Being Catholic and Christian: Faith and Salvation

Catholic Christians believe that God loves us, each of us personally. God's love for us and our response to His love unites us. As with all important understanding of how persons relate to their surroundings, believers pass on to those who follow the guideposts which mark the path of belief.

Catholic Christians view the Bible, the written Word of God, as authentic historical literature. This literature is addressed to and has something to say to all people--it transmits an authentic teaching.

This teaching expresses a need to believe something and someone.

Included in this teaching is the promise of saving the believer from death to life ... eternal life.

This written literature or Scripture is a record of the earliest response in faith by believers to this teaching--open confession of detailed statements of faith.

The profession of faith historically--from Apostolic times--led to initiation into a supportive faith community of like believers.

This supportive faith community of believers was known and is known by many labels: the Way, Church, Christian, etc.

Chapter Table of Contents

• The Transmission of Authoritative Doctrine
• Apostolic Confessions of Faith
• Post-Apostolic Confessions of Faith
  • The Apostles Creed
  • The Nicene Creed
• Salvation: A Biblical Portrait
• Salvation: "Being Saved"
• The Catholic Response to "Are You Saved?"
• The Knowledge of Salvation
• Faith and Works
• The Process of Christian Initiation
• The Church: A Biblical Portrait - A New Testament Apologetic
  • Jesus Christ preached a Reign or Kingdom, the Kingdom of God (or of heaven).
  • Jesus preached an end-times kingdom but one already existing on earth.
  • Jesus preached that the kingdom was primarily spiritual and internal but also visible and external.
  • Christ called and founded an exclusive, inner core group of twelve men called the "apostles."
  • Christ committed His very mission to this twelve man inner core group, his Apostles, alone.
  • Christ gave to the Twelve, the Apostles, the power of ruling, teaching and sanctifying.
  • Christ at the same time instituted an obligatory hierarchical society for all people.
  • This same church Christ willed to endure until the end of the world.
  • Christ instituted only one church, and that society was both formally and specifically a visible one.
• Labels Among Christians
• Genealogy of Christian Faith Communities
  • American Christian Branches Among European Founded Churches
  • Lutheran Branch
  • Reformed Branch
  • Anglican Branch
  • Presbyterian Branch
  • Baptist Branch
  • Anabaptists
  • Methodist
• Modes of Transmitting Authoritative Doctrine

Last Updated: January 3, 1997