“Not that I have already won the prize, already reached fulfillment. I only
press on, in hope of winning the mastery, as Christ Jesus has won the
mastery over me” (Phil. 3:12).
In conclusion, how does one receive new birth, justification, salvation and
eternal life:
By grace (Eph. 2:8).
By Christ’s Blood (Rom. 5:9; Heb. 9:22).
By Christ’s Cross (Eph. 2:16; Col. 2:14).
By faith in Christ (St. John 3:16; Acts 16:31).
By repentance (Acts 2:38; 2 Pet. 3:9).
By baptism (St. John 3:5; 1 Pet. 3:21).
By confessing publicly with our mouths (Rom. 10:9).
By knowing and adhering to the truth (1 Tim. 2:4).
By obeying the Commandments (St. Matt. 5:19 & 19:17).
By the doing of good works in faith (St. James 2:24).
We could add others to the list, but our point has been made. The first three
express what God has done to save us; all the others express our required
response in co-operation with God. All of the latter are non-negotiable.
“Are you born-again?” Yes, answers the Catholic: by baptism (St. John
3:5), faith in Christ and in the word of God (1 Pet. 1:23) and obeying the
Ten Commandments (St. Matt. 19:17).
“Are you saved?” “We are redeemed,” is our answer, “and like St. Paul
we are working out our salvation in ‘fear and trembling’ (Phil. 2:12), doing
good and avoiding evil, waiting for judgment day with hope when we will
be judged according to all our works” (2 Cor. 5:10).
“Do you have assurance of salvation?” Like St. Paul, the Catholic
answers, “I punish my body and subdue it, so that after proclaiming to
others I myself should not be disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:27).
“Do you know you will go to heaven if you die now? Again with St. Paul
we answer, “I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not
thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me” (1 Cor. 4:4).
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