Posted on 07/07/2008 10:39:05 PM PDT by Gamecock
A caller to our weekly radio program asked a question that has come up before: Are Roman Catholics saved? Let me respond to this as best I can. But I need to offer a qualifier because I think this is going to be somewhat dissatisfying for some because I am not going to say a simple "aye" or "nay." My answer is: It kind of depends. The reason I'm saying that is because of certain ambiguities.
My point is this, I think that in the area of the doctrine of salvation, Roman Catholic theology, as I understand it, is unbiblical because salvation depends on faith and works, not just faith alone. This was the specific problem Paul addressed in the book of Galatians and was the subject of the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15: Is simple faith in Jesus adequate, or must gentile followers of Christ now keep the Law as a standard of acceptance before God?
I know not all Catholics would agree that this is a fair way of putting it, but I think that most Catholics would actually say the faith/works equation is accurate. Your faith and your works are what save you. I was raised Catholic and that’s what I was taught. (For my take on the biblical relationship between faith and works, see “Faith & Works: Paul vs. James.”)
Now, I need to add this too. Many Protestants feel the same way. Many Protestants are confused on this issue, so this is not a Catholic vs. Protestant concern so much. It's just that Catholicism across the board has more of an official position that amounts this, where Protestants have a more diversity of views, some that don't even seem to be consistent with Protestantism.
But the fact that one believes Jesus is the Messiah and that He is the savior, not our own efforts, is critical. If you reject this notion, like the Jews do, then as far as I can tell from the biblical revelation, there is no hope for you. That seems to be clear. But when somebody says they believe in Jesus and He is their Savior, but somehow works are mingled in with the picture, then I can't really say to you how much faith that person is putting in Jesus and how much faith that person is putting in their own efforts to satisfy God. If a person has all their faith in their own efforts, then they are going to be judged by their own efforts. It's as simple as that. If they have their faith in Jesus, they will be judged by the merits of Jesus. Anyone judged by their own merits is going to be found wanting. Anyone who is judged by the merits of Jesus is not going to be found wanting because Jesus is not wanting.
What if you are kind of a mixture? I think most Catholics are, frankly. Many Protestants are, as well.
I reflect often on a comment that was made by a friend of mine named Dennis. He was a Roman Catholic brother in Christ that I knew when I was a brand new Christian. He asked me this: "Greg, how much faith does it take to be saved?" I said, "A mustard seed." And he said, "There you go."
And so, it seems to me, there are many Christians—Protestant and Catholic—who believe in Jesus as their savior and have a mustard seed of faith, but are confused about the role of works. I think that Jesus is still Savior in those cases.
It would be an interesting discussion. Remember our Lord always spoke everything motivated by love, yet He called the Pharisees “sons of the devil” and lawyers “vipers”; hardly faltering terms. In fact, when compared to some of the things our Lord called people, FR is rather tame. :O)
I'm sorry to laugh out loud at you, but please...you're lurching into the absurd.
I agree. There is no contradiction between faith and works. Both are necessary to salvation. Works by themselves are not sufficient for salvation but faith without works, as St. Paul says, is dead. Indeed, works are the outward sign of one’s faith, the living of one’s faith.
If Christ “covers” or forgives our future sins then that is exactly a license to sin. Moreover, it is just a short step from believing that Christ “covers” out future sins to believing that there really is no such thing as sin any more since it is not possible for a believer to separate himself from God no matter what he does. Oh, wait a minute, a number of mainline Protestant denominations already believe that.
Harley: Sure, if you can love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind as well as your neighbor (meaning everyone); you will inherit eternal life. However, most of us find that to be a bit of a challenge. I'm sure the lawyer who stood up to test our Lord found it to be equally as difficult.
Yup. In fact it wasn't an hour ago that I had a nice discussion with my deacon about HOW Jesus answered questions in His ministry. It's fascinating to watch how He took completely different approaches depending on who the questioner was. Here, the blood-sucking lawyer rose to test Jesus so he got the answer he did. Others ask a similar question and are told to believe.
So, you'll cherry-pick the easiest route possible to Salvation? The Lord responded to the question of eternal life with the commandments in Matt 19:16, Mark 10:17, and Luke 18:18.
In Mark 10:21 "Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him..." and a more difficult reply than for the 'blood sucking lawyer'
Sorry, the Good Samaritan story is a vital part of the Word. It's the narrow path.
Thanks for the ping.
That just isn’t true. You CAN know you’re saved before they close the lid over you. When you receive the Lord Jesus Christ into your life (by choice) and repent of your sins, you are saved and you are one of His. My husband was Catholic and when he was born again, he said it was like a load lifted off his shoulders to know that he didn’t have to wonder anymore if he was going to die in sin. Jesus came for ALL our sins, present, past and future. When you confess your sins to HIM, He forgives you and cleanses you of all unrighteousness.
Thank you, chuckles. That was a fine post.
It’s ONLY because we are concerned about your souls. When you depend on baptism for salvation, or works, or the Eucharist, or Mary, then you are lost. It’s Jesus and Jesus only who died on that cross for you, defconw. Nobody else.
I never heard of any Baptists who approved of abortion, have you? I was a Baptist and we were very much against it. I think that’s baloney.
Never watched Seinfeld.
AMEN. That is soooo right on!
Sorry, but we don’t think we can just go ahead and sin. A truly born again person cannot get away with it. The indwelling Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and it’s not very pleasant when He does. When we sin, we can confess our sins to God through His Son, and we are forgiven. Catholics go to a priest for absolution and then many go right out and repeat their sins over and over again. It’s human nature. That’s why we need a SAVIOUR.
Not all Catholics are Christians and not all Christians are Catholics. We’re a mixed bunch. Going to any church will not ‘make you’ a Christian. It’s what you do with Jesus. HE is the gateway to Heaven, and He alone. If He’s not your Saviour, you are lost. Period. No baptism, no Eucharist, no Pope, no repeating the Rosary 15 times a day, no works will save you, only your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and your obedience to Him.
And not true.
After salvation, we have to live according to God’s principles. It’s not a one time deal. Our lives have to change and we have to live by our faith.
Exactly. It’s not easy to live according to God’s principles but we can do it because of the indwelling Holy Spirit and Jesus’ example. It’s like swimming against the (worldly) tide. You are different from the rest of the world and you have to fight its temptations almost daily. Gives you spiritual muscles, though. (smile)
Amen, chuckles. Wonderful post.
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