My answer to people who ask me if I'm saved

joshrp · #1 Aug 24, '11, 5:39 am

Hi,

When someone asks me if I'm saved I tell them "I don't know. Jesus hasn't told me yet. Do you know His phone number so I can call and ask Him?"

Joshua

maryjk · #2 Aug 24, '11, 6:41 am

I feel like you get more flies with honey than with vinegar.

So I either say

yes, I am saved.

because what they really want to know is if you have a personal relationship with Jesus. You can't get more personal than receiving Him in Communion.

If I want to get wordy, I will go through the being saved, hope to be saved and working out my salvation spiel.

It all depends on how much time I have.

joshrp · #3 Aug 24, '11, 6:45 am

I'm really not being nasty. I'm just saying that honestly I don't know. If I had His phone number I would call Him. All I can do is ask Him in prayer. And go to the sacraments. I don't have to know if I am saved. I just have to do what Jesus tells me. Jesus never said we need to know that we are saved. Where is that in the Bible? I don't see anything in the Bible that says I am required to know absolutely beyond all doubt that I am saved.

Corki · #4 Aug 24, '11, 7:18 am

Quote:

"Are you saved?" asks the Fundamentalist. The Catholic should reply: "As the Bible says, I am already saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8), but I’m also being saved (1 Cor. 1:18, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12), and I have the hope that I will be saved (Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). Like the apostle Paul I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ (Rom. 5:2, 2 Tim. 2:11–13)."

From the CA tract "Assurances of Salvation"

maryjk · #5 Aug 24, '11, 7:29 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corki

From the CA tract "Assurances of Salvation"

THAT is my being saved, hope to be saved and working out my salvation spiel.

Joshrp,
Although you claim that you are not being nasty, you are being curt or short with people. Or even confrontational. You might want to tone it down a little.

**Joe 5859** · #6 Aug 24, '11, 8:08 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corki

From the CA tract "Assurances of Salvation"

Great answer!

We don't want to perpetuate the false notion that, as Catholics, we have absolutely no idea whatsoever what our eternal destination might be. If we are frequenting the sacraments and avoiding mortal sin, we have every reason to believe we will be saved. It's not a crapshoot.

Of course, contrary to what certain fundamentalists hold, we know it is not a done deal until our earthly life is complete. There always remains the possibility that we will not persevere until the end. But it's not a total mystery either. Jesus has given us (through the Church) all the guidance necessary to be saved.

joshrp · #7 Aug 24, '11, 8:11 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by maryjk

THAT is my being saved, hope to be saved and working out my salvation spiel.

Joshrp,
Although you claim that you are not being nasty, you are being curt or short with people. Or even confrontational. You might want to tone it down a little.

People complain about this all the time. Honestly, it is my parents who have made me frustrated with this whole issue. They are always complaining about the Baptists who ask everyone if they are saved and then harass us Catholics because we don't believe in once saved always saved and sola fide. They are the ones who confronted me. And then they keep pushing their beliefs on me. This is just my way of saying, Hey if you want to keep it up, I'm just going to tell you it like it is. I don't have to be nice with people who are rude to me. This is just my way of saying "Back off pal"

joshrp · #8 Aug 24, '11, 8:12 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corki

From the CA tract "Assurances of Salvation"

I'll have to read this now. See, if I hadn't made this post, you wouldn't have said anything to me. But you're right I can be a little more gentle. It's just when people are pushing on you and pushing on you and pushing on you, I'm just like "Will you back off me?"

White Peony · #9 Aug 24, '11, 11:14 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by maryjk

I feel like you get more flies with honey than with vinegar.

So I either say

yes, I am saved.

because what they really want to know is if you have a personal relationship with Jesus. You can't get more personal than receiving Him in Communion.

If I want to get wordy, I will go through the being saved, hope to be saved and working out my salvation spiel.

It all depends on how much time I have.

I agree that you can't get more personal than receiving Him in Communion, but some Catholics just go through the motions. They receive communion because that's what Catholics do, not out of love. But another way to have a personal relationship with Christ is following these three steps:
1. Pray! Talk to Jesus. The only way to get to know anyone is to talk!
2. Read your Bible! Let Jesus talk to you!
3. Tell other people about Jesus!!!

Catholic1954 · #10 Aug 24, '11, 1:39 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshrp

I'm really not being nasty. I'm just saying that honestly I don't know. If I had His phone number I would call Him. All I can do is ask Him in prayer. And go to the sacraments. I don't have to know if I am saved. I just have to do what Jesus tells me. Jesus never said we need to know that we are saved. Where is that in the Bible? I don't see anything in the Bible that says I am required to know absolutely beyond all doubt that I am saved.

You have an ok answer. I can't think of anything more rude than an almost complete stranger asking such a personal question. It's none of their business and what do they think they can do about it anyway? I just tell them, "He who endures until the end, will be saved." That is from the Bible and they usually do not have a satisfactory response ready.

joshrp · #11 Aug 24, '11, 5:57 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catholic1954

You have an ok answer. I can't think of anything more rude than an almost complete stranger asking such a personal question. It's none of their business and what do they think they can do about it anyway? I just tell them, "He who endures until the end, will be saved." That is from the Bible and they usually do not have a satisfactory response ready.

I honestly don't know what to say to the person who asks me if I am saved. What are they asking me for?

**AlanFromWichita** · #12 Aug 24, '11, 11:46 pm

"Why, yes, thank you, and how about yourself?" -- if I have some time. (I've been saved by many things, in many ways.

)

Alan

maryjk · #13 Aug 25, '11, 6:45 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catholic1954

You have an ok answer. I can't think of anything more rude than an almost complete stranger asking such a personal question. It's none of their business and what do they think they can do about it anyway? I just tell them, "He who endures until the end, will be saved." That is from the Bible and they usually do not have a satisfactory response ready.

I can name about 100 things more rude than asking if you are saved.

They are asking because they are concerned with the state of your soul, your well being. Because they care.

If you don't have time for a proper answer, then a simple "yes" works. If you do have time fore a proper answer, then you should give one.

"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few."

AntalKalnoky · #14 Aug 25, '11, 8:46 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanFromWichita

"Why, yes, thank you, and how about yourself?" -- if I have some time. (I've been saved by many things, in many ways.

)

Alan

DebChris · #15 Aug 26, '11, 1:39 am

The Catholic answer is "Yes, I was saved 2,000 years ago by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I continue to be saved every time the Mass is celebrated anywhere in the world until the end of time."

Salvation is not a one time event. It is a lifelong process. It involves my continuous conversion. As John the Baptist said, "I must decrease that He might increase [in me]."