Posted on 08/20/2016 7:45:03 AM PDT by Salvation
Msgr. Charles Pope Catholic, August 28, 2016
Question: How will God judge non-Catholics at the time of their death? — William Bandle, Manchester, Missouri
Answer: Scripture says, “God does not see as a mortal ... The Lord looks into the heart” (1 Sam 16:7). Thus, God, who knows our hearts, will judge us based on what is there. Not all have had the same opportunity to come to know the Lord, his Church and the help of the sacraments. God is just; he knows this and will judge accordingly.
Jesus says, “That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations or act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating, shall be beaten only lightly” (Lk 12:47-48).
In terms of non-Catholics who lacked some knowledge or sacraments of the Church, God will look into their hearts and judge them based on what they reasonably could have known and their actions based on that.
Therefore, to say that God looks into the heart does not mean that he merely looks to a person’s feelings or disposition. Rather, as Scripture says, we will be judged by our deeds (see Rom 2:6-11). Did our actions correspond to what we knew was expected of us or not?
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Thus, the degree of a person’s knowledge of God’s will and his obedience to that knowledge in deeds will be key on the Day of Judgment. This does not mean all non-Catholics and other nonbelievers simply get a pass. Their ignorance of full Catholic teaching must be what is called “invincible ignorance,” meaning a lack of knowledge that they could not reasonably overcome. Thus, if one is lazy or makes excuses when seeking the truth, God will take it into account.
Since the Lord alone sees into our heart, he alone will be our just judge.
17But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
If you try anything other than God to gain Heaven you will be cut off. The other verses you cite, if read in context, will indicate the same.
It is about faith in Him. Not works.
No beating awaiting you. The Church teaches and the author is repeating thar God looks into hearts and those who according to their best efforts try to find God and his will for us, fail to find the one true Church will be saved. Read it again.
Contrast your absolute fallible opinion on salvation with St Paul.
Like the apostle Paul I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ (Rom. 5:2, 2 Tim. 2:11–13).”
Thank you. That is 100% right.
If you are baptized into Christ you become a member of His church which He established "on this rock" which has continued since His time. That church is called catholic or universal. Martin Luther began the great schism or protestant revolution and many small "c" christian churches resulted from that time. Like it or not as you say, there is still only one Catholic Church and it can trace itself back to Christ and his Church which he established on that rock, Peter.
Is it your desire to provoke the ire of faithful born-again Christians? Or have you been promised a plenary indulgence for these postings?
I could easily come up with something new every single day to criticize Rome or stir up a theological debate with Catholics. Even though I am sure it would be fun and some would benefit, I have other responsibilities and I don’t like stirring everyone up ad nauseam. Plus, I have exhausted a considerable part of a normal three-score and ten already. I believe I can serve the Lord in more profitable ways with whatever remaining time He allows.
I’d love to know how many people actually read your long caucus stuff—you know the ones with color pictures of an unbiblical feminized Jesus or pictures of Jesus as a little baby or pictures of the Queen of Heaven idol or pictures of idols with swords.
The “fool of an author” said: “Since the Lord alone sees into our heart, he alone will be our just judge.” Works for me.
You just ignore the Word in the Bible:
Eagleone’s comment/spin; “It is about faith in Him. Not works.”
Yes we all need to have faith in Jesus and His Church, but our actions (works) need to reflect that faith. We are to love God and our neighbor.
Hebrews 11
We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. 25We should not stay away from our assembly,* as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.r
26* s If we sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins 27but a fearful prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries.t 28Anyone who rejects the law of Moses* is put to death without pity on the testimony of two or three witnesses.u 29Do you not think that a much worse punishment is due the one who has contempt for the Son of God, considers unclean the covenant-blood by which he was consecrated, and insults the spirit of grace?v 30
Concerning Romans, there is another passage that the non productive branches of the vine will be pruned. John 15
I am going to repeat the reference to the Real Presence - HIS BODY AND HIS BLOOD: “the one who has contempt for the Son of God, considers unclean the covenant-blood by which he was consecrated, and insults the spirit of grace?”
The problem with your claim, is that I can read the words of Peter and see if what is call the Catholic Church of today is the same ‘church’ Peter founded. By the way Christ began the ‘protestant’ revolution when He cleansed the Temple. And He will yet again be doing some cleansing regardless of a church’s denomination. Christ warned what would be by those that sit in the seat of Moses, the law giver.. Reads just like the state of religion worldwide. Matthew 23 whole chapter. We are told to ‘test’ the fruit, and the present poppy is as far from Christ as any flesh being can become.
Do you fully understand these verses?
Paul is saying we come to God through faith in Christ.
We're justified by faith. It's not about works.
The Greek behind "having been justified" (it's plural and refers to us...the believer(s) and is in the passive meaning someone is acted upon. That is us.)
The verb, δικαιόω, means to be cleared of all charges related to sins.
We are justified by what God has done through Christ.
Paul is not expressing any doubt about our salvation in this passage.
Nor does he in any of his writings when read in context.
No Christian disagrees with this. However, those works do not save you as Paul notes in Eph 2:8-10.
You cited Romans 5:2 in another post but omitted 5:1 which tells us we are justified by faith.
In the Old Testament, God taught the Israelites how they were to worship him. A sacrifice was an integral part of the worship service
In the New Testament, people-Israelites and non Israelites, continued to worship God, as he taught them in the Old Testament. However, the sacrifice offered, was on the part of God and his son Jesus Christ. J
Jesus Christ is the sacrificial lamb. Jesus Christ was sacrificed for us and our salvation. Then why do people not see the need to worship God in the way that he taught people in the beginning. God loves everyone and does want everyone to know him, but yet more and more people believe that they have no responsibility in their relationship with God, other than to believe that they were saved and have to do nothing else.
There is a reason why the 7 sacraments still exist and are still used to allow for God, The Father, and The Holy Spirit to spread his Holy Grace ins us and through us. We are impure beings and God does demand that we be sure before we can live with him. This is where some question the salvation of non-Catholics.
Yes....if you're relying upon anything other than Christ to save you, you will be cut off.
We could point to the roman catholic reliance upon "mary" at this point and the false promises of the apparitions so many catholics place so much faith in.
And when catholics rely upon false promises made by an apparition claiming to be "Mary" promising they can avoid the hell fire by wearing a piece of cloth it is easy to understand by Christians question the salvation of roman catholics.
I pray that the Lord opens Salvation’s eyes and she see the Catholic Church as the deceptive work of Satan that it is, and flees it the way I did after the Holy Spirit regenerated me and exposed me to the Light and the Truth.
As I am sure she is praying that your soul shall not be lost to the devil and the hell that God has prepared for him.
I thought it was customary to include people you mention in your post or has that custom been abandoned here at FR like other common courtesies that have fallen by the wayside.
Again, the protestant spin.
You agree, yet disagree.
Without actions (good works), one probably does not have faith.
God is the judge and will determine if one has faith.
You will know when you die.
But you should reread “the one who has contempt for the Son of God, considers unclean the covenant-blood by which he was consecrated, and insults the spirit of grace?”
You seem to ignore this passage. Why?
The Catholic Church is the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Christ on the Apostles.
You do believe the Bible, don’t you?
You are correct. Otherwise it gossipping behind someone’s back.
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