The way to Heaven?

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4321dcba

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I am confused about what I need to do to get to heaven. I have read the articles about Salvation under Faith Tracts and the Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth article. I find the Faith Tracts difficult to understand. I asked this question on “Ask an Apologist” and got no reply. So I am coming to you.

What do I need to do to be saved? My understanding is that 1) I must be baptized. 2) that we are saved by grace alone. 3) Neither faith nor good works earns grace. Is this correct? (This is right from Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth).

Are good works a requirement for heaven or are they just rewarded in heaven? I understand that I can loose the gift of God’s grace by committing sin.

Can someone clear this up for me?

Thanks
 
4321dcba said:
I am confused about what I need to do to get to heaven. I have read the articles about Salvation under Faith Tracts and the Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth article. I find the Faith Tracts difficult to understand. I asked this question on “Ask an Apologist” and got no reply. So I am coming to you.

What do I need to do to be saved? My understanding is that 1) I must be baptized. 2) that we are saved by grace alone. 3) Neither faith nor good works earns grace. Is this correct? (This is right from Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth).

Are good works a requirement for heaven or are they just rewarded in heaven? I understand that I can loose the gift of God’s grace by committing sin.

Can someone clear this up for me?

Thanks
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Your 1) and 2) are correct, but your 3) misstates the Catholic teaching: both faith and the good works we do in Christ are by grace; iow, the gift of Faith is a grace to believe in Christ’s Self-Revelation to His Church, and the good works we do are those works He has given to us to do and given us the grace to do them, thus they are meritorious for our salvation.

This article might be of help to you:

bringyou.to/apologetics/a54.htm
 
Hi 4321,

Neither faith nor good works earns grace.

Right. Nothing can earn grace, because “grace” means “free gift of God”.

It it God who gives you the grace of baptism. It Is God who helps you do good works (keeping his commandments, loving your neighbor). You are asked to cooperate with his grace. That is how you will get to heaven. You don’t need to be a theologian.

Verbum
 
St. Paul writes in Ephesians: (2:8-10)

“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith; it is not your own doing; it is the gift of God–not the result of works, so that no one may boast.” Our sola fide friends like to quote this passage and stop there. But the very next sentence is this:

“For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”

So when we are reborn in Christ Jesus - the new creation Paul speaks of elsewhere - it is FOR good works.

If we refuse to participate in the good works for which we have been recreated, we are rejecting the One who saved us and may cut ourselves off from Him, although He always has the power to “regraft” us if we return to Him. (Romans 11:17-24), among other references.

Thanks be to God!
 
If you go to Confession and to Mass and Holy Communion and live the gospel and Church teachings.
If you are generous and kind in how you treat others. [read Matthew 25 verses 31-46] to see what Jesus says about salvation.
If you fail, try again. And trust in God’s mercy and love.
 
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