Question About Salvation

[shoewindow3000]

Let me first start off by saying that I am not baptized. I plan on being baptized one day.

My question is this:

What exactly does the following passage mean, and would it apply to somebody who isn’t baptized yet?

Hebrews 6:4-6 states, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

 

[roveau]

A scary but good question. I think it’s on par with the blaspheme against the Holy Spirit question which I think was well answered.

I just want to say that if the Catholic Church thought that Catholics that have left the faith were forever damned they would not be trying so hard to get all of us reverts back into the Church, the Pope most definitely welcomes ex-Catholics back into the fold.

Then you have the parables about the lost sheep, the prodigal son etc.
Rove

 

[Todd_Easton]

The following comments on Hebrews 6:4-6 are from A Commentary on the New Testament, published by the Catholic Biblical Association, in 1942, pages 596-597:
6:4-6. Danger of Apostasy. 4. Impossible: i.e., morally impossible, or very difficult. Those who have apostasized refuse to repent. Enlightened: baptized. One baptized passed from the darkness of sin to the light of divine grace. Baptism was sometimes called “Illumination” by the early Fathers. Heavenly gift: redemption. Partakers of the Holy Spirit: sharers in the charismatic gifts, such as speaking in tongues, prophesying, etc. 5. Tasted the good word of God: experienced the consoling effects of the gospel.* Powers of the world to come:* the miracles of the Messianic age. 6. And then have fallen away: have rejected the Christian religion.* To be renewed again to repentance:* or better, according to the Greek, “To renew (them) to repentance,” thus making the impossibility on the part of the preacher. It would be practically impossible for a preacher to awaken repentance in such perverts, for whom Christ has become an object of hate and mockery. They are likened to barren soil (8).

 

[PJM]

=shoewindow -Let me first start off by saying that I am not baptized. I plan on being baptized one day.

My question is this:

What exactly does the following passage mean, and would it apply to somebody who isn’t baptized yet?

***It doesn’t BUT this verse does:John 3:55 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. *** Speaking here of the absolutely necessary Sacramnet of Baptism. My advice is not to put it off anylonger than is absolutely necessary:thumbsup:

Also Jesus Himself instituted Seven Sacraments. all aimed to help us accept personal salvation, and five of them as aids to this end. Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist [in the Catholic Church it is Christ Himself;REALLY JESUS, not a mere sign or symbol, Confession [also only in the only Church founded by Jesus], Last Rites, Marriage and Holy Orders. ONLY THEE single Church founded by Jesus has all Seven sacraments and the super-abundance of GRACE they permit.

Hebrews 6:4-6 states, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift,[thee Holy Eucharist] and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good [the Catholic bible is the only COMPLETELY TRUE unedited bible] word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

**I am somewhat amazed [very pleased:thumbsup:] to see this quote from a non-Christian. It actually and specifically applies to fallen away Catholics, who have by rejecting THE ONE TRUE Orginal FAITH that Christ taught, condem themselves to hell.

The reason for this is simply because the CC is the only Church founded by Jesus. [Mt/16:15-19 and especially verse 19 and Eph. 4: 4-7]. Because the CC is the only Church founded by Jesus, it is the ONLY Church where the fullness of truth can be found and practiced. It is the only Church to have and practice all Seven Sacraments. So one who rejects by free choice, freewill to accept ALL of the Teachings of the Church, having been OFFERED [through the Seven sacraments] the grace and wisdom necessary to do so, condem themselves to hell unless and only unless they reunite with the Church before death!**

Love and prayers

 

[shoewindow3000]

Thanks for all your answers!

I just want to add that I know that the Catholic Church is the true Church. I believe everything that the Church teaches.
I just do not know where to begin to become Catholic.

(I come from an Italian family, so aunts/cousins etc. were all raised Catholic. It is too bad though that nobody in my family seems to really care about God though, because nobody in my family practices their faith. However, I was never baptized and never raised in the faith. I never even heard the word “catholic” until around age 5, but I do know now that it is the true Church.)

 

[PJM]

=shoewindow-]Thanks for all your answers!

I just want to add that I know that the Catholic Church is the true Church. I believe everything that the Church teaches.
I just do not know where to begin to become Catholic.

(I come from an Italian family, so aunts/cousins etc. were all raised Catholic. It is too bad though that nobody in my family seems to really care about God though, because nobody in my family practices their faith. However, I was never baptized and never raised in the faith. I never even heard the word “catholic” until around age 5, but I do know now that it is the true Church.)

***Dear friend in Christ,

You’re doing good:thumbsup:

Luke 15: 7 " Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance"***

Step one is already done

Step two meet with you’re local parish priest ASAP and he will take it from there.

Step three began a Spiritual life that you are comfortable with. For example pray the Rosary daily. Go to Mass ASAP [but not yet to Holy Communion] and keep asking us questions.

A good practice is to acknowledge God with Gratitude every morning upon rising. Perhaps as simple as “Good morning Jesus I love you!”. Thank God before meals, and ask God to forgive you for however you may have failed Him during the day. Thank Him brofre doszing off.

1 John 1: 8 "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

And if you want a more agressive plan add reading the Bible START WITH THE NEW TESTAMENT for 15-30 minutes every day.

Love and prayers, please stay in touch and let us know how we might be able to assist you

Love and prayers,
Pat

 

[puppypatrol]

Thanks for all your answers!

I just want to add that I know that the Catholic Church is the true Church. I believe everything that the Church teaches. I just do not know where to begin to become Catholic.

(I come from an Italian family, so aunts/cousins etc. were all raised Catholic. It is too bad though that nobody in my family seems to really care about God though, because nobody in my family practices their faith. However, I was never baptized and never raised in the faith. I never even heard the word “catholic” until around age 5, but I do know now that it is the true Church.)

We would all love to welcome you to the Family!!! :extrahappy: :clapping: :dancing:

Let us know how things are going. The smartest thing I have ever done was to come back home (to the Church) where I belong and I have never been happier.

 

[Steadfast_love]

***It doesn’t BUT this verse does:John 3:55 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. *** Speaking here of the absolutely necessary Sacramnet of Baptism. My advice is not to put it off anylonger than is absolutely necessary:thumbsup:

Minor nitpick.

It’s not nessisary to be baptised immediately because as a catechumen (someone preparing for baptism) you get a special grace that is often unknown amongst the cradle Catholics.

*Catechism of the Catholic Church 1259
For catechumens who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament. *

My advice as a neophite (someone recently baptised) is to get involved in *RCIA *(the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) immediately but take the time to savor the process. RCIA runs from September to Easter but many people spend several years in the process and miss it once it’s over.

So hurry up and take your time!

 

[alaindelong]

A scary but good question. I think it’s on par with the blaspheme against the Holy Spirit question which I think was well answered.

I just want to say that if the Catholic Church thought that Catholics that have left the faith were forever damned they would not be trying so hard to get all of us reverts back into the Church, the Pope most definitely welcomes ex-Catholics back into the fold.

Then you have the parables about the lost sheep, the prodigal son etc.
Rove

Well spoken. There is more Joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than the 99 who have no need of repentance. God has written a love story for each one of us. He gave it to His Son, the Eternal Word who delivered it to us on the cross at Calvary. The Holy Spirit plants it deep within the depths of our heart and immortal soul. That message is the Good News, God is insanely in love with you and me, That is what evangelization is all about and it is the mission of the Catholic church.

 

[tqualey]

Hi, Shoewindow3000,

This action of yours has taken a lot of courage. Steadfast Love has given you some excellent ideas - the key is connecting with your local parish priest to find out about what you need to do to join the RCIA in your parsih, get the dates and times … and then get involved.

Thanks for all your answers!

I just want to add that I know that the Catholic Church is the true Church. I believe everything that the Church teaches.
I just do not know where to begin to become Catholic.

(I come from an Italian family, so aunts/cousins etc. were all raised Catholic. It is too bad though that nobody in my family seems to really care about God though, because nobody in my family practices their faith. However, I was never baptized and never raised in the faith. I never even heard the word “catholic” until around age 5, but I do know now that it is the true Church.)

I am confident that the CAF members will be praying for your entry into God’s Family… this is a great site for both knowledge - and inspiration…and,it comes from all over the world as God directs…

God bless

 

[antonabe]

Let me first start off by saying that I am not baptized. I plan on being baptized one day.

My question is this:

What exactly does the following passage mean, and would it apply to somebody who isn’t baptized yet?

Hebrews 6:4-6 states, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

This quote must be studied with the passage following it "When the ground soaks up the rain that falls on it and bears a good crop for the farmer it has the blessing of God.But if it bears bristles and bthorns it is useless and the farmer burns it"In my opinion if a person who was once a follower rejects him he is nailing him to the cross again by public ridicule and he will not have the blessings of God and will remain unrepentant as he has also rejected the Holy Spirit.

 

[mo3]

The following comments on Hebrews 6:4-6 are from A Commentary on the New Testament, published by the Catholic Biblical Association, in 1942, pages 596-597:

Where can I find the “Commentary on the New Testament” publishe by Catholic Biblical Association online?

 

[puppypatrol]

Hebrews 6:4-6 states, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

From the USCCB website

2 [4] Enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift: this may refer to baptism and the Eucharist, respectively, but more probably means the neophytes’ enlightenment by faith and their experience of salvation.

3 [5] Tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come: the proclamation of the word of God was accompanied by signs of the Spirit’s power (1 Thes 1:5; 1 Cor 2:4).

4 [6] They are recrucifying the Son of God for themselves: a colorful description of the malice of apostasy, which is portrayed as again crucifying and deriding the Son of God.

Hope it helps.