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Salvation and Church
OSV.com ^
| 03-14-18
| Msgr. Charles Pope
Posted on 04/21/2018 9:30:28 AM PDT by Salvation
Salvation and Church The teaching of no salvation outside the Church is important and one that must rightly be understood
Msgr. Charles Pope
3/14/2018
Question: I hear the Catholic Church teaches there is no salvation outside the Church. This would seem to condemn most to hell. Or am I missing something? — Name, location withheld
Answer: It is in fact a doctrine of the Church often repeated by the Fathers of the Church and taught formally. However, it must be understood properly.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church has this to say by way of explanation:
“‘Outside the Church there is no Salvation.’ ... Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body: Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church ... is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence, they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it. This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church” (CCC, Nos. 846-847).
This much is sure: Whoever is in heaven was saved by Jesus Christ in and through his Body the Church. But, as we know, there are many barriers to people fully understanding that the Church is the sole and necessary means for salvation, and thus, simply being outside the Church usually does not alone bring condemnation.
God can and, it would seem, does draw others unto himself in ways not always known to us. All of this can console us and bring an understanding that the teaching “outside the Church there is no salvation” is not understood absolutely.
But this consolation must not be the source of letting our missionary zeal wane. While it is possible to be saved beyond the Church, sacraments and explicit faith in Christ, it is much more difficult. Consider the following teaching from the Second Vatican Council:
“Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience. Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life. ... But often men, deceived by the Evil One, have become vain in their reasonings and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, serving the creature rather than the Creator (cf. Rom 1:21, 25). Or some there are who, living and dying in this world without God, are exposed to final despair. Wherefore to promote the glory of God and procure the salvation of all of these, and mindful of the command of the Lord, ‘Preach the Gospel to every creature’ (Mk 16:16), the Church fosters the missions with care and attention” (Lumen Gentium, No. 16).
And therefore, we see that people often are deceived or let themselves be deceived. So, the fact that people can be saved apart from the Church is not a blank check or presumption that they likely will be saved. It must always be our earnest work to evangelize, for many “prefer the darkness” (see Jn 3:19).
TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: catholic; salvation; tickytackytrolls
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To: aMorePerfectUnion
Ahhh but you are mistaken because you repeatedly misunderstand and misstate the actual Doctrines and Dogma of His One True Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church so how can you know what you understand about your own man made beliefs is true?
161
posted on
04/21/2018 8:22:24 PM PDT
by
infool7
(Observe, Orient, Pray, Decide, Act!(it's an OOPDA loop))
To: ealgeone
This one.
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
162
posted on
04/21/2018 8:37:13 PM PDT
by
infool7
(Observe, Orient, Pray, Decide, Act!(it's an OOPDA loop))
To: infool7
Well, we are not called to believe in Creeds.
I believe in Christ. He died for my sins. He offers forgiveness and I greatfully accept it though I dont deserve it. I accept His Scriptures as Truth. That about covers it.
To: infool7
Romes errors in doctrine and practice are easily revealed by the authority of Gods Word.
The counterfeit is nothing and has a million nuances.
His Word is perfect and by knowing it, the truth about the counterfeits is laid bare.
To: ealgeone
165
posted on
04/21/2018 8:44:06 PM PDT
by
infool7
(Observe, Orient, Pray, Decide, Act!(it's an OOPDA loop))
To: ealgeone
The Bible is a Catholic document. If not for the Catholic Church you would have no idea who Jesus Christ was. The Gospels came from the Catholic Church, not the Church from the Gospels.
166
posted on
04/21/2018 8:46:04 PM PDT
by
NKP_Vet
("Man without God descends into madness")
To: aMorePerfectUnion
So you just know because you know and you said so and so we should all believe you because... well you know...
Truly you have a dizzying intellect.
167
posted on
04/21/2018 8:48:06 PM PDT
by
infool7
(Observe, Orient, Pray, Decide, Act!(it's an OOPDA loop))
To: infool7
So you just know because you know and you said so and so we should all believe you because... well you know...
No. I know because I read and study His Word, as Christians are commanded to do.
You should not believe me. You should study to show yourself approved, as He commands.
To: NKP_Vet
Oh please. Not this already debunked claim again.
To: infool7
To: aMorePerfectUnion
Yes, of course.
I too read and study however my conclusions agree with the Fathers, Doctors and Saints of the One True Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Christ Jesus. Your conclusions it would seem do not.
171
posted on
04/21/2018 8:56:20 PM PDT
by
infool7
(Observe, Orient, Pray, Decide, Act!(it's an OOPDA loop))
To: infool7; aMorePerfectUnion
You do know you can read and understand the Word on your own.....right?
To: ealgeone
I did read and it seems to me that if you only believe in Jesus then that excludes God the Father and the Holt Spirit, thus my question.
Perhaps it wasn’t clear enough.
Do you believe in the Holy Trinity or not?
173
posted on
04/21/2018 9:01:45 PM PDT
by
infool7
(Observe, Orient, Pray, Decide, Act!(it's an OOPDA loop))
To: nobamanomore
174
posted on
04/21/2018 10:06:29 PM PDT
by
bonfire
To: nobamanomore
Stop posting in the Religion Forum right now.
Many of your posts will be removed for violating the guidelines.
Click on my name at the bottom of this post and study throughly before using the Religion Forum.
To: ealgeone
You do know you can read and understand the Word on your own.....right?
Do you understand every word that is spoken by God?
176
posted on
04/22/2018 4:08:47 AM PDT
by
rwa265
To: Salvation
I’ve read the word of God well over a hundred times. Salvation is not “in the church,” but in Christ who is Lord and Savior; the One who died for the sins of man. The church didn’t die for man’s salvation, it’s a result of man’s salvation.
To: rwa265
To: infool7
To: Salvation; redleghunter; Springfield Reformer; kinsman redeemer; BlueDragon; metmom; boatbums; ...
180
posted on
04/22/2018 5:11:10 AM PDT
by
daniel1212
(Trust the risen Lord Jesus to save you as a damned and destitute sinner + be baptized + follow Him)
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