Christ Suffered the Crucifixion to Save Us. ARE WE SAVED?

Christ Suffered the Crucifixion to Save Us. Are We Saved?

Eileen Renders

This may seem like a simple question; however, some of the answers are not so simple to accept. To start from the beginning, back to the Old Testament. The first person known to have written in the Old Testament was Abraham. He also had a covenant with God that, although his wife Sara was infertile, she would bear him a son. Though Abraham and his wife were elderly, their trust in God’s promise never wavered. Sara heard an angel speak to Abraham and confirmed that he would have a son by his wife, Sara. When she heard this, Sara laughed and doubted that. In those days, people knew about Abraham and even believed Abraham was chosen to be the father of God.

Many Jews of Israel believed that their Covenant with God was their salvation, and were said to have 5 covenants with God. However, Abraham was not the father of God, and Israel did not live up to the conditions of God’s Covenants. They denied that Jesus was the Messiah, they denied him, and they did not love him. They expected the Messiah would come as a Soldier, a strong Ruler and save them. They did not accept or obey God’s Ten Commandments.  

Catholicism accepted that Jesus was the Son of God and followed His Commandments. Remaining free from sin, we are saved! Covenants are not unconditional, as they are much like a commitment, a vow, or a sacred promise, as in marriage. 

Even today, there may be religions that believe that because of Christ’s Suffering and death on the Cross to save us from sin, we are unconditionally “saved.” In reading the bible, we often find what Jesus required to be considered one saved. Jesus would say, “Who do you believe I am?”  To the Jewish woman he met at the well, Jesus told her who He was, and asked, “Do you believe who I am?” She answered, “I do”, and Jesus told her she would be saved. The Thief on the Cross, who was dying beside Christ, told Jesus he believed who he was, and Jesus responded,” Before this day is over, you will be with Me in heaven.”

To be clear, there are many passages in the Bible where Jesus, by His words, states that He desires our love, acknowledgement of who He is, and obedience to His Commandments. Jesus gave us Baptism, died for our sins, and provided us with the Sacraments, the Commandments, and an opportunity to die in the state of grace and be received in heaven for all eternity.

WE MUST NOT FORGET: God does not condemn anyone to hell. He did give all free will, and it is by our choices that we will go to heaven or hell.