Salvation - Are You Saved?

Catholic Education Resource Center ^ | 7/06/09 | Katrina J. Zeno

[bdeaner]

I don't mean this to be personal. It's a theological discussion but of course with serious implications. Here nevertheless is my reply.

Some schizophrenics believe they are Napolean. That doesn't mean they're right. Protestants can believe they are saved, but it doesn't mean they are actually saved. Their complacency based on heretical theology is in fact putting their salvation in grave jeopardy, as some may be falsely led to conclude faith alone is sufficient, when we know from James 2 that faith without works is dead.

James 2
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"[e] and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

[armydoc]

Protestants can believe they are saved, but it doesn't mean they are actually saved.

I agree totally. One can be deceived. That's why one must examine their life for the fruits of salvation. If no fruit is found, one must genuinely question their salvation.

faith without works is dead.

Absolutely, because it is not faith at all. See above. A faith that does not produce works is not geniune faith.

some may be falsely led to conclude faith alone is sufficient

That is where we part, dear friend. Grace alone by faith alone in Christ alone.

[kinsman redeemer]

Amen.

As Paul said, "O FOOLISH Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?" (RSV)

I already know you believe this.

God is so good. He cut covenant with us but just as He did with Abraham (as a type, see Gen 15), God did the sacrifice, God performed the necessary steps (walking between the sacrificed animals); God had put Abraham to sleep, in fact - to get him out of the way (Abraham had tried to do his part by driving away the birds of prey.)

In the same way - CHRIST did the work by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. He is my Savior. There was nothing I could do to cross over to the Father... Christ did it all.

And - as you rightly said, "A faith that does not produce works is not geniune faith." My life - all I do - ought to be a "living sacrifice" for my LORD and my God.

Faith brings salvation. Works follow.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
not of works, lest anyone should boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (NKJ Eph 2:8-10)

How much more plain can that simple statement be?