Saved by grace, etc. what?

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How do I answer this:
The biggest issue is how is a man made righteous,
justified, saved according to holy scripture. The
Presbyterians hold and teach that Christ Jesus ALONE
“by grace through faith” saves!(Eph.2:8&9; Col. 1:11).
In the Presbyterian church and confessions Christ
Jesus is given the glory, the honor, the
acknowledgment totally, most other denomination it’s
Christ plus … plus their works of some sort thereby
taking some of the honor and making less of the
accomplished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot
stress this enough the Lord Jesus saves without the
aid of man in anyway possible. Good works are a
by-product of being a Christian, being Reformation
month, Martian Luther said, “an apple tree produces
apple NOT to become an apple tree, but b/c it IS an
apple tree” the same is true with Christians and why
they do good works; not to get save but b/c one is
saved.
As for interupting the Bible, we don’t only use the
Bible for our practice and doctrine, we stand on the
teaching of the fathers (the confessions), the creeds,
the church BUT the Bible is the FINAL AUTHORITY on all
matters of faith and practice not a man or men.
“Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica,
in that they received the word with all readiness of
the mind, examining (interupt) the Scriptures daily,
whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11 (American
Standard Version)
 
tell him that you agree that we are all saved by grace and that Jesus Christ alone paid the price for our redemption.

there is no arguement on this point! he purposely loaded it with a bunch of other anti-Catholic rhetoric but this is essentially what he is saying and it is no different from what the Catholic Church teaches.
 
martino is right… plus, the Bible is the final authority, as such,
since tradition cannot be in conflict with scripture,
for the Holy Spirit would not lead us against the inspired word of
God…

🙂
 
Paris Blues:
How do I answer this:
There is just so much in one “question” it’s like a scattergun. Let’s break down the statement.
The biggest issue is how is a man made righteous, justified, saved according to holy scripture.
Ya know, I’ve read the Bible several times and not once have I seen this claim in the Bible. Where does it say this is “The biggest issue”? To me this is minutia. In addition the Catholic Church is the “pillar and ground of the truth”
DRBO.ORG:
1 Tm 3, 14 These things I write to thee, hoping that I shall come to thee shortly. 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”
It’s the Church Not the Book that the Church protected, and produced that is the “pillar”. This in no way diminishes the Word of God in either written or oral form.
The Presbyterians hold and teach that Christ Jesus ALONE “by grace through faith” saves!(Eph.2:8&9; Col. 1:11).
But, even if it is “The biggest issue”, how does the Catholic Church teaching differ? Sounds pretty much straight out of CCC
In the Presbyterian church and confessions Christ Jesus is given the glory, the honor, the acknowledgment totally, most other denomination it’s Christ plus … plus their works of some sort thereby taking some of the honor and making less of the accomplished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot stress this enough the Lord Jesus saves without the aid of man in anyway possible.
All Christians that I know give Jesus the “glory, the honor, the acknowledgment totally”, not just yours. The question is does your denomination really give Jesus all the honor? If Jesus tells you to do good works and you stubbornly refuse because of your incorrect reading of the writings of Paul, can you really say you’re honoring Jesus? Or are you following the teachings of man in following an erroneous interpretation of Paul? Paul is not referring to “good” work, as in “works” of Christian charity. He’s referring to “works” of the Law, those things required of the Jewish Law. Your church is following an erroneous interpretation if it thinks works of Christian charity are somehow against Scripture. You might want to review Matthew chap 25.
DRBO.ORG:
Mt 25, 25 And being afraid I went and hid thy talent in the earth: behold here thou hast that which is thine. 26 And his lord answering, said to him: Wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sow not, and gather where I have not strewed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have committed my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received my own with usury. 28 Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him that hath ten talents. 29 For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: but from him that hath not, that also which he seemeth to have shall be taken away. 30 And the unprofitable servant cast ye out into the exterior darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
continued
 
Not being called to do “works” of Christian charity?
DRBO.ORG:
Mt 25, 31 And when the Son of man shall come in his majesty, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit upon the seat of his majesty. 32 And all nations shall be gathered together before him, and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. 34 Then shall the king say to them that shall be on his right hand: Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in: 36 Naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me. 37 Then shall the just answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, and fed thee; thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 And when did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and covered thee? 39 Or when did we see thee sick or in prison, and came to thee? 40 And the king answering, shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.
He’s not calling you to DO good works?
DRBO.ORG:
Mt 25, 31 And when the Son of man shall come in his majesty, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit upon the seat of his majesty. 32 And all nations shall be gathered together before him, and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. 34 Then shall the king say to them that shall be on his right hand: Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in: 36 Naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me. 37 Then shall the just answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, and fed thee; thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 And when did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and covered thee? 39 Or when did we see thee sick or in prison, and came to thee? 40 And the king answering, shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.
So tell me again, how do you profess to honor our Lord and savour, yet refuse to do His will?
 
Good works are a by-product of being a Christian, being Reformation month, Martian Luther said, “an apple tree produces apple NOT to become an apple tree, but b/c it IS an apple tree” the same is true with Christians and why they do good works; not to get save but b/c one is saved.
Well, here at least I agree somewhat with what is being said, good works are indeed a byproduct of being a Christian in that when we do our “works” of Christian charity we are accepting the grace which God freely offers. Note that doing “works” of Christian charity does not earn the grace, it is our acceptance of that grace which is freely offered by God. It’s how we pick up our cross. You can choose not to accept His grace by not doing His will. He wont force you.
As for interupting the Bible, we don’t only use the Bible for our practice and doctrine, we stand on the teaching of the fathers (the confessions), the creeds, the church BUT the Bible is the FINAL AUTHORITY on all matters of faith and practice not a man or men. “Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining (interupt) the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11 (American Standard Version)
The problem here is you’re following the wrong “fathers” You’re following fathers who did not understand the writings of Paul, and took them entirely out of context. I suggest you read 2 Peter 3, 15-18.
DRBO.ORG:
2 Peter 3, 15 And account the longsuffering of our Lord, salvation; as also our most dear brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, hath written to you:
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, brethren, knowing these things before, take heed, lest being led aside by the error of the unwise, you fall from your own steadfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and unto the day of eternity. Amen.
God warned you, were ya listening?
Now you bring up an interesting subject, daily reading of Scriptures. The Catholic Church publishes a lectionary or schedule of readings so that if we follow these readings every day you will cover all of the Bible in a predetermined time frame. I use the three year lectionary. Now this is ALL of Scripture to include the deuterocanon and even those passages we have trouble with. How about we compare our lectionary with your churches? Does your church read ALL Scripture or just those parts it agrees with?
“Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining (interupt) the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11
The Catholic Church follows this does yours?
 
Posted by Paris Blues How do I answer this:
The biggest issue is how is a man made righteous,
justified, saved according to holy scripture. The
Presbyterians hold and teach that Christ Jesus ALONE
“by grace through faith” saves!(Eph.2:8&9; Col. 1:11).
👍 So does the Catholic Church
In the Presbyterian church and confessions Christ
Jesus is given the glory, the honor, the
acknowledgment totally,
👍 Wonderful, clearly you all have the right idea.
most other denomination it’s
Christ plus … plus their works of some sort thereby
taking some of the honor and making less of the
accomplished work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
:nope: Well, I am not sure about most but that is not true of the Catholic Church. If you understand it to be that way, you do not understand the teachings of the Catholic Church.
I cannot
stress this enough the Lord Jesus saves without the
aid of man in anyway possible.
True. God does not need our help in any way.
Good works are a
by-product of being a Christian, being Reformation
month, Martian Luther said, “an apple tree produces
apple NOT to become an apple tree, but b/c it IS an
apple tree” the same is true with Christians and why
they do good works; not to get save but b/c one is
saved.
I actually disagree with this. Good works are not a by product. Each and every good work, although the grace was given by God, and as such I take no credit for it, each work is saying YES to God, and reaffirming my faith. They do not spring naturally but are a conscious choice to choose God each and every time.
It becomes more “natural” each and every time, but each good work is a choice to accept the grace given and to follow Christ.
As for interupting the Bible, we don’t only use the
Bible for our practice and doctrine, we stand on the
teaching of the fathers (the confessions), the creeds,
the church BUT the Bible is the FINAL AUTHORITY on all
matters of faith and practice not a man or men.
But whose interpretation of the Bible is the Final authority? Which man are you going to let interpret that “Final Authority” out of which so many denominations and interpretations have come?

God Bless,
Maria
 
I typically post the first three canons of the Council of Trent (Session VI) and then ask them where they disagree with official Church teaching. Here are the canons:

**ON JUSTIFICATION ** **

CANON I.-If any one saith, that man may be justified before God by his own works, whether done through the teaching of human nature, or that of the law, without the grace of God through Jesus Christ; let him be anathema. **

** CANON II.-If any one saith, that the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, is given only for this, that man may be able more easily to live justly, and to merit eternal life, as if, by free will without grace, he were able to do both, though hardly indeed and with difficulty; let him be anathema. **

** CANON III.-If any one saith, that without the prevenient inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and without his help, man can believe, hope, love, or be penitent as he ought, so as that the grace of Justification may be bestowed upon him; let him be anathema.**

Restatement:
Canon I: We are not justified by our own works. Period. You cannot “earn” salvation. See the Pelagian and semi-Pelagian heresies (and take note of who put down those heresies).

Canon II: God’s grace does more than just help us live righteously more easily. It is *required *in order to live righteously and to be graciously rewarded with heaven. Period.

Canon III: Man cannot believe, hope, love, or be penitent as he ought without God. You cannot, on your own, “earn” justification. Period.

This usually forces them to take a step back and see if they really understand what the Church teaches, or if they only understand the caricature they were taught…

God Bless,
RyanL
 
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Tom:
So tell me again, how do you profess to honor our Lord and savour, yet refuse to do His will?
👍

“Why do you call me `Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”
Luke 6:46
 
“Why do you call me `Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”
Luke 6:46
[/quote]

Amen
 
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RyanL:
I typically post the first three canons of the Council of Trent (Session VI) and then ask them where they disagree with official Church teaching. Here are the canons:

**ON JUSTIFICATION ** **

CANON I.-If any one saith, that man may be justified before God by his own works, whether done through the teaching of human nature, or that of the law, without the grace of God through Jesus Christ; let him be anathema. **

** CANON II.-If any one saith, that the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, is given only for this, that man may be able more easily to live justly, and to merit eternal life, as if, by free will without grace, he were able to do both, though hardly indeed and with difficulty; let him be anathema. **

** CANON III.-If any one saith, that without the prevenient inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and without his help, man can believe, hope, love, or be penitent as he ought, so as that the grace of Justification may be bestowed upon him; let him be anathema.**

Restatement:
Canon I: We are not justified by our own works. Period. You cannot “earn” salvation. See the Pelagian and semi-Pelagian heresies (and take note of who put down those heresies).

Canon II: God’s grace does more than just help us live righteously more easily. It is *required *in order to live righteously and to be graciously rewarded with heaven. Period.

Canon III: Man cannot believe, hope, love, or be penitent as he ought without God. You cannot, on your own, “earn” justification. Period.

This usually forces them to take a step back and see if they really understand what the Church teaches, or if they only understand the caricature they were taught…

God Bless,
RyanL
Wonderful post as usual. Thanks, I just stole your reference… LOL
 
Unmerited grace from the Father and by Jesus’s overcoming the world for us, are we saved.

Why do we have to be saved in the first place?

Notice how I said saved? And not save?

We cannot save ourselves period.

Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

All?…… Yes, all!

So if all have sinned, then who can save himself? None!

God had to do the saving and He did: In Jesus Christ.

How do I know when I am saved? When I come into the full knowledge of Jesus’ sacrifice for my sins and believe it to be true thus setting me free!

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

The good works of Christ is what saved us, not ours.

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

It is Christ’s faith that justifies us, and His alone. His faith endured to the end, His faith overcame the world.

Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

That is why one places one’s own trust in Jesus, for He alone has saved us from ourselves.

Peace>>>AJ
 
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look3467:
Unmerited grace from the Father and by Jesus’s overcoming the world for us, are we saved.
Correct
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look3467:
Why do we have to be saved in the first place? Notice how I said saved? And not save? We cannot save ourselves period. Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: All?…… Yes, all! So if all have sinned, then who can save himself? None! God had to do the saving and He did: In Jesus Christ.
If you are still in this world you are not yet saved. You are not saved until you have been judged and enter into heaven. It is a process not an event.
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look3467:
How do I know when I am saved? When I come into the full knowledge of Jesus’ sacrifice for my sins and believe it to be true thus setting me free!
You will not come into this full knowledge on this earth. No one, today on this earth breathing the air has yet been saved. It isn’t until you have died (endure to the end) and been judged that you are either saved or damned. Up until your last breath you can accept or reject God. Or as you posted:
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look3467:
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
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look3467:
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. The good works of Christ is what saved us, not ours.
True, no knowledgeable Catholic would disagree. Good works do not “earn” your way into heaven, never did, never will. However NOT doing as Jesus our Lord instructed us is in fact rejecting Him, not doing the works He tells you to do you will not be saved. As Matt pointed out in Scripture:

Matt16_18 said:
“Why do you call me `Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”
Luke 6:46
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look3467:
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Absolutely what the Catholic Church teaches.
40.png
look3467:
It is Christ’s faith that justifies us, and His alone. His faith endured to the end, His faith overcame the world.
Amen
 
Paris Blues]How do I answer this:
The biggest issue is how is a man made righteous,
justified, saved according to holy scripture. The
Presbyterians hold and teach that Christ Jesus ALONE
“by grace through faith” saves!(Eph.2:8&9; Col. 1:11).
In the Presbyterian church and confessions Christ
Jesus is given the glory, the honor, the
acknowledgment totally, most other denomination it’s
Christ plus … plus their works of some sort thereby
taking some of the honor and making less of the
accomplished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot
stress this enough the Lord Jesus saves without the
aid of man in anyway possible.
The Calvinist view of monergism (that God does everything and we do nothing in cooperation with Him) it is false and unbiblical (2 Cor 6:1, 1Cor 3:9, Rom 8:28). These verses all use the terminology of cooperating with God by being His coworker, fellow workers, working together with which is synergistic language.

And then there is Mark 16:20

“And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with [sunergountos] them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it, Amen.” Here God worked with the apostles in their ministry of preaching.

2 Cor 6:1
"Working together with [sunergountes] him,then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain."

This person is saying that we can’t cooperate with God in our works done under grace. This person needs to reread Mt 25.
Good works are a
by-product of being a Christian, being Reformation
month, Martian Luther said, “an apple tree produces
apple NOT to become an apple tree, but b/c it IS an
apple tree” the same is true with Christians and why
they do good works; not to get save but b/c one is
saved.
Martin Luther also said this about Mary mother of God.

“She is rightly called not only the Mother of the man, but also
**the Mother of God…**It is certain that Mary is the Mother of the real and true God” (Martin Luther, Weimar edition of Martin Luther’s works, English translated by J. Pelikan [Concordia: St. Louis], volume 24,107)

Would this person also agree with Martin Luther on Mary?
As for interupting the Bible, we don’t only use the
Bible for our practice and doctrine, we stand on the
teaching of the fathers (the confessions), the creeds,
the church BUT the Bible is the FINAL AUTHORITY on all
matters of faith and practice not a man or men.
This is the classic Protestant fallacy of “the bible is the final authority.” Ask that person to show you where the bible says it is “the final authority” in Scripture? An authority sure we all agree but NEVER the only authority. Another mistake Protestants make is the false idea that you JUST read it and completely know what it says. If that were true then ALL Protestants would be unified in worship and doctrine, but we know they aren’t.
They say we don’t rely on a man nor men but WHOM I ASK interprets the Scriptures in their church?? The elders, board of deacons, the pastor? Some sort of authoritative body who are people interpret the Bible for them. Catholics have the Bible, (2 Tim 3:16), Apostolic Tradition (2 Thes 2:15,3:6, 1Cor 11:1) and the Magisterium (Mt 16:18,18:18, Acts 1:20).
“Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica,
in that they received the word with all readiness of
the mind, examining (interupt) the Scriptures daily,
whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11 (American
Standard Version)
Protestants quote this verse as though Paul just came along and showed the Thessalonians verses in the Bible from the Old Testament and they read them and BEHOLD they all agreed, hardly.

Paul reasoned with them from the Scriptures, he exegeted the Scriptures to them, he interpreted the Old Testament Scriptures to the Thessalonians so that they might see the truth of Christ; they were just more eager and godly in their reception of the gospel of Jesus Christ as compared to the Corinthians.

And finally, if this person really studies the Scriptures daily as did the Thessalonians then ask him/her to look up 1 Tim 3:15 and then tell you who is the pillar and support of the truth?
 
Hi, Tom
“If you are still in this world you are not yet saved. You are not saved until you have been judged and enter into heaven. It is a process not an event”>>>Tom
Saved has to be defined here. Are we looking for a physical saving to determine if we are really saved? If what you say is that as long as we are in the world we are not saved, then death would be the defining factor to our entering into heaven, would it not?

But consider this: 1Jo 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

“We know”?

2Co 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

If the sentence of death was ours and Jesus took it from us, what death is he speaking about: Physical or spiritual?

We still die, right? Then it must be spiritual that we are raised from the dead, yet alive in the flesh. As the above verse indicates, spiritual death is what God delivered us from, by Jesus’ death.

2Co 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

“Abolished death”: “Hath brought life and immortality to light”, of which if we recognize it, we obtain it.

1Jo 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

The determining point of whether we have life (That given by Jesus by His Holy Spirit) or not is the cross: A pivotal point in the way we see the new Jerusalem.

The prophets of old desired to see what this salvation was all about: 1Pe 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

Salvation is a gift given to mankind by The Father in Jesus Christ.

A gift if received is a life changing experience.

Today can be that day: 2Co 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Today we can be sealed for eternal life: Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Salvation then is a promise begotten at the time of acknowledgment as the Holy Spirit reveals Himself to us.

We are a “new man”, as like the second Adam, spiritually born by the Holy Spirit indwelling in us.

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Now is the time to be saved!

Peace>>>AJ
 
Sealed for eternal life?

How come then Paul was working out his salvation with fear and trembling if it can be a done deal for all time?

God Bless,
Maria
 
Brought to you by Scripture Catholic scripturecatholic.com/salvation.html

II.** We are not Guaranteed Salvation; We Hope For Salvation**

Heb. 7:27, 9:12,26;10:10; 1 Pet 3:18 - Jesus died once and redeemed us all, but we participate in the application of His redemption by the way in which we live.

Heb. 9:12 - Christ’s sacrifice secured our redemption, but redemption is not the same thing as salvation. We participate in and hope for salvation. Our hope in salvation is a guarantee if we are faithful to Christ to the end. But if we lose hope and fail to persevere, we can lose our salvation. Thus, by our own choosing (not by God’s doing), salvation is not a certainty. While many Protestant churches believe in the theology of “once saved, always saved,” such a novel theory is not found in Scripture and has never been taught by the Church.

Rom. 5:2 - we rejoice in the “hope” (not the presumptuous certainty) of sharing the glory of God. If salvation is absolutely assured after accepting Jesus as Savior, why would Paul hope?

Rom. 5:5

Rom. 8:24

Rom. 10:1

Rom. 12:12

2 Cor. 3:12

Gal. 5:5

Eph. 4:4

Eph. 6:10-17

Phil. 3:11

Phil. 1:20

Col. 1:5

Col. 1:23

Col. 1:27

1 Thess. 1:3

1 Thess. 2:19

1 Thess. 5:8

2 Thess. 2:16

1 Tim. 1:1

1 Tim. 4:10

1 Tim. 5:5 -

1 Tim. 5:15

2 Tim. 2:10

Titus 1:2

Titus 2:13

Titus 3:7

Heb. 3:6

Heb. 6:11

Heb. 6:18

Heb. 6:19

Heb. 7:19

Heb. 10:23

Heb. 11:1

Heb. 12:1 –

Heb. 12:15

James 1:12

1 Peter 1:3

1 Peter 1:13

1 Peter 1:21

1 Peter 2:2

1 Peter 3:15

1 John 3:3

These verses all speak of the “hope” we have in Christ. While one can have confidence in our salvation, Scripture warns us that there will be those who call out Lord Lord, and Christ will not know them, so some will have false confidence. That is why we are not “assured” of heaven but hope for heaven.
from CA Library catholic.com/library/Assurance_of_Salvation.asp
“Are you saved?” asks the Fundamentalist. The Catholic should reply: “As the Bible says, I am already saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8), but I’m also being saved (1 Cor. 1:8, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12), **and I have the hope that I *will be ***saved (Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). Like the apostle Paul I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ (Rom. 5:2, 2 Tim. 2:11–13).”
 
A key set of passages for understanding the relationship of faith and works in Catholic teaching is Eph 2:8-10. Most protestants quote Eph 2:8 to justify their teaching of faith alone. Let’s see how this really pans out.

Eph 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God–not because of works, lest any man should boast.

Clearly we do not save ourselves and our salvation is a work of God’s grace. We did not earn it and did nothing to deserve it. We never worked for God’s gracious gift of justification. Everything is by grace.

So how does the idea of works fit in?

Simply keep in mind that everything is by grace and then simply read verse 10 which says,

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

It is important to notice that we are not our own workmanship. We are instead God’s workmanship. Moreover, we have been created in Christ Jesus for good works. Ponder the rich meaning of that phrase especially in light of the fact that everything is by God’s grace. The works that we do are part of the grace that saves us and they are nothing less than the work of the Father’s hands in our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls.

Not only that, but God prepared these works in advance of our justification so that we should walk in them. This set of passages is the perfect bridge between Paul’s teaching of being saved by grace through faith and James statement that “You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works, and the scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness”; and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”[James 2:22-24]

I hope this helps.
 
Hi, MariaG

The whole concept of salvation is that mankind cannot of itself save itself.

The question is: from what are we saved?

What did you or I do to become unsaved?

Does being born in the flesh qualify as being unsaved? And if so, why can’t we save ourselves?

What is it about this life and us, that by our own works, merits and religious faith that we can’t save ourselves?

In that question lies the answer to why God has to do the saving.

Let me site this verse and see if it does not reflect on what I just said: Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

You see, “the creature was made subject” to vanity, (destruction) that is: having part in taking of the fruits of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, bring forth destruction.

That brought death of the spirit as well as of the body.

Therefore, on the second part of that verse quote: “but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope”: meaning that God Himself provided a (Lamb) way out of that dilemma by sending Jesus “as God” to take away the sin and the sins of the world, setting us free from spiritual death.

If you take the bible in whole, you’ll see the creation, the loss, and the redemption as a complete story.

A creation story: of seven days duration, or say a complete and finished product.

Jesus as God, came in the midst of that week and re-created a new heavens and a new earth and was laid to rest on the 7th day.

Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Isa 30:26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.

So the whole story then is about the Son of God saving a lost world.

Jesus in effect redid the world that then was and recreated a new world under grace. As if starting all over again, this time Adam (Second Adam) being an obedient servant pleasing to the Father in our behalf brings forth life.

Now the question has always been, “we must do our part, otherwise, we will not gain salvation”.

The thought that we should “do” something for our salvation has been the crux and the great misunderstanding.

When Jesus died on the cross, there was no distinction between Jew and Gentile, just and unjust, but died for all mankind.

Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

Christ came to save that which was lost: Mat 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

Luk 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Even the most righteous person on this earth was lost, for justification for mankind had not been made prior to Jesus’ coming.(Hence the visitation to those in prison)

Thank you Father for saving my soul, for your righteousness in Jesus became my righteousness, for my righteousness was as filthy rags.

1Jo 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

1Jo 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

Here is salvation of our souls, Jesus in us, and in Jesus there is life.

Praise be to Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Peace>>>AJ
 
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