I am not baptized, would I be considered a Christian in the catholic church if I believe Jesus is the son of God?
2007-09-06 08:20:11 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Technically, any person who believes Jesus is the son of God and chooses to follow Jesus is a Christian.
However, if you choose to follow Jesus, then you also wind up choosing to be baptized, because it's one of the things that He did and asked us to do.
If a person sincerely wishes to be baptized and physically cannot be baptized for some reason (they're in a coma and cannot express the desire...or they're in a area where no priests live and none visit between the time they decide to be baptized and death...etc.), then the Church teaches that the lack of baptism is through no fault of their own and God's mercy is extended to them because of their intention to be baptized.
Just believing and not following isn't enough, because, as the Bible says, the demons believe Jesus is the Son of God -- but they aren't His followers.
2007-09-06 09:35:38 · answer #1 · answered by sparki777 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
*Is Catholic*
No. You must be baptized to be a Christian. Belief doesn't change who you are ontological. Baptism is an ontological change in an individual in which they cease to be of the Old Adam and become adopted into God's family and are now counted amongst the descendants of the Second Adam, who is Christ. The important distinction is that being a Christian is not created by a choice of an individual but rather it is a free gift of the Holy Spirit that transforms the individual into a new creation, an act that occurs through the sacrament of baptism.
Your status would be that of a catechumen specifically that of of a audientes/ akromeni (listener, hearer, one who believes the gospel) if you are not formally being prepared for baptism by the Church.
2007-09-07 02:17:13 · answer #2 · answered by Liet Kynes 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You would considered a Christian but not a Catholic Christian.
More importantly, you may have a problem with Jesus by ignoring his command for you to be baptized.
Mark 16:15-16:
He said to them, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Matthew 28:19: Jesus said, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit."
Acts 2:38
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.
The Catholic Church believes that Baptism is necessary for salvation for those who have heard the Gospel and have had the opportunity of asking for Baptism.
Therefore
+ Those who die for the sake of the faith without being Baptized are baptized by thier death for Christ. This is called Baptism of blood.
+ Those who die while preparing for Baptism are assured salvation. This is Baptism of desire.
+ Those who die never hearing of Christ but have sought the truth and does the will of God as they understand it can be saved. See Romans 2:13-16. This is also Baptism of desire.
+ Children who have died without Baptism are entrusted to the mercy of God.
For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 1257-1261: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2.htm#art1
With love in Christ.
2007-09-07 00:20:39 · answer #3 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Catholics are Christians. In fact, the CatholicChurch is the only Church that can claim to be Christian because it was founded by no less than Jesus Christ himself.
You have to be baptized in the Catholic Christian Church to be saved.
2007-09-06 16:26:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
If you believe in Jesus Christ and you want to be baptized but do not get around to it, you have Baptism of Desire. This makes you a Christian. You must desire Baptism. Simply believing is not enough.
2007-09-06 15:32:17 · answer #5 · answered by Mary W 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Here's the thing. . . The belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior should compel you to receive the sacrament of Baptism.
It doesn't really make any sense for a person to believe in Jesus and, at the same time, choose not to receive Baptism.
If you believe Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and you have the means to receive the sacrament of Baptism, definitively do it.
2007-09-07 11:33:05 · answer #6 · answered by Daver 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Catholics aren't christians. You are saved through grace, not works.
2007-09-09 19:21:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why are you only asking them?
2007-09-06 15:29:47 · answer #8 · answered by Delightful 6 · 0⤊ 4⤋