Are you saved?

The assurance of salvation is the most important thing in life. It should be the number one concern of every human being. Sadly, too often it is not.

The good news is, the Bible teaches that you can know for sure that you are going to heaven. I John 5:13 says: "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE..." Notice that this verse doesn't say, "that ye may HOPE that you can GET eternal life." It says that you can know that you have it, as a present possession.

Acts 16:31 says: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." Notice again that it doesn't say, "Believe and you will someday be saved." It rather says, "Believe...and BE saved." Of course, the word "saved" makes a lot of people nervous.

A man told me once, "We don't speak in those terms at our church." But that's a shame, because the Bible uses this word over and over again. John Newton used it hundreds of years ago when he wrote that most beloved of all Christian hymns, "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that SAVED a wretch like me." You've probably even sung that song! Well, it was written by a man who was saved, and you can be saved too. Ephesians 2:8,9 says: "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” “Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Here we see that people are saved "by grace," and "through faith." By God's grace. Through your faith. Faith and believing are the same thing. If you believe something, it means you have faith in it. Notice also the contrast to "works." Works are things that we can DO.

Most people think that they can be saved by the things that they do. If they don't do bad things, if they instead do good things, they think that they will be saved. The problem with this system is that you can never be SURE that you've done enough good things, and avoided enough bad things, to be saved. That's why the people who believe this are generally not sure they are saved. But Romans 4:16 says, "Therefore it is OF FAITH, that it might be BY GRACE, to the end THE PROMISE MIGHT BE SURE..." The only way you can be sure of salvation is by faith. If you had to do as little as lift your finger to be saved, you could never be sure that you had done it right.

But by faith we can believe that the Lord Jesus Christ did it right. We can be sure that He lived a sinless life. He never did anything wrong, He did everything right. A person like that didn't deserve to die. The Bible says that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). But He was no sinner. Why did He have to die? Ah, He died OUR death. He died our death so that we could have His righteousness and be saved. II Corinthians 5:21 says: "For God made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."

Two thousand years ago, God laid all of our sins on Christ as He hung on Calvary. But that doesn't mean that everyone is saved! Two thousand years later, WHEN YOU BELIEVE that Christ paid for all of your sins, God then takes Christ's righteousness and puts it on you, completing the transaction that must be completed for the redemption of your soul.

I like to explain it this way. God says to us in the Bible that Christ paid for all of your sins. The only question is,

Do you BELIEVE God when He says that all of your sins are paid for? Do you TRUST Him when He says that?

If you don't, well, you just have to go on trying to pay for your sins in your own way. By being good. By not being bad. But these are things the Bible says you can't do well enough to be saved. Romans 4:5 says: "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, HIS FAITH is COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS." Titus 3:5 says: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."

That big word "regeneration" is just a big word that means to be "born again," as the Lord talked about in John 3. But in both of these verses, you can see that salvation is by faith alone, and has nothing to do with your conduct. Most people think that we are all born GOOD, and on our way to heaven, and that we have to do something REALLY BAD to blow it and go to hell. But the Bible teaches the opposite. The Bible teaches that we are all born bad, and have to get saved by faith to go to heaven. Sometimes when we explain this, people then ask, "Why then should I be good?"

The answer to this question is, we should be good out of gratitude for God for saving us. Earlier I quoted Ephesians 2:8,9 to show that we are saved "by grace" and "through faith." But the NEXT verse in Ephesians 2 tells us where "being good" comes in: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus UNTO good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).

When we are saved, we are made "new creatures" in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17). But Ephesians 2:10 here says that we were "created in Christ Jesus UNTO good works." That is, we were saved by faith, but we were saved FOR A PURPOSE, for a reason. God saved us and made us new creatures in Christ so that we would THEN do good works.

Most people get the cart before the horse, as the saying goes. Most people think you do good works, then God saves you. The Bible teaches that instead we are saved by believing, then we SHOULD do good works. Right after Titus 3:5 says we are saved "not by works of righteousness," three verses later it says, "...these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful TO MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS. These things are good and profitable unto men."

Do you see it? We are not saved by good works, but after we are saved by faith, we are told we should do good works to please the One who saved us. Romans 6:23 says: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Here there is a contrast drawn between "wages" and a "gift." Wages are something that we EARN. We go to work, and work all week, and the boss pays us. If we want to be polite, we can say "thank you" when he hands us the check, but we don't have to. He OWES us that money, we EARNED it.

But a gift is something altogether different. You can't earn a gift. If you did, it wouldn't be a gift. That's why the verses BEFORE Romans 4:5 says, "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." You can't earn a gift, you can only receive it. And the way you receive the gift of salvation is by faith, by believing God when He says your sins are paid for. Suppose you were a gambler, and racked up a debt of a million dollars to the Mafia. They threatened to kill you unless you paid up. A wealthy friend learns of your plight and comes to you and says, "Don't worry, I've paid your debt."

Now in this case, you must REALLY BELIEVE that your friend paid your debt. You must really TRUST your friend when he says that. That's why the other word that the Bible uses besides "believe" is "trust." Ephesians 1:12 talks about people... "...who first TRUSTED in Christ "In whom ye also TRUSTED, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" (Ephesians 1:13).

If you DON'T trust that your friend paid your gambling debt, then you will most likely continue to make payments to your bookie or loan shark. But if you DO trust your friend when he says that your debt has been paid, then you will rest comfortably in that knowledge, knowing that you've been "saved" from an awful fate, and you will be forever grateful to the one who saved you. That's how salvation works too.

In John 5:24, the Lord said: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE, and SHALL NOT COME INTO CONDEMNATION, but IS PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE." Here we see that the Bible teaches that not only are you saved if you believe on the Lord, you already possess eternal life, and it is NOT POSSIBLE for you to ever be condemned for your sins, for you are ALREADY passed "from death unto [eternal] life." Remember, Acts 16:31 says, "believe...and...be saved." It DOESN'T say, "Believe and be good." It doesn't even say, "Believe and be religious." It just says believe and be saved.

If you believe that Christ died to pay for all of your sins, and that you don't have to pay for any of them, the Bible says you are saved. In I Corinthians 15:1-4, the Apostle Paul identifies “the gospel” that he preached to the Corinthians, by which they were “saved”: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; “And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” You too can be among those who are “saved,” if you will simply put your faith in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 3:25).

I'm sorry, I don't believe that. I think your right that Jesus saw that there would be a split, even during His days on earth people walked away from Him. But He was not willing to change what He said.

For instance, in John, 6, when Jesus told His Disciples that He was the Bread of Life and people said "How can he give us his flesh to eat." After that they refused to follow Him any more.

I also do not think that it is right that people believe whatever they want, or interpret the Bible however they think it is right and I believe they do it to their own destruction.

And my example of that point is this thread, where people have dismissed Baptism, saying instead all one has to do is be "born again." That Scripture is taken out of context, Jesus Himself was baptised with water, then the Holy Spirit descended on Him.

There are some very whacky (probably well intentioned) notions out there and I believe this is one of them. It has no standing Biblically, Historically and it doesn't even make sense. The Bible, Acts of the Apostles and the history of Christianity say otherwise, that being baptised with water is necessary for salvation.

That's why I asked for historical proof/documentation of this man-made doctrine. Funny that people say that the Church has "man-made" doctrines when this notion (being born again) is a glowing example of a man-made doctrine that does not stand up to the test.

There is no historical basis for being "Saved."

I have asked numerous people over the years if they have been saved...When meeting a Catholic, I have always gotten the response of "I'm Catholic" or "I was born Catholic"...

Getting 'saved' seems to not have been an issue in your religion...I can see why you would say there is no historical basis for it (in your religion)...

There is no Biblical standing for it either, without taking Scripture out of context.

You are way wrong here...

Act 2:21 And it shalt come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Act 16:30 And bringing them out, he said: Masters, what must I do, that I may be saved?

Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together in Christ (by whose grace you are saved)

Eph 2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith: and that not of yourselves, for it is the gift of God.

And this from your own Catholic bible...How can one take it out of context...You are either saved from Hell, from damnation, from wrath...

It may not be a big issue in your church but it's a mighty big issue in God's church and the word of God...You can't be a Christian without first being saved...

Getting saved is an event...It's something you experience...You can't be born into it...You can't get it by going to church...You can't get it from a church...

Once you've been saved, you will never forget it...It's the most important thing you will do in your lifetime...

If your ministers of the gospel at your church don't teach you that, there's nothing else they could teach worth listening to...

For instance, in John, 6, when Jesus told His Disciples that He was the Bread of Life and people said "How can he give us his flesh to eat." After that they refused to follow Him any more.

You mean the Jewish nation who as foretold in the Bible would reject Him? They refused to acknowledge Him as Savior and sought to make Him their earthly king. Not the same thing as another Christian Church following Him by any stretch unless that church rejects Him which is a very different matter.

I also do not think that it is right that people believe whatever they want, or interpret the Bible however they think it is right and I believe they do it to their own destruction.

Which is exactly why we are given the Holy Spirit and a One on One relationship with Christ to pray to Him and ask for his guidance. We also have GOD's Word the Bible. In those I trust. I read mans writings and church doctorines/theology with caution especially church leaders. In faith I seek the HOLY SPIRIT to guide me in truth and it's been a life long learning experience some lessons came the hard way.

And my example of that point is this thread, where people have dismissed Baptism, saying instead all one has to do is be "born again." That Scripture is taken out of context, Jesus Himself was baptized with water, then the Holy Spirit descended on Him.

Jesus was Baptized to fulfill the law that what He did on earth was perfect and except able to GOD. Salvation comes the very second you answer the call. Public Profession is also a highly desired action as well as following in Baptism. Desired yes but sometimes simply not practical nor enough time. Baptism saves no one. It is the heart of man humbled before the LORD calling on His name for forgiveness and salvation that saves. The Baptism which saves you is the Blood Of Christ which you are Baptized in Spiritually the second salvation comes. Note even John The Baptist proclaimed this very thing.

Matthew ch 3 v11 “I baptize with£ water those who turn from their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is far greater than I am—so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave.£ He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Who Baptized the thief on the cross? Christ himself. It is the Spiritual Baptism of the soul which saves that Baptism comes not from man. Man should be baptized however in accordance with a show of faith in following Christ example.

There are some very whacky (probably well intentioned) notions out there and I believe this is one of them. It has no standing Biblically, Historically and it doesn't even make sense. The Bible, Acts of the Apostles and the history of Christianity say otherwise, that being baptised with water is necessary for salvation. That's why I asked for historical proof/documentation of this man-made doctrine. Funny that people say that the Church has "man-made" doctrines when this notion (being born again) is a glowing example of a man-made doctrine that does not stand up to the test.

Ceremonial cleansing came up quite a bit in Christ time on earth. That includes Baptism as it at the time of John The Baptism was just that. Christ taught us much about cleansing. It is not the outside that needs cleaning but the inside. The inside being mans heart. Which do you think is more powerful? Baptism by a preacher or Baptism by the Holy Spirit that comes at the moment of salvation?

Baptism Water can not wash away your sins you will still be stained. The Blood Of Christ washes sins away. So how can we be Baptized in His blood? Only by the Holy Spirit. A Baptism not many churches talk about really. Church Baptism is ceremonial an act done after salvation is excepted. I know many who were saved years before they were ever publicly Baptized.

GOD deals with man on His own terms in His own time. Christ may call upon you for salvation while you're in the woods taking a walk. You may at that time say Yes LORD I except you as Lord and Savior. They may not feel the conviction for public profession and public Baptism for years. It does not mean they are not saved. The LORD may call you, wait your reply, and may wait again to take you further in faith. That is Biblically sound. Even Christ waited His public Baptism until His appointed time when the Father told Him to.

Baptism is one of legalist favorite tools. For example I had a very well intended by highly misguided one follow me around in the Navy asking me if I had been Baptized. I said yes. He asked well what did the preacher say when he did it? I said as written in the Great Commission In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He said you are not saved then because the preacher did not say I Baptize you in the name of Jesus Christ. Understand my point? I was saved and received Christ in my early youth and about a year later IIRC was went forward and was Baptized in my church. The LORD let it eat at me a while :>} but I was saved earlier. When I felt the overwhelming call to go forward I went but not before. The call to go forward to the Alter as it is called and the call of Salvation may or may not be in the same time frame. A person can be Found By Christ anywhere at any time.

BTW my back ground was growing up Southern Baptist but later joining an Independent Baptist Church. But about half my family is also Roman Catholic including a cousin Priest who is a Vicar General and several cousins who are Baptist preachers. ceremonial cleansing

You could if not for Grace through Christ

* Augustine, Admonition and Grace, A.D. 426....

But if someone already regenerate and justified should, of his own will,relapse into his evil life, certainly that man cannot say:I have not received because he lost the grace he received from God and by his own free choice went to evil.

St. Augustine

He was handed over for our offenses, and he rose again for our justification. What does this mean, for our justification? So that He might justify us; so that he might make us just. You will be a work of God, not only because you are a man, but also because you are just. For it is better that you be just than that you be a man. If God made you a man, and you made yourself just, something you were doing would be better than what God did. But God made you without any cooperation on your part. For you did not lend your consent so that God could make you. How could you have consented when you did not exist? But He who made you without your consent does not justify you without your consent. He made you without your knowledge but He does not justify you without your willing it

If a man is Catholic and that is where GOD called him to be Bless him and be happy for him the same for a Baptist or a Pentecostal. We serve the same Savior.

*In one way that can be said to be true. I can read what you post and partially agree with you. However, and this is a HUGE however, what you say is as far from reality as is possible.

Let us just note the difference in our Worship. We Christian Catholics have always taught the Last Supper/First Mass is the way God Himself as Jesus Christ, taught us how He ought be worshiped. Only that which includes Sacrifice is worthy of being called Worship. That is why only the Catholic and Orthodox Churches are Churches. We have preserved Apostolic Succession and the Eucharist.

God, as Jesus, established His Church, whereas sinful men established the Baptist and other protestant communities in opposition to His Church.

They have no worship, per se. They do pray and they are, to the best of their abilities, followers of Jesus. However, they are not members of a Church nor are their services congruent with what Jesus Commanded at the Last Supper.

Deracinated, dessicated, and de-coupled from the Sacrifice of the New Covenant and the New Covenant Meal, what hope is there in those comnmunities?

Apart from the vine, they are dead

Malachias 1

For from the rising of the sun even to the going down, my name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and there is offered to my name a clean oblation: for my name is great among the Gentiles, saith the Lord of hosts.

*The protestant revolutionaries falsified scripture so as to cleave from the Body of Christ, Christians who, for over fifteen centuries had, in orthopraxis, worshipped God as He Himself taught us. And we are told the Heresiarchs loved Scripture. Right. They loved it so much they made it fit their ideology by changing the words of God which everyone can see convicts them as Satan's Mini-me's

It is so sad that well-intentioned protestants are so seldom told how their protestant progenitors lied to them and falsified scripture and lead them astray.

Of course, there isn't one in one million well-intentioned protestant Christians who are aware of this so they can not be blamed for attending services in their attempts to worship God. But, it is all a man made event. Sinful men started their communities in opposition to the Church Jesus established, and they eliminated the Holy and Clean Oblation prophesied by Malachias and Commanded by Jesus and the man-made service was all about THEM. It was all about their personal opinion as to what scripture meant.

And that is why pews were invented. So the Christian would have a place to park his butt while he listened to songs and long talks by Ministers. Why Ministers? Priests are unnecessary when there is no sacrifice.

The sad and simple truth is that for the Heresiarchs, Jesus had to decrease so their influence could increase

*As one example of orthopraxis vis a vis the Sacrifice of the New Covenant...

The Didache

The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations.

Chapter 9.—The Thanksgiving (Eucharist)

1. Now concerning the Thanksgiving (Eucharist), thus give thanks. 2. First, concerning the cup: We thank you, our Father, for the holy vine of David Your servant, which You made known to us through Jesus Your Servant; to You be the glory for ever. 3. And concerning the broken bread: We thank You, our Father, for the life and knowledge which You made known to us through Jesus Your Servant; to You be the glory for ever. 4. Even as this broken bread was scattered over the hills, and was gathered together and became one, so let Your Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Your kingdom; for Yours is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ for ever. 5. But let no one eat or drink of your Thanksgiving (Eucharist), but they who have been baptized into the name of the Lord; for concerning this also the Lord has said, Give not that which is holy to the dogs. Matthew 7:6

Chapter 14.—Christian Assembly on the Lord's Day

1. But every Lord's day do ye gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. 2. But let no one that is at variance with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned. 3. For this is that which was spoken by the Lord: In every place and time offer to me a pure sacrifice; for I am a great King, says the Lord, and my name is wonderful among the nations.

St. Augustine

Chapter IX.—(20.) Who May Be Said to Walk Without Spot; Damnable and Venial Sins.

Having premised these remarks, let us carefully attend to the passages which he whom we are answering has produced, as if we ourselves had quoted them. “In Deuteronomy, ‘Thou shalt be perfect before the Lord thy God.’ Deut. xviii. 13. Again, in the same book, t. xxiii. 17. In like manner the Saviour says in the Gospel, Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.’ Matt. v. 48. So the apostle, in his second Epistle to the Corinthians, says: ‘Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect.’ 2 Cor. xiii. 11. Again, to the Colossians he writes: ‘Warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ.’ Col. i. 28. And so to the Philippians: ‘Do all things without murmurings and disputings, that ye may be blameless, and harmless, as the immaculate sons of God.’Phil. ii. 14, 15. In like manner to the Ephesians he writes: ‘Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ; according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.’Eph. i. 3, 4. Then again to the Colossians he says in another passage: ‘And you, that were sometime alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death; present yourselves holy and unblameable and unreprovable in His sight. Col. i. 21, 22. In the same strain, he says to the Ephesians: ‘That He might present to Himself a glorious Church, 166not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish.’ Eph. v. 26, 27. So in his first Epistle to the Corinthians he says ‘Be ye sober, and righteous, and sin not.’14381438 1 Cor. xv. 34. So again in the Epistle of St. Peter it is written: ‘Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end, for the grace that is offered to you: . . . as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as He who hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Lev. xix. 2. Be ye holy; for I am holy.’ 1 Pet. i. 13–16. Whence blessed David likewise says: ‘O Lord, who shall sojourn in Thy tabernacle, or who shall rest on Thy holy mountain? He that walketh without blame, and worketh righteousness.’ Ps. xv. 1, 2. And in another passage: ‘I shall be blameless with Him.’ Ps. xviii. 23. And yet again: ‘Blessed are the blameless in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.’ Ps. cxix. 1. To the same effect it is written in Solomon: ‘The Lord loveth holy hearts, and all they that are blameless are acceptable unto Him.Prov. xi. 20. Now some of these passages exhort men who are running their course that they run perfectly; others refer to the end thereof, that men may reach forward to it as they run. He, however, is not unreasonably said to walk blamelessly, not who has already reached the end of his journey, but who is pressing on towards the end in a blameless manner, free from damnable sins, and at the same time not neglecting to cleanse by almsgiving such sins as are venial. For the way in which we walk, that is, the road by which we reach perfection, is cleansed by clean prayer. That, however, is a clean prayer in which we say in truth, “Forgive us, as we ourselves forgive. Matt. vi. 12. So that, as there is nothing censured when blame is not imputed, we may hold on our course to perfection without censure, in a word, blamelessly; and in this perfect state, when we arrive at it at last, we shall find that there is absolutely nothing which requires cleansing by forgivenes

I believe that when Martin Luther rejected the authority of priests and the Church, he gave rise to this mess we have today.

Martin Luther and his followers destroyed the sacraments instituted by Christ. The Bible warns of interpreting scripture by onesself.

Jesus clearly leaves us a church. I don't understand how you can say that you do not trust 'man's writings and church doctrines' yet with your thinking, every man has his own writings, his own doctrines and his own authority.

I believe that only leads to chaos and totally wipes out everything that Christ established.

I also think you have a mistaken idea of what we believe. As a catholic I have a 'personal relationship' with Jesus Christ. In fact it is very personal, since I believe that I recieve Him, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Holy Eucharist.

In the sacraments man plays one part and Christ sends the graces. For instance in baptism, the priest pours the water or lowers the individual into water and says the prescribed words. God then sends the Holy Spirit and the graces to the individual. It is a co-operation between man and God.

The Bible and history are replete with just that.

Martin Luther destroyed that during the protestant revolt.

Some of your points I agree with, that baptism does not save somebody. It (salvation) is an ongoing, lifelong process. Just as St. Paul says that we are to 'work out our salvation in fear and trembling.' We have to co-operate with God our entire lives or we could lose our eternal salvation.

But, Jesus did institute Baptism. The Apostles went around baptising, the New Testament, and history are filled with evidence of this.

There is no evidence, historically or biblically for the man-made doctrine of 'being saved' as we come to know it today, which is one not needing baptism and only having to recite the 'sinner's prayer' and invite Jesus into his heart.

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