How A Catholic
or anyone else
may KNOW that
He will go to
Heaven when He
dies

By Albert H. Monacelli

Salvation Is very Attainable

   A remarkable feature of salvation is its simplicity.   Salvation seems to have become a Protestant word but it still means "going to heaven".  One may be saved at anytime and may accomplish one's own salvation.   First, however, one must believe that the bible is the inspired word of God.   The Catholic Church fully acknowledges that truth.  In 1965 Vatican II council issued a Dogmatic constitution reading in part as follows: "Sacred Scripture is the word of God" and it states that all parts of the bible "have God as their author."

  The Biblical basis of salvation is as follows:

1. "Confess" is a translation of the Greek word Homologeo, which literally means "saying the same as".  (Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.)  In other words the confession repeats the words of the scripture relied on.  thus one would confess what god said.  he would confess that Jesus is his Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead.
2. "Believe" is a translation of the Greek word piseuo, which has been defined as:

   A clear exemplification of believing appeared in a recent sermon.  A desperate church member named John sought out his pastor.  he had been bitten by a rattlesnake and didn't know what to do.  The pastor reassured him.  He said, "John, I have some good news for you.  I know a doctor in a nearby hospital who has developed a serum that completely neutralizes the venom of a rattlesnake.  Aren't you happy to hear that?  Do you believe?"  "Yes, I believe."  But believing did not help.  He had to do something.  he had to go that doctor for treatment.

   So too, it is not enough just to believe in Jesus without acting on one's belief by receiving Him as Lord and Savior.  Catholics often say they have always believed in Jesus.  That alone is not scriptural belief.  It is only credence.

3. "Salvation" is a translation of the Greek word soteria which "denotes deliverance preservation, salvation" including "the spiritual and eternal deliverance granted immediately by God to those who accept His conditions of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus, in whom alone it is to be obtained (Acts 4:12) and upon confession of Him as Lord."  (Romans 10:10).  Vine's Dictionary of New Testament Words.

   Following is a comprehensive delineation of salvation by an anointed servant of God:

   My wife Jane died in 1978.  she was born a Roman Catholic and she died one.  She lived a full life as a faithful member of her church.  A few months before her death something happened in her life that assured her that when she left this world she would go immediately into the welcoming presence of Jesus.

   As a result, she departed in great peace.  And I was just as certain as she of her destination.  It is hoped that, in the reading of Jane's episode, some reader will be moved to profit from her experience.

   A few years ago, a Catholic bishop was dying of terminal cancer.  Each day, for a number of months, he had his chauffeur drive him about his diocese.  After the bishop's death, a significant statement by that chauffeur appeared in the diocesan newspaper.  he said the bishop in his illness was constantly worrying about what would happen to him at death.  He hoped God would remember his lifelong service.

   Obviously, he was not at all sure of his destination.

   I recall a statement made to me one day by a Catholic priest.   He said he would be satisfied to squeeze into purgatory, and work his way up from there, presumably by suffering.  I wonder how surprised that priest might be one day to discover there is really no purgatory except in man-made tradition.  There is no mention of one in the bible.  What the bible does say significantly on the subject of death is this: "and it is appointed unto men once to die buy after this the judgment."  (Hebrews 9:27).  It will then be either heaven or the other place.

   The term "purgatory" was coined on March 6, 1254, by Pope Innocent IV in a letter to the apostolic delegate in Greece, twelve centuries after the death of Jesus and his apostles.

   There is nothing in the bible, the Word of God, that says a man's spiritual status can be improved after death by suffering in another place or by the prayers and intercession of others or by any other means.  We can believe that if it were possible, the bible would not be thunderously silent about it.  the Bible is, after all,  the inspired Word of God written for our instruction, admonition and comfort.  It is the plenary record of God's dealings with mankind.  It is God's operation manual for us, and we may be sure it omits nothing of importance.

   Indeed, any precept not appearing in the bible constitutes nothing but man-made regulation or tradition.  Jesus took a very negative view of man-made regulations and traditions.  In Matthew 15:9 He said, "But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

   The Bible speaks often and clearly on salvation and eternal life, and how it may be secured right here on earth, and retained!  In short, one may depart this life knowing that he is going directly to heaven.

   In 1943, Pope Pius XII in his Encyclical Divino Afflante Spiritu, speaking of the bible, said that "the faithful...have a serious duty to make continual and holy use of this treasure."  the church was saying that Catholics are obliged to read the Word of God.

   Earlier, Pope Benedict XV had said: "The responsibility of our apostolic office impels me...to promote the study of Holy Scripture...We shall...never desist from urging the faithful to read daily the gospels, the Acts and the Epistles so as to gather thence food for their souls...Ignorance of the bible means ignorance of Christ."

   The Living Bible paraphrases the gospel of St. Luke, chapter 11, verse 52, in the following pungent, significant language:

   When I became interested in the bible in 1976, and went to my pastor for counsel, he threw up his hands and said, "I can't help you.   they didn't teach us the bible in seminary."  the shepherd of the flock was not taught the Word of God.  yet Jesus said that "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4).

   Some years ago, while speaking to a patient in a Fort Lauderdale nursing home, I got into a conversation with a woman visiting at the next bed.  she was an intelligent looking woman of about 40.  I found myself asking her is she read the bible.  Instant indignation ensued.  With a touch of anger in her voice she said, "I am a Catholic! I don't read the Bible!"  With my Catholic background I knew the woman was speaking for millions of Catholics.

   The heart and purpose of god is the salvation of every man, woman and child.  "God...will have all men to be saved, and to come into the knowledge of truth." (I Timothy 2:4).  "Truth"in the Bible means Holy Scripture.

  The Bible says many are called but few are chosen.  (Matthew 22:14).   But we are chosen because we choose to be.  The gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 12, makes it very clear: "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God...to them that believe on his name."  that is still God's operating principle.

  But to return to personal history.  In 1969, I retired from a New York City law firm, and we moved to Florida to begin retirement.  A year later, however, the Holy Spirit touched my life.  Suddenly one morning, while visiting in Washington D.C. I was made to feel that my life was in need of new direction.

  So moved was I that I immediately "went to confession" to square myself with god.  And on that occasion I tried, as best as I knew how, to turn my life over to Him with a real commitment of the heart.  My life was never to be the same again.

   And on that occasion, I promised god that I would go to Mass and receive communion every day for the rest of my life.  And for about six years I did just that, faithfully, seven days a week, often serving the Mass as an acolyte.  I now see that these "works" don't count much in the salvation equation.

   In 1976 I became interested in the Bible.  It began to open my eyes.  I could understand what Jesus meant when He told Nicodemus we had to be born again, and "That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the [Holy] spirit is spirit." (John 3:6).

   It was at this time, understanding the truth of god for the first time, that I turned my life over to Him.  The bible showed me that in doing this I became a new creature in Christ. (II Corinthians 5:17).  And god Himself would become my Father.

   I also discovered how very simple and certain it was to achieve eternal life.  It was a free gift from God.  Jesus purchased it for us when He died for us on the cross.

   John L. McKenzie, S.J., perhaps one of American Catholicism's ablest biblical scholars, in his dictionary of the Bible, say it this way: "It is a principle of New Testament theology that the works of man are totally ineffective to achieve the righteousness which saves." (page 942).

   What the Word of God and Father McKenzie are telling us is that the things we do (going to church, confessions, communion, prayers) are works, and that our works were never intended in themselves to get us to heaven.  As noted above we are saved by receiving Jesus as savior and confessing Him as the Lord of our life.  And the Bible assures us of our salvation, here and now.  As the Apostle John said in his first Epistle:

   In the last three years of her life, she was partially paralyzed and bedridden.  Frequently we would watch the "700 Club" together on television.  On several occasions we recited the salvation prayer with the host.

   The bible tells us that if anyone prays such a prayer from his heart and confesses that he believes and has accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, his spirit is saved; he is born again.

   He experiences a new birth spiritually.  Up to that point one is not considered a Christian by biblical standards no matter how many good works.

   Jane repeated the salvation prayer, but seemed reluctant to tell anyone that she had made Jesus her Lord.  God gives us the faith to be saved but He also requires us to make a positive response to His offer, and that is done by declaring Jesus as Lord thus testifying thereof to others.  Presumably, she feared, needlessly, that she might be talking herself out of the Catholic church.

   One day she volunteered to make the declaration to her son the next time he called from another state.  this was a son she had carefully nurtured as a Catholic, including boarding schools.  To help her I wrote a simple statement of faith and when her son called, I placed the paper on her lap.

   With no preliminary, she blurted out to her son: "I have accepted Jesus in my heart as my Lord."  And with that she began to cry.   After a minute she said, "I can't talk any longer.  I'm crying," and hung up.  The Holy Spirit had entered her spirit.  He had "shed abroad" in her heart the love of God (Romans 5:5).  that simple statement of her new faith had so moved her that she was unable to continue her conversation.  She had become born again, a daughter of God.

   Many Catholics believe they achieve salvation when baptized or confirmed.  Like other Catholic children Jane was baptized and confirmed but it did not work a regeneration of her spirit.  She had to follow the biblical way to salvation, and when she did she knew that she had experienced the new birth.

   The absolute necessity of the new birth is beyond doubt.   Jesus said it three times in chapter 3 of the gospel of Saint John:

5 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of god.

7. Marvel not that I said unto thee, YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN. (Writer's capitalization.)

   How absurd to tamper with the Word of God.  The prophet Isaiah was moved by the Holy Spirit to say "the Word of God shall stand forever."  "Heaven and earth shall pass away but My words shall not pass away." (Matthew 24:35).  And in Psalm 119:89 we read: "For ever, O Lord thy word is settled in heaven."

   In the Gospel of John (10:35) Jesus said, "...scripture cannot be broken."  It may not be nullified.  Neither may it be changed.  It is immutable, beyond the power of men or churches.

   How lacking in wisdom, how tragic it is to reject god's sure way when eternal life is at stake!

   How simple and easy God has made salvation for us.  How tragic that so few are being taught to avail themselves of it.

   How do we obtain this eternal life?  Only by believing (trusting) Christ.  "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life."   those were the words of Jesus in John 3:16, a verse often called the epitome of the Gospel.

   Jesus said in John 16:7-9 that after His death the Holy Spirit would convict or convince the world of three things, and one of them was "sin."   What sin?  the sin of not believing in Jesus.  According to the Word of god, it is that sin of unbelief in Christ that sends man to hell.  No matter how good and exemplary a life a man leads, he will still miss heaven if he does not confess Jesus as his Lord.

   Let us remember one important truth: Christianity is a belief in and commitment to Christ.  It is not a church, it is not a creed, it is not a religion.  Religion is concerned with the outward acts and forms of worship.   Christianity is a way of life.  It is knowing Jesus and having a personal encounter and relationship with Him.  His is the only way to heaven.  he is the only "mediator between god and man." (I Timothy 2:5.)

   Jesus made it clear when He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father buy by Me." John 14:6

  If your church doesn't teach the new birth enunciated by Jesus Himself, then it would seem to be incumbent upon you as a rational human being to examine the Scriptures for yourself.

   It is very clear that baptism and confirmation by themselves do not constitute a spiritual rebirth, for among other reasons, the candidate does not commit his life to Christ.

Jesus is the answer to all our our problems and needs.

   What a difference it makes when Jesus enters one's life as so many can testify.  A wife or husband observes a change in the other and wants what the other has.  People have been surprised to find that it was Jesus all along that they had been searching for in alcohol or drugs or even in an obsession with worldly success. One could safely venture to say that there are few, if any, who have not experienced a void that only Jesus could fill.

Not bad enough for hell?

   Do you believe that you are not bad enough to go to hell in light of the rampant evil that fills the daily newspapers?  That is one of Satan's cleverest ploys in his battle for human souls.  Jesus has the answer to that:

   Should one not be concerned to find one's own church not teaching the salvation doctrine?  The doctrine that Jesus Himself said was an absolute prerequisite?  And in the face of warnings in the Word of God such as this one:  "...how shall me escape if we neglect such a great salvation?   It was declared at first to us by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard Him, while God also bore witness by sings and wonders and various miracles..." (Hebrews 2:3,4).

   Can there be any doubt that we would be flirting with spiritual death in failing to honor the Word of God over the word of men?  When God points North should we go South?  The foregoing Scriptures are not the words of a man or a church.  The author is God.  Incidentally, the reading of this booklet is ample warning to the reader, if any was needed.  You cannot be considered to be in ignorance, but that would have been the case anyway, for the Bible tells us no one can be excused.  The overwhelming evidence of the existence of God is everywhere.   Surely, you will not permit unscriptural tradition to deceive you.

   What does one put at risk by accepting Jesus?  Nothing.

   Some may reason: my parents or grandparents died without being born-again, and what is good enough for them is good enough for me.  Christianity is being preached all over the world on television and radio and by missionaries.  The Bible says that "...the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men." Titus 2:11

   The Bible says "...behold, now is the day of salvation."   II Corinthians, 6:21.  If you want to be saved today right where you are, you may pray as follows:

   Your Word also states that "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.   For man believes with his heart and so is justified and he confesses with his mouth and so is saved." (Romans 10:9, 10).

   I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for my sins and was buried.  I believe in my heart that on the third day God raised Him from the dead for my justification.

   Dear Father God, I repent of all my sins, and I ask your forgiveness in the name of Jesus.

   And, here and now, I receive and acknowledge Jesus as my personal Savior, and I say to Him, come into my heart Lord Jesus, and be the Lord of my life.

   Now I am saved.  Thank you, Father.

   If you feel no different after saying the foregoing prayer, do not be concerned.  Christians live by faith, not by feelings.  However, say the prayer over and over.  It will increase your faith.  As one repeats unfamiliar words, they become more alive, more meaningful.

Postscript

   If you said the above prayer, you are now a Christian.   Your spirit has been recreated with the Word through the agency of the Holy Spirit.   Man is a tripartite person.  he is a spirit who has a soul (consisting of will, mind and emotions) and he lives in a body (I Thessalonians 5:23).  Only the spirit is renewed in salvation.

   God delivered you, that is your spirit, out of the power of darkness (the domain of Satan which fell to him upon the rebellion of Adam) and into the kingdom of His son.  (Colossians 1:13)  It is also the will of god that our minds be renewed.

   Romans 12:2 states: "And be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove (discern) what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of god."  This is accomplished by reading the bible and meditating thereon.

   The most important thing in your life, therefore, is the reading of the Word.  Just as your body feeds on bread, so your spirit feeds and grows only on the Word of God.

   If you sin, and we all sin from time to time, Satan will be quick to give you his favorite lie: that you have now lost your salvation.   However if you sin just confess it to God.  The Bible says: "If we confess our sins he (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9.

How God sees you now:

   You are a member of His family, an adopted son or daughter.  You are a member of the body of Christ, His church.
   You have a new Father --in heaven.
   You are a new creature in Christ.
   You have a new citizenship--in heaven.
   You have a new life--everlasting life.
   Your name is written in the Lord's book of life.
   In you the Holy Spirit dwells, and He serves as your Teacher, as your comforter and as your ever-available Helper.