This will be posted to accompany Program #87 and later ones in which Pastor Jim makes applications from Luke to the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church on this subject.
We are introducing a new outreach to Catholic visitors to our TFW Facebook page. After a quick discussion of Pastor Jim’s teaching (listen to the program for a fuller understanding), we will be announcing our special offer to Catholic visitors.
Here is an excellent article from former priest, Richard Bennett:
Official Catholic Teaching (on Works):
Summary
The full picture of the Roman Catholic salvation process begins with new birth, which is said to occur in infant baptism and which purportedly washes away original sin. The process of salvation is a long journey through all the sacraments, with the Sacrifice of the Mass being central to most events. Good works, merit, sacraments and saints, are all involved, but the focal point is always on inner moral goodness which one is always attempting to increase in order to be good enough to die in “sanctifying grace” and then to be saved or at least to land for a time in purgatory. In the Roman teaching, no assurance of salvation is ever given, even to the most devout.
Starting Point
The first major difference between biblical truth and Roman Catholic teaching is moral condition of the individual needing reconciliation of man with God. Ephesians 2:1 states clearly the moral condition of a person before conversion, “And you has He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Colossians 2:13 also states the moral condition clearly, “And you, being dead in your sins….”Because of Adam’s sin mankind is born spiritually dead. Romans 3:10-11 clearly depicts mans state, “As it is written, ‘There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God.”
Quite different to this, is the proclamation of Rome,
“. . . Nevertheless man has been wounded by sin. He finds by experience that his body is in revolt. His very dignity therefore requires that he should glorify God in his body, and not allow it to serve the evil inclinations of his heart… When he is drawn to think about his real self he turns to those deep recesses of his being where God who probes the heart awaits him, and where he himself decides his own destiny in the sight of God ”.[9]
In contrast to the Biblical position of being spiritually dead, Rome stresses, human dignity and the ability to effectively choose good. Thus the Vatican council 11 states,
“Man gains such dignity when, ridding himself of all slavery to the passions, he presses forward towards his goal by freely choosing what is good, and, by his diligence and skill, effectively secures for himself the means suited to this end. Since human freedom has been weakened by sin it is only by the help of God’s grace that man can give his actions their full and proper relationship to God.”[10]
If one is ever to understand the good news of the gospel, one must begin biblically with the bad news that of himself man cannot secure his own destiny before the All Holy God because he is spiritually dead in trespasses and sins.
https://bereanbeacon.org/salvation-gods-grace-in-christ-alone-saves/
If you are a Catholic visitor to our Facebook page, we would like to offer you some free information about the true way of salvation. This is a pilot program, and you must reply by email and provide the following information:
Please indicate what type of information you’d like to receive. We are primarily using former-priest Richard Bennett’s resources from his website. We will send a sample of one of these to you free of charge.
Would you like to read a tract or a book?
Would you like to read testimonies of former priests or former lay Catholics?
Please send the request (and answer the above questions) to info@thefinalwordradio.com. Provide your street address (no PO Boxes), and allow 4 weeks for delivery. This is a limited time and limited resource offer.