Can you be sure? That is the most vital question. Many Protestants and Catholics alike when asked are you going to heaven say, "I hope so". Next, when asked how does one get there, they say by doing good, going to church, living right.
First of all, I want to know for sure I am going to heaven.
Second, if we trust in our good works, it will send us straight to Hell when we die. Why? because God does not have a scale. If you only sinned once, you are out of heaven if you are trusting in your good works. That's why Christ had to die. He paid the debt that I owed. It's only by accepting what He did on cross and that alone as a free gift gets one into Heaven. It is grace and not works so we cannot boast. We are indebted to God. He is not indebted to us.
BELIEVING something doesn't make it true. The Scriptures are FULL of verses that refute the idea of the knowledge of eternal salvation of an individual in the future. Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-12 - this is written to CHRISTIANS as a warning to beware "those who think they are secure"...
Second, if we trust in our good works, it will send us straight to Hell
Many Catholics who "say" that are not being very distinct. We do not believe that our OWN works can get us to heaven. Only works that God ENABLES within us, as without Christ, I can do nothing (good). Thus, when in Christ, I CAN love, I CAN have faith. If we are judged on what we have done, this is in reference to cooperating with Christ, since we can do nothing ALONE.
That's why Christ had to die.
Christ chose to die out of love and obedience to the Father, not out of some "requirement". If Christ payed the ENTIRE debt that mankind owed, than that means that NO ONE is in hell right now. The wages of sin is death, correct? Eternal death. Do you think hell is empty?
It's only by accepting what He did on cross and that alone as a free gift gets one into Heaven. It is grace and not works so we cannot boast.
The Scripture points out specifically that faith ALONE does not save. And recall that faith is just as much a gift as "works" - Eph 2:8-10. God enables us to have faith. We don't bring it up from inside of us. Thus, we cannot boast of our FAITH, either!
We are indebted to God. He is not indebted to us.
AH. You said something I completely agree with. And Catholics are taught to believe that completely. Part of the confusion is what is a "work". A work is something we do for pay, for wages. THIS is what Paul condemns in Romans 3-4. Not love. Not repentence. Not things we do IN Christ. Unfortunately, some Protestant commentators have equated "works" from Paul to mean ANYTHING a man does. Paul is condemning the attitude that God is obligated to repay wages for one who "works". But Paul tells us that our love (good deeds) IS essential for salvation: "...and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. " 1 Cor 13:2
Faith WITHOUT love is DEAD. It CANNOT save. Consider also reading the entire book of 1 John. Without love, we will NOT come into union with God in heaven. And even this is not our OWN, but God moving in us the will to do so.
Regards