So let me get this straight, Catholics aren't Christian and wont be saved ?

Question

Because only trust in Jesus can save you, and all your good deeds count for nothing ? That living a good, church-going, God-fearing, exemplary life counts for nought, that all that self sacrifice and helping people and charitable works don't mean squat and wont get you into Gods' good books, that being a Mother Theresa and dedicating your life to helping the unfortunate doesn't help you one bit come judgement day, unless you believe in Jesus alone for forgiveness of sins ? That entry to heaven is by faith alone, and not a belief that faith and good works are required ? That simply having the "belief" that good works earn you good stead in Gods' eyes, will preclude your entry into heaven ? Seems a bit unfair to me.

I actually like my mother-in-law !

Sorry Fire Side, the link given to me by a Christian to the carm website states categorically that only faith in Jesus can save you, not doing good deeds and living a good life and expecting God to say that is enough.

Answer 1

The most crucial problem with the Roman Catholic Church is its belief that faith alone in Christ is not sufficient for salvation. The Bible clearly and consistently states that receiving Jesus Christ as Savior, by grace through faith, grants salvation (John 1:12; 3:16,18,36; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-10,13; Ephesians 2:8-9). The Roman Catholic Church rejects this. The official position of the Roman Catholic Church is that a person must believe in Jesus Christ AND be baptized AND receive the Eucharist along with the other sacraments AND obey the decrees of the Roman Catholic Church AND perform meritorious works AND not die with any mortal sins AND etc., etc., etc. Catholic divergence from the Bible on this most crucial of issues, salvation, means that yes, Catholicism is a false religion. If a person believes what the Catholic Church officially teaches, he/she will not be saved. Any claim that works or rituals must be added to faith in order for salvation to be achieved is a claim that Jesus’ death was not sufficient to fully purchase our salvation.
In regards to the question “Are Catholics saved?”, this is a more difficult question to answer. It is impossible to give a universal statement on the salvation of all members of any denomination of Christianity. Not ALL Baptists are saved. Not ALL Presbyterians are saved. Not ALL Lutherans are saved. Salvation is determined by personal faith in Jesus alone for salvation, not by titles or denominational identification. Despite the unbiblical beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church, there are genuine believers who attend Roman Catholic churches. There are many Roman Catholics who have genuinely placed their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. However, these Catholic Christians are believers despite what the Catholic Church teaches, not because of what it teaches. To varying degrees, the Catholic Church teaches from the Bible and points people to Jesus Christ as the Savior. As a result, people are sometimes saved in Catholic churches.

Answer 2

"That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life".

This applies to everyone, only God knows our thoughts and individual beliefs.

Who says that individual Catholics don't have faith?

They do not know an individual's thoughts about God.

Jesus died for all of us, Catholics included.

All of us need faith, but only God can judge.

Maybe God places individuals in many Christian denominations to teach, help all to hear about this faith.

I don't get how church people send missionaries to go to foreign countries to "spread the word" and then critisize the Catholic church. How is that God's love being shown? Is it only for certain people?
Every Christian denomination has believers and non-believers of Christ in it, just look around and think of the people you know individually.

Answer 3

Forget religions! The truth is that any one at all who is not "born again" cannot go to heaven. Our good works don't address the problem that sends people to hell. God's plan of salvation for us does not include our works as we are redeemed by the blood of Christ. There is an old saying; "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" This literally means that many people will try to gain entry into heaven by their "good works" and end up in hell. Why? because they rejected the righteousness that the Lord freely gives and set about to establish their own righteousness. We note in Romans 3:22 that "The righteousness of God is upon all who will believe" This is the only standard of righteousness that the Lord recognizes. People who place their faith in their works do so because they are ignorant of God's provision for them. We are all born after the likeness of Adam and therefore carry the penalty of sin in our bodies; this penalty is death; not only our physical bodies but the second death is hell. The very reason we all grow old and die is because we have sin in our flesh. Our "good works" fail to address this problem which can only be solved by being born again. John Ch.3 deals with a conversation between the Lord and a leader of the Jews named Nicodemus who was a devout follower of the law. Here Jesus explained to Nicodemus that "ye must be born again" which literally means being born from above. This occurs when the Holy Spirit enters into the new believer. Ephesian 4:30 tells us that when we believe we are "Sealed with the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption" This would have turned his world upside down as he thought that keeping the law (works) would have been all sufficient.
Why not simply believe and be sealed with the Holy Spirit forever?

Answer 4

That's not it your missing the point. Of course good works matter good, good deeds matter. Being a Christian in Sunday clothing does not. The Lord God wants a personal relationship with us, he does not require for us to go to a Priest to get to him, that's the ways of the Old Testament, that's why he sacrificed himself upon the cross. We have an open door, are Catholics going to Hell? I don't know. Are Protestants going to Hell? I don't know. Is one way of worshiping God with rites and rituals better over the Praise and worship styles of the Pentecosts. I don't know. I just know when I go freely and lovingly to the Lord Jesus Christ personally I feel closer to him. The Holy Spirit is living in me that is the gift of the Crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ. That's it.

Yeah a detail with my name on it-

This is my response I think it is pretty arrogant just to assume that because one is not Catholic that they do not do good deeds or service to others. I do, I spent the last 4 years of my life living in a hovel working for minimum wage so that I could serve the ministry of sick children. Am I Catholic?No I am a Pentacostal Christian. Am I still in that Ministry no. Unfortunately watching families lose a child requires a high amount of stress. Anyway, that I believe is what is meant by doing good deeds not out of reward in the end but out of service to humanity. No amount of Communins, baptisms, or good deeds will save you if you do not have Jesus Christ living and breathing inside of you. We need to live every deed, action or thought as it is our last. That's all. Anyway, stepping off of my soap box, receeding back into the shadows, hoping to catch a glimpse of the light. May God Bless you and yours always.

Answer 5

We see from scripture that Eve knew not to disobey God, as she corrected the serpent. (Genesis 3:3) "but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die." So clearly she knew that to obey God was the right thing to do , and to disobey God was the wrong thing to do. This leaves us with the only option left, that this "knowledge" of good and evil meant to experience/ witness what evil was like, and in contrast know what it's like to experience good. Since Adam and Eve were living in a paradise on earth. All humans originate from Adam and Eve, and as the generations progressed we all have inherited a fallen nature, because we come from a 'rotten apple' so to speak. Death came into this world by sin, God prevented Adam and Eve from eating from eating from the tree of life, which would render them immortal, otherwise we would be stuck in our sin. As a result mankind dies, and we live on a cursed earth. Everytime we sin though, we do so on our own accord, though we may be higher prone to sin, it is still our choice.

Answer 6

How sure are you that you are right and Catholics are wrong?

If what you say were true I would be the first to leave the Catholic Church.

Jesus said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. – Matthew 7, 1-2 (KJV)

My answer to your question is the same as the other Catholics. In fact, I think you already knew beforehand how we would answer your question. This question has been asked a zillion times in YA.

Why do you say these things about my faith? Oh, I know what you will say, “we don't want you to go to hell; we love you.” That has to be the lamest and dullest excuse in years. Do you really expect us to fall for that line? Catholics do not bash other religions because we know we belong to the true Church. If you are so sure about your beliefs why bash Catholicism? You have already told us a million times what you do not like about our faith. And you have also warned us a million times we will go to hell with those beliefs. So, what really is your reason for attacking our faith again and again? I can only think of two reasons: to validate your own faith which means you are insecure and unsure of your own faith or you just want to bash my faith.

Fundamentalists, Evangelicals and Pentecostals talk as if no case can be made for the Catholic Church. How sure are you that you are right and we are wrong?

If you are so sure about your faith you should not turn your back on this challenge.
http://www.fisheaters.com/challenge.html

Do you really think a fourth of all Americans would be Catholic if their religion were as odd as its opponents claim? Isn’t it rather likely that you haven’t been told the whole story? To make an informed decision, you need to hear both sides. Why not study the Catholic faith? Either your suspicions will be confirmed, or you will discover that there is more to Catholicism than you once thought.

Answer 7

Catholics can be saved if they realize that the good things they do can never save them because they wont ever be able to do enough. Ultimately the good things you do are rewarded, if you get to heaven. They are important, but to get into heaven with only good works one must be as good as God, so that is impossible.

Answer 8

may i throw a question out there pls...for clarity

to christians who believe in "faith alone" ...who wud you rather be in heaven with?....a christian who never lifted a hand in helping another but preached the Good News anyway?....or an atheist who dedicated their life to helping the poor (for example) and never spoke a word of their "faith".

God bless

EDIT: steve amato....your link?..an ex-catholics perspective?..pleeeease!!...why not go too a "catholic perspective" one then and decide for yourself

Answer 9

The Catholic Church doesn't teach salvation by "works", either, unless you count baptism as a "work" (it's actually the Holy Spirit's work, not ours). We also don't subscribe to the "once saved, always saved" one-time declaration of faith in Jesus Christ as our personal savior as punching our ticket to heaven no matter what. We are redeemed by Christ, and by God's grace we will be saved, but we prefer to take the Biblical view -- that we also need to cooperate with that grace by "working out" our salvation. That doesn't mean racking up good deeds to get heavenly brownie points. It means allowing grace to work through us (because we still have the free will to choose otherwise, and many do). Sanctification is the goal, and salvation the process that gets us there. By grace. Through faith.

Answer 10

Because only trust in Jesus can save you, and all your good deeds count for nothing ? YES
That living a good, church-going, God-fearing, exemplary life counts for nought, that all that self sacrifice and helping people and charitable works don't mean squat and wont get you into Gods' good books, that being a Mother Theresa and dedicating your life to helping the unfortunate doesn't help you one bit come judgement day, unless you believe in Jesus alone for forgiveness of sins ? YES
That entry to heaven is by faith alone, and not a belief that faith and good works are required ? YES
That simply having the "belief" that good works earn you good stead in Gods' eyes, will preclude your entry into heaven ? YES

Consider Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"

They were counting on their works to get them into heaven. They knew Christ and did work for him. Not just "human" tasks like feeding the poor and clothing the naked, but "spiritual" tasks like prophesying and performing miracles, and it was all for naught. Jesus said that he never KNEW them. He didnt have a relationship with them. He had never made his spirit alive in them.

Liken this to a person who hands out "Vote for Ron Paul" buttons, tells other to vote for Ron Paul, does good deeds in the name of Ron Paul, and watches as Ron Paul gets elected. This person goes up to the White House and asks to see Ron Paul. Unless Ron Paul knows him and has some form of relationship with him (personal or business), then he will not see Ron Paul. Now is that same person, regardless of what he has done, is a somewhat close family member of Ron Paul, then there is a good chance that he will gain admittance and be able to see him in the Oval Office.

Now I am NOT saying that Catholics are not Christians, no more than I am saying that Baptists (or whoever) are Christians simply because of their title and/or beliefs. I am saying that without a relationship with Christ you can not be a Christian and you will not be saved until you begin that relationship. That relationship begins with sincere faith and is kept by God regardless of what you do.

EDIT: SO why the thumbs down? Because you dont like my answer or you dont like Ron Paul? It seems like everytime I use the Bible to make a point I get thumbs down... Hmmm...

Answer 11

If you want to become a better singer and you can't afford expensive lessons with vocal coaches you should really try online programs. This one:

http://howtosing.toptips.org

in my opinion is the best online step-by-step system designed to improve your singing voice.

Whether you are a beginner or you have some singing skills, this tool can help you gain amazing vocal control, develop excellent pitch, unlock great tone, improve your vocal power, gain precise vocal agility, increase your vocal range and learn advanced signing techniques.

I used it and I saw great results. That's why I recommend it.