Do You Have To Be Saved?

Question

In some denominations they believe you have to be "saved" to enter heaven and some look down on the Catholic's because they are not "born-again".

So with that reasoning Mother Theresa, who is all about what a faith should be would not gain entrance to heaven but lying, cheating stealing, adultrous evangelical preachers would get in because they are saved and ask for forgiveness.

So my question is if you are in an evangelical faith do you really think god would deny a person like Mother Theresa who has done more positive for you entrance into heaven because she is Catholic and not born-again or saved. Because according to some of your churches she would not.

This is not a question if heaven exists. It is a question of beliefs and how God would judge in each of thier individual faiths.

Answer 1

You asked for answers from Evangelicals, so here it is...

Being born again (saved) is a state of the spirit, whether a person calls it that or not (and just because one says they're born again--like those hypocritical Evangelical preachers--doesn't mean they are). I believe if her heart received new life in Christ then she's in Heaven and if it didn't then she's not (Isaiah says "[our] righteousness is as filthy rags").

Remember, Christ Himself said being born again was required during His chat with Nicodemas. But what's important is the meaning, not merely the words.

Personally, I think her good works are a good indication that she very well may have been born again, but only God is the judge.

Answer 2

God gave us all a choice to either be saved and believe (which results in getting to heaven) or not being saved and that results in going to hell. It doesn't matter what you have done in God's eyes all sin is the same to God but if you have asked for forgiveness and been saved then you will go to heaven. With regards to Mother Teresa she has had the same choice as everyone else. It says in the BIBLE that with without works is dead and that you just can't be just a good person and expect to get into heaven.

Answer 3

Research when the "born again" faith came about.


It is through Baptism that we are "born again" (or "born from above") of "water and of the Spirit" (John 3:3-5). Read the entire chapter of John 3 which speaks of being "born again" and please note that it is all about Baptism. Despite what some Protestants believe, being "born again" doesn't mean "having an emotional high" or "making a decision for Christ," though these are fine and good, the latter being necessary after the age of reason; being "born again" very clearly refers to Baptism of water and of the Spirit. This regeneration of water and Spirit is necessary to enter the Kingdom of God:

John 3:3-5
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God




We believe that baptism with water -- by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling -- in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, cleanses us from original sin and personal sin (and their punishments) and initiates us into the life of the Church. It is more than merely symbolic; it's more than an expression of belief of the one being baptized (or his parents); it is a Sacrament, both a sign and medium of sanctifying grace. Baptism does something; it remits sins:





The authority of the Church rests on three pillars:

Scripture- The Bible is the inerrant word of God and is to be read as the earliest Christians read it: in the light of Tradition and under the guidance of those ordained to teach.

Tradition-the teachings which the Church has preserved and passed down from Christ, His Apostles, and the unanimous teachings of the early Church Fathers .

Magisterium - the teaching authority of the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The Church has 7 Sacraments -- "outward signs of invisible grace" and media of sanctifying grace. The Sacraments were given to us by Christ so that we may receive His grace and become more like Him. The Seven Sacraments are:

Baptism
Confirmation -Sacrament of the Seal
Eucharist
Penance
Holy Matrimony
Holy Orders
Extreme Unction

The Church teaches by looking not only at Sacred Scripture, but into History and by reading what the earliest Christians have written, what those who've sat on the Chair of Peter have spoken consistently with Scripture and Tradition, and what they've solemnly defined.
To believe that the Bible is our only source of Christian Truth is unbiblical and illogical

Answer 4

I've actually wondered the same thing. I've also always wondered how people can assume this "authority" they all seem to have concerning the requirements to gain entrance into Heaven. It seems that too many people these days like to play the role of judge, jury, and in some cases even God, in determining who they see fit to inherit "the kingdom of God".

Answer 5

whalers, tough question. For starters there were no "born again Christians" when Jesus walked Galilee. He talked about going back to the womb or the very beginning. Before you knew any religion or philosophy? "Born again Christian" is bullshit. Jesus wasn't talking about that? Lot of stuff in the Bible and Gospels. Most scholars say a very reputable remark was when Jesus said to suffer the children for their's is the reign of God. Not "inherit" or "like" unto or any of that crap. Being a born again "Christian" is a total misinterpretation of what Jesus was talking about. The real Jesus wasn't saying you needed to be saved. He was saying you needed to be what you were born to be? Not what mom or dad or some preacher put in your head?

Answer 6

The Bible says not by works alone, faith without works is dead. God is the ultimate judge of the soul. Catholics, Protestants, Baptist and so on all labels and names and denominations the bottom line is that you believe and live and walk(works) like Jesus, he was perfect in the eyes of the lord and if we as the human race would just seek Gods face and turn from our wicked ways stop comparing one to another and love one another like Jesus Christ did and love God with all our hearts and mind body and soul we would not be far from the kingdom of God. Jesus says be perfect like his father (God) in heaven is perfect. First we crawl before we walk first we drink milk before we eat meat so as we learn of God. Jesus says man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God...I do know this we all have to seek our own soul salvation according to the word of God as the same as mother Theresa..

Answer 7

There are two commands from Jesus
1) Love your God with all your heart mind and soul.
2) Love your neighbor as yourself (even if he's your enemies and harms you to your destruction.)

The only way to do this is to die to your ego. Jesus was describing the process of becoming a loving child of god by using the term Born-Again.

That was before the fundamentalist hijacked the term and turned it into a MAGICK process. It's a way to say they have spiritual superiority to you. Of course Mother Theresa is for lack of a better term "in heaven." She was a dear loving woman who walked the earth with the heart of god.

Follow the two commandments given by Jesus and all religion, dogma, and philosophy are useless. Most traditional practice is harmless.

I can't wait to "Get to heaven" and see Mother T and many of my old Pagan friends waiting for me. God love you!


Blessed Be!

Answer 8

you also have to put in count, God looks at us in a same view. simply evil.
its like this...

2 glass of water... Ones pure water, and ones clean water but in the bottom there is paint. Pure water , would represent Jesus... yet mother terresa or other great ,positive indivuals are that "clean" water if you will. They both look clean in comparision... but lets say we stir them. The pure will remain pure... but the other will mix with the paint and become something eles. She may have look clean and pure in peoples eyes, but in Gods eye, looked ever so same as other people... just knew how to hide her self more.

Answer 9

The roadmap to Heaven is a simple one

Hear the Word
Believe the Word
Admit you are a sinner
Repent or be sorry for your sins........It has to be genuine repentance
BE BAPTIZED!
Live a faithful life

If you do this, you are saved and will make it

Answer 10

"saved" is a mental state when you have forgiven every one and you are thinking like God.
it doesn't matter who you are or what position you have in mans churches..