Last chance to accept God and obtain eternal salvation

[dmftx]

THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED BEFORE…and I apologize but I cannot quite find what I am looking for in my search attempts. We have quite a theological debate going about “last chance opportunities to accept God as our Saviour and be saved”. I have seen many posts but somewhere I believe that I saw a support suggesting that when one dies and meets with Jesus that s/he is given a last opportunity to accept God".

I am pretty sure this could happen if a person never knew of God or, perhaps, in specific medical situations but I don’t recall other instances. However, I am so strong in my belief that God is immensely merciful that, perhaps, there is basis for this. The more I think about this I can visualize God’s mercy although the time in Purgatory might be rather lengthy.

As a matter of record, this discussion includes me, the lone Catholic, and a few people from Baptist or non-denominational backgrounds. Whether I am right or wrong doesn’t matter but the not being sure is driving me nuts.

 

[SonOfMan]

According to Catholic philosophy, I dont think its possible since after death, time ceases. If time ceases, there is no opportunity to make anymore decisions, for in that timless state there is only the present, no past or future.

 

[dmftx]

That is my thought. I think I dug my own hole by dicussing why I believe in praying for the holy souls, saying the Divine Mercy Novena, why our Pope has declared a Jubilee Year of Mercy, etc. I will not budge on the topic of Purgatory and I am proud that we are a church that focuses on mercy. Trust me, my friends can make some very convincing arguments after I have evangelized my position.

 

[truthquester]

I believe that even after the hour of ones death that Jesus will present himself. I don’t believe that he will ever treat us like we are disposable, He really loves us that much. What about all of the other faiths in the world, Jewish people, Muslim people, agnostic people and atheists? I think it is arrogant of any religion to try and claim exclusive rights to heaven. What is it that they say about faith, grace and works?

 

[SonOfMan]

I believe that even after the hour of ones death that Jesus will present himself. I don’t believe that he will ever treat us like we are disposable, He really loves us that much. What about all of the other faiths in the world, Jewish people, Muslim people, agnostic people and atheists? I think it is arrogant of any religion to try and claim exclusive rights to heaven. What is it that they say about faith, grace and works?

With what will you speak with, without a body, mouth, or voice in a timeless space? The only thing that can speak for you, are your good works and how well you followed your conscience, and the state you were in (aka, your irrevocable decision) at the time of your death.

In order to make a decision, you need time. Because with decision-making there is a before and an after. So with no time, there will never be an after, only the (eternal) present moment (the present being the state you were in at death).

As for people of other religions, read what the Church teaches these days about it under “Invincible Ignorance.” They can be saved too.

 

[Micosil]

I believe that even after the hour of ones death that Jesus will present himself. I don’t believe that he will ever treat us like we are disposable, He really loves us that much. What about all of the other faiths in the world, Jewish people, Muslim people, agnostic people and atheists? I think it is arrogant of any religion to try and claim exclusive rights to heaven. What is it that they say about faith, grace and works?

It depends on what you mean by “exclusive rights” – if you mean that only baptized Catholics can get into heaven, this is not what the Church teaches at all. If you mean that anyone who is saved will get into the “Catholic heaven”, that’s different.

“Outside the Church there is no salvation”

846 How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers? Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body:

Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.

847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church:

Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.

848 “Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men.”

As for people of other religions, read what the Church teaches these days about it under “Invincible Ignorance.” They can be saved too.

It is not just what the Church teaches “these days”.

As I’ve stated to you in another thread, this was already something said by Pope Pius IX in a letter in 1863:

Here, too, our beloved sons and venerable brothers, it is again necessary to mention and censure a very grave error entrapping some Catholics who believe that it is possible to arrive at eternal salvation although living in error and alienated from the true faith and Catholic unity. Such belief is certainly opposed to Catholic teaching. There are, of course, those who are struggling with invincible ignorance about our most holy religion. Sincerely observing the natural law and its precepts inscribed by God on all hearts and ready to obey God, they live honest lives and are able to attain eternal life by the efficacious virtue of divine light and grace. Because God knows, searches and clearly understands the minds, hearts, thoughts, and nature of all, his supreme kindness and clemency do not permit anyone at all who is not guilty of deliberate sin to suffer eternal punishments.

 

[dmftx]

A visiting priest and I spoke about this at reconciliation tonight. He told me that we underestimate God’s mercy and love for us and, of course, we can theorize all we want but none of can answer for God. It made me smile…as humans it is natural to want black and white answers but what God wants is our FAITH which includes trusting HIM.

I don’t know the answer but my faith and trust tells me that God is in control and justice, according to his infinite knowledge and love, will be done.

 

[icamhif]

…as humans it is natural to want black and white answers but what God wants is our FAITH which includes trusting HIM.

I don’t know the answer but my faith and trust tells me that God is in control and justice, according to his infinite knowledge and love, will be done.

Amen

 

[truthquester]

I mean no disrespect when I say it is arrogant of any religion to try and claim exclusive rights to heaven. Religion has it’s place but I don’t believe that God would condemn anybody because of their religious affiliation, He is the only one who knows our whole story and I really don’t think that any religion carries that much weight when He looks at the entirety of our being.

My whole point being is that I truly and honestly believe that God loves us that much that He would find a way to make it possible even after the hour of ones death. If at such a time, one could look into the very eyes of our savior and still say He’s not real, then that person has made their choice.

 

[mikekle]

According to Catholic philosophy, I dont think its possible since after death, time ceases. If time ceases, there is no opportunity to make anymore decisions, for in that timless state there is only the present, no past or future.

If we have NO chance, that means our free will is only temporary…this is one thing that makes me think we ALWAYS have a choice, I dont think a gift like free will would be a temporary or limited kind of gift.

We, as humans were created as IMMORTAL beings, ONLY our physical bodies are temporary, they die and return to dust after our death, but our real selves, our souls, go on, so the question is, did God give the gift of free will to US or to our physical bodies?

Ive always believed, even in instant death scenarios, like someone getting hit by a big truck, we dont know what happens in those milliseconds before the actual death, maybe those milliseconds when we are unconscious, seem like hours, and in that very moment, we are given one last chance.