Working Out Salvation in Hope

Catherine Mendenhall-Baugh ponders Church teaching on the salvation of souls and the promises of Christ.

Do we have assurance we will all get to heaven? How many funerals have we attended where we are made assurances our dearly departed are in heaven? I want to begin this discussion with what we know and explore this question.

We know that Jesus Christ gave his life and was brutally crucified and died on the Cross for our sins. He entered into heaven for the purpose of standing before God our Father on our behalf. Does this mean that we are therefore assured a place in heaven? Is it enough that we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior?

As Catholics we lean more toward being free of our sins as an assurance of our place in Heaven. So what is the right call here? We are all sinners and likely we sin often. “If I go to Church every Sunday and attend Mass and be the best person I can be, shouldn’t that allow me a pathway to glory in Heaven?”

In Scripture, we learn that one’s final salvation depends on the state of our soul at death. Jesus said, “The one who perseveres to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). In other words, if we die in the state of grace and friendship with God, we will go directly to heaven. Sounds easy, right? Hardly!

I think we need to do a little work to gain our salvation in heaven. It seems logical to me that going to church and being a good person isn’t a guarantee for a spot in heaven. Scripture suggests that we develop a personal relationship with Jesus every day. This includes a commitment to loving one another. In other words, maybe our goal should be to bring heaven to earth. Jesus said it best; “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

In the glory of heaven, the blessed continue joyfully to fulfill God’s will in relation to other men and to all of creation. Already they reign with Christ; with Him they shall reign forever and ever. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1029)

The Church is not just a building to show up to on Sundays. It is a place we attend to be a part of Christ’s body. The point of going is not to check off points with God. It should come from a place of wanting to be one with God and developing a deeper relationship with God.

Those who die in God’s grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live forever with Christ. They are like God forever, for they see Him as He is, face to face. (CCC 1023)

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One certainty we have is by participating in the sacraments enables us to obtain grace and oneness with God.

If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar, for whoever who does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:20)

We need to call upon God for the grace we need to be always kind and loving to others. This means every person we come in contact with, whether it's for a minute or for our lifetime. We need to reach inside ourselves and find a place of love for everyone. Not easy, I know!

Click to tweet:
Maybe our goal should be to bring heaven to earth. #catholicmom

I’m not suggestion we have to agree or even like everyone. We just have to love each other, accepting that each person has their own path toward God. Looking at our own lives and recognizing our need for grace, and finding a resolution in our hearts to keep our commitment to have the necessary relationship with God through prayer and the sacramentswill help us reach our goal to spending eternity in Heaven.

The Nicene Creed states it clearly:

With the Father and Son, He is worshipped and glorified. ... We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.