Protestants: Sinner's Prayer-What must it say and does it assure Salvation?

[brb3]

Here is the problem with what you have posted here, to add on to what Padrej has already said. where in Catholic teachings and the catechism do you find the “4 laws” or “sinner’s prayer” that makes one have the desire to save/ adopt as you so eloquently put it?

Well, that might be a problem for Catholics living before 1900, when St. Pius X first gave an early version of Catechism to the laity. The 1566 one, by Council of Trent was only for the Priesthood. So, I guess we would have to rely on the Catholic Canon … for most of the Church era, and oral tradition before the Canon.

Lets look at the Canon. The Psalms contains 3 excellent Sinner’s Prayers … inspired by H.S. for David, and the future adoptions of the Lord.

Psalms 32:1-5 "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord IMPUTES no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. WHEN I DECLARED NOT MY SIN, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as the heat of summer. I ACKNOWLEDGED MY SIN TO THEE, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said “I WILL CONFESS MY TRANSGRESSIONS TO THE LORD”; then thou didst FORGIVE THE GUILT OF MY SIN.

Psalms 34:4-7 "I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. THIS POOR MAN CRIED, AND THE LORD HEARD HIM, AND SAVED HIM OUT OF ALL HIS TROUBLES. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Psalms 51:1-17 “Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love; according to thy abundant mercy BLOT OUT MY TRANSGRESSIONS. WASH ME THOROUGHLY FROM MY INIQUITY, AND CLEANSE ME FROM MY SIN ! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, THEE ALONE, HAVE I SINNED, and done what is evil in thy sight, so that THOU ART JUSTIFIED IN THY SENTENCE AND BLAMELESS IN THY JUDGMENT. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, AND IN SIN DID MY MOTHER CONCEIVE ME. BEHOLD, THOU DESIREST TRUTH IN THE INWARD BEING; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. PURGE ME WITH HYSSOP, AND I SHALL BE CLEAN; WASH ME, AND I SHALL BE WHITER THAN SNOW. FILL ME [infuse … yes ?] with joy and gladness; let the bones which thou hast broken [judged …yes ?] rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and BLOT OUT ALL MY INIQUITIES. CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD, AND PUT A NEW AND RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME [spiritual enlightenment … yes ?] Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. RESTORE TO ME THE JOY OF THY SALVATION, and my tongue will sing aloud [Praise … yes ?] of THY DELIVERANCE. … The sacrifice acceptable to God is A BROKEN SPIRIT; A BROKEN AND CONTRITE HEART, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

 

[RitaKatheleen]

However, there are many Baptists who claim that Catholics are not Christians. Very sad. None of us have the right to judge the heart of another.<<

I have been a protestant believer for 38 of my 40 years of life. I heard and taught all about salvation and the sinners prayer. I even thought I knew all about catholics until I started to go to a catholic church for the last two years during my journey in discovering the fullness of the christian faith through the catholic church. You cannot go to a catholic mass and NOT hear about salvation. Its in the creed, in the Our Father (which Jesus directly gave us) and in our prayers before recieving the eucharist. Each and every mass celebrates Jesus’ sacrifice for our salvation!

 

[mikeledes]

Well, that might be a problem for Catholics living before 1900, when St. Pius X first gave an early version of Catechism to the laity. The 1566 one, by Council of Trent was only for the Priesthood. So, I guess we would have to rely on the Catholic Canon … for most of the Church era, and oral tradition before the Canon.

Lets look at the Canon. The Psalms contains 3 excellent Sinner’s Prayers … inspired by H.S. for David, and the future adoptions of the Lord.

Psalms 32:1-5 "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord IMPUTES no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. WHEN I DECLARED NOT MY SIN, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as the heat of summer. I ACKNOWLEDGED MY SIN TO THEE, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said “I WILL CONFESS MY TRANSGRESSIONS TO THE LORD”; then thou didst FORGIVE THE GUILT OF MY SIN.

Psalms 34:4-7 "I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. THIS POOR MAN CRIED, AND THE LORD HEARD HIM, AND SAVED HIM OUT OF ALL HIS TROUBLES. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Psalms 51:1-17 “Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love; according to thy abundant mercy BLOT OUT MY TRANSGRESSIONS. WASH ME THOROUGHLY FROM MY INIQUITY, AND CLEANSE ME FROM MY SIN ! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, THEE ALONE, HAVE I SINNED, and done what is evil in thy sight, so that THOU ART JUSTIFIED IN THY SENTENCE AND BLAMELESS IN THY JUDGMENT. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, AND IN SIN DID MY MOTHER CONCEIVE ME. BEHOLD, THOU DESIREST TRUTH IN THE INWARD BEING; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. PURGE ME WITH HYSSOP, AND I SHALL BE CLEAN; WASH ME, AND I SHALL BE WHITER THAN SNOW. FILL ME [infuse … yes ?] with joy and gladness; let the bones which thou hast broken [judged …yes ?] rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and BLOT OUT ALL MY INIQUITIES. CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD, AND PUT A NEW AND RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME [spiritual enlightenment … yes ?] Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. RESTORE TO ME THE JOY OF THY SALVATION, and my tongue will sing aloud [Praise … yes ?] of THY DELIVERANCE. … The sacrifice acceptable to God is A BROKEN SPIRIT; A BROKEN AND CONTRITE HEART, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

Those are examples of what we would call acts of contrition. The “Sinner’s Prayer”, which refers to a specific prayer composed by a Protestant, is problematic because it is rooted in faulty theology. People are taught that they receive Christ if they say this prayer with faith and that is neither Scriptural nor Catholic. The Sinner’s Prayer has saved no one and no one has received Christ because of that specific prayer. If they have “recieved Christ” extrasacramentally, it is because they turned to God for mercy and salvation with a believing and contrite heart, not because of the specific words they used.

God bless,
Michael

 

[FrJohnB]

Well, that might be a problem for Catholics living before 1900, when St. Pius X first gave an early version of Catechism to the laity. The 1566 one, by Council of Trent was only for the Priesthood. So, I guess we would have to rely on the Catholic Canon … for most of the Church era, and oral tradition before the Canon.

Lets look at the Canon. The Psalms contains 3 excellent Sinner’s Prayers … inspired by H.S. for David, and the future adoptions of the Lord.

Psalms 32:1-5 "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord IMPUTES no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. WHEN I DECLARED NOT MY SIN, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as the heat of summer. I ACKNOWLEDGED MY SIN TO THEE, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said “I WILL CONFESS MY TRANSGRESSIONS TO THE LORD”; then thou didst FORGIVE THE GUILT OF MY SIN.

Psalms 34:4-7 "I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. THIS POOR MAN CRIED, AND THE LORD HEARD HIM, AND SAVED HIM OUT OF ALL HIS TROUBLES. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Psalms 51:1-17 “Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love; according to thy abundant mercy BLOT OUT MY TRANSGRESSIONS. WASH ME THOROUGHLY FROM MY INIQUITY, AND CLEANSE ME FROM MY SIN ! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, THEE ALONE, HAVE I SINNED, and done what is evil in thy sight, so that THOU ART JUSTIFIED IN THY SENTENCE AND BLAMELESS IN THY JUDGMENT. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, AND IN SIN DID MY MOTHER CONCEIVE ME. BEHOLD, THOU DESIREST TRUTH IN THE INWARD BEING; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. PURGE ME WITH HYSSOP, AND I SHALL BE CLEAN; WASH ME, AND I SHALL BE WHITER THAN SNOW. FILL ME [infuse … yes ?] with joy and gladness; let the bones which thou hast broken [judged …yes ?] rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and BLOT OUT ALL MY INIQUITIES. CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD, AND PUT A NEW AND RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME [spiritual enlightenment … yes ?] Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. RESTORE TO ME THE JOY OF THY SALVATION, and my tongue will sing aloud [Praise … yes ?] of THY DELIVERANCE. … The sacrifice acceptable to God is A BROKEN SPIRIT; A BROKEN AND CONTRITE HEART, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

Where do you get that the Council of Trent was only for Priests/priesthood? Quite frankly with the Protestant type of answers you have been giving I would have expected you to say that you are amongst the “priesthood of all believers” and therefore included there.
But on to the Council of Trent. The Catholic Church’s position on Trent has not changed but I want you to notice something from Trent.

“If anyone says that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in divine mercy, which remits sins for Christ’s sake, or that it is this confidence alone that justifies us, LET HIM BE ANATHEMA” (Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 12).

· “If anyone says that the justice received is not preserved and also not increased before God through good works, but that those works are merely the fruits and signs of justification obtained, but not the cause of its increase, LET HIM BE ANATHEMA” (Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 24).

· “If anyone says that the Catholic doctrine of justification as set forth by the holy council in the present decree, derogates in some respect from the glory of God or the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, and does not rather illustrate the truth of our faith and no less the glory of God and of Christ Jesus, LET HIM BE ANATHEMA” (Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 33).

Notice the word “Anyone” if it is only for the priesthood why would the word “anyone” keep showing up? Trent hurled 125 anathemas (eternal damnations) against Bible-believing Christians. (By this I mean those who are the scripture only for doctrine type) These proclamations and anathemas were fleshed out in the murderous persecutions vented upon Bible-believing Christians by Rome, and the solemn fact is that the Council of Trent has never been annulled. The Vatican II Council of the mid-1960s referred to Trent dozens of times, quoted Trent’s proclamations as authority, and reaffirmed Trent on every hand. The New Catholic Catechism cites Trent no less than 99 times. There is not the slightest hint that the proclamations of the Council of Trent have been abrogated by Rome. At the opening of the Second Vatican Council, Pope John XXIII stated, **“I do accept entirely all that has been decided and declared at the Council of Trent.” **Every cardinal, bishop and priest who participated in the Vatican II Council signed a document affirming Trent.

 

[Padrej]

Where do you get that the Council of Trent was only for Priests/priesthood? Quite frankly with the Protestant type of answers you have been giving I would have expected you to say that you are amongst the “priesthood of all believers” and therefore included there.

 

[FrJohnB]

To be clear, I assume that by “Bible believing” that you are more referring to the fundamentalist evangelicals who are relying on scripture alone for doctrine? Ones who use no church tradition of church father’s teaching but sola scriptura.

Thanks for the clarification, yes those are the ones that I am referring to. Now let me also say there are many wonderful people out there who do believe that way and I can respect their belief, I may not agree with it nor they mine but I can respect it.

 

[crazzeto]

I can’t believe anyone is trying to make an argument that some how Trent is null and void! :doh2:

Anyway thanks for the thread that keeps giving Anna

 

[Padrej]

Those are examples of what we would call acts of contrition. The “Sinner’s Prayer”, which refers to a specific prayer composed by a Protestant, is problematic because it is rooted in faulty theology. People are taught that they receive Christ if they say this prayer with faith and that is neither Scriptural nor Catholic. The Sinner’s Prayer has saved no one and no one has received Christ because of that specific prayer. If they have “recieved Christ” extrasacramentally, it is because they turned to God for mercy and salvation with a believing and contrite heart, not because of the specific words they used.

God bless,
Michael

I think you struck the nail on the head here. It is in the turning to Christ with a contrite heart for mercy and salvation that saves. How many times did Christ say after healing somebody, “Your FAITH made you well/whole?” It was not the words said to Christ of Heal me or help my unbelief or anything of that nature, It was purely a matter of the heart.

 

[Anna_Scott]

Wow, you guys have been busy since my last trip to the library. (I do miss my computer.) Still following the discussion. Many great comments.

Thanks everyone,
Anna

 

[brb3]

Where do you get that the Council of Trent was only for Priests/priesthood? Quite frankly with the Protestant type of answers you have been giving I would have expected you to say that you are amongst the “priesthood of all believers” and therefore included there.
But on to the Council of Trent. The Catholic Church’s position on Trent has not changed but I want you to notice something from Trent.

“If anyone says that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in divine mercy, which remits sins for Christ’s sake, or that it is this confidence alone that justifies us, LET HIM BE ANATHEMA” (Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 12).

· “If anyone says that the justice received is not preserved and also not increased before God through good works, but that those works are merely the fruits and signs of justification obtained, but not the cause of its increase, LET HIM BE ANATHEMA” (Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 24).

· “If anyone says that the Catholic doctrine of justification as set forth by the holy council in the present decree, derogates in some respect from the glory of God or the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, and does not rather illustrate the truth of our faith and no less the glory of God and of Christ Jesus, LET HIM BE ANATHEMA” (Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 33).

Notice the word “Anyone” if it is only for the priesthood why would the word “anyone” keep showing up? Trent hurled 125 anathemas (eternal damnations) against Bible-believing Christians. (By this I mean those who are the scripture only for doctrine type) These proclamations and anathemas were fleshed out in the murderous persecutions vented upon Bible-believing Christians by Rome, and the solemn fact is that the Council of Trent has never been annulled. The Vatican II Council of the mid-1960s referred to Trent dozens of times, quoted Trent’s proclamations as authority, and reaffirmed Trent on every hand. The New Catholic Catechism cites Trent no less than 99 times. There is not the slightest hint that the proclamations of the Council of Trent have been abrogated by Rome. At the opening of the Second Vatican Council, Pope John XXIII stated, **“I do accept entirely all that has been decided and declared at the Council of Trent.” **Every cardinal, bishop and priest who participated in the Vatican II Council signed a document affirming Trent.

All this is well and good, but back on topic … what does this have to do with the Sinner’s Prayer ? You asked I find examples of Sinner’s Prayer in the Catechism / Scriptures.

What is one’s private confession you welcome, if not their Sinner’s Prayer … which you plead to Christ our Lord … doing as ordained, judging rightly and ‘binding or loosing’ the petitioner from their plight, and SECONDARILY prescribing purgative penance ?

 

[brb3]

I think you struck the nail on the head here. It is in the turning to Christ with a contrite heart for mercy and salvation that saves. How many times did Christ say after healing somebody, “Your FAITH made you well/whole?” It was not the words said to Christ of Heal me or help my unbelief or anything of that nature, It was purely a matter of the heart.

Be careful now Padre …you know the Catholics INSIST on Water Baptism

But, in the Norm, you are correct. Those who pray the Sinner’s Prayer [as did the Good Thief] are SAVED when Christ hears their CONTRITE Confession and Baptizes them with His H.S.
Christ alone can judge FAIRLY in ALL cases, and knows when water is not needed, accepting Baptism of desire.

Protestants who pray the Sinner’s Prayer, @ a Billy Graham Crusade, or to their Anglican Pastors, are welcomed and Justified/Sanctified in/by Christ … and most Protestant pastors dutifully instruct the convert that Water Baptism is THE Essential Sacrament of the church. They are EXPECTED, to promptly do as Paul … undergoing Baptism. Anyone who later declines to receive Baptism is not considered to be a legit convert.

 

[Padrej]

Be careful now Padre …you know the Catholics INSIST on Water Baptism

But, in the Norm, you are correct. Those who pray the Sinner’s Prayer [as did the Good Thief] are SAVED when Christ hears their CONTRITE Confession and Baptizes them with His H.S.
Christ alone can judge FAIRLY in ALL cases, and knows when water is not needed, accepting Baptism of desire.

Protestants who pray the Sinner’s Prayer, @ a Billy Graham Crusade, or to their Anglican Pastors, are welcomed and Justified/Sanctified in/by Christ … and most Protestant pastors dutifully instruct the convert that Water Baptism is THE Essential Sacrament of the church. They are EXPECTED, to promptly do as Paul … undergoing Baptism. Anyone who later declines to receive Baptism is not considered to be a legit convert.

I know that. Classic definition of a sacrament is: Outward sign of inward spiritual work.

 

[FrJohnB]

All this is well and good, but back on topic … what does this have to do with the Sinner’s Prayer ? You asked I find examples of Sinner’s Prayer in the Catechism / Scriptures.

What is one’s private confession you welcome, if not their Sinner’s Prayer … which you plead to Christ our Lord … doing as ordained, judging rightly and ‘binding or loosing’ the petitioner from their plight, and SECONDARILY prescribing purgative penance ?

The problem is what you found scripture wise is an act of contrition. A sinners prayer invites the Lord into their heart for salvation purposes. What I posted is from the Council of Trent that you said was only for priests and the section I posted dealt with salvation.

 

[brb3]

The Sinner’s Prayer has saved no one and no one has received Christ because of that specific prayer. If they have “recieved Christ” extrasacramentally, it is because they turned to God for mercy and salvation with a believing and contrite heart, not because of the specific words they used.

Yes, but, as priests will confirm, the spoken words of a confessing sinner are normative. And, also their anguish / remorse is often expressed by making reparations to those we have wronged. John the Baptist demanded the Pharisees demonstrate works c/w their pleadings for receipt of renewal Baptism.

What the Sinner’s Prayer does is focus one on their guilt and need to confess … and be renewed by Water & Blood. Their need to become acceptible to God, Justified/Sanctified thru Christ the Son. Confession IS a sacrament. Christ IS our high priest. He alone forgives Sins, thru his priests. God blesses all Catholic & Protestant Pastors/Evangelists who preach the Gospel.

 

[brb3]

The problem is what you found scripture wise is an act of contrition. A sinners prayer invites the Lord into their heart for salvation purposes.

I see no problem !! Don’t we teach that Salvation is a Continuum ? We were saved, we are saved, we have Determined to Persevere … and be declared a ‘good and faithful servant’ on our last day.

David’s contrite / repentance prayers are little different from that needed on our First Confession. David sinned greatly in his midlife crisis, and knew well how to confess … having made many prior contrite confessions [including his ‘first’ Sinner’s Prayer].

Does the Sinner’s prayer change over time ? Does our satisfaction before God come in new ways ? I read that Popes confess sins at least weekly. Confession is bedrock OT theology. For lack of confession, God withdrew the Jews favored status on numerous occasions, finally annulling his covenant with the Jewish nation when they failed to Confess Christ as Lord.

 

[FrJohnB]

Yes, but, as priests will confirm, the spoken words of a confessing sinner are normative. And, also their anguish / remorse is often expressed by making reparations to those we have wronged. John the Baptist demanded the Pharisees demonstrate works c/w their pleadings for receipt of renewal Baptism.

What the Sinner’s Prayer does is focus one on their guilt and need to confess … and be renewed by Water & Blood. Their need to become acceptible to God, Justified/Sanctified thru Christ the Son. Confession IS a sacrament. Christ IS our high priest. He alone forgives Sins, thru his priests. God blesses all Catholic & Protestant Pastors/Evangelists who preach the Gospel.

You are still a bit off on Catholic theology. We DO NOT have a Sinner’s Prayer. The Sinner’s Prayer in Evangelical circles is only to get the unbeliever to feel the need for salvation. You here are now equating it to the ongoing need to confess and the sacrament of confession/penance. The two are drastically different and DO NOT mix.

Does our satisfaction before God come in new ways ? I read that Popes confess sins at least weekly. Confession is bedrock OT theology. For lack of confession, God withdrew the Jews favored status on numerous occasions, finally annulling his covenant with the Jewish nation when they failed to Confess Christ as Lord.

You are only half correct here again and incorporating Protestant thought to Catholic dogma. In the OT confession and blood sacrifice was required. The reason God turned His back on Israel is the refusal to obey the commands already given in the OT, now the book of Romans does say that God will not forsake the nation of Israel also so you have left that piece out also because their first love was always towards Him.

 

[Padrej]

I see no problem !! Don’t we teach that Salvation is a Continuum ? We were saved, we are saved, we have Determined to Persevere … and be declared a ‘good and faithful servant’ on our last day.

David’s contrite / repentance prayers are little different from that needed on our First Confession. David sinned greatly in his midlife crisis, and knew well how to confess … having made many prior contrite confessions [including his ‘first’ Sinner’s Prayer].

Does the Sinner’s prayer change over time ? Does our satisfaction before God come in new ways ? I read that Popes confess sins at least weekly. Confession is bedrock OT theology. For lack of confession, God withdrew the Jews favored status on numerous occasions, finally annulling his covenant with the Jewish nation when they failed to Confess Christ as Lord.

Let me do something that got your hackles up before and that is cite the catechism.
On Salvation:
161 Believing in Jesus Christ and in the One who sent him for our salvation is necessary for obtaining that salvation. “Since “without faith it is impossible to please [God]” and to attain to the fellowship of his sons, therefore without faith no one has ever attained justification, nor will anyone obtain eternal life ‘But he who endures to the end.’”]
HMMM no sinner’s prayer there but it does take on that you must believe and persevere but it implies that salvation is a one time event not an ongoing sinner’s prayer after another.

169 Salvation comes from God alone; but because we receive the life of faith through the Church, she is our mother: “We believe the Church as the mother of our new birth, and not in the Church as if she were the author of our salvation.” Because she is our mother, she is also our teacher in the faith.
Here you have that salvation is of God alone but it needs to be coupled with the church to teach.

183 Faith is necessary for salvation. The Lord himself affirms: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mk 16:16).
Pretty much self explanatory, it is FAITH that saves.

601 The Scriptures had foretold this divine plan of salvation through the putting to death of “the righteous one, my Servant” as a mystery of universal redemption, that is, as the ransom that would free men from the slavery of sin. Citing a confession of faith that he himself had “received”, St. Paul professes that “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures.” In particular Jesus’ redemptive death fulfils Isaiah’s prophecy of the suffering Servant. Indeed Jesus himself explained the meaning of his life and death in the light of God’s suffering Servant. After his Resurrection he gave this interpretation of the Scriptures to the disciples at Emmaus, and then to the apostles.
Lookie here salvation start with a profession of faith, notice that there is NO invitation of Christ into the heart?

617 The Council of Trent emphasizes the unique character of Christ’s sacrifice as “the source of eternal salvation” and teaches that “his most holy Passion on the wood of the cross merited justification for us.” And the Church venerates his cross as she sings: “Hail, O Cross, our only hope.”
LOOK OUT The Council of Trent has showed up that you cite was only for priests and here it is in today’s catechism for us, but look at the last word; it is HOPE and NOT Assurance.

620 Our salvation flows from God’s initiative of love for us, because “he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins” (I Jn 4:10). “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself” (2 Cor 5:19).
WOW salvation is on God’s terms NOT ours. That flies in the face of most evangelical theology.

 

[crazzeto]

Let me do something that got your hackles up before and that is cite the catechism.
On Salvation:
161 Believing in Jesus Christ and in the One who sent him for our salvation is necessary for obtaining that salvation. “Since “without faith it is impossible to please [God]” and to attain to the fellowship of his sons, therefore without faith no one has ever attained justification, nor will anyone obtain eternal life ‘But he who endures to the end.’”]
HMMM no sinner’s prayer there but it does take on that you must believe and persevere but it implies that salvation is a one time event not an ongoing sinner’s prayer after another.

169 Salvation comes from God alone; but because we receive the life of faith through the Church, she is our mother: “We believe the Church as the mother of our new birth, and not in the Church as if she were the author of our salvation.” Because she is our mother, she is also our teacher in the faith.
Here you have that salvation is of God alone but it needs to be coupled with the church to teach.

183 Faith is necessary for salvation. The Lord himself affirms: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mk 16:16).
Pretty much self explanatory, it is FAITH that saves.

601 The Scriptures had foretold this divine plan of salvation through the putting to death of “the righteous one, my Servant” as a mystery of universal redemption, that is, as the ransom that would free men from the slavery of sin. Citing a confession of faith that he himself had “received”, St. Paul professes that “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures.” In particular Jesus’ redemptive death fulfils Isaiah’s prophecy of the suffering Servant. Indeed Jesus himself explained the meaning of his life and death in the light of God’s suffering Servant. After his Resurrection he gave this interpretation of the Scriptures to the disciples at Emmaus, and then to the apostles.
Lookie here salvation start with a profession of faith, notice that there is NO invitation of Christ into the heart?

617 The Council of Trent emphasizes the unique character of Christ’s sacrifice as “the source of eternal salvation” and teaches that “his most holy Passion on the wood of the cross merited justification for us.” And the Church venerates his cross as she sings: “Hail, O Cross, our only hope.”
LOOK OUT The Council of Trent has showed up that you cite was only for priests and here it is in today’s catechism for us, but look at the last word; it is HOPE and NOT Assurance.

620 Our salvation flows from God’s initiative of love for us, because “he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins” (I Jn 4:10). “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself” (2 Cor 5:19).
WOW salvation is on God’s terms NOT ours. That flies in the face of most evangelical theology.

You weren’t implying that the CC teaches that salvation is a one time event were you? Hmmm… Yeah, looks like an evangelical take on the CCC…

 

[Padrej]

You weren’t implying that the CC teaches that salvation is a one time event were you? Hmmm… Yeah, looks like an evangelical take on the CCC…

The mass is always a celebration of the Salvation event. What I am saying is that the profession of faith is a one time event after this it becomes a confession of faith that is the difference.

 

[FrJohnB]

The mass is always a celebration of the Salvation event. What I am saying is that the profession of faith is a one time event after this it becomes a confession of faith that is the difference.

Interesting way of putting it as you do put your faith in Christ once and then as at every mass we do celebrate salvation we also have the CONFESSION of our faith in the creed. It would make no sense to profess and continue to do so, it would be your confession of faith.
Thank you for making your point clearer.