Salvation

1
Salvation
2
Faith

• But now the righteousness of God has been
  manifested apart from law, although the law and
  the prophets bear witness to it, the
  righteousness of God through faith in Jesus
  Christ for all who believe. For there is no
  distinction since all have sinned and fall short
  of the glory of God, they are justified by his
  grace as a gift, through the redemption which is
  in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as an
  expiation by his blood, to be received by FAITH.
  This was to show Gods righteousness, because in
  his divine forbearance he had passed over former
  sins it was to prove at the present time that he
  himself is righteous and that he justifies him
  who has faith in Jesus. Rom. 321-26

3

• CCC 1750 The morality of human acts depends on
• the object chosen
• the end in view or the intention
• the circumstances of the action.

4
How we are to live our lives

• For by grace you have been saved through faith,
  and this is not from you it is the gift of God
  it is not from works, so no one may boast. For
  we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for
  the good works that God has prepared in advance,
  that we should live in them. (Eph 2 8-10)

5
Why do Catholics Baptize Infants?

• Different views on baptism itself
• Protestant View - Baptism doesnt in any way
  convey the grace it symbolizes it is a public
  manifestation of a persons conversion
• Catholic View - From the day of Pentecost the
  Catholic Church has said baptism is a sacrament
  which accomplishes several things (ccc1262)
• Remission of sin (original personal)
• New birth in the Holy Spirit (adopted son of God)

6
Catholic View of Baptism

• Rom. 64 St. Paul says therefore we have been
  buried with him by baptism into death, so that,
  just as Christ was raised from the dead by the
  glory of the Father, so we too might walk in
  newness of life.
• 1 Peter 320-21 says Baptism now saves you.,
  not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an
  appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the
  resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Mt 311 John says that Jesus baptism would give
  the Holy Spirit whereas his own did not
• Acts 238 - Repent, and be baptized every one of
  you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
  forgiveness of your sins and you shall receive
  the gift of the Holy Sprit

7
Baptism is NOT a symbol

• Jesus wouldnt have made baptism a condition for
  entering heaven if this were so (John 35, Mk
  1616)
• Doesnt follow faith alone
• Since fundamentalists believe its symbolic of a
  person accepting Jesus as his Lord and Savior, it
  would make no sense for a child to do this

8

• St. Paul tells us that all are born with Adams
  sin and thus need baptism (Rom 5 18-19)
• And Jesus makes it clear that children are not to
  be kept away from Him (Mark 1014)
• So the Apostles baptized entire households (Acts
  1615, 33 1 Cor 116) including infants

9
In place of Circumcision

• Paul says that baptism has replaced circumcision
  (Col. 211-12). Baptism is the circumcision of
  Christ
• In Old Testament - those born into Jewish
  households could be circumcised in anticipation
  of the Jewish faith in which they would be raised
• Same for Baptism in Christian household

10
Early Church writings

• Origen in the 3rd century wrote that according
  to the usage of the Church, baptism is given even
  to infants
• In 253, the Council of Carthage condemned the
  opinion that baptism should be withheld from
  infants until the eighth day after birth.
• In 408 Augustine taught The custom of Mother
  Church in baptizing infants is certainly not to
  be scorned nor is it to be believed that its
  tradition is anything except apostolic

11
Arent we saved by faith alone?

• St. Paul says For we hold that a man is
  justified by faith apart from works of law Rom.
  328
• Faith does bring salvation, made alive by charity
• 1 Cor. 132 - St. Paul says that faith without
  love (charity) is nothing (it cant save)
• Jn 1421 - If we love him we will keep his
  commandments

12

• When the rich man asks Jesus what he must do to
  be saved, Jesus answers keep the commandments
  (Mt 1916-17)

13
Catholic viewpoint

• A Catholic who performs good works in Christ
  isnt denying the completed work of Christs
  redemption he is depending on it.
• The Paschal mystery has two aspects by his
  death, Christ liberates us from sin by his
  Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new
  life. This new life is above all justification
  that reinstates us in Gods grace, so that as
  Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of
  the Father, we too might walk in newness of
  life. (Catechism 654 and Rom. 64)

14
Assurance of Salvation?

• Matthew 2413 But the one who perseveres to the
  end will be saved.
• The Catholic Church teaches we must die in
  sanctifying grace in order to be saved. Any
  mortal sin leads to a loss of sanctifying grace
  and the risk of eternal damnation if we should
  die in this state.