Based on what Senator Ted Kennedy wrote to the pope before he died (see below), it doesn’t appear to me that Kennedy is in Heaven today.
His letter does not mention Jesus Christ once. Kennedy wrote about this earthly goals and accomplishments. They were noble but, even with his church linkage, they do not qualify him - or anyone else - worthy of Heaven.
As well, the letter from the Vatican to Kennedy, who died Aug. 25 from brain cancer, is sadly void of the biblical gospel.
The senator wrote, “I have always tried to be a faithful Catholic.”
Do we qualify for Heaven by being a faithful Roman Catholic, or Protestant? No. Neither word is in the Bible.
Do we qualify for Heaven by being a faithful Roman Catholic, or Protestant? No. Neither word is in the Bible.
Do we qualify for Heaven by church affiliation or doing good works? No, despite these being admirable attributes.
Good works are an out growth of our accepting what the Lord Jesus Christ completed for us when He paid our total sin debt and arose from the dead. Salvation is in that, alone.
To gain Heaven when we die, we must repent of our sin and put our faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible does not support the idea that our good deeds count for a hill of beans. Jesus secured our salvation 100 per cent.
The Bible states in 1 John 1:7, “…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."
The Vatican is miles off base in suggesting that our suffering is part of our salvation. This Vatican statement to Ted Kennedy is heresy: “He (the pope) invokes upon you the consolation and peace promised by the risen savior to all who share in his sufferings, and trust in his promise of eternal life.”
How do we choose Jesus as our Savior as the sole way to Heaven?
Pray something like this and mean it:
Dear God:
I am a sinner.
Others have sinned greater than I have. But, nevertheless, I stand before you now as a lost sinner, deserving of Hell.
I choose to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who became a man.
I choose to believe that He allowed Himself to be put to death, that He arose again on the third day and is alive today.
The Bible says our sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ, and I believe that.
Father I want to be cleansed of all my sins right now.
I know I am not right with God, and I want to be forgiven. I want to go to Heaven when I die.
Right now at (Time and Date)______________, I bow at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ, and I am dumping all of my sins there. And I mean ALL of them!
I ask that the blood of Jesus Christ wash away all my sins - past, present and future.
I am sorry for my sin, God, and I accept your forgiveness.
Right now, I declare that I am a Christian.
I ask, Father, that you will make me aware of when I want to sin, and give me the courage to say No.
I ask, too, that you will help me understand the Bible, and to make the rest of my days on earth count for eternity.
I pray all of this in the name of Jesus Christ - my new Lord and Savior - amen.
Anything else? Yes.
(1.) Tell someone that Jesus is now your Lord.
(2.) Start attending a church where the Bible is
clearly proclaimed.
(3.) Get baptized by immersion as a public confession
of your new life in Christ.
(4.) Read your Bible and pray regularly.
(5.) Continue - or start - doing good stuff as a witness that you care like Christ cares.
(CNN) -- Shortly before he died from brain cancer, Sen. Ted Kennedy wrote a letter to Pope Benedict XVI. President Obama delivered the letter to the pontiff during his visit to the Vatican in July.
Sen. Ted Kennedy wrote to Pope Benedict XVI, asking the pontiff to pray for him as he dealt with cancer.
Sen. Ted Kennedy wrote to Pope Benedict XVI, asking the pontiff to pray for him as he dealt with cancer.
The following are excerpts from the letter as read by Cardinal Theodore McCarrick at Kennedy's private burial service Saturday in Arlington National Cemetery:
"Most Holy Father, I asked President Obama to personally hand-deliver this letter to you. As a man of deep faith himself, he understands how important my Catholic faith is to me, and I am so deeply grateful to him. I hope this letter finds you in good health.
"I pray that you have all of God's blessings as you lead our Church and inspire our world during these challenging times. I am writing with deep humility to ask that you pray for me as my own health declines. I was diagnosed with brain cancer more than a year ago, and although I continue treatment the disease is taking its toll on me. I am 77 years old, and preparing for the next passage of life.
"I have been blessed to be part of a wonderful family. Both of my parents, particularly my mother, kept our Catholic faith at the center of our lives. That gift of faith has sustained and nurtured, and provided solace to me in the darkest hours.
"I know that I have been an imperfect human being, but with the help of my faith I have tried to right my path. I want you to know Your Holiness that in my nearly 50 years of elective office,
“I have done my best to champion the rights of the poor and open doors of economic opportunity. I have worked to welcome the immigrant, to fight discrimination, and expand access to health care and education. I have opposed the death penalty, and fought to end war. Those are the issues that have motivated me and been the focus of my work as a United States Senator.
"I also want you to know that even though I am ill, I am committed to do everything I can to achieve access to health care for everyone in my country. This has been the political cause of my life. I believe in a conscience protection for Catholics in the health field, and I'll continue to advocate for it as my colleagues in the Senate and I work to develop an overall national health policy that guarantees health care for everyone.
"I have always tried to be a faithful Catholic Your Holiness. And though I have fallen short through human failings, I have never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings of my faith. I continue to pray for God's blessings on you and on our Church, and would be most thankful for your prayers for me."
Two weeks later, Kennedy received a response from the Vatican. McCarrick read the response in part, as follows:
* * * * *
"The Holy Father has read the letter which you entrusted to President Obama, who kindly presented it to him during their recent meeting. He was saddened to know of your illness, and asked me to assure you of his concern and his spiritual closeness. He is particularly grateful for your promise of prayers for him, for the needs of our universal church. "His Holiness prays that in the days ahead, you may be sustained in faith and hope, and granted the precious grace of joyful surrender to the will of God, our merciful father. He invokes upon you the consolation and peace promised by the risen savior to all who share in his sufferings, and trust in his promise of eternal life.
"Commending you and the members of your family to the loving intervention of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Father cordially imparts his apostolic blessing as a pledge of wisdom, comfort, and strength in the Lord."
