Replies

The Church has Never Taught Salvation BY the Church.

On the contrary, it certainly has in the past and it is part of the Catechism of the Catholic church.

Now, before we get too far into the weeds here, let me quote the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 846-48, which—as is so often the case no matter the doctrine with the CCC—presents this teaching clearly and to the point under the heading:
“Outside the Church there is no Salvation.”

You didn’t read the Catechism correctly.
And had you started reading at chapter 811- rather than 846 you would not have replied in the way you did.
But absolutely, the Church teaches the Church IS necessary for Salvation
(Thank You Jesus !)-
but being necessary DOES NOT MEAN the Church itself is the essence of that Salvation ONLY in Christ.
So just you misunderstand what that means- that the Church is the vehicle, the Body- It is THROUGH His Church we are Saved by Grace-
NOT BY or FROM the Church.
Even you believe that, even if you cant allow yourself to realize it.

20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?”
21 But he spoke of the temple of his body.
22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this;
and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoke.

. The Body of Christ is the New Temple. (Think Jewish context back then.)
Our Church he left us, IS the Body of Christ – and YES- outside the Body of Christ there is no Salvation. How could there be?
(However its not an absolute as we do not bind the hands of God- and God does what God wants.)
But for 2000 years- Catholics- Eastern Orthodox- the Christian community- beginning with the earliest Chuch fathers (BEFORE Constantine even!) have held to that idea- what is true today as Mark wrote in Chap. 16 that says:

He said to them, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.

So as the Catechism rightly points out, It is the responsibility of the Church to Proclaim the Gospel and Baptize those who wish for Salvation. Those who don’t believe in the Gospel- and see no need for a Baptism of initiation into Christ- are gonna have a problem.

Its THROUGH THE CHURCH people can come to Christ- and be saved
– and NOT BY the Church.
Yes, there is much confusion about this doctrine-
Many Catholics misunderstand this doctrine in a triumphal way- and they are wrong. Yes, schism and denominationalism was not part of the plan for ONE Church- but that does NOT mean ONLY Catholics are saved.
Thats NOT what the Catechism Chapter you cited even means. Please read it over.
You may even disagree with who outside of the Body of Christ- "might be" or could be saved (Ben Shapiro ie.). God does what God wants to do. We humans never can bind God's Mercy.
.
Also very important- bear in mind on this - for 1500 years
THERE WAS ONLY THE ONE visible, holy catholic, and apostolic CHURCH
that people could see as the remnant of Christ.
So of course anyone- who rejected the Gospel and Baptism –
was outside the Church... and would not be saved.
You have to agree with that as well I would hope.
Its difficult to be reminded of that- but if you don’t understand the history,
your just building on sand.
And for Anyone who says- Catholic or otherwise - that a CS Lewis or D. Bonhoeffer -
are condemned because they were not Catholic- and outside the “Catholic” Church
are absolute morons and are abusingthe Christian doctrine that comes to us still today.

Salvation comes ONLY from Christ, through His Church.
It's right there in the Catechism.
That’s why Jesus made sure to promise to build this Church FOR us,
WITH the specific purpose of saving souls in the first place. Genius!
The Church is the community of Faith, Hope and Love, that contains BOTH human AND divine qualities. It's ONLY purpose- the REASON it exists- is to bring people to the saving Grace he offers us.
This cannot be seen... while outside the Church.

—> But absolutely, the Church teaches the Church IS necessary for Salvation

No church is required for salvation.

Mark 16:16 (TCENB): “This is a verse that some people believe teaches the necessity of water baptism for salvation. However, Christian baptism elsewhere in the New Testament is always defined by an outward confession of belief in Jesus Christ. This verse also regards baptism as such. The second part of the verse clearly teaches that unbelief alone results in condemnation (cf. 9:43–48), not belief and failure to undergo baptism.”

—> for 1500 years THERE WAS ONLY THE ONE visible, holy catholic, and apostolic CHURCH that people could see as the remnant of Christ

There was no Roman church as it existed after it bolted pagan practices into the church, and modeled itself administratively after the Roman Empire.

But God has always had His church of true believers - before Rome, during Rome’s domination, and after Rome’s monopoly was broken by a restoration of the Gospel.

Yes, Rome’s evil leaders slaughtered true believers every time they emerged - including their martyrdom of women and babies - but God used their blood to further His Gospel of Grace.