Many people assume that Roman Catholicism is the same as Christianity. Thus, many unbelievers try and accuse Christians for the bad actions of the Roman Catholic Church. To counter this assumption, Matt Slick from CARM.org explains in this video why it is simply not true to say that the two are the same. He does this by giving various examples of key doctrines of which the Bible affirms and yet the Roman Catholic Church denies.
Matt Slick is not very slick.
ReplyDeleteThis guy is out of his mind. Roman Catholics are Christians.
This guy does not understand our theology.
Don't listen to him.
Our sins are forgiven through Christ.
Our actions are a reflection of our Faith in Christ and in imitation of him.
Don't listen to Mr. Slick, please.
G'day Carl,
ReplyDeleteHow one receives salvation is majorly different in Roman Catholicism as opposed to Christianity.
For example the Catholic Catechism #2027 states:
"No one can merit the initial grace which is at the origin of conversion. Moved by the Holy Spirit, we can merit for ourselves and for others all the graces needed to attain eternal life, as well as necessary temporal goods."
When the Bible states that it is by grace through faith are we saved and none of our works contributes to it (Eph 2:8-9).
Ephesians 2:8-9 is the just first half, don't forget the context in vs 10: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
ReplyDeleteJust "believing" in Jesus is not enough. The devils believe in Christ. In fact, they do more than believe, they know Christ and the apostles. James 2:19 says "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble."
Acts 19:15: "And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?" Since devils not only believe in Christ, but in fact know Him, we must ask if the devils are saved, because if they are not, then belief will not save us.
Matthew 7:21: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
Revelation 20:12-13: "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works."
ReplyDelete2 Timothy 4:14: "Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works."
1 Corinthians 3:8: "Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour."
Ecclesiastes 12:14: "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."
There are good works and evil works. Traditional believing Christians claim that works come as a result of being saved. I have always wondered how one can claim to be saved before he is even judged. According to the Bible, we will be judged accordingly to the works that we perform. Works is how we show our love, sincerity, worthiness, and faithfulness to the Lord. By works we are justified, not saved.
James 2:24: "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Faith and works go hand in hand. It is traditional Christianity that teaches " you are saved only through faith without works." The Bible very clearly opposes this false doctrine.
James 2:20: "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"
James 2:26: "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
We are saved *through* faith, not by faith.
Ephesians 2:8: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.
Faith alone is not enough. There were those in the days of Christ who made the same argument against works that today's traditional Christians do. Jesus had even asked His persecutors which work they were persecuting Him for.
Titus 1:16: "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."
John 10:32: "Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?"
I challenge anyone to produce so much as one Biblical scripture that states we are saved by faith ALONE, or ONLY by faith. This is not a Biblical doctrine, but a doctrine of man as set forth by the creeds of Platonic Philosophy.
James 2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
In the answer to that question, there are two verses which uses the words "faith" and "only" as meaning faith alone, and they very clearly state that faith alone will not save us! They very clearly contradict the traditional Christian belief that all we need to be saved is faith alone.
James 2:17: "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."
James 2:24: "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."
I agree with the Bible that there is more than faith necessary for salvation, and part of that is good works. We are justified by our works. We will be judged by our works. But in no way, shape, or form, do I claim that I can "earn" my way to heaven. The Bible is clear on this.
bristol.
ReplyDeletephil 3:3
phil 1:11
follow those, you can not earn or work your way to God!
Amen, amen, amen!!! At last a few brothers who know their Bibles enough and have the backbone to nail their colours to the mast!! Would love to meet up in Brisbane sometime.
ReplyDelete