For Our Roman Catholic Friends
Instructions: Read each point. For each one that you agree is the truth, place a mental checkmark in the box and then read the next point, and so on. Citations are hyperlinked to their sources.
Square 1. The Bible is the Word of God.
“All scripture is inspired by God”
2 Timothy 3:16 (New American Bible Vatican Edition)
“the Bible is the Word of God recorded in human language”
'The Word Of God In The Life And Mission Of The Church’
Synod Of Bishops - XII Ordinary General Assembly
“Sacred Scripture is the inspired word of God, the collection of sacred books that hand on the truth of Revelation in written form.”
'Bible at Core of Catholic Beliefs'
Square 2. God does not contradict Himself.
“in which it was impossible for God to lie”
Hebrews 6:18b (NABVE)
“Surely I, the LORD, do not change”
Malachi 3:6a (NABVE)
“God is not man that he should speak falsely, nor human, that he should change his mind.
“I will not violate my covenant; the promise of my lips I will not alter”
“God, who cannot contradict Himself”
‘Divini Illius Magistri (December 31, 1929) | PIUS XI
“the Spirit does not contradict himself”
‘Vita Consecrata (March 25, 1996) | John Paul II
Square 3. The Living Teaching Office Of The Church also speaks for God.
“85 "The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church - Paragraph # 85
“The Church’s Magisterium exercises the authority it holds from Christ to the fullest extent when it defines dogmas, that is, when it proposes, in a form obliging the Christian people to an irrevocable adherence of faith, truths contained in divine Revelation or also when it proposes, in a definitive way, truths having a necessary connection with these,”
Catechism of the Catholic Church - Paragraph # 88
“Bishops, with priests as co-workers, have as their first task “to preach the Gospel of God to all men,” in keeping with the Lord’s command. They are “heralds of faith, who draw new disciples to Christ; they are authentic teachers” of the apostolic faith “endowed with the authority of Christ,”
Catechism of the Catholic Church - Paragraph # 888
“The Infallibility of the Church's Magisterium
Jesus Christ, from whom derives the task proper to the pastors of teaching the Gospel to His people and to the entire human family, wished to endow the pastors' Magisterium with a fitting charism of infallibility in matters regarding faith and morals.”
Square 4. The Living Teaching Office Of The Church teaches faith plus works for salvation.
“The authority of the Magisterium extends also to the specific precepts of the natural law (10 Commandments), because their observance, demanded by the Creator, is necessary for salvation,”
Catechism of the Catholic Church - Paragraph # 2036
“The Council of Trent teaches that the Ten Commandments are obligatory for Christians and that the justified man is still bound to keep them; the Second Vatican Council confirms: "The bishops, successors of the apostles, receive from the Lord . . . the mission of teaching all peoples, and of preaching the Gospel to every creature, so that all men may attain salvation through faith, Baptism and the observance of the Commandments."”
Catechism of the Catholic Church - Paragraph # 2068
“CANON IX.-If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema.”
Council Of Trent – Sixth Session
CANON XIV.-If any one saith, that man is truly absolved from his sins and justified, because that he assuredly believed himself absolved and justified; or, that no one is truly justified but he who believes himself justified; and that, by this faith alone, absolution and justification are effected; let him be anathema.”
Council Of Trent – Sixth Session
[ Also ref. CANON 12 + Canon 23 + Canon 24 + Canon 30 + Canon 33 ]
Square 5. The Bible teaches salvation by faith alone.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 (New American Bible, Vatican Edition)
“For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”
Romans 3:28 (NABVE)
“since no human being will be justified in his sight by observing the law; for through the law comes consciousness of sin.”
[ Also ref. Romans 4:3 + Romans 4:5 + Romans 5:1 + Romans 9:30 + Romans 10:9-10 + Romans 11:6 + Galatians 2:16 + Galatians 2:21 + Galatians 3:1-6 + Galatians 5:6 + Philippians 3:9 + 1 Tim 1:16 + John 5:24 + 2 Tim. 1:9 + Titus 3:4-7 ]
Square 6. Final Point.
If the Bible is the Word of God (pt. 1), and God does not contradict Himself (pt. 2), then the Roman Catholic Church, which claims to also speak for God (pt. 3) discredits itself as the one true religion because it contradicts the Word of God by teaching faith plus works for salvation (pt. 4) when the Bible, which came first, clearly and unmistakenly teaches faith alone for salvation (pt. 5).
[ Also ref. Acts 17:10-11 + 1 Corinthians 4:6 + Isaiah 64:6 + James 2:10 + Galatians 3:10 + 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 + Galatians 1:8-9 + Matthew 7:15, 21-23 + John 6:28-29 + Colossians 2:13-14 + 1 John 5:13 + Matthew 11: 28-30 + Mark 7:13 ]
The Biblical Gospel
God is holy and just, and has set a day in which He will judge the earth in righteousness (Acts 17:31). He will not overlook any sin. How will you do? Here’s a quick test: How many times have you ever lied, stolen, and used God’s name in vain? Jesus said, “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” If you’ve done these things God sees you as a liar, thief, blasphemer, and adulterer at heart; and the Bible warns that one day God will justly punish you in Hell.
But God lovingly and mercifully provided a way for forgiveness. We’ve broken God’s moral Law, but Jesus, who was sinless, paid the fine on the cross for guilty sinners. This means God can legally dismiss their case: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Then Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death. Make up your mind/heart to turn from sin and to trust Jesus alone and in His righteousness (not your own failed self-righteousness), then God will forgive your sins and grant you eternal life as a free gift. Then read the Bible daily, obey it, and find a Bible-believing church where you can learn and grow as a believer.
For a more comprehensive proclamation of the Biblical Gospel, click here.
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