BEFORE AND AFTER

The words are the same as those uttered in a biblically based Christian church, but they have a totally different meaning when those same words are taught in the Roman Catholic Church.  I can say that because I was a Roman Catholic for 38 years of my life, and I can tell you about the error I was taught and believed before I was saved.  After I was saved, I proclaimed the truth of God’s Word, and I have been doing so for more than 26 years.

1.  Born Again

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that a person is born again when they are water baptized.  This is the Roman Catholic teaching whether it is an infant that is baptized, or an adult who is baptized.  (Just for the record, it’s not a Biblical type of baptizing.  It’s a sprinkling of water on the forehead.)

I was baptized as an infant and for many years I really

thought I was born again, when in reality I was hell bound!

I was truly born again at the age of  38

when I repented and believed the true Gospel.

Ephesians 2:8-9 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.

2.  Receive the Holy Ghost

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that a person receives the Holy Ghost when they receive what the Roman Catholic Church calls the “sacrament of Confirmation.”

I was “confirmed” when I was around 12 years old.  For many

years I really thought I had received the Holy Ghost when I 

“made my Confirmation.”  I was a lost soul who had believed a lie.

I truly received the gift of the Holy Ghost at the age of 38

when I repented of my sins and believed the true Gospel.

Galatians 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Galatians 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

3.  Mediator

A true Christian denomination would teach that Jesus Christ was the only mediator, but the Roman Catholic is taught to pray to “Mary”, the earthly mother of Jesus Christ, and to ask for “Mary’s” intercession in their petitions to God.

For many years I prayed to “Mary”.

 I expected “Mary” to answer my prayers.

When I was truly saved, and truly born again, I 

knew that Jesus Christ was the one and only mediator.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

I say all this because a very bad soul damning situation is getting worse.  Popular “preachers” are teaching that Roman Catholicism is a Christian denomination and that we are to embrace Catholics as brethren rather than evangelize them.  They tell us there are differences, but they are minor differences.  That is a lie. 

I have only touched on three of Rome’s false teachings here.  The bottom line is that Rome teaches “another gospel” and “another Jesus”.

How can any true Christian think that is a minor difference! 

Is preaching “another gospel” a minor difference?

The days are dark brothers and sisters.

The word “doctrine” means “teaching.”  The doctrine or teaching of the Bible tells us of our need of salvation, and it doesn’t leave us wondering how we can be saved.  The doctrines of Jesus Christ are simply the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the teachings are certainly for every living person on the planet. 

This is so basic regarding true Christianity, so “Christianity 101”, that we should be completely and totally amazed when preachers say that doctrine is unimportant or say in a negative way that doctrine divides!

Of course doctrine divides!

It divides the truth of God from the lies of Satan.

It divides the true prophet from the false prophet.

And it divides the believer from the unbeliever.

Love that denounces truth is not true love.  It is a counterfeit love, devised by Satan, to lead many a soul into hell.

2 Timothy 4:3-5 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

FOR THE HOPE OF ISRAEL I AM BOUND WITH THIS CHAIN …

Paul’s Concern for the Jews

Romans 9:1-5  I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,  That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.  For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:  Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;  Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.Paul

Paul Preaches at Rome

Acts 28:17-31  And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.  Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.  But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.  For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.  And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.  But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.  And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.  And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

SATAN’S DEVICES

Satan uses many methods in his attempt to divert our attention from the seriousness of eternal matters.

Barnes’ Notes:

Satan will practice every device and art possible to prevent the gospel from shining upon the hearts of people. That light is painful and hateful to his eyes, and he will do all that can be done to prevent its being diffused. Every art which long-tried ingenuity and skill can devise, will be resorted to; every power which he can put forth will be exerted.

If he can blind the minds of people, he will do it.

If people can be hoodwinked, and gulled, it will be done.

If error can be made to spread, and be embraced – error smooth, plausible, cunning – it will be diffused. Ministers will be raised up to preach it; and the press will be employed to accomplish it.

If sinners can be deceived, and made to remain at ease in their sins, by novels and seductive poetry; by books false in sentiments, and perverse in morals, the press will be made to groan under the works of fiction.

If theaters are necessary to cheat and beguile people, they will be reared; and the song, and the dance, the ball, and the splendid party will alike contribute to divert the attention from the cross of Christ, the worth of the soul, and the importance of a preparation to die.

No art has been spared, or will be spared to deceive people; and the world is full of the devices of Satan to hoodwink and blind the perishing, and lead them down to hell.

WRATH OR MERCY?

What will it be? Wrath or mercy?
I choose mercy.
What will you choose?

“Folks don’t really believe that the preached gospel is the power of God unto salvation, or that the penalty for breaking God’s law – even but a single time (James 2:10) – is to face the wrath of God for all eternity without a mediator or his cross. Kim Riddlebarger”

Learn how you can be saved here … Salvation