I fully agree that not everyone who calls upon the Lord’s name will indeed enter the heavenly kingdom. We are known by our fruits, which I believe means the works that we do, in our actions and words.
I don’t know if Chavez rests in the Lord or burns with Satan and though I did not like or support him, I have no problem with praying for his soul or offering a mass for the repose of his soul.
Chavez was a sinner as we all are, but he was also a believer in Jesus and as such, wouldn’t his faith alone be enough to save him?
Non Catholics say faith alone, but here in this thread, seem to be judging his faith by his actions, which is exactly what the Church teaches.
But the point is that, Chavez was Catholic, he did meet with a priest for weeks before his death and we do not know the intimate details of those meetings. If he asked for the Sacraments, it is likely he confessed and was given absolution which would mean that he was eligible to have a funeral mass.
The Bible tells us there is no sin greater than God’s mercy. Who are we to judge otherwise?
‘He was a believer in Jesus’.
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Are you intentionally playing the role of the devil’s advocate or what? I suggest re-reading my previous post several dozen times.
Faith alone is enough, and IF you truly have that faith, it will show by your fruits! BUT THE FAITH triggers the fruit. If there was ever someone without the genuine fruits of a faith in Jesus then it was Chavez regardless of what he professed with his tongue.
It is faith alone. Faith produces works. If the works are absent, there is good reason to conclude that the saving faith is as well.
Jesus said that the world would know His followers by their love and that if we loved Him, the natural outworking of that would be to obey Him.
Chavez demonstrated neither in his life.
Anyone with the mentality that they can live like they please and then ask for forgiveness in the end and they'll be good has not had the heart change necessary for salvation. There has been no repentance.
Maybe Chavez really did. MAYBE. But it is highly unlikely, and *accepting* Christ for fire insurance is merely trying to avoid hell, not being repentant for wrongs done.
As for praying for his soul, if it makes a Catholic feel better, fine, but it's a waste of time. Our decision is made here on earth and death seals it.
Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
The only way sin is forgiven is through the shedding of blood,. Suffering does not *pay for sins* because without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. If he had been forgiven, God does not count his sin against him. There is nothing left to pay for as he has the righteousness of Christ credited to his account.
Purgatory is an unscriptural doctrine, not supported anywhere from the Bible.
It doesn't work because it CAN'T work.
Show us scripture to support what you have no problem with.
Chavez was a sinner as we all are, but he was also a believer in Jesus and as such, wouldn’t his faith alone be enough to save him?
Wrong, a born again believer is not a sinner but was a sinner who has been saved by grace. Hugo's faith was in a church and that's who he ran to. Believers are saved and it is spiritual and we believe it by faith and OUR Father doesn't look on believers as sinners, HE only sees the Precious Spotless Blood of Jesus. Otherwise, we couldn't go to God. Catholics don't go to God Our Father, they go to man and confess to man and follow man's teachings. MAJOR DIFFERENCE!
You say he was a believer in Jesus; yet you have no proof of it and neither has he shown any proof of it - in fact the opposite as you can't serve two masters. He ran to man and he believed man. So you don't know what it means to be a believer in Jesus and neither did he.
Faith is God-given to all so no man can say there is no God. That faith if 'of' God and 'for' God. It is supernatural faith. It is not the faith 'of' 'for' some organization/man. That's worldly faith. Faith that you only need your 5 senses for and the RCC is worldly. Catholics believe man and their teachings; Believers don't, they believe JESUS The Word ONLY! Very easy to 'get' if one isn't so brain washed to not understand.
Non Catholics say faith alone, but here in this thread, seem to be judging his faith by his actions, which is exactly what the Church teaches.
Non catholics means BELIEVERS, PRO WORD, PRO JESUS. We don't care what some church/man teaches - we only care what JESUS teaches! By Faith alone is correct because JESUS said it! Jesus is the Author and Finisher of my/believers faith. Man is the author/finisher of a catholic/mormom/Islam's faith.
Before salvation one's filth rags are an admonition to God, so how could you possibly believe what Jesus died for would ever be part of saving you. As if the precious spotless Blood of Jesus isn't enough, one needs to add their filthy rags to the mix. Talk about contamination. That is what the RCC is doing and you believing it. Contaminating one's desire to be saved that one ends up NOT be saved! Jesus said specifically and 'NOT BY WORKS'. Another simple understandable statement that catholics are taught to ignore - because man/evil has a better way - to deceive. Talk about JUDGING and God's Word, no less, to be wrong!!
It is only AFTER salvation, when one's sins are washed away and a thankful heart is sold out to Jesus alone that any works can be pure towards HIM and HIM alone and NOT for pats on the back. Catholics put the Vatican/RCC as the author and finisher of their faith. And that is what Rome/evil is all about, brain wash people to believe us/our teachings and they will never know or see the difference. It's easy for them to understand worldly teachings so we will tell them to believe us - apply faith over here and believe us. We are the author, catechism/man's teachings and we will wrap it in some Scripture for some appearance of authenticity and they will never know! And evil was right - they don't know! The Vatican/RCC put themselves as the author/finisher of the catholic faith as we see by Hugo!
But the point is that, Chavez was Catholic, he did meet with a priest for weeks before his death and we do not know the intimate details of those meetings. If he asked for the Sacraments, it is likely he confessed and was given absolution which would mean that he was eligible to have a funeral mass.
Top priority - to be 'eligible' for a mass! WOW! He can confess all day and night to some man and it doesn't mean squat and all the pomp is just pomp - it doesn't translate into forgiveness. It's was only a 'religious' ceremony and pomp - all worldly and means nothing only to the 'religious' who believe in false hope.
The Bible tells us there is no sin greater than God’s mercy. Who are we to judge otherwise?
You are doing a pretty good job of it. Judging the words of what Jesus said by seeing a need to twist them and make them apply to you/Hugo/catholics and fit w/man's/a 'church' teachings. It's totally opposite of THE TRUE CHURCH where JESUS IS THE HEAD and where HIS WORDS ALONE reign.
Jesus extended His mercy for all but not all accepted His mercy - they ran to man instead. The author and finisher of their faith. They believed man and man was more than willing to give them what they have - deception! ONLY JESUS IS THE TRUTH and THE WAY. One only has LIFE through Jesus, not man. Man has no power but only deception; you did say all are sinners. Man/their teachings does NOT speak for JESUS. JESUS HAS HIS OWN WORD!! Seems you translate 'church' into JESUS - which is exactly the aim of the RCC/Vatican. So they tell you to listen to them/their teachings, go to them and Mary - and NEVER straight to The Father which Jesus DID and TAUGHT. Now who is judging? Catholics don't believe JESUS so they judge HIM to be wrong. See what 'man/evil' has you doing?
Keep praying for his soul all you want - it's just cementing the fact that the Vatican is the author and finisher of your faith because praying for the dead is NOT biblical but worldly/man's//RCC teachings.