Why Bother?

[honorspianist]

As I understand it, the Church teaches that no matter how grave a sin is, as long as it repented for, the person will go to heaven. That said, would a person who lives a good and holy life, yet dies with an unrepented sin go to hell?

What is the point of living a devout Christian life if all we must do to have salvation is to repent for our sins? Nowhere in doctrine does it say that a person must be baptised to attain salvation.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Viki59]

A person who lives a good and holy life, and finds that he has committed a mortal sin, immediately repents and plans to go to Reconciliation at the first opportunity. If he should die on the way, the intention suffices, although I can’t quote chapter and verse.
Anyone who is content to just sin his way through life and repent on his deathbed, would not find heaven a comfortable place. He might squeak in, but would probably need a lot of cleansing first. - and who knows what that would consist of, in purgatory. Besides he might die before he can repent. And also how real would that repentence be, if he just did it to escape punishment at the last minute?
The point of living a holy life is to please God, who loves us. As C.S. Lewis said, it is more important that heaven should exist, than that I should go there.

=

 

[Eileen_T]

The meaning of our lives - a question deemed important in this day and age - is to know, love, and serve God in this life that we may be happy with Him in eternity.

That’s why we bother.

 

[honorspianist]

The meaning of our lives - a question deemed important in this day and age - is to know, love, and serve God in this life that we may be happy with Him in eternity.

That’s why we bother.

Yes, I realize that, Eileen, but what’s the point of knowing, loving, and serving God if we needn’t do any of that to be happy with Him in eternity?

 

[Reepicheep]

Yes, I realize that, Eileen, but what’s the point of knowing, loving, and serving God if we needn’t do any of that to be happy with Him in eternity?

Who says we needn’t do that?

Just because God is so merciful that He accepts last-second repentances, does not mean we can get away with refusing His mercy all our lives with the plan of having a “deathbed repentance”.

God is not mocked. Someone who lives like this is presuming on God’s mercy, and presumption is a sin.

He might die without warning, or he might refuse to admit he’s dying, and so refuse to repent “because he has more time yet” or he might refuse to repent at the end because his life of sin has corrupted him so badly.

And what a **horrible **insult to God, to refuse to even try to please Him or live as He desires for us, because we would rather defy His will in favor of having our own way, and then sneak into Heaven at the last minute.

 

[honorspianist]

could someone address my second question?

That said, would a person who lives a good and holy life, yet dies with an unrepented sin go to hell?

 

[larry85704]

If you die with a grievous sin that has not been forgiven, even if you have not asked for forgiveness, you can still go to heaven. Remember God is merciful and He judges you, not the Catholic Church, or the members of this forum. By the way, it says that in the Catechism. A mortal sin is one that despite God’s mercy, still gets you in hell. There is one sure mortal sin according to scripture. Mortal sin is sort of defined to be the sin that gets you to hell. For a sin to be mortal, God must not be merciful and forgive you. This is why we are cautioned not to declare someone has committed a mortal sin.

Enough with the sin aspect. God help us. Did not anyone teach you that living a life of virtue, and following the teachings of the Church to the best of your ability is the best way to have happiness in your life now? Loving God is the only way to go.

Tell you a story. A woman I know is attracted to money, not love. She isn’t very happy. As you might guess, marrying money is expensive. She would be much happier married for love, which is much more in line with what the Church would have you do.

 

[honorspianist]

Enough with the sin aspect. God help us. Did not anyone teach you that living a life of virtue, and following the teachings of the Church to the best of your ability is the best way to have happiness in your life now? Loving God is the only way to go.

that’s a bit of a subjective argument. i know many both atheists and christians alike who are both happy and unhappy. to say that following this religion will make you happy is a rather sweeping generalization.

 

[Eileen_T]

As I understand it, the Church teaches that no matter how grave a sin is, as long as it repented for, the person will go to heaven. That said, would a person who lives a good and holy life, yet dies with an unrepented sin go to hell?

If a person has committed a serious (mortal) sin and has not repented of it at the time of death, they would probably go to hell. How could the bear to face Almighty God if that was the case?

What is the point of living a devout Christian life if all we must do to have salvation is to repent for our sins?

Matthew 25:13 *Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour. * Because death will come on us like a thief in the night as Jesus said in Luke 12:39-40
.

But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Luke 12:39-40

Nowhere in doctrine does it say that a person must be baptised to attain salvation.

Thank you in advance.

What about where Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” ? John 3:5

 

[Reepicheep]

could someone address my second question?

That said, would a person who lives a good and holy life, yet dies with an unrepented sin go to hell?

If you commit a mortal sin and refuse to repent, even to the end of life, then you face hell.
But consider: if you lived a good and holy life, how likely are you to commit a mortal sin? And if you commit one, how likely are you to refuse to repent and seek God’s forgiveness?

 

[PBP]

If a person knows Jesus and lives the gospel, that person will love others and be charitable not out of necessity.
GOD and sin cannot coexist. Scripture says “nothing unclean shall enter”. We should not take chances with the condition of our souls, we should take care and persevere. GOD is merciful and is just.
Have a great day

 

[VociMike]

As I understand it, the Church teaches that no matter how grave a sin is, as long as it repented for, the person will go to heaven. That said, would a person who lives a good and holy life, yet dies with an unrepented sin go to hell?

What is the point of living a devout Christian life if all we must do to have salvation is to repent for our sins? Nowhere in doctrine does it say that a person must be baptised to attain salvation.

Thank you in advance.

Essentially, the less you align yourself with God in this life, the more you will have to align yourself with God in purgatory. There is no free lunch - nothing imperfect will enter heaven.

But I don’t offer that as a reason, merely as an observation. The reason a person lives a good and holy life is certainly not to get to heaven. It is to, as you say, know, love and serve God, because that becomes the greatest desire of such a person. People who love God actually behave as if they loved God.

And your comment about baptism not being required is simply wrong.

 

[VociMike]

could someone address my second question?

That said, would a person who lives a good and holy life, yet dies with an unrepented sin go to hell?

Yes, it must be possible if the sin is mortal; otherwise that person’s free will has been taken from them. Just as a person who lives a bad and unholy life, yet dies repentant and asking God’s forgiveness can go to heaven. And yet nobody ever thinks the latter is unfair.

The real question is, do people who live good and holy lives go around committing unrepented mortal sin. I maintain that the answer is NO.

 

[MarcoPolo]

That said, would a person who lives a good and holy life, yet dies with an unrepented sin go to hell?

What is the point of living a devout Christian life if all we must do to have salvation is to repent for our sins? Nowhere in doctrine does it say that a person must be baptised to attain salvation.

Thank you in advance.

Answer to your first question:
Ezekiel 18:14 But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked man does, will he live? None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered.

Answer to your second question…someone already pointed out that we are called by God to live a Christian life. This not only pleases God but makes us pure and prevents us from sinning: 1 Peter 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

Romans 6:16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Answer to your comment about baptism:
Someone already pointed out John 3:5. Don’t forget about:
Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

 

[Church_Militant]

As I understand it, the Church teaches that no matter how grave a sin is, as long as it repented for, the person will go to heaven. That said, would a person who lives a good and holy life, yet dies with an unrepented sin go to hell?

What is the point of living a devout Christian life if all we must do to have salvation is to repent for our sins? Nowhere in doctrine does it say that a person must be baptised to attain salvation.

Thank you in advance.Really? Have a look at this.
Baptism~ Necessary or Not?