No one comes to the Father except through me

[richardeekw]

Dear Steve

Problem solved. It doesn’t show on writing slate (Unlike Ms Word sheet) but will show in the Preview Pose or upon submission.

Tks for your help & God Bless

 

[richardeekw]

Dear Jimmy

Your concern seems to be
" Cap People of other faiths be saved?:

Here is the Catholic Response.

The Roman Catholic response is:
Yes, we say that people of other faiths can be saved. .
Note that we use the word “can be saved” and not “are saved.”)
We do not know which of these people of other faiths are saved – only God knows. It is His prerogative.

Scripture texts from the KJV

Jn 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jn 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Jn 3:18
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Mk 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Rm 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

A ROMAN CATHOLIC RESPONSE:

It seems apparent from the above New Testament passages that people must believe in Jesus, be baptized and be a Christian in order to be saved –Now, we must not take Sacred Scripture texts in isolation. They must not be interpreted solely in the context where they are found but in the totality of the Gospel message.

The Bile is full of paradoxes. Other texts may contradict it.
Sometimes Scripture texts may appear to contradict. E.g.Does Faith Alone Save?
Acts 2:21
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Whereas
Matt 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

To Continue /2

 

[richardeekw]

continue/2

**Only Christians can be Saved?**Let us think again. beginning with the gospel of John.

Jn 1:1-3
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

This passage says two things about Jesus.
(1) He is God. and.
(2) Through Him everything was created.

JJn 1:4
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Since Jesus is the cause of creation, then all life comes from Him.This is echoed in Jn 14:6 “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”(

Jn 1:5
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

**This Life is also compared with the Light – all that is good and holy.-as compared to darkness – all that is evil: falsehood, ( Satan is the “Father of lies”) and unholiness. **

Jn 1:9
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

This Light, which is Life.“lighteth every man”
Note that the Light, (Jesus Christ), through whom everything was created, lighteth (0 enlightens) every man, not only Christians like us.

Eph 1:23
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Paul
( …the fullness of him (Jesus)… which fills all in all)

Col 1:16
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

**In him (Jesus), all things are created,in heavens and on earth.The above and this text says exactly what Johnn in Jn 1:3 wrote.All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. **

Phil 2:6
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Paul recalls St John’s claim that Christ is God (Jn 1:1)

1 Tim 4:4
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

In the context of the above passages, the text can only mean that: because all good comes from God (or Jesus) it is not to be rejected.

Rm 2:12-16;John 8:58
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another
16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Here Paul gives another rule– the rule of “Conscience” working in Gentiles (Non-Jews).

continue /3

 

[richardeekw]

continued/ 3

B]In Logical sequence

There is only one God.·

There cannot be two Gods because this will be a contradiction.·

Jesus Christ is God. (Jn 1:1-2, Jn 8:58, Phil 2:6)·

God is the Creator of all that is good. But Jesus is God Therefore all that is good is from Jesus (Jn 1:3, Eph 1:23, Col 1:16)·

But we do see goodness in People of other Faiths (in Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists etc.) To deny the fact is to be wilfully blind. It tentamount to living in falsehood.·

Therefore whatever good we find in whomever it may be, (Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists etc) and must comes from Jesus Christ… That is why St John says that Christ is the “Life” – all that is good, created by God.·

If the above is true, then Christ must be working in Christians as well as in people of other faiths, since all good comes from Him and goodness is in goodness found in people of other faiths. Therefore St John can say that Christ ‘lightens (enlightens) every man (Jn 1:9) and St Paul says that nothing good is to be rejected (1 Tim 4:4).

Christians cannot limit Christ – the Son of God’s salvific work to Christians only. God works in everyone.
Acts 14:16-17
16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness

Christ saving activity is not confined to Christians only but penetrates through the whole of creation
Rom 8:2121
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

If Christ were to be limited to Christians only, He would no longer be God but the President of Christians since He could only save Christians and would be only for Christians.

If we were to claim that only baptized Christians could be caved, we would be denying the divinity of Christ as outlined in the above Scriptural texts.

In defending the belief that people of other faiths can be saved; we are defending the divinity of Christ.Note that we use the word “can be saved” and not “are saved.”) We do not know which of these people of other faiths are saved – only God knows. It is His prerogative. But we say that people of other faiths can be saved.

**This belief of St John is repeated in his first letter, that
“God is love”
.**I Jn 4:8
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

I Jn 4:16
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

How do we know this? We know this, says St John;
I Jn 4:99
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

It is out of love that God created the world.
It is out of love that He saved the world?

If it is God’s Infinite Love that He created everything, then He must be working in every person and everything to save them; otherwise He would not be Infinite Love.

Can you imagine a loving Father who has brought forth children, loving only one or two, and disregarding, worse still discarding others?

If God did not work to save people of other faiths, He would not only be unjust but also absurd. Thus St John says that “God is Love”
I Jn 4:16
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

St John does not say “…*only Christians who live in love…” ***but **“*He (everyone)”who live in love…” *.

Sure we must be honest and admit that we do find love in people of other faiths.
Where does it all come from if not from God.
Therefore Jesus is working in non-Christians to save them. If this is so, then people of other faiths can be saved.

continue /4

 

[mommyof4]

Jesus said “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” He doesn’t say except through knowing Me. People other than Christians can go to the Father (speaking here of praying to the Father) without knowing Jesus. But consider that their prayer may reach the Father only through Jesus even though they are unaware of it. The same is true for going to heaven; it is only thru the merits of Jesus Christ that any human being enters heaven - Christian or non-Christian. Non-Christians may not know it here on earth, but once they get to heaven I’m sure they will.

Nita

I like your explaination.

 

[richardeekw]

continue / 4

**OBJECTION: **

But how can they be saved when St John also say:

Jn 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jn 3:18
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

RESPONSE

It is in the theological setting of St John’s prologue as explained above, that these and other texts can be interpreted meaningfully because the prologue is the backdrop of his gospel.

In this light, Jesus is God and if it is through Him that all good comes into being, then all good must go back to God the Father through Jesus i.e. anyone who (follows his conscience in loving, from whom all good comes) is saved, is saved through Christ, whether he knows it or not.- rhw “fullness of revelation” is through Christ in Christianity.

Therefore when we say that people of other faiths can be saved, basing on the biblical texts quoted above, we are not denying the assertion of other texts that it is only through Jesus that we can go to the Father.

On the contrary, we claim more categorically and in stronger hers that all who go to the Father (God) must go through Jesus. (rather than a belief that only Christians go to the Father through Jesus).

Which do you think defends the divinity of Jesus as true man and true God?

**OBJECTION: **
But Jesus also teach in Mark’s gospel and which is also St. John’s belief:
“Mk 16:16
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Jn 3:5
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

RESPONSE

Mark 16:16
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

In Mk 16:16, Baptism is only for those who believe.
Baptism by water is only an outward expression of what is more important – ‘Believe’.
The inward reality, which ia moew impoertant and, cannot be seen.

If baptism by water is as important as ‘believe’ then logically the text should read “…whoever does no t believe( and is not baptised ) will be condemned.” But then, Jesus has to say, **“… no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit **“

A Christian can be outwardly baptised with water without baptism of the Spirit i.e. “living in the Spirit” (St. Paul) or ‘metanoia’ – a complete change of lifestyle in accordance with Christ’s teachings.

If Baptism is more central to salvation, Jesus would have left out the Spirit. But He did not.
St Paul explains this in clear terms:
1 Cor 12:13
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Baptism is basically in the Spirit. This is expressed in the symbolic outward sign of immersion in water.
Did not St. Peter explain that the Gentiles (Cornelius’ household) have already received the “identical things”(Spirit) from God before baptism with water?
See Acts 10:44-11:17

The Catholic Tradition has always taught there are 2 other types of baptism besides the baptism with water.
Baptism of desire·
Baptism with fire

If a person desires to be a Christian by due to unforeseen circumstances, dies before receiving baptism with water, the person has received what we call – baptism of desire.

In a persecution if someone refuses to reject Christ, and is killed before receiving the baptism with water, the person has received baptism with fire.Christ would not possibly condemn such people.

Nevertheless we cannot judge the inner motives of such people. Theologian Karl Rahner describes such people as “Anonymous Christians”.

Reflect on this parable. Matt 25:32-46

END

Adapted from:
Rev. Fr. Paul Tan Chee Ing S.J.
STRAIGHT TO CATGHOLICS-
Why I believe in What I believe. Catholic Research Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1984.

Read also
Vatican Council II: 1962 – 1965
Decr. ON-CHRISTIANS DECLARATION ON
THE RELATION OF THE CHURCH TO NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS
NOSTRA AETATE
PROCLAIMED BY HIS HOLINESS POPE PAUL VI
ON OCTOBER 28, 1965

Happy thinking and a Blessed Christmas to everyone.

 

[richardeekw]

When we speak about God and Jesus is tyhe Way the Truth and the Life we are eventually speaking about
Salvation of our Souls.

I like the sway Mother Teresa teachers, when she was asked by a reporter on"SALVATION". Her reply is summarised as follows

• If one **THINKS & BELIEVES ** His/her way **LEADS TO GOD**q

• If **DO NOT **know of **ANY OTHER**

• If he/she **DO NOT DOUBT **and so **DO NOT **feel the need to look elsewhere

Then his/her way will lead to SALVATION.

BUT

• God gives to all souls He create, a chance to meet Him,

To acceptHim or to reject Him.

• From the moment the soul received the **GRACE

TO KNOW God**

**IT MUST BEGIN TO SEEK FOR THE TRUTH **

• accept the Truth leads to **SALVATION**

• Rejects the Truth leads to **DAMNATION**

Beautiful way of teaching isn’t it (Non Judgemental). I like the part after **BUT **above.

 

[ShelleyScribe]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that “Baptism gives us the grace of
new birth in God the Father through his Son, in the Holy Spirit. For those who bear God’s
spirit are led to the Word, that is, to the Son, and the Son presents them to the Father, and the Father confers incorruptibility on them. *** And it is impossible to see God’s Son without the Spirit and no one can approach the Father without the Son, for the knowledge of the Father is the Son, and the knowledge of God’s Son is obtained through the Holy Spiri***t”

 

[WilT]

To me, Jesus is the ULTIMATE WORD on those He wishes to bring to the father. Period! As Catholics we asked Our Holy Mother and the Angels to intercede for us but all things still must pass through the merciful hands of Jesus Our Lord and Savior:heart: