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JMJ
April 2008 Issue 1.3
Quo Vadis Newsletter
Salvation
Contents
Are you saved? By Mary Clare Piecynski
The Unreached People of the World. By Chris Osgood
Once Saved, Always Saved? By Mary Clare Piecynski
Book of the month
Catechism Quote of the month
Novena of the month.
Are you saved?
By Mary Clare Piecynski
Have you been ever asked this question? If you have, did you know how to respond? Often, this question leaves Catholics in a dilemma as to what to say. Fortunately though, we can respond to this inquiry after just a bit of study.
“Are you saved” presupposes you know a little about the Protestant view of salvation. Generally, Protestants believe salvation to come in an instant, when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. From then on, you are guaranteed heaven since Christ covers all your sins and you no longer have to suffer their consequences. Protestants become “saved” when they personally accept Christ into their lives. Our separated brethren use two main verses to back up their belief in salvation. They are both from Romans. The first from chapter 10 verse 9 reads "For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is the Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved." Also, Protestants often quote Romans 10:13 which states "For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” At first glance, these two verses seem to indicate that all you have to do for salvation is to confess that Jesus is Lord and believe. As we delve into this question, however, we see that simply calling upon the name of the Lord does not guarantee salvation but rather, it is living in God’s grace that enables us to one day hope to attain heaven.
So, how can we explain to Protestants that salvation is not a one time affair only between them and God? First off, salvation is not simply an event between the believer and God. The Church is involved too. We should point Protestants to the verse immediately after the ones they quote in Romans, Romans 10:14-15 to be exact. Paul writes "But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can people preach unless they are sent." Whoa! These two verses clearly show that salvation is not just between Jesus and the person, they have to be taught by a preacher who is sent. The word sent (apostello) is the same Greek word from which we get the word Apostle, one who was sent by Christ. Therefore, those who are sent to preach must be sent by Christ. How does that fit today? Well, in the Catholic Church those sent to preach are priests, who are ordained by bishops who are direct successors of the Apostles. Hence, Saint Paul’s words are applicable today since Catholics believe in Christ because of those sent by Christ who are in direct succession from the Apostles. Therefore, salvation is not exclusively between the person and Christ; rather, it involves those sent by Christ to preach the good news.
“Ok,” your Protestant friend says, so I have to be taught by someone about Jesus, that still doesn’t affect my salvation once I accept Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. “Actually,” you respond, “in a sense salvation is a one time event, but it doesn’t come about by accepting Jesus as Lord but rather we are saved by baptism which gives us God’s grace which allows us to do good.” “Well” your friend says, “that will take some doing to convince me that baptism saves.” How to convince him? First you read aloud 1 Peter 3:21 which says “and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” It is baptism, not accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior that saves you. Next, you turn to Mark 16:15-16 “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” “See” you say, “you can’t just believe in Jesus, you have to act on this belief through a good work and be baptized.” “But,” your friend objects, how about verses like Acts 16:30 that says to “believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved.” “That’s not the only thing that happens in Acts 16,” you counter, “later in verse 33 it states that ‘he and all his family were baptized at once.’” Obviously, simply believing in Jesus did not constitute the family’s salvation. Now, you turn again to Acts, chapter 2 verse 38 and read “Peter said to them, “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.” Therefore, repentance is not enough, you have to be baptized.
Furthermore, salvation is not simply a one time event, is an ongoing process that we have to cooperate with. Though there are verses in the Bible that state we are saved in the past, there are just as many that show us to be being saved now and in the future. Hence, Christians cannot say that salvation is a one time event that occurs when you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior. For instance, Saint Paul writes “how much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath.” (Romans 5:9) In 1 Corinthians 1:18 Paul writes “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Again in 1 Corinthians we read “you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.” Here we see that we are being saved, only if we hold fast to Paul’s teaching. Therefore, belief alone isn’t enough to save a person. Also, in Philippians, we are instructed to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” (2:12) Now, why would we have to work our salvation in fear and trembling if all we have to do is call on the name of Jesus and be saved? Scripture also teaches that we will be saved in the future. For example, Matthew 10:22 states “whoever endures to the end will be saved.” Also, Matthew 24:13 reads “but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.” These two verses indicate that salvation is not contingent upon one time accepting Christ but rather living your life as a Christian. Saint Paul also teaches that salvation is a continuous process when he writes to the Romans “our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” (13:11) In essence, salvation is not a one time event, baptism begins the process but we must continue living a life of holiness enduring until the end if we wish to attain heaven.
In summary, with the right bible verses and explanations the “are you saved” question need not cause Catholic concern over what to answer. Yes, Catholics are saved by baptism through faith which will bring us to eternal life if we continue in grace. Therefore, Catholics are saved, are being saved and hopefully will be saved.
The Unreached People of the world
By Chris Osgood
Some believe that the unreached people groups in the world today are going to Hell because they have not professed their faith in Christ as Lord and Savior. But is that fair? And more importantly is it right?
After doing research on this topic, I have come to the conclusion that there is a chance for them to go to Heaven after all! Of course, I am neither God nor their judge so we don’t know for sure, but, it seems very reasonable and logical that they would have a chance of going to Heaven!
Saint Augustine makes a very good point, “If, therefore, Adam is said to be the author of all the sins which followed his own, because he was the first sinner of the human race, then how is it that Abel, rather than Christ, is not placed at the head of all the righteous, because he was the first righteous man?” (Augustine 10). This is a great point! If Adam was the one that sinned, then why wouldn’t he sacrifice his son instead of God having to sacrifice His? Then everything would be great and ALL of mankind would have worshiped the same God!
But we all know that isn’t what happened. Instead God sent Christ (His Son) to take the burden of our sins. But why did God wait so long to do it? Why was it that Christ came when He did? By this time in history, there were people all over the Earth. So not everyone could have heard about Christ and what He did for them. So, once again we have to ask ourselves, “What is their destiny?”
“Go therefore and made disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20). Here we see that Christ, Himself recognizes that there are going to be people that haven’t heard about Him. So He tells us to go out and EVANGELIZE!!! Around the time of Christ we know that there weren’t nearly as many people on Earth as there are today. Now there are over 6.6 Billion people on Earth. It has been almost 2,000 years since Christ and STILL THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT CHRIST!!! And we have to ask ourselves, “WHY?”
If these people are truly going to go to Hell, then why haven’t we reached them yet? There is absolutely NO excuse for these people not having the chance to hear the Gospel! If they truly are going to Hell it isn’t because they have rejected Christ. It is because of OUR sin! You and I sent them to Hell, by not telling them about Christ. Now, does that seem fair?
Of course not! Once again, it just doesn’t seem like the kind of God we serve. Where would God’s grace and mercy be that we hear so much about? “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd” John 10:16. What other flock is Christ talking about? Could it be the people that have never heard about Him? We do have to remember, Christ was a Savior for ALL!
I really like what the II Vatican Council stated: Those who for no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their action to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience—those too may achieve eternal salvation.
Pope John Paul II taught: Every person, with no exception, has been redeemed by Christ, since Christ has been joined with every person, without exception, even though the person may not be conscious of this.
And finally, also from Pope John Paul 2: The universality of salvation does not mean that it is given only to those who believe explicitly in Christ and have joined the Church. If salvation is meant for all, it must be offered concretely to all...
All of these quotes and statements say it perfectly. They all describe what it means to be a Savior, and what it is that Salvation is. This is the God we serve! It is His character and mercy! This is why He sent His Son to save us! Because He loves us! Christ did not come to Earth just for you and me, but for ALL of mankind! And this only means that we as Christians are failing God. We are the ones that will be punished for it, NOT the ones who should be, but aren’t hearing it! Our God is a just God, and He will bring justice to those who need it!
Work Cited
New American Standard Bible; www.bible.com
II Vatican Council; Vatican II and subsequent Papal statements affirm the possibility of salvation for non-Christians: Lumen Gentium
Pope John Paul 2; Redemptoris mission
Saint Augustine; ON NATURE AND GRACE, AGAINST PELAGIUS: CHAP. 10 [IX.]--HE COULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED, WHO HAD NOT HEARD OF THE NAME OF CHRIST; RENDERING THE CROSS OF CHRIST OF NONE EFFECT (and) CHAP. 60 [LII.] -- PELAGIUS ADMITS "CONTRARY FLESH" IN THE UNBAPTIZED
Catechism of the Catholic Church; www.vatican.va
Hell; www.newadvent.org
Once Saved always Saved?
Can you loose your salvation?
By Mary Clare Piecynski.
Can a person know he’s going to heaven? For Protestants, after they accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior they believe that nothing can impede their entry into eternal bliss. Catholics, however, believe that one can forfeit one’s salvation through mortal sin. Can one loose one’s salvation or is it like Protestants believe that nothing can prevent us from getting to heaven after being saved?
Many Protestants firmly believe that one can sin as much as one wants throughout his life as long as he has accepted Jesus. Martin Luther believed this and so do Protestants today. Luther’s thought can be seen in his words "Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly... No sin will separate us from the Lamb, even though we commit fornication and murder a thousand times a day." (Martin Luther, letter to Melanchthon, August 1, 1521) Now, one should ask, does this thought of Luther’s jive with the teachings in the Bible? A careful reading of sacred Scripture reveals that no; one does not have absolute assurance of salvation. Over and over, we are told not to sin, when Jesus cured the sick man at the pool in John 5:1-9 he then tells the man in verse 14 to “sin no more.” Further, with the woman caught in adultery Jesus tells her “go, and do not sin again” (John 8:1-11). These two verses certainly do not seem to agree with Luther’s assertion that we should sin boldly. Also, throughout the Bible one sees that it is indeed possible to loose one’s salvation, since salvation depends on the state of the person’s soul at death not on whether or not you have accepted Christ into your life. For instance, Jesus Himself states "He who endures to the end will be saved" (Matt. 24:13 cf. 25:31–46). Jesus doesn’t say, he who accepts me as his personal Lord and Savior will be saved. Additionally, Adam and Eve were created in the state of grace, but through their actions fell from grace and were punished. If Adam and Eve could loose their salvation why can’t we? Another verse regarding being able to loose one’s salvation is Romans 11:22 “See then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off.” Also, in Hebrews we read that “if we sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins but a fearful prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries.” (10:26-27) One last verse from 2 Peter “for if they, having escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, again become entangled and overcome by them, their last condition is worse then their first.” (2:20) This certainly doesn’t sound like once saved always saved!
Not even the great Saint Paul was assured of his salvation. He writes "I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby justified. It is the Lord who judges me" (1 Cor. 4:4) and again "I pummel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:27). If Saint Paul did not take heaven for granted why should we? Though we be Christians and believe in Jesus we are not assured of heaven since Christ Himself says “not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 7:21). Christ also makes clear that there will be those who "believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away" (Luke 8:13). Now, if they believe, which Protestants think guarantees you heaven, how could they fall away if they’re saved and cannot lose their salvation?
In summary, the Bible teaches that salvation can be lost through one’s actions and it is not something once attained always attained. If people such as Saint Paul were afraid of loosing their salvation shouldn’t Christians today be also? Salvation, therefore, is a process, not a single, one time event that we should work out in fear and trembling.
Book of the Month
The Salvation Controversy by James Akin
The Salvation Controversy is a great resource for one’s questions about salvation. The book covers topics such as faith, works, justification and salvation as a past, present and future process. Easy to read and understand while packed full of helpful Bible quotes and clear explanations of how one is saved The Salvation Controversy is a fabulous addition to anyone’s library.
Available from the Coming Home Network International for $9.95.
Catechism Quote of the Month
CCC paragraph 1949 “Called to beatitude but wounded by sin, man stands in need of salvation from God. Divine help comes to him in Christ through the law that guides him and the grace that sustains him.”
Novena of the Month
NOVENA FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS AND THE CONVERSION OF SINNERS
Taken from http://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/novenas/p04340.htm
O JESUS, Thou didst suffer and die
that all mankind might be saved
and brought to eternal happiness.
Through the Agony of Thine Crown of Thorns
I offer it to Thy Eternal Father
that Thou wilt hear our pleas
for further the grace of final perseverance
for the just and mercy on sinners:
My dear parents and grandparents,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
My brothers and sisters and other near relatives,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
My godparents and sponsors of Confirmation,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
My spiritual and temporal benefactors,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
My friends and neighbors,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
All for whom love or duty bids me pray,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who have offended me,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who will offend me,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who have suffered disadvantage of harm through me,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those whom I, still a sinner, will offend,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who are especially beloved by Thee,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those whose death is near at hand,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who desire most to be united to Thee,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who endure the greatest sufferings and trials,
especially spiritual torments,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those whose death is most remote,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those sinners have no one to pray for them,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who are most deserving
on account of their services to the Church,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
The rich who do not need Thee and are thus the most destitute,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
The mighty who spurn Thee,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
The spiritually blind, that they might see their folly,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
The frivolous, who spend their time in idleness,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
The poor, who do not seek the treasures of Heaven,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
The tepid, who devote little time to prayer,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
The indolent, who neglect to perform good works,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those of little faith,
who neglect the frequent reception of the Sacraments,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
The habitual sinners,
who require for their salvation to a miracle of grace,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Parents who fail to watch over their children,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Superiors who are not solicitous
for the salvation of those entrusted to them,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who strive for worldly riches and pleasures,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
The worldly minded,
who fail to use their wealth and talents in the service of God,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who witness the death of others,
but do not think of their own,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who blaspheme and commit sacrilege,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who violate the dignity of the human body
and mind through impurity,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who sin because of my sins and bad example,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who do not provide for the life hereafter,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those whose judgment will be severe
because of the great things entrusted to them,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
The pope, kings and rulers,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
The bishops and their counselors,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
My teachers and spiritual advisors,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
The priests of this diocese,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
The priests and religious of the Catholic Church,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
The defenders of the holy Catholic Faith,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who die on the battlefield,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who fight for their country,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who will be buried in the sea,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who are to die suddenly, in accidents and from other causes,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who will die of heart attacks,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who suffer with cancer,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who suffer with AIDS,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who shall die without the last rites of the Church,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
Those who shall die within the next twenty-four hours,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
For Catholic apostates, heretics, and other unbelievers,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
For Catholics who hold Masonic membership
or in other secret societies,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
For the conversion of the Jews, Thy chosen people of old,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
For abortionsists and those who aid them,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
For women who seek abortions,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
For those who promote or practicre contraception,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
For those who give scandal, especially to children,
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
My own poor soul when I shall have to appear before Thy judgment seat.
My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds
PRAYER
Final perseverance and pardon grant unto all of these, O Lord;
and let Thy graces through these petitions
flow unto them and be fruitful.
Amen.
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