So just what are the beliefs that are mandatory for salvation

[MyRdmrLvs]

Hey - I just posted on another thread about this so I had a list started. if you can find any other please add to the list:

Look at what we need for salvation:

2 Timothy 3
15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Romans 1
16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 10
9That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Ephesians 1
13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

1 Peter 1
8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

John 3
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3
5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

Mark 16
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Matthew 10
32 “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.”

John 14
6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

2 Corinthians 7
10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

these nail it but I would add Matthew 18:21-35
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. "Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

 

[JRKH]

I wonder if this was the question our resurrected Lord was asking the Peter who denied Him?

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”

(John 21:17)

Was He asking Peter if he loved Him conditionally or unconditionally? I suppose that depends on whether Christ met any conditions to deserve Peter’s love. Do you think He did?

Not a question that I can answer obviously, though I think that being “perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” tends to poit toward the need for “unconditional” Love. Peter also had all of Jesus teaching, knowledge of what is expected of a follower, and the experience of Jesus crucifixion as evidence of how Jesus Loved Him.
We know that Peter proved His Love by being imprisoned and martyred for Christ so it seems that Peter did indeed Love unconditionally.

I guess that is the question each of us must answer for ourselves. No amount of discussion or parsing or defining can answer that question. Can we truly say to Jesus, knowing that it could lead to our suffering and death, that we Love Him?

Peace
James

 

[One_in_Christ_1]

Just asking the question?

Please provide support for your assertions.

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved… together with many will say Lord Lord… and will be cast into Hell because Jesus never knew them. It’s a paradox which both are truth.

 

[CMatt25]

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved… together with many will say Lord Lord… and will be cast into Hell because Jesus never knew them. It’s a paradox which both are truth.

One, do you believe though it is really a paradox? It only takes belief but then if we love Him we will just automatically want to show Him. Our works do not save but faith without them is dead. I wonder if that is what Christ meant when He said He never knew them?

 

[One_in_Christ_1]

One, do you believe though it is really a paradox? It only takes belief but then if we love Him we will just automatically want to show Him. Our works do not save but faith without them is dead. I wonder if that is what Christ meant when He said He never knew them?

Who is able to believe and why? Please explain your understanding of what the Apostle James wrote that faith without works is dead. How does your understanding of faith without works is dead renconcile with what the Apostle Paul clearly wrote about works?

 

[spockrates]

And yet the cake remains the same. The quality of the cake does not change any more than the Quality (or reality) of God’s Love changes.
Also there in no Potential for the cake to be good to any specific taster. It either is or is not. The variation is on the part of the taster and not on the realities of the cake. The only thing that changes is the taster’s knowledge of whether the cake tastes good to them. Furthermore, if a person refuses to taste the cake they will never know what the reality of said cake is. Thus with God’s Love (which is all good), the Love is real and not potential. It is the perception and receptivity of the “taster” that is in question. God’s Love is - We do not dispute that. Therefore what we, as sojourners, must look into is how receptive we are to that Love.

Peace
James

Yes, I see what you mean. Good point! But is it applicable? I mean, is God’s mind like a cake you and I bake, or is it more like something else?

Tell me if I wrong, James, but we are talking about something much more than a static and inanimate desert you and I might potentially devour. We are talking about a dynamic and sentient mind. My thought is that a cake has more in common with a pet rock or a snowball than the mind of God! If we are to wrap our minds around how His mind thinks, then we should try to compare it to something that actually thinks, like the human mind. Don’t you think?

The next question to answer, then, is whether the human mind has both potential and actual thought, and is capable of both potential and actual action. It seems self-evident that you and I have potential and actual knowledge (for there are some things we already know and some things we have yet to learn or might never learn) and potential and actual action (for there are somethings we have done and somethings we have yet to do but might never do). But what about God? Do you think God is unlike you and me insofar as there is nothing potential about Him? Are you saying that He has no potential thoughts and no potential actions?

 

[spockrates]

Not a question that I can answer obviously, though I think that being “perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” tends to poit toward the need for “unconditional” Love. Peter also had all of Jesus teaching, knowledge of what is expected of a follower, and the experience of Jesus crucifixion as evidence of how Jesus Loved Him.
We know that Peter proved His Love by being imprisoned and martyred for Christ so it seems that Peter did indeed Love unconditionally.

Iguess that is the question each of us must answer for ourselves. No amount of discussion or parsing or defining can answer that question. Can we truly say to Jesus, knowing that it could lead to our suffering and death, that we Love Him?

Peace
James

Perhaps you are correct. Why should you and I love God? For no reason at all (that is, unconditionally) or because there is a good reason (that is, conditionally). I do find these words of Peter have potential to help us:

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

(1 Peter 1:8-9)

It seems to me that perhaps the condition God has met to deserve our love is that He is giving us the salvation of our souls. It seems a good reason to me. How does it seem to you?

 

[CMatt25]

Who is able to believe and why? Please explain your understanding of what the Apostle James wrote that faith without works is dead. How does your understanding of faith without works is dead renconcile with what the Apostle Paul clearly wrote about works?

We believe by faith. My understanding is if we love Him, we will show Him and others. We are not saved by our works. But our faith is demonstrated by them. If we follow Christ and for instance serve the poor, the hungry, the homeless, or the sick, we are demonstrating our love. Do you believe this is wrong?

 

[spockrates]

But even if your love and mine toward God is conditional, and your love and mine toward God is sometimes merely potential, it might be that God’s love is always unconditional and always actual. Do you think this is potentially the truth James?

 

[One_in_Christ_1]

We believe by faith. My understanding is if we love Him, we will show Him and others. We are not saved by our works. But our faith is demonstrated by them. If we follow Christ and for instance serve the poor, the hungry, the homeless, or the sick, we are demonstrating our love. Do you believe this is wrong?

It all depends on what you believe is the basis of your salvation. Are you saved because you serve the poor, the hungry, homeless and sick? I think you will find unbelievers who serve the poor, hungry, homeless and sick which are good things. What happens if you do not serve the poor, hungry, homeless and sick in regards to your salvation?

 

[CMatt25]

It all depends on what you believe is the basis of your salvation. Are you saved because you serve the poor, the hungry, homeless and sick? I think you will find unbelievers who serve the poor, hungry, homeless and sick which are good things. What happens if you do not serve the poor, hungry, homeless and sick in regards to your salvation?

Christ’s sacrifice is the basis. We are not saved because we serve. But a believer will want to serve to express our faith and love. As an expression of our faith. That is what I understand James to mean when he said faith without works is dead.

 

[One_in_Christ_1]

Christ’s sacrifice is the basis. We are not saved because we serve. But a believer will want to serve to express our faith and love. As an expression of our faith. That is what I understand James to mean when he said faith without works is dead.

Do believe the work of Christ is completely sufficient for our complete redemption?

 

[CMatt25]

Do believe the work of Christ is completely sufficient for our complete redemption?

I do. And do you believe we as One in Christ want to demonstrate our love by serving? I think you do so I really don’t think we are on a different pg.

 

[One_in_Christ_1]

I do. And do you believe we as One in Christ want to demonstrate our love by serving? I think you do so I really don’t think we are on a different pg.

I never really understood what Christians mean by serving. Can you help me out on this idea on serving?

 

[CMatt25]

I never really understood what Christians mean by serving. Can you help me out on this idea on serving?

I have to go for now. But serving others as Christ would do.

 

[One_in_Christ_1]

I have to go for now. But serving others as Christ would do.

Since nobody is able to serve like Christ served, where does that leave us when we fall short in serving like Christ?

 

[jmcrae]

Since nobody is able to serve like Christ served, where does that leave us when we fall short in serving like Christ?

As individuals, we cannot. But, as a Church (the visible Church on earth, organized together) we can easily do all of these things.

For example, Jesus cured dozens of lepers while He walked the earth. The Church (meaning, members of the Church working together) has cured many millions of lepers.

Jesus made a handful of blind men to be able to see. The Church has made millions of blind people to be able to see - both the physically blind, and the spiritually blind.

Jesus fed five thousand men together with their wives and children from a small donation given by a child. The Church has fed many millions of starving families, using the little handfuls of coins given by children all over the world in their Share Lent boxes and their Holy Childhood envelopes.

Each person by himself or by herself cannot do as much as Jesus did - not by a long shot. That’s why we become members of the Church - to be part of something greater than ourselves, and in order to be able to do “greater things than these.”

 

[Roblox84]

I don’t think it’s as simple a matter as a list of mandatory beliefs. The Catholic Church teaches that it’s even possible for someone who has never heard the name of Jesus to be saved (see CCC 1260). I think it’s more important how we live our lives, in search of the Truth and and of righteousness. Thus the words of Christ as referenced above to love the Lord and love your neighbor.

That said, the teachings of the Church are extremely important - they are, in fact, Truth - and knowing and following all of them is the surest way to final salvation! And knowing the teachings of the Church and rejecting them is a path to condemnation.

Right on. The CC also teaches one does not have to be baptized either of the water. I forget what the terminology was used, but for example if one dies suddenly they can be baptized in some way without water by the spirit. Again, that sentence probably makes no sense so if someone wants, they can correct it and add the proper term for it.

Also I think sacraments along with baptism are not necessary for salvation, they are things done in order to have a more personal relationship with Christ. Baptism means you are welcomed into Christs family. I know many Catholics that haven’t been confirmed and others that didn’t marry. And those are both sacraments. So if a person MUST do sacraments in order to get salvation, then priests wouldn’t be saved because there wouldn’t be a specific exemption for them.

 

[Roblox84]

OK. Now you guys are really confusing me.

One guy posts a number of articles by Jimy Akin that mention none of this. The articles just mention Jesus and his death on the cross. At first glance they sound pretty good.

Then the next guy posts a laundry list of stuff. Now not all of this is beliefs.

You all are giving me the impression you don’t know what beliefs are mandatory for salvation.

Listen, the things that are mandatory for salvation is that one lead a “god-filled” life and follow Christ till you die. A lot of the other things Catholics do are to “guide” us in living this better godly life and helping us follow Christ better. Does that answer your question?

 

[fms]

…

Also I think sacraments along with baptism are not necessary for salvation, they are things done in order to have a more personal relationship with Christ. Baptism means you are welcomed into Christs family. I know many Catholics that haven’t been confirmed and others that didn’t marry. And those are both sacraments. So if a person MUST do sacraments in order to get salvation, then priests wouldn’t be saved because there wouldn’t be a specific exemption for them.

This is erroneous. Cf. CCC 1257-1261

The Necessity of Baptism