Yes, Jesus saved all by his blood, that blood opened the gates of Heaven. That is a fact. Nothing we ever do can change that. Without His death on the cross we could never hope for Heaven. I think the the problem here is in the word “salvation.” We Catholics believe, like you, that Jesus’s blood saved the world by allowing the gates of Heaven to be open to everyone. This “salvation” gives us the hope of Heaven where no hope could exist before because the gates were closed. That is one way to define salvation. We also use the word salvation to mean our own entering into Heaven. My individual salvation, is up to me. Jesus has opened the gates, but will I enter? Have I loved Him? Am I one of those he talks about who will say “Lord, Lord” but didn’t love his sheep.
Oh?
Where is this FACT recorded?
First...keep the verse in context and you will see who this is addressed to.
21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ (Matt 7:21-23)
Christ is talking to those who are not His followers. Do His followers practice lawlessness?
The Greek behind the word lawlessness means an utter disregard for God's law.
This does not describe Christians.
If your salvation is up to you then Christ died needlessly on the cross.
In addition, you've just shifted gaining Heaven from faith in Christ to what you do.....it's now about works. This goes completely against the Word and elevates a sinful man's efforts above a sinless Man's sacrifice.
Paul notes in Colossians 2:13-14 exactly what Christ has done for us.
When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
Tell me again what you can do that surpasses this sacrifice by Christ?
And Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.
Notice Abraham's faith came before circumcision, the Law, etc. There was nothing he did that earned his salvation.
And continuing today....there is no "work" or deed you can do that will earn your salvation.
We are saved through faith in Christ....not because of any good deed. The good deeds we do, "works", come about as a result of our faith in Christ.
As believers we are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance (Eph 1:13-14). The Greek behind this indicates the Holy Spirit is given as earnest money....a pledge of a promise of a future payment.
It is my prayer that you come to faith in Christ so that you may know you have eternal life as He has promised.
Yep..exactly what Rome taught me.. Jesus opened the door, now you have to work to get there.. hardly "the good news" is it?
Jesus has opened the gates, but will I enter? Have I loved Him? Am I one of those he talks about who will say “Lord, Lord” but didn’t love his sheep.
Is that supposed to be Biblical ??Because it is not scripture..
Lets look at the scripture
Mat 7:Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name? 24And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
Nothing there about not "loving enough".. .....It is clear..the person being damned LOOKED religious ... he had WORKS... and yet he was lost ....
Christ never knew him ... in spite of all the works..done in the name of Christ..Christ never knew him..
That must be the fear of every Catholic.. that they will stand at the judgement seat and inspire of all their human effort Christ will not know them ...
The real question is do catholics really know Christ.. not the Roman christ that only "makes salvation possible" , not the bread christ or the ritual christ... do they know the Christ that saves to the uttermost
hebrews7:25 Whereby he is able also to save for ever them that come to God by him; always living to make intercession for us.
Not Mary making "intercession" , not dead saints making" intercession" not "priests" making "intercession"...But the final High Priest, the fulfillment of the Old Testament type ...The final sacrifice ... interceding for us before the Father ...