Scripture to support non Catholics in heaven

[ncgolf]

Maybe this has been asked before … if it was excuse me. Is there any scriptural evidence to support the Church’s teaching that non-Christians may be able to enter Heaven.

This was asked in a RCIA class and am looking for some help from a scriptual standpoint. I see some explanation in the CCC but so far no scriptual evidence.

Thanks.

 

[Dan-Man916]

Here are a few. They are not explicit proofs, but i think they point to the gratuitousness of God’s grace:

Jn 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

Lk 23:43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Lk 7:47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven–for she loved much.

Mt 10:32 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.

Mt 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Jn 12:25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Jn 10:15-16 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

 

[Todd_Easton]

Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. (Gen 5:24)

And as they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Eli’jah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings 2:11)

 

[carol_marie]

Dan-Man916:

Here are a few. They are not explicit proofs, but i think they point to the gratuitousness of God’s grace:

Jn 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

Lk 23:43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Lk 7:47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven–for she loved much.

Mt 10:32 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.

Mt 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Jn 12:25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Jn 10:15-16 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

Although many of these scriptures speak of God’s mercy, I don’t think they support the thought that non-Christians can go to heaven. In the first scripture you mentioned prior to that verse in the same chapter Jesus says that He is the way & the truth and the life… not one comes to the Father but through Him, and after that verse he went onto to talk about the Counselor (Holy Spirit) coming but that the “world” would not accept him. He made a clear distinction between the “world” who would not see him anymore (because he was going to die) and his followers, who would see him still.

In the next verse he was telling the thief on the cross who BELIEVED in Him that he would be in Paradise. Same with the next verse in Mathew - notice Jesus says he acknowledges those who acknowledge Him (not non beleivers) The last verse you use - the sheep not of this fold are the Gentiles who believe in Him.

I have no idea how you’d support the claim that non Chrisitans may go to heaven because throughout the NT it talks about how believing in Jesus is the ONLY way.

 

[carol_marie]

Todd Easton:

Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. (Gen 5:24)

And as they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Eli’jah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings 2:11)

Both lived prior to Christ. How could they have believed in Jesus?

 

[beng]

ncgolf:

Maybe this has been asked before … if it was excuse me. Is there any scriptural evidence to support the Church’s teaching that non-Christians may be able to enter Heaven.

This was asked in a RCIA class and am looking for some help from a scriptual standpoint. I see some explanation in the CCC but so far no scriptual evidence.

Thanks.

There are no Non-Catholic in Heaven.

Outside the Catholic Church there’s no salvation.

If one is not joined with the Catholic Church at the final second of his life and be Catholic, one will enter eternal damnation.

 

[carol_marie]

beng:

There are no Non-Catholic in Heaven.

Outside the Catholic Church there’s no salvation.

If one is not joined with the Catholic Church at the final second of his life and be Catholic, one will enter eternal damnation.

I beg to differ. Is this something you personally believe or is this a teaching of your church?

 

[Steven_Merten]

beng:

There are no Non-Catholic in Heaven.

Outside the Catholic Church there’s no salvation.

If one is not joined with the Catholic Church at the final second of his life and be Catholic, one will enter eternal damnation.

Hello beng,

Are you the one to inform Jesus that He is wrong and there are no “non Catholics” in heaven? Jesus tells us that saint Abraham, saint Isaac and saint Jacob are in heaven. Possibly it would be better for you to say that if heritics, Jews and Protestants go to heaven, it is through Jesus and His Church. Otherwise it gives the impression that you are saying only Catholics go to heaven.

NAB LUK 13:28And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out.

**NAB MAT 17:1 Jesus Transfigured.**Six days later **Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John **and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. He was transfigured before their eyes. His face became as dazzling as the sun, his clothes as radiant as light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them conversing with him.

NAB MAR 12:18Then some **Sadducees who hold there is no resurrection **came to him with a question …\…12:24 Jesus said: “You are badly misled, because you fail to understand the Scriptures or the power of God. When people rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but live like angels in heaven. As to the raising of the dead, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob’? He is the God of the living not of the dead, You are very much mistaken.”

Peace in Christ,

Steven Merten
www.ILOVEYOUGOD.com

 

[beng]

Steven Merten:

Hello beng,

Are you the one to inform Jesus that He is wrong and there are no “non Catholics” in heaven?

No. The dogma of EENS is from the Holy Spirit, Which is God and Jesus is God. How can it be wrong?

Jesus tells us that saint Abraham, saint Isaac and saint Jacob are in heaven.

Of course. They were made Catholics. Obviously they would be in Heaven after that.

634 **“The gospel was preached even to the dead.”**484 The descent into hell brings the Gospel message of salvation to complete fulfilment. This is the last phase of Jesus’ messianic mission, a phase which is condensed in time but vast in its real significance: the spread of Christ’s redemptive work to all men of all times and all places, for all who are saved have been made sharers in the redemption.

635 Christ went down into the depths of death so that **“the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”**485 Jesus, “the Author of life”, by dying destroyed "him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and [delivered] all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage."486 Henceforth the risen Christ holds “the keys of Death and Hades”, so that "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth."487
Today a great silence reigns on earth, a great silence and a great stillness. A great silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. . . He has gone to search for Adam, our first father, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow Adam in his bonds and Eve, captive with him - He who is both their God and the son of Eve. . . "I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. . . I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead."488

Footnotes:
484 1 Pet 4:6.
485 Jn 5:25; cf. Mt 12:40; Rom 10:7; Eph 4:9.
486 Heb 2:14-15; cf. Acts 3:15.
487 Rev 1:18; Phil 2:10.
488 Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday: PG 43, 440A, 452C; LH, Holy Saturday, OR.

Possibly it would be better for you to say that if heritics, Jews and Protestants go to heaven, it is through Jesus and His Church. Otherwise it gives the impression that you are saying only Catholics go to heaven.

If those Jews, Protestant, Heathens and Shizmatic still hold on to their current believe and do not become Catholic at the last second of their life, they will experience eternal damnation.

Everyone in Heaven IS Catholic. You can NOT be a non-Catholic and enter Heaven.

 

[Steven_Merten]

beng:

No. The dogma of EENS is from the Holy Spirit, Which is God and Jesus is God. How can it be wrong?

If those Jews, Protestant, Heathens and Shizmatic still hold on to their current believe and do not become Catholic at the last second of their life, they will experience eternal damnation.

Everyone in Heaven IS Catholic. You can NOT be a non-Catholic and enter Heaven.

Here is the Church dogma that beng is refering too. What does everyone think?

Peace in Christ,
Steven Merten
www.ILOVEYOUGOD.com

“The Most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews, heretics, and schismatics can never be partakers of eternal life, but that they are to go into the eternal fire ‘which was prepared for the devil and his angels,’ (Mt. 25:41) unless before death they are joined with Her; … no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved unless they abide within the bosom and*** unity*** of the Catholic Church.” (1)

Quoted from oltyn.com/V2-unity.htm

 

[carol_marie]

What do I think? I don’t believe it. Not for a minute. I’ve known too many wonderful, God fearing, Bible loving, totally devoted to Jesus Protestants that I know, without a doubt would NOT be sent to hell.

 

[beng]

carol marie:

What do I think? I don’t believe it. Not for a minute. I’ve known too many wonderful, God fearing, Bible loving, totally devoted to Jesus Protestants that I know, without a doubt would NOT be sent to hell.

Arius, I heard, was a very lovely person.

Hittler, threw one helluva party with his officer. Very friendly. He was a vegetarian too.

 

[carol_marie]

beng:

Arius, I heard, was a very lovely person.

Hittler, threw one helluva party with his officer. Very friendly. He was a vegetarian too.

How rude of you to compare the wonderful FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS I’ve known to Hitler. Shame on you.

 

[beng]

carol marie:

How rude of you to compare the wonderful FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS I’ve known to Hitler. Shame on you.

I think Arius was also very faithful to his belief.

 

[carol_marie]

beng:

I think Arius was also very faithful to his belief.

Would you please share with me the Bible verses where Jesus says that only those who are members of the Catholic church will recieve their heavenly reward? Surely since He was God and he desired all to be saved he would’ve explicitly stated that it was necessary to belong to the Catholic Church. Share with me where I’d find that in my Bible.

And with regards to Hilter, he was Catholic wasn’t he?

 

[George2]

Why do you need scripture?

Does scripture tell us about Mary’s assumption? No, Holy Tradition does.

Is scripture explicit about the trinity? No, we worked that one out ourselves with the Holy Spirit who was sent to guide us.

Christ promised us the Holy Spirit to guide his church, not a Bible.

I like that old Polish or Hungarian saint who said something to the effect of: “If the Catholic Church told me to throw the Holy Bible in the River I would.”

Do you see the point? Who’s your authority?

• All roads lead to Rome. She teaches us, not a book. Her doctrines on faith and morals are based on scripture and tradition.

I think there is a good book out now on tradition by a ? Stravinskas. It might be Our Sunday Visitor Press.

 

[carol_marie]

I attended a “stump the Priest” night at a Catholic Church and I asked if NON Christians (Muslums, Jews, etc.) those who reject Jesus will go to heaven? Not only did ALL of the Priests say Non Christians could go to heaven they said NOTHING about someone having to be Catholic. They said Atheists could go to heaven. Personally I disagree - big time. But I can do that because I’m not Catholic. Do you disagree with the Priests? Do you know more than them?

I never really understood why some Protestant Fundamentalists claimed that the Catholic Church was a cult. Saying that you’d pitch the Bible (the word of God) if your Church told you to is a bit freaky don’t you think?
And one more question, do you include the Orthodox Church go-ers to be on the road to hell as well? They aren’t part of the Most Holy Roman Church.

 

[beng]

carol marie:

Would you please share with me the Bible verses where Jesus says that only those who are members of the Catholic church will recieve their heavenly reward? Surely since He was God and he desired all to be saved he would’ve explicitly stated that it was necessary to belong to the Catholic Church. Share with me where I’d find that in my Bible.

And with regards to Hilter, he was Catholic wasn’t he?

John 8:24; 10:16, 26-8
*“If ye believe not that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins. …] And other sheep [Gentiles] I have, which are not of this fold [not Jews:] them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold [the Church,] and one shepherd …] But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life.” *

Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved.

Gal 1:8-9
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema. 9 As we said before, so now I say again: If any one preach to you a gospel, besides that which you have received, let him be anathema.

2 John 10
If any man come to you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into the house nor say to him: God speed you.

Note: Protestant and maybe Orthodox have different gospel, know different Jesus, have different Church and have different faith from Catholics. Only Catholics have the fullness of gospel, Jesus, Church and faith.

 

[beng]

carol marie:

I attended a “stump the Priest” night at a Catholic Church and I asked if NON Christians (Muslums, Jews, etc.) those who reject Jesus will go to heaven? Not only did ALL of the Priests say Non Christians could go to heaven they said NOTHING about someone having to be Catholic. They said Atheists could go to heaven. Personally I disagree - big time. But I can do that because I’m not Catholic. Do you disagree with the Priests? Do you know more than them?

Of course Moslem and Atheist and Orthodox could go to Heaven. Just as long as at before the end of their life they be Catholic. If not then it’s impossible for them to attain salvation

Pope Eugenius IV, A.D. 1431-1447, at the Council of Florence (seventeenth ecumenical council):

“It [the Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church] firmly believes, professes, and proclaims that none of those outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but neither Jews, nor heretics and schismatics, can become participants in eternal life, but will depart “into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels” [Matt. 25:41], unless before the end of life they have been added to the Church; and that the unity of the ecclesiastical body is so strong that only to those remaining in it are the sacraments of the Church of benefit for salvation, and do fastings, almsgiving, and other functions of piety and exercises of Christian service produce eternal reward, and that no one, whatever almsgiving he has practised, even if he has shed [his] blood for the name of Christ, can be saved, unless he has remained in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church.”

I never really understood why some Protestant Fundamentalists claimed that the Catholic Church was a cult.

!. Erroneous information
2. Human Weakness
3. The Devil
4. Any combination of the above.

Saying that you’d pitch the Bible (the word of God) if your Church told you to is a bit freaky don’t you think?

Cult is not a dirty word until recently. There are many official Cuhrch document that use “cult” to refer to specific aspect of the Catholic Church.

And one more question, do you include the Orthodox Church go-ers to be on the road to hell as well?

If they’re not invincible ignorant, yeah.

They aren’t part of the Most Holy Roman Church.

No, they are not. That is why if they’re not invincible ignorant, they will not inherit the Kingdom of God.