Question
Mr. Zavala: Whatever you do, without Christ and without placing your faith in him alone, you can do nothing. You will see. I am sending you an answer to each of your columns that you may write week after week, year after year, and decade after decade. The truth that is in Christ can never, ever be changed. To be saved, the only thing necessary is faith in Christ.
Answer
Dear Leonardo. I thank you for the lengthy fax you sent us and for the 28 pages in which you deal only with the subject of salvation, which, according to your Protestant belief, must be by faith alone. Before answering your concern, let me comment that your statement that you are sending me in advance the answer to all the articles of the coming “decades” is a bit exaggerated, don’t you think? And unfortunately, when you affirm that what I do is “without Christ,” you confirm precisely that there are many people in religious sects who have become fanatical and think that Christ is only in their little group and that outside them there is nothing good and no salvation. In reality, as a Catholic, of course I am Christian. Almost two thousand years ago a Father of the Church said: my name is “Christian and my surname is Catholic.” Now, respecting those who believe or think differently, let us look at some of what the Bible says on this topic of salvation:
a) God wants everyone to be saved.
If, as you affirm, salvation comes “by faith alone” in Christ and we take that literally, then: what happened to those who died before Christ? And what about the Aztecs, Mayas, and other peoples who never heard the Gospel—were they condemned too? Or the millions of Chinese and Muslims who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ: will they also be condemned? Of course not.
I remember that some time ago I was walking down the street and heard a pastor preaching and saying: raise your hand if you have relatives who believe in Christ; amen, brothers, they are already saved. Now raise your hand if you had relatives who did not believe; amen, brothers, they have already gone to hell. In a matter of seconds he sent some to heaven and others to hell.
In reality, from a Christian perspective, this cannot be so, because the Bible itself makes clear to us that: “God wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” 1 Tim 2:4
God’s universal salvific will is not that only a few should attain salvation. Since God loves all people, he himself seeks ways to bring his love and salvation in different manners Mt 18:14; Mt 20:28.
b) Those who died without the opportunity to hear the Gospel will be judged by their conscience.
Faith in Christ is necessary only for those persons who had the opportunity to know him fully, but not for those who never had that opportunity.
In those cases the Apostle Saint Paul tells us: “When the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the Law commands, they are a law to themselves; and they show that the requirements of the law are written in their hearts. Their conscience also bears witness, when they condemn or approve one another. This will take place on the day when God, according to my Gospel, judges the secret actions of men through Christ Jesus.” Rom 2:14-16.
In this way, salvation is available to all men of all times, even if they have not fully heard the Gospel, provided that they have tried to live according to their conscience.
c) Those who know Christ need faith and obedience.
Another important aspect about salvation is that, according to the Word of God, if we have had the opportunity to hear the Gospel, then faith and obedience (works) are necessary.
Nowhere in Scripture does it say that faith is enough or that simply by believing we already have salvation. All the biblical passages where it says that salvation is by grace or that by faith we have salvation do not say that this alone is enough.
In fact, Our Lord Jesus Christ said emphatically:
“Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” Mt 7:21-23
So one can have faith, perform miracles, prophesy, and call Christ Lord, and yet in the end not have salvation. That is why it is necessary to believe and obey, to have faith and show it by works. That is written in all the Bibles of the world.
It is not enough to raise one’s hand and believe one day, as many sects preach and affirm that they are «already saved». One must obey.
Thus, in the Bible, the Apostle James will say:
“Do you believe that there is one God? You do well; but even the demons believe and tremble. Do you want to know, foolish man, that faith without works is barren? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? Do you see how faith cooperated with his works, and by works his faith was made perfect?” Jas 2:19-22
And the Apostle adds: “You see, then, that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” Jas 2:24.
The Apostle Saint Paul also speaks to us of the need for obedience to accompany faith in order to be justified:
“For God will not save those who simply hear the law, but those who fulfill it.” Romans 2:13
To confirm this I recommend reading Romans 2:6; Galatians 5:6; Galatians 6:7-10 and 1 Timothy 4:16, where the need for obedience (works) is affirmed as the fruit of the saving action in our lives.
And, above all, Our Lord Jesus Christ, when explaining the final judgment, very clearly points out the importance and necessity of obedience and works, for he will say to all the nations:
” Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; I was naked and you clothed me; in prison and you came to visit me… » Mt 25:31-46
Salvation is not a «badge» or membership card that one hangs around one’s neck and then enters heaven automatically by raising one’s hand and saying, «I have faith, I am saved.» No. Works or obedience must accompany faith.
In fact, the only time the word “alone” accompanies the word “faith” in the original Greek text is in James 2:24, which precisely affirms that we are saved “NOT BY FAITH ALONE.” Even versions of the Protestant Bible say the same thing.
d) Some signs of obedience.
For this reason, if we love the Bible, while we value faith, we must also show our obedience:
* “That they may all be one; as you, Father, are in me and I in you…” Jn 17:21 Living in unity.
* “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life” Jn 6:51-67 The Eucharist
. * “He who hears you hears me; he who rejects you rejects me” Lk 10:16 Being united with Jesus by remaining united to his Church.
This is what it truly means to believe in Christ. To say “I believe in Christ, I am already saved” and not obey him, or to obey him only in the parts one likes, is not a sure path that leads to salvation.
e) Perseverance to the end is necessary.
One final aspect to mention is that, in order to have salvation, an initial act of faith is not enough either, nor raising one’s hand to say that we accept Christ as Lord and Savior or filling out a little sheet saying that we have already accepted him and have faith. No. Faith and obedience must be shown until the end. That is why Jesus said:
“He who endures to the end will be saved.” Mt 14:13
In this walk with Jesus there is no membership card, but a daily walk, each month and each year, in faith and obedience until the end of our days. “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Phil 2:12. This is the great blessing we have as children of God.
Take heart, and may God enlighten you toward the fullness of truth.
Author: Martin Zavala M.P.D.
Source: Defiendetufe.org
