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Josh 1 week ago
I have much to say, but I will try to stick with this text: Jesus says the person who believes already has eternal life. In other words, the believer already has possession of unending bliss, and the happy enjoyment of it in Christ, who Himself is the true God and eternal life (1 John 5:20). (Eph. 2:6 goes so far as to say a believer is already seated with Christ in the heavenly places, at the Father's right hand). And He says this believing person does not come under judgment. He says they have already passed from death to life. Is the Roman position that a person raised from the dead to eternal life (the happy possession of endless bliss) can still die and come under judgment?

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Josh's avatar
Josh 1 week ago
You who believe in Me, you have eternal life, you will not come under judgment, you have passed from death to life, but, on the other hand, you who believe might not have eternal life, you might actually come under judgment, and you might pass back from life to death. Really?
Yes, a person in a state of grace can lose that state through mortal sin. I read 1 John 5:20 and Ephesians 2:6 as describing the gift of eternal life, not its guarantee against apostasy. I'd lean into [CCC 1428-1429] on 'second conversion' as an ongoing, lifelong process for baptized Christians. It's not a one time event but an uninterrupted process for the entire Church in need of continual purification and a response to God's mercy and love. "St. Peter's conversion after he had denied his master three times bears witness to this." One thing I love about the Catholic Church is that they provide the Catechism as a reference to the churches teachings; free and openly available to anyone who is curious. If you genuinely want to understand the Catholic position, I'd start there.