Jesus only savior

[josethekke]

Roman catholic church teaches and believe that JESUS CHRIST is the only savoir and salvation through jesus christ only.Yesterday a Hindu friend they like Christ’s teachings except that Jesus is the only savior He asked me what will be the fate of other non -christians of good life I have no satisfactory explanation
can somebody can help me

 

[Bran]

Hi Jose,

This is what Father Vincent Serpa, O.P., has to say regarding this topic:

*Certainly, the [Catholic] Church does not teach relativism or new age theology. [But] *n acknowledging the possibility of non-Christians attaining salvation, the Church is not in any way denying the truth of the Gospel. Maybe this can help.

There were two workmen who attempted to dig a separate ditch to a distant point. They expected to be paid but didn’t know much more than that. The first man took a pick and a shovel and began. The second man, a half mile away began to prepare to dig, but happened to meet the owner who gave him instructions, including the purpose for the ditch and several power tools to enable him to do a good job. In two weeks he was finished. A month and a half later he met the first man who had just finished his ditch. The first man asked where he could find the owner in order to be paid. But the second man said, “You didn’t use the proper tools, you don’t know the purpose of the ditch and you don’t even know the owner. You didn’t follow the proper instructions and you expect to be paid?” The first man objected, “But I dug the ditch!”

I realize that all analogies limp. But I think you get the idea. The first man represents those people who don’t have the benefit of Revelation and the grace of the sacraments, but [have] lived a virtuous life, even though it was much more difficult for them. The second man represents those who have the benefit of the faith and the graces bestowed through the Church.

Virtue is not easy for anybody. We can’t assume that because some people don’t have the faith that therefore virtue is easier for them. It is actually more difficult. The Church is not saying that ALL Hindus and ALL Buddhists, etc. are going to march right into heaven. They too must dig the ditch! But if they do, even without the considerable helps that we have, God will not turn them away. This is not new age relativism. It is the Saviour paying those who started work at the end of the day the same wage as those who worked all day. His love is like that! All real love is expansive. It doesn’t measure. It’s not tit for tat. Who paid Him for his passion? Certainly not us!*

Here is an article on this topic: catholic.com/thisrock/1999/9909frs.asp

Here is another: catholic.com/thisrock/2004/0403sbs.asp

And another: catholic.com/thisrock/2003/0302fea3.asp

Happy reading.

You and your friend will be in my prayers,

Bran*

 

[COPLAND_3]

Roman catholic church teaches and believe that JESUS CHRIST is the only savoir and salvation through jesus christ only.Yesterday a Hindu friend they like Christ’s teachings except that Jesus is the only savior He asked me what will be the fate of other non -christians of good life I have no satisfactory explanation
can somebody can help me

Basically God will judge everyone by how they respond to Him according to how He has revealed Himself to them. The more He has revealed Himself to someone the more they will be expected to respond to His Truth. It is obvious that some people have not aquired the fullness of the Faith, but if they do the best they can to follow the right path by what truth they have, then God will see their heart and judge them as the just Judge that He is.

 

[josethekke]

Hi Jose,

This is what Father Vincent Serpa, O.P., has to say regarding this topic:

*Certainly, the [Catholic] Church does not teach relativism or new age theology. [But] *n acknowledging the possibility of non-Christians attaining salvation, the Church is not in any way denying the truth of the Gospel. Maybe this can help.

There were two workmen who attempted to dig a separate ditch to a distant point. They expected to be paid but didn’t know much more than that. The first man took a pick and a shovel and began. The second man, a half mile away began to prepare to dig, but happened to meet the owner who gave him instructions, including the purpose for the ditch and several power tools to enable him to do a good job. In two weeks he was finished. A month and a half later he met the first man who had just finished his ditch. The first man asked where he could find the owner in order to be paid. But the second man said, “You didn’t use the proper tools, you don’t know the purpose of the ditch and you don’t even know the owner. You didn’t follow the proper instructions and you expect to be paid?” The first man objected, “But I dug the ditch!”

I realize that all analogies limp. But I think you get the idea. The first man represents those people who don’t have the benefit of Revelation and the grace of the sacraments, but [have] lived a virtuous life, even though it was much more difficult for them. The second man represents those who have the benefit of the faith and the graces bestowed through the Church.

Virtue is not easy for anybody. We can’t assume that because some people don’t have the faith that therefore virtue is easier for them. It is actually more difficult. The Church is not saying that ALL Hindus and ALL Buddhists, etc. are going to march right into heaven. They too must dig the ditch! But if they do, even without the considerable helps that we have, God will not turn them away. This is not new age relativism. It is the Saviour paying those who started work at the end of the day the same wage as those who worked all day. His love is like that! All real love is expansive. It doesn’t measure. It’s not tit for tat. Who paid Him for his passion? Certainly not us!**

Here is an article on this topic: catholic.com/thisrock/1999/9909frs.asp

Here is another: catholic.com/thisrock/2004/0403sbs.asp

And another: catholic.com/thisrock/2003/0302fea3.asp

Happy reading.

You and your friend will be in my prayers,

Bran

Hi Bran
Thank you ;your ariicle provided great insight

 

[Robbinson]

Basically God will judge everyone by how they respond to Him according to how He has revealed Himself to them. The more He has revealed Himself to someone the more they will be expected to respond to His Truth. It is obvious that some people have not aquired the fullness of the Faith, but if they do the best they can to follow the right path by what truth they have, then God will see their heart and judge them as the just Judge that He is.

Well said - and this is consistent with the Catechism.

However, I’ll admit that as a Protestant (swimming the Tiber), this is a very difficult doctrinal position. I want it to be true (and in my heart, this is how I would want God’s plan to work - and he does desire that all be saved), but the Protestant framework looks exclusively to faith in Christ. Jesus said we must be born of water and Spirit (e.g, baptism) and the Church cites this as the basis for the general believe in the need for baptism, but then acknowledges exceptions along the lines of your post (e.g., for those who don’t know or didn’t hear the gospel, etc). Its a very difficult theological question - one on which I defer to the Church and its authority in scriptural interpretation.

Blessings,

Brian

 

[COPLAND_3]

Well said - and this is consistent with the Catechism.

However, I’ll admit that as a Protestant (swimming the Tiber), this is a very difficult doctrinal position. I want it to be true (and in my heart, this is how I would want God’s plan to work - and he does desire that all be saved), but the Protestant framework looks exclusively to faith in Christ. Jesus said we must be born of water and Spirit (e.g, baptism) and the Church cites this as the basis for the general believe in the need for baptism, but then acknowledges exceptions along the lines of your post (e.g., for those who don’t know or didn’t hear the gospel, etc). Its a very difficult theological question - one on which I defer to the Church and its authority in scriptural interpretation.

Blessings,

Brian

I used to be a Southern Baptist who served in the ministry, and in that denomination there was quite a bit of flexability here. I had come to the conclusion that the Bible supported my understanding that God would not send those poor souls to Hell who had never had a chance to hear the Gospel but tried to seek Him out at the best of their ability. I had always relied on certain passages such as

**Though God has overlooked those times of ignorance, he now commands everyone everywhere to repent, Acts 17:30

If I (Jesus) had not come and spoken to them, they would not have any sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin. John 15:22**

These passages refer to those who had not heard the Truth in times past, but it would have to also refer to those who have lived even after Christ came who had not heard the Gospel because those people are in the same position as those in ignorance before.

I have seen unbelievers who have found the opposing view to be a stumbling block and also reason to believe that God is not just.