Posted on 02/06/2010 8:21:23 PM PST by Salvation
This website surveys the origin and development of Roman Catholic Christianity from the period of the apostolic church, through the post-apostolic church and into the conciliar movement. Principal attention is paid to the biblical basis of both doctrine and dogma as well as the role of paradosis (i.e. handing on the truth) in the history of the Church. Particular attention is also paid to the hierarchical founding and succession of leadership throughout the centuries.
This is a set of lecture notes used since 1985 to teach the basis for key doctrines and dogmas of the Roman Catholic Church. The objectives of the course were, and are:
The course grew out of the need for the authors to continually answer questions about their faith tradition and their work. (Both authors are active members of Catholic parish communities in the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Robert Schihl was a Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Communication and the Arts at Regent University. Paul Flanagan is a consultant specializing in preparing people for technology based changes.) At the time these notes were first prepared, the authors were spending time in their faith community answering questions about their Protestant Evangelical workplaces (Mr. Flanagan was then a senior executive at the Christian Broadcasting Network), and time in their workplaces answering similar questions about their Roman Catholic faith community. These notes are the result of more than a decade of facilitating dialogue among those who wish to learn more about what the Roman Catholic Church teaches and why.
The Catholic Response to "Are You Saved?"
The Catholic Christian answers this question in three stages or levels corresponding to the three meanings the words "saved" and "salvation" have in the Bible. (These meanings are found in the previous section, "Salvation: A Biblical Portrait." )
Catholic Christians can respond that they have been saved. This acknowledges the first meaning of "saved" and "salvation" in scripture--Jesus Christ, Savior, by whose act of salvation we are objectively saved--He died, rose from the dead, saved them from sin.
Catholic Christians can also respond that they are being saved. This acknowledges the second meaning "saved" and "salvation" have in scripture--the present experience, God's power delivering constantly from the bondage of sin.
Catholic Christians also respond that they will be saved, that they have hope and confidence that God will give them the grace of perseverance; that they will respond to it; and accept his gift of salvation until their death. This acknowledges the third meaning the words "saved" and "salvation" have in scripture--the future deliverance of believers at the Second Coming of Christ.
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excellent source materials.....
Seems like a long diatribe about something so simple as asking Jesus to come into your heart and be your savior. IMHO
Catholic Biblical Apologetics: Foundation: Apologetics Without Apology
Catholic Biblical Apologetics: Foundation: An Incomplete Picture
Catholic Biblical Apologetics: Foundation: Dearly Beloved Catholic Brothers and Sisters
Being Catholic and Christian: Faith and Salvation
Catholic Biblical Apologetics:Being Catholic & Christian:Faith and Salvation-Authoriative
Catholic Biblical Apologetics: Being Catholic & Christian: Apostolic Confessions of Faith
Catholic Biblical Apologetics: Post-Apostolic Confessions of Faith
Catholic Biblical Apologetics: Salvation: A Biblical Portrait
Catholic Biblical Apologetics: Salvation: "Being Saved"
Catholic Biblical Apologetics: The Catholic Response to "Are You Saved?"
It’s just expanding on this former thread — http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2444697/posts?page=1
Sorry it seems so ordinary to you. It’s very important to all Catholics.
Yet so simple for mankind.
You wrote:
“Seems like a long diatribe about something so simple as asking Jesus to come into your heart and be your savior.”
So, you think Jesus just asks for us to ask Him to come into our hearts as our Savior? No repentance is necessary? I guess we should just ignore those verses about obeying commandments while we’re at it?
“But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:16-17).
It may be simple, but it is not necessarily easy. As Catholics we know we need to set our salvation goal daily. Yes, Christ died for our sins, (past); He is with us today to guide us (present); and He will be with us to lead us through the turmoil of modern life (future).
But our eternal salvation is not something we take lightly or for granted. It is an ongoing process, hopefully, for everyone — not just Catholics.
As a non-catholic, all three of the responses at once can also be given. Just like we can say we have been redeemed, are being redeemed every day we are still both sinner and saint, in the process of sanctification, and that we will be redeemed (glorification) when we die.
You’ve got it! It’s not a one thing cure all, is it?
People, no matter what denomination, who think being a Christian is ‘easy’, don’t understand that you don’t just say words you don’t really mean and somehow get a free pass.
For those of us that understand the price that had to be paid so we can confidently say “we are saved”, it’s trying to do our best to live a life the way Christ wants us to, but not having to worry when we fail, because we know we can have forgiveness when genuine repentance is there.
For those that don’t realize this, Christianity appears to be cheap grace. To those that have learned a little more about it, they find it is hardly cheap grace.
“A one thing cure all”
Not exactly sure what you mean. In a way of speaking it is, if you are genuine about your belief in Christ and genuinely ask for forgiveness when you fail. For those people they are not taking it for granted or of the opinion “I just say the words and God has to forgive me no matter what?” For those who think it’s just a game and forgiveness is easy, I just have to ask, and God has to forgive me or He violates His word, they don’t have it. They never did.
Make salvation as hard as you want to, biblically salvation is easy … just ask Jesus to be your savior (and mean it) and salvation is yours.
As for “easy”, Jesus died for our sins, once and for all. If we accept this premise, then our sins are forgiven “once and for all” if we accept him as our savior.
I have yet to find, in scripture, that we have to spend hours or days or eons in penance to get salvation.
If such were the case then heaven would be a hit and miss circumstance as with the Muslims.
Not what these hands have done,
Can save this guilty soul;
Not what this toiling flesh has borne,
Can make my spirit whole.
Refrain:
Thy work alone, my Saviour,
Can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God,
Can give me peace within.
Not what I feel or do,
Can give me peace with God;
Not all my prayers, or sighs, or tears,
Can ease my awful load.
Thy love to me, O God,
Not mine, O Lord, to Thee,
Can rid me of this dark unrest,
And set my spirit free.
No other work save Thine,
No meaner blood, will do;
No strength, save that which is divine,
Can bear me safely through.
I praise the God of grace,
I trust His love and might;
He calls me His, I call Him mine;
My God, my joy, my light!
And your point?
You are misunderstanding me, I think. I’m not saying that we must earn salvation. I am saying that because we are sinners, we need to work toward eternal salvation each and every day.
(And it’s not always easy, because we all are sinners.)
Some people speak of once saved, always saved. (OSAS) It’s just something that Catholics don’t agree with in totality.
Once saved forever saved. Nothing to work towards. I asked Jesus to be my saviour over 30 years ago, I have nothing to work toward. My salvation is assured.
And yet whenever I have asked a Catholic the question “If you died tonight, do you know if you’d go to Heaven?” the answer is always along the lines of “I hope so.” So no matter how you play your word dance, my experience with Catholic is that they don’t have assurance of salvation. My experience is that Catholics are on a “works-based” idea of salvation. Very sad, in my opinion.
If a person knows they are saved, then they know they are saved from the punishment for sin, which is death. The gift of being saved or salvation is eternal life with God (in Heaven).
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