Salvation and Damnation

[isaacalsop]

OK, so what acts will earn us Heaven? What will earn us hell? Likewise, what can we go to hell for NOT doing, and can we go to heaven for NOT doing anything? Ive heard about many things that earn people hell ro heaven but what is official teachings?

 

[JRKH]

OK, so what acts will earn us Heaven? What will earn us hell? Likewise, what can we go to hell for NOT doing, and can we go to heaven for NOT doing anything? Ive heard about many things that earn people hell ro heaven but what is official teachings?

Your question sounds a bit like the rich young man…

Heaven or hell is not something you earn but something you embrace.
One either chooses to love God - and to act in a manner that corresponds to that Love or not.
So - since God is Love (Agape), you need only embrace Agape and seek to grow in this love by loving your neighbor as yourself…All the other answers to your questions will flow from this.

Peace
James

 

[Karen107]

Here Jesus says that we are his brothers or sisters if we do the will of God…

Matthew 12:50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

Here Jesus says we have to do the will of Our Father who is in heaven if we want to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Jesus showed us Him doing the will of the Father by dying on the cross…

So Doing the will of the Father will get us to heaven, whatever that will may be!

We learn from Jesus who is the way the truth and the life that we should always go for that holy and virtuous way of living (in the Way of Jesus) by loving God and others… And we show our love for God and others by serving them or doing the will of the Father…

 

[JRKH]

Here Jesus says that we are his brothers or sisters if we do the will of God…

Matthew 12:50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

Here Jesus says we have to do the will of Our Father who is in heaven if we want to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Jesus showed us Him doing the will of the Father by dying on the cross…
**
So Doing the will of the Father will get us to heaven, whatever that will may be!**

We learn from Jesus who is the way the truth and the life that we should always go for that holy and virtuous way of living (in the Way of Jesus) by loving God and others… And we show our love for God and others by serving them or doing the will of the Father…

The Will of the Father for us is expressed in Agape.
All of the Law and Prophets are based on just two great commands of Love (Mt 22:36-40)
Jesus gave us one command - that we Love one another (John 13:34-35)
Rad Mt 25:31-46. Love is at the root of all of these actions.

To Love is not an act - it is a state of being. This state of being causes me to act in certain ways. It is true that I can “act” in ways that mimic love without actually loving…but St Paul tells us that without Love nothing else means a thing. Faith without Love is nothing,

So - we need to not think in terms of what we “do” but rather in terms of what we are called to become.

Just some thoughts

Peace
James

 

[timcri]

"To Love is not an act - it is a state of being. This state of being causes me to act in certain ways. "

I have never thought of it in that relationship before: that is very fascinating…can you expand on that some more, i.e. Love as a state of being? Very intriguing

 

[anon98328916]

The four keys to heaven : Mass
Rosary
Scapular
Way of the cross
The sins that lead more souls to hell are the sins of the flesh.

The sins of the world are very great. If men knew what eternity is, they would do everything to change their lives. - Bl. Jacinta Marto

 

[Karen107]

Now this is confusing to me… Actually from what I have understood is that love is a choice, so if love is a choice it seems that loving would be an act. I mean not everyone makes the choice to love God. There are many who dont love God out of their own will.

 

[Karen107]

The four keys to heaven : Mass
Rosary
Scapular
Way of the cross
The sins that lead more souls to hell are the sins of the flesh.

The sins of the world are very great. If men knew what eternity is, they would do everything to change their lives. - Bl. Jacinta Marto

You mentioned the way of the Cross which is something Pope Francis preached about… Would that be what I’m talking about?

In other words is the Way of Jesus is the Way to Jesus?

Or am I simplifying it too much… I’d appreciate comments …Peace…

 

[JRKH]

"To Love is not an act - it is a state of being. This state of being causes me to act in certain ways. "

I have never thought of it in that relationship before: that is very fascinating…can you expand on that some more, i.e. Love as a state of being? Very intriguing

Now this is confusing to me… Actually from what I have understood is that love is a choice, so if love is a choice it seems that loving would be an act. I mean not everyone makes the choice to love God. There are many who dont love God out of their own will.

Love is (or can be) a choice in the beginning. This is true. However as Christians we are called to perfection in Love (Mt 5:43-48). This requires more than simply choosing to love - though that is certainly the beginning. It requires embracing this Love - making it a part of your being - indeed making it the very foundation of ones being. This is what is meant by “growing in holiness” for to grow in love is to grow closer to God who is Love (1 John 4:7-8)
We seek Unity with God and God IS Love. Therefore, The more we embrace that Love and make it a part of us - make it our foundation - the closer we are to that perfection to which we are called.

Peace
James

 

[Karen107]

Thank you! I do agree that the more we love God, the more that we want to do to become holy because being holy brings us closer to God. I also think that the more we do for others or love other, the more we love God. Almost like it plays off of each other. I think I simplify it as the way to Jesus is the way of Jesus… Jesus enveloping us more as we receive more of Jesus in our lives…

 

[JRKH]

Thank you! I do agree that the more we love God, the more that we want to do to become holy because being holy brings us closer to God. I also think that the more we do for others or love other, the more we love God. Almost like it plays off of each other. I think I simplify it as the way to Jesus is the way of Jesus… Jesus enveloping us more as we receive more of Jesus in our lives…

Simple is good.
When I read in the NT that all the law and prophets are built on two commands, and those two commands have love in common…
When I read that God is Love…
When I read that Jesus left us a single command…
When I read that we are called to be perfect (in love)…
When I read that without Love - even faith is meaningless…

Well - when I read all of this - I figured I had the nub - the root - the simplest point.
St Therese teaches the little way…of Love.
Graces and blessings are expressions of Love…

It all comes down to Love.

Peace
James

 

[timcri]

This is a great discussion, for me anyways…James, you are so spot on, which leads me back to the point that originally grabbed my attention: love as a state of being, vs. an act of will. You point out that it essentially all boils down to love for the creator and His creatures…love will cover a multitude of sins; but does an act of will lead to the state of being (love)? Is one greater than another? Or have I entirely missed the point altogether? I wonder if those well-versed in Aquinas would have insight on this?

 

[JRKH]

This is a great discussion, for me anyways…James, you are so spot on, which leads me back to the point that originally grabbed my attention: love as a state of being, vs. an act of will. You point out that it essentially all boils down to love for the creator and His creatures…love will cover a multitude of sins; but does an act of will lead to the state of being (love)? Is one greater than another? Or have I entirely missed the point altogether? I wonder if those well-versed in Aquinas would have insight on this?

I don’t know about Aquinas - he is too deep for me. :hypno:

But essentially - as I see it - If we are called to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect and our Heavenly Father IS Love…then what are we called to be?

Choosing heaven or hell really boils down to choosing to embrace either love or hate.
Now we can say that there are gray areas, where we neither hate totally or love totally, but what do we want to become?

As to the question of an act of will becoming a state of being…I would suggest we consider someone like a soldier. First he chooses to become a soldier - but he is not one yet, except in his desire and determination. He goes to training and over time, trough discipline and sacrifice, he becomes what he has chosen. His thoughts and his reactions are geared to specific responses to various situations.
OR
Consider to the professional baseball player. He “chose” to be a ball player at a young age but he was not yet a ball player. Through years of practice and sacrifice he becomes that which he has chosen. It is seen in his actions on the field.

In both of the examples above, the choice is seen in how they think and move and most importantly how they react.

For the Christian, choosing to be a disciple of Christ - Choosing Love is the same. We must train, we must condition ourselves, we must “become” that which we have chosen. In Christianity we call this “sanctification”.

It’s not something we put on to “cover sin” but something we embrace to overcome sin.

Hope this helps a little.

Peace
James

 

[littlestsouls2]

I think Sr. Jeanne Benigne Gojos, a holy Visitation nun, summed it up perfectly:

“I saw that I was created for Heaven, and that by submitting to the commands of God and being tractable to the divine inspirations, I shall enter into that holy city.”

I think it is crucial that we remember that all good comes from God. *“Without Me you can do nothing.” *If we let Him, His grace - and His grace alone - will sanctify and save us. It is for us, then, to have great confidence, humility and gratitude.

“Knowest thou the shortest way to arrive at Heaven? It is that of confidence in My merits and fidelity to grace.” - Jesus to Sr. Benigna Consolata (March 15, 1905)

 

[JRKH]

I think Sr. Jeanne Benigne Gojos, a holy Visitation nun, summed it up perfectly:

“I saw that I was created for Heaven, and that by submitting to the commands of God and being tractable to the divine inspirations, I shall enter into that holy city.”

I think it is crucial that we remember that all good comes from God. *“Without Me you can do nothing.” *If we let Him, His grace - and His grace alone - will sanctify and save us. It is for us, then, to have great confidence, humility and gratitude.

“Knowest thou the shortest way to arrive at Heaven? It is that of confidence in My merits and fidelity to grace.” - Jesus to Sr. Benigna Consolata (March 15, 1905)