Help! Salvation through works?

[isshinwhat]

I just couldn't understand how someone could say that what we do here doesn't matter, just because we believe in Christ.

Amen to that. It was that sentiment that, in part, kept me from church until last year. I read the Bible and believed every word, but I grew up in a predominatly Baptist area and what was preached just didn't mesh with what I read. God showed me the way home, though

Neal

 

[Defender of the Faith 777]

No, I wasn't tired of it. But this is going way too fast. I won't be able to keep up with 6 or 7 posters at once.

 

[kern]

Originally posted by s0uljah


But what if I mess up? I have tendencies to anger, or to lust, etc, but I want to to good and fight them off, so I am still saved, right?

Yes. These are venial sins, so they do not disqualify you from heaven. Venial sins are removed either through confession, or through purgatory after death (but confession is certainly easier than purgatory, from the sounds of it!)

As I understand it, it's the *attempt* at works that counts. There's not some tally sheet and an angel saying "all right, souljah's got 22 more works to go and then he's in".

-Chris

 

[kern]

Originally posted by Defender of the Faith 777
If you are confused, please post the rest of your concerns about salvation at the salvation thread you started.

I think he wanted Catholic opinions on salvation which is why he posted in one bread, one body.

If you would like us to show you why we believe that only Jesus saves.

Catholicism agrees completely! Your works don't save you on their own merit, they only "count" because you are already redeemed by Jesus.

-Chris

 

[VOW]

To Souljah:

Salvation is through belief, yes, absolutely!

However, it is also through OBEDIENCE. Like Wolseley said, if you sit on your tushie and say, "Oh, I'm saved!" you will get nowhere. Our journey through Life is WITH Jesus, we walk beside Him. He does not give us a piggy-back ride to Eternity. Because we do WALK, though, we can stumble and fall. Jesus will help us back up again, but we have to extend our hand to Him.

That is what Reconciliation is all about. It is acknowledging that we have stumbled, we have fallen, and we wish to reconcile ourselves to Jesus, to let Him pick us up and we can once again walk toward Eternity with Him at our side.

This all relates, as stated before, to the concept that the Catholic Church believes salvation is a PROCESS, not an event. It's a lifelong journey to Eternity, and we have to walk the walk ourselves, nobody does it for us.

However, the wonderful thing is that we don't do it ALONE. Jesus is always there, right beside us the entire way!


Peace be with you,
~VOW

 

[Messenger]

Accepting Jesus is a change of your life...you no longer live for the flesh but for the spirit....I posted on the Salvation form in more detail.
Love and God Bless

 

[Chris†opher Paul]

I agree completely. Thanks everyone!! God Bless!

 

[LilyLamb]

Could you help me out by showing me what was confusing in my post so that I can better explain it if this comes up again

Also, I wanted to add that this isn't "just" a Catholic teaching - there are many churches that do not teach OSAS (once saved always saved).

The problem I have with OSAS is that too many become "secure" in their salvation and fall away - they feel that "well I'm saved I can do whatever I want now" and who knows maybe they will get in "by the skin of their teeth"???

I figure if you love the Lord - considering what HE did for YOU - then you want Him to BE "Lord" and you will obey His teachings and follow His will.

 

[Chris†opher Paul]

Lily-

Yours helped me as well, but the part from Hebrews doesn't hit me as hard, since that is from the old covenant. The James part was great though, thanks.

 

[VOW]

To Souljah:

My best understanding of the OSNAS teaching of the Catholic Church came from 1 John 5: 16-17:

16 If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not deadly.

Those two verses say a LOT.

#1 -- John is talking about "saved" individuals. If he weren't, then all sin would be deadly, since there is nothing an "unsaved" person can do to redeem himself on his own efforts.

#2 -- We are still capable of sinning after being "saved." Not only that, we are capable of committing "deadly" sin, which means we CAN LOSE our salvation.

#3 -- Our "works" can help other people, namely, we can pray for those who have sinned.

Makes you think, doesn't it?



Peace be with you,
~VOW

 

[Chris†opher Paul]

Yep! Thanks, that basically what I believed at some level in my heart, just wasn't sure.