"Have you been saved?”

In Acts 4, St. Peter delivers a powerful sermon. He concludes by saying, “There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”

I have written before in these pages of the time when I was growing up in the southern part of the United States and how I would from time to time encounter young, protestant teens and adults who would excitedly take to the streets to witness for Christ.

Now for Catholics who may not be familiar with the phrase, “witnessing for Christ”, this was how they would refer to their efforts to evangelize and share their faith in Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior.

The conversation would often begin with me being asked, “Do you know Jesus?” or “Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?” But the conversation would also frequently begin with the question, “Have you been saved?”

Of course I knew Jesus. And whether I understood the phraseology of the questions, yes, I knew that Jesus was a person; I received him in Holy Communion at least weekly; and I prayed to him. I knew he had come to save us and I sure hoped that I would be saved.

But the questions were still somewhat foreign to me. It seemed as if we had different understandings of the words being used. Inevitably, the discussion would lead to, “Do you know what you must do to be saved?”

The answer, I would be told, was that I must accept Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior and believe in (on) him. Then out came the bibles to prove what was being asserted. Words such as justification, salvation, and believing faith would be tossed back and forth; and occasionally, sanctification.

Prior to third grade, I did not know many Protestants except for family members on my father’s side; he was a Southern Baptist, who with my Catholic mother was raising a Catholic family in 1950s Mississippi.

While the state was overwhelmingly Protestant, we lived in a city that was, to my experience, almost totally Catholic, populated with first- and second-generation Irish, French, Slavic and southern European Catholics. My father was able to help me understand where these questions were coming from and to help me form answers true to my Catholic beliefs.

What Does the Catholic Church Teach?

In my ministry as a deacon today, I still hear non-Catholics speak these words and also of “justification” in connection to “being saved.” What does the Church teach about justification and salvation? What must I do to be saved?

1. Justification is an “act of grace” by God

Justification is wholly the action and work of God to cleanse a person of Original and Personal Sin, restoring him to friendship with God. Original Sin and Personal Sin separated us from that friendship. We could not restore the friendship, but Jesus Christ could and did. Not only is the justified person restored to friendship, he is adopted and made a child of God, a member of the family of God which is his Church. This action (a grace of the Holy Spirit) is merited for us by Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. [cf. CCC 1987 – 1995 and 2017 – 2020]

2. Justification is also a “state of grace”

Justification is the state of being in habitual grace freely given by God to man. This grace that justifies and places one in this state is called sanctifying (or deifying) grace. It is supernatural because it is totally dependent upon God and cannot be earned (initiated) by man. The justified person is said to be in a state of [sanctifying] grace. [cf. CCC 1996 – 1998, 2005, and 2021]

3. Justification must be freely accepted by the human person (free will)

Justification presupposes man’s free act of will to accept and cooperate with this grace. God does not force this action or state on man. Human freedom is a secondary, but, essential element.

It is received by a person’s faith in Jesus Christ through which he freely accepts God’s forgiveness and righteousness. Justification makes possible cooperation between God’s grace and man’s freedom. [cf. CCC 2002 – 2004]

4. Justification transforms the human person

Justification is the beginning of the sanctification of the inner person. Man’s sins are not merely overlooked by God, as Martin Luther taught, rather, the human person is cleansed and by his cooperation with the grace is made truly holy. Through faith in Jesus Christ, man stands in this grace and merits increased (is strengthened in) grace and moves in charity by continued good works (the practice of the human virtues) toward perfection in Christ. Our good works, on our own initiative, do not directly save us, but they can strengthen our relationship with Christ and lead us to grow in holiness. [cf. CCC 1995, 1999, 2006 – 2016]

5. Justification (and thus, Salvation) can be lost

This grace is habitual because it endures and persists until we forfeit it. Man can lose this sanctifying grace by freely and knowingly committing a sin involving grave matter (referred to as being subjectively guilty of a mortal sin). [cf. CCC 1856, 1859, 2000]

The Protestant friends of my youth would tell me that once I was saved, there was nothing I could do, no matter how terribly sinful, that could separate me from God and cause me to lose my salvation. Their belief is the doctrine of some Protestants known as, “Once Saved, Always Saved”. But the New Testament Scriptures are filled with warnings that support the Catholic teaching that salvation can be lost.

St. Paul, writing to believers in 1 Corinthians 9:27 testifies, “…I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.”

That this speaks to his concern about losing his salvation is made obvious by the passage that immediately follows in 1 Corinthians 10 where he warns believers about giving in to sin and human confidence. In verses 12 and 13 he writes, “Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall. No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.”

If this is not enough to convince us, he writes to the believing Gentile Christians in Romans 11:17-21, “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place and have come to share in the rich root of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. If you do boast, consider that you do not support the root; the root supports you. Indeed you will say, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’ That is so. They were broken off because of unbelief, but you are there because of faith. So do not become haughty, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.”

Thus, St. Paul teaches us in Philippians 2:12-13, “So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work.”

6. Justification is initially received at Baptism

This marks the beginning (not the end) of a person’s conversion and sanctification, man’s free response to the invitation to the Divine life from God where he turns from sin and toward God. Should a person lose the [sanctifying] grace of justification, it can be restored through sacramental confession (Sacrament of Reconciliation). [cf. CCC 1856, 1992, 2020]

7. So, how does Justification relate to Salvation?

The answer is so simple we often overlook it, so do not look for a long answer here.

The justified person attains salvation if he dies in a state of Sanctifying Grace.

So, have you been saved?

“Yes, I believe in Jesus and received his justifying (sanctifying) grace when I was baptized into his Church. Jesus saved me. And at those times when I have sinned gravely and lost this grace, I returned to the Lord to be cleansed again by him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) where I again received his justifying grace.

“I am strengthened in my personal relationship with him by my worship of him and receiving him in Holy Communion at Mass; through my prayer, devotion and reading of the Scriptures; by my study of the teachings of the faith; and through my good works prepared beforehand by him for me to perform while in his grace.

“I have been saved, am being saved, and have supernatural hope that I will be saved. I believe this because the Church, established by Jesus, through which this grace flows to me, teaches me that this is so.”

>>> “ If NOBODY is yet saved, then salvation must come after death.”
You’re just figuring that out? For all but the final generation, that is the undeniable fact that Yeshua and his apostles were trying to get across.

Is this the Catholic teaching? or your personal conviction?

Heb 9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 3:10
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Rom 3:20
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Jas 2:10
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Tell me... Who gets a pass?

Who will NOT be cast in the lake of fire?

>>> Are you trying to make the point that ONLY ‘false teachers’ will be ‘worse off’?

No... I said that “They” are defined starting in verse 9 and 10, and further described in verses 11-19. Summarily they are referred to in verse 9 as “the unjust”.

To me, I see the “unjust” described in verses 11-19 as all those who for whatever reason hate all things righteous and lust after everything that is unclean. This would certainly include false teachers, but is not limited to them.

My point was that taking verse 20 out of context and using it to refer to people of faith is completely out of line with the previous 10 verses.

>> "Tell me... Who gets a pass? Who will NOT be cast in the lake of fire?" <<

Only those that truly believe as the word believe was understood in Yeshua’s time.

If you want to know what that means, read John's first epistle.

Yeshua asked us to obey his commandments. He said that those that love him keep his commandments.

What is “iniquity?” Not keeping his commandments; teaching others not to keep his commandments.

1John 2:

[1] My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
[2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
[3] And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
[4] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
[5] But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
[6] He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

What is the definition of sin?

1John

[4] Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
[5] And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
[6] Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
[7] Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

To me this seems simple and clear; he who is righteous gets the “pass.”

If we truly know him, he has written his Torah on our heart. If he has written Torah on our heart, we love his Torah, and keep it out of love. If that is not where you are, then you are not in him!

Do you think John, of all of the apostles, knew Yeshua? Do you want to believe that John is misleading us?

Was Paul lying in Romans 2 when he said

"[13] For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." ?

>>> To me this seems simple and clear; he who is righteous gets the “pass.” If we truly know him, he has written his Torah on our heart. If he has written Torah on our heart, we love his Torah, and keep it out of love. If that is not where you are, then you are not in him!

If you consider yourself righteous under the law, then the truth is not in you.

You cannot come to truly know Him until you recognize that you are incapable of righteousness under the law, and instead rely upon His sacrifice on the cross which PAID for your unrighteousness.

When you stand before God, He will judge you according to your righteousness, or He will judge you according to the righteousness of Christ who took on and bore the penalty for your sins in your stead.

You cannot have it both ways. It’s either Christ’s blood sacrifice that saves you, or your ability to follow the law to perfection... which IS the standard of holiness.

Christ was perfect FOR us.

If we recognize that, and believe it, we will naturally respond in love and SEEK to follow in His example, even though we know we will not always succeed.

Only a prideful man can rest in his own righteousness.

I suspect that you have extremely low reading comprehension, judging by your responses.

You constantly post strawmen to me, and I attempt to show you the scriptures so that you can understand what the word really says.

Nothing you have posted to me has any reasonable relationship to what I have posted to you.

Do you think John is wrong?

Is what John has written in conflict with your beliefs?

>>> Nothing you have posted to me has any reasonable relationship to what I have posted to you.

Now you are making sense.

You go right ahead and choose to stand before God according to your own righteousness.

I’ll rely upon the righteousness of Christ, and His shed blood for my sins.

If Jesus and His apostles taught reliance upon the torah for salvation, then the Pharisees would have had no argument with Him whatsoever... and He would not have been brought up on charges of blasphemy and crucified... nor would the apostles and Christians who followed Him been hunted down and killed for their beliefs.

Do I think John was wrong??? No... but I think the straw-man you made out of him is.

Let me try to get through to you one more time:

You appear to believe that it is impossible to keep Torah, is that so?

If so, then you are in conflict with the word of God.

1John 5:

[1] Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
[2] By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
[3] For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Get it?

His commandments are not so tough.

Nobody here has said that we are saved by keeping his commandments; we have old sins that have to be forgiven to be saved, but he who keeps on sinning (transgressing Torah) after learning Yeshua's Way will not be saved.

Hebrews 6 is no joke, nor is Matthew 7:23, nor Romans 2.

OSAS is an answer to a question that Yeshua never asked.

>>> You appear to believe that it is impossible to keep Torah, is that so?

It is possible to keep the Torah, but not to perfection... which IS the standard for holiness.

Recall the rich man who approached Jesus and asked what he needed to do to gain eternal life:

Mat 19:16
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

You see, the rich man THOUGHT he was perfect.
Jesus showed him that he actually was not.
The rich man was unwilling to part with his possessions.
The rich man was relying upon his own righteousness.
Keep reading in that same passage... you will see that
salvation is a gift of God that cannot be earned with deeds or righteousness.

>>> Nobody here has said that we are saved by keeping his commandments; we have old sins that have to be forgiven to be saved, but he who keeps on sinning (transgressing Torah) after learning Yeshua's Way will not be saved. Hebrews 6 is no joke, nor is Matthew 7:23, nor Romans 2.

Actually, you did say it. You said that those who are righteous get the pass. However, in reference to past versus future sins, it does not make sense that Christs sacrifice on the cross would apply to only those sins committed up to the time of conversion, because the believer would then be held to a higher standard than the unbeliever... without the benefit of incorruptibility which we don't receive until the death of our corrupted body. In as far as consequences go which you referenced in Hebrews 6, etc., "death" in scripture does not always refer to eternal damnation. It often refers to physical destruction of the body. If I continue in sin, even after God warns me to stop, He most certainly will end my time on earth even though my place in heaven is secure.

...However, in reference to past versus future sins, it does not make sense that Christs sacrifice on the cross would apply to only those sins committed up to the time of conversion, because the believer would then be held to a higher standard than the unbeliever...

Paul says it best in his letter to Rome... and proves the OBVIOUS error and presumptions of E-S

Romans 7: 13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

8: 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ...

My point was that taking verse 20 out of context and using it to refer to people of faith is completely out of line with the previous 10 verses.

Oh?

If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.

This sure sounds like 'people of faith' to me!

The elect will stand before him at the first resurrection, and the rest will stand at the Great White Throne 1000 years later, at the resurrection unto death, after the Earth and heavens have perished.

Makes no sense; according to what is written.

The 'elect' have their names in the Book of Life; right?

Yet at the GWT the BoL is looked into again?

What Scriptures show that there is a FIRST resurrection?

>>> This sure sounds like ‘people of faith’ to me!

Sure it does... if you start at that verse.

That was my point.

You have to understand who “THEY” are in context.

You cannot get that unless you read the previous verses, or better yet as you posted, from the beginning of the chapter.

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