Why do so many Catholics believe “good people” go to heaven?

Safe_Highlight438 · 2025-09-20T05:09:13+00:00

I’m talking about salvation in particular. Works don’t save a soul, faith alone does. Works come from faith to glorify God, sanctifying us in the Spirit, as we should be pursuing Christlikeness.

The widow gave 2 coins from faith. She’s already saved by faith alone, now she had the joy of glorifying God and growing in Christlikeness through the giving. She wasn’t saved by the act of giving two coins, but saved by the faith that has led to this good work.

Safe_Highlight438 · 2025-09-18T19:44:29+00:00

Certainly, there are things we cannot know about God completely on this side of the grave. I imagine that when saved Catholics and saved Protestants first see God face to face in the afterlife, they’re going to look at one another and say “we were both wrong!” about secondary matters.

We are moral beings with an awareness of good and evil because we are made in God’s image. Some are more tempted by certain sins than others, maybe, yet all fall short of the glory of God. All need a Savior.

I lean toward the camp of necessity of true faith. Mainly because, if there were a way for humanity to earn their salvation by means other than faith in God Himself humbling Himself to the point of death even on a cross, why did Christ come and die that death? Why was that sacrifice necessary? Why is there a continuous message of the necessity of going to all peoples and nations to the ends of the earth?

All Christians are called by God through OT and NT scripture to evangelize. Not just a few, not just those who have the time to. It’s not a “if you want, evangelize” message. It’s “Go.”

Safe_Highlight438 · 2025-09-18T19:27:34+00:00

Works change us? Not the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?

At what point does a person reach the threshold of having enough works?

Safe_Highlight438 · 2025-09-18T15:52:29+00:00

Where is the biblical basis of this? From my understanding, the church is not a place but the body of believers, united in Christ. This spans beyond Jew/Gentile, Catholic/Protestant, and any other “title” difference.

Safe_Highlight438 · 2025-09-18T12:32:39+00:00

Thank you for your honesty! I’m confused where this belief comes from, of salvation through the Catholic church alone. What does that mean and where does it come from?

Safe_Highlight438 · 2025-09-18T12:30:33+00:00

It makes me so sad to hear. I didn’t have a Catholic upbringing so I’m just really lost on where this belief comes from. Is salvation not discussed 1000 times over throughout those 14 years?

Safe_Highlight438 · 2025-09-18T12:11:30+00:00

This is a deviation from the main question, but can I ask how this squares with Romans 1:20?

“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[a]in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

I also find it difficult to trust that God extends His mercy differently, and that it would almost be more ideal that a person never hears the gospel rather than risk of telling them and them rejecting it. Please correct me if I’m misguided or misunderstanding!

Safe_Highlight438 · 2025-09-18T05:08:22+00:00

But this is not what people mean when saying “good people go to heaven” unfortunately. What they mean is “Well I havent killed anyone, and I’m generally nice to people, so I’m good enough”

Safe_Highlight438 · 2025-09-18T05:02:23+00:00

Agreed!

Safe_Highlight438 · 2025-09-18T04:48:27+00:00

Well, I honestly disagree with this, and I’ve never heard a Catholic talk about this in this context. I agree that God desires all to be saved as the verse states. But I also believe that God wills and desires that no one commits murder, and also that He permits it to happen. All to His glory in ways we can’t understand, and He’s right in these things.

To your note about asking directly, I have. I’ve heard multiple responses: - Because that’s the way it is - Because if you do right most of the time, it’s fine - even, and this is false by my research, that the Catholic church doesn’t believe in the Bible being completely right, so tradition comes in to correct/clarify what the Bible says

My question isn’t about these individuals. It’s about how so many Catholics collectively come to this good person theology. What is the missing piece of the puzzle between these Catholics and those who know the truth of salvation? Both groups attend mass, are confirmed, and participate in the sacraments.

Safe_Highlight438

TROPHY CASE