What did Jesus Christ say about Himself?

Is Jesus Christ a Legend, Lunatic, Liar, or Lord and GOD?
 
In his famous book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis makes this statement, "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.”

He would either be a lunatic--on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg--or he would be the devil of Hell.

You must make your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God.

But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. Jesus could only have been one of four things: a legend, a liar, a lunatic--or Lord and God.

There is so much historical and archaeological evidence to support his existence that every reputable historian agrees he was not just a legend. If Jesus were a liar, why would he die for his claim, when he could easily have avoided such a cruel death with a few choice words?

And, if he were a lunatic, how did he engage in intelligent debates with his opponents or handle the stress of his betrayal and crucifixion while continuing to show a deep love for his antagonists?
 
Christ said he was Lord and God. The evidence supports that claim. Here are some of the key claims Jesus made about himself.

The Claims of Jesus

1.Christ claimed to live a sinless life

Jesus could look at a crowd of people angry at His claims to share God's nature and ask, "Which of you can point to anything wrong in my life?" Even more amazing is that none of them could give a reply! No human being has ever lived a sinless life, except for Jesus Christ.

John 8:28-29 say, "So Jesus said, 'When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know who I am and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

John 8:46-47 say, "Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."

2. Jesus Christ claimed to be the ONLY way to God

Not one of several ways, but the one and only way. Not to teach the way, but to be the way to God. Nobody has ever made claims like that before and backed them, but Jesus did through his love, balanced life, and miracles.

John 14:6 says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me."

Matthew 11:27 says, "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him."

Note: No other world religious leader, such as Buddha, Confucius, or Mohammed ever made this claim.

3. Christ claimed to have shared the glory of God in Heaven

Jesus claimed to have pre-existed the people he spoke with. The apostle John--who shared bread with Jesus--wrote in (John 1:1-5) that Jesus was with God in the very beginning, and that "all things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being."

John 17:5 says, "And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."

This is a claim distorted by groups like the Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses.

4. Jesus Christ claimed to be able to forgive sins
One of the reasons that the Jewish leaders were so angry with Jesus was his continual practice of forgiving people's sins. The religious leaders understood clearly that since sins were rebellion against God Himself, only God could forgive sins.

Luke 5:20-21 say, "When Jesus saw their faith, he said, 'Friend, your sins are forgiven.' The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, 'Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?'"

Luke 7:48-49 say, "Then Jesus said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.' The other guests began to say among themselves, 'Who is this who even forgives sins?'"

5. Christ claimed to be a Heavenly king

Luke 22:69 says, "But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God."

Luke 23:1-3 say, "Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, 'We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king.' So Pilate asked Jesus, 'Are you the king of the Jews?' 'Yes, it is as you say,' Jesus replied."

John 18:36-37 say, "Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place. You are a king, then!' said Pilate. Jesus answered, 'You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.'"

6. Christ claimed to be able to give everlasting life
Jesus didn't just tell people how they could find everlasting life, or deepen their own life experience. He actually claimed to give life himself.

John 6:40 says, "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

John 6:47 says, "I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life."

John 10:28-30 say, "I give [my followers] eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

John 11:25 says, "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die...'"

7. Jesus claimed that He would die and come back to life

John 10:17 says, "Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

John 12:32-33 say, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.' He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die."

John 16:16 says, "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."

Luke 18:31-33 say, "Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, 'We are going up into Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.'"

8. Christ claimed that He would return again to judge the world

Matthew 24:27-30 say, "So as the lightening comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man... At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory."

Matthew 25:31-32 says, "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep and the goats."

Mark 14:61-62 say, "Again the high priest asked him, 'Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?' 'I am,' said Jesus. 'And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.'"

HOW ARE MUHAMMAD AND JESUS CHRIST DIFFERENT?

1.Muhammad said his God, Allah, does not love those who reject Islam. (Qur'an 30:45, 3:32, 22:38)                      

Jesus said God, Jehovah, loves everyone.  (John 3:16)
 
2. Muhammad said, "I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah" (Muslim 1:33)

Jesus said, "He who lives by the sword will die by the sword." (Matthew 26:52)

3. Muhammad said women should be stoned for adultery.

Jesus said, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” (John 8:7)

4. Muhammad said it was permitted to steal from unbelievers. (Bukhari 44:668, Ibn ishaq 764)

Jesus said, “Thou shalt not steal.” (Matthew 19:18)

5. Muhammad said lying was permitted. (Sahih Muslim 6303, Bukhari 49:857)

Jesus said, “Thou shalt not bear false witness.” (Matthew 19:18)

6. Muhammad owned and traded slaves. (Sahib Muslim 3901)

Jesus neither owned nor traded slaves.

7. Muhammad beheaded 800 Jewish men and boys. (Abu Dawud 4390)

Jesus beheaded no one.

8. Muhammad murdered those who insulted him. (Bukhari 56:369, 4:241)

Jesus preached forgiveness. (Matthew 18: 21-22, 5:38)

9. Muhammad taught, "If then anyone transgresses the prohibition against you, Transgress ye likewise against him." (Qur'an 2:194)

Jesus taught, "If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:39)

10. Muhammad said Jihad (war) is the way Allah elevates one's position in Paradise by a hundred fold. (Muslim 4645)

Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called Sons of God" (Matthew 5:9)

11. Muhammad had 13 wives and kept sex slaves. (Bukhari 5:268, Qur'an 33:50)

Jesus was celibate.

12. Muhammad slept with a 9-year-old child.  (Sahih Muslim 3309, Bukhari 58:236)

Jesus did not have sex with anyone, including children.

13. Muhammad ordered the murder of women. (Ibn Ishaq 819, 995)

Jesus never harmed a woman.

14. Muhammad said, "O you who believe!  Fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness." (Qur'an 9:123)


Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5)   

15. Muhammad ordered 65 military campaigns and raids in his last 10 years. (IbnIshaq)                                         

Jesus ordered no military campaigns, nor offered any approval of war or violence. 

16. Muhammad killed captives taken in battle. (Ibn Ishaq 451)

Jesus never took captives, and never killed anyone.

17. Muhammad encouraged his men to rape enslaved women. (Abu Dawood 2150, Qur'an 4:24)

Jesus never encouraged rape, and never enslaved women.
 
18. Muhammad demanded captured slaves and a fifth of all other loot taken in war.(Qur'an 8:41) 

Jesus said, "The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve."  (Matthew 20:28)                                                                                                                    
19. Muhammad was never tortured, but tortured others. (Muslim 4131, Ibn Ishaq 436, 595, 734, 764)
 
Jesus suffered torture, but never tortured anyone.

20. Muhammad said, "And fight them until there is no more persecution and religion is only for Allah."  (Qur'an 8:39)

Jesus said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44)

21. Muhammad blessed the brutal murder of a half-blind man. (al-Tabari 1440)
 
Jesus healed a blind man. (Mark 8:28)

22. Muhammad ordered a slave to build the very pulpit from which he preached Islam.  (Bukhari 47:743)

Jesus washed his disciples’ feet. (John 13:5)

23. Muhammad said the greatest commandment is, "Belief in Allah and Jihad in His cause."  (Muslim 1:149)

Jesus said the greatest commandment is, "Love God and love thy neighbor as thyself."  (Matthew 22:34-40)

24. Muhammad demanded the protection of armed bodyguards, even in a house of worship. (Qur'an 4:102)                                                                                         
Jesus chastised anyone attempting to defend him with force.  (John 18:10-12)

25. Muhammad died fat and wealthy from what was taken from others in war and
demanded from others in tribute.

Jesus demanded nothing for Himself. He died without possessions.

26. Muhammad advocated crucifying others. (Qur'an 5:33, Muslim 16:4131)

Jesus was crucified Himself. He arose from the dead.

27. According to his followers, Muhammad had others give their lives for him. (Sahih Muslim 4413)

  

According to his followers, Jesus gave his life for others. (John 18:11 and elsewhere)

TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF

By Harold Smith

QUESTION: If I turn over a new leaf, will I not be saved?
ANSWER: That act only covers up the “old leaf” and God require that more.

God does not cover sins and judge us on the basis of how we live since “turning over a new leaf.” Sin must be completely removed from His holy eyes. 

God has provided a way to do this. 

In the Old Testament, He had believers make animal blood sacrifices for their sins. This atoned or covered their sins until Christ came and completed the job. Hebrews 10:4 says, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” 

These sacrifices were made every year for the same sins, but they did not take away the sins. It was only when Christ came and died that sin was put away. Hebrews 9:26 says, “....but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” The words “put away” means to disannul or abolish.

God does not judge us for the way we are when we die, but He looks at our life from the cradle to the grave. He knows all our sins, past present and future.  He took them all and laid them on His Son and poured His righteous judgment on Christ. 

In this way, He provides forgiveness - or dismissal - of all sins to those who trust in Christ as their sin-bearer. We cannot trust Him and our own efforts at the same time. 

In order to trust, we must let go of everything else and look to the Savior alone for salvation.

Have you ever come to the Lord Jesus Christ as a sinner, guilty, lost and hopeless?  Have you ever trusted Him 100 per cent to save you?  Do it! It works!
                 

Will There Be Sorrow in Heaven?

By Paul Tatham 
tatham47@hotmail.com
 
Heaven will be place of eternal bliss. No crying, no injuries, no disease, no suffering, no mosquitoes, no greed, no envy, no taxes, no crime, no problems. Utter joy will be the order of the day. It will be, quite simply, heavenly.

But some Bible passages seem to indicate that Paradise Found might not fully unfold the moment we arrive in Heaven, whether that moment is at the Rapture or if we die sometime prior.

Heaven’s complete glory may not be revealed in its entirety until sometime after we are buzzed in to the Pearly Gates. Up to that point, there may be some sorrow intermingled with our joy. Perhaps guitarist Eric Clapton was right; perhaps there will be tears in Heaven.

There are three significant prophetic events that have yet to transpire:

1.The Rapture of the church--when both living and dead Christians will suddenly be beamed up to Heaven.

2.The Tribulation--seven years of Hell on Earth, for those left behind at the Rapture. At the conclusion of the Tribulation, Christ will return to earth, accompanied by His raptured saints, and establish His Millennial Kingdom. This is known as the Second Coming and is sometimes confused with the Rapture.

3.The Millennium--1,000 years of Heaven on Earth in which Edenic conditions will return.

Until the end of the Millennium, when what is commonly referred to as the Eternal State is ushered in, there may be a degree of sorrow experienced by those who inhabit Heaven. There might be occasional tears shed up until this point, despite the fact that we will be in Heaven.

Then, at the end of the Millennium and the onset of the Eternal State, God will “wipe away all tears” (Rev. 21:4). No more sorrow, no more tears. Period. It will be at this point that Heaven will be everything—and much more—that we had ever imagined it to be. It is not until this point, the end of the Millennium, that sorrow in Heaven will cease entirely. Rev. 21 is the last time we read of God wiping away all tears.

So what about those tears?

So what would be the reason for any eye-dabbing prior to the end of the Millennium? May I suggest a few?

1.Although the Millennium will certainly be a tranquil situation in which the “wolf shall dwell with the lamb” and “neither shall [nations] learn war any more” (Isaiah 11:6; 2:4), sin will still occasionally rear its head. Toward the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be paroled from his imprisonment in the Bottomless Pit and allowed by God to roam the Earth and win followers (Rev. 20). He will definitely cause sorrow.

2.During the Tribulation, people will continue to come to Christ, acknowledging Him as their Savior. (These are folk who likely never had the opportunity to hear the gospel prior to the Rapture.) For these Tribulation saints it will be a time of sorrow, with many being persecuted and martyred for their faith. Revelation 6 says that their souls, now in Heaven, sorrowfully cry out for revenge.

3.Prior to the beginning of the Eternal State is scheduled a momentous and most sobering event called the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20). Unbelievers, only, will be on trial. The GWTJ is designed as their day in court, and perhaps God may call upon some Christians to be witnesses for the prosecution. God will address each lost soul individually and ask why He should allow that person to enter His Heaven.

No doubt, most will produce their accumulated good works, hoping against hope that they will appease almighty God. But none will offer the correct answer: “I should be allowed into Your Heaven because I accepted your Son’s payment for my sins by His death on the cross.”

With each name unable to be located in the Lamb’s Book of Life, they will be banished to Hell with the words “depart from Me” ringing in their ears for all eternity. For any believers who may happen to be involved in the proceedings it will undoubtedly be a most sorrowful, gut-wrenching experience.

Another heavenly ceremony probably scheduled for the conclusion of the Millennium will be the Judgment Seat of Christ (II Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10; I Corinthians 3:12-15). Meant only for believers, it is described as the great heavenly awards ceremony.

The JSOC deals with our service, not our salvation, and we will be rewarded commensurate with the treasures we have sent on ahead. Some will need to rent a large U-Haul truck to haul away their awards--crowns, plaques, trophies, and the like. They have taken seriously the old adage that “only one life, ‘twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”

For others, a small envelope will suffice to hold their “participant” certificate. Some will rejoice; others will shed tears of regret. The passages cited above use sobering language and certainly imply that not everyone will be gleeful.

Someone has rightly stated that although Christians may not be afraid to die many may be ashamed to die. John warns, “Abide in Him, that when He shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (I John 2:28). The Apostle Paul cautions us to “be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 1:8), i.e., the Rapture. Some of us will “suffer loss.”

At the end of the Tribulation, we read of a “great multitude” in Heaven standing before the throne of God (Rev. 7:9). They are in tears. We know that because God wipes their eyes (Rev. 7:17). Then, in Rev. 21, at the conclusion of the Millennium, there are more heavenly tears. God opens another box of Kleenex and for one last time dries their eyes.

That concludes the reign of sorrow, initiated in the Garden of Eden, and we can finally rejoice in the fact that the “former things are passed away.”

Summing up

There are several other examples of tears in Heaven, but these will suffice. We can rest in the fact that those tears are temporary and will one day be done away with entirely. Heaven is not yet in its final state.

Are There Degrees of Punishment in Hell?

By Paul Tatham 

tatham47@hotmail.com

Most evangelical Christians have a fairly clear understanding of the concept of varying degrees of reward in Heaven. They are familiar with Scriptures which speak of crowns, and the like, that will be awarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ and seek to live their lives with that prospect in mind.

Not as many evangelicals, however, grasp the reality that there exist similar variations of punishment in Hell for the lost. Although Hell will be a place of horrific anguish for all its residents, some will suffer worse than others. Without delving into the exact meaning of the following Bible passages, it is clear that they all speak to the fact that there are degrees--perhaps literal -- of punishment in Hell.

The degree of punishment seems to be predicated upon just two factors: the amount of gospel light, to which one was exposed, and one’s works. If someone, during his life on earth, had the privilege to be presented with a clear presentation of God’s plan of salvation, and dismissed it, his punishment will be greater than for someone who had no such exposure. Furthermore, although only one sin is needed to condemn a person to a lost eternity in Hell, some sins are worse than others and will be punished accordingly.

Luke 12:47-48 

And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Romans 2:12 

For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law

Luke 10:14 

But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.

Matthew 10:15 

Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

2 Peter 2:20-21 

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Hebrews 10:26-29

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Mark 12:40 

Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

Matthew 23:15 

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of Hell than yourselves.

Matthew 18:6-7 

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

Matthew 16:27 

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works

Deuteronomy 25:2-3 

And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number. Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.

1 Samuel 2:3 

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

2 Samuel 3:39 

And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

Ezra 9:13 

And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this.

Psalm 28:4 

Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.

Hosea 4:9 

And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.

Hosea 12:2 

The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

Obadiah 1:15 

For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.

Jeremiah 17:10 

I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Luke 23:41 

And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

Revelation 20:13 

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.

John 19:11 

Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

1 Peter 4:17 

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Matthew 16:27 

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Proverbs 24:12 

If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

Revelation 20:12 

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.

Deuteronomy 32:22 

For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest Hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains

Psalm 86:13 

For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest Hell.

Is Catholicism a false religion

From www.gotquestions.com

Question: "Is Catholicism a false religion? Are Roman Catholics saved?"

Answer: The most crucial problem with the Roman Catholic Church is its belief that faith alone in Christ is not sufficient for salvation.

The Bible clearly and consistently states that receiving Jesus Christ as Savior, by grace through faith, grants salvation (John 1:12; 3:16,18,36; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-10,13; Ephesians 2:8-9). The Roman Catholic Church rejects this.

The official position of the Roman Catholic Church is that a person must believe in Jesus Christ and -

AND be baptized
AND receive the Eucharist along with the other sacraments
AND obey the decrees of the Roman Catholic Church
AND perform meritorious works
AND not die with any mortal sins
AND etc., etc., etc.

Catholic divergence from the Bible on this most crucial of issues, salvation, means that yes, Catholicism is a false religion. If a person believes what the Catholic Church officially teaches, he/she will not be saved.

Any claim that works or rituals must be added to faith in order for salvation to be achieved is a claim that Jesus’ death was not sufficient to fully purchase our salvation.

While salvation by faith is the most crucial issue, in comparing Roman Catholicism with the Word of God, there are many other differences and contradictions as well.

The Roman Catholic Church teaches many doctrines that are in disagreement with what the Bible declares. These include -

Apostolic succession
Worship of saints or Mary
Worship of the pope 
Infant baptism
Transubstantiation
Plenary indulgences
The sacramental system
Purgatory.

While Catholics claim Scriptural support for these concepts, none of these teachings have any solid foundation in the clear teaching of Scripture.

These concepts are based on Catholic tradition, not the Word of God. In fact, they all clearly contradict Biblical principles.
 
So, are Catholics saved? This is a more difficult question to answer. It is impossible to give a universal statement on the salvation of all members of any denomination of Christianity.

Not ALL Baptists are saved. Not ALL Presbyterians are saved. Not ALL Lutherans are saved. Salvation is determined by personal faith in Jesus alone for salvation, not by titles or denominational identification.

Despite the unbiblical beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church, there are genuine believers who attend Roman Catholic churches. There are many Roman Catholics who have genuinely placed their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

However, these Catholic Christians are believers despite what the Catholic Church teaches, not because of what it teaches.

To varying degrees, the Catholic Church teaches from the Bible and points people to Jesus Christ as the Savior. As a result, people are sometimes saved in Catholic churches.

The Bible has an impact whenever it is proclaimed (Isaiah 55:11).

Catholic Christians remain in the Catholic Church out of ignorance of what the Catholic Church truly stands for, out of family tradition and peer pressure, or out of a desire to reach other Catholics for Christ.

At the same time, the Catholic Church also leads many people away from a genuine faith relationship with Christ. The unbiblical beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church have often given the enemies of Christ opportunity to blaspheme.

The Roman Catholic Church is not the church that Jesus Christ established. It is not a church that is based on the teachings of the Apostles (as described in the Book of Acts and the New Testament epistles).

While Jesus’ words in Mark 7:9 were directed towards the Pharisees, they accurately  describe the Roman Catholic Church, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!”

 Read this:
 http://www.gotquestions.org/catholicism.html#ixzz3avCLZGmW

BY WORKS OR BY FAITH?

  

ALL WORLDWIDE BELIEF SYSTEMS BOIL DOWN TO THE ABOVE QUESTION.

BUT WHO CARES AS ALL ROADS LEAD TO HEAVEN, RIGHT?

 
By NiteOwlDave
niteowldave@gmail.com
 
Popular thinking has it that despite the tangle of organized and unorganized religious systems out there, no worry because all roads lead to Heaven.

And, if there is a real Hell, it is reserved for the VERY bad apples like Adolph Hitler and other serial killers.

We must just respond to what we think is right, and we’re good to go. The Heaven thing will work itself out because God is a love sponge and He welcomes any and all into His eternal city of pearls. Now, let’s all do a happy dance.                              

The trouble with this thinking is that it is wrong.

God’s book, the Bible, says there is just ONE way to Heaven and that is by faith. We must believe that Jesus Christ paid our sin debt in full when He died on the cross, shed His blood, and rose from the dead.

Our good deeds - works - are evidence of our salvation by Jesus. We cannot work our way to Heaven. The Bible spells that out.

1 John 1:7 says,"....and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from ALL sin.

We are not saved by what we DO, but by what the Lord Jesus Christ DID, as in completed. We close the deal with Him by accepting this by faith.                                                     

The works-faith discussion has global implication and it defaults to this: THERE ARE JUST TWO WORLDWIDE BELIEF SYSTEMS. And that is, we get to Heaven by our good works or by faith in Christ alone.

The correct answer is salvation is the gift of God.  A gift cannot be earned.  It must be accepted. We are saved by faith and not by works.    

                                                   

If we accept that Jesus paid for everyone’s sin and we accept Him, then we see that the rest of the belief systems in the world are dead wrong because they are all works-based.

Let’s have a look.

Islam

To be a Muslim, one has to follow five religious duties:                       
1. Repeat a creed about Allah and Muhammad;
2. Recite certain prayers in Arabic five times a day;
3. Give to the needy;

4. One month each year, fast from food, drink, sex, and smoking from sunrise to sunset;
5. A pilgrimage is required once in one's lifetime to worship at a shrine in Mecca. At death, a Muslim hopes to enter Paradise based upon his faithfulness to these duties. If not, they will be eternally punished in hell.

Islam is 100 per cent works-based.

                                                               

Hinduism

Hindus believe in reincarnation. Their position in their “future life” is   determined by their actions (works) in this life. Hinduism teaches that a person can work toward spiritual perfection and end bad karma. How?

1. Be lovingly devoted to any of the Hindu gods or goddesses;     
2. Grow in knowledge through meditation of Brahman (oneness)...to realize that circumstances in life are not real, that selfhood is an illusion and only Brahman is real;          
3. Be dedicated to various religious ceremonies and rites.

Buddhism

Buddhists do not worry about an afterlife: They don’t believe there is a God.

 

Buddhists follow a list of religious principles and very dedicated meditation. When a Buddhist meditates, it is not the same as praying or focusing on a god. It is more of a self-discipline. Through practiced meditation, a person may reach Nirvana -- "the blowing out" of the flame of desire. Altogether now: HUH!

New Age

A person in New Age sees himself as God, the cosmos, the universe. In fact, everything that the person sees, hears, feels, or imagines is to be considered divine.

There is no reality outside of what the person determines. A person, becoming a god, creates their own reality.

Judaism

The Jews do not qualify for Heaven because they reject Jesus as their Messiah.

The Jews believe that when they die, they will be judged by God as Heaven-worthy by their actions and motives (works).

How distinct are these major religions?

In looking at these major world belief systems and their views of God, we find tremendous diversity -

• Hindus acknowledge multitudes of gods and goddesses.
• Buddhists say there is no deity.
• New Age followers believe they are God.
• Muslims believe in a powerful but unknowable God.
• Jews reject Christ and bank on good works and Moses.
• Christians believe in one God who is loving, just, approachable, and who forgives us if we ask Him through Jesus.

Confusion amongst “Christians”


The Mormons and the JWs

The Church of the Latter Day Saints (LDS or Mormons) and the Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) don’t qualify as being part of the body of Christ because their beliefs come from the Holy Bible and additional books with far flung teachings which dilutes the finished work of Christ at the cross.

And sadly, some denominations which fly the Christian flag are not of Christ at all. They believe the lie that our good works are necessary to save us from our sin.

Over and over, the Bible proclaims that good deeds do not merit anyone salvation. All the good stuff we do helping our fellowman is to be encouraged, but we must understand there is not enough we could ever do to earn anyone a place in Heaven. Salvation is by Christ alone. Period.

The Roman Catholic Church

Forefront in this false teaching about good works is the mammoth one billion-strong Roman Catholic Church (RCC) which teaches that a person must keep, amongst other things, the “Seven Sacraments” (works) to get into Heaven.

This is not found in God’s Word, the Bible, but like most of the RCC teaching is sourced in other writings, or church traditions. Here are two of many Roman Catholic conflicted issues:

·        

   *We do not need to be baptized as an infant – or anytime – to qualify for Heaven. Baptism is an individual obedience issue;

·  
 *We do not need to confess our sins to a priest in order to be forgiven. No priest can forgive or middle-man anyone’s sins. We are to pray directly to God in Jesus name.

Ephesians 2:8-9 sheds clear light on the works matter when it says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Romans 11:6 adds, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace; otherwise work is no more work.”

In John 6:29, Jesus tells us about the only work which men must do to be saved. “Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”’

Can a person connect with God in this life?

God is offering us complete forgiveness because of Jesus' sacrifice. This means He forgives us for all our sins - past, present and future. Jesus paid for them all. God, who created the universe, loves us and wants to be in a relationship with us.

Through Christ, God offers us real freedom from our sin and guilt. He does not leave a person's failures on his or her shoulders, with a dim hope of becoming a better person tomorrow.

In Jesus Christ, God reached toward humanity, providing the way – and only way - for us to know Him. The familiar verse, John 3:16, states, "For God so loved the world that He sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."

Salvation is not a commitment to a method of self-improvement like the Eight Fold Path or the Five Pillars, or meditation, or good works or even the Ten Commandments.

These seem clear, well-defined, easy-to-follow paths for spirituality. But they become a burdensome striving for perfection, and connection with God is still distant.

Our hope is not in following laws or standards, but in knowing a Savior who fully accepts us because of our faith in Him and his sacrifice for us.          
Would you like to be totally forgiven and personally come to know God's love for you?

Beginning a relationship with God.

Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God is the way to be saved, and to know it. We get “saved” by praying something like this:

Dear God,        

I am a sinner.

Others have sinned greater than I have.  But, nevertheless, I stand before you now as a lost sinner, deserving of Hell.

I choose to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who became a man.

I choose to believe that He allowed Himself to be put to death, that He arose again on the third day, and is alive today.

The Bible says our sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ, and I believe that.

Father I want to be cleansed of all my sins right now.

I know I am not right with God, and I want to be forgiven.  I want to go to Heaven when I die.

Right now at (Time and Date)____________________________, I bow at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ, and I am dumping all of my sins there.  And I mean ALL of them!

I ask that the blood of Jesus Christ wash away all my sins - past, present and future.

I am sorry for my sin, God, and I accept your forgiveness. Right now, I declare that I am a Christian.

I ask, Father, that you will make me aware of when 
I want to sin, and give me the courage to say “No.”

I ask, too, that you will help me understand the Bible, and to make the rest of my days on earth count for eternity.

I pray all of this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ - my new Lord and Savior - amen.