God wants all to be saved (1 Tm 2:4) from sin, death, Satan, hell and saved for perfect love and eternal life. We cannot save ourselves. Jesus alone can save us. We accept His grace of salvation by faith, usually expressed in works (see Eph 2:8-10). In this way, we work out and obtain our salvation (Phil 2:12).

Paul spelled out some of the details of accepting the grace of salvation by faith. He said: "You can depend on this" (2 Tm 2:11). First, we must die with Jesus by being baptized and living our Baptisms, as we repeatedly choose to die to ourselves (see 2 Tm 2:11; 2 Cor 4:10-11). Second, we must persevere in our faith in the Lord (2 Tm 2:12). Third, we should admit we are quite capable of denying Christ (see 2 Tm 2:12). Therefore, we need to accept the grace to overcome this temptation. Finally, we should focus on faithfulness (see 2 Tm 2:13) so that, on Judgment Day, the Lord will say to us the words: "Well done, good and faithful servants" (see Mt 25:21).

To understand and accept salvation, we must:

• die with Jesus in Baptism,
• persevere in total love for Jesus,
• cry out for the grace not to deny Jesus, and
• be faithful to Jesus.

"Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, and all your household" (Acts 16:31).

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert A. Stricker, December 13, 2003

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 18, 2003