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Assurance of Salvation II

When someone becomes a Christian, is their ticket to heaven automatically punched, period, end of story? Or does that “ticket” come with any stipulations? Let’s look at the Biblical evidence.

In Matthew 7:21, Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” St. Paul warns against over-confidence in 1 Corinthians 10:12, “…whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.” And in 1 Corinthians 9:27 St. Paul talks about himself, saying, “…for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.” Certainly not the words of a man who knows that his ticket is punched.

The Catholic Church has always taught that salvation requires perseverance in faith. The Catechism says, “…nor will anyone obtain eternal life ‘but he who endures to the end.’” Her teachings echo the words of St. Paul to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:12, “…if we persevere, we shall also reign with Him. But if we deny Him, He will deny us.”

For further study:

CCC 161

Matthew 7:21

1 Corinthians 10:12

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Matthew 24:13

2 Timothy 2:12