I was raised Catholic: Baptized, educated, and confirmed. When I left home, I left my Christian faith behind as well. For ten years, there was a near-complete absence of Christianity in my life. I say "near-complete" because that underlying foundation (thankfully) never totally eroded. After that decade, my faith began to slowly make a resurgence.

It's taken another number of years, but I now consider my faith stronger than it has ever been.

I now attend a Baptist church that I have become quite fond of. I should make it clear that this is not a Catholic versus Protestant conversation. I am not invested in infighting. This is a conversation about a characteristic of the Christian faith that I don't recall from my Catholic experience: being "saved".

It is a recurring theme in the services at the church I attend. The preacher consistently refers to when he was saved; he can tell you the date. Other members of the church can do the same. Just this past Sunday, the preacher reinforced that baptism won't get you to heaven. Neither will a certificate. Heaven is only guaranteed if you've been saved.

I am sure that being saved isn't always dramatic. It's not always a foot-planted pivot in one specific moment in time. Being saved, the way I currently understand it, is an individual acknowledging Christ as humanity's savior, and, in no small part, dedicating his body and mind to His worship and emulation.

The purpose of this discussion is to hear from my Christian peers here on Sigforum: Protestant, Catholic, and any/all others. How do you consider the concept of being saved? If you consider yourself saved, was your event dramatic, or was it gradual? Does your church stress it? Do you as an individual?

I intend to ask the preacher about it at some point or other. We're still relatively new at the church, so I suppose I'm just not feeling ready yet. I do work with a guy who has actually served as a substitute preacher at the church. He's also had the more defined turning point experience. I do intend to ask him, the next time the opportunity presents itself.

Thank you for your feedback.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KSGM,

I'm saved, my wife who was raised Catholic and was confirmed is also saved.

I worked for years with a client / direct manager who attends a Church of Christ fellowship and they insist that being saved w/ accompanying baptism is part & parcel of the experience. We've debated that idea many times in a friendly manner, which I don't disagree with his tenants of faith because there are corroborating verses - though its not a pass/fail issue for me.

I view salvation as an understanding of a moment in time that I knew Christ loved me & willingly offered himself up to cover my debt. So, having said that I do see it as a dramatic moment, more an signpost or anchor for me personally.

We've attended a number of churches over the years due to moving around a lot, mostly full evangelical but a couple otherwise (Baptist, Church of God, Presbyterian). Being saved was quite emphatically preached at the evangelical congregations, not so much at the others.

I think its normal for people to doubt their faith at times, whether due to difficulties or un-fufilled dreams. For me, knowing I have a salvation moment to hold on to helps me anchor myself when I'm conflicted about whether God actually cares or even exist.

Of course, the answer to both question is 'Yes'.

In the past I probably would've viewed the idea as a litmus test, nowadays I'm more persuaded that God knows who are His much more clearly than I do. So, am problably less emphatic about it personally than when I was younger.

I’m neither protestant nor catholic but I’ll chime in anyway.

Being saved is simply being delivered from the final consequence of sin. The final consequence of the unsaved may be debatable though. The deliverance is through faith in and strict loyalty toward our Creator and his Messiah. My salvation was long and gradual. I can explain but only if asked as it may not fit in this thread. I don’t know if I stress the “being saved” aspect as is not a moment for me. It’s more like a lifelong and daily and weekly and yearly process.

Sometimes the modern church does a really good job of convoluting simple doctrine and sometimes even replaces it so your question is good and it shows that you’re seeking.

Romans 10:9-10 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

I was raised in a Christian home and confessed/was baptized at an early age. I can’t tell you what that date/time was. I don’t have the great story of turning from drugs, crime, etc that some have who come to faith in Christ in later years. That was a concern of mine when I was younger if I had been really saved until I realized that all sin, no matter how bad we think it is, separates us from God and requires redemption.

To me, not being able to remember the date means nothing as I believe now and there is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in my life causing me to grow in grace and knowledge of my Saviour.

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I’m neither protestant nor catholic but I’ll chime in anyway.

My apologies, mark123. I intended to cast the widest Christian net possible, but I still didn't phrase my solicitation properly. I have since revised the OP.

Thank you for the replies so far.

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Originally posted by KSGM:

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I’m neither protestant nor catholic but I’ll chime in anyway.

My apologies, mark123. I intended to cast the widest Christian net possible, but I still didn't phrase my solicitation properly. I have since revised the OP.

Thank you for the replies so far.

No apology necessary.

Saved 28 July 1985 -- Baptized 11 August 1985. Was stationed at Osan AB Korea and Baptized in an off-base Korean bath house. The two verses that 'did it' for me are John 3:16 and Romans 10:13. Backslid? Occasionally but always returned to the word.

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I was raised Catholic: Baptized, educated, and confirmed. When I left home, I left my Christian faith behind as well. For ten years, there was a near-complete absence of Christianity in my life. I say "near-complete" because that underlying foundation (thankfully) never totally eroded. After that decade, my faith began to slowly make a resurgence.

This is not uncommon. At some point, as an adult, you either make it your own, or you leave it.

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I now attend a Baptist church that I have become quite fond of. I should make it clear that this is not a Catholic versus Protestant conversation. I am not invested in infighting. This is a conversation about a characteristic of the Christian faith that I don't recall from my Catholic experience: being "saved".

I agree; and I have Baptist friends who have used this language. In my Catholic experience of nearly 60 years, we don't really use that language of being suddenly "saved", except at Baptism.

The closest biblical thing I can think of as such a dramatic moment is when Saul becomes Paul on the road to Damascus. But that doesn't mean that we Catholics aren't "saved". It just seems like more of a gradual, life-long process.

The sacraments are Gods gifts to us, through which we become closer to Him. We are "saved" from original sin through Baptism. We accept the faith as our own through Confirmation. We are forgiven of our sins and renewed through Penance (or confession).

My question for those who use this language would be: If you've been "saved", can you become "un-saved"? The answer for Catholics is clearly yes, you can become "un-saved".
Through mortal sin, unrepented, you become separated from God.

Raised in a Christian church, baptized at 13. Not Catholic but my Dad's side of the family was. No offense to any Catholics anywhere, but I just don't believe sprinkling a baby is a baptism. A baby can't form a sentence or make an educated decision about anything other than being hungry or filling up a diaper. Sewed my wild oats in college, like every other 18 year old I ran with at the time. Figured out I was getting nowhere quick, returned to my faith and found a faithful mate, raised a family and am thankful to God for my blessings. God is real, eternity is real and I believe we are gonna answer for what we did and didn't do in this life. The truth is out there if you are really looking for it. Acts ch.9 describes Saul's conversion to Paul, who described himself as "the chief of sinners", basically a Christian bounty hunter. I figured if there was hope for Paul, there was hope for me too.
Ephesians ch.4 is a good read. Like Chellim1 I believe faith is a life long process, there's not an "easy button" for it. Hope this thread stays open for awhile, my .02.

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No offense to any Catholics anywhere, but I just don't believe sprinkling a baby is a baptism. A baby can't form a sentence or make an educated decision about anything other than being hungry or filling up a diaper.

No offense taken.
While I agree that a baby can't form a sentence or make an educated decision about anything other than being hungry or filling up a diaper... a baby can be baptized.

Baptism relieves us from the burden of "original sin" which we all carry since the downfall of mankind from the garden of Eden. A baby doesn't commit sins of his/her own because a baby doesn't yet reason or understand right from wrong. It takes the later Sacrament of Penance to relieve us of our own sins.

The other purpose of Baptism is the commitment by the parents (and god-parents) to raise the child in the faith.

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If you've been "saved", can you become "un-saved"?

A question my wife and I have considered as well. Perhaps due to my Catholic upbringing, I tend to agree with chellim1.

I have met Christians who believe otherwise though: Once saved, always saved.

I was raised in a Christian home and some of my earliest memories were of me praying nightly that Jesus would come into my heart and save me from my sins. So I don't have a dramatic story of conversion. I once told a man who asked me about my testimony that I didn't have a sensational story of rejecting Christ and then immediately choosing to follow Him and he told me my conversion was remarkable because God spared me from the pain of living that lifestyle. He made a good point. Anyways, the Bible is very clear: 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

If you have had a genuine conversion. You ARE always saved. Catholics believe saving faith is faith plus works. Well, the Bible says our best works are like filthy rags. So we really have nothing to offer toward our salvation except for belief and trust in Jesus. When he was on the cross Jesus said "It is finished". If you can lose your salvation, you are also saying that Jesus death and resurrection were not enough to atone for your sins. And if that were the case, none of us would be saved because we are always sinning. Jesus death and resurrection on the cross is sufficient for past, current and future sins. But like Paul said in Romans 6:1 that we should continue to turn from our sins instead of sinning freely just because we are forgiven.

Check out these guys on YouTube. They are leading apologists that answer some theologically tough questions from a Biblical view:

Cliffe Knechtle
Frank Turek (this guy has debated famous atheists such as Christopher Hitchens)
Wes Huff

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Originally posted by KSGM:

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If you've been "saved", can you become "un-saved"?

A question my wife and I have considered as well. Perhaps due to my Catholic upbringing, I tend to agree with chellim1.

I have met Christians who believe otherwise though: Once saved, always saved.

I strongly believe that there are no absolutes in life, except for Jesus’ love. The worst sinner can repent at death (the good thief), and the “holiest” person can curse themselves at the last.

Jesus saves us, and we do not deserve it. We can be saved thousands of times in our lives, just as the love of a parent does not end when a child disobeys, and forgives over and over.

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If you have had a genuine conversion. You ARE always saved. Catholics believe saving faith is faith plus works. Well, the Bible says our best works are like fitly rags. So we really have nothing to offer toward our salvation except for belief and trust in Jesus. When he was on the cross Jesus said "It is finished". If you can lose your salvation, you are also saying that Jesus death and resurrection were not enough to atone for your sins.

I can't recall having things presented to me this way, when I was a young Catholic. It is seemingly inarguable, and is prolific outside the Catholic church, in my (admittedly limited) Protestant experience.

I have always, and still do (though less) believe that we need to meet God/Jesus halfway (not literally 50%); we need to make an effort. You can't just sin your pants off because you at one point accepted Jesus as your savior. My position on this has softened over the past few years, as I have begun to realize that perhaps that paradox doesn't actually exist. Maybe that person who is quite naughty but seems to be cheating the system because they once "accepted" Christ as their savior never really accepted Christ as their savior at all. As I said, I was baptized, educated, and confirmed a Catholic, but I can tell you that I wasn't committing my soul to those ideas at the time; I was mostly just going through the motions.

Now, I do feel that I am genuinely "saved". I feel that it has stuck. I know that, from now on, I couldn't actually live that paradoxical existence, and no one else can either.

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I strongly believe that there are no absolutes in life, except for Jesus’ love. The worst sinner can repent at death (the good thief), and the “holiest” person can curse themselves at the last.

Jesus saves us, and we do not deserve it.

Yes, I agree. Jesus saves us, and we do not deserve it.

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Catholics believe saving faith is faith plus works. Well, the Bible says our best works are like filthy rags. So we really have nothing to offer toward our salvation except for belief and trust in Jesus.

I disagree... it's not our own works which save us. We don't "earn" our way into heaven.
Acts of charity and acts of mercy may bring us closer to God in faith, but it's our faith in Him which is "saving" rather than any acts of our own.

I will know for sure on Judgment Day, and that is my God honest answer.

Saved yes. Actively involved no. Group worship has always been a strange concept to me. The hypocrisy and judgmental attitudes of to many I knew growing up soured me even more. As I got older and the church started turning towards singing (horribly) everything at worship, drove the final nail in that coffin. My relationship with god shall remain a private one.

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Originally posted by KSGM:

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If you have had a genuine conversion. You ARE always saved. Catholics believe saving faith is faith plus works. Well, the Bible says our best works are like fitly rags. So we really have nothing to offer toward our salvation except for belief and trust in Jesus. When he was on the cross Jesus said "It is finished". If you can lose your salvation, you are also saying that Jesus death and resurrection were not enough to atone for your sins.

I can't recall having things presented to me this way, when I was a young Catholic. It is seemingly inarguable, and is prolific outside the Catholic church, in my (admittedly limited) Protestant experience.

I have always, and still do (though less) believe that we need to meet God/Jesus halfway (not literally 50%); we need to make an effort. You can't just sin your pants off because you at one point accepted Jesus as your savior. My position on this has softened over the past few years, as I have begun to realize that perhaps that paradox doesn't actually exist. Maybe that person who is quite naughty but seems to be cheating the system because they once "accepted" Christ as their savior never really accepted Christ as their savior at all. As I said, I was baptized, educated, and confirmed a Catholic, but I can tell you that I wasn't committing my soul to those ideas at the time; I was mostly just going through the motions.

Now, I do feel that I am genuinely "saved". I feel that it has stuck. I know that, from now on, I couldn't actually live that paradoxical existence, and no one else can either.

You are really doing a good job putting some thought into this. I agree that many feel and teach that we have to do our part but none of our works can save us. Jesus did the work on our behalf (Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.) Our works however do show evidence of our salvation. Philippians 2:12 can be misinterpreted to show that salvation does require our own works "...continue to work out your salvation..." but reading in context you see Paul's point here is that you are saved, now show the results of your salvation by obeying God with deep reverence and fear.

Our beliefe in Jesus's perfect, sinless life, death on the cross, and then ressurection is sufficient. To add anything to that in order to gain salvation is contrary to anything I've found in scripture. "Ok, Jesus did all that, but I need to do XYZ and then I'll be saved" Ephesians 2:8 says "8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—"

Do you have a study Bible? Often times these can help make sense of what you are reading. John MacArthur has a great one if you need a recommendation.

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o heaven.
Acts of charity and acts of mercy may bring us closer to God in faith, but it's our faith in Him which is "saving" rather than any acts of our own.

I don't think it's an either/or proposition

in James 2 - 17 In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.”[a] Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder.

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Originally posted by 400m:
Saved yes. Actively involved no. Group worship has always been a strange concept to me. The hypocrisy and judgmental attitudes of to many I knew growing up soured me even more. As I got older and the church started turning towards singing (horribly) everything at worship, drove the final nail in that coffin. My relationship with god shall remain a private one.

I get that. I actually do desire fellowship but just can’t find it. I’m completely happy worshiping privately though.