Posted on 05/22/2011 6:36:00 PM PDT by markomalley
Are you Catholic? This is a Catholic/Orthodox caucus thread.
This Religion Forum thread is labeled “Catholic/Orthodox Caucus” meaning if you are not currently, actively either Catholic or Orthodox then do not post on this thread.
When I was studying theology way back in the 1970s, the priest who taught Eucharistic Theology often said that the Son of God did not die in vain. Repentance is necessary, belief in the Jesus as the Son of God is necessary, for salvation, but who knows what graces are poured out upon individuals when they die, when the Shepherd calls their names in His loving attempt to turn their hearts to Him, even at the last moment of free will decision.
The great saints quoted in this thread are an inspiration to repentance, but theirs are personal statements, not dogmatic tenets.
It seems to me the main reason a great many people dont ever come to Salvation is the very same reason Eve sinned. Eve was disobedient because she relied on her own understanding rather than doing as she was commanded whether she understood the reasons and details or not. Disobeying was just the natural consequence of Eve deciding that her own understanding was sufficient. The first step in accepting Christ is to surrender, not to reach an understanding that your own carnal mind is comfortable with. I believe, forgive my unbelief is very real acceptance while now I understandis most often no more than the same sort of acknowledgment Christ says the demons make. One of the very real burdens we have to accept if we really want to follow Christ is the burden of not understanding everything up front, a burden most people cannot accept and many avoid by only accepting those things theyre comfortable with. Unfortunately, in doing so theyre refusing to follow Christ while at the same time fooling themselves into believing they are following Him.
The Apostles didnt know in advance and couldnt possibly have understood all that they would learn by following Christ when He called them. Thats the same way we have to follow, by taking up our cross and following even though we cannot know and understand everything before we follow Him. Only when people put following Christ first rather than putting their own understanding first can they do His will and accept Salvation. It seems to me thats why there may be comparatively few who will be saved, only a comparative few are willing to follow first and understand later.
Simple, clear and yet profound. Thank you.
Thanks for the answer.
Absolutely, praise God!
Absolutely, praise God!
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