Protestants and Heaven

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Shewmake

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I’ve heard that Protestants don’t go to Heaven. Is this true?
If so, why would God let the division of the Church happen? He could have prevented it.
 
Shewmake said:
I’ve heard that Protestants don’t go to Heaven. Is this true?
If so, why would God let the division of the Church happen? He could have prevented it.
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Do you believe that to enter heaven one must go through Jesus? Well, as we as Christians know, the Church is the Mystical Body of Christ (some will debate on which is the true Church here), so it comes necessarily that one must go through the Church to get to heaven - though this can happen without being apparent from our point of view.

My answer to your question is no, but there would need be qualifications to that.
 
Protestants can make it to heaven. We humans are responsible for the split not God. God in his permissive will allowed it to happen. He did not prevent it because he respects human free will.
 
Shewmake said:
I’ve heard that Protestants don’t go to Heaven. Is this true?
If so, why would God let the division of the Church happen? He could have prevented it.
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As a blanket statement what you HEARD is not true and I would like to know your source.

Anyone can actually make it to heaven IF the circumstances are right. For more on this I refer you to the CCC.

Basically you must be a practicing member of the Church that Christ established (Catholic) which is the only church that has the full truth. Any other church and you’re not running on all eight cylinders.
 
Shewmake said:
I’ve heard that Protestants don’t go to Heaven. Is this true?
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It is impossible to say what might happen to Protestants. Some people believe that because they love Jesus, maybe it is possible for them to have Perfect Contrition and be able to go to Heaven. The problem with that theory is that most Protestants have never so much as heard of Perfect Contrition, and have no idea that they need it, so how would they get it?

On the other hand, if a Protestant never commits any sin after Baptism, then certainly, he could go to Heaven. There would be nothing preventing it.
If so, why would God let the division of the Church happen? He could have prevented it.
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God could have prevented Eve from eating the apple, too, but He didn’t. We have free will, even to sin and go to Hell, if we so choose.
 
From my understanding, the decrees made at the council of Trent still stand. So any Protestant who does not believe in Transubstantiation is bound to damnation.
Council of Trent decree - 1551
“If any one shall say that, in the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist, there remains the substance of bread and wine together with the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ; and shall deny that wonderful and singular conversion of the whole substance of the bread into the body, and of the whole substance of the wine into the blood, the species of bread and wine alone remaining, which conversion the Catholic Church most fittingly calls Transubstantiation, let him be anathema” (Session 13, Canon 2)
anathema- a person or thing accursed or consigned to damnation or destruction.

Now the catechism gives excuse for ignorance of the gospel, but the Bible does not (Romans 1). But any Protestant for example that knows what Trans. is, then he is bound for hell. Actually, in the catechism I find that catholics are more forgiving for Muslims and Jews, then churches that fall under the Protestant unbrella

But for example, I was raised catholic (with grammer school, high school, and college catholic schools), but Christ saved me as an adult. I am no longer part of the roman catholic church.

So right now, based on the council of trent, since I do not accept Trans., I am anathama according to it.

Luckly, only God can declare who is saved.

**
Eph 2:8-10

8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

**
 
rbarcia leaves out the factor of invincible ignorance… I guess it’s a teaching of which he’s (heh) invincibly ignorant.
 
I’ll just bet you are rather surprised by all this are you not OP?

I am not sure who you spoke to but they were not Catholic. Or not knowledgable ones for sure.
 
exoflare said:
rbarcia leaves out the factor of invincible ignorance… I guess it’s a teaching of which he’s (heh) invincibly ignorant.
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I don’t know if it applies, since invincible ignorance means that the person has absolutely no way of finding something out.

If you didn’t know something was bad at the time that you did it, you’re not “invincibly ignorant” since the possibility exists that you could still learn it some time in the future - but we aren’t culpable for what we don’t know at the time, either - it would still be a sin, but it would be a venial sin rather than a mortal sin.

But we do become culpable if we learn a truth of the Faith and reject it voluntarily. That’s where I think a lot of Protestants are going to be in trouble, because they find out about the Catholic Church, study its teachings, realize that Jesus founded it, but then reject it on purpose for whatever reason.
 
jmcrae said:
I don’t know if it applies, since invincible ignorance means that the person has absolutely no way of finding something out.

If you didn’t know something was bad at the time that you did it, you’re not “invincibly ignorant” since the possibility exists that you could still learn it some time in the future - but we aren’t culpable for what we don’t know at the time, either - it would still be a sin, but it would be a venial sin rather than a mortal sin.

But we do become culpable if we learn a truth of the Faith and reject it voluntarily. That’s where I think a lot of Protestants are going to be in trouble, because they find out about the Catholic Church, study its teachings, realize that Jesus founded it, but then reject it on purpose for whatever reason.
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What if the person honestly feel he’s done research and concludes that the roman catholic church of today is not the church that Jesus founded. In his heart he is honestly thinking he is ok. He is rejecting because he feels the Roman Catholic Church is wrong. For example, I understand intellectually what Transubstationation is, and I know (or in your eyes I feel) that the Bible and early church members did not teach that (or one cannot deduce that from writing of the time).

Is that invincible or vincible?
 
rbarcia said:
What if the person honestly feel he’s done research and concludes that the roman catholic church of today is not the church that Jesus founded. In his heart he is honestly thinking he is ok. He is rejecting because he feels the Roman Catholic Church is wrong. For example, I understand intellectually what Transubstationation is, and I know (or in your eyes I feel) that the Bible and early church members did not teach that (or one cannot deduce that from writing of the time).

Is that invincible or vincible?
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Only you and God can know for certain - and since it’s you going to the Judgement Day to meet God and explain to Him why you didn’t believe in it - I’m not going to be there; I’ll be undergoing my own Judgement on that day - this is something that you have to discern for yourself in your heart, whether you are honestly doing what you truly believe to be God’s will, or are you fighting against the idea of becoming a Catholic for some other reason?

Other reasons might include a notion that any form of Christianity is okay, so God will just have to live with whichever one you choose (Relativism), or the worry that family members and friends will get upset if they see the person converting to become Catholic (human respect), or fear - fear is a big factor, in many cases - for example, fear of going to First Confession, or fear that the Church will require something “impossible” of the person - some bad habit they have that they don’t want to let go of, or fear of loneliness, or just fear of change, in general.
 
jmcrae said:
Only you and God can know for certain - and since it’s you going to the Judgement Day to meet God and explain to Him why you didn’t believe in it - I’m not going to be there; I’ll be undergoing my own Judgement on that day - this is something that you have to discern for yourself in your heart, whether you are honestly doing what you truly believe to be God’s will, or are you fighting against the idea of becoming a Catholic for some other reason?
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I know I believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, the One God. You are taking the question, as if by not being catholic, I do not believe in Him.

**

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

**

On the day of judgement, I know my fate, I know I cannot argue with God. I know I am guilty for I have broken God’s law, the commandments. I have lied, stolen, cursed, etc…

But Christ died for me, paying my debt with His Body and Blood, once and for all.

**

Hebrews 10

11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

**

He offers this payment by grace (an undeserved gift), through faith

**

eph 2:8-10

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

**

This payment is offered to those who repent (confess and forsake your sins) and believe (trust with all your heart) in the Lord Jesus.
 
rbarcia said:
I know I believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, the One God. You are taking the question, as if by not being catholic, I do not believe in Him.

**

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

**

On the day of judgement, I know my fate, I know I cannot argue with God. I know I am guilty for I have broken God’s law, the commandments. I have lied, stolen, cursed, etc…

But Christ died for me, paying my debt with His Body and Blood, once and for all.

**

Hebrews 10

11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

**

He offers this payment by grace (an undeserved gift), through faith

**

eph 2:8-10

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

**

This payment is offered to those who repent (confess and forsake your sins) and believe (trust with all your heart) in the Lord Jesus.
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**
**So when do you start loving Christ and obey his commandments as he has required a true faithful follower.? Christ job was done on the cross … NOT OURS… we are to remain steadfast in faith, obey, follow Christ…

The whole idea of repentance with any Christian is to be truly sorry for offending God , and become dead to that particular sin, since it is sin that sends one to hell.

Jan**
Jan**
 
DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH
LUMEN GENTIUM
SOLEMNLY PROMULGATED BY HOLINESS
POPE PAUL VI
ON NOVEMBER 21, 1964
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II:15
The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being baptized, are honored with the name of Christian, though they do not profess the faith in its entirety or do not preserve unity of communion with the successor of Peter. For there are many who honor Sacred Scripture, taking it as a norm of belief and a pattern of life, and who show a sincere zeal. They lovingly believe in God the Father Almighty and in Christ, the Son of God and Saviour. They are consecrated by baptism, in which they are united with Christ. They also recognize and accept other sacraments within their own Churches or ecclesiastical communities. Many of them rejoice in the episcopate, celebrate the Holy Eucharist and cultivate devotion toward the Virgin Mother of God. They also share with us in prayer and other spiritual benefits. Likewise we can say that in some real way they are joined with us in the Holy Spirit, for to them too He gives His gifts and graces whereby He is operative among them with His sanctifying power. Some indeed He has strengthened to the extent of the shedding of their blood. In all of Christ’s disciples the Spirit arouses the desire to be peacefully united, in the manner determined by Christ, as one flock under one shepherd, and He prompts them to pursue this end. Mother Church never ceases to pray, hope and work that this may come about. She exhorts her children to purification and renewal so that the sign of Christ may shine more brightly over the face of the earth.
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DECREE ON ECUMENISM
UNITATIS REDINTEGRATIO
Vatican II
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I:3
Moreover, some and even very many of the significant elements and endowments which together go to build up and give life to the Church itself, can exist outside the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church: the written word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, and visible elements too. All of these, which come from Christ and lead back to Christ, belong by right to the one Church of Christ.
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The brethren divided from us also use many liturgical actions of the Christian religion. These most certainly can truly engender a life of grace in ways that vary according to the condition of each Church or Community. These liturgical actions must be regarded as capable of giving access to the community of salvation.
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It follows that the separated Churches and Communities as such, though we believe them to be deficient in some respects, have been by no means deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation. For the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation which derive their efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Church.
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