salvation article

As Catholics, we believe Salvation begins at our baptism- a choice our parents made for us. We are 'born again' into the Christian Faith.

Often people miss the fact that baptism gives us new life/new birth because they have only a partial view of the grace God gives us through baptism, which they think is just a symbol. But Scripture is says that baptism is much more than a symbol.

In Acts 2:38 says, "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 Spirit."

When Paul was converted after his incident on the Road to Damascus, he was told, "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16).

"God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, were saved through water. Baptism, which reflects to this, 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" (1 Pet. 3:20–21).

Peter says that, as in the time of the flood, when eight people were "saved through water," Baptism does save us as Christians. It does not save us by the water’s cleansing abilities, but through Jesus Christ’s suffering, death and ultimately his resurrection. We are cleansed and reborn by Baptism's 'spiritual effects.'

After we have been baptized, our parents help us make the choice to receive our Lord in Holy Communion. When we receive him, Truly Present, we receive Christ Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity. Every time we receive Christ this way, we are again making our Altar Call, and committing our lives to Christ. This is not a once-all, its a weekly, if not daily need for all of us!

Also, we receive the Holy Spirit into our lives at Confirmation, the final, confirming moment that we decide to live our lives for Christ.

Through Baptism, we accept the Father. Through Holy Eucharist, we receive the Son; and through Confirmation, we receive the Spirit. Once we are confirmed Christians, we have committed our lives to Christ.

When we know our lives are not following Christ's teachings, we have the wonderful gift of Reconciliation- not just by ourselves, but with Christ's workers- the Priests, another Christ helping us along our way! In reconciliation, we are giving our sins up to God, not the Priest; the Priest is Christ's minister giving us the physical reconciliation and forgiveness- something we as humans yearn for.

Are Catholics Born-again saved Christians: YES!
we believe that we ARE saved... that we ARE BEING saved and that we WILL BE SAVED!