Emeka Collins
wrote:
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Hi, guys —
Someone said that Muslims, Traditionalists, and prostitutes will go to Heaven. (i.e. that God will judge them based on what they believe, even though it is false, provided it is not evil.)
- Is this view correct and must one be a Christian to go to Heaven and be saved?
- If not, what is the essence of being a Christian?
Please, I need a lengthy easy-to-read answer.
Emeka
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Is this view of salvation correct, how can Muslims be saved, and do you have to be a Christian? }
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and in a similar question:
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Emeka Collins wrote:
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Hi, guys —
The Quran is not the Word of God and therefore Islam is a false religion.
- How can the Muslims then be saved because they presume or unknowingly believe they worship the One True God, while they do not?
- How can they be saved when they are worshipping a false god [Allah] who, even his creation is greater than, because he swore by them, but our own God swore by Himself since he (was/is) the greatest?
- How can they be saved if they do not believe Jesus died for them and also that He resurrected from the dead?
Emeka
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Is this view of salvation correct, how can Muslims be saved, and do you have to be a Christian? }
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Bob replied:
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Emeka,
You said:
Someone said that Muslims, Traditionalists, and prostitutes will go to Heaven. (i.e. that God will judge them based on what they believe, even though it is false, provided it is not evil.)
- Is this view correct and must one be a Christian to go to Heaven and be saved?
That is not accurate. This view asserts that one's conscience is the sole determinant of salvation.
On the contrary, Jesus Christ is the only Savior, (cf. Acts 4:12), and how He saves is up to Him. He has given us clear instructions on salvation, which involves: saying yes to God, following Him, being baptized, receiving the Eucharist, keeping a clear conscience, staying in the state of grace, and persevering to the end.
He gave us the Church, built on Peter, to convey all His means of grace for salvation. That being said:
- Can He save anyone who doesn't (have/do) all these things? <Yes.>
But how, and if, is up to Him. Anyone who does not do what He prescribes is in great danger of losing their soul so we need to bring the Gospel to everyone. We can only pray that He will have mercy on those who, by no fault of their own, lacked the fullness of the faith given to the Church.
To whom much is given, much is expected.
Peace,
Bob Kirby
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Bob replied:
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Emeka,
You said:
The Quran is not the Word of God and therefore Islam is a false religion . . .
You are correct; the Quran is not the Word of God, it is a false religion, presents a false god, and is no help toward salvation for those who practice it.
If anyone who is Muslim is saved, it is simply in spite of their religion, not because of it.
Jesus could potentially save someone, who by no fault of their own, did practice a false religion, but we cannot say that He definitely would. We are only speaking in theory. What He decides to do is His Business, but He alone can see into hearts and be the Judge. There are many, more likely cases for his gratuitous mercy: the unborn, mentally handicapped, etc. For it is very unlikely that these persons have incurred grave, personal sin and thereby would have not offended God.
To be clear, while we are all born under original sin, an unborn baby is incapable of doing anything to directly offend God. A grown adult practicing a false religion is: in a lot more danger, has committed evil, and is likely on their way to Hell unless God intervenes and does something amazing. It is likely that, in this life, we will not know all the ways that God has saved souls which who would surely have perished. I fear most do perish, and that is why we must be diligent.
We must pray for all those who are outside of the Church, that they come to know Jesus, the only Savior [of mankind].
Peace,
Bob Kirby
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