Why are Muslims saved according to Roman Catholicism?

[underdog]

841 The Church’s relationship with the Muslims. “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.”

This is a very difficult concept to understand for any Christian. Can anyone try to explain this official Roman Catholic teaching? This statement makes the incarnation, life and death of Christ, and the ressurection to be unecessary.

 

[underdog]

THE HOLY BIBLE

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

841 The Church’s relationship with the Muslims. “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.”

 

[underdog]

The words of Jesus Christ:

You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." - John 8

Hi

I am an Ahmadi peaceful Muslim. We believe that Jesus did not die a cursed death on Cross. Our Merciful God Allah saved him. Jesus died a peaceful and natural death later in India were lost ten tribes of Israel resided. The rest our other friends have already explained to you.

I love Jesus and Mary as I do love Buddha and Krishna

Thanks

http://theislampath.com/smf/Smileys/default/salam.gif

Salaam/ Peace

a blessed messenger of God Almighty . It’s part of our faith to respect him , to respect Mother Mary (peace be upon them). We believe Jesus (p) did not die on the Cross ; God raised him up & he will come back to kill the anti Christ (p) before the last day.

related link:

The Islamic and Christian views of Jesus: a comparison

"The Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary, was no more than a Messenger before whom many Messengers have passed away; and his mother adhered wholly to truthfulness, and they both ate food (as other mortals do).

See how We make Our signs clear to them; and see where they are turning away!" (Quran 5:75).

Do Muslims believe in the Trinity? NO

Muslims believe in the Absolute Oneness of God, Who is a Supreme Being free of human limitations, needs and wants. He has no partners in His Divinity. He is the Creator of everything and is completely separate from His creation.

God says in the Quran regarding the Trinity:

"People of the Book (Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, and attribute to God nothing except the truth.

The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only a Messenger of God, and His command that He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him.

So believe in God and in His Messengers, and do not say: ‘God is a Trinity.’

Give up this assertion; it would be better for you. God is indeed just One God.

Far be it from His glory that He should have a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth. God is sufficient for a guardian" (Quran 4:171).

soundvision.com/info/jesus/inislam.asp

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. - Jude 3

https://www.mezcotoyz.com/store/inventory/Underdog/24010.jpg

 

[SamDash]

That citation to the Catechism doesn’t say “Muslims are saved,” but rather “Muslims can be saved.”

And the reason the Church teaches that non-Christians can be saved is because the Church believes that God is just.

God would not condemn somebody for simply being born in a non-Christian land, never having been exposed to the Gospel, who, nonetheless, tried to live a just life as best he could with his limited information.

Conversely, simply professing to be a Christian is certainly no guarantee of salvation. As Matthew 7:21 notes:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.(KJV)

We will all be judged on our individual merits, not collectively.

 

[Jon_S]

This is a very difficult concept to understand for any Christian. Can anyone try to explain this official Roman Catholic teaching? This statement makes the incarnation, life and death of Christ, and the ressurection to be unecessary.

Of course it’s difficult when you grab the juiciest “sound byte” and forget the rest of the context.

Please read on…

843 The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as “a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life.”

This is very much in-line with St. Paul’s teachings in Romans 2:14-16.

 

[Jean_1958]

The following is taken from Taylor Marshall’s blog Canterbury Tales (see: This Entry)

841 The Church’s relationship with the Muslims. “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.”

The plan of salvation includes Muslims. This is common sense. God desires all men (including Muslims) to be saved. This does not mean that all Muslims are saved by virtue of their being Muslims. This passage should be read in context of the entire Catechism which teaches that salvation is received through Christ alone through the means of grace provided through the Church of Jesus Christ. One cannot wrench this paragraph from the catechism and let it stand alone.

One could easily take certain passages out of the writings of St. Paul and make false assumptions that Paul was a universalist. For example: St Paul teaches universalism because he wrote:

“Then as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men.” (Rom 5:18)
This is a misguided argument because one must read the verse above in light of all the writings of St. Paul. In the same way, one cannot isolate paragraph 841 from the rest of the Catechism.

The Church recognizes that the object of worship in Islam is the God of Abraham and thus the one true God. Thus, we might say that Muslims worship the true God wrongly. They attempt to find access to God in a means that is not sacrificial, and worse, not Christological. It is like men trying to hunt deer with a slingshot. They are technically “hunting deer” but their method is never going to put venison on the table.

The Catholic Church also honors the conscience of men and leaves judgment to God. If God seeks to justify a non-Christian Arab through Jesus Christ in some way, who are we to object to it? Yet the Church remains firm that salvation is through Christ alone. I believe the Church does not presume to limit how God can and must save human beings. The Church does believe that God has definitively revealed through Christ that salvation is through Christ alone. That is not negotiable. The question remains, can someone be saved through Christ and not know it? The answer is clearly: Yes.

A baby can be saved through Christ without a “saving knowledge of Christ” or without a knowledge of the mechanics of salvation. A person who is mentally handicapped can be also be saved in a way that does not require a formal intellectual understanding of Christ and redemption. Perhaps this can also be the case for certain Muslims. The qualifier is “perhaps”. The Church does not teach that this is the case, but it does not rule out the possibility.

The reason I wanted to post on this subject, because there are some Catholics who are embarrassed or unnerved by Paragraph #841. The Catholic should not blush with embarrassment when someone cites #841 as an example of the Catholic Church’s “liberalism” or “relativism”.

I hope this helps.

Jean

 

[underdog]

That citation to the Catechism doesn’t say “Muslims are saved,” but rather “Muslims can be saved.”

And the reason the Church teaches that non-Christians can be saved is because the Church believes that God is just.

God would not condemn somebody for simply being born in a non-Christian land, never having been exposed to the Gospel, who, nonetheless, tried to live a just life as best he could with his limited information.

Conversely, simply professing to be a Christian is certainly no guarantee of salvation. As Matthew 7:21 notes:

We will all be judged on our individual merits, not collectively.

Please explain the justice of God. If we all approach the throne of God and demanded justice, what would each one us receive, Heaven or Hell?

 

[AshleyBelle]

The following is taken from Taylor Marshall’s blog Canterbury Tales (see: This Entry)

841 The Church’s relationship with the Muslims. “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.”

The plan of salvation includes Muslims. This is common sense. God desires all men (including Muslims) to be saved. This does not mean that all Muslims are saved by virtue of their being Muslims. This passage should be read in context of the entire Catechism which teaches that salvation is received through Christ alone through the means of grace provided through the Church of Jesus Christ. One cannot wrench this paragraph from the catechism and let it stand alone.

One could easily take certain passages out of the writings of St. Paul and make false assumptions that Paul was a universalist. For example: St Paul teaches universalism because he wrote:

“Then as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men.” (Rom 5:18)
This is a misguided argument because one must read the verse above in light of all the writings of St. Paul. In the same way, one cannot isolate paragraph 841 from the rest of the Catechism.

The Church recognizes that the object of worship in Islam is the God of Abraham and thus the one true God. Thus, we might say that Muslims worship the true God wrongly. They attempt to find access to God in a means that is not sacrificial, and worse, not Christological. It is like men trying to hunt deer with a slingshot. They are technically “hunting deer” but their method is never going to put venison on the table.

The Catholic Church also honors the conscience of men and leaves judgment to God. If God seeks to justify a non-Christian Arab through Jesus Christ in some way, who are we to object to it? Yet the Church remains firm that salvation is through Christ alone. I believe the Church does not presume to limit how God can and must save human beings. The Church does believe that God has definitively revealed through Christ that salvation is through Christ alone. That is not negotiable. The question remains, can someone be saved through Christ and not know it? The answer is clearly: Yes.

A baby can be saved through Christ without a “saving knowledge of Christ” or without a knowledge of the mechanics of salvation. A person who is mentally handicapped can be also be saved in a way that does not require a formal intellectual understanding of Christ and redemption. Perhaps this can also be the case for certain Muslims. The qualifier is “perhaps”. The Church does not teach that this is the case, but it does not rule out the possibility.

The reason I wanted to post on this subject, because there are some Catholics who are embarrassed or unnerved by Paragraph #841. The Catholic should not blush with embarrassment when someone cites #841 as an example of the Catholic Church’s “liberalism” or “relativism”.

I hope this helps.

Jean

Thank you so much for this post! I don’t know how often I’ve been accused of being a “universalist” when I try to present the Catholic understanding of salvation and God’s mercy. You articulated this far better than I would have… God bless!

 

[AshleyBelle]

Please explain the justice of God. If we all approach the throne of God and demanded justice, what would each one us receive, Heaven or Hell?

“Justice” would be for all of us to parish… Who can go to the throne of God and DEMAND anything from Him? He owes us nothing! God can show mercy and compassion or wrath upon whomever He wills… that is for God to choose… not us.

However, we know He is merciful and loving, and He offers us grace, despite our unworthiness. Despite the fact that we deserve nothing more than condemnation! And this is why we hope and pray for God’s mercy!

We also know that God is faithful to His promises. And when He promises eternal life through His son, He means it.

 

[Jean_1958]

You articulated this far better than I would have… God bless!

I didn’t articulate that. Convert Taylor Marshall did. You can read the original entry at his blog Canterbury Tales. (Click HERE to read the entry.)

God Bless.

Jean

 

[SamDash]

Please explain the justice of God. If we all approach the throne of God and demanded justice, what would each one us receive, Heaven or Hell?

A good point. Please replace “just” with “merciful.”

 

[underdog]

As a Christian for almost 30 years, this is the saddest moment I’ve experienced as a Christian. Now I understand the postings of many of the Catholics today, as they did not want to share Christ and Him crucified with the Muslims on this site. I too want all men to be saved and to know Christ. However, you cannot create a false hope for those who do not believe. I will be grieving for Roman Catholic Christians for years to come. There is no reason for Catholic and Protestant unity anymore.

 

[underdog]

A good point. Please replace “just” with “merciful.”

Where is mercy and grace found exclusively?

 

[Jon_S]

I too want all men to be saved and to know Christ. However, you cannot create a false hope for those who do not believe.

Is this “false hope” too?

Romans 2:14-16

14(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) 16This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

 

[underdog]

Is this “false hope” too?

Romans 2:14-16

14(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) 16This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

This is judgement and condemnation because God has given everyone a conscience. All mankind are given a conscience, but we are unable to do all the things our conscience tells us to do or not to do because we are sinners. What God has made (General revelation) and our conscience condemns us and leaves all of us without excuse. Romans chapter 1 and 2 is the bad news of God, that we are all guility of sin, heading for the day of judgement and all will be found condemned and gulity before God for our sins against Him. There is no hope apart from Jesus Christ. We are condemned before we hear the gospel. The gospel is the great good news of God on how we can escape the comming day of wrath against sin.

 

[Jon_S]

This is judgement and condemnation because God has given everyone a conscience. All mankind are given a conscience, but we are unable to do all the things our conscience tells us to do or not to do because we are sinners. What God has made (General revelation) and our conscience condemns us and leaves all of us without excuse. Romans chapter 1 and 2 is the bad news of God, that we are all guility of sin, heading for the day of judgement and all will be found condemned and gulity before God for our sins against Him. There is no hope apart from Jesus Christ. We are condemned before we hear the gospel. The gospel is the great good news of God on how we can escape the comming day of wrath against sin.

I guess you missed the part where St. Paul tells us that the Gentiles actions may defend them as well as accuse them.

Also, no one has ever said there is hope for salvation apart from Jesus Christ. If a Muslim dies and is saved, then it is certainly not because of his beliefs in Islam. His salvation (if indeed it does occur) will happen only through Christ.

Again, I believe you are very wrong to have taken only one paragraph from the Catechism without considering the rest of it.

 

[underdog]

I guess you missed the part where St. Paul tells us that the Gentiles actions may defend them as well as accuse them.

Also, no one has ever said there is hope for salvation apart from Jesus Christ. If a Muslim dies and is saved, then it is certainly not because of his beliefs in Islam. His salvation (if indeed it does occur) will happen only through Christ.

Again, I believe you are very wrong to have taken only one paragraph from the Catechism without considering the rest of it.

There’s nothing to misunderstand. There is no salvation apart from the gospel of Jesus Christ. Islam denies that Christ was crucified, and ressurected. Now read what the Apostle proclaims to us.

The Resurrection of Christ - 1 Cor 15

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

 

[underdog]

There is no hope for those who refuse to come to the Biblical Jesus Christ. Receive the message of the Apostle John.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Warning Concerning Antichrists

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us —eternal life.

I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

 

[Milliardo]

There’s nothing to misunderstand. There is no salvation apart from the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This would only be true if one heard of the Gospel; this would not apply for one who has not of it. God is just, as we always say; would He outright condemn anyone who has not heard or known Christ? That would be unjust and cruel for anyone, for the simple reason the person has not heard of Jesus. But for those who have been preached to and reject Him, then He applies the proper judgment for it.

 

[AshleyBelle]

There’s nothing to misunderstand. **There is no salvation apart from the gospel of Jesus Christ. **Islam denies that Christ was crucified, and ressurected. Now read what the Apostle proclaims to us.

The Resurrection of Christ - 1 Cor 15

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

But you seem to think we disagree, where we in fact agree. “There is NO salvation apart from Jesus Christ.” All salvation is through Him and only Him!

Here is a great article on the CAF library about how we view “salvation outside of the church.” It’s worth the time to read and reflect on if you really are interested.

catholic.com/library/Salvation_Outside_the_Church.asp

God bless!