If anyone says "I am certain that I will go to heaven" has he committed the sin of presumption? Here is a definition some have given:

"PRESUMPTION: An act or attitude opposed to the theological virtue of hope. Presumption can take the form of trust in self without recognizing that salvation comes from God, or of an over-confidence in divine mercy (2092)."

It is true that salvation comes from God, but what does this second part describe as "presumption sin" being an over-confidence in God's mercy? Here is an explanation some have given:

Q. 480. What is the grace of perseverance?

A. The grace of perseverance is a particular gift of God which enables us to continue in the state of grace till death.

Q. 481. Can we merit the grace of final perseverance or know when we possess it?

A. We cannot merit the grace of final perseverance, or know when we possess it, because it depends entirely upon God's mercy and not upon our actions. To imagine we possess it would lead us into the sin of presumption.

This seems to state that the sin is an over-confidence in a grace that "depends entirely upon God's mercy and not upon our actions" - hence it seems (according to this definition) that we would be assuming that God would extend his grace even when we cannot know for certain that he actually will do so.

Another explanation of how the "sin of presumption" works is given here:

328. Q. What is presumption?

A. Presumption is a rash expectation of salvation without making proper use of the necessary means to obtain it.

A person who goes on leading a bad life, and says when warned of his danger that he is in no hurry to reform, that he will repent some day before he dies, is always living in and committing the sin of presumption. It is a great sin, for it is living in open defiance of Almighty God. Such persons are very seldom given the opportunity to repent at the last moment, and are, in most cases, called to judgment when they least expect it. We are all presumptuous sometimes. Do we not often, when we have fallen into a certain sin, easily repeat the act, saying to ourselves, now that we will have to confess the sin committed, the mention of the number of times will not make such difference for it will not increase our shame and confusion? This is presumption; for we do not know whether God will ever give us the opportunity of making a confession. Again, one mortal sin is sufficient to keep our souls in Hell for all eternity; what then will be our punishment for many mortal sins? Then there is another thing you should remember: God has fixed a certain number of sins that He will suffer you to commit before He sends His punishment. You do not know which sin will complete the number and be the last. The very sin you are now about to commit may be that one, and the moment you have committed it, God will call you to judgment, whether it be night or day, whether you are at home or in the streets--though perhaps not immediately, but before you commit another sin. Such a thought alone should keep you from sinning. Moreover, after confession you strongly resist the first temptation to mortal sin, but after you have yielded to the first you scarcely make any more resistance, but easily yield again and again. You should therefore, to prevent this, go to confession just as soon as you possibly can after falling into mortal sin. It is bad enough to commit mortal sin, but it is terrible to be living in that state day and night--always an enemy of God--losing the merit of all the works you do and yet you must stay in that state of sin till you go to confession and receive absolution. Peter the Apostle committed the sin of presumption. (Matt. 26). Our Lord told him to watch and pray for he would be tempted and yield that night, but Peter said: "No Lord, I will never deny Thee." Instead of begging Our Lord's help and grace, he trusted to himself and fell miserably into sin. He went into dangerous company and that was another cause of his fall. But afterwards he saw his sin and folly and never ceased to repent of it.

This explanation of "presumption" seems somewhat different, for it does not seem to indicate that obtaining God's grace upon confession is questionable, but that the "presumption" lies in assuming a person will live long enough to have a final opportunity to attend confession and get one's newly committed sins forgiven.

However, it is said that another way to commit the "sin of presumption" is when "a person might look to have his sins forgiven without adequate penance."

That would seem to indicate that the "sin of presumption" is not merely an assumption that he will receive God's grace to live long enough to obtain the opportunity to attend confession, but also any assumption that he is going to receive God's grace of forgiveness at all until such time as "adequate penance" has been performed.

Under this regime a person can never say for certain that he is going to heaven since he may at any moment fall into a small sin, and such sin can not be assumed to be forgiven since that cannot be obtained until both confession is made and penance is paid, which God may or may not let you live long enough to obtain.

The Bible says, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." 1 John 5:13. This does not seem to agree with the "sin of presumption" as stated above.


Any thoughts?


- M