Why don't catholics talk about being saved?

Question

It talks in the Bible about being saved and practicing the word of God. Why is it when I go to church they don't talk about being saved? Isn't church suppose to follow the Bible?

Answer 1

You have the privelage of belonging to the 2000-year-old Church established by Christ Himself. You speak more like a protestant, and have obviously been influenced by them

Now, some people promote a very attractive idea: All true Christians, regardless of how they live, have an absolute assurance of salvation, once they accept Jesus into their hearts as "their personal Lord and Savior." The problem is that this belief is contrary to the Bible & constant Christian teaching.

Recall this Scripture: "If we have died with him [in baptism; see Rom. 6:3-4] we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him" (2 Tim. 2:11-12). So, ff we do NOT persevere, we shall NOT reign with him. In other words, Christians can forfeit heaven. Jesus tells us, "He who endures to the end will be saved" (Matt. 24:13; cf. 25:31-46). Ergo, if you do not endure to the end, well........

The Bible makes it clear that Christians have a moral assurance of salvation (God will be true to his word and will grant salvation to those who have faith in Christ and are obedient to him [1 John 3:19-24]), but the Bible does NOT teach that Christians have a guarantee of heaven. There can be no absolute assurance of salvation. The Bible says, "See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but God's kindness to you, provided you remain in his kindness, otherwise you too will be cut off" (Rom. 11:22-23; Matt. 18:21-35, 1 Cor. 15:1-2, 2 Pet. 2:20-21).

Note that this includes an important condition: "provided you remain in his kindness." It is saying that Christians can lose their salvation by throwing it away. He warns, "Whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall" (1 Cor. 10:11-12). , Paul admitted that even he could fall away: "I pummel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:27). In saying this he points out that even he cannot be infallibly sure of his own present state or of his future salvation.

As a Catholic, when someone asks me if I have been "saved," I answer: "I am redeemed by the blood of Christ, I trust in him alone for my salvation, and, as the Bible teaches, I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), knowing that it is God's gift of grace that is working in me."

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Answer 2

It's a cultural difference between Catholics and protestant/born again Christians.

There's a lot that's taken for granted to a Catholic. Things that are so fundamental that it surprises a Catholic when they are asked about it. A woman recently asked me if I was a Christian after I did a good deed for her. I was surprised anyone would even ask. I know in my mind that not everybody is a Christian, but from my upbringing, deep down, my first response is "What a silly question! isn't everybody?"

If you're old enough you might remember the big "I found it!" movement back in the '70's. The Catholic response to this was invariably "I Never Lost it!"

Why don't Catholics talk about being saved? Probably for the same reason that you don't talk about being toilet trained.

Answer 3

All the catholics I have talked to act as if they know what salvation is, yet I don't believe they truly do.

Most are taught that they are christians because they have been brought up through the church. Yet, this cannot be further from the truth.

And trying to get a catholic to understand what it is to be saved is difficult. They believe they are under the blood of Jesus since they go to confession. Yet, it is the same for them as anyone. Unless a man truly repents of his sins and asks for forgiveness, he will not be saved. Most in this pagan religion believe they are saved because they are good catholics. 'What ever that means.


And something else that is startling is they believe if you are not of their religion, you are not saved. They may say differently to your face, but in their hearts, they believe you are lost.


They do not understand John 3:5-7. They know the words, but lack understanding.

Answer 4

The doctrine of "once saved, always saved" was invented by John Calvin during the Reformation. Under this theory, the Protestant believes that one is saved when he accepts Jesus as personal Lord and Savior. This is comforting - after all, who wouldn't want assurance? According to this view, true Christians are the ones who will persevere to the end. For those who accepted Christ during their lives but did not persevere to the end, the doctrine calls these people superficial Christians. So true Christians will go to heaven and superficial Christians will not. Not only is this teaching not Scriptural, it is difficult to accept the teaching on reason, so therefore Catholics believe that by serious sin known as mortal sin which if not confessed, we can throw away the free gift of salvation.

Answer 5

I was born and raised a Catholic, and since left the church and have been saved as a born again Christian. Our church has a very large number of former Catholics.

In my years growing up, I can say with complete honesty that I never once saw my mom pray, except in church. I never once saw her open a Bible, and am not even sure we had one in the house. There was certainly never one in the seats at church. Oh, my mom would say devotions to St. Christopher, or St. Jude, but never prayer to Jesus, to God.

Since coming out of that faith, and really being involved in a VERY biblically based church, and studying and praying on my own, I am saddened to think that all the years of her faith, my mom is not in heaven. Oh, she was a good person. No doubt. But good works do not produce salvation, salvation produces good works.

Many prayers and blessing....

Sue

Answer 6

The Bible talks about a lot more than being saved.

Try paying attention the next time you go to Catholic Mass. Take notes if you have to. Most of the Mass is straight out of Scripture.

Catholics spend less time talking about themselves and more time talking about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, freeing the oppressed, etc. The stuff Jesus told us to do. We're more focussed on reaching out than congratulation ourselves.

Answer 7

Catholics do follow the Bible. The 10 Commandments are the guides. The emphasis is on the New Testament and practicing their faith every day.

Catholics believe that in order to get into Heaven, one must have faith and do good works. In other words, entrance into Heaven is "earned" not given.

I am a practicing Catholic. I do not recall hearing or discussing the phrase "being saved." Catholicism is a lifelong practice. We try to show God's love and charity every day.

I don't think this answers your question thoroughly. But, I did the best I could based on my experiences.

Answer 8

they have their own religion. I used to be catholic, finally I was drawn to the bible and started a christian church and was saved, you can't get to GOD unless going through JESUS, not MARY like everything is focused on in the cath reg.
Follow the BIBLE, go to a church that reads verse by verse and then explains it, you will love it. .

Answer 9

First of all, you are in the PROCESS of being saved. Sure, you believe that Christ resurrected and brought a new era to the world. What I mean however, whats the point for someone who believes in Christ to go and commit Genocide and still go to heaven? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of imitating Christ on earth in our lives?

By going to Church, getting the Sacraments, and doing your Christian duties, by both Faith and Works as stated in Revelation 20:12-13, then you can attain Heaven. But as sure as Hell exists, just believing ain't enough.

Answer 10

They do but not in the way protestants do.When you are confirmed I think that is accepting Jesus in a way.But kissing the bishops ring is really bazaar to me.I was raised catholic but i am not catholic any longer.There were so many rituals that made no sense to me,it was a though everything was top secret,the priests forgive your sins.Jesus is the only one that can forgive your sin,they encourage religious activity rather then relationship and deep prayer with Jesus.Shalom