What must a person do to be saved?

[Lion_Heart]

Greetings in Christ,

In Mathew 19:25-26 Christ’s disciples asked just about the same questions: “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Conclusion: Only God can save us. We need to be saved!
The real questions are: How God saves us and then, what should we do?
The way God saves the elects, those who He has predestined to heaven:
“Elects according to the foreknowledge of the Father,” (1 Pet.1:1-2).
“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, having predestined us to adoption,” (Eph.1:4-5; 2 Tim.1:9).
To be member of the Bride of Christ/Christ’s body is not our choice, it is by invitation only.
(1 Pet.1:1-2; Eph.1:4-5; Rom.8:29-30)
Our faith is God’s gift, and our will to freely say yes is prepared by God.
(II Council of Orange; John 6:44-45)

ST. AUGUSTINE ON GRACE AND PREDESTINATION Fr. William Most.
De gratia Christi 25, 26: "For not only has God given us our ability and helps it, but He even works [brings about] willing and acting in us; not that we do not will or that we do not act, but that without His help we neither will anything good nor do it.”
De gratia et libero arbitrio 16, 32: "It is certain that we will when we will; but He brings it about that we will good. . . . It is certain that we act when we act, but He brings it about that we act, providing most effective powers to the will.

Predestination CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA
Quote: “Consequently, the whole future membership of heaven, down to its minutest details, … has been irrevocably fixed from all eternity. Nor could it be otherwise. For if it were possible that a predestined individual should after all be cast into hell or that one not predestined should in the end reach heaven, then God would have been mistaken in his foreknowledge of future events; He would no longer be omniscient.” End quote.

MERIT
Divine reward for the practice of virtue.
“The reward given for good works is not won by reason of actions which precede grace, but grace, which is unmerited, precedes actions in order that enable them to be done.”
(II Council of Orange, Denzinger 388).

Certain conditions must be present to make supernatural merit possible.
The meritorious work must be morally good, that is, in accordance with the moral law in its object, intent, and circumstances.
It must be done freely, without any external coercion or internal necessity.
It must be supernatural, that is, aroused and accompanied by actual grace, and proceeding from a supernatural motive.
Strictly speaking only a person in the state of grace can merit, as defined by the Church (Denzinger 1576, 1582).

As elects to Heaven, predestined on God’s eternal decree before the world was made, and have been saved solely by Christ’s merit on the cross, God’s gift of faith, and the preparation of our wills by the Holy Spirit to freely say yes to God’s call. God saved us without any contribution by us for our salvation. (II Council of Orange 529AD; Rom. 11:5-6; Rom.4:4)

JOINT DECLARATION ON THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION by the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church

3/15 By grace alone, in faith in Christ’s saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God.

4/25 We confess together that sinners are justified by faith in the saving action of God in Christ. Whatever in the justified precedes or follows the free gift of faith is neither the basis of justification nor merits it.

With love in Christ,
Lion Heart.

 

[Dorine_Houston]

The Bible is very clear about what we must do to be saved. In John 3, Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born again.” He went on to explain that “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten so, that whosoever believes in him should have everlasting life.”

St. Paul answered the Phillipian jailer when he asked what to do to be saved, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”

He clarifies it when speaking to the church at Ephesus, ch. 2, 8-9: “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”

The “good thief” on the cross, sometimes called Dismas, was promised that he was saved and would that day be with Jesus in Paradise. It was too late for him to do any good works. All he did was acknowledge his sinfulness and that he deserved punishment, then he asked Jesus for mercy. Jesus gave it. It is enough.

So being assured that we are saved is quite simple. Acknowledge and repent of our sinfulness and believe that Jesus through his work on the cross and in his resurrection has atoned for our sin. He will be leased to hear your prayer, telling him this and asking for salvation.

After this, our salvation is confirmed by our confessing it (speaking of it to others), our obedience (the good works we do not to gain salvation but as a result of it and as an expression of our gratitude for it), our devotions (prayer and Bible reading) and through the sacraments. We must attend to obedience, devotions and the sacraments for the rest of our earthly lives in order to grow healthily in our salvation and become sanctified.

A bif thing to remember is that we can never, ever do enough good works to merit our own salvation. We must accept it as grace freely given to us. Our good works flow from salvation already given to us, out of obedience and gratitude to God.

 

[Fragile]

I once heard Alistair Begg preaching on 1st Peter, about how we are to add to our faith patience…and all that, and if we do, we will never fall. Then he added; “That begs the answer, if you don’t, you will fall, and quite possibly right into Hell. Now I’m not saying God will lose any of His elect, but some of us need to get on our knees and re-commit/surrender our lives to Christ.”

Then John Piper; “You need more than hearing me on Sundays, you need bible studies and small groups during the week to encourage each other, lest all these little sins we have pile up and make you dead forever, finding out you were never among the elect!”

Both men are anti-Catholic, yet both men have given a rather Catholic view of salvation, all be it cloaked in words…

 

[Fragile]

Ahh, the old “Petros” “petra” controversy?

petraband.com/

 

[christseeker]

Someone mentioned dying in a state of grace would allow you to go to heaven. In order to stay in a state of grace, how near to dying would we have needed to go to confession, take communion, etc? What if you had sinned and then died immediately thereafter without being able to go to confession? Sorry if this is very basic but I’m just wondering.

 

[FathersKnowBest]

The Bible is very clear about what we must do to be saved. In John 3, Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born again.”

Yes. Born again, as in “by water and the Spirit.” As we had just seen evidence of at His baptism.

“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4)

He went on to explain that “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten so, that whosoever believes in him should have everlasting life.”

St. Paul answered the Phillipian jailer when he asked what to do to be saved, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”

Yep. But the word for “believe” has connotations that the English translation doesn’t carry as strongly. First, it implies obedience. Which is only natural if you consider that you “believe” that this man, Jesus, who is commanding such things as forgiving others and loving others and other good works, is the Almighty God, Creator of the Universe. Second, it is not a “one-time” belief. It might be better translated (although it would sound too clunky) “… whosoever believes and continues in his belief in him should have everlasting life.”

Jesus was asked this question point-blank in Matthew 19:
Mt 19:16 And behold, one came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?”
17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to him, “Which?” And Jesus said, “You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,
19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

He clarifies it when speaking to the church at Ephesus, ch. 2, 8-9: “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Yes! St. Paul is talking about our initial justification through grace alone. Look at the context, where he starts talking about how “we were dead through our trespasses”:

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us,
5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Of course our initial justification wasn’t merited. Heck, that’s why Catholics baptize even BABIES! There’s nothing a baby could have possibly done to merit justification. But we were created in Christ Jesus for good works (the very next verse in context).

The “good thief” on the cross, sometimes called Dismas, was promised that he was saved and would that day be with Jesus in Paradise. It was too late for him to do any good works.

All he did??!!?? That was quite a bit, considering his situation. It was so profound that it was recorded in sacred scripture for all eternity.

But it’s true that a worker that works only a small portion of the day could also receive a full day’s “wage”. (Matt 20)

After this, our salvation is confirmed by our confessing it (speaking of it to others), our obedience (the good works we do not to gain salvation but as a result of it and as an expression of our gratitude for it), our devotions (prayer and Bible reading) and through the sacraments. We must attend to obedience, devotions and the sacraments for the rest of our earthly lives in order to grow healthily in our salvation and become sanctified.

I’m afraid this isn’t biblical.

Ro 2:6 For he will render to every man according to his works:
7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;

Ro 6:16 Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
[Greek: *eis dikaiosunen — unto justification]

2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body.

2Co 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15 So it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

1Pe 1:17 And if you invoke as Father him who judges each one impartially according to his deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile.

Re 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done.
13 And the sea gave up the dead in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead in them, and all were judged by what they had done.

Jas 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him?

Jas 2:24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

etc. etc.

In Matthew 25, vs. 31ff, Jesus explains how He will judge. It’s not on faith alone.

I’m not saying it’s by works alone, either. Far from it. In fact, it’s only through Him that our works are meritorious at all, as could be shown from St. Paul if I had the time.

 

[Lion_Heart]

Someone mentioned dying in a state of grace would allow you to go to heaven. In order to stay in a state of grace, how near to dying would we have needed to go to confession, take communion, etc? What if you had sinned and then died immediately thereafter without being able to go to confession? Sorry if this is very basic but I’m just wondering.

Hi Christseeker,

PREDESTINATION TO GLORY
This is an UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION, based on God’s eternal decree.
The names of the elects, and their full number is completed before the creation of the world.
Destination is Heaven. The predestined cannot lose their salvation.
Style of the election: Thomism [After Thomas Aquinas (1225 - 1274)].

Predestination CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA
Quote: “Consequently, the whole future membership of heaven, down to its minutest details, … has been irrevocably fixed from all eternity. Nor could it be otherwise. For if it were possible that a predestined individual should after all be cast into hell or that one not predestined should in the end reach heaven, then God would have been mistaken in his foreknowledge of future events; He would no longer be omniscient.” End quote.

JOINT DECLARATION ON THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION by the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church

Quote: 3/15 By grace alone, in faith in Christ’s saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God.

3/17 Justification is solely due to the forgiving and renewing mercy that God imparts as a gift and we receive in faith, and never can merit in any way.

4/25 We confess together that sinners are justified by faith in the saving action of God in Christ. Whatever in the justified precedes or follows the free gift of faith is neither the basis of justification nor merits it. End quote

As elects to Heaven, predestined on God’s eternal decree before the world was made, and have been saved solely by Christ’s merit on the cross, God’s gift of faith, and the preparation of our wills by the Holy Spirit to freely say yes to God’s call. God saved us without any contribution by us for our salvation.
(II Council of Orange 529AD; Rom. 11:5-6; Rom.4:4)

With love in Christ,
Lion Heart

 

[peace2u2]

Romans 10:9

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Why does the Bible say that I will have to give an account of my life before God if I am already saved and all I have to do is say Jesus is My Lord and Savior and nothing else?

Romans 14:12
So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

Mt. 12:36
But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.

Job 9:2-3, 15-16:

I know well that it is so;
but how can anyone be in the right before God?

Should one wish to contend with him,
he could not answer him once in a thousand times.

Even though I were right, I could not answer,
but should rather beg for what was due me.

If I appealed to him and he answered me,
I could not believe that he would listen to me;

 

[jmcrae]

Someone mentioned dying in a state of grace would allow you to go to heaven. In order to stay in a state of grace, how near to dying would we have needed to go to confession, take communion, etc?

You would have needed to go to Confession after your last mortal sin (a serious sin committed with full knowledge and full freedom), and you would have needed to receive Holy Communion during your most recent Easter Season.

If a Catholic is dying in hospital, typically a priest will come to see him to give him “Last Rites” which includes an opportunity to make a good Confession, to receive Holy Communion, and to be anointed. That can happen several days before the person actually dies, but since it would normally be next to impossible to commit a mortal sin while tied down to a hospital bed, we would generally assume that the person went to Heaven.

What if you had sinned and then died immediately thereafter without being able to go to confession? Sorry if this is very basic but I’m just wondering.

Like someone who is shot to death by the guard while robbing a bank, or killed while driving drunk?

We can never say for sure that someone is definitely in Hell, but I would want to pray hard for someone in that kind of situation, because it wouldn’t seem very likely to me that they had made it to Heaven.

 

[Lion_Heart]

Yes. Born again, as in “by water and the Spirit.” As we had just seen evidence of at His baptism.

Ro 2:6 For he will render to every man according to his works:
7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;

Jas 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him?

Jas 2:24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

In Matthew 25, vs. 31ff, Jesus explains how He will judge. It’s not on faith alone.

I’m not saying it’s by works alone, either. Far from it. In fact, it’s only through Him that our works are meritorious at all, as could be shown from St. Paul if I had the time.

Greetings in Christ, FathersKnowBest

The Church official interpretation of Romans 2:6-13 – 3:28.
SACRA PAGINA ROMANS By Brendan Byrne, S.J. Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., Editor

(If someone doesn’t know: By Brendan Byrne, S.J., is professor of New Testament at Jesuit Theological College, within the United Faculty of Theology, Parkville, Melbourne Australia. … Pope John Paul II named him a member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission in 1990).

Quote: “Paul fully embraces the principle of justification according to one’s works. Acceptance of the Christian gospel has indeed led him to fully convinced that IN FACT NO HUMAN BEING WILL FIND JUSTIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF WORKS and that, faced with total human unrighteousness, God has graciously effected in Christ an alternative mode of justification for those who believe (Rom.3:21-26). …For the purpose of the prophetic accusation and echoing what has already been stated in vv 6-7 and 10, he envisages at least the possibility of justification on the basis of performance – though VERY SOON (Rom.3:19-20, 23) he will DENY that this possibility, at least as CONVENTIONALLY understood, could be realized in fact ” End quote. Emphasize mine.

Performance the criterion of justification (Rom.2:6-13) V Faith the criterion of justification Rom. (3:19-20, 23-24, 28). …

As we see above, context is very important. Paul is contrasting the old conventional way of work salvation which cannot save V with the salvation by faith of the New Covenant, which is THE only way of salvation.
If we take Rom.2:6-13 OUT OF CONTEXT, we can be deceived and to believe, “Faith + Works = Salvation” (half new + half old), which is THE greatest heresy in Christianity (Gal.1:6-9).

OUR OFFICIAL DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION IS:
JOINT DECLARATION ON THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION by the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church

3/17 Justification is SOLELY due to the forgiving and renewing mercy that God imparts as a gift and we RECEIVE IN FAITH, and NEVER CAN MERIT IT ANY WAY.

4/37 We confess together that good works - a Christian life lived in faith, hope and love - FOLLOW JUSTIFICATION and ARE ITS FRUITS.

4/38 When CATHOLICS AFFIRM the “meritorious” character of good works, they wish to say that, according to biblical witness, a reward in heaven is promised to these works. Their intention is to emphasize, JUSTIFICATION ALWAYS REMAINS THE UNMERITED GIFT OF GRACE.

According to 2Co 5:10 For we all appear before the judgment seat.
The judgment of the elects described in 1 Cor.3:11-15.
This is the judgment of our works.
God will judge the value of our works, and He will give rewards accordingly.
The works what we have done FREELY for gratitude to God and for the glory of God will stand. The works what we have done “COMPULSORY” for our interest, whatever it is, will goes up in smoke.

Certain conditions must be present to make supernatural merit possible.
One of the condition is: It must be done FREELY, WITHOUT any EXTERNAL COERCION or INTERNAL NECESSITY. For example: Our salvation is God’s FREE GIFT. If we believe, we have to work for it as well, we do it by the SPIRIT OF SLAVERY, and we are DECEIVED, and at the judgment, our works will go up in smoke.

The interpretation James. (2:14, 24)
YOU CAN UNDERSTAN THE BIBLE By Peter Kreeft
(If someone doesn’t know: Peter Kreeft is one of the most popular and widely – read Catholic authors today.)

“Highly recommended to all those who want to deepen their spiritual lives. The beauty of this book is that it literally makes the [Bible] come alive.” – John A. Harden, S.J.

Quote from page 291: “The apparent contradiction between James, who says that we, like Abraham, are justified by works (2:21), and Paul, who says that we, like Abraham, are justified by faith, (Rom.4:3), is explained by looking at the context. Paul’s context is the relationship between the believer and God, while James’ context is the relationship between the believer and his neighbor.
God sees your faith; your neighbor sees your works. FAITH JUSTIFIES US BEFORE GOD; WORKS JUSTIFY US BEFORE OUR NEIGHBORS.” End quote. Emphasis mine.

Paul and James may use the same words, but they are speaking about two different subjects. If not, than we would have a lot of contradictions in the Bible, and also we would have problems.

For example:

1. Our works would be compulsory for salvation. As the result, our works couldn’t be done freely for the glory of God, but to purchase our salvation.
2. The promised salvation by faith without works in Rom.4:5-6; and in 1 Cor.3:11-15 would be a mistake by God.
3. Our works could never be qualified for rewards.

With love in Christ,
LH

 

[Lion_Heart]

Why does the Bible say that I will have to give an account of my life before God if I am already saved and all I have to do is say Jesus is My Lord and Savior and nothing else?

Romans 14:12
So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

Mt. 12:36
But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.

Job 9:2-3, 15-16:

I know well that it is so;
but how can anyone be in the right before God?

Should one wish to contend with him,
he could not answer him once in a thousand times.

Even though I were right, I could not answer,
but should rather beg for what was due me.

If I appealed to him and he answered me,
I could not believe that he would listen to me;

Hi Peace2u2, Greetings in Christ,

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTS CONCERNING OUR SALVATION IS WRITTEN ON PAGE 89 IN THE SACRA PAGINA ROMANS By Brendan Byrne, S.J. Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., Editor

(If someone doesn’t know: Brendan Byrne, S.J., is professor of New Testament at Jesuit Theological College, within the United Faculty of Theology, Parkville, Melbourne Australia. … Pope John Paul II named him a member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission in 1990).

Quote: “IN FACT NO HUMAN BEING WILL FIND JUSTIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF WORKS." End quote.

You have very good and very important questions. If we don’t know the answer for your questions, I don’t believe, we have the fullness of the truth.

Your question:
“Why does the Bible say that I will have to give an account of my life before God if I am already saved and all I have to do is say Jesus is My Lord and Savior and nothing else?”

Answer:
Because Christ has promised reward for our good works, and what has to be decided is the quantity of our reward. This judgment is described in 1 Cor. 3:11-15. – This is not our judgment, but the judgment of our works.
If we are among the elects to heaven, the outcome of our first and last judgment pronounced in Romans 3:24, our judgment is based on Christ’s merit on the cross (Romans 5:18).

HOW TO READ THE NEW TESTAMENT By Etienne Charpentier
Nihil obstate: Father Anton Cowan
Imprimatur: Monsignor John Crowley, VG Westminster, 28 May 1985
Quote: “There is ONE CENTRAL QUESTION here: how can we become righteous and be saved? We are NOT justified by what we do (works, observing law) but by FAITH IN CHRIST.” End quote.

MERIT
Divine reward for the practice of virtue.
“The reward given for good works is not won by reason of actions which precede grace, but grace, which is unmerited, precedes actions in order that enable them to be done.”
(II Council of Orange, Denzinger 388).

Certain conditions MUST BE PRESENT to make SUPERNATURAL merit possible.
The meritorious work must be morally good, that is, in accordance with the moral law in its object, intent, and circumstances.

It MUST be done FREELY, WITHOUT any EXTERNAL COERCION or INTERNAL NECESSITY.

It MUST be SUPERNATURAL, that is, AROUSED and ACCOMPANIED by ACTUAL GRACE, and proceeding from a SUPERNATURAL motive.

Strictly speaking only a person in the STATE OF GRACE can merit, as defined by the Church (Denzinger 1576, 1582).

HOW CAN OUR WORKS UP TO THE ABOVE STANDARDS?

1. It MUST be OPTIONAL, because if it is COMPULSORY, our works CANNOT meet the above standard, BECAUSE they cannot be done freely.
2. We are deceived and mislead (Matt.24:24), if we do our works for to GET our salvation, or COMPLETE our salvation, or KEEP our salvation.
3. Our works is count only, if it is the fruits of our salvation, done for the GLORY OF GOD, done FREELY, WITHOUT any EXTERNAL COERCION or INTERNAL NECESSITY.

With love in Christ,
LH

 

[Freekevio]

Why does the Bible say that I will have to give an account of my life before God if I am already saved and all I have to do is say Jesus is My Lord and Savior and nothing else?

If you read scripture more in depth you will know that the reborn believers will be lifted up and judged for reward not punishment
Just ask the Holy Spirit

Romans 14:12
So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

Mt. 12:36
But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.

Job 9:2-3, 15-16:

I know well that it is so;
but how can anyone be in the right before God?

Should one wish to contend with him,
he could not answer him once in a thousand times.

Even though I were right, I could not answer,
but should rather beg for what was due me.

If I appealed to him and he answered me,
I could not believe that he would listen to me;

 

[Lion_Heart]

Yes, it is confusing, practically I don’t see how what you said really makes any difference. They still believe complete sanctification will always occur after you have been truly justified, just that sanctification takes a bit longer, instead of being instantaneous.

Greetings in Christ, Fallow Spirit

I agree SANCTIFICATION can be a bit confusing, because in the Bible some verses refer to SANCTIFICATION as a PAST COMPLETED event, such as 1 Cor.6:11; Hebr.10:10; Hebr.10:29.

Some Bible verses indicate that SANCTIFICAION is an ONGOING PROCESS, such as Phil.2:12-15; Eph.4:22-24; 1 Thess.4:1, 3; Hebr.2:11. It is an ongoing process, because even in Christ we are SANCTIFIED, but in ourselves still some sanctifying work needs to be done to grow in likeness to Christ.

AT THAT POINT when in Christ (Body of Christ) we HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED, at that point, we are also SANCTIFIED and SAVED. – 1 Cor.1:30.
1 Cor.11:6 “But you were WASHED (Rev.1:5 Christ washed us from our sins in His own blood.) but you were SANCTIFIED, but you were JUSTIFIED in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
We are not only ready to go to Heaven, but in fact WE ARE IN HEAVEN.
At our conversion, “God raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Eph.2:6)

Quote: “AUGUSTINE’S CONTRIBUTION TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.
We are inserted into the Body of Christ by our baptism and become members united to the Head, so that while our feet may be on earth we are already in heaven.” End quote.
The above quote taken from a letter of Paul Maloney OSA Written September 19th 2012
Here in earth we are Christ’s ambassadors. (2 Cor.5:20)

For the purity of the gospel, we cannot over emphasize it: Our sanctification work described in Phil.2:12-15; Eph.4:22-24; 1 Thess.4:1, 3; Hebr.2:11 is THE fruits of our salvation NOT the cause of it! Our salvation is God’s FREE GIFT and with our works we CANNOT contribute to it.

With love in Christ,
LH

 

[Freekevio]

Greetings in Christ, Fallow Spirit

I agree SANCTIFICATION can be a bit confusing, because in the Bible some verses refer to SANCTIFICATION as a PAST COMPLETED event, such as 1 Cor.6:11; Hebr.10:10; Hebr.10:29.

Some Bible verses indicate that SANCTIFICAION is an ONGOING PROCESS, such as Phil.2:12-15; Eph.4:22-24; 1 Thess.4:1, 3; Hebr.2:11. It is an ongoing process, because even in Christ we are SANCTIFIED, but in ourselves still some sanctifying work needs to be done to grow in likeness to Christ.

AT THAT POINT when in Christ (Body of Christ) we HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED, at that point, we are also SANCTIFIED and SAVED. – 1 Cor.1:30.
1 Cor.11:6 “But you were WASHED (Rev.1:5 Christ washed us from our sins in His own blood.) but you were SANCTIFIED, but you were JUSTIFIED in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
We are not only ready to go to Heaven, but in fact WE ARE IN HEAVEN.
At our conversion, “God raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Eph.2:6)

Quote: “AUGUSTINE’S CONTRIBUTION TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.
We are inserted into the Body of Christ by our baptism and become members united to the Head, so that while our feet may be on earth we are already in heaven.” End quote.
The above quote taken from a letter of Paul Maloney OSA Written September 19th 2012
Here in earth we are Christ’s ambassadors. (2 Cor.5:20)

For the purity of the gospel, we cannot over emphasize it: Our sanctification work described in Phil.2:12-15; Eph.4:22-24; 1 Thess.4:1, 3; Hebr.2:11 is THE fruits of our salvation NOT the cause of it! Our salvation is God’s FREE GIFT and with our works we CANNOT contribute to it.

With love in Christ,
LH

Amen and Hallelujah

 

[FathersKnowBest]

If you read scripture more in depth you will know that the reborn believers will be lifted up and judged for reward not punishment
Just ask the Holy Spirit

That reward is specifically termed “eternal life.”

Ro 2:7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;

Ro 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life.

Ga 6:8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

 

[Lion_Heart]

Mark 16:16.
Matthew 10:22
Romans 11:16-23
Romans 8:24
1 Corinthians 9:24
1 Corinthians 13:13
2 Corinthians 5:20
James 5:16

…and others.

First and foremost to understand is that we are NOT saved until and unless we are in heaven. To assume salvation while yet on earth risks committing the sin of presumption - putting God to the test.

As well, salvation is entirely dependent upon God’s grace, but we must cooperate with that grace. Salvation is also not a solitary task, but relies upon the prayers and support of fellow Christians.

Question: Why are you so concerned with salvation? I see this constantly among fundamentalists and evangelicals. In this regard, they seem never to be at peace. There is on-going preoccupation with both justification and salvation. It’s almost like God made salvation a mystery.

1.5 billion living Christians have the Sacraments, which are vias of God’s grace. We receive them and persevere, without preoccupation.

Greeting in Christ, Po18guy

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA The predestination of the elect

“Consequently, the whole future membership of heaven, down to its minutest details, … has been irrevocably fixed from all eternity. Nor could it be otherwise. For if it were possible that a predestined individual should after all be cast into hell or that one not predestined should in the end reach heaven, then God would have been mistaken in his foreknowledge of future events; He would no longer be omniscient.” End quote

TO GO TO HEAVEN, WE HAVE TO BE AMONG THE ELECTS.

CONDITIONS THAT OUR WORKS COUNT FOR ANYTHING
The Catholic Church clearly teaches that one MUST be in a STATE OF GRACE, MUST be a member of the BODY OF CHRIST, MUST be already SAVED, MUST be already JUSTIFIED before we do a SINGLE WORK that counts for anything.

OUR SALVATION PRECEDES OUR SUPERNATURAL MERIT.
With other words, if we are not already saved, our works count for NOTHING.

Further conditions MUST BE PRESENT to make SUPERNATURAL MERIT possible.
The meritorious work must be morally good, that is, in accordance with the moral law in its object, intent, and circumstances.

It MUST be done FREELY, WITHOUT any EXTERNAL COERCION or INTERNAL NECESSITY.

It MUST be SUPERNATURAL, that is, AROUSED and ACCOMPANIED by ACTUAL GRACE, and proceeding from a SUPERNATURAL motive.

Strictly speaking only a person in the STATE OF GRACE can merit, as defined by the Church (Denzinger 1576, 1582).

God has PRONOUNCED the LIBERATION of our works in Rom.4:5-6 and in 1 Cor.3:11-15.
WORK IS NOT A CONDITION OF OUR SALVATION.

HOW CAN OUR WORKS BE UP TO THE ABOVE STANDARDS?
It MUST be OPTIONAL, because if it is COMPULSORY, our works CANNOT meet the above standard, BECAUSE they cannot be done freely.

There is no contradiction in the Bible. The interpretation of any Bible verse, which seems to contradict with Rom.4:5-6; 1 Cor.3:11-15 is FALSE INTERPRETATION, desired to put us back again to the LAW OF SLAVERY and to DESTROY our faith.

TO BELIEVE: WORK IS NOT A CONDITION OF OUR SALVATION PRECEDES SUPERNATURAL MERIT!!!

If we believe, work is condition of our salvation, then all our works go up in smoke at the judgment of 1 Cor.3:11-15, because ALL OUR WORK energized by the SPIRIT OF SLAVERY and DECEPTION.

ONLY those works can be done for the GLORY OF GOD which done FREELY, WITHOUT any EXTERNAL COERCION or INTERNAL NECESSITY.

With love in Christ,
LH

 

[Lion_Heart]

That reward is specifically termed “eternal life.”

Ro 2:7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;

Ro 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life.

Ga 6:8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Greetings in Christ, FathersKnowBest

It is a THEOLOGICAL IMPOSSIBILITY that our reward for our work/merit can be eternal life/salvation or justification.
Our justification, salvation and our faith are GOD’S FREE GIFTS.

It is IMPOSSIBLE to earn God’s free gifts. It is NOT the matter of achieving them, but the matter of receiving them FREELY.

Bible verses should always be interpreted in their context and the context of the whole Bible.

The Church official interpretation of Romans 2:6-13 – 3:28.
SACRA PAGINA ROMANS By Brendan Byrne, S.J. Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., Editor

Quote: “Paul fully embraces the principle of justification according to one’s works. Acceptance of the Christian gospel has indeed led him to fully convinced that IN FACT NO HUMAN BEING WILL FIND JUSTIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF WORKS and that, faced with total human unrighteousness, God has graciously effected in Christ an alternative mode of justification for those who believe (Rom.3:21-26). …For the purpose of the prophetic accusation and echoing what has already been stated in vv 6-7 and 10, he envisages at least the possibility of justification on the basis of performance – though VERY SOON (Rom.3:19-20, 23) he will DENY that this possibility, at least as CONVENTIONALLY understood, could be realized in fact ” End quote. Emphasize mine.

Performance the criterion of justification (Rom.2:6-13) vs Faith the criterion of justification Rom. (3:19-20, 23-24, 28). …

As we see above, context is very important. Paul is contrasting the old conventional way of work salvation which cannot save V with the salvation by faith of the New Covenant, which is THE only way of salvation.

If we take Rom.2:6-13 OUT OF CONTEXT, we can be DECEIVED and to believe, “Faith + Works = Salvation” (half new + half old), which is THE greatest heresy in Christianity. – Reward: Condemnation, (Gal.1:6-9).

HOW TO READ THE NEW TESTAMENT By Etienne Charpentier
Nihil obstate: Father Anton Cowan
Imprimatur: Monsignor John Crowley, VG Westminster, 28 May 1985

Quote: “There is ONE CENTRAL QUESTION here: how can we become righteous and be saved? We are NOT justified by what we do (works, observing law) but by FAITH IN CHRIST.” End quote.

CONDITIONS THAT OUR WORKS COUNT FOR ANYTHING
The Catholic Church clearly teaches that one MUST be in a STATE OF GRACE, MUST be a member of the BODY OF CHRIST, MUST be already SAVED, MUST be already JUSTIFIED before we do a SINGLE WORK that counts for anything.

Further conditions MUST BE PRESENT to make SUPERNATURAL merit possible.
“The meritorious work must be morally good, that is, in accordance with the moral law in its object, intent, and circumstances.

It MUST be done FREELY, WITHOUT any EXTERNAL COERCION or INTERNAL NECESSITY.

It MUST be SUPERNATURAL, that is, AROUSED and ACCOMPANIED by ACTUAL GRACE, and proceeding from a SUPERNATURAL motive.

Strictly speaking only a person in the STATE OF GRACE can merit, as defined by the Church.” (Denzinger 1576, 1582)

“The essence of supernatural love is unselfishness—doing something NOT BECAUSE IT WILL HELP US SOMEHOW, but because we want to do it out of SHEER LOVE for the other person, whether that person is God or one of our fellow human beings out of the love of God. This is THE ONLY KIND of love that ultimately pleases God and therefore the ONLY KIND that ultimately gets us a reward IN heaven.” (JUSTIFICATION IN CATHOLIC TEACHING by Jimmy Akin) Emphasis mine.

HOW CAN OUR WORKS BE UP TO THE ABOVE STANDARDS?

1. It MUST be OPTIONAL, because if it is COMPULSORY, our works CANNOT meet the above standard, BECAUSE they cannot be done freely, and without our own interests.
2. We are deceived and mislead (Matt.24:24), if we do our works to GET our salvation, or COMPLETE our salvation, or KEEP our salvation.
3. Our works is count only, if it is the fruits of our salvation, done for the GLORY OF GOD, done FREELY, WITHOUT any EXTERNAL COERCION or INTERNAL NECESSITY, and WITHOUT our interests.

JOINT DECLARATION ON THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION by the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church

4/25 We confess together that sinners are justified by faith in the saving action of God in Christ. Whatever in the justified precedes or follows the free gift of faith is neither the basis of justification nor merits it.

I have noticed many posters quoted Phil.2:12 “… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” In context it is to work out our SANCTIFICATION. For example: Phill.2:12-15; Eph.4:22-24; 1 Thess.4:1, 3; Hebr.2:11; Hebr.10:14. Our works of sanctification start after we have been saved.

This work strictly the FRUIT of our salvation, NOT the cause of it, and if we do it NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO, but FREELY, WITHOUT any EXTERNAL COERCION or INTERNAL NECESSITY, and WITHOUT our interests, will count as supernatural merit and God rewards it.

The reward cannot be reward OF Heaven, but reward IN Heaven.
Our salvation is God’s FREE GIFT for us, we are CANNOT gain God’s FREE GIFT with our work, we can only receive it by FAITH.

Continue

 

[Lion_Heart]

The interpretation of James. (2:14, 24)
YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE By Peter Kreeft
(If someone doesn’t know: Peter Kreeft is one of the most popular and widely – read Catholic authors today.)

“Highly recommended to all those who want to deepen their spiritual lives. The beauty of this book is that it literally makes the [Bible] come alive.” – John A. Harden, S.J.

Quote from page 291: “The apparent contradiction between James, who says that we, like Abraham, are justified by works (2:21), and Paul, who says that we, like Abraham, are justified by faith, (Rom.4:3), is explained by looking at the context. Paul’s context is the relationship between the believer and God, while James’ context is the relationship between the believer and his neighbor.
God sees your faith; your neighbor sees your works. FAITH JUSTIFIES US BEFORE GOD; WORKS JUSTIFY US BEFORE OUR NEIGHBORS.” End quote. Emphasis mine.

Paul and James may use the same words, but they are speaking about two different subjects.

If we mix together Paul’s teachings with James teachings,
at the judgment, God will reject our works, because NOT DONE BY FREELY and by OUR CHOICE and FOR HIS GLORY, but done as SLAVE LABOR TO PURCHASE our salvation. This is not only the DESTRUCTION of our works, but the DESTRUCTION of our faith as well. – There is NO salvation without faith. The results described in Gal.1:6-9. – Eternal condemnation.

IF WORK IS CONDITION OF OUR SALVATION: Then the WHOLE human race is doomed, because our work is compulsory for salvation. At the judgment, God will reject our works because, NOT DONE BY OUR CHOICE and FOR HIS GLORY but done as SLAVE LABOR TO PURCHASE our salvation.

The parable of the talents or Matt 25:31-46.
In the case of the sheep, Christ simply speaking about the FRUITS of their salvation. They CANNOT be saved by works, because there is only one doctrine of salvation for everyone, and in our Catholic Church that doctrine of salvation is: “SALVATION BY GRACE ALONE (sola gratia), SOLELY ON THE ACCOUNT OF THE WORK OF CHRIST (solo Christo). We OBTAIN our salvation by FAITH ALONE (sola fide formata).

THE FRUITS OF SALVATION/SUPERNATURAL MERIT, CAN NEVER BE THE CAUSE OF SALVATION.

In the case of the goats, Christ is speaking of the FRUITS of the REJECTION of God’ grace and their salvation.

Rom.4:5-6 and 1 Cor.3:11-15 states, OUR WORK IS NOT A CONDITION OF OUR SALVATION. With other words, “But to him who does NOT WORK but BELIEVES on Him who justifies the ungodly, his FAITH is accounted for RIGHTEOUSNESS.” – Rom.4:5

According to our judgment of 1 Cor.3:11-15, OUR WORK IS NOT A CONDITION OF OUR SALVATION. Jerusalem Bible Rom.4:5 “But when a man has NOTHING TO SHOW except FAITH in the One who JUSTIFIES sinners, then his FAITH is considered as JUSTIFYING him.”

In Rom.4:5-6 and in 1 Cor.3:11-15 God has PRONOUNCED the LIBERATION of our works.
The LIBERATION of our works PRECEDES supernatural merit!!!

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE by James Akin
Quote: “In fact, in TRADITIONAL WORKS OF CATHOLIC THEOLOGY, one regularly encounters the statement that FORMED FAITH IS JUSTIFYING FAITH. If one has formed faith, one is justified. Period. End quote. Emphasis mine. (It is on the internet, every Catholic should read and study it.)

Sola fide formata = (formed) FAITH ALONE
THE COMPOSITE OF GOD’S GIFT OF FAITH:
a. BELIEF … (Unconditional BELIEF in what God says.)
b. HOPE … (Unconditional TRUST in God.)
c. CHARITY … (Unconditional LOVE for God.)
d. BAPTISM OF DESIRE.

This formed faith produces INSTANT SALVATION without water baptism and without sacraments, [CCC 1249]; Acts 10:44-46. Our official doctrine of salvation: “Salvation by grace alone, solely on account of the work of Christ, or (formed) faith alone.” Period. Anything added to faith contradicts [CCC1249]; Acts 10:44-46; Rom.11:5-6; Rom.4:4-6; Rom. 6:23, and takes away God’s GLORY!

God’s free gift of faith is formed faith, at that moment when God gives it to a person, THAT IS THE POINT, WHEN THAT PERSON IS SAVED. From that point on, every good work of a saved person is the fruit of their salvation NOT the cause of it.

CONCLUSION
Our salvation is God’s FREE GIFT on account of Christ’s WORK/MERIT on the cross. (Rom.6:23; Rom.5:18; Rom.3:24)

The GIFTS of God and His PREDESTINATION are IRREVOCABLE. (Rom.11:29; Catholic Encyclopedia.)

Our doctrine of salvation: “Salvation by GRACE ALONE (sola gratia), SOLELY on the ACCOUNT OF THE WORK OF CHRIST (solo Christo). We OBTAIN our salvation by FAITH ALONE (sola fide formata).

THE FRUITS OF SALVATION, CAN NEVER BE THE CAUSE OF SALVATION.
How could the FRUITS of salvation be the cause of salvation, when salvation PRECEDES work/merit/fruit of salvation?

If we try to work FOR our salvation or to KEEP our salvation it proves we have NO FAITH in the doctrines of the Catholic Church and in God’s FREE GIFT OF SALVATION and in Christ’s MERIT on the cross. – Without faith there is NO salvation.

For our work/merit which done FREELY, WITHOUT any EXTERNAL COERCION or INTERNAL NECESSITY, and done WITHOUT our interests we WILL have rewards IN heaven.

For Christ’s merit on the cross we HAVE the reward OF heaven.

God’s free gift of faith is formed faith, at that moment when God gives it to us, THAT IS THE POINT, WHEN WE ARE SAVED and that is the moment when “God raises us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Eph.2:6)

Quote:
“AUGUSTINE’S CONTRIBUTION TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.
We are inserted into the Body of Christ by our baptism and become members united to the Head, so that while our feet may be on earth we are already in heaven.” End quote.
The above quote taken from a pablic letter of Paul Maloney OSA Written September 19th 2012

With love in Christ,
LH