Once Saved, Always Saved

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Non-denominational Protestant here. I’ve been open to listening to the Catholic point of view, reading, listening to Catholic Answers Live for about four years now. I feel I am on the verge of conversion, but I seem to have one thing that I’d really like to have cleared up before going forward.

Here’s my question. I’ve heard a couple of references to the fact that Protestants believe that once saved, always saved and that that is contradictory to Catholic belief. Protestants believe that our sins are covered; Catholics believe, as I understand it, that nothing unholy or sinful will be able to stand in God’s presence, that we must continually work towards holiness.

Could someone give me a bare bones bullet list of what Catholics believe on this issue? I am asking for something this simple because I seem to get lost in my research, wading through tons of apologetics against seemingly centuries old arguments, none of which I am familiar with. A simple bullet list of what is truth would give me something to hold on to and refer back to as I study this issue.

With much gratitude!
 
The short version is that Catholics believe, as St.Paul believed, that we must endure to the end, working out our salvation “in fear and trembling”.

While Baptism opens the door, not everyone walks through and God does not force us to remain in his grace. Catholic teaching puts great emphasis on free-will and along with the will to accept eternal life, is the will lto reject it.
 
vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM

vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6Y.HTM

PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST
SECTION ONE MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT
CHAPTER THREE GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE
Article 2 GRACE AND JUSTIFICATION
I. Justification

1989 The first work of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conversion, effecting justification in accordance with Jesus’ proclamation at the beginning of the Gospel: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."38 Moved by grace, man turns toward God and away from sin, thus accepting forgiveness and righteousness from on high. "Justification is not only the remission of sins, but also the sanctification and renewal of the interior man.39

1990 Justification detaches man from sin which contradicts the love of God, and purifies his heart of sin. Justification follows upon God’s merciful initiative of offering forgiveness. It reconciles man with God. It frees from the enslavement to sin, and it heals.

vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6Z.HTM

PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST
SECTION ONE MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT
CHAPTER THREE GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE
Article 2 GRACE AND JUSTIFICATION
II. Grace

2003 Grace is first and foremost the gift of the Spirit who justifies and sanctifies us. But grace also includes the gifts that the Spirit grants us to associate us with his work, to enable us to collaborate in the salvation of others and in the growth of the Body of Christ, the Church. There are sacramental graces, gifts proper to the different sacraments. There are furthermore special graces, also called charisms after the Greek term used by St. Paul and meaning “favor,” “gratuitous gift,” "benefit."53 Whatever their character - sometimes it is extraordinary, such as the gift of miracles or of tongues - charisms are oriented toward sanctifying grace and are intended for the common good of the Church. They are at the service of charity which builds up the Church.54
 
gracegray said:
Here’s my question. I’ve heard a couple of references to the fact that Protestants believe that once saved, always saved and that that is contradictory to Catholic belief. Protestants believe that our sins are covered
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Not my church - I think this is primarily a Baptist perspective. Please, correct me if I’m wrong. The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has this to say:

Q. Can you lose your salvation and if you can, what do you need to do to regain it again?

**"A. **The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod believes and teaches that it is possible for a true believer to fall from faith, as Scripture itself soberly and repeatedly warns us (1 Cor. 10:12; 1 Pet. 5:8; 2 Pet. 3:17; Heb. 2:1-3; 3:12-19; 6:4-8, etc.). Such warnings are intended for Christians who appear to be lacking a right understanding of the seriousness of their sin and of God’s judgment against sin, and who, therefore, are in danger of developing a false and proud “security” based not on God’s grace, but on their own works, self-righteousness, or freedom to “do as they please.”

By the same token, the LCMS affirms and treasures all of the wonderful passages in Scripture in which God promises that He will never forsake those who trust in Christ Jesus alone for salvation (John 10:27-29; Romans 8; Heb. 13: 5-6, etc.). To those who are truly repentant and recognize their need for God’s grace and forgiveness, such passages are powerful reminders of the true security that is ours through sincere and humble faith in Christ alone for our salvation."

You have to repent, and believe it and meant it with all your heart when you confess that your salvation comes through Christ alone…no wishy-washy half-faith, non-repentant stuff.

Anyway, I know you were asking for the Catholic perspective, but I just wanted to throw that out there since you were talking about “protestant” beliefs.

Peace and Blessings!
Julie
 
As Catholics we believe what we read in the Bible.
Holy Scripture teaces us that good works as well as faith is required for our entry into heaven is the following.It is not simply enough to accept salvation from the Lord and regard ourselves therefore as ‘always saved’

“But if the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced. Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord GOD. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live?
And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does, can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he has broken faith and committed sin; because of this, he shall die.” Ezekiel21-24

Jesus says:“It is not those who call me ‘Lord, Lord’ who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my father in heaven.” [Matthew 7:21]

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them.
That one is like a person building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.” [Luke 6:45-49]

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
Phil 2:12-13

“Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.” [Galations 6:7-9]

"Take the case, my brothers of someone who has never done a single good act but claims that he has faith. Will that faith save him? If one of the brothers or one of the sisters is in need of clothes and has not enough food to live on, and one of you says to them, ‘I wish you well; keep yourself warm and eat plenty’, without giving them these bare necessities of llife, then what good is that?: if good works do not go with it, it is quite dead.
This is the way to talk to people of that kind:'You say you have faith and I have good deeds; I will prove to you that I have faith by showing you my good deeds–now you prove to me that you have faith without any good deeds to show.

You believe in one God–that is creditable enough, but the demons have the same belief, and they tremble with fear. Do realise, you senseless man, that faith without works is useless. You surely know that Abraham our Father was justified by his deed, because he offered Isaac on the altar? There you see it; faith and good deeds were working together; his faith became perfect by what he did. This is what scripture really means when it says: Abraham put his faith in God, and this was counted as making him justified; and that is why he was called the friend of God. You see now that it is by doing something good, and not only by believing, that a man is justified." [James 2: 14-24]

http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/once_saved_always_saved.htm
 
**Gracegray, for what the Catholic Church teaches about justification you may like to go to the source, **
the Catechism of the Catholic Church
then you can be clear in your mind about what Catholic believe…though in your post you does show you have already grasped the principles taught in our Catechism.

vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c3a2.htm
 
Grace,

Is there some sin that you think that Jesus didn’t cover at the cross?
 
I forgot to mention Jesus most explicit support of something beyond “once saide always saved.”
Mattthew 25 verses 31-46.

And the two great commandnents of love of God above all and others as self.

These practical acts of kindness and living the commands of love are not a “once done” always saving event. We have to lives thes principles every day, not consider, okay “I chose to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior on the 27th of February 2011, so I am always saved”, no I must get up agai each day and live the commands of love in practical acts of kindness every day.
 
Juliebug108 said:
Not my church - I think this is primarily a Baptist perspective. Please, correct me if I’m wrong. The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has this to say:

Q. Can you lose your salvation and if you can, what do you need to do to regain it again?

**"A. **The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod believes and teaches that it is possible for a true believer to fall from faith, as Scripture itself soberly and repeatedly warns us (1 Cor. 10:12; 1 Pet. 5:8; 2 Pet. 3:17; Heb. 2:1-3; 3:12-19; 6:4-8, etc.). Such warnings are intended for Christians who appear to be lacking a right understanding of the seriousness of their sin and of God’s judgment against sin, and who, therefore, are in danger of developing a false and proud “security” based not on God’s grace, but on their own works, self-righteousness, or freedom to “do as they please.”

By the same token, the LCMS affirms and treasures all of the wonderful passages in Scripture in which God promises that He will never forsake those who trust in Christ Jesus alone for salvation (John 10:27-29; Romans 8; Heb. 13: 5-6, etc.). To those who are truly repentant and recognize their need for God’s grace and forgiveness, such passages are powerful reminders of the true security that is ours through sincere and humble faith in Christ alone for our salvation."

You have to repent, and believe it and meant it with all your heart when you confess that your salvation comes through Christ alone…no wishy-washy half-faith, non-repentant stuff.

Anyway, I know you were asking for the Catholic perspective, but I just wanted to throw that out there since you were talking about “protestant” beliefs.

Peace and Blessings!
Julie
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You’re right------“once saved, always saved” is a Baptist/Pentecostal belief, as far as I know.👍.
 
ForeverGrace said:
Grace,

Is there some sin that you think that Jesus didn’t cover at the cross?
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No but a continual refusal to do as God asks us can only result in our seperation from Him. As someone else has already mentioned Paul taught that we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling. If we are once saved always saved then Paul’s urging to workout our salvation with fear and trembling would be completely foolish. Do you believe Paul is foolish?
 
ignatius777 said:
No but a continual refusal to do as God asks us can only result in our seperation from Him. As someone else has already mentioned Paul taught that we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling. If we are once saved always saved then Paul’s urging to workout our salvation with fear and trembling would be completely foolish. Do you believe Paul is foolish?
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Do I think Paul is foolish? What would make you ask such a question? Have I said anything that makes you think that?

But since we are on the topic, Paul said that he often did what he knew he should not do and that he didn’t do what he knew he should. I think Paul summed our condition quite succinctly and I have no doubt he is with the Lord. Paul also said “For we hold that one is justified by faith, APART from works of the law” Romans 3:28 Then there is this: Every sin will be forgiven except for blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Unless the Bible is lying, then that settles it for me.

God Bless.
 
gracegray said:
Non-denominational Protestant here. I’ve been open to listening to the Catholic point of view, reading, listening to Catholic Answers Live for about four years now. I feel I am on the verge of conversion, but I seem to have one thing that I’d really like to have cleared up before going forward.

Here’s my question. I’ve heard a couple of references to the fact that Protestants believe that once saved, always saved and that that is contradictory to Catholic belief. Protestants believe that our sins are covered; Catholics believe, as I understand it, that nothing unholy or sinful will be able to stand in God’s presence, that we must continually work towards holiness.

Could someone give me a bare bones bullet list of what Catholics believe on this issue? I am asking for something this simple because I seem to get lost in my research, wading through tons of apologetics against seemingly centuries old arguments, none of which I am familiar with. A simple bullet list of what is truth would give me something to hold on to and refer back to as I study this issue.

With much gratitude!
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My recommendation:

Read Romans 11 and Hebrews 10.

Here is link to a journal that explores the difference:chnetwork.org/journals/justification/onesavingaction.html

Some excerpts:

Faith" and “Alone”

Next, let’s start this discussion by raising an important question: Did the apostle Paul teach justification by faith alone? If so, why didn’t Paul use the specific phrase “faith alone” anywhere in his New Testament writings? St. Paul used the word faith over two hundred times in the New Testament, but not once did he couple it with the words “alone” or “only.” What would have stopped him from such an important addition if the solitude of faith in regard to justification was at the forefront of his mind?

A second reason that leads us to pose this critical question is that Paul used the word “alone” very frequently. Many of these instances appear right alongside the very contexts that contain teachings on faith and justification (Rm. 3:29; 4:12, 16, 23; Gal. 2:10; 3:2; 4:18; 5:13). Thus even while Paul was teaching about the nature of justification he was keenly aware of the word “alone” and its qualifying properties. Coupling it with “faith” would have made his point indisputable.

Thirdly, although the Holy Spirit prohibited Paul from using the phrase “faith alone,” He allowed St. James to make a clear and forceful point to the contrary, declaring that “man is justified by works and NOT by faith alone” (Jam. 2:24). This negation comes at the precise point in the epistle where St. James questions whether faith, by itself, is sufficient for justification. We can only conclude that the Holy Spirit’s inspiration of the equally important phrase “not by,” clearly shows God was concerned that some would misinterpret Scripture’s stress on faith versus works to be equal to “faith alone.” But didn’t St. Paul say faith was “apart from” works?

If Paul did not intend to teach faith alone, then how do we explain his statement in Rom. 3:28, “that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law”? Could one not argue that the phrase “apart from” is very similar to the word “alone,” and thus conclude that St. Paul really did teach that faith is alone in justification?

To answer this, we must realize that “justified by faith alone” does not mean the same thing as “justified by faith apart from works of the law.” Grammatically, the phrase “faith alone” means that faith is the ONLY instrument for justification, while the statement “faith apart from works of the law” merely means that “works of the law”—whatever St. Paul means by them—are the only thing that cannot be coupled with faith for justification. In other words, “faith alone” excludes everything from being added to faith, while "faith apart

rom works of the law" excludes only “works of the law” from being added to faith. This leaves open the possibility that perhaps something may be added to faith that is not considered “works of the law,” or, that we could understand “faith” as being associated with other virtues that are not technically related to “works of the law.” [See Council of Trent, Session 6, Chapter 7].

Hence, although we must give due justice to Paul’s dictum that faith must be apart from works of the law, this does not necessarily mean that faith is completely alone, especially from other virtues like love and obedience (Gal. 5:6; Rom. 1:5; 16:26). According to certain Scriptures, there is something about “works of law” which forces Paul to separate it from his concept of faith, yet dissimilar Scriptures allow, or even require, the addition of other virtuous works, which are not necessarily associated with works of the law, in order to procure justification.
 
ForeverGrace said:
Do I think Paul is foolish? What would make you ask such a question? Have I said anything that makes you think that?

But since we are on the topic, Paul said that he often did what he knew he should not do and that he didn’t do what he knew he should. I think Paul summed our condition quite succinctly and I have no doubt he is with the Lord. Paul also said “For we hold that one is justified by faith, APART from works of the law” Romans 3:28 Then there is this: Every sin will be forgiven except for blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Unless the Bible is lying, then that settles it for me.

God Bless.
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You would HAVE to believe Paul was foolish if you think he believed in OSAS and said we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Only a fool would believe in such contradictory statements.

While we are on the topic Paul went to great pains to note that it was works of the LAW that had no part in salvation. Jesus said He came to fulfill the LAW not abolish it (Matt 5:17). So did Jesus come to fufill the LAW only to have Paul say we arent saved by works of the very LAW which Jesus fulfilled? I hope you dont believe that but we have a prblem dont we? Why would Jesus fufill a LAW that Paul would later say has no part in salvation? Paul doesnt know more then Jesus right? So its either different LAWS or different intent.
 
=ForeverGrace;7697042]But since we are on the topic, Paul said that he often did what he knew he should not do and that he didn’t do what he knew he should. I think Paul summed our condition quite succinctly and I have no doubt he is with the Lord.
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Paul had a wounded nature just like all of us do. He was tempted by sin.
Paul also said “For we hold that one is justified by faith, APART from works of the law”
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What does Paul mean by works of the Law? What law is he talking about? Is he saying we are justified without keeping the commandments? Of course not. Paul is talking about the law of Torah observed by the Jews to whom he was talking.

Paul tells us what he means by the law in Galatians 5:2-6 “Now I Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who receives circumcision that he is bound to keep **the whole law. **You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law, you have fallen from grace…For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail but faith working through love.”
Romans 3:28 Then there is this: Every sin will be forgiven except for blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Unless the Bible is lying, then that settles it for me.
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God Bless.
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Every sin is forgiven IF we confess and repent everytime we sin not just once and we are done. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the refusal to ask God for forgiveness.
 
=gracegray;7695325]Here’s my question. I’ve heard a couple of references to the fact that Protestants believe that once saved, always saved and that that is contradictory to Catholic belief. Protestants believe that our sins are covered; Catholics believe, as I understand it, that nothing unholy or sinful will be able to stand in God’s presence, that we must continually work towards holiness
Click to expand...
.
Revelation 21:27 says nothing unclean can enter heaven, not even a liar so clearly we must be completely sanctified to be in heaven. Our sins are not merely covered. We become a new creation in baptism. Our sins after baptism are forgiven through confession but the effects of sin remain and the sanctification process removes the stain of sin on our soul. If sanctification is not completed in this life, it will be in the next where Paul tells us after death our works will be tested but we will “suffer loss” and we “will be saved but only as through fire”.( 1 Cor. 3:15) That is a beautiful description of purgatory where the saved go to be purified so that they may enter heaven.

While Catholics do not believe we can infallibly know we are saved we have the moral assurance that if we die in the state of grace we are saved.
 
Hello!

These are wonderful websites in which I would recommend you looking at if you feel as though you have a calling to conversion. They explain Purgatory and the reason to confess sins and why God has given us the grace of Free Will.
My Presbyterian boyfriend has read these with me and he is planning to convert to the Catholic Church next Easter. ( Of course these are only part of the reason for his conversion)

God Bless you!

Gianna_MarieJMJ

scripturecatholic.com/

catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0091.html
 
Jude 1:24 (New American Standard Bible)
24(A)Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to (B)make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with (C)great joy,

Hebrews 12:2 (New American Standard Bible)
2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the (A)author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him (B)endured the cross, (C)despising the shame, and has (D)sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 7:25 (New American Standard Bible)
25Therefore He is able also to (A)save forever those who (B)draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to (C)make intercession for them.

John 10:28-29 (New American Standard Bible)
28and I give (A)eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and (B)no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29"[a]My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

John 5:24 (New American Standard Bible)
24"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and (A)believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and (B)does not come into judgment, but has (C)passed out of death into life.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (New American Standard Bible)
13In Him, you also, after listening to (A)the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation–having also believed, you were (B)sealed in Him with (C)the Holy Spirit of promise, 14who is (D)given as a pledge of (E)our inheritance, with a view to the (F)redemption of (G)God’s own possession, (H)to the praise of His glory.

Philippians 1:6 (New American Standard Bible)
6For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until (A)the day of Christ Jesus.
 
gracegray said:
Non-denominational Protestant here. I’ve been open to listening to the Catholic point of view, reading, listening to Catholic Answers Live for about four years now. I feel I am on the verge of conversion, but I seem to have one thing that I’d really like to have cleared up before going forward.

Here’s my question. I’ve heard a couple of references to the fact that Protestants believe that once saved, always saved and that that is contradictory to Catholic belief. Protestants believe that our sins are covered; Catholics believe, as I understand it, that nothing unholy or sinful will be able to stand in God’s presence, that we must continually work towards holiness.

Could someone give me a bare bones bullet list of what Catholics believe on this issue? I am asking for something this simple because I seem to get lost in my research, wading through tons of apologetics against seemingly centuries old arguments, none of which I am familiar with. A simple bullet list of what is truth would give me something to hold on to and refer back to as I study this issue.

With much gratitude!
Click to expand...
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Him shall never die?

Do you believe this?
 
The Catholic view point is that salvation is a process not a one time instant event.
 
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