dated 2006, but it gives one a ballpark figure with which to compare To be among the richest 10% of adults in the world required US$61,000 in assets, and more than US$500,000 was needed to belong to the richest 1%
I ask, not for an answer but, to demonstrate how one has not kept the words of Jesus and how there is no visible path into the kingdom of God for such a rich man, however otherwise obedient to the Gospel. Yet there is a way not visible to men.
16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
my dear friend, why Cardinal Koch thinks its a mystery how the Jews can be saved without explicitly confessing Christ is rather strange to me. all the dear Cardinal need do is read what Jesus Himself said on the matter in John 8:22-24
then he said to the Jews, will he kill himself since he says “where I am going you can’t come?”. He said to them, I am from above, you are of this world. I am not of this world. I TOLD YOU THAT YOU WOULD DIE IN YOUR FOR YOU WILL DIE IN YOUR SINS UNLESS YOU BELIEVE THAT I AM HE”
so here we have a “cardinal” who assures us Jews are saved even if they do not explicitly believe in Jesus, but it’s a mystery to him BECAUSE HE HAS NO BASIS FOR THIS BELIEF other than to please man rather than God.
Jesus Christ declared just the opposite. Please note he was speaking to Jews and said they would die in their sin unless they believed he is the Messiah.
so much for all “Israel” being saved, huh?
as for showing the Jews mercy, you don’t show Jews, Hindus, atheists or anyone else outside of Christ “mercy” by lying to them.
you show them mercy by declaring they are sinners, in rebellion against God and the only way for their souls to be saved is to repent, believe the Faith and be baptized into Christ. anything else is from the devil.
an analogy about “mercy”. if you have a friend that is 5’6” and weighs 600 lbs and wants to eat 12 pizzas a day, 10 gallons of ice cream and 20 hamburgers, who is the friend who shows “mercy” to this individual -
1. the one who says go ahead, eat all you want, enjoy yourself ( which is what the friend wants to hear )
2. the one who says no, you are killing yourself and you need to go on a diet and exercise program? ( what he needs to hear )
who is showing mercy?