What are your views on salvation?

https://lemmy.world/post/42915868

What are your views on salvation? - Lemmy.World

Eg - what is required to be saved? Is it solely faith - saying something like the Sinner’s Prayer and “giving your heart to Jesus”? Or do works/sacraments matter? Or is there universal reconciliation? What about those who die in ignorance of Jesus and don’t get the opportunity?

100% works. The faith bit only matters because if you truly have faith, works come naturally. But “professing” faith without acting on it is just self-righteous posturing.

Ignorance isn’t a problem if you live by the principles Jesus put forward, it’s not like he invented them and they’re not really mysterious. Love your neighbor as yourself, help people who are struggling, and you’re good.

The faith bit only matters because if you truly have faith, works come naturally.

That’s really interesting, because this is one of the things Luther said to justify his “faith only” position - that if you start with the faith the works must follow.

Do you think most go to Heaven/are saved? Are you affiliated with a mainstream church?

I was raised Catholic, but my beliefs have evolved considerably. I believe everyone is “saved” eventually, but that can take more time for some than others. Anything less than unity and acceptance are incompatible with God, and it takes some people a lot of self-reflection to get there.
What role is Jesus’s death playing in salvation then? Is the idea that his sacrifice is such a powerful gift that it can’t be rejected?

Jesus was an example. He showed us what we could be, how we could treat each other. His death was a willing sacrifice, showing us the power of compassion, courage, and conviction. We are saved by emulating those qualities, by practicing compassion even when it comes as a personal cost.

I don’t get behind the get-out-of-hell free interpretation. Jesus didn’t die to give a sweetheart deal to sinners, he died to show the power of turning away from sin.