© 2007 The Flaming Torch, All rights reserved.
The most basic of all issues relative to salvation is, how one is saved! There are only two possibilities: by grace or by works. All religions teach that a person is saved by doing something Ä only the Bible teaches that salvation is by grace, by receiving God's gift of eternal life through believing that Jesus Christ died on the cross for one's sins and rose again the third day.
God's Word says: "For 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." (Eph. 2:8-9) Note: Grace Ä faith Ä gift Ä not of works!
In witnessing to Roman Catholics, I am often told that they also believe in salvation by grace. The truth is, that is deceitful. Any priest will tell you that one cannot be saved without good works; he cannot be saved by faith in Christ alone. The Council of Trent (still operative) states: "Those who work well unto the end and trust in God, eternal life is offered, both as grace mercifully promised to the sons of God through Jesus Christ, and as a reward promised by God Himself." (emphasis mine).
Trent also says, "If anyone says that by the sacraments of the New Law grace is not conferred ex opere operato, but that faith alone in the divine promise is sufficient to obtain grace, let him be anathema." The Roman Church officially declares that a man is accursed if he teaches that salvation from sin is by grace alone through faith!
That cannot be disputed. Intelligent people know that! When they speak of salvation by grace, they always mean through the merits of performing the sacraments. Do not be deceived by men like Billy Graham, Charles Coulson, Bill Bright, J.I. Packer, Jack Van Impe, Pat Robertson, James Dobson, et al, who would give you the impression that Rome now believes what Fundamental believers have always stood for Ä salvation by grace alone through faith!
Billy Graham said in McCall's, (Jan. 1978): "I've found that my beliefs are essentially the same as those of orthodox Roman Catholics." If that is true, I don't see how he could be saved for that harlot Church (Revelation 17) and he are both wrong on the very foundation itself. God says, Not by works of righteousness which we have done . . ." (Titus 3:5)
The true believer in Christ KNOWS that he is already saved! It is not in what he has done but in what Christ has done! Jesus said, "It is finished!" He was speaking of salvation. If it was finished 2,000 years ago what can a man add to it now? If salvation was accomplished by the infinitely perfect Son of God, what can a sinful man add to that?
1 John 5:13 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 . . ." The truth is no Roman Catholic can know if he is saved. He has no real hope!
New York's Cardinal O'Connor said: "Church teaching is that I don't know, at any given moment, what my eternal future will be. I can only hope, pray and do my very best Ä but I still don't know. Pope John Paul II doesn't know absolutely that he will go to heaven, nor does Mother Teresa of Calcutta."
If you're a Catholic, we love you and urge you to put your trust in Jesus who said: "I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish." It is a gift! It is eternal! You will never perish if you simply believe that Christ died for your sins!
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© 2007 The Flaming Torch, All rights reserved.
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