Posted on 09/12/2013 1:29:41 PM PDT by BenLurkin
In comments likely to enhance his progressive reputation, Pope Francis has written a long, open letter to the founder of La Repubblica newspaper, Eugenio Scalfari, stating that non-believers would be forgiven by God if they followed their consciences.
Responding to a list of questions published in the paper by Mr Scalfari, who is not a Roman Catholic, Francis wrote: “You ask me if the God of the Christians forgives those who don’t believe and who don’t seek the faith. I start by saying – and this is the fundamental thing – that God’s mercy has no limits if you go to him with a sincere and contrite heart. The issue for those who do not believe in God is to obey their conscience.
“Sin, even for those who have no faith, exists when people disobey their conscience.”
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
That’s the plain teaching of scripture, FRiend. The Bible makes it clear on this point.
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”
That’s why TODAY is the day of salvation.
“For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Today is the day of salvation because there are no second chances. In the first chapter of Romans Paul made it clear that people are without an excuse for their unbelief, to wit:
18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.
Good post.
Thank you. I was looking for that.
It’s been a long while since I helped the kids with their AWANA verses.
I’m a little vague on it myself, but I do know that a person can very easily deceive himself that his own personal desires are really God’s indwelling Spirit prompting him.
"I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE, NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME." (John 14:6 NASB Emphasis added)
"And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. ‘Therefore I said to you that YOU WILL DIE IN YOUR SINS; for UNLESS YOU BELIEVE THAT I AM HE (i.e., the Messiah, the Savior, the "lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world), YOU WILL DIE IN YOUR SINS.” (John 8:23 - 24 NASB Emphasis added).
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.
“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might BE SAVED THROUGH HIM.
“HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM IS NOT JUDGED; HE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE HAS BEEN JUDGED ALREADY BECAUSE HE HAS NOT BELIEVED HAS BEEN JUDGED ALREADY, BECAUSE HE HAS NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD (John 3:16-18 NASB Emphasis added).
Shame this so-called "pope" is leading untold millions to hell as a direct result of his heretical teaching.
I’m calling misquote on this one.
My bishop, whom I know VERY well, sometimes worries that non-Catholic Christians do not go to heaven.
I read it the same way you did. I agree with you. My guess is the media is evil and misquoting him on purpose.
At first glance, I blew this story off. Could not conceive the pope would say something like this.
Is this a true story? If so, he needs to straighten this out.
The Pope would agree with you. Well said.
However, the Pope was not asked about believers, but about nonbelievers. For the nonbelievers, who have an un-informed conscience, that’s all they have to direct themselves, but nevertheless, he said, even they recognize good and evil, which is in itself a search for God.
The Pope did not equate a “search for God” to gaining Heaven, but pointed to the unlimited Mercy (Jesus) of God, who is unlimited.
The press ran with it in the opposite direction.
This lifelong atheist doesn’t need the pope’s blessing; I must say, however, it amazes me to see him reach out again and again to ordinary people instead of holding himself above humanity. More famous, widely quoted people should live what they preach the way he does.
but liberals don’t believe in religion except gubmint’. Surely, there’s no heaven to these clowns. s/
>>non-Catholic Christians do not go to heaven.<<
My Lord, whom I know VERY well, assures all Christians will go to heaven. Don’t remember scripture segregating catholic and protestant.
I’ll have to go back and check that out. What book of the bible was this found?
Thank you for the link. It is indeed an impressive Christian letter when read altogether.
The language regarding sin and conscience remains troubling — maybe there is something missing in the translation.
See the link in Post 13
He’s WRONG!...... Pope Pipus I...
Hey, I knew a nice young Catholic lady who (when I told her I am a Baptist) said....”Oh, I thought you were a Christian.”
Romans 1 makes it clear that even those who have never heard of Christ are without excuse before God.
See the link in post 13
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