I think "different levels" is kind of a human way of interpreting something we can't fathom. It's also an unhelpful way to think about the matter of going to Heaven or Hell, because you should always be focused on doing your best, not anticipating what you can expect from your current level of effort.
I would love to hear how you think or if you have any thoughts on Carl Sagan explanation of the 4th dimension and if it's a possible explanation to differences in 1-7 heavens or if that theory is just way out in the weeds. I always loved the thought of a famous atheist explaining perfectly how heaven can be explained by dimensions.
Even the least in heaven is greater than all on earth. Your works of God will be rewarded in multiples by the Father. Christ left clues that there are differences in heaven for some over others. Likely not different levels but likely different capacities for love based on how much your heart is able to love God and all his creation. Those with a greater capacity for love have that capacity multiplied with their role in heaven with Christ. Those who are not able to love the entire body … will get the lesser version but they will not feel left out or stunted for their hearts will be at capacity for what they can handle even though they may be the least in heaven.
I think Jimmy could agree that our degree of holiness could be analogous to different sized glasses. We will each be the size we achieve in this life and we will each be complete and completely happy in the next because we will each be completely full regardless of the size of our glass. So, what difference does the size make then? Perhaps the degree of our beatific vision. :)
Howdy Jimmy! I love your content. I have two questions I really would like to hear your take on: 1. What are your thoughts about the Orthodox Church? Have you ever debated an orthodox? 2. What are your thoughts on movements growing in popularity within Catholicism such as sedevacantism?
Brother jimmy i pray for the church unity and I see it very eminent between catholics and orthodox. I can really see no difference at all except for purgatory belief and marriage of priests. Aside from that almost all our beliefs are identical. Can you do one episode about church unity and what we can do as believers to bring this dream to reality
I pray that the perpetual light of heaven is shining on my Mom right now. She died five days ago. Her funeral was yesterday. May she rest in peace 🕊️ Editing to remember what she said to me when I arrived at the hospital on her last day of life. She was in and out of awareness, and I wasn't sure if she knew I was there and who I was. When I said hello, she replied, "You're here. I want one." I asked her what she wanted, and she said, "You have one," then, "You have four." I could tell she was frustrated trying to communicate but couldn't think of the word, so I assured her I'd give her whatever she wanted, then asked, "What do you want, Mom?" She relaxed and said, "Jesus." I understood right away and asked if her rosary was with her. Someone found it in her bag and I placed it in her hand. I wanted to pray with her right then, but the room was so crowded and noisy, with family and friends having conversations. It was a long time before I could pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Some tried to join, but only the opening prayers. At least everyone stayed quiet for the 10 minutes of prayer. I would have prayed the rosary but I knew they wouldn't tolerate that. So many in the family have a distaste for any religion, or they're Protestant because they had problems with whatever they learned about the Catholic Church along the way (mostly errors). Some even insisted that Mom wasn't interested in religion. Kind of weird that they think they know better than Mom's very own daughter whom she asked to take her to St. Bonaventure Monastery to venerate Blessed Solanus Casey and receive a blessing with a relic of the True Cross that had belonged to Father Casey in life. Father Casey blessed many hospitalized patients with the relic, and many were healed, or drew closer to God before death. We prayed for a cure for Mom, but most of all for grace to accept God's will in her life. Her last coherent prayer request almost exactly one month ago was, "For grace. Especially for grace." So our parish prayer group prayed for that intention, and I asked many, both offline and on, to pray for that intention. I believe her request was granted, because the last thing she told me she wanted was Jesus.
I had the thought that each one in Heaven would have their own as it were mountain to sit on because each person is the superexpert on their particular journey thru life. Conversely (& perversely) in Huxley's Brave New World people were born & engineered biologically into categories alphas (most gifted), betas, gammas, deltas & epsilons, each individual being brought up or programmed to genuinely think that their category was the best category anyone could be possibly born into.
We may not need to think of levels of Heaven since all will come together, resurrection, earth and Heaven, when Jesus returns to perfect all creation. I pray to be closer to him daily.
One answer I was given when I questioned why there are some people who seem to suffer so little in life and faith and looks so easy and some who suffer a lot in life and faith and is hard. She said as analogy that when we are born we are given a cup, for some it is small and some it is large. As we journey in life and faith, that cup is filled or decreased over time in our sufferings and coming into faith until we die, in essence that cup will be filled whether small or large and we would experience the same glory with no one lacking. Why God gives a small or large cup is only God’s reason. Those with a large cup of sufferings would be a light to others to persevere. Does this make sense?
This video is a perfect example of what an eisegetic mess looks like, aka pretzel preaching. Using the rules of biblical hermeneutics you will discover that the word "heavens" can refer to the sky and the earth’s atmosphere, making it the “first heaven” (Deut 11:11; Psalm 104:12; Isaiah 55:10). It can also refer to outer space, where the stars and planets are-the “second heaven” (Psalm 8:3; Isaiah 13:10). And it can refer to God’s dwelling place, which is beyond the other “heavens,” a place known as the “third heaven” (Psalm 33:13-14; Isaiah 66:1; Matt 6:9; Heb 7:26; Rev 11:19). It is clear for the Bible that Paul went to the place where God dwells but is unsure whether he was physically in the body or apart from the body when he experienced heaven (2 Cor 12:2-3). The Bible does not tell us everything we might like to know about Heaven, but we know that it will be a wonderful place where we will dwell with Jesus (John 14:3). Paul knew that being with Jesus is far better than anything he could experience on earth (Phil 1:21-23). Until the day the Born-Again Christian dies, they can say with confidence along with Paul, “For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Cor 5:7-8).
You are aware that born again (New birth) refers to baptism? It was first separated from baptism, from what I could find, by John Wesley in his Sermon 45 titled the New Birth. He stated ' the new birth is not baptism '.
@@billlee2194 Umm, I think you need to read the Bible. The words "You must be Born-Again" were first spoken by Jesus and then repeated by the first RCC Pope, Peter, the Apostle. Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is BORN AGAIN he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" (John 3:3-4). Nicodemus made no mention of being baptized in water by Jesus as it was John who was doing that and said about Jesus, "I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit' (John 1:33). The baptism of the Holy Spirit is salvation by becoming Born-Again. Jesus He also said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be BORN AGAIN.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is BORN of the Spirit." (John 3:6-8 - emphasis mine) "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead"… "For you have been BORN AGAIN, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." (1 Peter 1:3,23 - emphasis mine) "IF you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Rom 10:9 - emphasis mine) NOwhere in the Bible does it say a person must be baptized to receive salvation and be saved; quite to the contrary, it says, "If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Rom 10:9)
@@acsberean4092 Thank you for your response. I pray that our sharing will help us both learn. Such sharing helps me to learn as much as others, probbly more. Perhaps the greatest thing I have to learn is humility and love. I believe God has revealed this to me so say a prayer for me. Thanks. I'm no theologian so I can only share what has been shared with me. The phrase 'born again' may appear in different forms eg 'born from above', new birth', 'born anew'. I seems I read that the most correct translation is 'born from above'. If you re-read my post, you will notice that my point was not on who first used the phrase 'born again' as your post seemed to focus on. Instead, my point was that John Wesly appears to be the first I can find who 'separates' 'born again' form baptism. What you said ie. "The baptism of the Holy Spirit is salvation by becoming Born-Again", I now see as a sincere post-Reformation understanding that separates the Spirit from Baptism and strips baptism of it's power. These modern understandings would have been foreign to Calvin and Luther as well as the ancients church. I will cite snipets of quotes for brievity sake.... John 3:3 " Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:5 " Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. " John 3:22 "After this Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; there he remained with them and baptized." Romans 6:4 "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Martin Luther: “...unless someone is born anew from water and Spirit” [John 3:5] say just as much as if He said, “A person must be born anew through this preaching of the Gospel and the office of Baptism, in which the Holy Spirit works,” "Your sins are great but by baptism God bestows on you His righteousness and strips death from you and clothes you with His life". John Calvin: (Dr. David Anders, PhD in Calvinism) stated " I was puzzled by what seemed a glaring omission in his (John Calvin) writings and sermons. He never counseled his readers and listeners to be “Born Again.” (by inviting Jesus into their heart). Calvin taught that, like the preached Word, baptism is also a means of grace. The Holy Spirit, whom the sacraments (Eucharist & Baptism)....makes way for the sacraments, and causes them to bear fruit." Justin Martyr (151 AD) "“As many as are persuaded and believe that what we teach and say is true, and undertake to be able to live accordingly...they are brought by us where there is water and are regenerated... they then receive the washing with water. For Christ also said, ‘Unless you are born again, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (First Apology 61). Irenaeus of Lyon (190 AD)"...Naaman of old...was purified upon his being baptized...as an indication to us. For as we are lepers in sin, we are made clean, by means of the sacred water and the invocation of the Lord... being spiritually regenerated as newborn babes, even as the Lord has declared: ‘Except a man be born again through water and the Spirit, he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven’” (Fragment 34). BTW: Irenaeus was the last known Christian who knew someone (Polycarp) who knew an Apostle (John). Tertullian: (203 AD) “No one can attain salvation without baptism, especially in view of the declaration of the Lord, who says, ‘Unless a man shall be born of water, he shall not have life’” (Baptism 12:1). Clement of Alexandria: (221 AD) “But you will perhaps say, ‘What does the baptism of water contribute toward the worship of God?’ ...because when you are regenerated and born again of water and of God, the frailty of your former birth, which you have through men, is cut off, and so . . . you shall be able to attain salvation; but otherwise it is impossible. For thus has the true prophet [Jesus] testified to us with an oath: ‘Verily, I say to you, that unless a man is born again of water . . . he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven’” (The Recognitions of Clement 6:9). Augustine of Hippo: (419 AD) “Those who, though they have not received the washing of regeneration (baptism), die for the confession of Christ-it avails them just as much for the forgiveness of their sins as if they had been washed in the sacred font of baptism. For he that said, ‘If anyone is not reborn of water and the Spirit, he will not enter the kingdom of heaven,." (The City of God 13:7). I will leave you with one more thing to consider. Every time God does something new, we see present both water and the Spirit. Creation: Genesis 1:2 "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Noah: Genesis 8:8 " Then he (Noah) sent out a dove to see if the water had receded from the surface of the ground. (The dove is always representative of the Spirit). The Exodus crossing (Esodus 14) of the Read Sea through the waters with the cloud by day and fire by night (water and Spirit). This is also a OT type for baptism where we pass through the water with the Spirit and are cleansed of our past sins. Naaman who I mentioned earlier was a type of the cleansing power of baptism. The baptism of Jesus in the Rivier Jordon: There again we see water and the Spirit in the form of a dove. Closing thought: You quoted two passages with the understanding that faith and not baptism is all that is necessary for salvation. You quoted... "IF you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Rom 10:9) (which I agree is 100% true)...but I have come to see that' perhaps, what occured in the post-Reformation seems to have left us with an 'either/or' reading of Scripure instead of a 'both/and'. Here's what I mean... Scripture tells us we are saved by believing and declaring or confessing like your verse states. (that is ture) However, Scripture also states..Those who believe and are baptized will be saved (It's in Scripture so it is also true). It also states those who are obedient will be saved (that is also true and in Scripture). It also states those who endure till the end will be saved. (that is also true). James even sates we must have good works to be saved when he states, in essence, 'faith w/o works is dead and will not save you'. (so, that is also true). So, since these are all in Scripture,. they have to all be true. In my opinion, the either/or reading of Scripture has tended to focus on one aspect ie. 'believe' and you will be saved. (which is true but they must be joined to the other admonistions or instruction on how we are saved, especially when you consider the clarifying early church writings on baptism and it's association with 'born again'. Hope you find this helpful. It's always helpful for me to revisit these things I've learned along the way. God bless.
@@billlee2194 I understand the RCC slant on interpretation. Jesus clearly defined its meaning and so did the first Pope Peter. The Bible is very clear that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of any kind, including baptism. Any other interpretation is faulty at best and intentionally deceptive at worst because it contradicts many other Scriptures that clearly show people being saved (as evidenced by their receiving the Holy Spirit) before being baptized or without being baptized at all (See Acts 10; Rom 8:9; Eph 1:13; 1 John 3:24). It was because of the evidence of their salvation that Peter allowed them to be baptized, which is why he was very cautious in stating that he was not teaching baptismal regeneration or the ritual itself that justified a person and clarified what was meant when he said, "not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience." Yes, he connected baptism with salvation because it represents that it is trusting faith in Jesus alone that saves a person, and they become united with Jesus in His resurrection through faith, plus nothing (See 1 Peter 3:21; also Rom 3:25-26,4:5). The act of being immersed in water does nothing but wash away dirt and can't create a clean conscience because only the Holy Spirit can do that at the moment a person repents of their sins and receives Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Water baptism is the corresponding item that follows salvation and not the other way around. The Old Testament laws and sacrifices were counterparts of the reality that it is only through the faith of Jesus Christ that a person can be saved (See Gal 2:20; Rom 3:22). "For the GRACE of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age" (Titus 2:11-12 - emphasis mine) The Bible does not say a person is saved through grace plus anything, which clearly means it is only the grace of Jesus alone, and any work has nothing to do with it. Water baptism is the outward testimony of the Born-Again Christian's inward faith. A person is saved the moment they repent of their sin and place their trusting faith in Jesus alone. Baptism is the outward sign of what God has done "by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5).
@@acsberean4092 Well, I've given you all I've got 😉. Scripture + the Reformers + the earlier church fathers. So, we will just have to leave it where it is. There's one thing for sure. There is no perpicuity when it comes to Scripture. Just look at the many different interpretations we hold each of us claiming Scripture as our defence. I will end with one last comment. The Catholic Church does teach that we are saved by grace. Ephesians 2:8-10 is one of my favorites passages. To me, it tells how, through what, with what, in Who and for what we are saved......We are saved by grace through faith with God's doing in Christ Jesus for good works. God bless.
