{"id":255,"date":"2002-10-21T15:36:24","date_gmt":"2002-10-21T20:36:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aboutcatholics.com\/beliefs\/the-salvation-drive\/"},"modified":"2020-10-07T08:04:33","modified_gmt":"2020-10-07T12:04:33","slug":"the-salvation-drive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.aboutcatholics.com\/beliefs\/the-salvation-drive\/","title":{"rendered":"The Salvation Drive"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

Salvation is, without a doubt, one of the most controversial topics in all of Christendom. Very few seem to have a handle on it. In fact, it has been found that those who struggle with how we are “saved” often fall into two diametricaly opposed extremes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first extreme contends that salvation is acheived simply by the vocal acknowledgement that we are sinners and the proclamation that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. This extreme contends that we are bound to no church authority on earth and that we are bound by the Bible alone (Which we are free to interpret however we choose). They also claim that salvation cannot be lost ever. For illustrative purposes, imagine them as being to the left of the theological spectrum, on the issue of salvation. Therefore, (again, only for illustration) We’ll call them the 21st century Sadducees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second extreme contends that salvation is only possible for those who do and say all the right things, pray the right prayers, wear the right adornments and go to the right church services on the right days. Get one thing wrong, and you go straight to hell so says this second group. This group’s believers often follow their leaders with fanatical zeal. Cult tragedies such as the Jim Jones and David Koresh matters result from this extreme. We’ll call them the 21st Century Pharisees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where does the Catholic Church fall into this spectrum?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you ask the 21st century Sadducees, they would probably suggest that we are the 21st century Pharasees. They see our faith as rigid, legalistic and filled with idols and amulets and meaningless rituals and traditions. The 21st Century Sadducees, clearly, see us as trying to “earn” our salvation by saying, doing and wearing the right combination of things. Since they reject an outright church authority, they see us as substituting “man’s law” for “God’s law” (which they see as present only in the Bible). If you ask the 21st century Pharisees, you may get a plethora of answers. This group is as divided as they are rigid. Some will say that Catholics cannot be saved because the worship Sunday rather than Saturday. Others will claim we are doomed because we supposedly “worship” Mary. Still others, because we use “images”. As many claims as you could imagine will never cover the many reasons that are given as to why Catholics are not following the perfect, fragile, formula that leads to salvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The truth be told, the 21st century Sadducees represent only about 4% of Christendom. Even if we argued that the 21st century Pharisees equaled that, (probably a gross overestimation) that would put 92% of the Body of Christ in that vast expanse between the two extremes. One thing that can be said about the two fringe groups is that they do know what they believe. (however wrong they may be). However, many, many of the multitudes in between aren’t sure. There are many reasons for this confusion. One of the principle reasons is a misunderstanding of many of the terms we use to describe the salvation process. It is this reason that I will focus on. What will follow is a sort of “salvation vocabulary list”. Each term will be explained and, when possible, supported by scripture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Redemption: <\/dfn>What Christ accomplished once and for all through his suffering and death. Through His passion, Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of the suffering servant.
    [Isaiah 53:1-6] <\/strong>Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.Many people confuse “redemption” with “salvation”. Perhaps you can think of it this way; Salvation is the end to be attained and redemption is the means to the end. Redemption is not salvation but the vehicle by which we can get there.<\/li>
  2. Sanctification: <\/dfn>If redemption is the vehicle to salvation, then sanctification is the road the vehicle travels down. Just as many make the mistake of lumping redemption and salvation together, they often throw sanctification in the same mix. Sanctification can be thought of as “Saint-ifaction”; the process of becomming saints.
    [Romans 6:19] <\/strong>I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification.<\/li>
  3. Grace: <\/dfn>Continuing our analogy, “Grace” is the fuel that goes in the vehicle. Many people mistakingly see grace as merely goodness or beauty. “She is a very graceful dancer” or “so nice of you to grace us with your presence.” However, Biblicaly speaking, Grace is a thing. It is tangible. Grace is a special gift that God gives us to accomplish that which we cannot accomplish on our own. Grace accomplishes two things: