Can We Reach Heaven without Jesus?

Michie · Nov 20, 2021

Today’s culture is outwardly trying so hard to proclaim the secular good through virtue signaling, acts of kindness, tolerance, and inclusiveness. It’s hard to navigate through the good and the bad-in-good’s-clothing that’s going on. Schools and religious programs almost all require a certain amount of service work. Service work is great but are all religious programs praying before they venture off in their groups? We want to be kind to others, but do we promote praying for others as much? Tolerance is not an act of love but ask any young person and they will easily confuse the two. Are we doing a disservice to our youth by allowing these confusions to take place?

“A survey conducted by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University find that American adults today increasingly adopt a ‘salvation-can-be-earned’ perspective.” (Joe Carter for Christian Living)

I my own parish, more and more youth (and teachers!) believe that heaven can be attained by ‘being a good person.’ While Jesus promotes that of course, that’s not it! John 14:16 says, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” We can be kind and serve all we want, but to do it without Jesus at the core, well, it’s empty. Quite frankly it’s also unsatisfying. We might feel good for a bit but it wears off quickly. Jesus is the Living Water (Jn 14:13), the Bread of Life (Jn 6:51), and the Light of the World (Jn 8:12).

Continued below.
Can We Reach Heaven without Jesus?

pdudgeon · Nov 20, 2021

Can we reach heaven without Jesus?
Nope.
Just like Peter couldn't walk on water without having a solid foundation to stand upon, we cannot leave our own element behind without some form of life support.
We were made to exist upon the Earth: not above it, ( that was for birds and later aeroplane's) not beneath it, ( that was for the fish or ants.)
Without the help of God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus, we can't do a thing.

eastcoast_bsc · Nov 20, 2021

“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them

eastcoast_bsc · Nov 20, 2021

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep

Palmfever · Nov 20, 2021

Yes

God is not a troll. It is much easier if we have been taught;

Romans, 10:14 ‘How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?’

Romans, 2:10 ... but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them. 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Tho we can not earn salvation, the Spirit of God within us can speak and direct those who have not heard, and yes there are plenty who have not. Some will say that the Word went throughout the whole world, yes it did, the known world. So what? I don’t know every show, every event that rolls into my town. The Spirit of God saves us, no some humans opinions of us.

Elijah was so close to God, God took him, yet he had no idea who God was in a relationship with.
The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” (1 Kings 19:9-10).

Basil the Great · Nov 21, 2021

When the Church said a few years ago that even atheists have the possibility of salvation, I think it is misleading to say that we can only be saved by Jesus. Yes, I know that the Church teaches that is by Jesus' death on the cross that all are saved, even those who do not accept him in this lifetime. However, this does not fully explain how atheists, agnostics and non-Christians are saved. Hence, if indeed it is true that Jews, Muslims, and non-Abrahamic believers can be saved, then a more complete explanation is necessary re: the doctrine of "invincible ignorance" and the importance of good works and living a life in accord with the light that has been given to each individual.

Palmfever · Nov 21, 2021

Basil the Great said:
When the Church said a few years ago that even atheists have the possibility of salvation, I think it is misleading to say that we can only be saved by Jesus. Yes, I know that the Church teaches that is by Jesus' death on the cross that all are saved, even those who do not accept him in this lifetime. However, this does not fully explain how atheists, agnostics and non-Christians are saved. Hence, if indeed it is true that Jews, Muslims, and non-Abrahamic believers can be saved, then a more complete explanation is necessary re: the doctrine of "invincible ignorance" and the importance of good works and living a life in accord with the light that has been given to each individual.

It is not by works, which are important. It is by the work of God through Christ that all are saved. While it is true some never hear the gospel story, The work of the spirit of God in them and their conscience within them, coupled with the sacrifice of Christ whether or not heard or not as Paul states,'They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them. 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.'

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Can We Reach Heaven without Jesus?

Michie

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pdudgeon

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eastcoast_bsc

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eastcoast_bsc

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Palmfever

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Basil the Great

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Palmfever

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