Are protestants able to go to Heaven?

[Della]

So if protestants can be saved, does that mean they won’t have as much accountability, or actually less chance of sinning since certain things could not apply?

I mean according to Catholic Church teachings a Catholic could be damned to Hell for missing a single weekly Mass without having sincere repentance and yet protestants would have to be excused from that obviously as they don’t have that requirement.

What about the use of birth control. Since most denominations see nothing wrong with it, will they be free from needing to repent that, while somebody who was baptized as a baby, by their parents in the Catholic Church, but left because they disagree with that stance will be held accountable for using it? Or what about a practicing Catholic who chooses to use it?

What about the baby baptized Catholic and then the parents never even bothered to attend Church and so the person eventually finds them self in a Baptist Church as a grown up.

It just seems, that what is being said here even by the Catholics, is that it’s all good, and that almost could send the message that you are better to not join the Church as you’ll just be held accountable for more things than if you don’t.

Everyone is accountable for his own sins, no matter who he might be. What we humans cannot know is how culpable anyone person may be for his sins. That’s for God to decide. People who have never had to attend church services under penalty of sin are not culpable for that. Is it still a sin to knowingly and willfully and deliberately miss Mass? Of course it is. Jesus said “to whom much is given much is required”. God judges according to what a person understands and if he violates what he knows to be wrong. So, it’s our duty to help him see why what he is doing is wrong–not to triumph over him, but to help him have all that God wants him to have. No Catholic should feel cheated because he has more to lose–it’d be like a man saying it’s better not to love his children so he can’t have the pain if he loses them. We owe God everything, not whatever we can get away with not giving him. Let God do his work and pray for those who reject his laws (which are meant for our good not to spoil our fun). That is our joy and our duty.

 

[heart4home]

Everyone is accountable for his own sins, no matter who he might be. What we humans cannot know is how culpable anyone person may be for his sins. That’s for God to decide. People who have never had to attend church services under penalty of sin are not culpable for that. Is it still a sin to knowingly and willfully and deliberately miss Mass? Of course it is. Jesus said “to whom much is given much is required”. God judges according to what a person understands and if he violates what he knows to be wrong. So, it’s our duty to help him see why what he is doing is wrong–not to triumph over him, but to help him have all that God wants him to have. No Catholic should feel cheated because he has more to lose–it’d be like a man saying it’s better not to love his children so he can’t have the pain if he loses them. We owe God everything, not whatever we can get away with not giving him. Let God do his work and pray for those who reject his laws (which are meant for our good not to spoil our fun). That is our joy and our duty.

Yes and just so you know I was only being facetious in some regards as I realize we have the great grace of the Eucharist each week or even daily that they do not.

There is obviously no answer, other than “only God knows” as to who will be saved, but it does bother me when others assume to answer for Him offering assurances that really aren’t their’s to give.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

Are protestants able to go to Heaven? Can they be saved?

Everybody can be saved. Did you suppose God couldn’t save certain people?

 

[dje101]

Everybody can be saved. Did you suppose God couldn’t save certain people?

i just meant it in the context of catholic teaching. i know that God can save anyone:thumbsup:

 

[Della]

Yes and just so you know I was only being facetious in some regards as I realize we have the great grace of the Eucharist each week or even daily that they do not.

So good to hear, and I so totally agree. :tiphat:

There is obviously no answer, other than “only God knows” as to who will be saved, but it does bother me when others assume to answer for Him offering assurances that really aren’t their’s to give.

Exactly. The Church has never declared any particular person in hell. That’s not the Church’s “job” nor anyone else’s. :yup:

 

[itsjustdave1988]

i wanted to know if protestants can be save without joining the catholic church.

Christ Himself makes it an essential part of the faith that Christians are to be in communion with His Church, those He appointed to teach in his name. Scripture says, "He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me.” (Luke 10:16).

God appointed the apostles, with Peter as the chief apostle (cf. Matt 16:18-19). This is the ecclesiology of the NT Church, hierarchically governed by the college of the apostles, with Peter as head of that college. This NT ecclesiology remains today. The apostles, in turn, appointed others bishops (Gk episcopoi, “overseers”) to carry on their ministry (2 Tim 2:2), with Peter’s successor as the chief pastor. This is the college of bishops, with the historical successor of Peter, the Pope of Rome, as the head of that college. All Christians are obliged to remain in communion with this Church established by Christ. To do otherwise is what the NT calls the “sin of Korah’s rebellion.” (Jude 11, cf. Num 16).

The sin of schism and heresy are serious sins, which separate brethren from the unity desired by Christ. Paul: “after a first and second admonishment, a heretic avoid.” (Titus 3:10). Culpability for these objectively grave sins, like culpability for all sins, is based upon “voluntariness” of the sin, that is, based upon subjective elements such as “knowledge” and “consent.” It can be that such sins of heresy and schism are damnable sins, if the “voluntariness” in sinning is sufficient. Yet, the “voluntariness” in committing such grave sins may also be mercifully diminished, due to various impediments to “knowledge” and “consent” in sinning.

So, while a heretic or schismatic may objectively oppose the unity desired by Christ, they may do so lacking sufficient knowledge or consent, and as such they may not be fully (damnably) culpable.

There was a heresy called Feeneyisim, which claimed that only those who are members of the Catholic Church attain eternal glory (i.e. go to heaven). This heresy was refuted by the Pope, expressed in a letter to the Archbishop of Boston (where this heresy originated). You can read the contents of this letter here. This letter is referenced by the Catechism of the Catholic Chruch (no. 847), and was also referenced by the Second Vatican Council (*Lumen Gentium, *no. 16) when teaching what I’ve described above regarding diminished subjective culpability for what is indeed an objectively grave sin of heresy and schism.

 

[TracyR]

I just joined this website to explore what Cattholics belive. Being Southern Baptist, I wanted to know if Catholics could go to Heaven.

That would be because , if I’m not mistaken ( I’m not), Baptist teach that Catholics go to hell.
Its that once saved always saved.
I remember as a young child we went to a Baptist church and we taken there by the bus driver of the church and he would purposefully ride by Catholic churches and yell out the window " Get saved your going to hell!"
I remember slinking down in the seat, and even as a young child I knew that wasn’t true.

Baptists thought for the most part believe that Heaven is reserved for them. That Catholics aren’t saved and they are going to hell. I remember hearing that and I’m from up North.

 

[area525]

So your saying “once saved, always saved” is false.

And what are the works and the will of the Father according to you?

It would only be false only when the person who call themself as a “save” person does not show the fruit of the spirit living in him/her. Which mean, they are not truly “saved” individual to begin with.

A ‘save’ person would show 180 degree turn from his/her life style. He/she is not faking his change of ways.

 

[Robert_in_SD]

Biblically speaking, you can know how to go to heaven…

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

God bless…

This is something we all believe. But it does not resolve the question posed by the OP. If one “knows” that the Catholic Church is the Church founded by Jesus Christ and intended for him or her, but they reject it, are they “believing” in Him? And what does the passage mean when it says “believe.” It does not say anyone who stands up on a Sunday and professes “belief” on one occasion has thereby assured their final salvation. The phrase “…believes in him” IMO means much more than that, and I think scripture backs up my position on this.

That being said, I agree that “believing” in Christ is the way to eternal life. But the phrase is pregnant with the question, "What does it mean… “to believe?” This is the question that I think lies at the heart of the OP’s struggle.

Peace,
Robert

 

[Robert_in_SD]

I just joined this website to explore what Cattholics belive. Being Southern Baptist, I wanted to know if Catholics could go to Heaven.

Welcome to the forums grammyball. Glad to have you.

Peace,
Robert

 

[TracyR]

So your saying “once saved, always saved” is false.

And what are the works and the will of the Father according to you?

The works and the will of the Father is by faith and good works.
Faith is NOTHING without good works.
James 2:14-24

What good is it , my brothers if someone sayd he has faith by does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of them says to them " Go in peace , keep warm, and eat well," but you do not give them the necessities fo teh body, what good is it? So also faith of itself if it does not have works , is dead.
Indeed someone might say " You have faith and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works , and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble. Do you want proof? Do you want proof you ignoramus, that fiath without works is useless? Was not Abraham our fahter justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith was ative along with his works, and faith was completed by the works.,
The scripture was fullfilled that says , “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness and he was called ’ the friend of God.” See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way , was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by a different route? For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

So faith and works and accepting the sacraments that God has given us.

As for being once saved always saved. Yes, that is false. You can’t buy a ticket to Heaven.
One should be saved everyday. Not after saying a sinner’s prayer and be free to roam and sin and do immoral things and think you have a free ticket to Heaven because you said a prayer saying you accept God into your heart. Being saved is MUCH more then that.

 

[mississippiwild]

Salvation is definitely possible outside the Catholic Church…

The only people who cannot be saved are those who refuse the free gift of Salvation for sins offered by Jesus Christ on the cross.

Yes, we Catholics have a bonus spiritual benefit of receiving the Lord’s Body and Blood when we partake of Holy Communion, and we can have prayer warriors in heavenly realms pray for us…

But to say that a person who is not Catholic cannot attain Heaven is like saying that God is unfair because he didn’t forgive Satan’s sins on the cross as well as humans…

God is Loving, Merciful, and Good. All light and life are found in Jesus. Without Jesus, we are nothing…

Tommy

 

[bieby]

What about people who dont believe at all?

 

[Robert_in_SD]

So if protestants can be saved, does that mean they won’t have as much accountability, or actually less chance of sinning since certain things could not apply?

Not exactly. We are all accountable for what we know. If you don’t “know” you should be a practicing Catholic, then, we know Christ will not count that against you. We see that in Scripture. (e.g. Jn 9:41)

heart4home:

I mean according to Catholic Church teachings a Catholic could be damned to Hell for missing a single weekly Mass without having sincere repentance and yet protestants would have to be excused from that obviously as they don’t have that requirement.

The Sunday obligation is not so onerous that it is a “gotcha.” There are many exceptions to attending mass - e.g. illness, snowstorms, conflicting work obligations that one cannot change without undue hardship, etc. Often, the issue can be resolved at a pastoral level. On the other hand, if one knows their obligation as a Catholic and, instead of going to mass chooses simply to “blow it off” then one is - as a Catholic who knows the truth - engaging in a serious sin.

heart4home:

What about the use of birth control. Since most denominations see nothing wrong with it, will they be free from needing to repent that, while somebody who was baptized as a baby, by their parents in the Catholic Church, but left because they disagree with that stance will be held accountable for using it? Or what about a practicing Catholic who chooses to use it?

Again, it depends on what one knows. If a non-Catholic knows that birth control is contrary to God’s plan for their marriage then whether or not their conduct arises to a level of serious sin is between him/her and God. As for sex outside of marriage, one who knows the bible need not be a Catholic to know that this is serious sin and may threaten their salvation. Again, persons will be held accountable for what they “know” whether or not they are formally associated with the Catholic Church.

heart4home:

What about the baby baptized Catholic and then the parents never even bothered to attend Church and so the person eventually finds them self in a Baptist Church as a grown up. According to Church teachings they are accountable to Catholic teachings.

Once again, that child will be held accountable for what they know. The same may hold true for a very poorly catechized Catholic adult who - for whatever reason - never learned about the obligation to attend Sunday mass, or never was instructed on the issue of artificial birth control, etc. God meets you where you are, and will hold you accountable for what you know.

heart4home:

It just seems, that what is being said here even by the Catholics, is that it’s all good, and that almost could send the message that you are better to not join the Church as you’ll just be held accountable for more things than if you don’t.

NO. Far from it. If one is not Catholic, one is much more likely to fall into situations in which they are engaging in conduct that is objectively evil (like artificial birth control). Being in such a state promotes more occasion for sin. But, even assuming that they may not be held personally accountable, the end result is a harmful impact on all those around him or her.

Plus, by remaining outside of the Church you are depriving youself of all of the grace that flows from the sacraments like the eucharist, and reconciliation, and the annointing of the sick. All of these sacraments are available only to practicing Catholics and the grace received cannot be overstated.

Peace,
Robert

 

[Agape_Thom]

I have not read the entire thread, and I apologize for that, However, there are only two things that will surprize me when I get to heaven: those who are there that I never thought would be, and those who are not there that I thought for sure would be!

 

[Robert_in_SD]

It would only be false only when the person who call themself as a “save” person does not show the fruit of the spirit living in him/her. Which mean, they are not truly “saved” individual to begin with.

A ‘save’ person would show 180 degree turn from his/her life style. He/she is not faking his change of ways.

I’ve known of people who thought they were saved, and showed evidence of that salvation, but ended up doing horrible things. How can you tell whether they are a backsliding “saved” christian or a nonbeliever pretending to be “saved?” And is it possible for someone to “fool himself” into thinking he is saved when really he is just infatuated with the idea of salvation? From what you posited above, it looks like there’s really no way to tell the difference between a “nice” nonbeliever and a “nice” saved person.

Peace,
Robert

 

[dje101]

I’ve known of people who thought they were saved, and showed evidence of that salvation, but ended up doing horrible things. How can you tell whether they are a backsliding “saved” christian or a nonbeliever pretending to be “saved?” And is it possible for someone to “fool himself” into thinking he is saved when really he is just infatuated with the idea of salvation? From what you posited above, it looks like there’s really no way to tell the difference between a “nice” nonbeliever and a “nice” saved person.

Peace,
Robert

going along with the idea of people fruits, what do you think about the people that belong to that church that protest the funerals. they say they are saved and that they are doing God’s will by spreading the news or whatever, but do you think that they are really saved? whats the difference between a hateful nonbeliever and a hateful “saved” person like them?

 

[LDNCatholic]

whats the difference between a hateful nonbeliever and a hateful “saved” person like them?

The hateful nonbeliever is not a hypocrite?

 

[dje101]

The hateful nonbeliever is not a hypocrite?

true :sad_yes:

if they are doing hateful things that do not produce fruit of the Holy Spirit, are they (as an earlier poster said) just convincing themselves into thinking that they are saved or are they still saved despite the fact that their “good works” is protesting a soldier who died for them and telling people that they are going to go to hell?

 

[dje101]

I saw some videos of priests on cnn and larry king and they were saying some pretty wrong things about christianity. i just want to make sure…the catholic church DOES teach that Jesus is the ONLY way to salvation, right?