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Have you every been somewhere when out of the blue, someone walks up to you and says, “Have you been saved” and “Do you know Jesus”? At first, we give them that deer in the headlight stare of what we have just been asked!  It has probably happened to all of us at one time or another in our lifetimes to include those that come door to door.  One time I stated, I am a Roman Catholic, and the response was, “that’s ok, we take anyone!”

So, the questions are – “Are we saved” and “Do we know Jesus?”

Let us first look at Holy Scripture on the first subject of being saved.

We have been saved!  Ephesians 2:8 states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God”.   Grace is that special “gift” from God that enables us to participate in His life.  Sanctifying grace is given to us at baptism and is reinforced once we receive other sacraments, with praying, and through performing charitable works.  All these ultimately unites us to Christ to share in His wisdom and love.

We are being saved!  1 Peter 1:9 states, “As the outcome of your Faith you obtain the salvation of your souls.”  Our salvation depends on living the Faith taught by Christ, which was graciously bestowed upon us in Baptism.  Grace is a gift that God wants us to freely practice through our Faith.  This practice of Faith involves incorporating every word and action of Christ into our daily lives and into the lives of others.  And, as we grow in our union with Christ, our lives become lights that shine brightly in blackness and during dark times.   

We will be saved!  Matthew 10:22 and 24:13 both state that “…he who endures to the end will be saved.”  God desires the salvation for all of us.  Jesus foretold that the Church would endure hardships, trials, and betrayals that would cause many to renounce their faith.  Jesus indicated that fidelity in the face of oppression, torture, and martyrdom (there are more Christian Martyrs today than in past centuries) in which “faith” is essential with attaining salvation.  Faith is a personal act that demands that we share our belief in Jesus with others through evangelization.

The second question is “Do we know Jesus” or as we should say, “Do we live by what Jesus taught us”?  Do we “talk the talk” – talk about Jesus by our faith or do we “walk the walk” – live as a reflection of Jesus – truly know what he was teaching? 

St. James states in 2:14 – 16, “What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works?”  Can his faith alone save him?”  In other words, will by just knowing Jesus save us.  St. James continues, “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you tells him, “Go in peace, stay warm and well fed, but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?  So, faith by itself if it has no works, is dead”. 

St. James explains that it is one thing to know Jesus through faith, to believe in Jesus, to be saved by Jesus, but, without doing what is possible to provide for the physical needs of others, makes our faith a hollow shell. 

To live, grow, and persevere in our faith until the end we must live and practice our faith, to not only know Jesus but to also live by what Jesus taught us through works of charity.  A charity with helping, supporting, and assisting those within our Community.

Our Lady of the Lake has many Commissions and organizations that aid and support our community where we have an opportunity to practice our Faith and our charity.

Are we saved and do we know Jesus? 

Blessings – Dcn Jim