If you are Catholic and believe you are in the "true" church, what's the big deal if all believers go to

Question

heaven anyway, or do you think they do in fact? Most Catholics I know think they go to heaven just because they are Catholic, not because of the cross. This seems to be the danger of any group that thinks they are the "true" church.

Answer 1

Hello,

No, because you are Catholic there is no guarantee you are going to heaven unless you live according to the teachings of Christ. Those mafiosos you see on gangster movies going to church and communion, attending the baptism of their granddaughter then stepping outside for a smoke whilst arranging an afternoon fling with a mistress and ordering a contract killing over a drug deal would not make it in a million years to heaven.

The Catholics as well as some other mainstream protestant groups do not believe in eternal security concept of once saved always saved since they believe it contradicts what Jesus taught. Even in the height of religious intolerance the Catholic church said those born into other Christian denominations and who are taught other doctrines will not be held accountable and will make it to heaven anyway. As a rule they are not as dogmatic as who shall be saved and who will not as some other denominations are.

Cheers,

Michael Kelly

Answer 2

*is Catholic*

What should you care what a group thinks? Rather you should care what is true. If the Catholic Church is true, then it is true and you should join it. If it is not true, what do you care what we "think"?

So seek truth instead of talking about the dangers of groups thinking this or that. It is vastly more dangerous to sit by idly when you are presented with different beliefs.

Is the sky blue or is it pink? Is the Catholic Church the true Church or is it not?

WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL? The big deal is this, heaven means being in communion with God. Belief and faith is not just thinking, but it is acting. One cannot be in a relationship in communion with another person if they are not participants in that communion.

By definition an individual who is of some belief system that is out of communion with Christ, cannot be in communion with Christ. This is especially true of somebody who knowingly reject communion with the Catholic Church.

If the Catholic Church is the true Church.
Then the Catholic Church is in full communion with Christ.
If someone rejects communion with the Church,
Then someone reject communion with Christ.

How can an individual who rejects communion with Christ enter into heaven, when what heaven is is communion with Christ. Such an individual who rejects the Church in that manner has rejected heaven!

Answer 3

As I understand it the Catholic Church was given by Christ the sole authority to baptize and forgive sins but this does not mean all Catholics will go heaven.

Answer 4

That's a good question. But the Catholic Church is the true Church, as it was founded by Jesus Christ (a.k.a God). How is there truth outside of the one, true Church?

Answer 5

church or religion alone won't save you.

a person's good deeds on earth is what matters most. it's just that church and religion encourages people do good deeds.

that's were the confusion comes in. some people confuse membership in a church or religion as the cure-all for all the evil in this world

Answer 6

You have no idea what Catholics believe.

Answer 7

Just wanted to say, “Liet Kynes, you ROCK!”

2 points!

Answer 8

so does to the any others religious philosophical principles.

Answer 9

See?...you christians can't even agree among yourselves.

Answer 10

No informed Catholic thinks they're going to heaven simply because they are Catholic.

As for salvation itself, we are not guaranteed Salvation. We hope for Salvation:

Heb. 7:27, 9:12,26;10:10; 1 Pet 3:18 - Jesus died once and redeemed us all, but we participate in the application of His redemption by the way in which we live.

Heb. 9:12 - Christ's sacrifice secured our redemption, but redemption is not the same thing as salvation. We participate in and hope for salvation. Our hope in salvation is a guarantee if we are faithful to Christ to the end. But if we lose hope and fail to persevere, we can lose our salvation. Thus, by our own choosing (not by God's doing), salvation is not a certainty. While many Protestant churches believe in the theology of "once saved, always saved," such a novel theory is not found in Scripture and has never been taught by the Church.

Rom. 5:2 - we rejoice in the "hope" (not the presumptuous certainty) of sharing the glory of God. If salvation is absolutely assured after accepting Jesus as Savior, why would Paul hope?

Rom. 5:5 - this "hope" does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Our hope is assured if we persevere to the end.

Rom. 8:24 - this "hope" of salvation that Paul writes about is unnecessary if salvation is guaranteed. If salvation is assured, then why hope?

Rom. 10:1 - Paul prays that the Jews "may be saved." Why pray if it's guaranteed? Further, why pray unless you can mediate?

Rom. 12:12 - rejoice in your "hope" (not your certainty), be patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer.

2 Cor. 3:12 - since we have a "hope" (not a certainty), we are very bold. We can be bold when we are in God’s grace and our persevering in obedient faith.

Gal. 5:5 - for through the Spirit by faith we wait for the "hope" (not the certainty) of righteousness.

Eph. 1:18 - that you may know what is the "hope" to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance.

Eph. 4:4 - there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one "hope" (not the one certainty) that belongs to your call.

Eph. 6:10-17 – Paul instructs the Ephesians to take the whole armor of God, the breastplate of righteousness, and the helmet of salvation, in order “to stand,” lest they fall. Paul does not give any assurance that the spiritual battle is already won.

Phil. 3:11 - Paul shares Christ's sufferings so that "if possible" he may attain resurrection. Paul does not view his own resurrection as a certainty.

Phil. 1:20 - as it is my eager expectation and "hope" (not certainty) that I shall not be at all ashamed before Christ.

Col. 1:5 - Paul refers to the "hope" (not guarantee) that Christ laid up for us in heaven.

Col. 1:23 - provided that you continue in the faith, not shifting from the "hope" of the gospel which you heard.

Col. 1:27 - to them God chose to make known His mystery, which is Christ in you, the "hope" (not the certainty) of His glory.

1 Thess. 1:3 - remembering before our God your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of "hope" in Jesus Christ.

1 Thess. 2:19 - for what is our "hope" or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?

1 Thess. 5:8 - we must put on the helmet of "hope" (not of certainty) of salvation.

2 Thess. 2:16 - the Lord Jesus and God our Father who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good "hope" through grace.

1 Tim. 1:1 - Paul describes Christ Jesus as our "hope" (not our guarantee). We can reject Him and He will allow this.

1 Tim. 4:10 - Paul says we toil and strive because we have our "hope" (not our assurance) on the living God. This is not because God is unfaithful, but because we can be unfaithful. We toil and strive for our salvation.

1 Tim. 5:5 - she who is a real widow, and is left all alone, has set her "hope" (not her assurance) on God. Our hope is a guarantee only if we persevere to the end.

1 Tim. 5:15 – Paul writes that some have already strayed after satan, as God Himself tells us in 1 Tim. 4:1. They were on the right path, and then strayed off of it.

2 Tim. 2:10 - Paul endures for the elect so that they "may also obtain salvation." This verse teaches us that even the "elect,” from the standpoint of human knowledge, have no guarantee of salvation.

Titus 1:2 - Paul says that he is in the "hope" (not the certainty) of eternal life. Paul knows that his hope is a guarantee if he perseveres, but his ability to choose sin over God makes his attainment of eternal life less than an absolute certainty until it is actually achieved.

Titus 2:13 - awaiting our blessed "hope," the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Titus 3:7 - Paul says we have been given the Spirit so we might become heirs in the "hope" (not the certainty) of eternal life.

Heb. 3:6 - we are Christ's house if we hold fast our confidence and pride in our "hope" (not our certainty).

Heb. 6:11 - we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness in realizing the full assurance of "hope" (not certainty) until the end.

Heb. 6:18 - we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the "hope" (not the certainty) that is set before us.

Heb. 6:19 - we have a "hope" that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone before us.

Heb. 7:19 - on the other hand, a better "hope" (not certainty) is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

Heb. 10:23 - let us hold fast the confession of our "hope" without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Heb. 11:1 - now faith is the assurance of things "hoped" for (not guaranteed), the conviction of things not seen (heaven).

Heb. 12:1 – let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.

Heb. 12:15 – see to it that no one fail to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness spring up and cause trouble, and by it many become defiled.

James 1:12 - we must endure trial and withstand the test in order to receive the crown of life. It is not guaranteed.

1 Peter 1:3 - by His mercy we have been born anew to a living "hope" through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

1 Peter 1:13 - set your "hope" (not assurance) fully upon the grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:21 - through Him you have confidence in God, who raised him from the dead so that your faith and "hope" are in God.

1 Peter 2:2 - like newborn babes, long for spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation. How can you grow up to something you already possess?

1 Peter 3:15 - always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the "hope" that is in you.

1 John 3:3 - and everyone who thus "hopes" in Him purifies himself as He is pure. These verses teach us that we must cooperate with God’s grace and persevere to the end to be saved. We can and do have a moral certitude of salvation if we persevere in faith, hope and love.