To all the posters of my original thread.
May I offer my sincere appreciation for all you responses.
You have given me great understanding of what you believe and why you believe what you do.
I sorry that we let my original thread get off subject resulting in its closure
However, may I invite the original posters back and anyone else to continue what we started in the original thread and let’s try to stay on point.
The last point I made on the subject is.
My question to open and continue this thread is
What do you believe is necessary for one to do to get to heaven?
***The answer is easier to provide than the actions, commitment and beliefs require.
***Actually one need respond in two different manners. 1. For those who have the opportunity to know Jesus Christ and those who do not have this opportunity.
Because everyone on this Forum has such an opportunity, that is the group that I shall address.
Let’s set a foundation for our discussion.****
FACT: God will judge ones opportunity to know the truth, in the same way as one that knows the truth and denies or ignores it.
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FACT**: God’s Holy Writ; our Bible is very much a “manual on How to Get to Heaven.” If one were reading a manual on how to build a Rocket to go the moon, such a person would be seen as foolish if they only read every third page. Not accepting the entirety of God’s Divinely [and carefully chosen] Words is just as risky, and has the same odds of success. Everything in the Bible is there for a God’s intended purpose.
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FACT:** No where does the bible authorize “self-interpretation” of Gods Bible. However the Bible gives numerous passages on One Church, Binding and Loosing, and Governance. Space does not permit to post them so I will just list them for you.
First is a list of verses [note the use of singular tense] that support One Church:*** Mt. 16:15-19, 1 Tim. 3:15, Eph. 2:19-20, Eph. 4:4-8, Eph.5: 23, 1 Cor. 14:12, Eph. 3:9-10, Col. 1:18, Acts 20:28, Mt. 15, 15-18, Gal. 1:13 and 1 Cor. 12:12. Folks that is a lot of support for “One Church.”
Then these verses supporting that One Churches Authority***. Lk.10: 16, Mk.3: 13-14, Eph. 2:19, Mt. 28:20, Mt. 15: 15-18, Rom. 13:1, Jn. 17:15-19, Titus 2:15, 2 Cor. 10:8, 1Tim. 4:3, Titus 2:1, Isa.22: 22-24, Mt. 16: 15-19, 1 Jn. 4: 4-6, Jn.2: 34, 2 Cor. 9:13, 1 Pet.1: 12, Jn. 10:1-4, Mt. 7:21-22, and 2 Tim. 4:1-4. **
I would remind you that it is God’s idea, not the Apostles to Found the CC. He Jesus called them, not the other way around. Jesus Founded the CC, not the Apostles. But clearly, indisputably Jesus gave by prudent necessity all of the “tools” and authority to Govern and Grow His Church. [Mt. 28:19-20]. Anything less would have required reckless forethought not possible for our PERFECT GOD.
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1st. Necessity** is belief in God. 1Jn. 2: 22-24, Mt. 10: 32-33, Lk. 12: 8-12.] But one must factor in that faith is a gift, not given to all, and not given to all in identical manner. Also as [Isaiah 55: 8-9] tells us we cannot understand the mind of God. His ways are NOT our ways.
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2nd. Necessity:** Christian Baptism. Jn.3: 5].
3td. Necessity: Obedience to the Commandments and to His Entire Word [The Bible]. [Mt. 19:16, 2 Cor. 4:2-3, 1 Pet. 4:17-18, 2 Tim. 3:16-17, and 1 Thess. 1:8]
4th. Necessity: Acts of Charity [Mt. Chapters five and six, Rom. 13:9] and a dozen other places.
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5th. Necessity: **Give visual evidence of your Faith beliefs in how you lead your life.
Next is not an absolute requirement, but certainly is the way, the manner, the desire of God most high, and that is to be an informed, practicing Catholic, Obedient to all Church teachings, doctrine and dogmas, and to the Magisterium [teaching authority of the CC]. Because Faith is a gift from God, that is given in different measure, and can be accepted or rejected, one does not in an absolute sense “have to be a Catholic” to get to heaven. However there are mightily good reasons to be Catholic, called the Seven Sacraments, which despite other claims “as ours too are valid” are sadly not. Only with Direct Apostolic Succession are the sacraments Valid.
6th Necessity: Is not to die [this includes everyone] with unconfessed, unrepented Mortal sins on ones soul. [1 Jn. 1;8-10, 1 Jn. 5:16-17, Jn. 20: 21-23, Mt. 16:19]
CCC 814 From the beginning, this one Church has been marked by a great diversity which comes from both the variety of God’s gifts and the diversity of those who receive them. Within the unity of the People of God, a multiplicity of peoples and cultures is gathered together. Among the Church’s members, there are different gifts, offices, conditions, and ways of life. “Holding a rightful place in the communion of the Church there are also particular Churches that retain their own traditions.” The great richness of such diversity is not opposed to the Church’s unity. Yet sin and the burden of its consequences constantly threaten the gift of unity. And so the Apostle has to exhort Christians to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
CCC 819 “Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth” are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: “the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements.” Christ’s Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him, and are in themselves calls to “Catholic unity.”***
In a way understood only by God, all salvation flows through His CC.
Hope this answers your question?***
Love and prayers,
Pat
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