Yes, I’m a Catholic. The Church teaches that while we cannot have absolute certitude of salvation in this life, we can have moral certitude, which means we are not aware of any serious unconfessed sin that would preclude our being saved. An example though that comes to mind is someone who dies immediately after being baptized - they have been completely wiped clean, with no opportunity to fall again, which is one reason Catholics are quite insistent on infant baptism.
You surely are aware of Jesus frequently mentioning all of us are to be judged, right? Those who failed to serve Him, in the least of his brothers and sisters (everyone) go with the goats, right? There is no caveat given that faith alone exempts one from judgement.
We are called into a relationship with God, not only in heaven, but already in this life; that is what God wants from us. As every human relationship requires maintaining, why wouldn’t our relationship with God as well?
As St James (saint just means holy), warned that even the devil believes, and that faith without works is dead/worthless. The Church clarified that none of us are saved except by first receiving the gift of faith, which then gives us grace to perform good works — and these can help us and others get to heaven, although not without first having faith.
St. Paul clearly taught that believers could fall away — including potentially himself.
Yes, I’m a Catholic. The Church teaches that while we cannot have absolute certitude of salvation in this life, we can have moral certitude, which means we are not aware of any serious unconfessed sin that would preclude our being saved. An example though that comes to mind is someone who dies immediately after being baptized - they have been completely wiped clean, with no opportunity to fall again, which is one reason Catholics are quite insistent on infant baptism.
You surely are aware of Jesus frequently mentioning all of us are to be judged, right? Those who failed to serve Him, in the least of his brothers and sisters (everyone) go with the goats, right? There is no caveat given that faith alone exempts one from judgement.
We are called into a relationship with God, not only in heaven, but already in this life; that is what God wants from us. As every human relationship requires maintaining, why wouldn’t our relationship with God as well?
As St James (saint just means holy), warned that even the devil believes, and that faith without works is dead/worthless. The Church clarified that none of us are saved except by first receiving the gift of faith, which then gives us grace to perform good works — and these can help us and others get to heaven, although not without first having faith.
St. Paul clearly taught that believers could fall away — including potentially himself.