“…work out your salvation with fear
and trembling.”
In terms of salvation, “work out”
implies some sort of process (not something that is instantaneous) and “fear
and trembling” reminds us that it’s something that can be lost during said
process. It seems St. Paul had a rather catholic understanding of salvation.
But how does one receive salvation and eternal life? Is it really by faith
alone as some might claim?
Perhaps the Bible alone will clear this
up. St Peter’s speech at Pentecost made it clear as we read in Acts 2:38. After
receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter said to the crowd “Repent and declare Jesus Christ
as your personal Lord and Savior and ask him to come into your heart and you
will receive salvation this very instant with no possibility of ever losing it.”
Well, that’s not exactly what St. Peter said in the Bible, in fact, it is not
written anywhere in the Bible.
So, are you saved?
How does one get
saved?
What must we do?
What does the Bible teach?
“Repent and be baptized, every one of
you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:38
How about just baptism alone?
“This prefigured baptism, which saves
you now...”
1 Peter 3:21
Belief in Jesus alone?
“Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and
your household will be saved.”
Acts 16:31
Belief in God alone?
“…whoever hears my word and believes
in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but
has passed from death to life.”
John 5:24
Words alone?
“I tell you, everyone who acknowledges
me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of
God.”
Luke 12:8
“By your words you will be acquitted,
and by your words you will be condemned.” Mt 12:37
“Who will repay everyone according to
his works: eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through
perseverance in good works”
Romans 2:6-7
“See how a person is justified by
works and not by faith alone.”
James 2:24
“…those who have done good deeds to
the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the
resurrection of condemnation.”
John 5:29
Grace alone?
“On the contrary, we believe that we
are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way as they.”
Acts
15:11
Obedience alone?
“Whoever believes in the Son has
eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of
God remains upon him.”
John 3:36
“But if the wicked man turns away from
all the sins he has committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is
just and right, he shall surely live. He shall not die!”
Ezekiel 18:21
Eating alone???
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life...”
John 6:54
Given all this, how can anyone claim,
using the Bible alone, that
salvation is by one thing alone?
None of the above items can be dismissed as part of our salvation process, nor
can any one item be emphasized at the cost of the others.
As a side, does the Bible really teach,
or do people teach? If it is people who teach, it does beg some questions about
who should teach, and by what authority, and would God provide for any such
authority? The answer lies in the Church that teaches the fullness of faith as
well as salvation in its fullness.
Let’s now get back to the mother of all questions:
Are you saved?
 |
| You're kinda lost without it... |
Let’s now get back to the mother of all questions:
Are you saved?
Much of the preceding post was
inspired by a book called "Crossing the Tiber" by Stephen Ray; a former non-Catholic Christian turned Catholic apologist.
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