So this Sunday I am the host on a radio show called The Catholic Café. Deacon Jeff Drzycimski and Tom Dorian are the hosts and they do a stellar job engaging their guests in discussions on the Catholic faith. I was on to discuss the Catholic View of Salvation.
As a fun study, perhaps as a refresher or as a first timer, I though you all would like to read up on this topic. Here are some notes to help you.
First: Catholics believe that Christ’s act of sacrifice on the cross was a once and for all act that needs no additional work nor help to accomplish our salvation. The Mass, for example, is a re-participation in Christ’s sacrifice. Often times Catholics get attacked for re-crucifying Christ. This is just not true either in our theology nor biblically.
Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God.”
Second: There is no assurance of Salvation. In fact, we can engage in the sin of presumption if we presume we are saved no matter what our actions are. The Catechism states in paragraph 2092: “There are two kinds of presumption. Either man presumes upon his own capacities, (hoping to be able to save himself without help from on high), or he presumes upon God’s almighty power or his mercy (hoping to obtain his forgiveness without conversion and glory without merit).”
Also, as we attempt to be more Christ-like we look to the Apostles of the Church for guidance. Paul himself did not presume his salvation.
“I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then every man will receive his commendation from God.” – 1 Cor 4:4-5
Paul states “Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time.”
Also, read this…
“…that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him
in his death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” – Phil 3:10-12
Third: Do we believe we can work our way into heaven? No more than we can fake our way through American Idol.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God – not
because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” – Eph 2:8-10
Also, we read in Romans 1:17 “For in it is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous by faith will live.”
We believe that it is our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ that brings salvation. However we also believe that one who believes in our Lord will resound with internal joy by being in relationship with Him who is God. It is this inner faith and joy that causes us to purse conversion and manifests itself in our lives. We believe that while our faith brings us into relationship with God, our works reflect what we believe and are also important.
“What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? If a
brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But some one will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe — and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works, and the scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness”; and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead. – Jam 2:14-26
Also, Revelation 22:12 states “Behold, I am coming soon. I bring with me the recompense I will give to each according to his deeds.”
We must live our lives according to the will of God, otherwise our faith is just lip service and is nothing, or dead as it states in James.
Please listen to the show and go to http://www.thecatholiccafe.com/listen.html to listen to all of the shows of The Catholic Café. This is a great ministry in Memphis and a great tool for you to learn more of the faith.
If you have any questions about what Catholics believe, email me at bob@bobnicholas.com and I will be happy to help.
God bless
Tags: always saved, Catholic, catholic cafe, conversion, once saved, Paul
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