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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Why did Christ die?	Josephine	Monday, June 28, 2010
Question: When I was a child and going to catholic school we were told that Christ died to open the gates of heaven which were closed because of Adam and Eve's sin. We had lost paradise (heaven) due to them and their disobedience. We were told that when Christ died that he went to the place where the good people who had died from Adam and Eve down had gone and brought them to heaven. As we say in the Apostle Creed "decended into hell and on the 3rd day He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven" taking those souls with Him. Now everyone says that He died for our sins and nothing about Heaven being closed to us because of Adam and Eve. Baptism was to take away original sin. Through Christ's death which opened the gates of heaven and baptism which cleansed us from original sin we choose our destination by our conduct, love for God and our fellow man. Yes we fall and we ask forgiveness but if we are faithful to God and try to be the best we can be, ask for His help, guidance and grace to overcome our shortcomings and failings we will be with our Lord in the end. Even if it means a time in purgatory to be perfectly pure. Is this no longer true? I await your answer. Thank you.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Josephine: The eternal truths of the faith never change no matter what people talk or don't talk about. Your understanding of the reasons Christ died for us is correct. It is what the Church has always taught and will always teach. Christ died for us because of love (Rom 3:16) to redeem mankind by His paying the penalty for our sin, and thus opening the gate of heaven giving us the opportunity to enter those gates if we remain in friendship with him. Do not allow modern speakers to make you question your faith. St. Paul mentions this in the Bible: (2 Cor 11:3-4) But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if some one comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough. (Gal 1:8-9) But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, If any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Why did Christ die?

Josephine

Monday, June 28, 2010

Question:

When I was a child and going to catholic school we were told that Christ died to open the gates of heaven which were closed because of Adam and Eve's sin. We had lost paradise (heaven) due to them and their disobedience. We were told that when Christ died that he went to the place where the good people who had died from Adam and Eve down had gone and brought them to heaven. As we say in the Apostle Creed "decended into hell and on the 3rd day He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven" taking those souls with Him.

Now everyone says that He died for our sins and nothing about Heaven being closed to us because of Adam and Eve. Baptism was to take away original sin. Through Christ's death which opened the gates of heaven and baptism which cleansed us from original sin we choose our destination by our conduct, love for God and our fellow man. Yes we fall and we ask forgiveness but if we are faithful to God and try to be the best we can be, ask for His help, guidance and grace to overcome our shortcomings and failings we will be with our Lord in the end. Even if it means a time in purgatory to be perfectly pure.

Is this no longer true? I await your answer. Thank you.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Josephine:

The eternal truths of the faith never change no matter what people talk or don't talk about. Your understanding of the reasons Christ died for us is correct. It is what the Church has always taught and will always teach.

Christ died for us because of love (Rom 3:16) to redeem mankind by His paying the penalty for our sin, and thus opening the gate of heaven giving us the opportunity to enter those gates if we remain in friendship with him.

Do not allow modern speakers to make you question your faith. St. Paul mentions this in the Bible:

(2 Cor 11:3-4) But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if some one comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough.

(Gal 1:8-9) But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, If any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum