his thoughts are correct for rcc. you confirm this when you say only God knows who is going to heaven. he believes this, he is simply saying he can’t be certain he is. he’s saying it a different way, but he’s also flat out said to me he can’t be sure he’s going there.
the bible is clear we who believe in Jesus can have a certain hope that we will be in heaven when we die. and that we can know this now, and it’s not arrogant or presumptuous to say so. my salvation doesn’t hinge on me, it is all on Jesus. it doesn’t mean i live without consequences or that i don’t try my best to live a God-pleasing life, it means i can trust in God’s promise to save me because I trust in Jesus is my Savior. when i do what He wants, or when i fail and need His forgiveness, He’s not going to abandon me or take away my salvation.
the hardest thing for people to believeisthat God has their back, and that he’s not looking at scales every second weighing whether our latest good or bad deed has gained us or lost us, our salvation.
Not to nitpick, but if the priest believes he can screw up in Purgatory, he is just wrong, and it is not a belief of the Church. That is also very different from saying a person doesn’t know if he is going to heaven or not.
Jesus redeemed all of us with His once-and-for-all sacrifice on Calvary. Additionally, God clearly has our back, and is the epitome of love and mercy.
However, humans have the ability to turn their backs on God. We do it every day, through pride, and any number of other sins. When we sin, we push away from God. He never leaves, but we turn our backs on Him.
Just because Jesus redeemed all of mankind doesn’t mean all of mankind accepts that gift. Even the demons acknowledge Christ as Lord, but look where they are.