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We use sacraments in the Catholic church to be sure we are going to Heaven.
Our assurance of salvation is based on the promise of God, not on observing certain rituals. Jesus said,
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24)
Notice the present tense in that verse. Whoever believes has eternal life already and has already crossed over from death to life! Eternal life starts now, not when we die. That’s God’s promise to us!
If we trust in Jesus as our Savior, we can know for certain that we have eternal life. John wrote to one church,
“I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.”
But trusting in Jesus as our Savior means not trusting in anything else to save us, including our own efforts. We must transfer our trust from ourselves to Jesus alone, plus nothing! Not faith plus my good works. Not faith plus going to church. Not faith plus sinning less. Faith alone. If it were faith plus anything then I could never know if I’ve done “enough.” It would really rely on me and not Jesus.
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