Do we, as catholic christians, believe that we are pure?

[kingsan]

Hello! I was just listening to a bible christian pastor and he was explaining that christians are already pure by the blood of christ shed on calvary. But altough christians are pure this purity should be lived out and experienced by the help of God’s grace. So situationally, christians are already pure but practically this purity should be lived out. Now do we, as catholics, believe the same? I would answer in the negative because if we are pure then there would be no need for confession. But that is just my own answer. What about the catholic church’s answer to this? What does the church teach about this interpretation? Thank you!

 

[Ad_Orientem]

You’re quite right – if we were *totally *purified at our baptism (or act of repentance), we would not sin anymore, and there would be no need for purgatory.

At baptism we are purified of original sin, or to put it positively, we are infused with sanctifying grace, which makes us pleasing to God, and makes possible the intimate union and indwelling of God. In the case of adult converts, we are also purified of all guilt resulting from actual sin. So in the most important respects, yes, we are purified; however, that is not *all *that needs to be cleansed.

Even after our baptism, we are left with concupiscence (selfish desires), and in the case of adults, we retain any bad habits we picked up before baptism (though these are weakened by the graces we receive). Although not sinful in themselves, weaknesses and sinful tendencies have to be cleansed in order to make us perfect. In his wisdom God has ordained that we accomplish this through hard work, cooperating with his grace over a lifetime (and finishing up in purgatory, for most of us, before going on to Heaven).

cf. Catechism 1030-1031; 1263-1264; 2520.

 

[Richca]

Hello! I was just listening to a bible christian pastor and he was explaining that christians are already pure by the blood of christ shed on calvary. But altough christians are pure this purity should be lived out and experienced by the help of God’s grace. So situationally, christians are already pure but practically this purity should be lived out. Now do we, as catholics, believe the same? I would answer in the negative because if we are pure then there would be no need for confession. But that is just my own answer. What about the catholic church’s answer to this? What does the church teach about this interpretation? Thank you!

Every sin we commit, whether it is venial or mortal, spoils our baptismal robe. I know of no catholic christian who would say that they never sin, at least venially and that every day. This is the reason that Jesus instituted the sacraments especially the Eucharist and confession. Growth in holiness and purity is a life long process. As long as we live on the earth, we are either going forwards or backwards in the spiritual life. The Church’s doctrine on purgatory tells us that we can fail in purity even after baptism which most people do fail in. However, if a person died immediately after baptism, that person would go straight to heaven. For baptism opens up the gates of heaven.

Many protestants hold to doctrines such as once saved always saved and that there is not such thing as growth in holiness or the concept of merit. This is not catholic teaching.

 

[Dodge_pursuit]

Good responses. Since we, as Catholics, have the Catechism we might as well run to it whenever questions of faith arise! Those outside the church have no such resource and must grasp for answers.

Having been outside the church for a while, I saw what I would call the “dark underbelly” of the protestant doctrine of “once saved, always saved.” While at first this doctrine causes peace, over time it leads some to despair.

The idea at first sounds awesome- one act of turning from sin and asking for forgiveness and we are done, no matter what happens down the road. Many are attracted to such a simple, joyful belief. And several very encouraging scriptures, when taken somewhat out of context, seem to support the concept (assuming you ignore the dozen or so verses calling us to persevere, avoid sin and keep the faith to the end).

But here’s the problem, aside from the obvious problem that this doctrine is false. Those who believe it are relieved for a while but soon begin to wonder if they have done anything to “screw up” their salvation. While most evangelical pastors would tell them they cannot lose their salvation, they have a deep instinctive understanding that their sins committed after professing their faith cannot simply be ignored. So they start to worry about it. Some keep asking for forgiveness or “asking Jesus into their heart” again and again. Others despair of ever being sinless and just give up on the christian life. So what begins as a fresh, exciting new way to look at the gospel soon becomes a treadmill, or worse, a doorway to falling away completely. Sadly, I can think of many people I encountered in evangelical churches who would find the peace they seek if only they would humble themselves and come to confession.

Ah, the joy of confession!

Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. (John 20:23)

Pray for our protestant friends, that their hearts may be softened and their eyes opened.

 

[TylerJordan]

You’re quite right – if we were *totally *purified at our baptism (or act of repentance), we would not sin anymore, and there would be no need for purgatory.

At baptism we are purified of original sin, or to put it positively, we are infused with sanctifying grace, which makes us pleasing to God, and makes possible the intimate union and indwelling of God. In the case of adult converts, we are also purified of all guilt resulting from actual sin. So in the most important respects, yes, we are purified; however, that is not *all *that needs to be cleansed.

Even after our baptism, we are left with concupiscence (selfish desires), and in the case of adults, we retain any bad habits we picked up before baptism (though these are weakened by the graces we receive). Although not sinful in themselves, weaknesses and sinful tendencies have to be cleansed in order to make us perfect. In his wisdom God has ordained that we accomplish this through hard work, cooperating with his grace over a lifetime (and finishing up in purgatory, for most of us, before going on to Heaven).

cf. Catechism 1030-1031; 1263-1264; 2520.

Amen.