If all you need is to be "saved" to get to heaven, then what is the use of virtues?

Question

or the motive not to commit evil?
If there is no punishment or reward and there is only one prerequisite, then what is morality for?

Answer 1

I've answered this question before, so here goes... again...

NO ONE ON THIS EARTH IS GUARANTEED TO GO TO HEAVEN JUST BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST OR BY GOD'S GRACE ALONE!

God's grace, alone, won't do it...

My faith, alone, won't do it...

How I live my life, won't do it...

I know that I can only get to heaven through Jesus. Also, it is not just by this faith in Jesus, nor just the Grace of God, nor just the works that I do. It is a combination of many things.

We receive God's saving and sanctifying grace in many ways, and Christ Himself, into our souls when we are baptized and through the sacraments. Yet we also know that Christ Himself has established certain conditions for entry into eternal happiness in Heaven.

"Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."" (John 6:53-58)

We will be judged by this as well, so be warned...

"Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself." (1 Cor. 11:27-29).

We will also be judged by our faith, but not by this alone, we will also be judged by the works that we do (Justification by faith alone is a Protestant doctrine; it was unheard of in the Christian community before the sixteenth century.)...

If St. Paul meant that faith ruled out the necessity of good works for salvation, he would not have written:

". . . and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." (1 Cor. 13:2).

If faith ruled out the necessity of good works for salvation, the Apostle James would not have written:

"Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only'? . . . For even as the body without the spirit is dead; so also faith without works is dead." (James 2:24-26).

If faith ruled out the necessity of good works for salvation, the Apostle Peter would not have written:

"Therefore, brothers, be all the more eager to make your call and election firm, for, in doing so, you will never stumble. For, in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you." (2 Peter 1:10-11).

If faith was the only necessity for salvation, the Apostle James would not have written:

"If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world." (James 1:26-27)

Christ Himself stated:

"For the Son of man . . . will render to every man according to his works." (Matt. 16:27).

"‘Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven’" (Matt. 7:21).

But, I need my faith as well...

"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1Ti 5:8) (works and faith)

"Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith." (2Th 3:1-2)

"Who were those who rebelled when they heard? Was it not all those who came out of Egypt under Moses? With whom was he "provoked for forty years"? Was it not those who had sinned, whose corpses fell in the desert? And to whom did he "swear that they should not enter into his rest," if not to those who were disobedient? And we see that they could not enter for lack of faith."(Hebrews 3:16-19)

When I die, I will not enter the kingdom of Heaven immediately, either...

The Bible distinguishes between those who enter Heaven straightaway, calling them "the church of the firstborn" (Heb. 12:23), and those who enter after having undergone a purgation, calling them "the spirits of the just made perfect." (Heb. 12:23).

Christ Himself stated:

"Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny." (Matt. 5 :26).

And:

"I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak. By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matt. 12:36-37).

Answer 2

This seems like an intelligent question.

Of course, the spiritual master takes on the sins of his followers. In the Christian faith they say only Jesus can do this and that he takes on everyone's sins past, present and future. But, what about the instructions and example set by the spiritual master? Are you sure your spiritual master will know you after death?

Some of the ideas back each other up although some of these ideas are not always accepted by respectable people. It might help if we considered the concept that indicates we need to work towards perfection if we expect to achieve an all-perfect heaven.

Apparently, good works, morals, virtues and ideals help to keep us and society in general, in line with our true eternal self. The eternal self is automatically all-virtuous. But, there is more we could do to ascertain our achieving the eternal heaven. For instance, we need to be completely convinced about our love for the Supreme God, the Supreme Being. Otherwise, we will continue to be attracted to the temptations of material existence.

Answer 3

This is a very good question, and the undeniability of "redemption" through this method... i.e. just accept jesus and be **really, really sorry** and you'll be forgiven, no matter how hard you screwed over or hurt everyone in sight for personal gain.

Not much of a system, not much incentive to live a good life or abide by the "Golden Rule" if there's such a massive escape clause at the end of it. The church in the middle ages even started cashing in on this, selling indulgences to help assuage the guilt of the nobility and merchant classes who were worried they'd stolen or pillaged just a little too much.

Personally, I can't see the point of a system of morality that doesn't demand consideration, decency, compassion and respect as tenets for how to LIVE YOUR ACTUAL LIFE... rather than just optional as long as you repent later.

Answer 4

Salvation is a journey. It begins when you accept Jesus as Lord and savior of your life, and will end when you meet him in heaven. Now virtues are the outcome of receiving Jesus. If you were selfish before you got saved, now you should become generous, if cruel, kind and so forth. It is also a process. From the time you get saved onwards, you should start to strive to become the image of christ. No one is perfect and never will be. However as you grow as a christian, you become closer and closer to becoming like christ. There is a reward for everyone, when jesus returns: Those who insist on doing evil knowingly will receive their punishment while those who desire and strive each day to please God will go to be with Jesus forever . God bless

Answer 5

Exactly!

We can be in a saved condition (like a drowning person being brought to shore, but not saved until we are on dry land again - because what if our rescuer gets a cramp and then we both drown?)

But, we still have to obey - if we think we are saved and then disobey over and over - then we miss the real meaning of Christ's sacrifice. 2 Corinthians 6:1

And James 2:26 says that faith without works is dead.

Answer 6

Well, if you really are saved, you will have realized the need to turn from your sins in gratitude to God for saving you.

Technically, you don't need works to go to heaven, but you have to be genuine. Which means being as virtuous a person as you can, even if you can't do a whole lot of good works (because you didn't have the means).

Answer 7

Virtues are a way to let other people know that you are not of this world even though you are. Morality and virtue allow you to become more Christ-like and so that you will reap rewards in Heaven.

Answer 8

Because when you are saved, you want to become virtuous and follow God, even though we are saved by Grace, we are still led to do things that are right, because it's something you want to do for Jesus because you love Him. Best answer I can think of. Who said there was no punishment or reward? We will all answer for our sins, Christian or not.

Answer 9

I guess a virtuous life style would keep you better in touch and in a place where you could more easily receive a blessing from the one who died to save you. Well just maybe.What'll you think?

Answer 10

Dear jane l,

When a person is saved in essence they are exchanging their self directed life for a life directed by God. The Bible says to be saved you confess with your mouth, but you believe with your heart. If a person gets "saved" but does not follow God and His teachings that person has not truly believed with their hearts.

The book of James says: Faith without works is dead. One does not do good works to be saved, but good works are the results of being saved.

The motive not to commit evil is obedience to God- because you are grateful that He has already paid the price for our sins- which deserve to be punished- by punishing Jesus on the cross for our sins.

So the motivation to be holy is love for God.

God's invitation to know Him is not a lisecne for people to act immorally-- it's an invitation to live with the same heart, mind, and love that Jesus Christ had.

Hope that helps,

Nickster

Answer 11

From the fundamentalist Christian persepective the only reason you were born was to accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior. Nothing else you do matters at all, according to their way of thinking; your purpose for living is to praise Jesus and "God" unceasingly, and when you get to heaven, you praise them for all eternity. Nothing else matters, from their point of view - nothing.

Ignorant, isn't it? And what a lowly opinion of "God" that kind of thinking represents, when you really take a good look at it.