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Craig wrote:

Hi, guys —

Paul mentions running the race to obtain the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:24) This, however, does not mean he had no assurance of his eternal salvation. For Paul said, to be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord. (Colossians 2:5) He was torn between remaining on earth to help the Church and dying to be with Christ which was far better. My question is:

  • Why does the Catholic Church teach it is a sin of presumption to have the assurance of salvation when the Apostles were secured in their belief of eternal life with Christ?

Craig
  { Why it is a sin of presumption to have the assurance of salvation when the Apostles had it? }

Mary Ann replied:

Craig —

The Church teaches that we have a sure hope of salvation through the Mercy of God, who will give us the grace to endure to the end. We have the assurance of salvation through Christ if we stay in Him. 

Abiding in Him means abiding in His will. We do not have an assurance that we will be saved no matter what we do.

Mary Ann

Mike replied:

Hi, Craig —

Just to add to what Mary Ann has said because each and every individual born into the world has their own free will, they are free to use that will to abide with Christ, Our Lord, or not abide.

The choice is theirs, and for that reason, throughout life we can have a moral assurance of salvation, if we abide in Christ, but . . . as you stated in 1 Corinthians 9:24, we, like St. Paul, have to run the race to completion, hoping to freely choose to abide in Christ until our passing intoParticular Judgment.

Hope this helps,

Mike
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