that separates us from God (1 Tim 2:5); he bridged it by dying for us. He has chosen to make us partners in the plan of salvation (1 Cor 3:9).
the Catholic Church teaches what the apostles taught and what the Bible teaches: We are saved by grace alone, but not by faith alone (which is what "Bible Chrisitans" teach; see Jas. 2:24).
When we come to God and are justified (that is enter a right relationship with God), nothing preceding justification, whether faith or good works, earns grace. But then God plants his love in our hearts, and we should live out our faith by doing acts of love (Gal 6:2).
Even though only God's grace enables us to love others, these acts of love pease him, and he promises to reward them with eternal life (Rom 2:6-7, Gal 6:6-10). Thus good works are meritorious. When we first come to God in faith, we have nothing in our hand to offer him. Thsn he givces us grace to obey his commandments in love, and he rewards us with salvation when we offer these acts of love back to hin (Rom 2:6-11, Gal 6:6-10, Matt 25:34-40).
Jesus said it is not enough to have faith in him; we also must obey his commandments. "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' but do not do the things I command?" (Luke 6:46, matt 7:21-23, 19:16-21).
We do not "earn" our salvation through good works (Eph 2:8-9, Rom 9:16), but our faith in Christ puts in us a special grace-filled relationship with God so that our obedience and love, combined with our faith, will be rewarded with eternal life (Rom 2:7), Gal 6:8-9).
Paul said, "God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work" (Phil 2:13). John explained that "the way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. Whoever says, 'I know him,' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (1 John 2:3-4, 3:19-24, 5:3-4). Since no gift can be forced on the recipient - gfts always can be rejected - even after we become justified, we can throw away the gift of salvation. We throw it away through grave (mortal) sin (John 15:5-6, Rom 11:22-23, 1Cor 15:1-2; CCC 1854-1863). Paul tells us, "The wages of sin is death" (Rom 6:23).
read his letters and see how often Paul warned Christians against sin! He would not have felt compelled to do so if their sins could not exclude them from heaven (see, for example, 1 Cor 6:9-10, Gal 5:19-21). Paul reminded the Christians in Rome that God "will repay everyone according to his works; eternal life for those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through perseverance in good works, but wroath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness" (Rom 2:6-8).
Sins are nothing but evil works (CCC 1849-1850). We can avoid sins by habitually performing good works. Every saint has known that the best way to keep free from sins is to embrace regular prayer, the sacraments (the Eucharist first of all) , and charitable acts.
Are you guaranteed heaven?
Some people promote an especially attractive idea: All true Christians, regardless of how they live, have an absolue assureance of salvation, once they accept Jesus into their hears as "their personal Lord and Savior." The problem is that the belief is contrary to the Bible and constant Christian teaching.
Keep in mind what Paul told the Christians of his day: "If we have died with him [in baptism: see Rom 6:3-4] we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him" (2 Tim 2:11-12). If we do not persevere, we shall not reign with him,. In other words, Christians can forfeit heaven (CCC 1861).
The Bible makes it clear that Christiand have a moral assurance of salvation (God will be true to his word and will grant salvation to those who have faith in Christ and are obedient to him [1 John 3:19-24], but hte Bible does not teach that Christians have a guarantee of heaven. There can be no absolute assurance of salvation.
Writing to Christians, Paul said, "See, then, the kindness and severity toward those who fell, but God's kindness to you, provided you remain in his kindness, otherwise you too will be cut off" (Rom 11:22-23, Matt 18:21-35, 1 Cor 15:1-2, 2 Pet 2:20-21).
Note htat Paul includes an important condition: "provided that you remain in his kindness." He is saying that Christians can lose their salvation by throwing it away. He warns, "Whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall" (1 Cor 10:11-12).
If you are Catholic and someone asks you if you have been "saved", you should say, "I am redeemed by the blood of Christ, I trust in Him alone for my salvation, and, as the Bible teaches, I am 'working out my salvation in fear and trembling' (Phil 2:12), knowing that it is God's gift of grace that is working in me."
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