Apostolic Apologetics: Are Catholics Saved?

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Introduction

With References:
As the Bible says, I am already saved (Romans 8:24, Ephesians 2:5–8), but I’m also being saved (1 Corinthians. 1:8, 2 Corinthians 2:15, Philippians 2:12), and I have the hope that I will be saved (Romans 5:9–10, 1 Corinthians 3:12–15). Like the apostle Paul I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Philipians 2:12), with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ (Romans 5:2, 2 Timothy 2:11–13).

Without References:
As the Bible says, I am already saved, but I’m also being saved, and I have the hope that I will be saved. Like the apostle Paul I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling, with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ.

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Biblical References

Romans 8:24
For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not hope. For what a man seeth, why doth he hope for?

Ephesians 2:5
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together in Christ (by whose grace you are saved)

Ephesians 2:6
And hath raised us up together and hath made us sit together in the heavenly places, through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:7
That he might shew in the ages to come the abundant riches of his grace, in his bounty towards us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you are saved through faith: and that not of yourselves, for it is the gift of God.

1 Corinthians 1:8
Who also will confirm you unto the end without crime, in the days of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:15
For we are the good odour of Christ unto God, in them that are saved and in them that perish.

Philipians 2:12
Wherefore, my dearly beloved, (as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but much more now in my absence) with fear and trembling work out your salvation.

Romans 5:9
Christ died for us. Much more therefore, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from wrath through him.

Romans 5:10
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son: much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

1 Corinthians 3:12
Now, if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble:

1 Corinthians 3:13
Every man's work shall be manifest. For the day of the Lord shall declare it, because it shall be revealed in fire. And the fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is.

1 Corinthians 3:14
If any man's work abide, which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

1 Corinthians 3:15
If any mans work burn, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire.

Romans 5:2
By whom also we have access through faith into this grace wherein we stand: and glory in the hope of the glory of the sons of God.

2 Timothy 2:11
A faithful saying: for if we be dead with him, we shall live also with him.

2 Timothy 2:12
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us.

2 Timothy 2:13
If we believe not, he continueth faithful, he cannot deny himself.

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A few words about Faith Alone / Sola Fide

We are saved by Faith, as the Bible says several times. However, Catholics do not believe we are saved by "Faith Alone" or as Martin Luther, the infamous protestant schismatic put it, "Sola Fide".

The only place "Faith Alone" appears in the Holy Bible, is here:

James 2:24 
You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

That's pretty clear isn't it? So why do protestants teach contrary to scripture? Here's the most common objection:

Romans 3:28 
For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law.

Here, anti-Catholics and "Sola Fide Christians" attempt to twist scriptures and try to make them mean something they do not.

What are works of the law?

By referring to works of the law, Paul in Romans 3:28 is talking about the "Law" which is to say the Decalogue, or Ten Commandments (Old Testament Law). This simply means that obeying the Law of Moses will not get you into Heaven. This is because Christ has instituted a New Covenant with Humanity, and fulfilled the Law. This does not mean we don't need to obey the Ten Commandments, it simply means that Christ must be obeyed as well for salvation to be obtained. The "obey" part, is where Protestants often times get hung up, again mistakenly thinking that if they "believe" they are saved. This is entirely contrary to scripture. As you will read below, even Demons believe and shudder. So what separates them from us?

Matthew 7:21 
"Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

James is very clear about what he is saying in the verses leading up to James 2:24:

James 2:17 
So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

James 2:18 
But some one will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.

James 2:19 
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder.

James 2:20 
Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren?

James 2:21 
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?

James 2:22 
You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works,

James 2:23 
and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness"; and he was called the friend of God.

It is no surprise that Martin Luther wanted to remove James from the Canon of Scripture, as he did with several Old Testament books.

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How are we Saved?

Catholics believe we are saved by:

• God (2 Timothy 1:8-9)
• Jesus (Matthew 1:21, 1 Timothy 1:15)
• The Holy Spirit (John 3:5, Titus 3:5, 2 Thessalonians 2:13)
• Grace (Ephesians 2:8)
• Hope (Romans 8:24)
• Blood of Christ (Romans 5:9)
• Jesus’ Name (Acts 4:12)
• Jesus’ Life (Romans 5:10)
• The Gospel (Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 15:1-2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13)
• The Implanted Word (James 1:21)
• Faith (Acts 16:31, Romans 1:16, 10:9-10, 1 Peter 1:9)
• Obedience (Matthew 7:21, Hebrews 5:9, 1 Peter 1:21)
• Works (Philippians 2:12, James 2:24)
• Confession of Faith (Romans 10:9-10)
• Repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10)
• Baptism (Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 2:38, 22:16)
• Doctrine (1 Timothy 4:16)
• Evangelism (Romans 10:14, 11:14; 1 Corinthians 1:21, 7:16, 9:22; James 5:20)

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1 Corinthians 10:12
Therefore let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.