Why should He let you in?

[Gamera]

Looking for the RCC perspective…

After death when you are standing before the big gate of heaven reviewing your life with the Lord and he asks why should He let you in; what would your response be?

Thanks,
Tim

“Because my sins have been washed away by the precious Blood of Jesus.”

 

[Bishopite]

A RCC relative of mine once stated that she was going to heaven because of how good she is (and she certainly falls into the stereotype that Catholics believe in works salvation). Thank you everyone for your responses.

-Tim

I used to be a fundamentalist Baptist. In fact, my brother used to be a pastoral intern at a Baptist church and went to seminary too. One of the youth girls asked her mother, who was a regular member of that Baptist church, “is Jesus God?” and her mother, who was a member of that Baptist church, replied “No he is NOT God, he is the son of God.” Point being this woman didn’t represent that Baptist church’s official teaching, in fact she didn’t actually know what it taught about Jesus.
So…if we stereotype then we put labels on people who don’t actually represent what the particular “church” teaches. It is best to look to primary sources and official Catholic church documents in order to find out truly what it teaches. And by the way, did you know that way back in 529 A.D. long before Protestantism was around, the “Catholic church” conviened a council, made up of “Catholic” bishops who condemned the false notion of pelagianism which taught that a person can get to heaven strictly by their own personal goodness…

Council of Orange 529 A.D.

CANON 19. That a man can be saved only when God shows mercy. Human nature, even though it remained in that sound state in which it was created, could be no means save itself, without the assistance of the Creator; hence since man cannot safe- guard his salvation without the grace of God, which is a gift, how will he be able to restore what he has lost without the grace of God?

CANON 20. That a man can do no good without God. God does much that is good in a man that the man does not do; but a man does nothing good for which God is not responsible, so as to let him do it.

I often talk to Protestants who don’t know their Bibles either and of course don’t know Christian salvific history and some of them are pastors!

 

[Timmy_Z]

Contarini,

To worry about your silly and blasphemous question would amount to trying to save myself by my own good works, which I know I cannot do. You, on the other hand, apparently think you can save yourself by haggling with God, which is a very bad idea.

I was interested in people’s perceptions on how they are justified and if they have assurance of Salvation. Also, I honestly frequently think about what it will be like to be before God and how I will be viewed. I do not in any way believe I can haggle with God. How have I blasphemed God in this thread?

-Tim

 

[Bishopite]

Looking for the RCC perspective…

After death when you are standing before the big gate of heaven reviewing your life with the Lord and he asks why should He let you in; what would your response be?

Thanks,
Tim

My response would be that I trusted my life to Jesus Christ in faith and obedience Romans 1:5, 16:26 and that my faith was working through love, Gal 5:6.

 

[Gamera]

A RCC relative of mine once stated that she was going to heaven because of how good she is (and she certainly falls into the stereotype that Catholics believe in works salvation). Thank you everyone for your responses.

-Tim

Yeah, there are over a billion of us, and in a group that big, it’s only natural that there’ll be some of us who just don’t know what we’re talking about LOL. Nothing but the Blood of Jesus can make us holy. Good works are indeed important but they cannot “earn” us entrance into heaven.

 

[quasimodo]

Looking for the RCC perspective…

After death when you are standing before the big gate of heaven reviewing your life with the Lord and he asks why should He let you in; what would your response be?

Thanks,
Tim

What is this? Salvation by pop quiz? You think you are going to be quizzed?

Why should I let you in???

WRONG ANSWER! Down you go. Have a nice eternity.

 

[Gamera]

What is this? Salvation by pop quiz? You think you are going to be quizzed?

Why should I let you in???

WRONG ANSWER! Down you go. Have a nice eternity.

It’s like the “No soup for you” bit on Seinfeld. “No Salvation for you. Next!!!”

 

[Timmy_Z]

It’s like the “No soup for you” bit on Seinfeld. “No Salvation for you. Next!!!”

LOL.

 

[Contarini]

Contarini,

I was interested in people’s perceptions on how they are justified and if they have assurance of Salvation. Also, I honestly frequently think about what it will be like to be before God and how I will be viewed. I do not in any way believe I can haggle with God. How have I blasphemed God in this thread?

By imputing a silly question to God. Isn’t that blasphemy?

The deeper point is that by suggesting that God will ask us to give him a reason to let us into heaven, you are denying justification by grace through faith. The fact that you are capable of thinking about salvation in these terms shows that you don’t really believe in grace.

Note that in Matt. 25 the “sheep” are surprised at the judge’s decision. They don’t appear to have assurance of salvation at all. In fact, Scripture in general is not kind to the idea that we are supposed to be sure of our final salvation. When we are told to “make our calling and election sure” or something like that it is an exhortation to good works–not what solafideists usually have in mind!

Your question is destructive of true faith in Christ, because it puts the focus on us and our qualifications for heaven, whereas saving faith looks to Christ alone.

In Him,

Edwin

 

[NotWorthy]

OK, I’ll try again

  			Originally Posted by **Timmy Z** 					[forums.catholic-questions.org/images/buttons_cad/viewpost.gif](http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=2116489#post2116489) 				
  		*Our works reveal and demonstrate the faith that saves us.

God: “Why should I let you into heaven?”
Tim: “I am unworthy, but have confidence in your promise in your Scriptures to save those who believed in your Son.”

-Tim*

That’s interesting. Can you show me in the bible where Jesus tells us what we are going to be judged by?

 

[VociMike]

A RCC relative of mine once stated that she was going to heaven because of how good she is (and she certainly falls into the stereotype that Catholics believe in works salvation). Thank you everyone for your responses.

Well let’s rephrase the question. Do you think that those who enter heaven, as judged by any reasonable scale of “goodness”, will be an exact match of those who enter hell as judged by that scale of “goodness”? Or, will there be more people who were more “good” entering heaven? Or, for that matter, will there be fewer people who were more “good” entering heaven?

 

[NotWorthy]

Your question is destructive of true faith in Christ, because it puts the focus on us and our qualifications for heaven, whereas saving faith looks to Christ alone.

No wait, you got it wrong, Contarini.

It’s us Catholics that have always been accused of focusing on us and our qualifications for heaven. You’re accusing the wrong guys!

 

[Timmy_Z]

The fact that you are capable of thinking about salvation in these terms shows that you don’t really believe in grace.

You are amazing Edwin.

 

[Contarini]

You are amazing Edwin.

I’m serious. Suppose you actually engage what I am saying instead of dismissing me?

How can you believe in grace if you think you have to worry about what you will say to God at the Pearly Gates?

If you think that you will get to heaven because you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, then isn’t that a form of salvation by works? Isn’t accepting Jesus something you do? How is this not a work?

In Christ,

Edwin

 

[Nicene]

Looking for the RCC perspective…

After death when you are standing before the big gate of heaven reviewing your life with the Lord and he asks why should He let you in; what would your response be?

Thanks,
Tim

I wouldn’t defend myself in the least. That is just looking for excuses for our failings instead of facing the truth. Part of having our conscience cleansed by God is so that we can face ourselves and our failings, not make excuses for them as Adam and Eve did.

So the true answer is, Christ is the judge, he knows all, there is no possible excuse you could make. What he wants is exactly what was wanted from Adam and Eve, seven little words: I did it, I’m sorry, Forgive me. And to rely totally and completely on his mercy and just judgment.

We have been granted the gift of looking at the truth in ourselves through the cross and with the help of the Holy Spirit. Anything less isn’t a clean conscience, but an excuse. And it definitely won’t be the time to abandon the Holy Spirit to make an excuse.

Peace and God Bless
Nicene

 

[dbacks5439]

There are several scenarios:

God: Why should I let you in?
Me: I saw the other place, and uh, well it’s just that my mother-in-law is there…
God:Say no more, I understand completely. You may enter.

God: (Same question)
Me: Cuz I got ID?

Seriously, I believe that either God will say “Thy will be done” and the person goes to Hell. Or I say, “Thy will be done”, and I go to Purgatory.
Wouldn't it be so much funnier if we had John Madden explain theology like the parody of him on Madtv?

 

[Timmy_Z]

Edwin,

How can you believe in grace if you think you have to worry about what you will say to God at the Pearly Gates?

It was a ficticious antedote that I thought illustrated beliefs on justification. I do not believe the scenario will actually happen.

If you think that you will get to heaven because you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, then isn’t that a form of salvation by works? Isn’t accepting Jesus something you do? How is this not a work?

“A rich man bestows, on a poor and famished beggar, alms by which he may be able to maintain himself and his family. Does it cease to be a pure gift, because the beggar extends his hand to receive? Can it be said with propriety that “the alms depend partly on the liberality of the donor, and partly on the liberty of the receiver,” though the latter would not have possessed the alms unless he had received it by stretching out his hand?..If these assertions cannot be truly made about a beggar who receives alms, how much less can they be made about the gift of faith, for the receiving of which far more acts of Divine Grace are required!”
-Arminius

-Tim

 

[NotWorthy]

OK, maybe the third time will work:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Timmy Z forums.catholic-questions.org/images/buttons_cad/viewpost.gif
*Our works reveal and demonstrate the faith that saves us.
*

Quote:
                                                                  Originally Posted by **NotWorthy**                     [forums.catholic-questions.org/images/buttons_cad/viewpost.gif](http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=2116509#post2116509)                 
             *That's interesting.  Can you show me in the bible where Jesus tells us what we are going to be judged by?*

 

[Nicene]

You are amazing Edwin.

Why? Contarini made an accurate assessment.

Peace and God Bless
Nicene

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

Looking for the RCC perspective…

After death when you are standing before the big gate of heaven reviewing your life with the Lord and he asks why should He let you in; what would your response be?

Thanks,
Tim

What would the Fundamentalist Evangelical’s response be? Because I said the sinner’s prayer?