Are you Saved.

[Oblaidon]

I was reading a book a friend recommended. “Voice in the Wind” is the first of the Mark of the Lion series by Rivers. In the second book especially they mentioned the length of time of having “been saved”, and “having a personal relationship with the Lord”, and “coming to know the Lord”. This series has taken place forty years after Jesus’ death. I was wondering if anyone knows how long these ideas have been around.

I enjoy the books btw.

 

[rwoehmke]

My suspicion is that the author of these books is “reading back” reformation or post reformation beliefs into fiction about early Christians. The stories may be interesting and inspiring, but the theology is false.
For Catholics the belief is that being saved is a process that starts at Baptism when we are saved from Original Sin and made children of God and heirs to heaven, lasts through our life time when we are still being saved by the Graces of Mass and the Sacraments, and then finally gain Salvation permanently when we die in the state of Sanctifying Grace( free in other words of mortal sin).

 

[Genesis315]

I highly recommend the book “Quo Vadis” by Henryk Sienkiewicz if you like reading fiction from that time period, but you would prefer something more faithful to Catholic Christianity.

There was a movie made too that was less distinctly Catholic, but still decent–but it really doesn’t do the book justice.

 

[inthecloud]

Is a anacronism, Once Save Always Saved appeared with the Reformation, specially with Calvin, early christians did not believe that. They were Catholic/Orthodox in thought. I would be very careful to read a book written by evangelicals protestants on the early christian church because they are very ignorant on the early church history and their theology. If they were more knowlegeable they would be Catholic or Orthodox.

 

[Oblaidon]

I can recognize the protestant thought. I used to be Baptist, and I also hung out with the Born Again Christians when I was in high school. Yes, I was taught once you are saved there is nothing you can do but to follow God’s grace. This allowed me to stray far from God’s plan for me without realizing it.

I am not saying the Holy Spirit isn’t present in the protestant churches. Just saying that since the Non Catholic christians aren’t required to go to church, and can justify things like same sex marriages, birth control, and even abortion (if you believe the “blob of flesh” people) that it is easier to fall out of God’s graces. Of course Catholics aren’t immune from this thought either, but if they follow their religion correctly they will understand God’s plan better.

I now recognize the authority of the Church, and I know if I sin I need to confess those sins. So far, being acountable for my sins have kept me on the straight and narrow.

I am reading the Mark of the Lion series out of interest in fiction, and I am trying to see how the born-again belief time warps back to the past. I have sent this book to my father who is Catholic and married to a protestant. I think this might spark some interesting conversation.

I am going to search the boards regarding the “personal relationship with the Lord” part of this.

Thanks to those who have responded.

 

[Erich]

For Catholics the belief is that being saved is a process that starts at Baptism when we are saved from Original Sin and made children of God and heirs to heaven, lasts through our life time when we are still being saved by the Graces of Mass and the Sacraments, and then finally gain Salvation permanently when we die in the state of Sanctifying Grace( free in other words of mortal sin).

As the Bible says, I am already saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8), but I’m also being saved (1 Cor. 1:8, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12), and I have the hope that I *will be *saved (Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). Like the apostle Paul I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ (Rom. 5:2, 2 Tim. 2:11–13).