Hello, there I’m David. I have read a few Bible verses like John 14:6 saying stuff like “no man cometh unto the father but by me.” And other verses that say something like “he who does not believe in the son (Jesus) is condemned” or something along those lines. Does that mean only Christians go to Heaven?
What are your thoughts?
I think non-Christians can make it to Heaven. I feel that people living in such isolated areas that they may never have heard of Jesus, aborted babies, and other scenarios like this would be exceptions to non-Christians making it into Heaven.
Whether you take the title of “Christian” or not doesn’t matter… you can take the title of “ladida” if you want. What gets you to Heaven is this:
Recognize that you are a sinner, that Christ is the Perfect, Holy, True, Savior and Son of God the Father. Only through Jesus Christ does one get to the Father. Jesus said: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” No one comes to the Father but through Me" in John 14:6.
You mentioned Mark 16:16 - “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” If you do not believe in Jesus Christ or God the Father you will be condemned. Revelation 21:8 says, “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Aborted babies, yes I believe they go to Heaven, even though we are born into sin as Psalm 51:5 says, Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me." (Relating to Original Sin as people call it) But they have not had time to sin, such as lie, steal, blaspheme, fornicate, etc. Just as I believe those who cannot comprehend the truth and knowledge of God, such as the mentally handicapped.
However, when you say “I believe non-Christians can make it into Heaven” and then go on to mention people in isolated areas, we are all held accountable. Just because those people are isolated from the booming cities that you and I are in, doesn’t mean they aren’t guilty of their sins. Everyone is born with a conscience, (con = with, science = knowledge) and we are all born with the consciousness of God instilled in us. – All those people still sin, and are therefore held accountable on the day of Judgment, Matthew 12:36 - “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.”
I think it means that salvation is not something that we can achieve on our own, but only by the grace of God through Jesus. Jesus came to save all of mankind, not just those who would later become Christians.
Every man who is ignorant of the gospel of Christ and of his Church but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it can be saved.
Those too may achieve eternal salvation (LG 16).
Since Christ died for all, and since all men are in fact called to one and the same destiny, which is divine.
Salvation can NOT be achieved on our you are 100% correct friend.
Yes, you are right, Christ DID die for all… however as it says in Matthew 22:14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.” and Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” Not ALL are called to a “divine destiny” as you said, however we have all been given the Grace we do not deserve and the chance to repent (turn away from our life of sin) and follow Jesus Christ as our Lord.
Those who are ignorant of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, must seek out the Will of the Father. Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;”
Church teaching:
- Baptism is NECESSARY for salvation (but does not ensure it)
- There is no salvation outside the Catholic Church
How can someone be baptised and a Catholic?
- Sacramental Baptism as a Catholic
- Baptism of Blood (non-Catholic dying for the Catholic faith)
- Baptism of desire - Explicit (those who want to know more about Christ and have the desire to get baptised but die before scaramental baptism - e.g.those in RCIA)
- Baptism of Desire - Implicit (those who may (not will) be saved through invincible ignorance meaning those who through no fault of their own do not know Christ, his Gospel and his Church but nevertheless in that ignorance still live a life in accordance with Christ’s teachings)
Outside the above four forms of baptism there is no salvation.
Not all Catholics are saved but everyone who is in Heaven is Catholic.
I totally disagree. You will freak out when you see all the Protestants in heaven.
Unless you’re including God fearing Protestants as “Catholics”.
CCC 838
As for these two responses,
"- Baptism is NECESSARY for salvation (but does not ensure it)
- There is no salvation outside the Catholic Church"
Baptism is a symbol of being born again into a life of Christ… it is NOT necessary to be saved. Acts 8:34-39 - You see here that in v. 37 Philip informs the eunuch that “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” There are two types of Baptism, water baptism and spiritual baptism. Spiritual baptism is being born into a new life with Christ, and water baptism is outwardly showing this new birth through water. From Ecclesiastical Latin baptizare, from Greek baptizein ‘immerse’… not ‘dunk into water’.
I hope your questions were answered, or if you would like to talk more I’m here.
