Good thoughtful post, but if you believe this...”... I was saved, I am being saved, and I will be saved....”
I have news for you, you agree with the Catholic Church. For example, we have been (are) saved (via Baptism), we are being saved (via cooperation with God’s Grace in the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Eucharist) and we trust in the hope we will be saved should we continue to cooperate with God on Earth. For a good primer on what I mean by “hope” there see here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3513259/posts
From that link: “The theological virtue of hope is CONFIDENT EXPECTATION” (emphasis added)
So if you believe that we “have been, are, and will be saved” and you were raised Catholic, but are separated from the Church now for whatever reason there’s no reason for such separation as we believe what you believe. Come home, by simply going to Confession. Or if you’ve never been a Catholic, look into an RCIA program in your area.
It cannot save because water does not wash sin away.
Hebrews 9:22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
It doesn't and can't depend on what we DO. No amount of works saves us and Paul tells why.
It removes any basis for boasting before God.
If we could contribute at all to our salvation, to becoming saved, by something we did, (baptism, communion, confession, whatever), then we could stand before God and say *Look at what I did. Aren't I great?* and worst of all, *You owe me.* IOW, *Now You must let me in heaven on basis of MY merit*.
The glory goes to Him from beginning to end.
While I do agree with a few things of the rcc abortion being one, but it’s very few and not on where my salvation comes from...
“For example, we have been (are) saved (via Baptism), we are being saved (via cooperation with God’s Grace in the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Eucharist) and we trust in the hope we will be saved should we continue to cooperate with God on Earth.”
I wasn’t saved by baptism I was bought and saved by the precious blood of my Savior Jesus Christ. Every human that has been saved on this planet has or will be saved only by the blood of the Lamb of God.
1 Peter 1:19, John 1:29, Acts 20:28, Romans 3:25, 1 Cor 5:7 & 6:20, Revelation 5:9
“Sacraments of Confession and Holy Eucharist”
Still the blood of Jesus Christ that saves you not your church nor anyone else can do anything to save you. As your so called church presents the “sacraments” they are and abomination to God, but as the rest of use they point right back at the sacrifice of Jesus Christ His shed Blood.
“cooperate”
I have read the Bible many a times from front to back and don’t recall having to cooperate to be saved.
If you mean to have faith and faith alone then yes, but add all your what can I do to please God then you are “dead” wrong.
Romans 4:16
For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
You have to quit thinking what you can do, but instead giving thanks and praise the Living God through Jesus Christ for what He has already done for you!
I was saved before the first atom of the universe was created, how about you?
Eph 1:4, 2 Timothy 1:9, Ephesians 2:10