Protestants/Mortal Sins/Hell?

[anonymous_in_fl]

Hello Everyone,

I hope you can help me understand something that has been bothering me for quite some time.

Do Protestants (who do not believe in the concept of mortal sins) lose their salvation and go straight to Hell if they die while in mortal sin?

I asked a question here on CAF approx. a month ago about Catholics dying in mortal sin; and the answers given stated that if we (Catholics) die in mortal sin we go to Hell.

What about Protestants, who although being baptized, do not believe that mortal sins condemn them to Hell?

I have an awful lot of Protestant family and friends - - - now I’m truly concerned about their eternal salvation. What is the answer?

Thanks

 

[challam2010]

No one knows the state of a particular soul after death. No one.

The Catholic Church has never definitively stated that even ONE person is in hell, whereas by canonization, She declares the person to be in heaven.

We cannot comprehend the depth of God’s infinite mercy and love…

 

[Junebug999]

Dear Challam2010 – this has been my concern as well. I’m from a Baptist background and know so many dear protestant relatives and friends, co-workers, etc., who are in this situation. Some have passed on and many are still here. We can pray for them, and pray a LOT for them. There is no limit on God’s mercy. Hopefully through prayer, and living a Holy life which is a good example, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit talking with them about my concern when they are receptive…and again much much much more prayer, I hope they will come into the Church.

I do recommend Patrick Madrid’s book Search and Rescue. Because we have this on our hearts is a good thing. Sometimes people can have callous hearts about the needs of other souls for redemption or reconciliation from grave sin.

I think it basically calls for putting knee pads on and prayer, prayer, prayer. I will put your concerns on my prayer list, and you pray for mine also. Okay?

 

[06convert]

The idea is that God gives everyone a means of salvation. For you and me that salvation is found by faithfully following what we believe to be the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church. Because we see the teachings of the Church to be 100% truth, we must live our lives to that standard. We have the full story, so God expects us to live that out.

So what about those that don’t have the full story, or don’t know the full truth? God loves them just the same. Just like a good parent doesn’t get angry at a child for doing something without knowing any better, God will not condemn His children for not knowing His truth any better. As long as they lived by their means of salvation they should be ok. God doesn’t compare us to each other.

What we know and what we believe is between us and God. God knows the opportunities each person has had to hear and accept the truth and God will be the judge of how you handled those opportunies.

It seems unfair that one person can do something terrible and in a quick prayer say, “I’m sorry God” and be fine whereas us Catholics have to go to confession. . But again God doesn’t compare us to each other. God compares us to what we know and understand (or possibly should understand) to be true. We know the truth is that we have to go to confession, so we are held to that truth. Protestants may think that a quick I’m sorry in personal prayer is ok, so they are held to that truth.

How God handles that when they get up there is another story, but I’m pretty sure they aren’t guaranteed eternity in hell for not holding to someone elses version of the truth or not knowing any better. It’s important to focus on you and not compare others to yourself.

 

[FaustinaClare]

Forgive me for not knowing exact quotes ( I know what kind of former Baptist am I?)but there is a story in the bible in which the servant who was given much, much was expected from him and the servant who was given little, little was expected.

Much is expected from Catholics b/c we have been giving the GREATEST gift through the Eucharist and the Sacraments. Reminds me of a movie quote “WIth great power comes great responsibility”. So we have more responsibility b/c we know the Truth.

Protestants, for example, are given some truth but not the fullness to which Catholics have. So they will be judged based on what they were given and how they handled it.

I’m no theologian but I would say that goes for everyone.

For example, a Priest might be held more accountable than a lay person in the Church.

Again who knows b/c only God knows the state of everyone’s soul.

Pray for your deceased protestant friends b/c maybe they are in purgatory and have no one to say a mass for them since protestants don’t really believe in that sort of stuff.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Do Protestants (who do not believe in the concept of mortal sins) lose their salvation and go straight to Hell if they die while in mortal sin?

The way you have worded this question—the answer is certainly yes.

However, it sounds like you are wondering if a Protestant can commit a mortal sin objectively but not necessarily incur the full guilt of a mortal sin because he innocently does not have full knowledge that what he’s doing is a mortal sin. In that case, it is possible such a Protestant could go to heaven because he did not commit the mortal sin due to some ignorance.

 

[steve_b]

Hello Everyone,

I hope you can help me understand something that has been bothering me for quite some time.

Do Protestants (who do not believe in the concept of mortal sins) lose their salvation and go straight to Hell if they die while in mortal sin?

I asked a question here on CAF approx. a month ago about Catholics dying in mortal sin; and the answers given stated that if we (Catholics) die in mortal sin we go to Hell.

What about Protestants, who although being baptized, do not believe that mortal sins condemn them to Hell?

I have an awful lot of Protestant family and friends - - - now I’m truly concerned about their eternal salvation. What is the answer?

Thanks

Even though they don’t believe in mortal/venial sin, they can’t deny

• scripture makes distinctions between sins.
• [Gal 5:19…] for example gives a list of sins that if one dies in these sins, they will NOT inherit heaven… i.e. they go to hell. This clear passage, identifies sins that will send one to hell if they die in these sins.
• As an aside, Just because one is christian doesn’t mean they are automatically forgiven of their sins by virtue of being christian.
• For Catholics, any sin that keeps one from inheriting heaven is mortal/deadly to the soul. i.e. no heaven for that person only hell, unless the person confesses. Protestants can call those sins what they want, but they can’t deny the consequences if one dies in them.
• there are other examples as well

Those sins mentioned [Gal 5:19]

sexual immorality,
impurity and debauchery;
idolatry and witchcraft;
hatred,
discord,
jealousy,
fits of rage,
selfish ambition,
dissensions, factions
and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

And Paul said

I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Here’s the problem for Protestants commiting one of THOSE sins.

1 Jn 5:16-17 (emphasis mine)

16If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, (i.e. venial sin) he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. (i**.e. venial sins are okay to pray about and God forgives you**) There is a sin that leads to death.(Mortal. Well, there goes the false notion that all sins are equal)) I am not saying that he should pray about that. ( Oh OH!!! Can’t pray about mortal sin, those sins mentioned, for forgiveness. That’s a problem. How do Protestants then get rid of mortal sin with assurance?)17All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.( **Here’s the passages that contradict Protestants on sin **)

Those sins mentioned are mortal because of their consequences. If one is following scripture, can they be prayed about for forgiveness? No

 

[inkaneer]

I once asked EWTN’s Colin Donovan a question about “invinceable ignorance” and exactly what constituted ignorance that was “invinceable” so as to provide a defense for protestants at judgement. The answer was in effect that protestants had no way to remit sin outside of a perfect act of contrition. Therefore sin remained a big problem in protestantism and such protestant doctrines such as OSAS and the “Jesus did it all” idea were condemning many protestants. And while the church holds out the potential for protestants to be saved sin still has to be dealt with. Thus the doctrine of extra ecclesia nulla salus still stands.