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some people refuse to get it



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How to Go to Heaven
CatholicAnswers ^ | May 12, 2015 | Jimmy Akin

Posted on 07/21/2015 4:48:44 PM PDT by Salvation

How to Go to Heaven

May 12, 2015 |

Sometimes people make it sound like the Catholic understanding of how to get to heaven is really complex.

It’s not.

While you can go into any of Christ’s teachings in a lot of very rich detail, he made sure that this one can be understood even by a child.

I can summarize it in two sentences.

The two sentences are these: To come to God and be saved, you need to repent, have faith, and be baptized. If you commit mortal sin, you need to repent, have faith, and go to confession.

That’s it. That’s all there is to it. And we can show each of these things from the Bible.

The need to repent is shown by the fact that, right at the beginning of his ministry, Jesus began preaching the gospel, saying “repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15).

The need for faith is shown when the author of the letter to the Hebrews writes that “Without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Heb. 11:6).

And the need for baptism is shown when St. Peter flatly tells us: “Baptism now saves you” (1 Peter 3:21).

So that’s what you need to do if you want to come to God and be saved: Repent, have faith, and be baptized.

If you do these things, you’ll be in a state of grace, and as long as you remain in a state of grace, you’ll go to heaven.

But we still have free will, and we can still turn our backs on God and fall from grace, to use St. Paul’s phrase (Galatians 5:4).

St. Paul is very clear about the possibility of us committing mortal sin. He tells us: “Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

To turn away from God and commit mortal sin is the opposite of repenting. So when we fall into mortal sin, we need to turn back to God—to repent again.

We also need to have faith.

And then we need to go to confession. This is something Jesus indicated just after he rose from the dead. He came to his disciples, breathed on them, and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20:22-23)

So Jesus empowered his ministers to forgive or retain sins. In order for a priest to know whether he is to forgive or retain a sin, he needs to know about the sin and whether we have repented of it. That means we need to go and tell him these things, and so we have the sacrament of confession.

So that’s what you need to do. To come to God and be saved, you need to repent, have faith, and be baptized. If you commit mortal sin, you need to repent, have faith, and go to confession.

It’s all thoroughly biblical.



TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: catholic; heaven
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To: kinsman redeemer
I'll BASH anyone who fails to warn the congregation that wine contains over 90% dihydrogen monoxide!
681 posted on 07/23/2015 3:31:05 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Iscool
There is at least a thousand years between the GWT and the Judgment of Jesus Christ...

Simple thing to illustrate:

GWT is found Revelation 20:11-15
JoJC is found... where?

682 posted on 07/23/2015 3:33:35 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: roamer_1

By itself, that’s not an argument.

Their getting it wrong does not, by itself, show that we aren’t getting it right.


683 posted on 07/23/2015 3:40:30 PM PDT by Mad Dawg (Sta, si cum canibus magnis currere non potes, in portico.)
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To: Elsie
I was baptized (submerged*) in that stuff!

.

.

.

* UH-ohhh - Now I've done it!

684 posted on 07/23/2015 3:40:35 PM PDT by kinsman redeemer (The real enemy seeks to devour what is good.)
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To: daniel1212

What propaganda are you referring to? The beliefs of a 2000-year-old Church with about 1 billion members? If so, that’s an extremely prideful comment, which God considers a sin.


685 posted on 07/23/2015 3:46:16 PM PDT by Prince of Space (Be Breitbart, baby. LIFB.)
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To: Prince of Space

I DID answer the question.

I am not *going to heaven again* but rather I was never NOT going to heaven because of my sins. That’s what I said when I said that I was STILL going to heaven.

And the comments about relationships and works can apply to ANY church or denomination that requires works or actions to get or remain in God’s favor.

There are other denominations, non-Catholic ones, besides Catholicism which teach that one can lose their salvation through sin. Those questions would apply to them as well.

And they are valid questions which are not derogatory remarks about Catholicism. Relationships are relationships.

If human relationships endure in spite of the behavior of the people involved, then the spiritual one connecting us to God does as well.

He is the loving heavenly Father, full of mercy and grace, who wants to save His people and wants people to be reconciled to Him.

And being our Father, we are His family, and family is forever. Really, even if a parent disowns their own child, they are still genetically family. They are family by birth and NOTHING can change that, whether someone wishes it to be so or not.

So those questions do remain and are valid.

Does disobedience invalidate or nullify relationships?


686 posted on 07/23/2015 3:50:28 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: Elsie

Wow, for being a hater, you sure “know” a lot about the Church, lol. FYI, Rome doesn’t teach that, so you need to get new sources. A devotion to Mary is purely optional and voluntary.


687 posted on 07/23/2015 3:52:29 PM PDT by Prince of Space (Be Breitbart, baby. LIFB.)
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To: Elsie

Wow, you’re all over the place with your ramblings today. What’s this about a sheet?


688 posted on 07/23/2015 3:54:35 PM PDT by Prince of Space (Be Breitbart, baby. LIFB.)
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To: Elsie

For the bride there is no ‘judgment’. The Judgment is a legal thing. In Christ there is therefore now no condemnation. The law is to condemn those in violation. The GWT is an application of the law as measuring rod. The Bride has passed from that orientation and is no longer measurable because we have His righteousness accounted for us. Our lawlessness was judged and dealt with on the Cross of Christ.


689 posted on 07/23/2015 3:57:28 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Is it really all relative, Mister Einstein?)
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To: Mad Dawg
By itself, that’s not an argument. Their getting it wrong does not, by itself, show that we aren’t getting it right.

Not the point I was making, but more toward origins. Pretty easy to see.

690 posted on 07/23/2015 4:04:35 PM PDT by roamer_1 (Globalism is just socialism in a business suit.)
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To: metmom

So are you claiming to be sinless? Earlier in the thread you said ALL sin keeps you out of Heaven, but you seem to think you’re going to Heaven just because you’ve been saved. Ergo, you must consider yourself sinless, which I find astonishing.


691 posted on 07/23/2015 4:10:02 PM PDT by Prince of Space (Be Breitbart, baby. LIFB.)
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To: caww; Jim Robinson
"If you feel you must “Run “ to someone to ease your discomfort at being confronted with the truth..."

What we do encounter when having a conversation are beliefs: that is, each other's perception of the truth, based on their, their denomination's, or whoever else's perception that may include. Only God knows the entire truth; that which we cannot really begin to perceive until we see Him face-to-face. Speaking civilly promotes dialogue and is conducive to discussion- as is adherence to the topic in the article that is posted.

"...and it's not being presented as you “feel” you need to be addressed then THAT is what the Moderator is for."

When a problem is addressed on multiple occasions, and yet persists, it is time to go to the next link in the chain of command.

"You are just as free as any other to state your beliefs....you should not though “expect”, as so many do, that your beliefs will not be addressed when they oppose other beliefs."

Addressing another's belief entails courtesy, even in the face of perceived discourtesy. I generally state things as, "I believe..." simply because the absolutes of "true" or "false" tend to shut down a discussion, rather than promote one: also because I am here to learn and share, not to impose my truths on anyone else.

The Bible is accepted as The Truth- errors lie in interpretation- but I daresay I believe mine just as strongly as you believe yours. Presentation of one's beliefs in forum is not the same as attempts to impose those beliefs on others here. I don't have problems with non-Catholics in my life. Ours is more an informative discussion: "As a ......, I believe this..." both stated and answered with mutual respect. "Otherwise opposing false doctrines as others might believe is what debate is about"

Rather, debate is an intelligent discussion between two people or groups of people with differing opinions.
Opposition of doctrines perceived as being false, by using insults; deviating from the subject matter posted; using age-old derogatory terms, etc. is degradation and proselytization.
The article had two keywords: "catholic" and "heaven"; was from a Catholic publication directed to Catholics: stating what we believe, not imposing it on anyone. Soon came those of other opinion, declaring that THEIRS was the only truth; converging on our discussion, before it could even get started, like vultures on carrion. "...and how the truth is revealed when allowed to be expressed."

Again, it is one's perception of the truth, expressed intelligently and courteously, without misrepresentation, which is not often the case here. For example, this is the post I made, to which you are responding:

***And I say ‘none’ should be running to Jim Robinson Courtesy Ping with complaints...*** That is your opinion. You're stating it without getting yourself or whatever you believe bashed. It would be nice if we Catholics were able to state our beliefs without the bashing. Simple: common courtesy.

FWIW, I'm not the one who reported, although I heartily agree that it should have been. Why? Because, of late, our caucus threads have not only been invaded, but arguments put up about it being a caucus threadby people who came in with anti-Catholic posts.
As for the post to which I am responding: a person reading that post would think the original post quite different than it actually was- hence the quote in blue. Responses should accurately represent the post to which the response was directed. " BTW..I certainly have been bashed by catholics so you have presumed wrongfully....I either respond, don't respond, or leave the thread until the heat cools down a bit.....you too have that same choice....nobody has taken that from you."

I am a beyond-middle-aged Catholic professional: although ill health forced me to stop working, I remain a responsible, intelligent adult. I needn't be spoken to as if I were a petulant child, thank you. BTW, whether or not you like Catholics, the word as you used it is a proper noun, and should be capitalized. If our Faith is not respected, we should at least be shown respect as individuals. That's where good, productive discussion begins and should end: respectfully.

God bless you!

692 posted on 07/23/2015 4:17:17 PM PDT by Grateful2God (Those who smile like nothing's wrong are fighting a battle you know nothing about. -Thomas More)
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To: Elsie

.
That “someone else” was the apostle John, in the Revelation 20.
.


693 posted on 07/23/2015 4:20:37 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: kinsman redeemer

.
Keep on doing it!
.


694 posted on 07/23/2015 4:25:06 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: Prince of Space; metmom
I noticed that you never answered my question but instead turned it around and tried to put me in the hot seat with your subtle but derogatory comments about the Catholic Church. Nice try, but please, just answer the question. I truly want to know.

That's a false accusation...The Catholic religion isn't even mentioned in metmom's response to you...

695 posted on 07/23/2015 4:27:56 PM PDT by Iscool
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To: caww

I hope you’re not going to become another problem child. We have more than our share already.


696 posted on 07/23/2015 4:29:30 PM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!)
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To: Elsie
Simple thing to illustrate:

I did illustrate it...

GWT is found Revelation 20:11-15

At the end of all things...When unsaved people are sent into outer darkness with Satan...

JoJC is found... where?

It is found in the Epistles to the church...It is written to saved Christians, only...No one goes to hell or outer darkness...

697 posted on 07/23/2015 4:32:15 PM PDT by Iscool
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To: caww

Sounds very mormon to me. (although the WWCOG taught a similar idea for a while)


698 posted on 07/23/2015 4:38:06 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: roamer_1

What point are you making?


699 posted on 07/23/2015 4:38:49 PM PDT by Mad Dawg (Sta, si cum canibus magnis currere non potes, in portico.)
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To: Elsie; Iscool

.
There was no judgment prior to the GWT ever mentioned in the scriptures.

The Bride (all those that remain in full faith to their end) are protected from the “second death” by grace. They will be saved in their incorruptible bodies at the last trump, 1000 years before the GWT.
.


700 posted on 07/23/2015 4:43:10 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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