There is no such thing as a "good person." We are all full of sin, ever our "good works" are considered filthy rages as stated in Ephesians 2. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Then you go to the right church. Many don't teach that these days.

Those people do not have true faith. They are playing a game that ends in their separation from Jesus.

This is exactly what I’m struggling with. A cradle catholic returned to the church and falling short on buying into this. Jesus existed, performed miracles, died on the cross and was resurrected 💯 Son of God 💯 Ten Commandments 💯 7 deadly sins 💯 But to tell me that you have a beautiful soul who has left behind hundreds of people he helped in life, contributing love and practicing empathy and kindness to his fellow man… he’s going to hell if he didn’t believe in Jesus Christ? I was taught that Jesus taught love and acceptance. It seems an easy way to discount people and maintain a higher-then-thou approach to life. Pride. Please help me understand as I’m lapsing in my faith when I see babies and children and mothers hacked to death in Nigeria for being Christian. Where is God?

What will @johnrich? What is salvation biblically? Do tell.

@grok explain how Mathew 28:19 proves the father the son and the holy soirit are 3 separate distinct individuals

The good thief did do good works. He acknowledged Jesus and showed compassion for his suffering and also was repentant for his sins.

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

🙏🏼 You are correct 🙏🏼

you start by saying “faith alone,” like works don’t matter at all. Then you end by saying of course we should serve others, just don’t think that alone saves you. which... is exactly what the church teaches. faith without works is dead. works without grace won’t save you. it’s not either/or. it’s both/and. So you’re not actually arguing with catholic teaching you’re unknowingly agreeing with it. you just tossed the label and kept the substance. which is fine, but maybe admit the “faith alone” slogan doesn’t really hold up once you think it through.

Some of this is fine. But from my perspective, the Thief on the Cross example is not definitive in the matter, given that the thief was dying and had no chance to do, or not do, "good works," to sin or not sin. That's not the situation for everyone. It was a special case of a man saved by Jesus at the last moment. It is reasonable to doubt it as a rule of self-justification in all situations, otherwise the Ten Commandants, and the Parable of the Talents, and Jesus saying, "Go and sin no more," and Jesus castigating the Pharisees, as four examples, would be nigh irrelevant, which was clearly not His intent. Christianity is too broad and richly defined to be limited to the thief example as some kind of ultimate icon. I would also point out that the attitude of some Christians running around with the "joyous" mindset, "I'm saved, and the rest of you have it bad," is not an attractive one for the religion. That's another reason to doubt it. Why would God want his religion to be cast in such a poor light?

The American church needs to repent. It's time that Holiness was preached from the pulpits and if it makes people uncomfortable - The cross offends human pride because it says all people are sinners, all people are equally sinful, and all people are helpless to save themselves

works are "evidence of" a relationship with Christ. They in and of themselves avail you nothing.

Are righteous works filthy rags? Let's try inserting into scriptures about good works to see. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your filthy rags, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). "She hath wrought a filthy rag upon me" (Matt. 26:10). "God make you abound in every kind of filthy rags" (2 Cor. 9:8). "Provoke one another to love and filthy rags" (Heb. 10:24). "Faith without filthy rags is dead" (Jas. 2:20). "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto filthy rags, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10).

John thank you for your zeal for souls. Catholic teaching fully agrees: no one enters heaven by “being good” or piling up deeds (CCC 1996). The thief proves it—his last-breath cry was met with pure gift: “Today you will be with me.” Yet the Church, pillar of truth (1 Tim 3:15), sees that same grace ordinarily flowing through faith-filled baptism (or desire thereof) and a life of charity (Trent VI, ch. 7–8). “Faith alone” apart from love is rejected (Jas 2:24; Gal 5:6), but faith working through love is the royal road. Your warning against self-righteousness is spot-on; let’s unite in proclaiming Christ’s unmerited mercy that transforms us to serve. Grace and peace! 🙏

You can’t just have faith either. Faith without works is dead!!!

Romans 10:13 says: For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Once you realize the magnitude of the price He paid to save you from what you truly deserve, overwhelming gratitude is a natural response. Good works should flow from the example that Jesus set.

The question of course, is what exactly is this ‘paradise’ that Jesus speaks of? Is it before or after judgment?

That is more accurate than most Christians can comprehend. It is God who causes us to desire to do His will and then to actually do it (Phil 2:13). It is all a gift, apart from works.

Really🤦‍♀️ 📚✅🥰🕊️🙏 MINDLESS CHRISTIANITY 2 Timothy 3:14-17 KJV (14) But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; Christ Jesus comes to open the Scriptures….and only becoming as a “child” can we enter into knowing the Scriptures which are able to make us wise unto salvation. We are to hear and believe His interpretation of them….through faith of what Christ Jesus says/interprets to us today. (15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus interprets the Scriptures in the breath of God (“inspiration” of God)….that is, in the fullness of the Holy Spirit….the 7 spirits of God. (16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Having faith alone does not save us. It is being a "dead" church to think so. “Leaves” only will not save us…..as professing faith only will not save us. We must bear fruits of righteousness….the good works that complete our faith towards the hearing of His Voice. Where are you Adam? That is , where is the evidence (good works) of faith? James 2:17-20 KJV (17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (18) Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (19) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Galatians 5:22-23 shows how faith in Jesus leads you to good works. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

We are justified to salvation by faith and earn our white linens of righteous by acts. You show me you’re faith and I’ll show you my faith by my actions

From a Bible I study daily; “… people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:  “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight.   Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin.” Romans 4:5-8 “it is common to feel awkward about getting close to God. We may feel ineligible to receive God’s love and, instead, expect his angry judgment. We might feel guilty and be afraid that God will reject us. Secretly we wish that we could have a loving relationship with God, but we are afraid we could never be good enough. The apostle Paul has shown us that we can have the love and acceptance we desire.” Excerpt From The Life Recovery Bible Stephen Arterburn

True. But Matthew 25 indicates another side of the equation.

Build faster with Prisma's managed Postgres