We have been arguing about the ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE of eternal salvation. We Catholics believe that we can have moral certitude of salvation, but never absolute assurance. In other words, say a 99% chance? I apologize if my defense of the difference has caused you to think we are not sure of our salvation. We are sure - to the degree that tommorrow we will not be attacked by terrorists with a nuclear bomb. If you read the lives of the saints and Church Fathers, they explain that we can never merit the grace of final perseverance - from our point of view - because we really don't know God's plan for us in the future. But after all of our arguments are said and done, FK, we have "assurance" that we will go to heaven. As to mortal sin, a Catholic abiding in Christ will very rarely do such a thing, so there is no "fleeting" back and forth as you propose.
It is hard to explain the mindset. WE try to remain humble and realize that God can do what He wills - even send us to the hell we so deserve. We do not want to sound presumptuous as if God owes us anything. On the other hand, we fully trust that Christ will not abandon us. All there is left to do is persevere - and we shall have Eternal life in heaven.
Regards
Then why did Jesus have to die?
if your salvation is up to you, why did Jesus have to die?
Well, I appreciate the sentiment, and I have gotten the impression there was much more of a difference than 99% vs. 100%. Nevertheless, given how much scripture interpretation on the subject we disagree about, it appears that the real difference is larger than 1%.
We are sure - to the degree that tomorrow we will not be attacked by terrorists with a nuclear bomb.
Is this an example of what "moral certitude" is? This sounds more like the conversation we've been having all along. If I wake up tomorrow and hear on the news that a major US city has been hit by a nuclear bomb, I will be shocked, but I won't be surprised. But perhaps your example was meant to be the equivalent of being hit by a meteor. If that is true, then I am a little confused. How can Catholicism get one to 99%, but not 100%? It seems to me that with my understanding of your view of free will, that it would be impossible to get even near to 99%.
If you read the lives of the saints and Church Fathers, they explain that we can never merit the grace of final perseverance - from our point of view - because we really don't know God's plan for us in the future.
This is a perfect example of my last sentence. I thought your view was that God's plan was for everyone to be saved, and that free will is the only thing that stops that. Since you know that the rate of salvation is no where near 99%, how can you have that assurance?
WE try to remain humble and realize that God can do what He wills - even send us to the hell we so deserve.
With all due respect, I don't see how that is consistent with what you have said before. I thought your view was that God cannot send us to hell, only we can send ourselves to hell. If everyone is born with enough grace to be saved, and everyone has free will, and everyone has an open shot at accepting and persevering, then really, salvation is ours to lose. So no matter where we end up, and even with God's help, it was determined by our free will decisions. Is this right?
All there is left to do is persevere - and we shall have Eternal life in heaven.
So this is an extra-scriptural use of the word "eternal"? :)