All of the answers to this question that I have read on this post seem to be thought out and from the heart. Please do not interpret my post to be anti-anybody, pretentious, or as an attempt to start conflict with anyone. I want to speak ,from my heart, the truth as it is recorded in history and by The Word of God.
When I look into Roman Catholic history, I do not see apostolic doctrines or principles. Roman Catholicism, including and especially the long line of Popes,has a documented history of torture, murder and rejection of Biblical Truths. Why don’t you look for yourselves in the history of the Last 2000 years and see just how far away the Catholic Church got away from Biblical Teaching. If you read Galatians, the apostle Paul, not even a century after Christ’s death and resurrection, was already trying to correct the doctrines of the Galatians who had gone back to foolish works based religion. The same thing with the Corinthians. So, just because a book was written by someone who lived in the times of the early church, does not make that book truth or equal with scripture. Satan was as hard at work then as he is now.
The only written word that we can go to for absolute truth is the Bible. Any written document that disputes or differs from the message that Paul and the other Apostles wrote through inspiration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is not truth. God is incapable of being dishonest. That being said, when Paul wrote in 2 Timothy Chapter 3 verses 16 and 17 that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” he was saying that the Bible is the Actual Word of God. So when the Bible says in Ephesians Chapter 2 Verses 8 and 9 that “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the GIFT of God, NOT of WORKS, lest any man should boast.” it means just that!!! I didn’t see anything in that verse about sacraments or doing good works to be saved. What I see, and what anyone who can read will see is that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. There is no amount of good works that we can do that will make us worthy to be in the presence of God. God describes our works in Isaiah as “filthy rags”.
Now, I am not saying that we should not do good works. Not by any means. James says in his letter that “faith without works is dead”, meaning that if you truly are a Christian, and have truly put your faith in Him, and only Him for salvation, that your life will show it by the good works you perform. When we receive Christ, by accepting his free gift of salvation, we immediately receive the Holy Spirit and are SAVED!!! See Acts Chapters 9 10. What James is trying to say is that if we truly have put our faith in Jesus (thus received the Holy Spirit) our lives will show it. Another way to put it is; “you say that you are a Christian? Where is the proof in your life then?” If your life doesn’t show it, then you never truly had faith and you are spiritually dead.
We can do NOTHING in this life to deserve salvation. If there were something that we could do, some amount of works that we could work, to please God enough to allow us into his presence, Why did He have to send His Son to die on the cross?? He sent Jesus to die because there are NO amount of good works that we can do to out weigh the sin that we have committed. We are not deserving of anything outside of an eternity separated from God. That is Why… Christ had to come!!! Only HIS Blood can wash away our sins. John 3:16 " For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son. That WHOSOEVER believeth on Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." Whosoever!!! Not just Catholics!! Anyone!!! The word Gospel is actually translated “Good News”, and boy is that Good News or what? Here are a few more verses stating the same theme:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord” Romans 6:23
“For WHOSOVER shall call upon the name of the Lord Shall BE SAVED” Romans 10:13
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be SAVED. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans chapter 10, verses 9 and 10.
Its not about being Catholic or Protestant or Orthodox etc… It is about believing what the Word of God says. I encourage you to read the books of Romans, Ephesians, and Galatians, among other books in the Bible. I also encourage anyone who is reading this to stop what you are doing write now and ask Jesus to come into your heart and life and to Save you from your sins. Put your Faith in Him and only him for salvation. Nothing else, and the Bible says that immediately you will receive “the comforter” meaning the Holy Spirit and will be saved.
READ The Bible!!! It spells it out plainly!!! You don’t need a priest or the pope… you need Jesus Christ!!!
For the many of you who disagree with what I (from God’s word mind you) have said, just know that I wrote this out of love for people and want everyone to know the truth. I am tired of seeing so many put there trust is other things besides Christ Alone. I love you all and speak only from my heart and God’s Word.
I would continue if I did not have somewhere to be.
May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Thank you.
