Me too. The Protestants claim they "know" they are "saved" (guaranteed) but they can't tell you how they know that except that they really believe it! Well, the idea that just because someone believes in something doesn't make it true somehow exscapes them.
Please see this link Does Salvation result from Works or from Faith?
It describes the difference between "faith" (as Protestants refer to when talking of salvation) and "faith" (as you are referring to it above) in a clear fashion.
So How do we know we are saved? First the bible tells us what we must do to be saved. Then the Holy Spirit bears witness to our Spirit that we are saved.
How does anyone know they are saved? They can only go on what they believe. We have biblical grounds for our faith. Good enough for me.
By faith we accept the existence of God. By faith we follow what His word tells us to do. By Faith we rely on Him to perform His word.
But they always make sure they mock the Catholic Church (they would mock the Orthodox Church too but most of them don't know what it is) as regards sacraments and "lack of faith" in the Bible, but fail to see the big log in their own eye that all they did was say a few magic words ("adopting" Jesus), got dunked, and are now "saved."
There are no "magic words" there is however a plan that God has established in His word. It's quite simple and boils down to:
A. Admit you are a sinner.
"There is no one righteous, not even one ... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:10,23. (See Romans 5:8; 6:23.)
Ask God's forgiveness.
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13
B. Believe in Jesus
(put your trust in Him) as your only hope of salvation.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (See John 14:6.)
Become a child of God by receiving Christ.
"To all who receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12 (See Revelation 3:20.)
C. Confess that Jesus is your Lord.
"If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9 (See verse 10.)
(taken from HERE)
Based on:
"5. The Salvation of Man
Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Conditions to Salvation
Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life.
* Luke 24:47 [KJV/NIV]
* John 3:3 [KJV/NIV]
* Romans 10:13-15 [KJV/NIV]
* Ephesians 2:8 [KJV/NIV]
* Titus 2:11 [KJV/NIV]
* Titus 3:5-7 [KJV/NIV]
The Evidence of Salvation
The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit.
* Romans 8:16 [KJV/NIV]
The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness.
* Ephesians 4:24 [KJV/NIV]
* Titus 2:12 [KJV/NIV]"
(taken from HERE The "KJV/NIV"'s are links on the source page to those scriptures)
For further background look HERE
These last three links are all from the Assemblies of God web page. (I attend a Pentecostal Church of God congregation which is a sister church of AofG and holds essentially the same beliefs)
We (AofG and PCofG) do not believe that baptism is a requirement for salvation. It is merely one of the first testimonies to the world that you have become saved. There are denominations that belive it is required but that is beyond the scope of what I wanted to address.
Now, Can we get back to celebrating Bishop Sample doing the right thing and leave the Protestant vs Catholic battle to a thread more fitting for it?
I have no problem with whether it's good enough for you. But it still reduces to the ridiculous notion that just because someone believes in it, it must be true.
Circular reasoning. Your faith authenticates the Bible and the Bible authenticates your faith.
Good enough for me
I am glad, but what makes you the universal standard? Just because it works for you doesn't mean it's universally true.
Please see this link Does Salvation result from Works or from Faith?
That's not what Jesus teaches in the Synoptic Gospels. That's Paulianity, not Christianity.
There are no "magic words" there is however a plan that God has established in His word
The magic words are "I accept Jesus as my Lord and savior...and then you must be baptized...all rituals coming form a book which you, by your choice, consider sacred. It's all a belief. I don't share your belief and you have nothing to offer that would prove that your belief is true—except your own belief! That's about as good as monopoly money.
Ask God's forgiveness. "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13
Well, the Bible also says that whatever you ask for in belief will be grated to you...cherry-picking is easy. It doesn't prove anything however.
"To all who receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12 (See Revelation 3:20.)
What do you mean "receive" him? That is such an oxymoron. Who is man to "receive" God? It seem meet that the Lord should receive us, rather than the other way around. Either we are acceptable to God or we are not, and even that would have to be according to his will and not ours.
C. Confess that Jesus is your Lord. "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9 (See verse 10.)
Magical words...more rituals.