[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Catholics doctrine states that, only God knows who will be saved or not

But the bible teaches that each man can know for himself that he does have eternal life.

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God' that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

[Quix]

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

[Philo-Junius]

But Chapter 5 also tells us that those who believe are begotten by God, and that those begotten by God do not sin.

So who is willing to say that their belief is so perfect it excludes all sin?

Or maybe belief is indeed a process of seeking perfect faith, rather than an event?

[mgist]

1 John 5:13

I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God.

I really don't think this should give anyone carte blanche to think that they can determine who will be saved or damned. It is a confirmation of eternal life.

At the end of the day, it is all about eternal life with God. That is why it is so important to keep all of life's distractions under control. In this day and age I consider false idols to be things like television, Britney Spears types, football, work, etc. None of those things are inherently evil. But when we dedicate way too much time on them they become false idols. Still, only God knows our hearts and I can't take it upon myself to say that my neighbor is damned because he watches telelvision ALL day long, and they aren't programs about God. I'll pray for him though.

[Petronski]

1Jn 5:13 refers to “these things,” which are written in John 5:1-12. Among them:

1Jn 5:2 In this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the charity of God: That we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not heavy.

Ah, works. Not faith alone (faith without works is dead).

[Marysecretary]

Good verse. It’s sad they don’t feel they’ll know it until death. My husband was a Catholic and he said when he found salvation by grace and faith alone, it was like a burden was lifted off his shoulders.