A statement with a question

[jeffery_craft]

i am not a catholic i am a non denominal christian i have this to say

i would like to say that i would like to see all christians put aside their differences and become one church not under any particular title, denominations but simply as christians as brothers and sisters in christ. i do have one question though. is it not enough to have accepted jesus as my personal saviour believeing that he died for my sins and confessing that i am a sinner and should be punished for my sins?

 

[EricFilmer]

i would like to say that i would like to see all christians put aside their differences and become one church not under any particular title, denominations but simply as christians as brothers and sisters in christ.

Let me start off by saying that I think this is a noble sentiment, and I also welcome you to CAF.

From the Catholic perspective, all validly baptized Christians (Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants) compose one Universal Church but the unity of the Church has been fractured, mostly due to doctrinal disputes. It all comes down to the question of authority. More specifically, who has the authority to officially interpret God’s revelation on behalf of humanity? As long as there is disagreement on the answer to this question, I think true unity among Christians is seriously impeded and maybe not even possible. Unity, however, is a worthy aspiration, and something we should all strive for.

At this point I am just putting all this out there as “food for thought” (for anybody who is reading this), because I think that you would like the focus of this thread to actually be on the question you presented. So, with that in mind…

i do have one question though. is it not enough to have accepted jesus as my personal saviour believeing that he died for my sins and confessing that i am a sinner and should be punished for my sins?

I’m afraid I need a little more clarification. Not enough in what regard? Also, are you specifically making a reference to the Sinner’s Prayer and desire to discuss its merits?

 

[1ke]

i am not a catholic i am a non denominal christian i have this to say

i would like to say that i would like to see all christians put aside their differences and become one church not under any particular title, denominations but simply as christians as brothers and sisters in christ.

Christ founded a Church. I suggest the papal documents Ut Unum Sint and Dominus Iesus if you want to understand Catholic thought on the matter.

i do have one question though. is it not enough to have accepted jesus as my personal saviour believeing that he died for my sins and confessing that i am a sinner and should be punished for my sins?

That is merely the beginning.

 

[Pug]

Welcome to CAF (Catholic Answers Forums),

I’m not sure where you are going with the “enough”. Our call is to leave everything and follow him. Although we by nature try to test the boundaries and minimums of things, really this is a call for our whole selves, and is not a situation where holding back is the desired response.

 

[cecilia97]

Christ founded a Church. I suggest the papal documents Ut Unum Sint and Dominus Iesus if you want to understand Catholic thought on the matter.

That is merely the beginning.

Amen. Christ wants us to give Him everything He’s given us. What is enough? I wouldn’t be drawing breath right now without God’s love for me.

 

[neophyte]

… is it not enough to have accepted jesus as my personal saviour believeing that he died for my sins and confessing that i am a sinner and should be punished for my sins?

Is it enough for me to say “I do” at my wedding ceremony?

What do you mean by enough?

 

[Farsight001]

I, too, must mirror others’ questions about what, exactly, is enough. I mean no offense, but that reflects the question I asked my mother when I was younger doing chores and trying to get away with doing the bare minimum.

Even if it is enough, why stop there? Why not do the best you can possibly do and go above and beyond - do more than the bare minimum?

 

[snarflemike]

i do have one question though. is it not enough to have accepted jesus as my personal saviour believeing that he died for my sins and confessing that i am a sinner and should be punished for my sins?

Hi and welcome.

Let me ask you a question in return. If God freely offered you 100 gifts, would it be “enough” to accept 10 of them and reject the rest? Why would any Christian reject so many of God’s freely given gifts?

 

[StrawberryJam]

i am not a catholic i am a non denominal christian i have this to say

i would like to say that i would like to see all christians put aside their differences and become one church not under any particular title, denominations but simply as christians as brothers and sisters in christ. i do have one question though. is it not enough to have accepted jesus as my personal saviour believeing that he died for my sins and confessing that i am a sinner and should be punished for my sins?

All Christians have had a problem years before 1055 to “get together, right now”
What do you suggest to solve this problem that has been going on for so long?

 

[WesleyF]

Hi and welcome.

Let me ask you a question in return. If God freely offered you 100 gifts, would it be “enough” to accept 10 of them and reject the rest? Why would any Christian reject so many of God’s freely given gifts?

I see what you’re getting at!

 

[Qoeleth]

i am not a catholic i am a non denominal christian i have this to say

i would like to say that i would like to see all christians put aside their differences and become one church not under any particular title, denominations but simply as christians as brothers and sisters in christ. i do have one question though. is it not enough to have accepted jesus as my personal saviour believeing that he died for my sins and confessing that i am a sinner and should be punished for my sins?

No. “Accepting Jesus as your personal saviour” is nothing but accepting a proposition. What matters is what you do. When Jesus divides the sheep from the goats in Matthew 25, accepting Him or even believing in Him doesn’t come into. “I was hungry, and you gave me to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink. I was sick and in prison and you visited me. I was a stranger, and you made me welcome.”

Surely, God will judge each of us on our deeds- placing our good and evil works on a scale. It means nothing to confess that you are a sinner- what matters is that you sin no more.

The Catholic Church has got it right- salvation is by works. I think non denominational Churches offer a very Lutheran, middle-class, American misinterpretation of the message of Jesus. Indeed, they are more based on St. Paul than on Jesus…

 

[StrawberryJam]

No. “Accepting Jesus as your personal saviour” is nothing but accepting a proposition. What matters is what you do. When Jesus divides the sheep from the goats in Matthew 25, accepting Him or even believing in Him doesn’t come into. “I was hungry, and you gave me to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink. I was sick and in prison and you visited me. I was a stranger, and you made me welcome.”

Surely, God will judge each of us on our deeds- placing our good and evil works on a scale. It means nothing to confess that you are a sinner- what matters is that you sin no more.

The Catholic Church has got it right- salvation is by works. I think non denominational Churches offer a very Lutheran, middle-class, American misinterpretation of the message of Jesus. Indeed, they are more based on St. Paul than on Jesus…

Are you seriously going to boil down all the beautiful theology of the Catholic Church down to salvation by works alone?

 

[PatriceA]

Are you seriously going to boil down all the beautiful theology of the Catholic Church down to salvation by works alone?

 

[Qoeleth]

Are you seriously going to boil down all the beautiful theology of the Catholic Church down to salvation by works alone?

No…But this is important. It means that if you “accept Jesus” you have to follow His commandments.

 

[Todd_Easton]

It is sufficient for salvation for a person to enter a state of grace and then to persevere in that state until death. In an extraordinary way, it is possible to enter a state of grace in the manner you describe, if it is done with perfect contrition, a contrition motivate by love of God, but not with imperfect contrition. Was your contrition perfect or imperfect? Only God knows for sure.

The ordinary way by which a person, even with imperfect contrition, enters a state of grace is through the sacrament of baptism. As Jesus said, He who believes and is baptized will be saved. (Mark 16:16)

Assuming that your sinner’s pray was said with perfect contrition, have you persevered in the faith or have you committed a mortal sin and fallen from grace? Again, in an extraordinary way, it is possible to re-enter a state of grace after committing a mortal sin, if you manifest perfect contrition for your sin but not with imperfect contrition.

The ordinary means by which a person, even with imperfect contrition, re-enters a state of grace after committing a mortal sin is through the sacrament of reconciliation. (See James 5:14-16)

In an extraordinary way, the Holy Spirit may lead a Christian to true doctrine, if he heeds only the Holy Spirit. However, the ordinary way a Christian is lead to true doctrine is by means of the ordained pastors and teachers of the Church. (Ephesians 4:11-14; see Acts 15:1-16:5) As the author of Hebrews says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them.” (Hebrews 13:17)

 

[spockrates]

i am not a catholic i am a non denominal christian i have this to say

i would like to say that i would like to see all christians put aside their differences and become one church not under any particular title, denominations but simply as christians as brothers and sisters in christ. i do have one question though. is it not enough to have accepted jesus as my personal saviour believeing that he died for my sins and confessing that i am a sinner and should be punished for my sins?

Hi Jeffery. Please tell me why you believe that is enough.

 

[jochoa]

i am not a catholic i am a non denominal christian i have this to say

i would like to say that i would like to see all christians put aside their differences and become one church not under any particular title, denominations but simply as christians as brothers and sisters in christ. i do have one question though. is it not enough to have accepted jesus as my personal saviour believeing that he died for my sins and confessing that i am a sinner and should be punished for my sins?

Excellent question, my friend!
Here is one concept to consider:
Catholic means all-embracing or universal. Jesus Christ is God. Therefore, the Catholic Church is God’s Universal Church or Jesus Christ’s All-Embracing Church.

Please consider the following concept as to why it is better to call ourselves Catholic, given that Catholics are believers of Christ and try following Christ, instead of Christian:
Since the suffix -ian means “one from, belonging to, or like,” to be Christian can mean Christ-like. If we are sinners then we are not Christ-like, because Christ never sinned. Therefore, if we are sinners and label ourselves to be like Christ, then an “outsider” will say, “If you sinners are like Christ, then why would I want to consider being like Christ?”

Thank you very much for the food for thought!

Thoughts?

 

[jeffery_craft]

Hi Jeffery. Please tell me why you believe that is enough.

well i was kind of asking a roundabout question. i understand that for one to be saved they must change the way they live and how they act towards people i.e (helping the homeless volunteering seeking to convert the lost ect ect) i was really wondering if to be truely saved does a person have to be catholic persay or just have meant the sinners prayer and changed the way they live and start doing good work.

and about unifying the church so we are one body as it says in ephesians
the only way i could see it happening is if all parties could put aside their differences and come together again. it most likely wont happen so its just wishful thinking

im hoping by posting this i havent offended if so i truely am sorry

 

[StrawberryJam]

well i was kind of asking a roundabout question. i understand that for one to be saved they must change the way they live and how they act towards people i.e (helping the homeless volunteering seeking to convert the lost ect ect) i was really wondering if to be truely saved does a person have to be catholic persay or just have meant the sinners prayer and changed the way they live and start doing good work.

and about unifying the church so we are one body as it says in ephesians
the only way i could see it happening is if all parties could put aside their differences and come together again. it most likely wont happen so its just wishful thinking

im hoping by posting this i havent offended if so i truely am sorry

Is your concern that a person has to be a Catholic to be in the presence of God for eternity after death?

If it is, I am sure many Catholics here will tell you that there will be many non Catholics in heaven. (Even if they feel they will be there due to all the prayers said for them over time)

 

[jeffery_craft]

Is your concern that a person has to be a Catholic to be in the presence of God for eternity after death?

If it is, I am sure many Catholics here will tell you that there will be many non Catholics in heaven. (Even if they feel they will be there due to all the prayers said for them over time)

yes that was the problem i was having i mean surely god wouldent send someone to hell for not being of a certain denomination (where i live some demoinations thinke you wont get into heaven if your not part of their church IE old regular baptists ect ect)

i mean if the person truly repented and was sorry for his sin and changed the way he lived why would he go to hell for not being catholic,old regular baptists methodists ect ect?