How to Go to Heaven

CatholicAnswers ^ | May 12, 2015 | Jimmy Akin

[Salvation]

How to Go to Heaven

Jimmy Akin

May 12, 2015 |

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Sometimes people make it sound like the Catholic understanding of how to get to heaven is really complex.

It’s not.

While you can go into any of Christ’s teachings in a lot of very rich detail, he made sure that this one can be understood even by a child.

I can summarize it in two sentences.

The two sentences are these: To come to God and be saved, you need to repent, have faith, and be baptized. If you commit mortal sin, you need to repent, have faith, and go to confession.

That’s it. That’s all there is to it. And we can show each of these things from the Bible.

The need to repent is shown by the fact that, right at the beginning of his ministry, Jesus began preaching the gospel, saying “repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15).

The need for faith is shown when the author of the letter to the Hebrews writes that “Without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Heb. 11:6).

And the need for baptism is shown when St. Peter flatly tells us: “Baptism now saves you” (1 Peter 3:21).

So that’s what you need to do if you want to come to God and be saved: Repent, have faith, and be baptized.

If you do these things, you’ll be in a state of grace, and as long as you remain in a state of grace, you’ll go to heaven.

But we still have free will, and we can still turn our backs on God and fall from grace, to use St. Paul’s phrase (Galatians 5:4).

St. Paul is very clear about the possibility of us committing mortal sin. He tells us: “Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

To turn away from God and commit mortal sin is the opposite of repenting. So when we fall into mortal sin, we need to turn back to God—to repent again.

We also need to have faith.

And then we need to go to confession. This is something Jesus indicated just after he rose from the dead. He came to his disciples, breathed on them, and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20:22-23)

So Jesus empowered his ministers to forgive or retain sins. In order for a priest to know whether he is to forgive or retain a sin, he needs to know about the sin and whether we have repented of it. That means we need to go and tell him these things, and so we have the sacrament of confession.

So that’s what you need to do. To come to God and be saved, you need to repent, have faith, and be baptized. If you commit mortal sin, you need to repent, have faith, and go to confession.

It’s all thoroughly biblical.

[Elsie]

Empty bodies will rise out of the graves...

Empty of WHAT?

[metmom]

And which calls for confession of faults to each other in general and communal prayer for them. And which ministry of all believers includes canceling a multitude of sin due to turning one to repentance.

So IOW, when someone confesses a fault to others, the others are not to hold it over their heads any more or not to hold it against them. (1 Corinthians 13 - Love keeps no record of wrongs)

It's to be loosed. Or the person is to be loosed from any further association with that sin.

Forgive as God has forgiven you in which He throws our sins into the sea of forgetfulness.

[Not gonna take it anymore]

The scapula is not a condition either.

[FourtySeven]

Of course the Rosary fell from Heaven fully formed and complete as a devotion, with instructions on how to pray it written in gold ink. Just like the Bible was also delivered complete from Heaven, in the arms of angels, riding unicorns down a rainbow bridge.

psst, that's a bit of sarcasm there; everyone knows unicorns don't ride rainbows...

[Elsie]

The scapula is not a condition either.

Oh?

It SURE makes some mighty fine CLAIMS!!

"Take this Scapular.
Whosoever dies wearing it shall not suffer eternal fire.
It shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger and pledge of peace."

[Elsie]

To simplify everyone’s quest - all that matters in the end is what happens to you (anyone - not you personally) on the day of judgment:

Is your name written there?

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Exodus 32:32-33
 But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.”  But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.

 

Daniel 12:1
 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.

 

 

 

Philippians 4:3
 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

 

Revelation 3:5
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

 

Revelation 13:8
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

 

 

 

Revelation 17:8
 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

 

 

 

Revelation 20:11-15
"Then I saw a great White Throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and THE BOOKS WERE OPENED. Another book was opened WHICH IS THE BOOK OF LIFE. The dead were judged according to their works as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to their works.  Then death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire. The Lake of Fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written IN THE BOOK OF LIFE, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

 

Revelation 21:27

Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

[ealgeone]

I'll probably get banned for writing this but at this point it needs to be said.

First let me express my appreciation to Jim for providing this website. I also appreciate the RMs for the job they do on monitoring this forum and I feel they've done a remarkably decent job in doing so.

Because of this website, I feel I'm more informed on the issues of the day than I used to be.

I've really learned a lot...especially in the religion forum. When you have to defend your beliefs it makes you dig and learn.

I've always thought the purpose of FR was to provide a forum to express ALL ideas without fear of suppression. We see enough of that in the liberal media.

As I noted above, having to defend your beliefs makes you dig and learn. However, it appears some are not capable of doing so.

It seems like we've figured out who can't handle the disagreements with catholicism.

Instead of being able to defend your beliefs you run to the owner and RMs to lock down the thread. And it's not the first time you've run crying to the RM either. I know you've tried to have some of my threads pulled in the past.

The papists of the middle ages would be proud of you. All dissent with Rome must be silenced.

I guess you think this is your personal website for advancing catholicism.

I personally don't have a problem with you posting an article everyday like you do. It's your right to do so.

However, when you do post something not supported by the Word I will respond. It's my right to do so.

If I post something someone disagrees with I expect them to reply if they want to and we'll have a conversation. As the RM has said on more than one occasion....if no one replies to you that's your clue no one is paying attention to you.

I do the same thing in the other forums as that is what this website is all about....expressing your opinion.

You should look to Paul as an example of an apologist. He was always willing to engage in a defense of the Gospel with anyone, anyplace, anytime.

[Elsie]

The Bible indicates that not all go through that ‘Day of Judgment’.

Oh?

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THIS sure sounds like EVERYONE to me.

Revelation 20:11-15

"Then I saw a great White Throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and THE BOOKS WERE OPENED. Another book was opened WHICH IS THE BOOK OF LIFE. The dead were judged according to their works as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to their works. Then death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire. The Lake of Fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written IN THE BOOK OF LIFE, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

[Just mythoughts]

...”anybody with another god(s) is not asking Him for squat. Thus, one would need to keep that first commandment to know enough to go to Him seeking Salvation.”....

No not at all....just because they may not be aware that Jesus Christ IS God above all Gods does not mean He would not respond to them, for even though the LORD God is God of gods and Lord of lords, He shows no partiality and accepts no bribes...or is God the God of Jews only?... Is he not the God of Gentiles too?.. Yes, of Gentiles too!...… For there is no respect of persons with God. Deu 10:17..Romans 3;29..Romans 2;11

Romans 3: is a continuation of Romans 2 and the 'law' discussed is circumcision. Not the Ten Commandments.

[Elsie]

Acts 19:2

He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

[Elsie]

I assumed nothing, I asked a question...answer it.

[Elsie]

There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

HMMMmmm...

[Elsie]

If I were figuring odds, I think that I would have to go with the 2,000 year old church which Christ founded rather than the "Johnny come lately" versions of Christianity...

The 'church' that came up with the COUNTER Reformation?

The one with all them glorious leaders thru the years?

[MHGinTN]

The Bride is not in that group being judged. The Bema Seat (judgment seat of Christ) takes place in HEAVEN, for the Bride and bridesmaids. This is prior to the Great White Throne. ... If you would use the dispensational tool these issues would disappear into understanding.

[Elsie]

No they don't

You REALLY expect someone informed to actually BELIEVE you?

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A saying that is well known among Catholics is, "To Jesus, through Mary."

http://www.catholicdoors.com/faq/qu67.htm

[mitch5501]

Maybe those at the White throne judgement aren't in the other book...

"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine(those in that book), saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." (Malachi 3:16-17)

[Elsie]

Jesus did not sin, at all, as the scriptures testify clearly:

Likewise...

Mary did not sin, at all, as the scriptures testify omit saying anything about.

[Just mythoughts]

“That means all souls return to the Maker that sent them.” This has the ring of new age religion, not Biblical Christianity. For believers, ONLY BELIEVERS, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. The reason for this is the Presence of The Holy Spirit in the Believer’s spirit thus the Believer has the state of righteousness to allow being in the Presence of God’s Righteousness. Without His Spirit one is without His righteousness. No unrighteousness is allowed in His Presence.

Ecclesiastes 12:6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,

7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God Who gave it.

Maybe that sounds 'new age religion' to you, but it tells me that all return to the Maker that sent them.

In the parable of the rich man, he could see Abraham with Lazarus, but was separated from them.

[Elsie]

There is really nothing else left to do; while waiting on the ‘net to get back up to speed at times...

[MHGinTN]

A good way to show yourself that a dispensational perspective is a useful tool is to look for how many different groups are IDed as Saints. There are pre-incarnation Saints, church Age Saints, and tribulation Saints. It is the dispensation in which they emerge that determines their designation. A Pre-incarnation Saint (pre Jesus’s incarnation) would be those such as Abraham. Church Age Saints would be those such as the Apostles and the martyrs who gave up their lives rather than renounce Christ. In the Tribulation, when the Church and bridesmaids are gone, the 144,000 sealed for evangelism from the Tribes will be Tribulation Saints, along with others who will be martyred rather than denounce Jesus.