How do non-Christians get to heaven?

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pcordero

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I read in the Bible somewhere that you can’t get into heaven without accepting Jesus or something like that. Also, how is original sin cleansed without Baptism?
 
The same way Christians do…by His mercy and God’s unfathomable grace in Christ Jesus.
 
Jesus said that there is no way to the Father but by Him. That is why we are to proclaim the Gospel to all men.🙂
 
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”
John 3:36
 
pcordero said:
I read in the Bible somewhere that you can’t get into heaven without accepting Jesus or something like that. Also, how is original sin cleansed without Baptism?
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From the Catholic perspective, it is possible for non-Catholics and even non-Christians to be saved based on the Catechism and the teachings of the Church. From the Protestant perspective, it depends on the particular denomination’s point of view. As to non-Christian religions, many do not believe in the authority of either the Hebrew Bible or the Gospels, so they would not use the Bible as a reference point. They have their own texts and rules. Common examples would include Hinduism and Buddhism. Judaism does not accept the authority of the New Testament, and its path to heaven, which was never a major emphasis in the religion, is achieved by means of following Torah Law for Jews and the Noahide laws of morality for non-Jews. Islam believes that both the Hebrew Bible and the Gospels are corrupted, even though it accepts the distinction of the major Prophets, including Jesus as the Messiah. But the recipe for salvation for Muslims is to be found in their holy book, the Qur’an. I’m uncertain about what Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses say about the salvation of those who don’t believe as they do. Your question really depends on which religion is your starting point.
 
Kristin234 said:
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”
John 3:36
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The word “believes” is a bit arbitrary. After the wedding at Cana Jesus’ disciples “believed in him” but even at that time they had not completely understood who he was. After Jesus asked Peter “who do you say that I am?” and Peter answers “the Messiah” they still did not fully understand who he was.

I know a lot of people who believe in Jesus but do not believe in who he REALLY is.
 
Good point…many do not understand who Christ really is…and when people demonstrate good will and kindness to others…surely there is grace of God at work in that person’s soul.

In such cases, we leave them to the mercy of God, as the Church has done.
 
A lot of posts and opinions on threads like this seem to carry a lot of ‘universalist’ influence.

The Church has unceasingly taught that outside the Church there is no salvation, “Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus”. However, those who are invincibly ignorant may be saved.
 
The same way y’all do. Salvation is possible because God has a sense of humor.
 
Someone who hasn’t submitted him/herself to the Lordship of Christ and acknowledged his/her status as a sinner and need for salvation doesn’t enjoy eternity with God. He makes the rules, and He is very clear about this. While that seems exclusive, it really isn’t - anyone, anytime, anywhere can come to Him!

As to those who never hear or those without the mental facilities to make a decision, well, I think that God is merciful. He holds us accountable for what we know. And that being said, Paul writes in Romans that creation is a gorgeous symphony to the Creator. So anyone, anytime, anywhere can know Him!

I think that’s beautiful.
 
MartyrForJesus said:
A lot of posts and opinions on threads like this seem to carry a lot of ‘universalist’ influence.

The Church has unceasingly taught that outside the Church there is no salvation, “Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus”. However, those who are invincibly ignorant may be saved.
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Are you suggesting those who have left the CC as adults cannot be saved unless they returned?
 
meltzerboy said:
I’m uncertain about what Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses say about the salvation of those who don’t believe as they do.
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Well I know at the last judgment, Mormons believe there are four places people go…


  1. *]The Celestial Kingdom - For the good Mormons who kept all the temple ordinances, tithed, were chasted, were baptized.
    *]The Terrestrial Kingdom - For the good and honorable who were decieved by the craftiness of men, and Mormons “not valiant” to the “testimony of Jesus.”
    *]The Telestial Kingdom - For those who did not recieve the “testimony of Jesus”, also for the dishonest, adulterers, murderers and so forth.
    *]The Outer Darkness - People who knew Mormonism is true and didn’t accept it.

    Now whether Non-Mormons are the “the deceived good” in the Terrestrial Kingdom or “the people who didn’t accept the testimony of Jesus” in the Telestial Kingdom, I’m not sure…
 
meltzerboy said:
I’m uncertain about what Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses say about the salvation of those who don’t believe as they do.
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And I know Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Heaven is for the lucky 144,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses BUT Paradise Earth and whoever who goes there is the main concern. I think they only believe faithful Jehovah’s Witnesses go here, or else they would have so many rules and regulations, and they wouldn’t be knocking at people’s doorbells.
 
MartyrForJesus said:
A lot of posts and opinions on threads like this seem to carry a lot of ‘universalist’ influence.

The Church has unceasingly taught that outside the Church there is no salvation, “Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus”. However, those who are invincibly ignorant may be saved.
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I have been taught that the Catechism is referring to (Trinitarian) Christians here, as the Church sees all Christians as non-reconciled Catholics. Thus, all Christians have salvation. It’s been a topic that our RCIA teachers tread lightly upon, probably due to the character and history of the audience.
 
icamay said:
I have been taught that the Catechism is referring to (Trinitarian) Christians here, as the Church sees all Christians as non-reconciled Catholics. Thus, all Christians have salvation. It’s been a topic that our RCIA teachers tread lightly upon, probably due to the character and history of the audience.
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Yes, all Christians who have been baptised in the Trinitarian formula are apart of the Church, although imperfectly. However, protestants do not have the Sacraments besides baptism, and therefore would need a perfect act of contrition to be absolved of Mortal sins upon death.
 
MartyrForJesus said:
A lot of posts and opinions on threads like this seem to carry a lot of ‘universalist’ influence.
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I think you’re right, Martyr. Sometimes I wonder - do people (particularly Christians with a universalist worldview) believe we even need Christ’s redemption? I mean, if, in the end, all that really matters is God’s grace, then no distinction should be made between Christ and the anti-Christ (whether singular or plural). Certainly God’s grace would cover the anti-Christ as well, wouldn’t it? If not, where does the Christian Universalist draw the line?
 
You draw the line on the person’s informed will.

There are deathbed confessions.

My mother’s side of the family were post Baptists who came out West after the Civil War. Her cousin, a country bumpkin, said one time — by studying history alone, it looks like the Catholic Church is the true church…but she never searched any further.

For me to say she went to hell for not pursuing that grace…that is not my decision.

The Catholic Church has the fullness of grace of revelation of Who Jesus is and aids in directing a person to make the choices to continue in faith to salvation. But there are all kinds of people, alot of people lack perception, people who have had trauma…and before Vatican II, of course Catholics in the right spirit dealing with a questionable personality…leave that person in the hands of God.

The other point of balance is that we as Catholics are supposed to pray for the perseverance of the just and the conversion of sinners…and if we fail to pray and do penance as well as for our own sins…Christ said that those who do not do atonement for their sins will perish.

So when it comes to judging other people…I scrutinize their beliefs…we must always follow the Gospel…and Jesus said in essence He is at the door of every heart…do we feed the hungry, cloth the naked, visit those in prison, etc?..should be our focus.
 
meltzerboy said:
From the Catholic perspective, it is possible for non-Catholics and even non-Christians to be saved based on the Catechism and the teachings of the Church. From the Protestant perspective, it depends on the particular denomination’s point of view. As to non-Christian religions, many do not believe in the authority of either the Hebrew Bible or the Gospels, so they would not use the Bible as a reference point. They have their own texts and rules. Common examples would include Hinduism and Buddhism. Judaism does not accept the authority of the New Testament, and its path to heaven, which was never a major emphasis in the religion, is achieved by means of following Torah Law for Jews and the Noahide laws of morality for non-Jews. Islam believes that both the Hebrew Bible and the Gospels are corrupted, even though it accepts the distinction of the major Prophets, including Jesus as the Messiah. But the recipe for salvation for Muslims is to be found in their holy book, the Qur’an. I’m uncertain about what Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses say about the salvation of those who don’t believe as they do. Your question really depends on which religion is your starting point.
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If you don’t mind me asking you this - how does that idea not imply racism or superiority?
 
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