According to Catholicism, what must one believe and do to be saved?

[fhansen]

It's very worrying when people seek answers from pope and not from God.

Pope the head of catholic church...well that says it all

People receive guidance from fellow believers who've preceded them in the faith all the time, whether directly when asking for it or indirectly via the various theologies that are present in and impact ourselves and our world.

 

[tampasteve]

It's very worrying when people seek answers from pope and not from God.

Pope the head of catholic church...well that says it all

The Pope would give the correct and Catholic answer, which is directly in line with what Jesus taught us and what the Bible teaches.

Someone might ask him just as they might ask their pastor or other teacher. Whoever asks someone else for help or clarification on a question is not asking that person over or instead of asking God, but rather asking for assistance from someone. We have all struggled with questions before, and asking someone that is more versed in the scriptures and teachings can be exceedingly helpful. It doesn't exclude praying to God directly for guidance, it augments it.

 

[Berserk]

Catholics believe in salvation by grace through faith in Christ's finished atonement on the cross.
But unlike many evangelicals, s\ t;hey take seriously God's command to confess our sins to each other, not just to God.
(James 5:16). Confessions to a priest is needed to ensure confidentiality. In my observation, few evangelicals do the soul-searching necessary to make confession of sins authentic, comprehensive, and accurate, Instead, many of them just presume on God's grace without the discinpline of relfective confession.

 

[tampasteve]

Catholics believe in salvation by grace through faith in Christ's finished atonement on the cross.
But unlike many evangelicals, s\ t;hey take seriously God's command to confess our sins to each other, not just to God.
(James 5:16). Confessions to a priest is needed to ensure confidentiality. In my observation, few evangelicals do the soul-searching necessary to make confession of sins authentic, comprehensive, and accurate, Instead, many of them just presume on God's grace without the discinpline of relfective confession.

That's an observation that I had not thought of. As a former Methodist myself (baptized in the UMC) I understand what you mean. Broadly, many (most?) Evangelical prayers of repentance are something along the lines of "Jesus forgive me for the sins that I have committed" and that's about it, I know that was true in my case. It was rare to actually contemplate the sins that I had committed, to think about each one or at least the nature of the sins that I had committed recently.

Maybe I would confess to Jesus for something that I recently did that I was guilty about, such as a lie or something, but rarely did I actually sit and think about the sins that I had committed since my last prayer of confession. Further, Evangelical confession rarely is combined with any sort of restitution or person advising you to make amends with the person that you wronged or to encourage you to pursue a prayer or practice of penitence. I know some groups or churches encourage "accountability partners" to confess to, but that's a shadow of the role that the priest is supposed to play.

 

[David Lamb]

Catholics believe in salvation by grace through faith in Christ's finished atonement on the cross.
But unlike many evangelicals, s\ t;hey take seriously God's command to confess our sins to each other, not just to God.
(James 5:16). Confessions to a priest is needed to ensure confidentiality. In my observation, few evangelicals do the soul-searching necessary to make confession of sins authentic, comprehensive, and accurate, Instead, many of them just presume on God's grace without the discinpline of relfective confession.

I would say that the bible does indeed speak about confessing to one another, but I take that in the sense that when I have sinned against somebody, I should confess to him or her. I don't find any biblical injunction to confess all my sins to all my fellow Christians, and certainly not to confess them to a clergyman. We confess our sins to God:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1Jo 1:9 NKJV)

John didn't write, "If we confess our sins to a priest, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The Priest we have now is a High Priest, Jesus Christ. In Hebrews we read:

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb 4:15-16 NKJV)

Nothing about going to a parish priest, but to God's throne of grace.

 

[bbbbbbb]

To address the OP, the list is virtually endless. Among many things it includes faith in the Catholic Church and its bureaucracy, its seven sacraments, theology, Mary and the saints, the Treasury of Merits, indulgences, Purgatory, penance, fasting, flagellation, holy days, masses, etc., etc., etc.

 

[Valletta]

To address the OP, the list is virtually endless. Among many things it includes faith in the Catholic Church and its bureaucracy, its seven sacraments, theology, Mary and the saints, the Treasury of Merits, indulgences, Purgatory, penance, fasting, flagellation, holy days, masses, etc., etc., etc.

Faith in "its bureaucracy?" Catholics believe we are not to belittle others or their religions. Instead the Word of God tells us:

Romans 15:1-2 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; 2 let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

 

[bbbbbbb]

Faith in "its bureaucracy?" Catholics believe we are not to belittle others or their religions. Instead the Word of God tells us:

Romans 15:1-2 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; 2 let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

I do not know of any Christian denomination which does not possess a bureaucratic structure of one form or another. My comment would apply equally to any other denomination, including my own. If I did not have a relative level of trust (faith) in those placed above me and the rest of the laity, then I probably would either be quite insincere, at best, or worthy of excommunication, at worst.

Perhaps, hierarchy might be a better word than "bureaucracy". My point is simply that a member of your denomination is expected to trust all "religious" folks (priests, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, popes, etc.). I surely hope that you have faith (trust) in them.

 

[David Lamb]

I do not know of any Christian denomination which does not possess a bureaucratic structure of one form or another. My comment would apply equally to any other denomination, including my own. If I did not have a relative level of trust (faith) in those placed above me and the rest of the laity, then I probably would either be quite insincere, at best, or worthy of excommunication, at worst.

Perhaps, hierarchy might be a better word than "bureaucracy". My point is simply that a member of your denomination is expected to trust all "religious" folks (priests, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, popes, etc.). I surely hope that you have faith (trust) in them.

Baptists don't have a bureaucratic structure. Local baptist churches are autonomous. Some of them, but not all, may choose to become affiliated to a body that several other local churches belong to, but such a body has no authority over the local church.

 

[ozso]

In simplest terms we must become connected to the Vine -and remain connected. This first happens as we turn to Him in faith and are baptized, formally entering His fold according to His command. Remaining connected is born out by how we live, picking up our cross daily and following Him-and producing good fruit in that process. It's to live the life of grace, the life of God by the Spirit, by virtue of communion with Him. And by this we become more like Him, we grow in love to put it best. And when we fail to love, if and when we sin, we can have a change of heart and confess that sin and return back to Him-and so continue to move onward and upward.

We'll be judged at the end of the day on our faith, hope, but most importantly on our love, the end-goal of it all, on how we've changed as we've invested our talents, the gifts we receive as the result of becoming His child-because it's also possible to leave His family, to return to the flesh, to let evil win out. It's a journey, a process and even a struggle and not merely a one-time event, a patient work of His that we must cooperate in as we grow more and more captivated by Him and His wisdom and will, by His love that permeates and governs all. It's all grace-all a gift-and our choice to embrace and express that gift-to get on board with God and His ways.

That sort of seems to suggest that our salvation is dependent on our ability to love everyone at full capacity.

 

[ozso]

I would say that the bible does indeed speak about confessing to one another, but I take that in the sense that when I have sinned against somebody, I should confess to him or her. I don't find any biblical injunction to confess all my sins to all my fellow Christians, and certainly not to confess them to a clergyman. We confess our sins to God:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1Jo 1:9 NKJV)

John didn't write, "If we confess our sins to a priest, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The Priest we have now is a High Priest, Jesus Christ. In Hebrews we read:

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb 4:15-16 NKJV)

Nothing about going to a parish priest, but to God's throne of grace.

I think that's exactly why scripture says the veil to the Holy of Holies was torn in half. It signified that man could now go directly to God, rather than having to go through the priesthood.

 

[ozso]

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What does the pope say a person must do to receive eternal life.

Pope Francis seems to have said that an atheist who gets his children baptized is saved.

 

[d taylor]

Catholics believe in salvation by grace through faith in Christ's finished atonement on the cross.
But unlike many evangelicals, s\ t;hey take seriously God's command to confess our sins to each other, not just to God.
(James 5:16). Confessions to a priest is needed to ensure confidentiality. In my observation, few evangelicals do the soul-searching necessary to make confession of sins authentic, comprehensive, and accurate, Instead, many of them just presume on God's grace without the discinpline of relfective confession.

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Faith in Christ's finished atonement on the cross. is not what gives a person Eternal Life. It is belief/faith in Jesus, in the person Jesus that gives a person, God's free gift of Eternal Life.

 

[d taylor]

Pope Francis seems to have said that an atheist who gets his children baptized is saved.

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His answer does not surprise me and the comments on the video are also not surprising. That is i believe standard Catholic beliefs 101

 

[ozso]

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His answer does not surprise me and the comments on the video are also not surprising. That is i believe standard Catholic beliefs 101

I've heard that too.
It seems to go from there's several requirements that one must adhere to and persevere in, to something as simple as getting your kid baptized.

 

[David Lamb]

Pope Francis seems to have said that an atheist who gets his children baptized is saved.

If he really says that, he is wrong. Nowhere in the bible is such a notion even hinted at.

 

[ozso]

If he really says that, he is wrong. Nowhere in the bible is such a notion even hinted at.

Yes but this is about what Catholicism teaches. I've heard John Paul II offered similar sentiments. And that such sentiments have been woven into the fabric of Catholicism for a long time.

 

[David Lamb]

Yes but this is about what Catholicism teaches. I've heard John Paul II offered similar sentiments. And that such sentiments have been woven into the fabric of Catholicism for a long time.

Sorry if I was off-topic then.

 

[ozso]

Sorry if I was off-topic then.

I don't think you were. My statement was intended to point out that what the Bible says and what Catholicism teaches, isn't always in alignment.

 

[David Lamb]

I don't think you were. My statement was intended to point out that what the Bible says and what Catholicism teaches, isn't always in alignment.

Thanks. Yes, I agree with you.