Category: Salvation

https://youtu.be/pmbrbouyKgA The question of whether Roman Catholics are Christians or not is a very natural question for Protestants to raise because of how different our views of salvation are. When Catholics say that you're not saved by grace alone, through faith alone, it raises the question quite naturally. When Roman Catholics say according to our theology, according to our official teaching, we are saved both by faith and by good works, it raises the question for a Protestant. In response, I think we have to say, first of all, that many Roman Catholics are, no doubt, true Christians, as many of them as have repented of their sins sincerely and have trusted in Christ, are born again by faith in Christ Jesus and are saved on that basis. And they…

https://youtu.be/DRDOYgjQZV4 This evening John Ankerberg will examine what Roman Catholicism teaches concerning the doctrine of justification and what are the issues surrounding this doctrine that divide Catholics and Protestants today. The doctrine of justification deals with the question how can a sinful person be accepted by a holy and righteous God. Both Roman Catholics and Protestants agree that this doctrine is important since if a man seeks to be forgiven in a way in which he cannot be forgiven, then he won't be forgiven. Both Catholics and Protestants agree that the benefits and merits of Christ are necessary for a man to receive justification but where Catholics and Protestants disagree is how do the merits of Christ become mine.  Catholicism carried to its logical conclusion is a denial of justification…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5ZZjfMSWKc Roman Catholics believe that the bread and wine consumed during Mass are the actual body and blood of Christ under the appearance of bread and wine. Therefore, the Mass is instituted to represent and continue the sacrifice of the Cross. Catholics refer to the following verses to support their doctrine. Matthew 26:26­28 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (NIV) John 6:51­52 51 I am the living bread that came…

https://youtu.be/Mqb4xoF14Sg Roman Catholics believe that priests have power to forgive sins as taught by Christ himself. John 20:23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (NIV) Paul also declares that God has given the ministry of reconciliation to the Church. Catholics interpret this ministry of reconciliation to be the power of forgiving sins and bringing the repentant sinner back to God. 2 Cor 5:18­19 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. (NIV) God has also given the disciples…

https://youtu.be/rj4qcm_Y47w Roman Catholics believe that besides penance, there is another means of obtaining forgiveness of sins, that is by the gaining of indulgence. This is actually a process by which the merits of Christ and His saints are applied on the person for the discharge of the punishment due to his sin. Catholics believe that the concept of indulgence is taught in the Bible. In the New Testament we read of Paul granting an indulgence to a Corinthian. That Corinthian had taken his father’s wife and Paul inflicted a penance on him and excluded him from the fellowship of the church until he performed it (1 Cor 5:1­2). The Corinthian submitted with sincere repentance and the following year, Paul granted indulgence by remitting the remainder of the penance (2 Cor…

https://youtu.be/brNwijQ3g90 Roman Catholics believe that besides a genuine repentance and confession of sins, works of penance are required as compensation to divine justice for the forgiveness of sins. They say that an example of the imposing of penance by the local church can be seen from the following verse. 1 Corinthians 5:1­2 (NIV) It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? The punishment of putting the sinning brother out of fellowship is believed to be a form of penance. Protestants believe that works of penance…

https://youtu.be/KuabwdOIRd8 Roman Catholics believe that after death, they will enter a temporary state of suffering to pay for the penalty of their sins, and by doing so is purified before they enter heaven. This state is called purgatory and Catholics believe it has its foundation in the following verses. Matthew 5:25­26 25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. “(NIV) This temporary place of punishment (until you have paid the…