So, imagine you’re wandering through a forest and suddenly, you step into quicksand—yikes! But then, you hear someone rushing through the bushes, ready to save you. You shout, “I’m saved!” But hold on, are you really saved? Not quite, at least not until you’re pulled out of the quicksand and in the safe arms of your rescuer. This is how Father Simon explains our Catholic understanding of salvation.
🔍 Salvation in a Nutshell:
Catholics believe that salvation is a journey—we’re “saved in hope” as St. Paul says. It’s like being in that quicksand; we have hope because we see our Savior coming, but we’re not fully saved until we’re out of danger and in His embrace. This means that while we can have confidence in our salvation, it’s not a “done deal” until we’re standing face-to-face with Christ in heaven.
✨ Can We Throw Salvation Away?
Yes, you can. Father Simon explains that while no one can snatch us out of God’s hand, we can still choose to jump out. Even if we’ve experienced God’s saving grace, we can turn our backs on Him through our actions. Catholics believe in the importance of continuing to trust and obey Jesus, showing our faith through what we do.
đź‘Ł Faith and Works: A Team Effort
Father Simon breaks it down like this: Jesus extends His hand to us—that’s grace. When we reach out to grab it, that’s faith. But if we refuse to act—if we say, “I’m not going to do anything, you do all the work, Jesus”—then we’re not really trusting Him. Trusting Jesus means doing what He asks, living out our faith through our actions. Faith isn’t just in our heads or hearts; it’s in our hands and feet, too!
🤔 The Protestant View vs. Catholic Understanding
Father Simon touches on the difference between how Catholics and many Protestants view salvation. Some Protestants may say, “I’m saved,” and believe that’s the end of the story. But Father Simon reminds us that even by their own theology, there’s a possibility of a false assurance. So, while Catholics don’t claim to have absolute certainty, we have moral assurance—a reasonable confidence in our salvation as long as we keep striving to follow Christ.
In summary, as Catholics, we live in hope and trust in Jesus, showing that trust through our actions. We’re saved, yes—but it’s a salvation we live out every day, continually reaching for the hand of our Savior. ✝️
So, imagine you’re wandering through a forest and suddenly, you step into quicksand—yikes! But then, you hear someone rushing through the bushes, ready to save you. You shout, “I’m saved!” But hold on, are you really saved? Not quite, at least not until you’re pulled out of the quicksand and in the safe arms of your rescuer. This is how Fr. Richard Simon explains our Catholic understanding of salvation.
🔍 Salvation in a Nutshell:
Catholics believe that salvation is a journey—we’re “saved in hope” as St. Paul says. It’s like being in that quicksand; we have hope because we see our Savior coming, but we’re not fully saved until we’re out of danger and in His embrace. This means that while we can have confidence in our salvation, it’s not a “done deal” until we’re standing face-to-face with Christ in heaven.
✨ Can We Throw Salvation Away?
Yes, you can. Father explains that while no one can snatch us out of God’s hand, we can still choose to jump out. Even if we’ve experienced God’s saving grace, we can turn our backs on Him through our actions. Catholics believe in the importance of continuing to trust and obey Jesus, showing our faith through what we do.
đź‘Ł Faith and Works: A Team Effort
Fr. Simon breaks it down like this: Jesus extends His hand to us—that’s grace. When we reach out to grab it, that’s faith. But if we refuse to act—if we say, “I’m not going to do anything, you do all the work, Jesus”—then we’re not really trusting Him. Trusting Jesus means doing what He asks, living out our faith through our actions. Faith isn’t just in our heads or hearts; it’s in our hands and feet, too!
🤔 The Protestant View vs. Catholic Understanding
Father Simon touches on the difference between how Catholics and many Protestants view salvation. Some Protestants may say, “I’m saved,” and believe that’s the end of the story. But Father reminds us that even by their own theology, there’s a possibility of a false assurance. So, while Catholics don’t claim to have absolute certainty, we have moral assurance—a reasonable confidence in our salvation as long as we keep striving to follow Christ.
As Catholics, we live in hope and trust in Jesus, showing that trust through our actions. We’re saved, yes—but it’s a salvation we live out every day, continually reaching for the hand of our Savior. ✝️
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