Do We All Agree?

Q

I’ve accepted Christ as my savior and am a born again believer. Raised Baptist, I am now married to a Catholic man. We’ve talked much about salvation but his viewpoint is different from mine although he says he’s accepted the Lord as his savior. I understand that only God knows our hearts – but do the “words” (salvation, accept the Lord, etc.) used by different faiths mean the same thing?

A

Words and phrases like these can be understood differently in some religious groups than they are in others.

If you want to know whether this is the case with your husband, the next time the subject comes up and he says he’s saved because he’s accepted the Lord as his savior ask him to explain what that means to him.

If he says it means he believes Jesus died for all his sins and rose again then his understanding of the term is the same as yours. If he adds any additional requirements it means his view of what it takes to be saved is different.

It may take a bit of discussion to find out if the two of you really believe the same thing, so be patient. It’s important that even if you don’t agree you at least understand what he believes so you’ll know how to pray for him.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).