Eternal Life or Damnation

[tonyg]

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned.
I find this passage from John Chapter 3 to be very comforting. We are all sinners, but we have been given the assurance that if we trust in God’s mercy and believe in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, then we shall see salvation, praise God! I also find this passage very troubling because of all the people in the world who are not Christian. For many good, loving, and decent human beings from other faiths this is not good news. How will they be saved if they do not profess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? My personal opinion is: Jesus will come to each one of us at the moment of our death and he will allow us the grace to believe in him, or reject him as the Christ. What do you believe?

 

[Trishie]

Hi Tony,
Who may be saved?
If by ‘other faiths’ you mean non Catholics, the following applies.

“Catechism of the Catholic Church” Imprimi Potest. Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict)

“Those who through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience–those too may achieve eternal salvation”
My friend, take courage in these words from the Dogmatic Constitution of the Catholic, LUMEN GENTIUM, solemnly promulgated by his holiness Pope Paul v1 on November 21,
1964

1. The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being baptized, are honored with the name of Christian, though they do not profess the faith in its entirety or do not preserve unity of communion with the successor of Peter. (14*) For there are many who honor Sacred Scripture, taking it as a norm of belief and a pattern of life, and who show a sincere zeal. They lovingly believe in God the Father Almighty and in Christ, the Son of God and Saviour. (15*) They are consecrated by baptism, in which they are united with Christ. They also recognize and accept other sacraments within their own Churches or ecclesiastical communities. Many of them rejoice in the episcopate, celebrate the Holy Eucharist and cultivate devotion toward the Virgin Mother of God.(16*) They also share with us in prayer and other spiritual benefits.

Likewise we can say that in some real way they are joined with us in the Holy Spirit, for to them too He gives His gifts and graces whereby He is operative among them with His sanctifying power. Some indeed He has strengthened to the extent of the shedding of their blood. In all of Christ’s disciples the Spirit arouses the desire to be peacefully united, in the manner determined by Christ, as one flock under one shepherd, and He prompts them to pursue this end. (17*) Mother Church never ceases to pray, hope and work that this may come about. She exhorts her children to purification and renewal so that the sign of Christ may shine more brightly over the face of the earth.

 

[Trishie]

If by ‘other faiths’ you mean something more broadly, remember Matthew 25, verses 31-46…the words of Jesus who will be judge of whether souls go to heaven or not:

“The Last Judgement”
“When the Son of Man comes in all His glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate men from one another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats.
He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. then the King shall say to those on his right hand,” Come you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was a stranger and you made me welcome. I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me; sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.

Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you? And the King will answer, " I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”

Next he will say to those on his left “Go away from me with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, for when I was hungry you never gave me food; I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink; I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, naked and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me.” Then it will be their turn to ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty; a stranger or naked, sick or in prison, and not come to your help?”
Then he will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.” And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the virtuous to eternal life."

 

[tonyg]

If by ‘other faiths’ you mean something more broadly, remember Matthew 25, verses 31-46…the words of Jesus who will be judge of whether souls go to heaven or not:

“The Last Judgement”
“When the Son of Man comes in all His glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate men from one another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats.
He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. then the King shall say to those on his right hand,” Come you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was a stranger and you made me welcome. I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me; sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.

Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you? And the King will answer, " I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”

Next he will say to those on his left “Go away from me with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, for when I was hungry you never gave me food; I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink; I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, naked and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me.” Then it will be their turn to ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty; a stranger or naked, sick or in prison, and not come to your help?”
Then he will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.” And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the virtuous to eternal life."

Trishie

Thank you for your common sense opinion to my question. The second part of the passage says the following: He has been condemned because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth, comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

God Bless

 

[heiscominginthe]

There is only one way for a man to enter the kingdom of God and that is by being born again, saved from death and hell.

If a man does not receive this baptism into Christ by faith, (Romans 6, Eph. 4:5), and suffers physical death, because his spirit is dead because of sin, it will be taken the the place where the unrighteous dead are reserved until the day of judgement.

Most people today do not look upon salvation as baptism. Yet, that does not disregard the fact that it is. For when a man repents and asks Christ for forgiveness, he is baptized, washed in the blood of the lamb. The man is baptized into Christ. Romans 6

It is this baptism we all must have to be part of the body of Christ. Without this baptism, a man still has sin. This baptism is a work, but not for the believer. The believer comes to the cross by faith and Christ does the work, baptizing him with his blood, making him holy, For how can the Holy Spirit of God enter a man unless he first be made clean, holy?
New wine cannot be put in an old wine sack, for it will burst. New wine must be put in a new wine sack.

 

[PMG]

I have been reading about Christian Universalists. What strikes me is that the believe that Hell and its punishment for sin is temporary, but they reject the notion of Purgatory. Now, to define Purgatory as a “temporary Hell” is a great oversimplification and–in my view–incorrect. Still, I find that interesting.

 

[heiscominginthe]

have been reading about Christian Universalists. What strikes me is that the believe that Hell and its punishment for sin is temporary, but they reject the notion of Purgatory. Now, to define Purgatory as a “temporary Hell” is a great oversimplification and–in my view–incorrect. Still, I find that interesting.

The important thing to understand here is that purgatory or the place the righteous dead were held prisoner under the yoke of death no longer exists.

Prior to Jesus defeating death, all mankind went to either one of two places. The first being the lower part of hell where the unrighteous dead are reserved until the day of judgement. The second being purgatory, or the bosom of Abraham or upper hell where the righteous dead were held prisoner until Jesus set them free by defeating death.

Now since our Lord has defeated death, all those who believe in him have escaped the hold death had them and when they suffer physical death, they don’t go to that place in hell known as the bosom of Abraham or purgatory, but go to be with the Lord and will return with him on the day of resurrection. 1 Thess. 4:14

 

[tonyg]

The important thing to understand here is that purgatory or the place the righteous dead were held prisoner under the yoke of death no longer exists.

Prior to Jesus defeating death, all mankind went to either one of two places. The first being the lower part of hell where the unrighteous dead are reserved until the day of judgement. The second being purgatory, or the bosom of Abraham or upper hell where the righteous dead were held prisoner until Jesus set them free by defeating death.

Now since our Lord has defeated death, all those who believe in him have escaped the hold death had them and when they suffer physical death, they don’t go to that place in hell known as the bosom of Abraham or purgatory, but go to be with the Lord and will return with him on the day of resurrection. 1 Thess. 4:14

Purgatory, the place where a soul goes to be cleansed before it can enter into the glory of God in heaven is a real place. To say that it no longer exists, I believe, is not true. Jesus has paid the price for our salvation with his blood upon the cross, I agree. But, although we have been set free by his suffering and death upon the cross, we still need to be cleansed from our sinfulness. If we confess our sins in confession with a sincere heart then will are forgiven; Jesus will remember our sins no more. But if we do not receive absolution from a priest, then the sin must be reconciled. Purgatory is a place where we are given the grace to reconcile our sinfulness to God. It is not a place of punishment, but a place, and a grace, given to us by God to cleanse our souls before entering into his eternal glory.

 

[heiscominginthe]

Purgatory, the place where a soul goes to be cleansed before it can enter into the glory of God in heaven is a real place. To say that it no longer exists, I believe, is not true. Jesus has paid the price for our salvation with his blood upon the cross, I agree. But, although we have been set free by his suffering and death upon the cross, we still need to be cleansed from our sinfulness. If we confess our sins in confession with a sincere heart then will are forgiven; Jesus will remember our sins no more. But if we do not receive absolution from a priest, then the sin must be reconciled. Purgatory is a place where we are given the grace to reconcile our sinfulness to God. It is not a place of punishment, but a place, and a grace, given to us by God to cleanse our souls before entering into his eternal glory.

You have the right to your belief, but to give your stand validity, you need to prove purgatory scripturally.

For your belief on purgatory, in that one is given grace to reconcile his sinfulness is what I call being born again. [John 3]

And if a man is not born again, if a man’s spirit is not made alive again through faith in God’s only begotten Son before he suffers physical death, because his soul/spirit is dead, it is taken to where the unrighteous dead are reserved until the day of judgment.

 

[Church_Militant]

You have the right to your belief, but to give your stand validity, you need to prove purgatory scripturally.

Really? Where precisely does the Word of God state that everything that a Christian believes has to come from within its pages?

For your belief on purgatory, in that one is given grace to reconcile his sinfulness is what I call being born again. [John 3]

Rebirth is something else again and Purgatory is only for the reborn. Or do you not wash before you eat, or bathe and dress for an important dinner. Matthew 22:1-14

And if a man is not born again, if a man’s spirit is not made alive again through faith in God’s only begotten Son before he suffers physical death, because his soul/spirit is dead, it is taken to where the unrighteous dead are reserved until the day of judgment.

No?! Really!!

This is something the Catholic Church has taught for 2,000 years, but if you want information on Purgatory, read this article. Biblical and Jewish Traditional Beliefs About Purgatory

 

[heiscominginthe]

Really? Where precisely does the Word of God state that everything that a Christian believes has to come from within its pages?

It is written that Jesus is the Word of God. When a man is born again, made alive again spiritually by faith in God’s Son, Jesus comes and lives in the heart of that man and as the man becomes less of himself and grows more in Christ, the Word of God becomes written on the fleshly tablets of his heart.

Acts 17: 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

1Tim 4: 13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

When Jesus was tempted of the devil, how did he combat him? By quoting the Word of God, saying, IT IS WRITTEN.

Quote:
For your belief on purgatory, in that one is given grace to reconcile his sinfulness is what I call being born again. [John 3]

Rebirth is something else again and Purgatory is only for the reborn. Or do you not wash before you eat, or bathe and dress for an important dinner. Matthew 22:1-14

I don’t know how you got rebirth from this at all. I do know it says many all called, but few are chosen, referring to who will accept God’s free gift of grace. Yet, any man who accepts God’s free gift of grace will be reborn, born again, saved from the fires of hell.

Quote:
And if a man is not born again, if a man’s spirit is not made alive again through faith in God’s only begotten Son before he suffers physical death, because his soul/spirit is dead, it is taken to where the unrighteous dead are reserved until the day of judgment.

No?! Really!!

This is something the Catholic Church has taught for 2,000 years, but if you want information on Purgatory, read this article.

John 3

In verse 3, Jesus is telling Nicodemus except a man be born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God…Now as you examine this, look
at the word born again. Does it not make sense that to be born again,
one must first be born. To prove this, examine the next verse.

In verse 4, Nicodemus asks how can a man be born when he is old. Can
he enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born?..
The important word to examine here is second…
Nicodemus thought Jesus was talking about two physical births, but
he was not and the proof lies in the next verse.
In verse 5, Jesus says, except a man be born of water and of spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God…Here our Lord is
telling of two different births, one by water and one by spirit.
When we are born into this world, we are born in a sack of water or
physical birth. Proof that Jesus is talking about physical birth and
spiritual birth can be found in the next verse.
In verse 6, Jesus says that which is born of the flesh is flesh and
that which is born of the spirit is spirit…physical birth,
spiritual birth
So if a man, who is dead in spirit doesn’t become reborn, he will
never see the kingdom of God. So when Jesus says a man must be born
again, he is talking about our dead spirit being born again. The
above scripture talks of three births. One in the flesh and two in
the spirit.

Adam died in the day he ate the forbidden fruit according to scripture.
Yet, he lived in the flesh hundred of years more after his sin.

When he sinned, he died spiritually. He sold his soul unto death. And
all of mankind is held under the yoke of original sin and unless a man
is born again, renewed in his spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom
of God.

 

[SeanTom]

ENTERING GOD’S KINGDOM

There is only one GUARANTEED way for Christians to enter God’s Kingdom., and that way is through our Lord, Jesus Christ as supported by the one true church, the Catholic church. CCC 754: “The Church is, accordingly, the sole and necessary gateway to which is Christ. It is also the flock of which God himself foretold that he would be the shepherd, and whose sheep, even though governed by human shepherds, are unfailingly nourished and led by Christ himself, the Good Shepherd and Prince of Shepherds, who gave his life for his sheep”. The Catholic Church, the only true church, was made manifest to the world on the day of Pentecost by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles where they then went forth preaching to and baptizing thousands - a great harvest of souls for the early Church.

In my humble opinion, all Christians, regardless of their religion, will be taken into Heaven if they believe in our Lord Jesus, follow His teachings. To enter God’s Kingdom, one must also be free from grave offenses against God…

For non-Catholics, there are possibly other ways to attain Heaven for those who do not know Jesus for reasons not of their own doing.

1. There are those who live in isolated areas of our world who never heard of Jesus and have never seen or heard God’s Word as given to us in Scripture. If they live lives worthy of God’s acceptance, they will then come under the merciful judgment of Jesus and will be taken into Heaven, if God so Wills.
2. There are those who call themselves Atheists; but were born into an Atheist’s family and were never permitted to hear of Jesus or His Kingdom; nor were they ever introduced to God or Jesus in any other way. If they didn’t believe in God because they never knew who He was, then God would, in His mercy, judge these people accordingly. We can not second guess how God will handle this, but must leave it up to His compassion and mercy.
3. There are those who call themselves Agnostics. These Agnostics neither believe nor disbelieve in God, but sort of live on the rail of the fence. They believe in God only to the extent that they say “just in case there is one, I better not turn my back on Him”. But they are turning their backs on Him if they never seek Him out nor read or listen to His Word. These Agnostics , unless they change their ways, probably will not see God’s Kingdom. There is an exception to this however. If these Agnostics lived a good life, following more or less the teachings of Jesus, even though they were not aware of doing so, God may, in His wisdom, allow them to enter His Kingdom. God will know what is in their hearts and why they opted to remain Agnostic. It could be they were raised in an Agnostic family and were not permitted to even discuss God or any other faith. I don’t know how God will handle this situation, but if they die while still children, I would like to think that the love of God for His special children would show His love and compassion towards them by accepting them into His Kingdom. Matthew 19:14: “Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven’” It is my feeling, though, that when one, when reaching the age of reason, professes to be an agnostic, and doesn’t do anything to seek out the truth about Jesus, then he may not ever see the Kingdom of God.
4. Then there are those who do evil acts and live a life of sin. Although they knew of God, they never attended church nor did they want anything to do with God‘s goodness. They, in effect, turn their backs on God and renounce His existence. These people surely are destined for Hell. With one exception:

If these evil people, before they die, have a change in heart and confess their sins to God in a way that shows sincerity, shows remorse and then repents for having sinned, then in that case I believe God, after determining the truthfulness and validity of their confessions, will forgive them and welcome them into His Kingdom. But here again, they must rely on the compassion and mercy of our Lord.

The above four examples speak for themselves and are ways for non-practicing Christians to enter God’s Kingdom. However, the people in these examples are subject to God’s compassion and mercy. BUT none of these four ways are guarantees that they will enter Heaven, they all depend on God’s mercy.

As for the Jewish people, I honestly don’t know how God will handle them, since they don’t believe that Jesus is the Savior for all people, and I can’t even render an opinion. All I know is that God is Just, God is compassionate, God is love and God will judge all people wisely and then either accept or reject them from His Heavenly Kingdom. God knows what is in their hearts and will judge them accordingly.

(to be continued)

 

[SeanTom]

(Continued from previous posting)

HOWEVER, there is a way we can GUARANTEE our admittance to God’s Heavenly Kingdom, and this certainly is the way we should all strive to
accomplish… In John 11:25: Jesus said…. ’I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” John 14:6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me” Jesus tells us that if we follow His teachings, we WILL see the Kingdom of God. That is His GUARANTEE to us.

The Catholic Catechism teaches: Article 847 “Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.” The phrase “through no fault of their own” can mean many things. But we must remember that we are all encouraged to find out as much as we can as to how we can attain God’s Heavenly Kingdom. “Through no fault of their own” doesn’t mean that one did not seek the truth, but refers to those who perhaps, for some reason or another, were hidden from the truth by force or otherwise restrained from knowing the truth through reading Scripture or Scriptural teachings.

I leave you with the following questions: Do we want to GUARANTEE our acceptance into God’s Kingdom? Or do we want to take chances and hope that God’s compassion and love for His adopted children, under any and all circumstances, will be our “ticket” into Heaven? Think about it! In order to GUARANTEE your entrance into Heaven, you should know that the one true church is the Catholic church. Follow the teachings of Jesus as given to us by the Catholic Church, study God’s Word in Scripture, go to Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, receive the Rite of Reconciliation and Holy Communion as often as you can, and love your brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

[Iamnotafraid]

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned.
I find this passage from John Chapter 3 to be very comforting. We are all sinners, but we have been given the assurance that if we trust in God’s mercy and believe in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, then we shall see salvation, praise God! I also find this passage very troubling because of all the people in the world who are not Christian. For many good, loving, and decent human beings from other faiths this is not good news. How will they be saved if they do not profess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? My personal opinion is: Jesus will come to each one of us at the moment of our death and he will allow us the grace to believe in him, or reject him as the Christ. What do you believe?

The Catholic Church has a clear teaching on this. All have the hope of salvation, for God can see into the heart of man.

There is no need to speculate, just follow the answer that your Church has provided.

 

[heiscominginthe]

And if a man is not born again, if a man’s spirit is not made alive again through faith in God’s only begotten Son before he suffers physical death, because his soul/spirit is dead, it is taken to where the unrighteous dead are reserved until the day of judgment.

No?! Really!!

This is something the Catholic Church has taught for 2,000 years, but if you want information on Purgatory, read this article.

John 3

In verse 3, Jesus is telling Nicodemus except a man be born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God…Now as you examine this, look
at the word born again. Does it not make sense that to be born again,
one must first be born. To prove this, examine the next verse.

In verse 4, Nicodemus asks how can a man be born when he is old. Can
he enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born?..
The important word to examine here is second…
Nicodemus thought Jesus was talking about two physical births, but
he was not and the proof lies in the next verse.
In verse 5, Jesus says, except a man be born of water and of spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God…Here our Lord is
telling of two different births, one by water and one by spirit.
When we are born into this world, we are born in a sack of water or
physical birth. Proof that Jesus is talking about physical birth and
spiritual birth can be found in the next verse.
In verse 6, Jesus says that which is born of the flesh is flesh and
that which is born of the spirit is spirit…physical birth,
spiritual birth
So if a man, who is dead in spirit doesn’t become reborn, he will
never see the kingdom of God. So when Jesus says a man must be born
again, he is talking about our dead spirit being born again. The
above scripture talks of three births. One in the flesh and two in
the spirit.

Adam died in the day he ate the forbidden fruit according to scripture.
Yet, he lived in the flesh hundred of years more after his sin.

When he sinned, he died spiritually. He sold his soul unto death. And
all of mankind is held under the yoke of original sin and unless a man
is born again, renewed in his spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom
of God.

There is but one way for a man to enter the kingdom of God and that is by being born again, being baptized into Christ through his blood. Romans 6

For how can the Holy Spirit of God enter a man unless the man first be made clean, holy? And when a man is born again, Christ baptizes, washes the man in his blood. For if the Holy Spirit of God entered into an unclean man, the man would be destroyed.

New wine must be put in new wine sacks. For if new wine was put in old wine sacks, the sacks would burst.

 

[heiscominginthe]

Think about it! In order to GUARANTEE your entrance into Heaven, you should know that the one true church is the Catholic church.

I don’t believe there was ever a time I did not believe in God.

He came to me in my dreams even before the age of five. I remember how the women in my kindergarden Sunday school were amazed by my understanding of God. Yet, I only knew what he revealed to me.

When I was in school, I was excited to learn to read so I could read the Word of God. Once I learned to read, I was without understanding. Yet, regardless, reading God’s Word made me feel closer to him.

When I learned God’s commandments, I became aware of my sin and can recall the day my spirit inside me died. For the first time in my life I felt alone, apart from God. Yet, he did not forsake me.

At the age of fifteen, I was invited to a youth for Christ get away weekend at the local YMCA.

On the night we were to leave, on Sunday, there was a church service. It was here I finally understood. For my heart became convicted and I knew I needed to be saved/born again.

The Lord came into my heart like a rushing wind. I wept like never before and when it was all said and done, I was a new creature in Christ. All things had become new to me, as it is written in the Word of God.

 

[Jerry_Marino]

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned.
I find this passage from John Chapter 3 to be very comforting. We are all sinners, but we have been given the assurance that if we trust in God’s mercy and believe in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, then we shall see salvation, praise God! I also find this passage very troubling because of all the people in the world who are not Christian. For many good, loving, and decent human beings from other faiths this is not good news. How will they be saved if they do not profess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? My personal opinion is: Jesus will come to each one of us at the moment of our death and he will allow us the grace to believe in him, or reject him as the Christ. What do you believe?

tonyg,

if a person has heard the Gospel of Christ and does not believe that Jesus is the Son of God that person stands condemned. for those who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus we need to turn to Scripture to see what God says of such a matter.

Romans 1:20 Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse; 21 for although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 While claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of an image of mortal man or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes.

 

[tonyg]

tonyg,

if a person has heard the Gospel of Christ and does not believe that Jesus is the Son of God that person stands condemned. for those who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus we need to turn to Scripture to see what God says of such a matter.

Romans 1:20 Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse; 21 for although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 While claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of an image of mortal man or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes.

Jerry

I know what scripture says about salvation, the belief that “Jesus” is the Christ, the Son of God. I believe this with all my heart and soul. I was baptized into the Catholic Church; the very moment of my baptism; I was filled with the Holy Spirit, and God’s grace. My love for Jesus has never wavered; it has become stronger as I developed into the man I am today. On a personal note, I cannot understand, how anyone that has heard the good news of Jesus Christ, can deny him; but for many reasons they do. This is a subject that the greatest minds in the church have struggled over for two thousand years.
The gospel says, “Nothing is impossible for God,” I believe this. Jesus died for everyone, and my faith in a loving, compassionate, and merciful Jesus, gives me hope that by his grace, all will be given an opportunity to believe in him, as Savoir, and the Son of God. I believe, for many this will come as they breathe their last breath. I say this as a man of faith; not as someone who is a bible scholar or prophet. I’ll leave it there.

 

[Jerry_Marino]

yeah but if they don’t believe they don’t believe and God is a loving God but He is a just God and sin has to be punished and if one rejects what Jesus did for our sins on the Cross they stand condemned.

God bless you.

 

[JoanieD]

I have read the answer to this question in our catechism and like it very much. I believe that I would be in alignment with the cathechism when I say that there is only one way to the Father and that is through Jesus, BUT there are as many ways to Jesus as there are humans on the earth. We are all different people and Jesus calls to us as he knows our heart. So Buddhists, Hindu people, Muslims and others who are truly seeking to know and love God and do his will, will be calling on Jesus perhaps even without knowing it! But when they hear the voice of Jesus, they will know that He was the one who was keeping them and loving them and bringing him into the Kingdom.

Am I saying that it does not matter what religion you are? Not at all. I believe Christianity to be the path directly to the Kingdom of God and the path that allows us to bring the love of God to the world in a way no other religion does or can. That is, IF the people within the Church are firmly and lovingly working with the Holy Spirit inspiring and guiding them. Being a Christian is more than just saying, “I believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” We are nourished and grow in love by the writings, traditions, liturgy, Eucharist found within the Church. We then behave like nurses and doctors as we bring God’s “treatment” to a hurting world.

God’s peace and love to all of us.

Joanie D.