If Protestants commit a mortal sin, since they don't have confession, do they go to hell?

[holly_potter]

Just curious…what if Protestants commit a mortal sin, and repent (but there’s no official confession but just prayer) are they forgiven, or are they going to hell? Let’s assume for argument’s sake that they will never convert to Catholicism and have confession in that way.

My initial thinking is pretty bleak, that since they can’t actually “confess” like Catholics do, they’re doomed. But I always am optimistic and like to think that people are forgiven, and always have a chance at Heaven even after transgression

 

[eelpis]

Yes they do, unless they make an act of perfect contrition.

 

[chris_molter]

Yes they do, unless they make an act of perfect contrition.

Which is exactly the same thing that happens to us Catholics if we fail to confess a mortal sin.

Like Han Solo says: “Don’t get cocky!”

 

[greythound64]

Just curious…what if Protestants commit a mortal sin, and repent (but there’s no official confession but just prayer) are they forgiven, or are they going to hell? Let’s assume for argument’s sake that they will never convert to Catholicism and have confession in that way.

My initial thinking is pretty bleak, that since they can’t actually “confess” like Catholics do, they’re doomed. But I always am optimistic and like to think that people are forgiven, and always have a chance at Heaven even after transgression

All things are possible through Christ:thumbsup:

Lanta

 

[eelpis]

Which is exactly the same thing that happens to us Catholics if we fail to confess a mortal sin.

Like Han Solo says: “Don’t get cocky!”

No I won’t because I know that the demands on Catholics are higher as we should know more.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Just curious…what if Protestants commit a mortal sin, and repent (but there’s no official confession but just prayer) are they forgiven, or are they going to hell? Let’s assume for argument’s sake that they will never convert to Catholicism and have confession in that way.

My initial thinking is pretty bleak, that since they can’t actually “confess” like Catholics do, they’re doomed. But I always am optimistic and like to think that people are forgiven, and always have a chance at Heaven even after transgression

Christ provides us with His Sacraments as gift to us for our salvation. However God is not bound to His sacraments, He may act if he chooses outside of them. He could possibly if a person is repentant of their sins and is truly ignorant of the Catholic faith or Church, forgive them outside of the Sacrament of Confession. If they are aware of the Catholic Faith and freely choose not to seek union with the Church, only God can judge that persons intention.

 

[eelpis]

Christ provides us with His Sacraments as gift to us for our salvation. However God is not bound to His sacraments, He may act if he chooses outside of them. He could possibly if a person is repentant of their sins and is truly ignorant of the Catholic faith or Church, forgive them outside of the Sacrament of Confession. If they are aware of the Catholic Faith and freely choose not to seek union with the Church, only God can judge that persons intention.

An act of perfect contrition suffices.

Besides we can never know if a person is in mortal sin. We can only guess.

 

[MusicMan]

As with all sins and sinners, it would be between the sinner and God. He will judge us on our last day, not posters on CAF.

 

[twosweetgirls]

MusicMan for President.

 

[flameburns623]

Just curious…what if Protestants commit a mortal sin, and repent (but there’s no official confession but just prayer) are they forgiven, or are they going to hell? Let’s assume for argument’s sake that they will never convert to Catholicism and have confession in that way.

My initial thinking is pretty bleak, that since they can’t actually “confess” like Catholics do, they’re doomed. But I always am optimistic and like to think that people are forgiven, and always have a chance at Heaven even after transgression

Protestants don’t believe that repenting for one’s sins merely from a fear of Hell is good enough. In their understanding of soteriology, the only appropriate motivating force for repentance is true love for God. Despite the reputation of Protestants for tent revivals full of hellfire-and-brimstone sermonizing. Many Protestants of course believe that such repentance is a gift of God given only to the Elect, but that’s an aside: the important thing to be aware of is that for Protestants the focus tends to be upon sorrow for sin out of a pure love for God.

Which is a pretty good definition of perfect contrition. Doesn’t mean they achieve perfect contrition, but it would seem to be what they aim at. So it depends upon how readily one thinks perfect contrition can be achieved.