Posted on 02/23/2015 9:53:14 AM PST by Gamecock
Question: "I am a Catholic. Why should I consider becoming a Christian?"
Answer: First, please understand that we intend no offense in the wording of this question. We genuinely receive questions, from Catholics, along the lines of “What is the difference between Catholics and Christians?” In face-to-face conversations with Catholics, we have literally heard, “I am not a Christian, I am Catholic.” To many Catholics, the terms “Christian” and “Protestant” are synonymous. With all that said, the intent of this article is that Catholics would study what the Bible says about being a Christian and would perhaps consider that the Catholic faith is not the best representation of what the Bible describes. As a background, please read our article on “What is a Christian?”
A key distinction between Catholics and Christians is the view of the Bible. Catholics view the Bible as having equal authority with the Church and tradition. Christians view the Bible as the supreme authority for faith and practice. The question is, how does the Bible present itself? Second Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” This text tells us that Scripture is not “just the beginning,” or “just the basics,” or the “foundation for a more complete church tradition.” On the contrary, Scripture is perfectly and fully sufficient for everything in the Christian life. Scripture can teach us, rebuke us, correct us, train us, and equip us. “Bible Christians” do not deny the value of church tradition. Rather, Christians uphold that for a church tradition to be valid, it must be based on the clear teaching of Scripture and must be in full agreement with Scripture. Catholic friend, study the Word of God for yourself. In God’s Word you will find God’s description of, and intention for, His Church. Second Timothy 2:15 declares, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
A second key difference between Catholics and Bible Christians is the understanding of how we can approach God. Catholics tend to approach God through intermediaries, such as Mary or the saints. Christians approach God directly, offering prayers to no one other than God Himself. The Bible proclaims that we ourselves can approach God’s throne of grace with boldness (Hebrews 4:16). The Bible is perfectly clear that God desires us to pray to Him, to have communication with Him, to ask Him for the things we need (Philippians 4:6; Matthew 7:7-8; 1 John 5:14-15). There is no need for mediators or intermediaries, as Christ is our one and only mediator (1 Timothy 2:5), and both Christ and the Holy Spirit are already interceding on our behalf (Romans 8:26-27; Hebrews 7:25). Catholic friend, God loves you intimately and has provided an open door to direct communication through Jesus.
The most crucial difference between Catholics and Bible Christians is on the issue of salvation. Catholics view salvation almost entirely as a process, while Christians view salvation as both a completed status and a process. Catholics see themselves as “being saved,” while Christians view themselves as “having been saved.” First Corinthians 1:2 says, “To those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy.” The words “sanctified” and “holy” come from the same Greek root. This verse is declaring that Christians are both sanctified and called to be sanctified. The Bible presents salvation as a gift that is received the moment a person places faith in Jesus Christ as Savior (John 3:16). When a person receives Christ as Savior, he/she is justified (declared righteous – Romans 5:9), redeemed (rescued from slavery to sin – 1 Peter 1:18), reconciled (achieving peace with God – Romans 5:1), sanctified (set apart for God’s purposes – 1 Corinthians 6:11), and born again as a new creation (1 Peter 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Each of these is fully accomplished at the moment of salvation. Christians are then called to live out practically (called to be holy) what is already true positionally (sanctified).
The Catholic viewpoint is that salvation is received by faith, but then must be “maintained” by good works and participation in the Sacraments. Bible Christians do not deny the importance of good works or that Christ calls us to observe the ordinances in remembrance of Him and in obedience to Him. The difference is that Christians view these things as the result of salvation, not a requirement for salvation or a means of maintaining salvation. Salvation is an accomplished work, purchased by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ (1 John 2:2). God offers us salvation and assurance of salvation because Jesus’ sacrifice was fully, completely, and perfectly sufficient. If we receive God’s precious gift of salvation, we can know that we are saved. First John 5:13 declares, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
We can know that we have eternal life, and we can have assurance of our salvation because of the greatness of Christ’s sacrifice. Christ’s sacrifice does not need to be re-offered or re-presented. Hebrews 7:27 says, “He sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered Himself.” Hebrews 10:10 declares, “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” First Peter 3:18 exclaims, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice was absolutely and perfectly sufficient. Jesus declared on the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Jesus’ atoning sacrifice was the full payment for all of our sins (1 John 2:2). As a result, all of our sins are forgiven, and we are promised eternal life in heaven the moment we receive the gift God offers us – salvation through Jesus Christ (John 3:16).
Catholic friend, do you desire this “so great salvation” (Hebrews 2:6)? If so, all you must do is receive it (John 1:12) through faith (Romans 5:1). God loves us and offers us salvation as a gift (John 3:16). If we receive His grace, by faith, we have salvation as our eternal possession (Ephesians 2:8-9). Once saved, nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). Nothing can remove us from His hand (John 10:28-29). If you desire this salvation, if you desire to have all your sins forgiven, if you desire to have assurance of salvation, if you desire direct access to the God who loves you – receive it, and it is yours. This is the salvation that Jesus died to provide and that God offers as a gift.
If you have received Jesus Christ as Savior, by faith, because of what you have read here today, please let us know by clicking on the “I have accepted Christ today” button below. Welcome to the family of God! Welcome, Catholic friend, to the Christian life!
Easy, CB. I urge you to let this one go.
I was talking about the subject, not you.
How do you know if you are short on the 'all' part of that?
Rest assured that the poster doesn't even know when hell occurs.
**Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior?**
Has he accepted you? You seem to resist his commissions, and plan for remission of sins. In other words, imo, you don’t seem to be listening to him.
Acts 2:38, it it from heaven, or of men?
Many have not been witnessed to, concerning the LORD’S detailed plan. If you don’t believe that Acts 2:38 is from the Lord, then where is it from?
I said so. Why is even this is difficult?
I thought you might be touched by this article. I have been on several retreats with Mike and have found him to be a wonderful man of faith. He is ever ready to extend a hand to help and has a long list of brothers and sisters in the Lord that he remembers in his prayers.He has several more articles you might want to check out at
I do pray from the heart. I get down on my knees in the evening by the side of my bed and read from My Daily Bread by Father Paone that my father had in Vietnam . I say a prayer of thanks to the Lord about all the great things he gave me that day. Then if I can I'll say a rosary, which I suppose you can say is "spouting memorized prayers over and over". But what it does is it focuses me to concentrate and offer each prayer in a manner that is like a discipline. To me it's like prayer pushups. Keeps my mind focused... Like This Hail Mary is for my sinfulness please forgive me as I approach death... or this Our Father is to thank you for letting me have my mother one more day.. or these Hail Mary's are offered in prayer to protect my children as they go through life..or offer them guidance to find their paths or ease their worries..
The verbiage and manner in which you write and the ability to quote scriptures to try and inflict humiliation and discomfort in me shows everybody more about yourself than about my feeble efforts to somehow please the Lord.
I have only pity for someone like yourself that is so lonely he has to troll a website to find conflict in order to justify himself. I'll pray for you and the others here that seem more intent on arguing about the number of pebbles on the beach than of the beautiful sunset on the horizon.
Take a close look at the yourself and what you wrote. Look at the spirit in which it was written. You don't have to answer to me. The Lord knows what's in your heart. He knows the intent and meaning of the words, the content and your motives. Sleep well my friend, my conscience is clear. But I can only answer to my motive, my intent, my silly prayers........, you'll have to answer for yourself.
Jesus completed the Old Covenant with the Jews and established the New covenant. Jesus ended the mosaic laws regarding eating and other matters.
Jesus gave us the miracle of the Eucharist - His Body and Blood for eternal life (still contains the accidents of bread and wine) which is much different than the Old Testament mosaic laws or even the advisory mentioned in Acts as a probable compromise so that gentiles would not be required to follow the old mosaic laws.
It is possible that CB’s strong feelings against the Catholic Church cause him to reject the words of Jesus. It seems to me that some followers prefer their own interpretations over the understanding that has been taught down by other followers of Christ over the centuries.
It is a very small school with about 272 undergraduate students and 56 graduate students. It costs $18-26,000 to attend but you can get your online degree for less, about 10K in tuition.
If that puts salve on you soul...
They posted a waiver telling us not to rely on their advice "IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER." They obviously do not want to be liable for the consequences of their answers.
It was CB’s comment. Your comment was first in brackets from CB’s response to your comment.
The Catholic Church was created by Christ on the apostles, the First bishops.
**They eat the Body and drink the Blood of Christ - as Christ taught.**
Christ taught it as symbolic, for he doesn’t reinforce your view in the commissions (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Luke 24:47; and John 20:23), or in his ordained words that Peter spoke in Acts 2:38.
In fact, the scriptures show Peter in Samaria (Acts 8), and in Cornelius house (Acts 10). Those folks obeyed the Acts 2:38 plan, but Peter doesn’t teach your ‘mass’ to them.
I believe he understood the ‘Lord’s supper’ perfectly. It’s the unspiritual folks that don’t, imo.
Everybody. Bless some olive oil in Chrirst’s name and anoint yourself with it. We are not as smart or in control of our lives as we think.
A Catholic is the original Christians that Christ founded. If this person doesn’t know they are Christian to begin with then they already had a bigger problem than converting IMO.
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