Pope Francis – God Will Save Atheists
Pope Francis did say that God will save the atheists as seen in the following quote:
“The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone! And this Blood makes us children of God of the first class! We are created children in the likeness of God and the Blood of Christ has redeemed us all! And we all have a duty to do good. And this commandment for everyone to do good, I think, is a beautiful path towards peace. If we, each doing our own part, if we 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.”
Pope at Mass: Culture of encounter is the foundation of peace, 2013
Pope Francis’ statement goes against the words of Jesus: “If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). If people choose not to believe in Jesus they can’t be saved. For Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Christ is the way from earth to heaven. By His Humanity He touches this earth, and by His Divinity He touches heaven. Because of His incarnation and death “a new and living way” has been consecrated for us (Hebrews 10:20). There is no other means of salvation (Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5).
Sadly, all that reject Christ will be left without a cloak to cover their sins (John 15:22). And God will not be able to accept those “who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8). And the apostle John explains that this group will be excluded from the kingdom of heaven: “the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral…shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
