>>Thank you for giving me the opportunity to correct this common misconception.<<
The Catechism of the Church is pretty clear. There are instances beyond ones control where they have exceptions but it is not the norm.
1283 Children not baptized who die require trust but are not saved because they need to be prayed for to receive salvation
>>1283 With respect to children who have died without Baptism, the liturgy of the Church invites us to trust in God’s mercy and to pray for their salvation.<<
>>1263 By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin.<<
1263 Sins are forgiven by Baptism? I dont think so.
>>1257 The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation.60 He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them.61 Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament.62 The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are “reborn of water and the Spirit.” God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.<<
1257 Again, salvation is bound to the sacrament of Baptism? That totally contradicts the statement believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved-and your house.
>>Because the bread and wine are believed to be truly changed into the Body and Blood of Christ, any pieces that are not distributed at the Mass must be either consumed by the priest or stored in a special container called a tabernacle. (The wine must always be consumed.) Roman Catholics worship the Eucharistic species stored in the tabernacle. Especially notable is the practice of genuflection when entering into its presence. A special blessing, called Eucharistic Benediction may be given using the consecrated elements.<<
I wont even go into how the Catholic Church connects the Eucharist to Salvation but will address the idol worship contained in the Sacrament.
Permit me to note that we pray for everyones salvation. We pray for people known to us and people unknown to us, we pray for people famous for their sanctity and we pray for notorious sinners. We are quite promiscuous about praying. The fact that we pray for them does not mean that that they are, as you say, not saved. It means we are always free to ask for Gods mercy. He never tells us, Stop praying! and He alone can save.
That's just a shorthand way of saying it's God who forgives sins by Baptism. And that's by no means the only way -- He's got many ways. He understands that we are composite creatures of body & spirit, and He communicates with us by many a physical sign to impart His grace. The New Testament is simply full of this: everything the God-Man Jesus did was an outward sign that imparted grace. Otherwise, why did God bother with the Incarnation at all?
He could just sit in heaven, invisible and rather vaporish, so to speak, and "will" everything to happen "spiritually." But instead, He bends down to us, through the Sacraments and above all the Great Sacrament of His incarnation, to communicate through physical, material, bodily signs --on our level--- in order to raise up us to His.
But pay attention to the part that you quoted here: God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments. Thats a key point. We dont think God is limited by anything whatsoever.
Thats why we can affirm, along with you, believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved--and your house. God can save you --- and your house. How about that!
Idol? Worship directed to Christ who is God incarnate, is not directed to an idol. Perhaps you are speaking of the Sacrament without discerning the Lords Body?
1 Corinthians 11:27-29 (King James Version) Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. |
I've got to make supper, so farewell for now, and peace.
>> Permit me to note that we pray for everyones salvation.<<
Of course we pray for people but not after they die. Once a person dies their destiny is determined. No Salvation after death for those who didnt have it prior to death.
>> That’s just a shorthand way of saying it’s God who forgives sins by Baptism. And that’s by no means the only way — He’s got many ways.<<
There are NOT many ways. Romans 4:23-25, teaches that there is no diversity in Gods salvation program. There is only one way of salvation. It is the way God the Father revealed through his Son Jesus, who declared, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).
FAITH in Jesus death and Resurrection is the only way to salvation. No ceremony, ritual, or act of man.
>> But pay attention to the part that you quoted here: God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments. Thats a key point. We dont think God is limited by anything whatsoever.<<
But the Catechism says that salvation is bound to the sacrament of Baptism. Salvation is through FAITH not through Baptism.
>> Idol? Worship directed to Christ who is God incarnate, is not directed to an idol.<<
The following paragraph shows that the Catholics believe that the bread and wine are truly changed into the Body and Blood of Christ which is a graven image. They then worship the Eucharistic species stored in the tabernacle. That is idol worship. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth
>>Because the bread and wine are believed to be truly changed into the Body and Blood of Christ, any pieces that are not distributed at the Mass must be either consumed by the priest or stored in a special container called a tabernacle. (The wine must always be consumed.) Roman Catholics worship the Eucharistic species stored in the tabernacle. Especially notable is the practice of genuflection when entering into its presence. A special blessing, called Eucharistic Benediction may be given using the consecrated elements.<<