Can not being in the correct denomination cause someone to not be saved?

[JohnB445]

this has worried me, do I need to be a Catholic to be saved, or a Protestant? Or does the denomination have nothing to do with it?

 

[jacks]

He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

Acts 16:30-31

No need to worry, it doesn't say a thing about which denomination you belong to.

 

[lismore]

this has worried me, do I need to be a Catholic to be saved, or a Protestant?

No. This is the criteria for salvation:

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16)

Or does the denomination have nothing to do with it?

Pretty much. There are saved and unsaved people in every denomination.

God Bless You

 

[Delvianna]

Depends on the denomination and what they teach. For instance, Mormons preach you can be equal to God. Since that is core of what every mormon believes and Jesus is just someone that achieved God-hood, and this goes against so much scripture, I would say the entire branch isn't saved. There is only 1 truth and that's God's truth. Truth isn't subjective, so follow Christ, know His truth, ask Him to guide you, and throw "denominations" in the trash.

 

[chevyontheriver]

this has worried me, do I need to be a Catholic to be saved, or a Protestant? Or does the denomination have nothing to do with it?

It depends. What do you know to be true? Do you follow it? Or do you sort of half follow it and half not. If you know the Lutherans got it right but you stay a Methodist because all your friends are there then you could be in big trouble. Follow the truth. Follow it as best you know it. If you don't, if you know something to be true but you don't follow it, how can you make the claim that God should save you.

Catholics do teach that people who are not Catholic may be saved. That does not mean that if you are convinced of the truth of the Catholic faith you can remain Protestant for the sake of convenience. You have to act on what you know. If you don't know you need to figure it out. Conveniently not bothering to figure it out isn't very salvational. Better to love the Lord and be wrong on a few things than be lukewarm and not even know if it matters what you believe.

 

[Unqualified]

It all depends on your faith in Jesus and your execution of it. Some will be saved from every denomination and nation. If you don’t have the law you can have a law to yourself. Which means it all depends on your faith in Jesus and your works - if it’s active or not. Or if it’s the law of love you are doing.

 

[d taylor]

this has worried me, do I need to be a Catholic to be saved, or a Protestant? Or does the denomination have nothing to do with it?

-

​

The only way you are saved is if you believe in Jesus for Eternal Life, God's free gift.

 

[BobRyan]

this has worried me, do I need to be a Catholic to be saved, or a Protestant? Or does the denomination have nothing to do with it?

Denominations don't save, Christ does.

John 16:13 Jesus said the Holy Spirit will guide you into all Truth.

And Jesus said "The truth will set you free"

But just as the disciples of Jesus had been given some bad ideas in the context of their Jewish church, so today tradition is everywhere.

Read 2 Thess 2:1-12 and tell me if you think knowing the truth matters at the end , according to Paul.

Read Matt 24:24 is Christ giving warning and then adding "I have told you in advance", so that we would not be deceived at the end.

 

[Hentenza]

It depends. What do you know to be true? Do you follow it? Or do you sort of half follow it and half not. If you know the Lutherans got it right but you stay a Methodist because all your friends are there then you could be in big trouble. Follow the truth. Follow it as best you know it. If you don't, if you know something to be true but you don't follow it, how can you make the claim that God should save you.

Catholics do teach that people who are not Catholic may be saved. That does not mean that if you are convinced of the truth of the Catholic faith you can remain Protestant for the sake of convenience. You have to act on what you know. If you don't know you need to figure it out. Conveniently not bothering to figure it out isn't very salvational. Better to love the Lord and be wrong on a few things than be lukewarm and not even know if it matters what you believe.

The only truth is in Jesus Christ. Faith saves. No denomination, including Catholics, will ever save anyone.

 

[chevyontheriver]

The only truth is in Jesus Christ.

But of course.

No denomination, including Catholics, will ever save anyone.

Not without Jesus at the core they won't.

But the opposite of thinking a denomination saves is to have a religion of 'just Jesus and me'. Jesus didn't start anything like that.

 

[timothyu]

No need to worry, it doesn't say a thing about which denomination you belong to.

If you recall, the first followers and Apostles of Jesus were not of any denomination. They weren't even Christians as we know it. Were they saved? Of course. Salvation is not tied to the religion.

 

[Zceptre]

Denominations don't save, Christ does.

John 16:13 Jesus said the Holy Spirit will guide you into all Truth.

And Jesus said "The truth will set you free"

But just as the disciples of Jesus had been given some bad ideas in the context of their Jewish church, so today tradition is everywhere.

Read 2 Thess 2:1-12 and tell me if you think knowing the truth matters at the end , according to Paul.

Read Matt 24:24 is Christ giving warning and then adding "I have told you in advance", so that we would not be deceived at the end.

Spot on brother! Well said.
Do not fear JohnB445, simply seek Christ. Read the shorter books in the New Testament first for faster clarity.

Crash Course:
John 14:6 (Jesus is the way to the Father)
John 17:3 (Knowing Christ is Salvation / Eternal life - The Word Of God - John 1:1)
John 6:37 (Will not cast away)
Luke 7:47 (Forgiven much loves much!)
1 Timothy 1:5 (Love is purpose)
Matthew 22:37-40 (God's law is law of love)
Romans 10:13 (All who call on Jesus Christ the Lord)
1 John 4:17 (Confident on judgment day - Reference 1 John 4:8 - God is love / Christ is love)
Ephesians 2:8 & Ephesians 2:9 (Free gift - Gift never earned)
John 6:29 (Work of God is Believe on Christ)
1 Corinthians 13:2 (Nothing without love!)
Luke 12:32 (Do not fear)
John 8:11 (Christ's heart is forgiveness - Reference Luke 23:34)
John 4:14 (No thirst - Overfilled with God's love and onto others)
John 15:13 (God's heart in every situation - Christ on the cross - God loves us most)
John 3:14 (How this works - OT Reference example)
John 3:16 (God loved us all so much - Reference Romans 8:32)
John 3:17 (Did not come to condemn! - Reference Romans 8:1)

Reading the Word (Jesus / Bible), is spending time with Christ (John 1:1), spending time with Christ is knowing Christ more, knowing Christ is Eternal Life and Salvation (John 17:3) and knowing you are loved, knowing you are loved fills you with the love of God that pours out onto others (John 4:14) and being love and forgiveness as Christ was (Luke 23:34) in the world gives us confidence on judgment day (1 John 4:17).

 

[Richard T]

this has worried me, do I need to be a Catholic to be saved, or a Protestant? Or does the denomination have nothing to do with it?

I would quit worrying about denominations. To me the criteria is
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (ESV)
4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Most of us are not going to see someone rise from the dead but there are churches and pastors where the Spirit and power of God is moving. Why do I emphasize this? because in some churches there is little power to change much of anything. In those places a person may not be confronted with what is needed for their breakthrough. Similarly, in one church a person might find the grace to be healed, in another they might remain sick and die. Spiritually speaking salvation can be similar, in one church many are saved, in another very few. Are churches different? The seven churches in Revelations sure were.
Some churches too have better shepherd's. Some churches even have wolves in sheep clothing. So yes denominations may matter, but the pastor or priest may also make a huge difference as do the others in the church.

 

[Hentenza]

But of course.

Not without Jesus at the core they won't.

Salvation is personal not a group decision. My statement still stands. No denomination, including Catholics, will ever save anyone.

But the opposite of thinking a denomination saves is to have a religion of 'just Jesus and me'. Jesus didn't start anything like that.

Ah, that Catholics are the original, supreme church nonsense, yada yada. Not going there with you.

 

[BobRyan]

saved by "Denomination" affiliation could simply mean saved by fidelity to some group of believers.

But more often (as in the case of this thread I suspect) it means , "right doctrine" since each denomination has a set of doctrines it holds to be true and according to the Bible.

The fact that truth actually does matter leads to the question of whether holding to some levels of error could be a problem. It is a very reasonable question.

Certainly the Jewish church in Mark 7:4-13 held to some levels of error according to Christ's words in Mark 7. And certainly "That mattered" as Christ said in Mark 7.

The Holy Spirit will lead you to the truth no matter how unpopular it may be.

 

[Colo Millz]

To be honest the church as a whole is in such dire straits in Europe especially that I would encourage anyone interested to explore any denomination that piques their interest.

Obviously each of us has their preferences.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

this has worried me, do I need to be a Catholic to be saved, or a Protestant? Or does the denomination have nothing to do with it?

As long as you essentially align in thought and practice with the conglomeration of Traditional Trinitarian 'denominations' [i.e. Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, Protestantism], I think you'll do fine. Focus of faith in Christ rather than identification with a specific Christian grouping.

 

[Fervent]

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

 

[chevyontheriver]

Salvation is personal not a group decision. My statement still stands. No denomination, including Catholics, will ever save anyone.

Ah, that Catholics are the original, supreme church nonsense, yada yada. Not going there with you.

Go whichever way you want then. YMMV.

 

[Hentenza]

Just have faith in the redemptive sacrifice of Christ and God’s grace through faith you will be saved.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God | New American Standard Bible - NASB (NASB2020) | Download The Bible App Now

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God

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