I hope you are Catholic so that you can participate in the FULLNESS of that faith, which is to believe that His Grace, through His Sacraments, can actually transform us, renew us, and strengthen us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit which come through Him, with Him, and in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit.
No! I think God meets us all where we are, constantly calling us to seek Him and to know Him more. As long as we respond to His call, we can be saved.
Baptism is symbolic in the sense that it does not actually wash away original sin. It is symbolic of the washing away of sin. It is symbolic of the regenerative work of Christ in our lives. However, for those individuals who have the right heart and motivations, baptism is a means of grace. The grace given to the believer in baptism is not symbolic. The presence of the Holy Spirit is not symbolic. The grace and the presence of the Spirit are real. There are real benefits to baptism.
I’m not sure.
Protestants confess their sins. However, they don’t go to a priest to do it. We pray to God directly for forgiveness of our sins.
Whether you’re Catholic or Protestant, confession is a must.
So, let me get this straight…
Yes, I realize this. I didn’t mean to infer that you would not have gone to Christ in prayer to confess. I should have cleared that up, but thanks for doing so.
The New Catholic Encyclopedia says of the “Sacrament of Baptism” (p. 65):
Many Protestants believe baptism is not necessary for salvation.When I referred to Paul’s statement on circumcision, I was drawing a parallel between Jewish circumcision and Christian baptism. Paul said that the circumcision of the flesh is not what is important. The circumcision of the heart (the cutting away of sin) is the important thing. Likewise, being baptized in water is not what is really important. It is being baptized into Christ which is the important thing. This is where many Protestants disagree with the Catholic Church.
Sorry, Itwin…
I disagree. But I’m really not here to argue for a symbolic view of baptism. My original reason for responding was the OP’s identification of Protestants as blasphemers. The quote of mine that you reproduced above was in response to another poster who did not understand how I could believe in a symbolic baptism that had real spiritual effects on a person. I respect that this is a Catholic website, and I’m not here to argue.
You are speaking of martyrdom. The church says that if you die in faith, giving your life for God, you have what is referred to as a “baptism” of blood. Also, there is the “baptism of desire” which says that if you are in a situation where you cannot get a baptism, but have come to believe, and you repent of your sins, God will not refuse you salvation.
babs, When 1 Cor 6:11 says “washed” is St. Paul speaking of Baptism here? Or Sacrament of Confession? I’ve heard it said that in Confession we are washed. Did these people whom St. Paul was speaking to, not get Baptized?
Both baptism of blood and baptism of desire (as I understand it) apply to people who have not had the chance to be baptized, but they would be baptized if they had the opportunity.
I didn’t say that Protestants don’t need baptism. I said that many Protestants believe that baptism is not necessary for salvation. Salvation comes by faith and abiding in Christ.
They were baptized. See where it says “you*** were ***washed”. Washing usually referrs to baptism, as it was a hold-over from the Jewish ritual washings. Baptism was not new to the early Christians. Remember that John was baptizing before Jesus came on the scene, and everyone seemed to know what he was doing. But Jesus’ baptism was of a different kind.
That’s OK. Who can know the mind of God??!!
Thank you. I believe that the OP’s premise was wrong. I also believe that the Church also believes it is wrong. BUT…I can’t find it in this darned Catechism!!!
True.