ACatholicSeekingAfterGod

J o s e p h M i z z i

ACatholicSeekingAfterGod

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FOREWORD

DoyouhungerforapersonalrelationshipwithGod?Doyoulongfor spiritual cleansing, liberty and peace? The following shortarticlesexploretheteachingoftheBibleonthewayofsalvation.Pleaseread them.Earnestly seekGod inprayerandaskhim toopen your heart to themessage of the gospel. He promises toreveal himself tohonest seekers. ‘Youwill Uindhim if you seekhimwith all your heart and with all your soul’ (Deuteronomy4:29).

1.THETRUTHTheHolyScripturesareabletomakeyouwiseforsalvationthroughfaithwhichisinChristJesus.(2Timothy3:15).

The Lord Jesus describes twoways, the broad road leading todestruction and the narrow one leading to life. How can weknowthewaythatleadstoheaven,andavoidtheother?

ThegospelisthetruewaytolifebecauseitisGod'smessagetohumanity.Peoplehaveinventedseveralreligionsbutallofthemarefalse;theBiblewarnsusthat‘theworldthroughwisdomdidnotknowGod’(1Corinthians1:21).

God'smessage is recorded in the Bible. Itwaswritten by holypeople who were guided by the Holy Spirit. We can trust theBiblebecauseitisGod'sbook.WecanalsobeconUidentthatitisthesureguidetoheaven.TheHolyScriptures ‘areabletomakeyouwise forsalvation through faithwhich is inChrist Jesus’ (2Timothy3:15).

What about church tradition? Tradition is useful, but it couldalso be misleading. Jesus warned us against tradition (Mark7:1-13).HeaccusedtheJewsthattheywere‘makingthewordof

God of no effect through your tradition.’ They should haveremainedfaithfultothewrittenWord,andweshouldtakeheednottorepeatthesamemistake.

Whataboutreligiousteachers?WeshouldlistentothemaslongastheirteachingisfaithfultotheBible.WeoughttoimitatethenoblepeopleofBereawho‘receivedthewordwithallreadiness,and searched the Scriptures daily to Uind out whether thesethingswereso’(Acts17:11).

Whataboutourpersonalopinion?WeshouldeagerlyseekGod'sway,notourown.‘TrustintheLordwithallyourheart,andleannotonyourownunderstanding’(Proverbs3:5).

The Bible is the only sure guide to heaven. The person wholearns,believesandobeys itsmessage can say: ‘Yourword is alamptomyfeetandalighttomypath’(Psalm119:105).

2.ONESACRIFICEChristwasofferedoncetobearthesinsofmany(Hebrews9:28).

It is our responsibility to obey and love God, our Creator andRuler. However, since the beginning we have rebelled againsthimand,becauseofoursins,weareguiltyandindangerofhell.

There is only one way of escape, as the Bible says, ‘withoutsheddingofbloodthereisnoremission(forgiveness)’(Hebrews9:22). During the Old Testament period God commanded hispeople to offer animal sacriUices on the altar at the Temple inordertoteachustwobasictruths–Uirstly,sinmustbepunished,and secondly, the sinner can be freed if somebody else waspunishedinhisplace.

TheOldTestament sacriUiceswereapictureofwhat Jesus, ‘theLambofGod,’woulddoonCalvary.‘Christalsosufferedonceforsins, the just for the unjust, that hemight bring us to God’ (1Peter 3:18). Christ, the perfect and sinless One, took uponhimselfthesinsofhispeople.HesufferedanddiedonthecrosstopaythepenaltydemandedbytheLawofGodfortheirsinssothattheycouldbefreed.

On the day before he suffered, Jesus instituted the ‘Lord'sSupper’ so that his discipleswould continue to remember himandhissacriUiceuntilhereturns.Sadly,traditionhaschangeditsmeaning.TheCatholicChurch teaches that thebreadandwineare changed into the body and blood of Christ. It is true thatJesus said, ‘This is my body...This is my blood.’ However eachtime he explained, ‘Do this in remembrance ofme.’ The breadandthewinearearemembrance,amemorialofhissacriUiceonthecrossofCalvary.

AmoreseriouserroristaughtbytheCatholicChurch.TheMassis regarded a sacriUice for sin; indeed it is said to be the samesacriUice of Christ because it ‘perpetuates’ and ‘makes present’the sacriUice of the cross. This teaching contradicts the clearteachingoftheBible:

Christentered‘intoheavenitself,nowtoappearinthepresenceofGodforus;notthatheshouldofferhimselfoften,asthehighpriest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood ofanother — he then would have had to suffer often since thefoundationoftheworld;butnow,onceattheendoftheages,hehas appeared to put away sin by the sacriUice of himself. SoChrist was offered once to bear the sins of many’ (Hebrews9:24-28).

ThedailysacriUiceoftheMassimpliesremainingsinandguilt.InBiblicalChristianitytherearenomoresacriUicesforsinbecauseChristiansareassuredthatalltheirsinsareforgivenforever.The

Lord proclaims: ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I willremembernomore.’ThereforetheBibleconcludes,‘Nowwherethere is remission (forgiveness) of these, there is no longer anofferingforsin’(Hebrews10:17,18).

Would you continue to rely on aman-made sacriUice, orwouldyou approach God on the merits of the unique, perfect andUinishedsacriUiceofChristonthecross?

3.ONEMEDIATORThereisoneGodandoneMediator

betweenGodandmen,theManChristJesus,whogavehimselfaransomforall(1Timothy2:5).

SinceGodisholyandwearesinners,itisimpossibletoapproachhimonourown.Weneedamediatortocleanseusfromsinandto present us to God. Themediator is Jesus Christ (1 Timothy2:5).Heistheonlymediatorbecausehealoneshedhisbloodtosecurethefreedomofhispeoplefromtheslaveryofsin.

Sadly, human tradition has obscured the clear teaching of theBibleandinventedother‘mediator’sbesideJesus.

Mary,theMotheroftheLord

Maryishighlyfavouredamongwomenbecauseshewaschosentobe themotherof ourLord according to the Ulesh. Christiansjoyfullycallher‘blessed’forheruniqueprivilege.However,MaryisnotourMediator.

The Catholic Church teaches thatMarywas conceivedwithoutsinandthatbyhersufferingshecontributedtooursalvation.Italsoteachesthatshewastakenuptoheavenandappointedourmediatrix.Sheisalsocalledourlifeandthegateofheaven.None

ofthisistaughtintheBible.TheWordofGodteachesthatJesuswasconceivedwithoutsin;hediedforoursins;heascendedintoheavenandheistheonlymediator.Healoneisourlifeandthegatetoheaven.WeshouldthereforelooktoJesusChristalone.

Mary said, ‘My soul magniUies the Lord, and my spirit hasrejoiced in God my Saviour’ (Luke 1:46-47). Mary desired theLord’sexaltation,notherown.MoreoversheplainlyteachesustolookuponGodforsalvation,andnottoherselforanyoneelse.Godis‘mySaviour,’sheconfesses.

WeshouldcalluponthenameofJesus,andnotuponthenameofMary,becausetheapostlePeterdeclares, ‘Noristheresalvationin any other, for there is no other name under heaven givenamongmenbywhichwemustbesaved’(Acts4:12).

TheCatholicPriest

The Old Testament priests were replaced by Jesus Christ, the‘HighPriestofourconfession’(Hebrews3:1).TheleadersintheNewTestamentchurcharecalledpastors,eldersandoverseers(bishops); theyarenevercalledpriestsandtheirduty isnot toofferupsacriUicesforsin.

The Old Testament priests were not sinless; they offered thebloodof animals, andentered in aman-made templeonearth.Jesusismuchbetterbecauseheissinless,offeredhisownblood,andenteredintoheavenitself.‘SuchaHighPriestwasUittingforus,who isholy,harmless,undeUiled,separate fromsinners,and

hasbecomehigherthantheheavens;whodoesnotneeddaily,asthosehighpriests,toofferupsacriUices,Uirstforhisownsinsandthenforthepeople's,forthishedidonceforallwhenheoffereduphimself’(Hebrews7:26,27).

What need is there for a Roman Catholic priest to offerssacriUicesforsinifwehaveJesusChristforourPriest?‘Heisalsoable to save to the uttermost thosewho come to God throughhim, since he always lives to make intercession forthem’(Hebrews7:25).

Doyouwanttoknowthewaytheheaven?TheLordJesusgivesusaplainanswer: ‘Iamtheway, thetruth,andthe life.NoonecomestotheFatherexceptthroughme’(John14:6).CometotheFatherthroughJesusChrist,theonlyMediator.

4.FORGIVENESSThroughJesus’name,whoeverbelievesinhimwillreceiveremissionofsins(Acts10:43).

God alone can forgive sin, the breaking of divine Law. WhenDavid committed a serious sin, he found peace after heconfessed toGod. ‘Iwill confessmy transgressions to theLord,andyouforgavetheiniquityofmysin’(Psalm32:5).

Human tradition has once again distorted the teaching of theBible.Catholicpriestsclaimthepowertojudgesinnersandgiveor withhold absolution (a judicial sentence of forgiveness).Catholics are taught that Jesus instituted the sacrament ofpenancewhenhetoldtheapostles:‘Ifyouforgivethesinsofany,they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they areretained’(John20:23).

UndoubtedlyJesusgavethempowertoforgive.Butwemustask:what kind of power did Jesus give them?Did he appoint themjudgesinGod’splace?Ordidhecommissionthemtoforgivesinsby proclaiming the gospel? The answer is clear if we read theActsoftheApostlesandtherestoftheNewTestament.

There is no evidence in the Bible that the apostles heardconfessionsorgaveabsolution.Rathertheypreachedthegospeland urged people to repent and believe in Jesus to obtainforgiveness.TheapostlePeterpreached,‘Tohimalltheprophetswitness that, through his name, whoever believes in him willreceiveremissionofsins’(Acts10:43);andtheapostlePaulsaid,‘Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through thisMan is preached to you the forgiveness of sins, and by himeveryonewhobelievesisjustiUied’(Acts13:38,39).

IfyoudesireGod’sforgiveness,believeintheLordJesusChrist,justastheapostlestaught,andyouwillbesaved.

Christians should confess their sins. However they should notconfess to a Catholic priest. Confession to a priest is a humaninvention, unknown in the church for many centuries. Jesustaught us plainly thatwe should confess directly to the Father,‘OurFather inheaven ... forgiveusourdebts,aswe forgiveourdebtors’(Matthew6:9,12).

There is another criticalmistake in the Catholic religion aboutforgiveness. The Church teaches that God's forgiveness isincomplete.Afterapersonis‘forgiven,’Hemustperformactsofpenancetomakesatisfactionforhissins.Evenafterdeath,mostCatholicsexpecttoundergopuriUicationintheUireofPurgatory.

The Bible assures believers that ‘your sins are forgiven for hisname'ssake’(1John2:12)and‘thebloodofJesusChristhisSon

cleanses us form all sin’ (1 John 1:7). They need not makesatisfactionforthesinsthatChristtookuponhimself;theyneednotgotopurgatorywhosesinswerecleansedbyhisblood.

5.THECHURCHNootherfoundationcananyonelaythanthatwhichislaid,

whichisJesusChrist(1Corinthians3:11).

OnceJesusaskedhisdiscipleswhattheythoughtabouthim.TheapostlePeteranswered:‘YouaretheChrist,theSonofthelivingGod.’ Jesus commended Peter, saying, ‘Blessed are you SimonBar-Jonah, for Uleshandbloodhasnotrevealed this toyou,butMyFatherwho is inheaven.And Ialsosay toyou thatyouarePeter, andon this rock Iwill buildmychurch, and thegatesofHadesshallnotprevailagainstit’(Matthew16:16-18).

Whatis‘therock’uponwhichtheChurchisbuilt?SomesayitisPeter;othersthinkitisPeter'sconfession,‘YouaretheChrist.’Inasense,thechurchisbuiltonPeter,theotherapostles,andtheprophets, as Paul teaches in Ephesians 2:20, because it isfoundedontheirteachingaboutChrist.

The Roman Catholic claim that the church is built on Peterbecausehewasmade theuniversalbishopof thechurch isnottrue. Even though he was a prominent apostle, Peter was notconsidered the head of the whole church. The Vatican teachesthatPeteris‘theChurch'ssupremepastor(shepherd)’(Catechism

paragraph 857); but Peter himself would disagree because heidentiUiesJesusChristas‘theChiefShepherd’(1Peter5:4).

TherockcouldrefertoPeter'sconfessionaboutChrist, theSonof God, as St. Augustine and other Fathers taught. Even theCatholic catechism admits that thismeaning is correct. ‘Movedby the grace of the Holy Spirit and drawn by the Father, webelieve in Jesusandconfess: ‘Youare theChrist, theSonof thelivingGod.’OntherockofthisfaithconfessedbyStPeter,Christbuilt hisChurch’ (paragraph424). In either case, thepapacy isnotprovedfromMatthew16.

Weneednotbe in anydoubt on thebasic questions about theChurchbecausetheBiblegivesusclearanswers.

1. WhoistheheadoftheChurch?ChrististheheadoftheChurch(Ephesians5:23)

2. WhatisthefoundationoftheChurch?No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid,whichisJesusChrist(1Corinthians3:11)

3. IsthereanyotherRockbesidestheLord?IsthereaGodbesidesMe?IndeedthereisnootherRock,Iknownotone(Isaiah44:8).

The church of Jesus Christ is catholic (universal) because it iscomposedofallthepeoplepurchasedwithhisbloodfromeverynationoftheworld.Thechurchisholybecauseitsmembersare

sanctiUiedbythebloodofChristandindweltbytheHolySpirit.The church is apostolic because it follows the teaching of theapostlesasrecorded in theBible.EveryassemblyofChristians,thelocalchurch,thatbelievesandobeystheteachingoftheBibleformpartoftheone,holyandcatholicchurchofJesusChrist.

6.BORNAGAINMostassuredly,Isaytoyou,unlessoneisbornagain,

hecannotseethekingdomofGod(John3:3).

Thewords which Jesus originally told Nicodemus, a respectedJewishleader,applytousaswell.Unlesswearebornagain,wewillnotenterheaven,even thoughwemaybereligious,attendchurch,readtheBible,pray,andtrytoliveagoodlife.

Whyshouldapersonbe‘bornagain’?Whyisthisradicalchangenecessary?TheBibledescribesthedesperateconditionofman’snatural state. He is not just ill or weak— the natural man is‘dead in trespasses and sins’ (Ephesians 2:1). His mind is notsubjecttoGod’swill,andthoughhemaybereligious,hedoesnotseek after the true God.He has no living relationshipwith theLordandhecan'tdoanythingaboutit.

Thereforeitisnotamatterofturninganewleaforresolvingtolivebetter.Religiousrites(likecircumcisionorbaptism)cannothelpeither–Nicodemuswascircumcisedbuthestillneededtobebornanew.Manybaptizedpeopleshownosignsofspirituallife.

There is no ‘how to’ formula to be born again. It is neither ahumanworknorisitinitiatedbythehumanwill.Infantsdonotinduce, or cooperate in, their own procreation and birth; nomorecanthosewhoare‘deadintrespassesandsins’promptthelife-givingoperationofGod.Hischildrenareborn‘notofblood,nor of the will of the Ulesh, nor of the will of man, but ofGod’(John1:13).Godgiveslifetowhoeverhewills.

Onceapersonisbornagain,heinstinctivelycriesouttoGod,fornow he is a child of the Father.Whereas the new birth is notproducedbyman,itseffectsareclearlyseeninman.TheapostleJohn gives three tests as evidence that a person is spirituallyaliveandwell.

1.Faith:PreviouslyhedidnotthinkmuchofJesus.NowhetrustsonlyintheLordJesus,theSonofGod,whomtheFathersenttoaccomplish our salvation. ‘Whoever believes that Jesus is theChristisbornofGod’(1John5:1).

2.Holiness:ThechildofGodgrowstobecomelikehisFather.HehateswhatGodhatesand loves the thingsGod loves.He Uightsagainst sin and temptation and willingly obeys thecommandmentsofGod.‘WhoeverhasbeenbornofGoddoesnotsin… everyonewho practices righteousness is born of him’ (1John3:9;2:29).

3.Love:ThechildofGodlearnslovefromhisFather;hedesirestoserveallpeople,especiallyhis fellowbrothersandsisters in

Christ. ‘Everyonewho loves is born of God and knowsGod’ (1John4:7).

WhenyouexamineyourselfinthelightoftheWordofGod,canyouhonestlysay,‘Yes,Iambornagain’?

7.RIGHTWITHGODHavingbeenjustiViedbyfaith,wehavepeacewithGod

throughourLordJesusChrist(Romans5:1).

How can a person, burdened down with the guilt of his sin,obtainpeacewithGod?AccordingtoScripturethereisonlyoneremedy: justiVication by faith in Christ. ‘Therefore having beenjustiUiedbyfaith,wehavepeacewithGodthroughourLordJesusChrist’(Romans5:1).

‘JustiUication’ is a legal term; it is the very opposite of‘condemnation.’ The accused is condemned if the judgepronouncesa‘guilty’verdict;heisjustiUiedifthejudgedeclareshim‘notguilty’andfreeshimfromallpunishment.

God,theJudgeoftheworld,wouldcertainlyjustifyusifwewererighteous.However the sad truth is thatweare far frombeingrighteous.Wemustpleadguiltybecausewehaveactedcontraryto his Law, and since we are sinners and unjust, God’s justsentencemustbeourcondemnation.

How then can aman be just beforeGod?The Catholic religionteachesthatGodUinallyjustiUiesapersonwhenthesinner,aided

bythesacraments,goodworks,penanceandpurgatory,becomesjustandrighteous.

Admittedly,Godworksinthelifeofhischildren,changingthemtobecomemoreandmorelikehisSon.Still,aslongastheyareon earth, Christians continue to sin (1 John 1:8). The Catholicteaching—God justiUies the righteous— isbadnews to everypersononearth.

May God be praised for his unspeakable mercy: the Biblepresents a different message! ‘To himwho does not work butbelievesonhimwhojustiUiestheungodly,hisfaithisaccountedforrighteousness’(Romans4:4,5).

Goddoesnotjustifythebelieverbecauseheisrighteous—heisnot! God justiUies ‘the ungodly.’ Neither does God acquit himbecause of any credit gained by personal good works. GodjustiUies ‘him who does not work’! This is the true gospel,comfortingbalmforthepoorsinner’ssoul!

How then can God justify the believer, seeing that he is still asinner?Theanswertothisvitalquestiontouchesthecoreofthegospel.GodisperfectlyjustwhenhejustiUiesthosewhobelievein his Son because Christ, the Lamb of God, accepted fullresponsibility for their sins. ‘The LORD has laid on him theiniquityofusall’(Isaiah53:6).

Sadly many people are too proud to accept God’s graciouspardon. They feel that they must also do something to merit

forgiveness. Instead of trusting in him, they end up relying onthemselves.TheLordJesusoncetoldaparableinthehearingofsome‘whotrustedinthemselvesthattheywererighteous.’

‘Twomenwentuptothetempletopray,oneaPhariseeandtheother a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thuswithhimself, 'God, I thank you, that I am not like other men —extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. Ifasttwiceintheweek;IgivetithesofallthatIpossess.'Andthetax collector, standing afar off,would not somuch as raise hiseyes toheaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘Godbemerciful tomeasinner!’Itellyou,thismanwentdowntohishousejustiUiedratherthantheother’(Luke18:9-14).

TheUirstmanpresentedhisownrighteousnessandgoodworkstoGod;thesecondapproachedGodempty-handed.ThePhariseeconsideredhimselfrighteousandcameconUidentlyforward;thepublican was painfully aware of his poverty and shame. Bothwentup to the temple topray— the self-righteousmanaskedfornothing;thepublicanpleadedformercy.Onewastrustinginhimselftobespirituallygood,butinGod’seyes,hewasnot.Theother depended solely upon God’s mercy and he went homejustiUied.

Here we must make a choice between these two alternatives:complete trust inGodor relianceonhumaneffort.TheRomanCatholic Church pronounces a curse on all thosewho say that‘justifying faith is nothing more than conUidence in the divine

mercy,which forgivessinsbecauseofChrist.’ Imustadmit thatformyjustiUication,Ihavenothingbut‘conUidenceinthedivinemercy’—justasthepublicanhad.

AreyouseekingtobeacceptedofGodonaccountofyourdeeds,or are you leaning by faith upon the all-merciful God? Youranswer marks the difference between justiUication orcondemnation,heavenorhell.

8.FAITHANDWORKSForbygraceyouhavebeensavedthroughfaith,

andthatnotofyourselves;itisthegiftofGod,notofworks,lestanyoneshouldboast(Ephesians2:8,9).

I was brought up in a Catholic home. I heard the Evangelicalmessage for the Uirst timewhenIwas14yearsold: ‘Believeonthe Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved’ (Acts 16:31).EvangelicalsteachthatapersonissavedbyfaithinChristalone,andnotonaccountofpersonalgoodworks.

To my mind this teaching was clearly wrong and dangerous.Wrong,becauseSt Jamessaysthat faithwithoutworks isdead;dangerousbecauseitseemstoencouragecarelesslivingsinceapersonisnotsavedbyworks.

I was determined to study the Bible for myself. I found thatJames’concernwastodistinguishbetweentrueandcounterfeitfaith. ‘Whatdoes itproUit,mybrethren, if someonesayshehasfaithbutdoesnothaveworks?Canfaithsavehim?’(James2:14).Thatkindof‘faith’isworthless;itcannotsaveanyone.Truefaithisrecognizedbythefruititproduces.

The central questionwas this: ‘Is a person saved by true faithalone?Orishesavedbyfaithplusthemeritofgoodworks?’Theanswer of the Bible is clear and surprising: ‘For by grace youhavebeen saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it isthe gift ofGod, not ofworks, lest anyone shouldboast. Forweare his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for goodworks’(Ephesians2:8-10).

Savedthroughfaith...notofworks!Itisamazing:theBiblethatso emphasizes holy living and good works, also states thatsalvationisnotbasedonpersonalworks.TheChristiandoesnotdependonhis‘goodness’orhisefforts,buttrustscompletelyinanotherPerson,theLordJesusChrist.

When the Bible says that we are saved ‘not of works,’ it isreferringtoourefforts.Certainlyitdoesnotimplythatsalvationisaneasytask.Infacttheworkofsalvationissogreatthatno-one could perform it except God himself by his Son. It wasnecessary for the eternal Son of God to humble himself andbecome a human being, and having lived a perfect and sinlesslife,hegavehislifeonthecrossasasacriUiceforsin.‘Christhasredeemed(freed)usfromthecurseofthelaw,havingbecomeacurseforusforitiswritten,‘Cursediseveryonewhohangsonatree’(Galatians3:13).Thepaymentformysinswasthepreciousbloodheshed;notmyworksandpenance.CertainlythatiswhyGodwantsmetobelieveinhim.

Onequestionremained:WhythenshouldIperformgoodworksatall?Immediatelyafterstatingthatwearesaved‘notbyworks,’theapostlePaulwritesthatwearesaved‘forgoodworks.’Goodworksaretheresult,notthecause,ofsalvation.

Today I am an Evangelical Christian and I am sure of heaven.ThisisnotpresumptionforI'mnotdependingonmyselfandmydeedsanymore;ItrustinJesusChrist,knowingthathisdeathonthecrossisthesufUicientpaymentforthepenaltyofallmysins.My sole desire is to liveworthy of the Onewho lovedme andgavehimselfforme.

IamconcernedforCatholicsandotherswhoselifeisoverrunbysinandyet feel thatallwillbeUineat theend.TheBiblewarnsthemthattheir‘faith’isdeadanduselesstosavethemfromhell.On the other hand, I'm also concerned about devout Catholicswho are afraid of God’s judgment, and are doing their best tomerit forgivenessandgrace.Theyclaimtobelieve in Jesus,butsadly they continue to rely on their own goodness andrighteousness.

IwanttosharethesameGoodNewsIheardinmyyouthbecauseitisthemessageoftheBible.Ifyouwanttobesaved,believeontheLordJesusandstoptrustinginyourselforanythingyoudo.Stopclingingtoyourreligion,andwithemptyhandsreceivethefreegiftofsalvation.Then,fortherestofyourlife,giveyourselftogoodworksoutofgratitudetoourgraciousandlovingFather.

9.THEGOSPELIamnotashamedofthegospelofChrist,foritisthepowerofGodtosalvation

foreveryonewhobelieves(Romans1:16).

DearFriend,theBiblesaysthatitisappointedforustodieonce,andafterthisthe judgment.Soonourbrief lifewillbeover.Yetdeathisnottheend,forwemuststandbeforethejudgmentseatof God. One of two destinies awaits us - either everlastingpunishmentinhelloreverlastinglifeandjoyinheaven.

Many people ignore this sober reality because they arepreoccupied with their business and entertainments. Othersthink they are ‘good enough’ and therefore have nothing toworryabout;whileothersfeelthatGodwillnotsendanyonetohellbecauseheisalovingGod.

AllthesefutileexcuseswillbeuselesswhenwestandbeforetheJudgeoftheworld.Arewepreparedforthatday?ItalldependsonwhetherwebelieveorrejectthetruegospelofChrist.

TheTrueGospelandtheCounterfeit

The apostle Paul was evidently in great distress and anguishwhenhepennedhislettertotheGalatians.ThegloryofGodand

the salvationofmanypeoplewere at stake. False teachershadfollowedhimanddistortedthegospelhehadpreached.TheydidnotopenlydenyfaithinChristorthegraceofGod.TheysimplyaddedtheriteofcircumcisionandobediencetotheMosaicLawas the basis for acceptance with God. The apostle Paulconsideredtheirteaching‘anothergospel.’Hewrites:

‘Imarvelthatyouareturningawaysosoonfromhimwhocalledyou in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is notanother; but there are some who trouble you and want topervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel fromheaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we havepreachedtoyou,lethimbeaccursed’(Galatians1:6-8).

IftheapostlePaulconsideredthattheadditionofworkstofaithinvalidated the gospel, what is the biblical verdict on themessageoftheRomanCatholicChurch?The‘gospel’ofRomeisfaith plus works, grace plus merit, Christ plus the church,baptismal regeneration, penance, the sacriUice of theMass, therosary,indulgences,Mary,thepainsofPurgatory,andsoon.Theapostlewarnsthosewho,inadditiontofaithintheLord,seektobe justiUied by ritual or works, that they are alienated fromChrist, and that he could be of no avail to them (cf. Galatians5:2-4).

RepentandBelievetheGospel

Weappeal toyou,ourdear friend,and imploreyouonChrist'sbehalf: Be reconciled to God. Reckon yourself an unworthysinnerandarebelagainsttheSovereignGod.PleadguiltybeforetheJudgeoftheEarth;confessthatyoudeservetheeverlastingUireofhell;admitthatnothingyoudocaneverpayforyoursins.

Yetdonotdespair, look to theGodofallgraceandmercy.Stoprelying on yourself, yourworks and yourmerit. Salvation is oftheworkof theLord.Donotrelyonachurch,Mary, thesaints,human priests, the sacriUice of the Mass, or in an imaginarypurgatory.

Rather, trustwholly inChrist alone, theSonofGod,who is theonlymediator,theonlyhighpriest,whogavehimselfastheall-sufUicientsacriUice for thepaymentof thesinsofhispeople.Tothose who believe in Christ, the Bible says: ‘In him we haveredemption (freedom from sin) through his blood, theforgiveness of sins, according to the riches of hisgrace’(Ephesians1:7).

MaytheLordbemercifulandgrantyouthegraceofrepentancetoturnawayfromadistortedreligiontoembracethegospelofChrist.MayGodgrantyouthegiftof faith, torestonChrist,hisbelovedSon,andtoservehimallthedaysofyourlifewhileweanticipatehisreturntotakeushomewithhimforever.

APERSONALWORD

Dear friend,youmaystillhavedoubtsandquestionsabout thewayofsalvation.IencourageyoutokeepprayingandsearchingtheScriptures.Wearewillingtohelpyouthebestwaywecan.Sopleasedon’thesitatetowriteanddiscussanyquestionswithus.

Perhaps, you now understand the gospel and the Lord hasgrantedyourepentanceandfaithinChristJesus.Nowyoudon’tdepend on anything you do, your own goodness, any saint orreligion. Now you rely by faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; he isyouroneandonlySaviour.IrejoicewithyouandpraiseGodforhiswonderfulgrace.Thisisthebeginningofanexcitingjourney—theend isevenbetter,heaven!Younowdesire to followtheLordand to glorifyhim in all things.TheChristian life isnot abedofroses.Hegivesjoyunspeakable,buthiswiseprovidencewill also lead you throughmuch sorrow and pain. That is thewaywegrowandmature.

IencourageyoutoreadtheBibleeverydaywithanattitudeofreverence.Godisspeakingtoyou—listenwell!Gotoaprivateplace, andopen yourheart toGod, ourheavenly Father. Thankand praise him. Confess your sins and pray for yourself andothers.

AsamemberofthebodyofChrist,thechurch,itisyourprivilegetojoinwithalocalChristianassembly.Weneedoneanother.The

Lordwants you to be baptized in the name of theTriuneGod,andthereaftertopartakeof theLord’sSupper inremembranceofhissacriUiceforus.TheteachingandpreachingoftheWordisinvaluable for every Christian to grow in the grace andknowledgeofChrist.

TheLordbless youandkeep you.TheLordmakeshis face shineuponyouandgiveyoupeace.

Iwouldlovetohearfromyou.

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