Have You Been Saved?

First, let us be clear on how we are saved. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ (Eph 2:89; CCC 161), not by our own efforts. In this sense, works can not save us. But we must cooperate with grace; faith must be completed by our love and obedience in order to be living, saving faith (Gal 5:6; Rom 1:8; Jas 2:826). Here, works of Christian obedience, motivated by the love of God and neighbor, come into play. Without such works, our faith is dead and cannot save us (CCC 162).

So our cooperation -- our "work" in a very limited sense -- is necessary for salvation. Yet even our cooperation is a matter of grace. As St. Paul wrote, "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Phil 2:1213, my emphasis). Even when we cooperate with God by doing good, it is God who is inspiring, enabling and moving us to do so (Phil 4:13). Our part is to say "yes" and to love God with our whole heart, mind, and strength by active obedience.

One thing to keep in mind: Being saved is more than a "one-time event." It is a process. There are "three tenses" to salvation. If someone asks, "Are you saved?" you should answer: "I have been saved from my sins through Christs death and resurrection. I am being saved as I cooperate with Gods grace. And I will be saved so long as I do not reject Gods love and I die in His friendship (that is, in a state of grace)." Salvation is a past, present, and future reality.