We who call ourselves Christians encounter salvation on a daily basis, with each decision we make and in our interactions with other people. We have chosen to live our lives a certain way because we believe it will lead to our salvation. Our promise of salvation is rooted in the words of Christ himself, who spoke "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
We all know these words, Christians and non-Christians alike.
However, there are two common interpretations of this popular passage: that of protestants and that of Catholics. Protestants read the above and have christened this one sentence as the key to salvation. If we accept that Christ is the only son of God who was sent to forgive our sins and give us eternal life, we will achieve this eternal life. If we do not accept Christ, we have chosen damnation, and there is no way around it: believe or perish. Protestants will also say that in John 3:3 where Christ says, "“Jesus answered and said to him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" it is further evidence that only those who consciously call themselves Christians and who have been baptized can be saved.
In light of the recent Virginia Tech massacre we are faced with the question of salvation in a particular way.
Israeli Professor dies protecting students
There is a broader issue at hand. This affects not just one Jewish professor but anyone who has not been baptized. We know that "No one has greater love than this, that one should lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) We also know that "...love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love." (1 John:4:7-8) This professor performed a great act of love by using himself as a barrier and enabling his students to escape with their lives through the windows.
What this professor did was a beautiful act that many Christians in history of wanted to do, that is: to lay down their life for another, to be a martyr. Without a doubt, this professor did what Christ asked us to do.
The question at hand is: Does the fact that he is not a Christian prevent him from entering into the kingdom of heaven?
The Catholic Church teaches that one does not need be baptized by water to be saved. "Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation. (Catechism of the Catholic Church: 847).
On a final note: please, contribute positively to this topic. All of us who care about these things can learn a great deal about our faith and the faith of our brothers if this topic goes in the direction I hope. Please, if you have pointless hate towards my topic, do not derail this thread. Start a new topic, entitle it "G3|Genius is a moron" and take that thread where you wish.
-Jim
We all know these words, Christians and non-Christians alike.
However, there are two common interpretations of this popular passage: that of protestants and that of Catholics. Protestants read the above and have christened this one sentence as the key to salvation. If we accept that Christ is the only son of God who was sent to forgive our sins and give us eternal life, we will achieve this eternal life. If we do not accept Christ, we have chosen damnation, and there is no way around it: believe or perish. Protestants will also say that in John 3:3 where Christ says, "“Jesus answered and said to him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" it is further evidence that only those who consciously call themselves Christians and who have been baptized can be saved.
In light of the recent Virginia Tech massacre we are faced with the question of salvation in a particular way.
Israeli Professor dies protecting students
There is a broader issue at hand. This affects not just one Jewish professor but anyone who has not been baptized. We know that "No one has greater love than this, that one should lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) We also know that "...love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love." (1 John:4:7-8) This professor performed a great act of love by using himself as a barrier and enabling his students to escape with their lives through the windows.
What this professor did was a beautiful act that many Christians in history of wanted to do, that is: to lay down their life for another, to be a martyr. Without a doubt, this professor did what Christ asked us to do.
The question at hand is: Does the fact that he is not a Christian prevent him from entering into the kingdom of heaven?
The Catholic Church teaches that one does not need be baptized by water to be saved. "Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation. (Catechism of the Catholic Church: 847).
On a final note: please, contribute positively to this topic. All of us who care about these things can learn a great deal about our faith and the faith of our brothers if this topic goes in the direction I hope. Please, if you have pointless hate towards my topic, do not derail this thread. Start a new topic, entitle it "G3|Genius is a moron" and take that thread where you wish.
-Jim