Clinging to Assurance of Salvation

[Carlan]

OSAS makes perfect sense. The better question is this: How many people who claim that they are saved *actually are *saved? As I have said before, the simple act of answering an altar call or mumbling the sinner’s prayer doesn’t save anyone. It’s just not that simple.

One must sincerely believe that they are a hopeless sinner and in desparate need of a savior. They must come to Christ with empty arms and ask him to take control of their lives, accept his gift of forgiveness and repent of their sins. This repentance means developing a new attitude of hatred toward sin. It’s a true change of heart, mind and soul. People who are truly saved grieve their sins they are not proud of them.

People don’t lose their salvation, it’s more likely that they were never saved in the first place.

G’morning TLM, (Quote)This repentance means developing a new attitude of hatred toward sin. It’s a true change of heart, mind and soul. People who are truly saved grieve their sins they are not proud of them.(End Q

Yes, we are to put on the new man and grow in virtue, become holy as Jesus is holy.
The covering up of your dirty soul is not all that is necessary to follow Jesus into heaven. When

OSAS Christians fall back into sin, mortal or venial, they believe the person was not saved in the first place, that excuse makes no sense to Catholics. It tells me your church provides no

means by which the sinner can return to the saving love of Christ . Because he wasn’t saved in his heart in the first place??? How can one judge a persons heart? Scripture tells us that only God can judge the intentions of a man heart. Unrepented Mortal sin will cause us to lose our salvation, TLM,no excuses. Catholic spirituality provides all the Spirit filled graces to live the Christian life.:getholy: Carlan

 

[TheDoctor]

I was taught growing up that if I said the sinner’s prayer, and believe in God, I don’t have to wonder if I’m going to heaven - Jesus promised it.

The Catholic Church teaches that salvation is not assured.

There are many other places in scripture, often the words of Jesus himself, that support this promise that I really want to cling to.

The idea that my salvation is not assured is scary as hell, literally. I’m in need of explanation here.

Hi and welcome to the forums.

I am not the sharpest tool in the shed on some of these theology issues, so here is how I have explained it to my kids:
Heaven is an island out in the middle of a huge sea. It is the best place in the universe. You want to go there. There is no way on your own to get there - you can’t swim, you can’t sail, you can’t fly.

God out of love invites you to join Him in Heaven by sending us the “SS Salvation” captained by Jesus. We can’t ever afford the cost of the ticket. It’s OK, because Jesus bought and paid for it and he giives us the ticket on the SS Salvation for free. We still have to make the decision to get on.

Being on the boat though, does not mean you are getting off in Heaven. It just means you have the means to get there - for the boat has to sail. Like every good captain, Jesus has rules that we have to follow if we want to stay on the boat. It is not a cruise, it is a working vessel. Sometimes the work is rewarding and sometimes it is pain, but it is what the Captain asks us to do to stay on the boat.

If you don’t follow the rules, if you don’t show Jesus you want to be in Heaven, you don’t get to disembark when it docks. You get to go to another, more “tropical” island.

It is not a prison ship either. You are free to get off at any time. But even if you decide to get off, your ticket is still good (i.e. your “salvation” is still valid) but you have to make the decision to get back on the boat and follow the rules.
I probably oversimplified it and I know you can pick it apart, but I think the general idea is there.

Whatever you decide, I pray God will guide you on your journey.

 

[Carlan]

Hi and welcome to the forums.

I am not the sharpest tool in the shed on some of these theology issues, so here is how I have explained it to my kids:
Heaven is an island out in the middle of a huge sea. It is the best place in the universe. You want to go there. There is no way on your own to get there - you can’t swim, you can’t sail, you can’t fly.

God out of love invites you to join Him in Heaven by sending us the “SS Salvation” captained by Jesus. We can’t ever afford the cost of the ticket. It’s OK, because Jesus bought and paid for it and he giives us the ticket on the SS Salvation for free. We still have to make the decision to get on.

Being on the boat though, does not mean you are getting off in Heaven. It just means you have the means to get there - for the boat has to sail. Like every good captain, Jesus has rules that we have to follow if we want to stay on the boat. It is not a cruise, it is a working vessel. Sometimes the work is rewarding and sometimes it is pain, but it is what the Captain asks us to do to stay on the boat.

If you don’t follow the rules, if you don’t show Jesus you want to be in Heaven, you don’t get to disembark when it docks. You get to go to another, more “tropical” island.

It is not a prison ship either. You are free to get off at any time. But even if you decide to get off, your ticket is still good (i.e. your “salvation” is still valid) but you have to make the decision to get back on the boat and follow the rules.
I probably oversimplified it and I know you can pick it apart, but I think the general idea is there.

Whatever you decide, I pray God will guide you on your journey.

Thank you Doctor for lightening it up, some will get it and some won’t, I hope Awesome has not been frightened away by other posts,Carlan

 

[roselily]

G’morning TLM, (Quote)This repentance means developing a new attitude of hatred toward sin. It’s a true change of heart, mind and soul. People who are truly saved grieve their sins they are not proud of them.(End Q

Yes, we are to put on the new man and grow in virtue, become holy as Jesus is holy.
The covering up of your dirty soul is not all that is necessary to follow Jesus into heaven. When

OSAS Christians fall back into sin, mortal or venial, they believe the person was not saved in the first place, that excuse makes no sense to Catholics. It tells me your church provides no

means by which the sinner can return to the saving love of Christ . Because he wasn’t saved in his heart in the first place??? How can one judge a persons heart? Scripture tells us that only God can judge the intentions of a man heart. Unrepented Mortal sin will cause us to lose our salvation, TLM,no excuses. Catholic spirituality provides all the Spirit filled graces to live the Christian life.:getholy: Carlan

Oh, how good your thoughts, Carlan. May God bless you !
I had read this today in Holy Bible:

"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.
‘He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in
His mouth.’
When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls."
-1 Peter 2:21-25

 

[TLM08]

When OSAS Christians fall back into sin, mortal or venial, they believe the person was not saved in the first place, that excuse makes no sense to Catholics. It tells me your church provides no means by which the sinner can return to the saving love of Christ .

There is no church in the world that provides any means to return to the “saving love” of Christ. His “love” isn’t what saves us anyway. If that was all it took, then it wasn’t necessary for him to go to the cross. It took the shedding of his prescious blood to save us.

Hebrews 9:22 says, “Without shedding of blood there is no remission.” I John 1:7 tells us that “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.” God, in choosing the cleansing agent for our sins, chose the very best that He had, the blood of His own Son. It is by the precious blood of our Lord, that we are cleansed from all of our sins. Revelation 1:5 says, “To Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”

*At the moment of faith, the sinner is justified and has a right standing before God that is permanent (Heb. 10:14). He cannot be condemned again *(Rom. 8:1).

"as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:11-12

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” Romans 5:6-11

According to scripture, It is only by the blood of our Lord, that we get our sins washed away… … forever! .

 

[Carlan]

There is no church in the world that provides any means to return to the “saving love” of Christ. His “love” isn’t what saves us anyway. If that was all it took, then it wasn’t necessary for him to go to the cross. It took the shedding of his prescious blood to save us.

Hebrews 9:22 says, “Without shedding of blood there is no remission.” I John 1:7 tells us that “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.” God, in choosing the cleansing agent for our sins, chose the very best that He had, the blood of His own Son. It is by the precious blood of our Lord, that we are cleansed from all of our sins. Revelation 1:5 says, “To Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”

*At the moment of faith, the sinner is justified and has a right standing before God that is permanent (Heb. 10:14). He cannot be condemned again *(Rom. 8:1).

"as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:
"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." Romans 5:6-11

According to scripture, It is only by the blood of our Lord, that we get our sins washed away… … forever! .

Well,
TLM Must say you are a very good peacher. Yes, Christ redeemed all mankind by His blood, and Catholics , Protestants alike trust him alone for their salvation, we trust him alone for our salvation. The Bible teaches through Gods gift of grace, Faith and working in love, we are working out our salvation in fear and trembling(Phil:2:12).

Now I would love to hear your sermon on the ‘Beatitudes’ and ‘The Sermon On the Mount’, Thank you , and God bless you.:getholy:Carlan