Simply put, the Catholic teaching on salvation is very different from what the Bible teaches. Teach us … It is a false accusation, but it persists. However, one has to remember that it is not enough to simply say “I believe,” and then do nothing (deathbed conversions are a separate matter). But if he does not realize this obligation, is true to his conscience, even though it be erroneous, and dies repenting of any violations of his conscience, he will get to Heaven. “We are saved by faith alone.” The Bible doesn’t say it. When I, a “cradle Catholic,” am accosted by a “born again” Christian, and asked whether I am “saved,” my thoughts usually go to St. Paul’s frequent admonitions to work out your salvation in “fear and trembling.” Other means aren't condoned by the Church per se, but neither does the Church presume to think God can't work through other means. “Hello, Pastor John. When a Roman Catholic priest speaks of salvation through the grace of Jesus Christ, he does not mean the unmerited, free grace of Christ whereby a believing sinner is eternally and completely and once-for-all saved from sin. They can’t, because it doesn’t. Ephesians 2:8-9 notes there are no works involved in earning our way to heaven: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. He was a great man, a good friend, a mentor to many young men like myself, and a devout Roman Catholic. Baptism confers upon us a spiritual seal which is permanent. In those days, the Israelites only had to keep the law and commandments and they would not be condemned. Does it seem strange that Peter said “repent” instead of “believe”? Our good works are done not on our own, and they have merit because they are a response to God’s grace. Getting saved is a big thing among Protestant denominations, this is how they begin their "Christian life"; some after this prayer they actually do not begin a "Christian life" at all; they go about doing their business just like before, believing that they have been saved and feel secure in it. The Catholic church has never saved anyone. Despite their vigorous affirmations, Roman Catholicism does not truly hold to salvation by grace through faith. The Catholic Church teaches that Purgatory is not for those who willfully reject Christ or never seek God in this life. Does a person have to attend church to be saved? Saved by Grace Through Faith . When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He provided salvation for all. Why Catholics conclude that good works play a role in salvation Let's get this said first -- It is Catholic dogma that forgiveness is of grace, not of works. There is a difference between being considered a Catholic and being “baptized”. God calls you to Himself just as you are. St. Jude, I call upon you to intercede with God for me and to help me in my relationship. The Catholic Church does not now, nor has it ever, taught a doctrine of salvation by works…that we can “work” our way into Heaven. We all know that under the Age of Law, God issued the law and the commandments through Moses to lead the Israelites in their life on earth. And yet, the … In fact, the Bible rejects it. To be saved, you must place faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sins. “‘And when I am lifted up on the cross, I will draw everyone to myself.’ He said this to indicate how he was going to die” (John 12:32-33). – svidgen Jan 5 '13 at 19:58 It would be easy to say, "hey the Catholics think all non Christians are going to get evangelized and saved in purgatory." That is the normal law. The truth be known, it has caused many to lose their souls. How to be saved is within the reach of every human being on the face of the earth. Answered by Fr. That faith which is absolutely necessary for salvation, “is a free assent to the whole truth that God has revealed.” (CCC 150). Help us listen and speak from the heart so we can communicate with compassion. Being a Christian does not mean being a member of the Roman Catholic Church. Edward McIlmail, LC. A: Thanks for your show of love for your parents. The church is of great importance, yet the Bible is clear that the way to heaven is by faith in Christ alone. An old accusation against the Catholic Church is that we believe we are saved by works. My friend, for most of my Christian life I have led people to pray a sinner's prayer to be saved. That is what you need to be saved from: God’s judgment and wrath. There is nothing … A close friend of mine passed away recently. Q: Okay, so I’m a Catholic but my parents are devout Baptists, and I recently discovered the “extra ecclesiam nulla salus” doctrine. With God, it is different. He accepts you as you are, right now…today. You can be a Catholic and be a Christian, but being a Catholic will not get you to heaven! In all honesty, the Catholic answer to anyone, a Catholic included, asking whether they will be saved is, "We hope so." Establishment St Thomas à Becket Catholic Secondary School, A Voluntary Academy URN : 138950 ... A minimum set of information needs to be provided before a record can be saved. However, good works in conjunction with faith do have merit. The Protestant who believes that Catholic teaching proclaims we are saved directly by our works apart from God’s Grace, in other words that we are capable of saving ourselves entirely or partially on our own merit and not by God’s Grace, does not understand Catholic teaching on Grace, salvation, or works. It all leads to a question over whether a devout Roman Catholic can be genuinely saved. How to be saved -- What must a man do to be saved? The simple answer is that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), and not by works. If you will prayerfully read your bible you will understand why I say this. Now, this does not mean that I or other saved Christians would never sin again; we sin and fall short of the glory of God perhaps every day, but the work of Jesus Christ on the cross was and is sufficient for all past, present and future sins of a saved believer. He does not operate off the same principles as man. Even today, only about one-fifth of Christians belong to churches that teach it. Help us come together so we can reconnect and reignite our love and understanding for each other. One can not remove or undo Baptism. An Analogy. That decision requires a change of mind, or repentance, about your way of life. They are not wrong to do, just so long as you don't do them to get or stay saved!) The Catholic Church does not now, nor has it ever, taught a doctrine of salvation by works…that we can “work” our way into Heaven. Additionally, nowhere in the Bible does it teach that we are saved by “faith alone.” So, no, if a person holds to the official Roman Catholic understanding of salvation, he or she is not saved. ... Parents are able to claim free school meals if they receive a qualifying benefit. Does this say that they will not be saved since they aren’t Catholics? Some people, especially those who convert to non-Christian religions or become atheist, may want to be unbaptized. It was not part of Christian belief for the first 1,500 years of Christianity. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. The Catholic Church affirms the truth of this statement, yet also teaches that non-believers can be saved: “Those also can attain to everlasting salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the gospel of Christ or his Church, yet sincerely seek God and, moved by grace, strive by their deeds to do his will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience. But, according to my understanding of the Catholic Faith, that is impossible. -B.M. Non-Catholic Christians may be saved if they are not culpable for being manifestly separated from the Catholic Church and persevere in faith and charity to the end (like anyone else). In such a case, it would not have been his fault that he was a non-Catholic and God makes every allowance for I’m really worried about them. But, in terms of salvation, you can’t separate faith and repentance. Second, I ask them to show me where in the Bible does it teach that we are saved by “faith alone.” They can’t, because it … My questions for you are these. 1 JOHN 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” However, if they believe they are saved by God’s grace and their works, then they are not saved even if they believe their works are done by God’s grace since they then deny the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. Acts 2:38 ESV / 57 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Or to put it the terrifying way one of the final chapters of the Bible does, you need to be saved from God “throwing” you into the “lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). If a Jehovah Witness, Mormon, Catholic, or Atheist won't get saved after a clear presentation of the Gospel, then nothing else is going to work either. But Protestantism diverges from Catholic understanding when it concludes that we are therefore also saved by “faith alone.” Does it differ from many Protestant faith traditions? There is no salvation, there is no act of love toward God or neighbor, which is not inspired and supported entirely by God himself. What does “being saved” mean here? Ever wonder what Catholics believe about salvation? Catholic and classic Protestant theology agree on this: We are saved by grace. By “grace,” the Roman Catholic Church means God’s help to live a righteous life. This will to save all men is therefore not an affected, superficial and apparent will in God; it is a real, effective, and beneficial will; for He provides us with all the means most proper for us to be saved. if he wishes to save his soul. 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