What Does it Mean to be Saved?

[Rev. Eric]

Hello Everyone,

In the discussion concerning vocations and spiritual direction (within Tina's post under "Vocations"), Ayodhya presented the following comment:

Don't get misled by people,who do not know what they are saying or doing.May be they need to be saved first.

I think that being saved is an important concern for any Christian.  Obviously, if Jesus is our Savior then that means He is saving us from something (which, as we know, is sin and death).  And I certainly want Jesus to save me, so, naturally, I want to "be saved."

But some questions immediately arise:
How does one become saved?  
Exactly what does it mean to be saved?
Do Protestants and Catholics view this issue in different ways?

Ayodhya, because you pointed out the importance of being saved, I invite you to address these questions.  Because I predict that this discussion will have an apologetic spin to it, I decided to start this conversation in the Apologetics Section.

Naturally, I hope that everyone who desires to will participate in this discussion as well.

God bless,
-Rev. Eric

[Ayodhya Nath Bhat]

Dear Rev Eric,

I am amused the way you are moving with Hammer and Tongs in pursuit of me on a 24 hour basis.The amount of time and efforts you have been spending in your posts signify the growing uncertainty within you.Can we read more than what meets with the eye?

Brother, all the answers to your questions are available in my posts.You must also read one of the best posts on this site by cfcoelho " Salvation or Religion ,Truth or Tradition". You may appreciate being a busy Company Executive , I am not able to devote so much of time as you for posts. So don't mistake my silence for acceptance of whatever you post in defence.You cannot bury the truth.This is evident from the multitudes of Catholics moving out of the Church to be saved for ever.

I will separately posts more topics on Salvation to satisfy your need to be saved.

God loves you Rev Eric

 
A N Bhat

[tklein1014]

I'll respond to your questions as best I can, keeping in mind I'm not an expert/theologian, and this is just my $.02...

How does one become saved?

I don't know whether this is a more Protestant view, or whether Catholics share this, but I believe, from personal experience, that one is "saved" when one has "met" the Lord somehow, accepted Him, and made a concious decision to avoid sin, reject Satan, etc.  Dies to self, is reborn again in Christ, one way or another.

Exactly what does it mean to be saved?

Through one's acceptance of Him, the Lord gives the "saved" person the strength that they would not have on their own to avoid sin & reject Satan, so that God's Will will be done, that is, the "saved" person will eventually get to Heaven.  As a Catholic, I believe the sacraments are a means of getting this strength from the Lord, but not the only means.

Do Protestants and Catholics view this issue in different ways?

I think it depends on the Protestant denomination - there are so many, and so many interpretations of being "saved", but I think in general, there are probably different views between Catholicism & Protestantism on this, like anything else.

Tina

[tklein1014]

In response to Ayodhya...

So don't mistake my silence for acceptance of whatever you post in defence.You cannot bury the truth.This is evident from the multitudes of Catholics moving out of the Church to be saved for ever.

I don't think anyone here is mistaking your silence for acceptance, because it's starting to seem like (to me, anyway) you keep posting the same things (or similar things) which have already been addressed in other threads, so certainly you haven't accepted what we've said.  Since it seems to be your intention to "save" Catholics by convincing us to abandon our faith, then to be honest, it's going to take a lot more than a long post from you denouncing Catholicism, our responses, and then no rebuttal from you? A rebuttal would be helpful for us to understand better your views/position.

Also a note in regards to the second part of the quote, while this may be true, keep in mind that at least the last time I checked, church membership is growing.

Tina

[Ayodhya Nath Bhat]

"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"
Gal. 4:16

[Seeker]

My brother Ayodha,

I was really looking forward to your replies to Rev Eric in this thread and in the Sola Scriptura thread.  I honestly wanted to learn more about your view on these topics.  I thought he made some good points that deserve replies.  I've learned a lot researching your posts and for that I am thankful to you and the Lord for prompting you.  

Now is your chance to explain your faith in a positive way instead of just why Catholicism is wrong.  I really want to know more about my brother Ayodhya, not so I can admonish you, but so I can understand your faith better. I beg you to take some time and reply directly to Rev Eric's points.  We could learn so much from you if you but give us some of your time.  If you believe that we are in need of saving, critiquing Catholicism is a start, but you still need to explain your view in light of what it is, not just what it is not.  

"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"
Gal. 4:16

The answer is of course, no you are not our enemy if you tell us the truth.  But some of your thread starters don't contain the truth about the Catholic faith in them.  We have tried to show you where they are wrong or contain misconceptions.  I think we're all here searching for the truth, or at least a better understanding of the truth.  Don't leave us hanging brother. Let's have an open and honest discussion.  It's a two way street.

[Ayodhya Nath Bhat]

Dear Bro Seeker and Sis Tina,

Praise the Lord for such wonderful people like you.Let me begin by saying that my posts are not meant to lure away Catholics from their faith.If you are a Catholic and I a Christian then why are we all looking so concerned about the writings in the posts.Its the Love of God-Father,Son and Holy Spirit.

All of us want to be in deep love with God.At this juncture you need to be rational rather than emotional.I firmly stand by what you believe,but its always good to see the other side of the coin.It makes your faith stronger than ever.

Tina has come out with answers on salvation very well and there lies the answers to those who need to be saved.

 

How does one become saved?

I don't know whether this is a more Protestant view, or whether Catholics share this, but I believe, from personal experience, that one is "saved" when one has "met" the Lord somehow, accepted Him, and made a concious decision to avoid sin, reject Satan, etc. Dies to self, is reborn again in Christ, one way or another.

 
Exactly what does it mean to be saved?

Through one's acceptance of Him, the Lord gives the "saved" person the strength that they would not have on their own to avoid sin & reject Satan, so that God's Will will be done, that is, the "saved" person will eventually get to Heaven. As a Catholic, I believe the sacraments are a means of getting this strength from the Lord, but not the only means.


Do Protestants and Catholics view this issue in different ways?

I think it depends on the Protestant denomination - there are so many, and so many interpretations of being "saved", but I think in general, there are probably different views between Catholicism & Protestantism on this, like anything else.

Absolutely straight forward and simple.As I have said earlier and repeat that what matters at the end of the day is how much we love our living God.

I will be soon bidding good-bye to this site as I am not able to devote time. I am sure you will remember me whether near or far away for the beautiful experience we had interacting with each other.

Soon I will be posting my last Adieu, a fitting tribute to the people I never met but all the same part of one  loving family.

 

A N Bhat

[tklein1014]

"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"
Gal. 4:16

As seeker said, no, Ayodhya, I don't consider you an enemy in any capacity.  Perhaps I came off as a little harsh, and for that I apologize.  I think Melody was right on target when she said that Satan has been causing trouble among us lately.  Perhaps maybe in the future we'll be able to recognize this sooner and therefore banish him quicker.  I was just trying to persuade you to tell us a little more about your faith and what's wonderful about it, rather than focusing so much on what's wrong with ours.

I'm also sorry to hear that you'll be leaving us.  What would Apologetics be without Ayodhya?  If time is a concern, maybe a good way to solve this problem would be to focus on one discussion at a time, hash it out, then go on to some other discussion.  I urge you to reconsider.  We can still learn so much from each other.

Peace & Blessings,

Tina

[Seeker]

I too hope you'll reconsider Ayodhya.  Without you, I'll have to do Google searches    to start new threads in the Apologetics section.  I think Tina has a great suggestion.

[Rev. Eric]

Hello Everyone,

I appreciate everyone's input in this topic I started.  I am sorry certain LAN maintenance business in the seminary has prevented me from participating further in this thread.

God bless,
-Rev. Eric (from a rented computer, which is about time for him to stop using)

[Seeker]

In my view, some differences between Catholics and Protestants are because of different definitions of the same terms.  For example, the term "justification by faith alone" for a lot of Protestants could be translated in Catholicese as "justification by faith, hope, and charity."  The Lutherans and Catholics (headed by Cardinal Ratzinger, no less) in Germany came up with a joint declaration of justification relatively recently.  It's worth reading here.  

Also, James Akins, a Catholic apologist has a great explanation of a proper understanding of faith alone here.  I don't think that most Protestants think of faith as simply "intellectual assent."  If a Protestant understood faith to mean that, I think they would not espouse to "faith alone."  However, I think that most Catholics think of faith as intellectual assent so obviously one is not justified by faith alone.  Faith for most Protestants carries with it what most Catholics would call faith, hope, and charity.  At least that's how I've come to understand it.  I know this thread is about being "saved", but I thought that a short presentation of our differences and similarities of justification was worth mentioning.  Thanks for your patience and someone please correct me if I got anything wrong.

[Seeker]

I know this is an old thread, but I recently found a great Biblical description of what it means to be saved in Patrick Madrid's Answer Me This! that I thought I'd share with you.  

Yes, I've been doing a lot of reading lately.  Note my Lenten sacrifice of television shows.  Never realized how much better I could spend my "free" time.  

Anyway, here's the quote (emphasis in blue and explanation in red are my additions):

I have been redeemed and saved by God's grace through faith (cf. Eph 2:, I am being saved and am working out my salvation with fear and trembling (cf. Phil. 2:13; 1 Peter 1:8-9), my salvation is nearer now than it was yesterday (cf. Rom. 13:11), and trusting solely in God's grace, I pray that I will be saved (cf. 1 Cor. 3:15) by remaining in the state of grace and friendship [abiding in His love] with Him until the end of my life (cf. Matt. 24:13; Rom. 11:22).

-Answer Me This! by Patrick Madrid, Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, copyright 2003

I thought this summarized well the past, present, and future of our salvation.

[Rev. Eric]

That's some good material, Seeker.  I am familiar with Patrick Madrid, but until your post I was unaware of this particular book.  I intend to track it down.  This quote your provided from Madrid fits in with what I posted awhile ago in the "Millions are Sure..." topic (where I ended up expressing my opinion concerning what it means to be saved, as opoosed to doing it in this thread).

God bless,
-Rev. Eric

[Seeker]

Yes, Patrick Madrid has a lot of good books out there, Rev Eric.  The book I quoted from makes for a quick read.  Hope you find it without too much trouble.

I went back and reread yours and Melody's posts on the "Millions are Sure..." topic.  Those posts added another piece to the puzzle that really brought the whole idea of salvation home to me.

I'm going to post a new thread in the Apologetics area asking for good books and links regarding Apologetics.  I think it might be worthwile to share our best resources.  There's so much out there...