Are Catholics Saved?

[Rose]

Since Catholics also believed in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, are they saved?

 

[bobinfaith]

Good morning, Rose;

Not all Catholics are saved but there are some parish members who are saved.

We are empowered with correct doctrine of God's Word, teaching and raising up empower the Saved with wisdom and knowledge from the Scriptures.

Where the devil is deceptive is when we replace discipline in obedience and relationship toward Jesus with traditional rituals. How many do the sign of the cross, receive penance of prayer after a confessional without thinking about it?

There is more to this. I have to scoot right now but will return and expound later.

God bless you, Rose and your entire family.

Bob

 

[bobinfaith]

Since Catholics also believed in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, are they saved?

Hello Rose;

The world wide public (community, social media, Christian circles, etc...) maintain a general impression that Catholics are not saved. This in a sense is true but truth be known there are many who have practiced Catholicism all their life yet are saved, grasp the meaning of salvation and instead of a priest interpreting the Bible, these men and women read God's Word for themselves.

I often run into nuns in the city who go out in pairs. I will greet them and learn that while one will say hello to me, the other is silent while praying during our threesome interface. I never knew that before.

At social gatherings the Lord has given me the opportunity to share the Gospel. I attempt to keep the Christianese language very simple. There will be a handful of Catholics amongst the group and I can discern their attentiveness. They express they had never heard the Gospel explained in application by their own priest. For that I give all credit and praise to God for bringing about a common ground.

The same can be said for those who proclaim they are Christians but are nominal Christians. They believe in God but don't have a relationship with His only Begotten Son.

In Matthew 28:18-20, not all unsaved receive Christ's command immediately. Our role is not to convince or force the person we witness to, but to plant that seed, then get out of God's Way as He waters the seed bringing one more person to Christ.

I'll stop here in hope that others will share.

God bless you, Rose, and thank you again for your excellent question.

Bob

 

[David]

Since Catholics also believed in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, are they saved?

Believing the facts about Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection isn't the same as the biblical gospel that saves. Scripture is plain on this.

The gospel Paul delivered is what saves when we receive it: "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" ~1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (KJV). But Paul immediately warns that any other gospel brings a curse ~Galatians 1:8-9. It's not just head knowledge about the events. It's trusting Christ alone for forgiveness.

Salvation is by grace through faith, not by adding anything else. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" ~Ephesians 2:8-9. The Bible repeatedly says we are justified by faith, apart from works of the law or any religious system ~Romans 3:28, ~Romans 4:5, ~Galatians 2:16.

Catholic teaching adds sacraments, works, penance, Mary's intercession, and the authority of the Church as necessary for salvation. That directly contradicts Scripture's "not of works" and "faith without the deeds of the law." If a person is trusting in those things in addition to Christ, they are not trusting Christ alone. The Bible calls that another gospel.

A truly born-again person will not stay settled in Catholicism long-term. Scripture is clear that salvation changes a person from the inside.

~2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." The Holy Spirit who indwells every believer "will guide you into all truth" ~John 16:13. He does not leave us comfortable with a system that adds works, sacraments, Mary, and the Church to what Christ finished on the cross.

If someone claims to be saved by faith in Christ alone but keeps trusting in those extra things for justification, the Bible warns that's a problem. ~Galatians 5:4: "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." True faith rests on Christ alone. The Spirit convicts and leads away from error, not deeper into it.