Is Heaven impossible or improbable?

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Nelka

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Jesus said for us to be perfect like our Father in Heaven.

Well it’s impossible to be perfect.

Jesus said about the narrow gate, well that will be for the odd person so that won’t happen either.

So why suffer on Earth when you will probably suffer for eternity anyway?

You never benefit from suffering so what is the point in that?
 
If Jesus called us to perfection then it would follow that it is not impossible to be perfect. Not easy but by no means impossible. He gave us the Sacraments as tools to use to come closer to the perfection he calls us to. Our Lord would not set us up for failure.
 
Nelka said:
Jesus said for us to be perfect like our Father in Heaven.

Well it’s impossible to be perfect.

Jesus said about the narrow gate, well that will be for the odd person so that won’t happen either.

So why suffer on Earth when you will probably suffer for eternity anyway?

You never benefit from suffering so what is the point in that?
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This logic you present is Protestant Theology…fortunate, Catholic Theology teaches us that the Communion of Saints include not only the Church Triumphant (saints in heaven), and Church Militant (faithful on earth), but the Church Expectant…those souls who, as you note, are less than perfect, but will undergo purgation and when their punishment has been served (or at the second coming and resurrection of the dead, whichever comes first) will enter Heaven!

Rejoice and be glad!
 
Let me ask you a question.

Would you tell children to study to make sure they get a B? Or you would tell them to study for the A?

If they shoot for a B, they might miss and get a C. But if they shoot for the A, they might miss and get a B.

One should always aim for perfection, that way you’re trying to say on target. But aim for less, you might miss the target all together.
 
I wouldn’t tell them to get 100% which is what perfection is, I would tell them to do their best though.
 
Nelka said:
I wouldn’t tell them to get 100% which is what perfection is, I would tell them to do their best though.
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But you would you not encourage them to earn the best score they can possibly get?

I don’t think Jesus is say, be perfect or burn in Hell. If he was, then why do we have Confession?

However, we should want to be best we can be. I think that was really His message. Strive to live a perfect life and to emulate God in all that you do.
 
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I think you really need to spend some time in the Pauline corpus (Romans, Ephesians, Galatians, specifically).
Nelka said:
Even that is way beyond managing. Plus He didn’t say try to be perfect, He said be perfect.
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We are perfect, if we are in Christ. “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, and not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation…For our sake he (God) made him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that, in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
 
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If we don’t quite achieve perfection here on earth God has provided a merciful place or state known as purgatory, knowing our hearts and the progress we made while here. In any case, “With God all things are possible.” (Matt 19:26)

He certainly didn’t create us to be im-perfect after all. But knowing our weaknesses and planning for them He placed His creation “en statu viae”, in a “state of journeying to perfection” as the Church teaches. A good journey, even with its hardships.
 
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Nelka said:
You never benefit from suffering so what is the point in that?
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It’s been said without suffering and sacrifice there would be no love. Jesus showed us this at the cross.

It’s easy to say you love your spouse when all is going well, you have plenty of time with each other, plenty of money to do the things that you want to do. However, true love shows itself in suffering.

I can honestly say I suffered both physically and emotionally in the early years of my marriage. Some days it took every ounce of my being to not say what’s the point of this suffering, I deserve better than this. Now that I am older and wiser I look back at those days and thank God for all of that suffering. It not only made me the man that I am today but it made me far more in love with my wife that I ever thought would be possible.

There is benefits to suffering, sometimes we can’t see them. I could go on and on, suffered quite a bit my entire life. Wouldn’t trade one day of my suffering for anything.

God Bless
 
Very very good answer not to mention also the truth. God bless… Gary
 
We never benifit from suffering? Jesus suffered and died for our sins.
 
The Apostles sure weren’t perfect, yet they all became saints.
And don’t forget good ol’ St. Paul who actually killed people.

Think about it.
 
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It is very difficult to get into Heaven, especially right away without Purgatory. You literally have to be a saint! You are on the right track by thinking about it! But don’t fall into despair, for it is possible to reach Christian perfection.
What is important is the interior life and the state of the soul at death. Be in the state of Grace and do your best. Pray, and don’t worry.

It should be a great hope! You are called to be perfect, and God will help you toward that end! Imagine, no more doing evil but good, being a holy man or woman! Why despair when you can strive?
 
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Yes, perfection is impossible for man, but not for God. Jesus tells us to rely on him, not our own ability. We have to do our part to work on our holiness each day, but Jesus gives us Confession and the Eucharist to transform us. It’s a cooperation between the person and Jesus. If the person does their part, Jesus does his part. It’s like Jesus has his hand out to pull the person out of the muck of sin, but the person has to take his hand and let him help them.
 
I’m going to remember you in my prayers because you seem to be going through some really tough stuff.
:pray:t2::pray:t2::pray:t2:
 
By your logic then the saints should have given up. I am glad they didn’t!
‘If you would persevere in seeking perfection, you must consider yourself a pilgrim, an exile on earth.’ - The Imitation of Christ
 
Jesus also said to cut off your hands if they cause you to sin.

Jesus was a creative preacher. He used hyperbole and parable.

Nelka, it says you are Catholic. It is Catholic teaching that God desires all to be saved, and each person is granted sufficient grace for Heaven.
 
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