Some people, it is true, do not behave this way after gaining citizenship in the Church. But, as Paul writes, those who do these things have no inheritance in the Kingdom. We all really know this. And so we encourage those who appear to be throwing away their inheritance. The prodigal son was a son, but he had squandered his inheritance, thrown it away and was dead. When he came to his senses his father said, “He was dead, but now is alive” - so we encourage our brothers and sisters, our fellow citizens.
So you do need evidence to show that you are citizen of the kingdom of God…so water baptisum does not always give you that guranttee of citizenship onto salvation…Paul said it himshelf.
Well, you are speaking about going to heaven, to receiving your inheritance. I am in the world, and speaking about “earthly things”.
The Kingdom is here on earth, in the world where you and I are. Baptism was our entrance into this Kingdom established by God with his Son as its King. I am granted the right to participate in the functions and benefits of the Kingdom on earth in virtue of being baptized and confirmed and leading a life (outwardly) conforming to the way a Christian acts. (no one can see my heart, that is why I say “outwardly”)
So, I am a member of this People of God, People established by God, right now, on earth. I am not an outsider looking in. That is my salvation - where once I was not one of the People of God, but now I am, here on earth. The Church saved me by baptizing me, by taking me in as one of them, as one with them.
This is what I wanted, craved. But a person who wants to be his own god, wants to live in greed, wants to live in immorality, wants to live in jealousy, - this person does not want or crave to be joined to this People of God. This person leaves the presence of the the Church because in the presence of the Church he can see his sin (and others can see it) and he prefers that his sin not be seen (loves the darkness rather than the light). He does not want to be “saved”, meaning he does not want to be joined to the People of God. He wants the “inheritance” or “reward” that he is gaining for himself as his own god. Even if he was saved, joined to this People who inherit from God, but then wants to go off seeking his own reward, he gives up wanting to be a “saved” person, he gives up wanting to have the inheritance stored for him by God, and he “leaves” the presence of the People of God to have his own, self-made inheritance, leaves his salvation for self-salvation, for self-life.
But, back to us; we want to be part of Christ, citizens of his Kingdom, children of his Father. And we are, because the Church gave us this relationship by baptizing us. We were called (with the good knews of the Kingdom), we were chosen (by the Church deciding to baptize us), and we are also sanctified as an ongoing activity of the Church (through which the Spirit of Christ acts on us) with Word and Sacraments.
When we go to confession, we are actually going to Jesus when we go to the Priest. I actually say to my priest, “I regard that I am speaking to Jesus when I am confessing to you; right now you are Jesus and I want to tell you about myself.” I am saying to Jesus: “I want to follow you and be with you in this Kingdom of yours; but you need to know what I am; you need to be aware of who I am, of my sin against you and your Father. I have sinned in these things…, …, … My King, do you still want me, knowing all you now know about me?” and to the priest, “Father, can you forgive me and still let me remain in union with the Church, knowing my sin?”
And then I hear the absolution. Jesus is saying to me, “John, yes, you are one with me; I am not going to hold your past against you. Come on, lets go and do the works that are from God and leave off the works men do to gain their own rewards”.
Penance: The priest asks me to do things - what is this? Not punishment; he is asking me to do things that citizens of the Kingdom naturally do (pray, be reconciled to someone, do some acts of charity, etc.) He is giving me things to do to gain practice at living the life of a Christian (the old saying that “practice makes perfect” - he is giving me practice at living my life in the Kingdom, thus sanctification).
So, how is Baptism a “guarantee”? I know that the Catholic Church is a Kingdom, not simply a religion. If I am a member, a citizen, then the future of that Body is my future. This Kingdom is actually eternal, not ending in death, cannot be destroyed the way nations established by men can be destroyed by other nations. The Guarantee is a combination of being baptized PLUS what you believe about the Church that baptized you. Is the Church really established by God, really his Kingdom on earth, and really eternal, and really the place where you want to be to share its future. For me, it is totally real, and that is why I treasure my Baptism, my adoption into this People.
Our King prayed that his Father would keep us safe while being in the world but not of the world.
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