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

[Fervent]

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

There is a clear corporate element to salvation, not simply a personal one. We are joined to the body of Christ, not as individuals but as members.

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

Just my 2 cents, but we need not identify a denomination as "the" denomination to recognize that there is no salvation outside of the church. We just need to be clear about what we are unified about, such as the statement of faith for CF which nicely unites a broad spectrum of believers under one heading.

 

[Hawkins]

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?

By concept, denomination refers to a legit variance on the knowledge part of the Bible, while the salvation part is not violated. In contrast, a heresy is with salvation part of the Bible violated, a heresy could lead to death.

 

[NewLifeInChristJesus]

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?

I would like to know for sure whether or not this is Catholic doctrine. The two points of particular interest are 1) that acting according to what you believe to be true, even if what you believe to be true is not true in fact, substantiates a claim that God should save you, and 2) that God saves a person based on a judgement that the person acted consistently with his beliefs (no matter how trivial those actions and beliefs were).

 

[chevyontheriver]

I would like to know for sure whether or not this is Catholic doctrine. The two points of particular interest are 1) that acting according to what you believe to be true, even if what you believe to be true is not true in fact, substantiates a claim that God should save you, and 2) that God saves a person based on a judgement that the person acted consistently with his beliefs (no matter how trivial those actions and beliefs were).

First, God does not have to save anybody. You cannot compel God. Everything is only by the benevolent grace of God. Unearned. God shouldn't necessarily save you but God graciously does, not by you compelling Him. We can claim God should save us, as I alluded to in my earlier post, but it's a claim that has zero substance.

Second, acting in bad conscience, knowing something to be true but not following it out of convenience, is damnable. Follow an informed conscience. Follow it even if it is not perfectly formed.

Truth matters. People who err might be saved, at God's pleasure. People who act in bad conscience I think would be far worse off. Being convinced you are in the wrong church but staying there for the sake of the opinion of your parents or your job would be damnable. You know the truth but you just don't have the courage to follow it. That's convenience over truth. That's a Protestant minister who won't become Catholic because she's got a nice pastoral position and she has no path to becoming a Catholic priest. She should do it anyway. That's a Catholic priest who no longer believes what the Church teaches on faith and morals. Staying and pretending is reprehensible. Truth matters but following one's conscience matters more. Inform your conscience, trust God, and follow your conscience. Don't stay out of convenience.

Informing your conscience is key here. That differs from just conveniently accepting something you read once on the internet. Most of us are happy with our status quo and studiously avoid anything that might rock the boat. We should be able to figure out where we are in error but we just don't want to get all unsettled. Informing one's conscience is to take risks and learn things. Sometimes they are true and compelling things. Follow them. THAT is how following truth and following what we believe to be true actually converge.

 

[NewLifeInChristJesus]

First, God does not have to save anybody. You cannot compel God. Everything is only by the benevolent grace of God. Unearned. God shouldn't necessarily save you but God graciously does, not by you compelling Him. We can claim God should save us, as I alluded to in my earlier post, but it's a claim that has zero substance.

Second, acting in bad conscience, knowing something to be true but not following it out of convenience, is damnable. Follow an informed conscience. Follow it even if it is not perfectly formed.

Truth matters. People who err might be saved, at God's pleasure. People who act in bad conscience I think would be far worse off. Being convinced you are in the wrong church but staying there for the sake of the opinion of your parents or your job would be damnable. You know the truth but you just don't have the courage to follow it. That's convenience over truth. That's a Protestant minister who won't become Catholic because she's got a nice pastoral position and she has no path to becoming a Catholic priest. She should do it anyway. That's a Catholic priest who no longer believes what the Church teaches on faith and morals. Staying and pretending is reprehensible. Truth matters but following one's conscience matters more. Inform your conscience, trust God, and follow your conscience. Don't stay out of convenience.

Informing your conscience is key here. That differs from just conveniently accepting something you read once on the internet. Most of us are happy with our status quo and studiously avoid anything that might rock the boat. We should be able to figure out where we are in error but we just don't want to get all unsettled. Informing one's conscience is to take risks and learn things. Sometimes they are true and compelling things. Follow them. THAT is how following truth and following what we believe to be true actually converge.

So I guess this is spelled out in official Catholic doctrine? I'm surprised I havn't heard this before.

 

[eleos1954]

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?

Jesus Christ is "the way, the truth, and the life," and the only name by which people can be saved (Acts 4:12, John 14:6). No denomination has the power to save on its own.

Individual Relationship: Salvation is a personal experience based on an individual's faith and relationship with Jesus, not on a group identity.

The Catechism notes that those who knowingly and willingly reject the Catholic faith and its truths would not be saved ... so in essence is a "group identity"

Center your relationship on Jesus and walk in his steps ... it's all about Jesus.

 

[HIM]

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?

Yes what you believe and therefore do can keep you from heaven.

 

[timothyu]

The Father's battle is with adversity, both in elohim and in man. So it simply boils down to which side you are on. By their fruits and all that.

 

[Hentenza]

There is a clear corporate element to salvation, not simply a personal one. We are joined to the body of Christ, not as individuals but as members.

Verse?

Just my 2 cents, but we need not identify a denomination as "the" denomination to recognize that there is no salvation outside of the church. We just need to be clear about what we are unified about, such as the statement of faith for CF which nicely unites a broad spectrum of believers under one heading.

Brother I am going to disagree. Nowhere n scripture does it teach that there is no salvation outside of the church. There is no verse in scripture that teaches that. In fact salvation is only attained by faith in Christ.

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.” | New American Standard Bible - NASB (NASB2020) | Download The Bible App Now

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”

bible.com

Secondly, the CF statement of faith was initially designed to identify who could post where, not really to identify who was a Christian or not. A few years ago there used to be a lot more forums and many were for non conforming churches like the JWs, Mormons, Christadelphians, etc. Those that did not agree with the Nicene creed could only post in the non conforming church rooms. These days it merely used to determines who can post in Christian rooms vs non Christians rooms. I know this because I was part of the advisory team that developed CF statement of faith.

 

[Strong in Him]

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?

Denomination has nothing to do with it.

Jesus is the only way to the Father, John 14:6. Salvation is Jesus, NOT Jesus + ........

 

[ARBITER01]

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?

1Co 12:13 for by one Spirit were we all immersed into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit.

The body of Christ is a universal church. As long as by faith you were born again by the blood of Jesus, you belong to Him.

 

[Fervent]

Verse?

I had mainly 1 Corinthians 12 in mind

Brother I am going to disagree. Nowhere n scripture does it teach that there is no salvation outside of the church. There is no verse in scripture that teaches that. In fact salvation is only attained by faith in Christ.

Who can know the gospel without having first heard it from the church?

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.” | New American Standard Bible - NASB (NASB2020) | Download The Bible App Now

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”

bible.com

Secondly, the CF statement of faith was initially designed to identify who could post where, not really to identify who was a Christian or not. A few years ago there used to be a lot more forums and many were for non conforming churches like the JWs, Mormons, Christadelphians, etc. Those that did not agree with the Nicene creed could only post in the non conforming church rooms. These days it merely used to determines who can post in Christian rooms vs non Christians rooms. I know this because I was part of the advisory team that developed CF statement of faith.

A restriction which was intended to limit posting in the Christians-only sections...to who, exactly?