John 14:6 teaching on salvation for non-Christians

[tparsons]

Please clarify the Catholic teaching on John 14:6 regarding salvation for non-Christians. I have a Assembly of God friend who would like to understand our teaching on this according to scripture. She believes that all non-Christians are going to hell, regardless if they have ever been exposed to the Christian faith or not. Where in scripture is this teaching or is it a Catholic teaching?

Peace be with you…

 

[MariaGorettiGrl]

It is definitely not a Catholic teaching, though some confused people sometimes claim it is.

The Catholic church teaches that the matter of your salvation is not only about your religion or your actions, but about your intent. If you’re trying really hard to be good, but you continually fall into sin, God is going to know you were trying to be good and take that into account. Just like God knows if you’re really sorry for your sins or if you’re only paying “lip service”.

The Catholic church also teaches that we on Earth don’t know who is going to Heaven or hell, and that we shouldn’t try to speculate on other’s salvation, but only our own. The only people we can be sure are in Heaven are saints who God has chosen to reveal to us through certain miracles.

I hope that answers that.

 

[Lazerlike42]

MariaGorettiGrl:

It is definitely not a Catholic teaching, though some confused people sometimes claim it is.

The Catholic church teaches that the matter of your salvation is not only about your religion or your actions, but about your intent. If you’re trying really hard to be good, but you continually fall into sin, God is going to know you were trying to be good and take that into account. Just like God knows if you’re really sorry for your sins or if you’re only paying “lip service”.

The Catholic church also teaches that we on Earth don’t know who is going to Heaven or hell, and that we shouldn’t try to speculate on other’s salvation, but only our own. The only people we can be sure are in Heaven are saints who God has chosen to reveal to us through certain miracles.

I hope that answers that.

The Church does teach that it is possible for non-Christians to be saved, but that we can never be sure about it in any way. She teaches that if someone is seeking God with all his or her heart, and follows the moral law which is written on his or her heart, that they may be saved. It can be read about in Romans 1-4, for instance, where St. Paul talks about the gentiles having God’s law written on their hearts and so forth.

 

[reen12]

Hi, tparsons,

It might help to take a look at the Catechsim on the issue:

Here’s a link: [look for #1260]

usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2.htm

Hope this helps,

reen12

PS: I looked up the verse you provided. To say that
Jesus is limited in saving one who has never heard of
Him, is to accept a form of predestination, and to further claim
that God Himself cannot choose to save a person who
is not formally a member of the Church.
The point is, the person saved, is saved through Christ’s
suffering and death, in a *manner *unknown to us.