Pope Francis Promises Redemption for Do Gooders?

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Pope Francis Promises Redemption for Do Gooders?

Monday, May 27, 2013 (4:15 am)

Posted in: Christian

By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent

VATICAN CITY (Worthy News)– As part of his homily Wednesday, Pope Francis said that the Blood of Christ promised redemption for everyone engaged in doing good works, including atheists, according to Vatican Radio.

"The Lord has redeemed all of us … with the Blood of Christ. All of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! 'Father, the atheists?' Even the atheists. Everyone!"

According to the Pocket Catholic Dictionary, redemption is the salvation of all humanity through Christ who bought back (redeemed) captive humanity from sin, paying the ransom by His suffering and death on the Cross.

But for many Christians, although Christ's sacrifice is sufficient for all, it's only efficient for those who actually accept it: until that acceptance, it's just an offer, not a guarantee.

Francis, however, emphasized the duty of doing good because it unites all humanity.

"We all have a duty to do good. And this commandment for everyone to do good … is a beautiful path towards peace. If we, each doing our own part … do good to others, if we meet there, doing good, and we go slowly, gently, little by little, we will make that culture of encounter. We need that so much. We must meet one another doing good.

"'But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!' But do good: we will meet one another there."

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that goods works can be a means of sanctification (2427) and that any work united to Christ can be redemptive (2460) by rewarding the effort spent in co-operating with grace in order to be delivered from sin.

But even if doing good unites us all (somewhere), according to St. Paul, we're still saved by grace through faith apart from doing good works, lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

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http://www.facebook.com/rusty.yates.7 Rusty Yates

Its not that we atheists need any redemption. No Jesus needs to apply here. It is nice that the pope reached out and it makes me wonder if he may be a really good hearted person who has by some odd fate been put in charge of one of the most corrupt organizations in the world.

His popery will be interesting to watch if he is humanistic.
- Joe DeCaro
  
  popery: the doctrines, practices and rituals of the Roman Catholic Church, disparagingly used by some Protestants to show contempt for Roman Catholic practices and tenets, but as you claim to be an atheist, I suppose the latter doesn't apply.
- Aaron David
  
  Of course the Pope is a humanist. Humanism is Satanism at it's heart, and Catholicism is purely Satanic. Beyond calling themselves Christians, Catholics bear no resemblance to Biblical Christianity whatsoever. Many people of good character, honest, hard working, charitable, will be in hell while many "bad" people will be in heaven. It is God's righteousness that enters one into God's presence, not man's. Catholicism rejects the righteousness of God as utterly as Atheism does. Neither group knows what Christianity is at all, yet both often profess to be experts. It's as funny as it is tragic.
FJK

I think the main difficulty for Evangelical Christians in this statement is not so much that it is flat-out wrong, but rather that it makes some faulty assumptions. The bad assumption here is about what it means to "do good". If an atheist were to truly do good, I think he would no longer really be an atheist, because the bible makes it clear that all true good comes from Christ, through Christ, and to Christ. Think of an atheist involved in some kind of group that attempts to feed the poor. But if he is preaching atheism and perhaps sending some of them to hell, then what lasting "good" has he really done? The only way to actually do good when giving people material help, is to do it with the right motivation and the right spiritual context. The bible says that our own self-powered acts of righteousness are like filthy rags in God's eyes.
Jerry B

Doing good by meeting the material needs of the unsaved is commendable, but if we don't tell them of salvation through Jesus Christ, we have stopped short of the Great Commision given us as disciples of Jesus. Our main concern for the unsaved should be salvation of their eternal souls. If we just make them comfortable for awhile and neglect to lead them to Christ, then we haven't really accomplished much.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmie-Jacked/100002164614885 Jimmie Jacked
  
  Too many are just so busy PLAYING Church and the day will come when Yeshua says again…Matthew 7:21-23; Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
danlunche

Wrong Mr. Pope, bible is very clear that you cannot work your way to heaven.
Aaron David

Popes have about as much authority in heaven as a turd does.
darrel

This writer is LYING the Catholic Church does not teach that only Catholics are saved !!!!!!!! Just read the Catechism of the Catholic Church to confirm and get all the facts !!!!!!!! ALSO read the book by Karl Keating , Catholic and Fundamentalism , it will PROVE that we have the better argument both biblically and historically . You may say " I doubt this ! " but I challenge anyone to read it . It addresses every argument that in the last 9 comments and more with facts and scripture .

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