Please Interpret John 14:6

[tparsons]

A baptist friend loves to quote this this verse " Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truthand the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". for someone who believes such as Jews or Hindu etc. and will burn in hell. He doesn’t actually tell them that but does tell me. I don’t subscribe to this. Can someone give me a little insight on what the Catholic teaching is on this verse.

Thanks Guys!

 

[Genesis315]

Basically this verse is saying that all who are saved are saved by Jesus. Those who practice other religions through no fault of their own and follow the law written on all our hearts, and end up being saved, are saved by Jesus Christ, not their other false gods. All rays of righteous living (the way) and all rays of light and Truth come from Jesus, not false gods.

This is especially pointed to the Jews of His time who wanted to stick to their old ways instead of following Jesus–not people who don’t know any better.

For example, if someone knows Jesus is the way, Truth, and life, but they say, “It’ easier doing what I’m doing now, I’ll go to Heaven that way.” That won’t work. But, Jesus can save whomever He chooses–and He is the only one who saves.

 

[Della]

Just to back up Genesis’ fine comments, from the Catechism:

“Outside the Church there is no salvation”

846 How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers?335 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.336

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.337

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."338

There is scriptural support for this teaching, of course. Peter in the house of Cornelius tells those gathered there, “Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:34). Of course, Peter goes on to preach Christ crucified and raised because he has here the opportunity to do so, and the Church has always done that too–taken the Gospel at great risk to her missionaries to all parts of the world.

And St. Paul writes: “…when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed…he will render to every man according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life…glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.” (Rom. 2:5b-7, 10-11).

Of course Paul is writing to believers, but he is saying that all will be judged according to their intentions and actions. And that the only reason any of us can be saved is because Christ redeemed us on the cross. The redemption of the world was accomplished then, on the cross. Our salvation is what will happen to us at the end of our lives or if Christ should come. So, our salvation is only possible because of Christ’s redeeming sacrifice on the cross, which opened the door of salvation through Christ to all men of good will, just as the angels announced to the shepherds: “…for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day…a Savior…and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!” (Lk. 2:10-11, 14b).

 

[mosher]

tparsons:

A baptist friend loves to quote this this verse " Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truthand the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". for someone who believes such as Jews or Hindu etc. and will burn in hell. He doesn’t actually tell them that but does tell me. I don’t subscribe to this. Can someone give me a little insight on what the Catholic teaching is on this verse.

Thanks Guys!

The CDF recently put out Dominus Iesus which I feel is the most adaquate explination of our stance on the issue. You can find it at EWTN in their document library.

 

[steveandersen]

tparsons:

A baptist friend loves to quote this this verse " Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truthand the life. No one comes to the Father except through me".…

ask your friend what the words say.

it says “through me”
it doesn’t say “through belief in me” or “through knowledge of me”

 

[jpusateri]

steveandersen:

it says “through me”
it doesn’t say “through belief in me” or “through knowledge of me”

exactly