What Works are Required to Get to Heaven?

[distracted]

One thing I don’t get here is why people are “cradle Catholics”. If they know what requires them to be a full Catholic and in full communion with the church, why do and think otherwise? Do as your church wants you to do and become a “Catholic” and not a cradle or cafeteria Catholic. One who picks and chooses what they want to believe.
Either your a Catholic in full communion with the holy Catholic church or your not.

cradle catholic just means you have been Catholic all your life… it doesn’t really say much about where you are, spiritually… in the present…

that is why i went into a little detail as to what my spiritual state is at this time… (and a little of what it was in the p ast…)

 

[distracted]

God reads human hearts and from there He judges at the end.
My opinion would be that a Christian practices both the corporal and spiritual works of mercy throughout his or her life, and that, as Catholic Christians, fulfill the Church’s obligations with regard to the sacramental life.

do you think that, for example… a person should work on his attitude toward, say, some neighbor or person he/she doesn’t like… ? Or do you think the person should just avoid the person (act as though he doesn’t exit) while on his/her way to the soup kitchen to volunteer??

 

[distracted]

If we are all saved by Grace alone! What then determines ones reward from another ? " in my Father’s house there are many mansions" As our works differ so will our rewards.

i have found that when i start to do some charitable thing or another… i always get side-tracked into doing something i don’t think does much for the Kingdom… Yet, i always learn & grow from these distractions… so i almost have to conclude that God wanted me to do them after all…

Anyway… it is sometimes confusing knowing exactly what good works God wants us to focus on… :hypno:

 

[distracted]

How is that relevant ?​

becaue Jesus said that only those who do the will of the Father will enter Heaven… and doing the will of the father means doing good works (St. matthew 25;31-46, etc.)

We are saved by grace - works are not needed. T

you say you are Catholic… but the Catholic Church does NOT teach this…

is to found salvation on human merit, which is intolerable.

no, it is not to say that at all (though i can u/stand why one would think such a thing…)… works are necessary for probably many reasons but one reason is that they cause grace to come to us… and, as you say, we are saved by grace. If all we ever did was bad things… we would lose what little grace we ever had… and end up in Hell…

 

[Nickkname]

Life in the Holy Spirit fulfills the vocation of man. This life is made up of divine charity and human solidarity. It is graciously offered as salvation.

• Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1699

 

[distracted]

distracted;4171186:

which St. Peter?
******I remember in one of my college classes, I had a professor who compared the state of chaos Rome was in (the ancient nation, not the Church) before their society collapsed with modern day America. Love of materialism, wealth, youth, power, domination, immorality, pleasure…Sounds like America today to me. ******

i have had this thought also… In fact, i think its somewhat a miracle we haven’t had a complete collapse already… or maybe we have??? I mean, how much worse can it get when we have shows on TV like 2 1/2 Losers???

. I like to think there is a great revolution that will take place, when Americans will just not stand for it anymore and start to focus again on what matters: Faith, love, charity.

i think that is happening… I truly believe that people, for example… are far more pro-life now than 35 yrs ago w hen aborton was 1st legalized… now people know more about it… & have seen the disastrous consequences… (Post abortion Syndrome, etc.)… people are getting fed up with all the evil…

I wish our country would lead the world in ending legalized baby - killing… What a wonderful thing that would be… Then i could be proud (more proud) to be an American…

As it is… hmmm…

 

[distracted]

I don’t know why I feel I need to justify myself to you, but where I come from Cradle Catholic is not a bad term…it just means “born and raised.” I went to Catholic School for 16 years, I’m a Traditional Catholic who practices the sacraments and I am in full Communion with the Church of Rome. I even vote ProLife even though all but one other family member think I have “extreme” views for doing so. I hope that is ok with you. Why would you try to enflame people by saying something like that? All because of symantecs. Good grief!

Sorry, distracted for derailing your thread.

its related… i asked what religion people are…

it would be nice if people went into more detail about that… i mean, a person who has just become Catholic is going to be in a somewhat different “place” spirtiually than… someone who is a cradle Catholic… and so on…

 

[churchcamefirst]

cradle catholic just means you have been Catholic all your life… it doesn’t really say much about where you are, spiritually… in the present…

that is why i went into a little detail as to what my spiritual state is at this time… (and a little of what it was in the p ast…)

I don’t like the term. Just say Catholic, people assume it’s been all your life unless you state otherwise.

 

[distracted]

I don’t like the term. Just say Catholic, people assume it’s been all your life unless you state otherwise.

why do you not like it?

it says more than Catholic alone… it says you have always been Catholic… as opposed to just having become one… or whatever…

i really don’t even like the term “Catholic” because whenever you tell (most?) people you’re Catholic… they think: Oh, you worship statues… and think the pope can’t sin… and you belong to a church that makes up doctrines like Purgatory…

 

[JRKH]

why do you not like it?

it says more than Catholic alone… it says you have always been Catholic… as opposed to just having become one… or whatever…

i really don’t even like the term “Catholic” because whenever you tell (most?) people you’re Catholic… they think: Oh, you worship statues… and think the pope can’t sin… and you belong to a church that makes up doctrines like Purgatory…

Personally I wouldn’t worry about such terms. I can identify myself in any one of several ways depending on the need. As for discussions here, I am a Cradle-Catholic Revert.
What does this tell a person? I was born and raised Catholic. I left the Church for a period of time and then returned. It is a consise form of communication, that’s all.

As for calling myself Catholic. I’m Proud to. It is a badge of Honor.

Peace
James

 

[embertx3]

I would like to have your opinion on what works are required to get to Heaven. As you may know, Jesus said getting to Heaven was NOT easy… that the road is “narrow and there are few who find it”…

Also, could you state what religion you are and how long you have belonged to that religion.

Thanks.

IMO I would say the result of having faith. To be in faith is work for me in that I am constantly battling with the human nature inside of me which most of the time is opposed to what Christ ask to obey his commands. I know what is right and what is wrong but I constantly struggle and is constantly working on believing. That is work for me. Struggling not to stray is work for me so as not to lose faith. I don’t know if that makes any sense to anybody. I’m a revert Catholic for about the last 7 yrs.

God bless

 

[Reformed]

I would like to have your opinion on what works are required to get to Heaven. As you may know, Jesus said getting to Heaven was NOT easy… that the road is “narrow and there are few who find it”…

Also, could you state what religion you are and how long you have belonged to that religion.

Thanks.

John 6

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

 

[Adam14]

I would like to have your opinion on what works are required to get to Heaven. As you may know, Jesus said getting to Heaven was NOT easy… that the road is “narrow and there are few who find it”…

Also, could you state what religion you are and how long you have belonged to that religion.

Thanks.

I don’t think that there is a defined “list” of works that gets us into Heaven. I don’t believe that we are good enough, despite how good we think we are or what works we do. People go to Heaven by the grace of God. I will never “deserve” to go to Heaven, and I hope and pray that God allows me into Heaven when I kick the bucket here. But it will be because He loves me and chooses to let me join Him.

All I can do is to TRY to please God, but I often fail miserably. It’s a good thing that He loves me.

 

[John_Goddard]

Luke 18:18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Luke 18:19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

Luke 18:20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

Luke 18:21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

Luke 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Luke 18:23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

Luke 18:24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

Luke 18:25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Luke 18:26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

Luke 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

 

[distracted]

IMO I would say the result of having faith. To be in faith is work for me in that I am constantly battling with the human nature inside of me which most of the time is opposed to what Christ ask to obey his commands. I know what is right and what is wrong but I constantly struggle and is constantly working on believing. That is work for me. Struggling not to stray is work for me so as not to lose faith. I don’t know if that makes any sense to anybody. I’m a revert Catholic for about the last 7 yrs.

God bless

it makes total sense…

What is the hardest work for you, in the Christian walk??

 

[distracted]

John 6

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

no wonder the Protestants spend mroe time in Purgatory… They have a lot of meals to catch up on…

 

[RisenAgain]

I am a Catholic - and the answer to your question - it appears to me - is very simple; even as our Lord made it very simple - so that a child could understand the way to heaven.

“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that you believe on him whom he has sent.” (St. John 6:29)

Did not our Lord Jesus Christ live a perfect life of righteousness and does he not have merit enough for 10,000 worlds of wanting souls? Can we not come to him through the faith that he gives - and receive his merit and his righteousness?

“But of him are we in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” (1 Cor. 1:30)

Is Jesus Christ not the believers righteousness? Is this not the thrust of St. Paul’s word to the Philippians when he declared:

“But what things were gain to me, those I count loss for Christ. Yes doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the deeds of the law, but that which is through the faith of Jesus Christ, the righteousness which is from God through faith.” (Phil. 3:7-9)

If righteousness comes from God and comes through faith - then are not all the works we do, only the manifested works of the merits of Christ Jesus our Lord? Are they not just the manifest fruits of His Holy Spirit - who dwells in us? Isn’t this why our good deeds are called “the fruit of the Spirit?”

We ought to simply believe in Christ - and rest in his righteousness - and by this will come the evidence that we are in him and that he is in us. It will be manifested in good works.

These good works that are done by us give us no grounds for entering into the kingdom of God. It is the merit and righteousness of Christ alone that is our grounds for us entering into the kingdom of God. This righteousness is only manifest in us who beleive on Jesus Christ - for St. Paul says that it is Christ who lives in us - and though we live - it is not us - but Christ in us!

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Gal 2:20, 21)

 

[distracted]

I don’t think that there is a defined “list” of works that gets us into Heaven. I don’t believe that we are good enough, despite how good we think we are or what works we do. People go to Heaven by the grace of God. I will never “deserve” to go to Heaven, and I hope and pray that God allows me into Heaven when I kick the bucket here. But it will be because He loves me and chooses to let me join Him.

All I can do is to TRY to please God, but I often fail miserably. It’s a good thing that He loves me.

so true… that only by the grace of God can we get to Heavne… Only throuhg his meercy are we allowed to enter purgatory…

I believe being in Purg is like being with Jesus at the unexposed Sacrament in the Church…

i don’t know if the Church would approve of that statemnt, but i feel i am in Purg when i am There… (and sometimes Heaven and sometimes Hell… )… depending on various factors… (some of which are very mysterious)…

 

[distracted]

I am a Catholic - and the answer to your question - it appears to me - is very simple; even as our Lord made it very simple - so that a child could understand the way to heaven.

“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that you believe on him whom he has sent.” (St. John 6:29)

]

and believing in him means doing everything he says, no??

 

[Robert_in_SD]

I would like to have your opinion on what works are required to get to Heaven. As you may know, Jesus said getting to Heaven was NOT easy… that the road is “narrow and there are few who find it”…

Also, could you state what religion you are and how long you have belonged to that religion.

Thanks.

Hi dis;

Not to oversimplify, but: (1) Love God; (2) Keep His Commandments.

I am a cradle Catholic who detoured briefly into agnosticism, but then returned to the faith.

Peace,
-Robert

P.S. - to be efficacious, both (1) and (2) would require that we be in God’s grace.