To be saved, Catholic doctrine requires the continual performance of good
works.
"Even though incorporated into the Church, one who
does not however persevere in charity is not saved." Pg. 222, #837
These works include baptism (pg. 320, #1257), various sacraments (pg. 292,
#1129) plus many additional works.
Once again the teachings of Catholicism oppose God's Word, which states that
salvation cannot be earned, but is a free and undeserved gift of
God:
"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." Ephesians 2:8-9
"Not
by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy
he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
Ghost;" Titus 3:5
The Bible repeatedly states that salvation comes through faith-never by good
works:
"Therefore we conclude that a
man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."
Romans 3:28
"And
the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through
faith…" Galatians 3:8
How do we become God's children?:
"For ye are all the children
of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:26
The Pharisees
and good works
The religious Pharisees were convinced that performing good works would earn
them salvation, but Jesus set them straight. In Mark's gospel, the Pharisees and
scribes asked Jesus:
"Why walk not thy disciples
according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen
hands?" Mark 7:5
In response, Jesus chastised them:
"Full well ye reject the
commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." Mark 7:9
What a tragedy! By elevating tradition above God's Word, the Pharisees had
actually rejected the commandment of God. Jesus also accused the Pharisees of:
"Making the word of God of
none effect through your tradition…" Mark 7:13
This is exactly what the Catholic church does by elevating church tradition
above the Word of God.
The Pharisees were convinced that salvation was obtained by performing good
works, but good works can never save anybody:
"Knowing that a man is not
justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we
have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of
Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no
flesh be justified." Galatians 2:16
"Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ:" Romans 5:1
Good works will
not get you in
Many who stand before God will think they should enter heaven because of
their good works. Jesus tells us in His Word:
"Not every one that saith unto
me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven… Many
will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and
in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful
works?" Matthew 7:21-22
How shocked they will be when they hear Jesus respond:
"I never knew you: depart from
me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:23
How tragic! Millions of Catholics never learn that good works cannot save
them until after they die. But after death is too late. At that point they are
already doomed to an eternity in the lake of fire.
The Apostle Paul makes another important statement concerning good works:
"I do not frustrate the grace
of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
Galatians 2:21
In other words, if you could earn heaven through your good works, then Jesus
suffered that horrible death on the cross for nothing.
But He did not die in vain. Scripture declares that Jesus gave His life
because there is no other way for our sins to be forgiven:
"He that believeth on
him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already,
because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
John 3:18
Jesus repeats this same truth:
"And this is the will of him
that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him,
may have everlasting life…" John 6:40
Conclusion
Roman Catholic friend, you must make another decision. Either you will
believe God's Word and accept the free gift of salvation through
faith alone in Jesus Christ, or you will believe the traditions of the Catholic
church, that salvation must be earned through continual good works.
You cannot choose Catholic doctrine and God's Word because both disagree with
each other.
My prayer is that you will make the right choice. If you choose to receive
the God's free gift of salvation, before the end of the book, we will explain
how you can do it:
"Jesus answered and said unto
them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath
sent." John 6:29
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