Preparing for Eternity – Mike Gendron
(also available in Spanish) This new book will equip and encourage Christians to proclaim the glorious Gospel of grace to Catholics and also persuade Roman Catholics to trust the Word of God over the teachings and traditions of their church. The book is rich with Scripture and begins by laying a biblical foundation for truth and authority. It pleads with Catholics to work out their salvation with fear and trembling by examining the biblical requirements for salvation, how sins are forgiven and how they can know eternal life is secured by God. After years of experience in witnessing to Catholics, author Mike Gendron answers over 100 commonly asked questions by Catholics. Each question is answered with the power and confidence of God’s word. Any Catholic who is earnestly seeking the truth will welcome a copy of this book.
Please watch the following videos to understand the difference between the Roman Catholic pathway to salvation versus the Biblical and only pathway to salvation.
CARM
The following information is courtesy of Christian Apologetics and Research Ministries (CARM).
It is my prayer that a Catholic will read and study this information and be led to true salvation in Jesus Christ. Man, traditions, liturgies, works, or the pope cannot save you; it is only by the shed blood of Jesus Christ alone by the grace of God alone through faith alone.
Introduction
- Why is it Necessary to Write about Roman Catholicism? video
- Roman Catholic Terminology
- The Gospel for Roman Catholics
- Check out the Cut and Paste section on Roman Catholicism
- Testimonies of ex-Roman Catholic priests
- Is Roman Catholicism and Christianity the same thing?
Apocrypha
- The Apocrypha: Is it scripture?
- Errors in the Apocrypha
- Reasons why the Apocrypha does not belong in the Bible
Catechism of the Catholic Church
- The CCC paragraph 460 and becoming a god
- The CCC paragraphs 862, 883, 896, 939 and following the bishops no matter what
- The CCC paragraphs 2010, 2027, 2068 and gaining eternal life by works
Eucharist
Indulgences
Mary
- Mary
- The Exaltation of Mary
- Did Mary have other children?
- Mary’s Virginity and Matt. 1:25
- Mary, full of grace, and Luke 1:28
- Mary as the subject of preaching and worship
- A Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- The Bodily Assumption of Mary
- Roman Catholicism, Mary, and Idolatry
- Roman Catholicism, Comparing Mary to God
Mass
Papacy, the
- Is Peter the rock on which the Church is built?
- Is Peter supreme among the Apostles?
- Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Pope Pius XI
Penance
Purgatory
Salvation
- Are Roman Catholics Christian? video
- Are we saved by faith alone, or do we need works, too?
- Council of Trent. Canons on Justification
- The Roman Catholic view on justification
- Response to criticism of The Roman Catholic view on justification.
- Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Pope Pius XI
- Radio show on Roman Catholicism and justification
Scripture and Tradition
- Infallibility, Fallibility, and the Roman Catholic Church
- Roman Catholicism, the Bible, and Tradition
- Roman Catholicism, Sola Ecclesia, Tradition, and Romans 14
- Sola Scriptura: Is the Bible alone Sufficient?
- Are the Scriptures Sufficient?
- Did the Roman Catholic church give us our Bible?
- Tradition in the New Testament and 1 Cor. 11:2
- Tradition in the New Testament and 2 Thess. 2:15
- Tradition in the New Testament and 2 Thess. 3:6
Other
- Church History Outline
- Roman Catholicism and the art of equivocation
- What is the stigmata?
- Anathema
- Comparison Grid between Catholicism and LDS and JW’s
- Is the Catholic Catechism’s view on the Muslim god wrong?
- Is praying to the saints, biblical? video
- Why do Roman Catholics believe what they do?
- Sorcery in the Roman Catholic Church
Alex Nagy
September 19, 2011
Thanks for this resource. (:
Justin Edwards
September 19, 2011
Sure thing, Alex.
Thomas S. Barnes
September 27, 2011
Justin, the videos are excellent so far. Great resource brother.
Justin Edwards
September 28, 2011
Praise the Lord, brother. Great to see you again and thanks for the feedback.
David
October 24, 2011
If I had time I would refute your site point by point. But your understanding of what Catholic teaching is is not what Catholic teaching is.
Justin Edwards
October 24, 2011
I presume you are Catholic, David? I welcome you to “refute” anything you see on my website as long as you are respectful when doing so. Catholic teaching can be boiled down to this according to their own Council of Trent:
CANON 9: “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.”
They are thus condemned by Galatians 1:8-9. This is essentially all one needs to know regarding the apostate Roman Catholic Church.
Thomas S. Barnes
October 24, 2011
I was reading a good article today on whether ‘Catholics are Christians’ and it was very informational on Catholicism. This is written from a former Catholic priest. I think Catholic doctrines put them outside of Biblical Christianity.
http://www.bereanbeacon.org/articles/sorted/01_On_Catholicism/Are_Catholics_Christians.pdf
David
October 25, 2011
Christianity, especially the original Christianity, boils down to two thing. Did Jesus mean what he said in the gospels? and Did Paul give a good representation of what Christ taught him on the road to Damascus?
If you say that the answer is Yes to both, then Catholicism is true.
Justin Edwards
October 25, 2011
Philippians 3:9 “and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;”
That is what Paul taught based on the revelation from the glorified Christ:
Galatians 1:11 “But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
David
October 26, 2011
Justin, yes, our faith, in fact our very existence, comes as a gift from God, not through anything we do. Even our works, as in “Faith without works is dead”, are gifts from God. Jesus Himself says “Do this in memory of me.” So Christianity is a religion of action, not just of belief. Did you know that the Devil himself believes that Jesus Christ is Lord? But how do we apply what Christ did and taught in our own lives? Do we live it? Do we do works of mercy? Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give alms to the poor, etc? We must, if we are to consider ourselves friends of Christ.
Justin Edwards
October 26, 2011
We do not work to be saved, we work because we are saved. There is an eternal difference, David. The question is, are you trusting in your works for salvation, or are you trusting in the work of Christ alone for your salvation? It cannot be both.
David
October 26, 2011
I trust Christ to inspire me to do good works. Christ did not say “Believe this in memory of me.” He said “Do this…” Christianity is the religion of action. Love is an action, it’s not an emotion. I agree, we work because we are saved. You’re the one saying we think we work to be saved. It’s an endless loop. Christ saved us first, then we work to do the works he inspired. If we end it at Christ saved us, we’re not really saved, by our own lack of action.
Justin Edwards
October 26, 2011
You didn’t answer my question, David. Are you trusting in your works for salvation, or are you trusting in the work of Christ alone for your salvation? It cannot be both.
Justin Edwards
October 26, 2011
A follow-up question if I may: if God asks you on judgment day why He should allow you into heaven, what will you say?
David
October 27, 2011
I don’t believe God will ask me. I believe he will show me. When you get to that meeting with God, it’s too late.
Justin Edwards
October 27, 2011
You are correct. If you die in your sin and self-righteousness, then He will show you that you are naked, and He will promptly throw you into hell. That is why you need something, or rather Someone, to vouch for you.
David
October 27, 2011
I did answer. I said “I trust Christ…”
Justin Edwards
October 27, 2011
No, you didn’t say that. You said, “If we end it at Christ saved us, we’re not really saved, by our own lack of action” Which means “I trust Christ, but…” That “but” has eternal ramifications, and they are not good.
Thomas S. Barnes
October 26, 2011
Catholic doctrine does not teach ‘Faith Alone = Justification’ but ‘Faith + Works = Justification’ which is no salvation at all. RCC is not Christian. It’s Doctrines put them outside of Biblical Christianity.
I really recommend reading the article from an Ex-Catholic Priest:
Are Catholics Christian? – http://www.bereanbeacon.org/articles/sorted/01_On_Catholicism/Are_Catholics_Christians.pdf
David
October 27, 2011
Rather than talking past each other, please define what you mean by “justification”?
I already know about bereanbeacon.org, and have read some of his bloviating. But I don’t see it that way, and coming from someone who was a revolutionist and came to the Catholic Church, I think I know where we stand.
Much of the time, what has happened is that you protestants have changed what a word means to suit your own theology, and thus we talk past each other.
Thomas S. Barnes
October 27, 2011
Justification simply put is how we are justified before God.
Catholic doctrine teaches Faith + works to be justified. I am not saying you believe this, but if you follow the Catholic teachings then as Justin said you are not born again.
“For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” ~ 2Co 11:4
There is no power in any other Gospel.
David
October 27, 2011
When you use a word to define the same word, you create confusion.
Justification-A biblio-ecclesiastical term; which denotes the transforming of the sinner from the state of unrighteousness to the state of holiness and sonship of God. Considered as an act (actus justificationis), justification is the work of God alone, presupposing, however, on the part of the adult the process of justification and the cooperation of his free will with God’s preventing and helping grace (gratia praeveniens et cooperans). Considered as a state or habit (habitus justificationis), it denotes the continued possession of a quality inherent in the soul, which theologians aptly term sanctifying grace.
Only such faith as is active in charity and good works possesses any power to justify man (cf. Galatians 5:6; 1 Corinthians 13:2), whilst faith devoid of charity and good works is a dead faith and in the eyes of God insufficient for justification (cf. James 2:17 and following). The Epistles of both Apostles deal with different subjects, neither with direct relation to the other. St. James insists on the necessity of works of Christian charity, while St. Paul intends to show that neither the observance of the Jewish Law nor the merely natural good works of the pagans are of any value for obtaining the grace of justification.
2Cor 11:4, exactly. We preach what Jesus preached, and only what Jesus preached, and taught to his apostles. Protestants changed things.
Thomas S. Barnes
October 27, 2011
So in your view are Protestants Christians?
David
October 28, 2011
Yes, they have some of the truth. In fact, all religions have some truth. Catholics have the entire truth, though.
Justin Edwards
October 27, 2011
From Strong’s Concordance, δικαιόω, or dikaioō, justification means:
1) to render righteous or such he ought to be
2) to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered
3) to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be
How can God justify the wicked? Romans 3:34-26 has the answer:
“[we] are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
If God has mercy on sinners without His justice being satisfied, He would be more wicked than the sinners who stand condemned before Him. This is why God cannot just overlook your sin. He cannot give you mercy at the expense of His justice. His justice will have either been served by crushing a man for eternity with His holy wrath, or His justice will have been served by crushing Jesus under His holy wrath for that man’s sins. God’s wrath MUST have been satisfied through Christ if man is to have hope. However, the same sin cannot be suffered by both Christ and man. It will have been punished either on the cross by Christ, or in hell for eternity by the sinner. Christ is the penal substitutionary atonement for His people.
This is why we must trust that Christ’s blood is sufficient to cover our sins. Our infinite offenses against an infinitely holy God can only be satisfied by an infinite Being with infinite worth. Christ, as God, is the only One capable of sustaining His own wrath, and Christ, as man, is the only man of infinite worth capable of satisfying His own wrath.
You cannot atone for your sin, David. Nor can you pay the penalty of your sin except that be an eternity in hell. Repent and believe the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
David
October 28, 2011
Regarding justification, Exactly! That’s what I said.
So is justification an inner change of person or a declaration of God?
Is it a one-time event, or an on-going series of events?
Justin Edwards
October 28, 2011
It is a declaration from God declaring the guilty not guilty based on the righteousness of Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. This comes by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (see Romans 3:24-26). It is a one time event and is considered past tense such as in 1 Corinthians 6:11:
“And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
The inner change, known as regeneration or being born again, comes before justification because we cannot repent and believe unless we are first made alive. It is a work of God alone for salvation is of the Lord alone. See this: http://airocross.com/2011/10/26/10-reasons-the-holy-spirit-sovereignly-draws-men-to-salvation/
David
October 28, 2011
Psalm 51 says otherwise. God is powerful enough to blot out our sins and remove them.
Isaiah 1:18 – though my sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though red like crimson, they shall be like wool.
Isaiah 43:25 – I am He who blots out your transgressions and forgets your sins.
Acts 3:19 – Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away,
Finally, if works are not needed for our salvation, why 1 Cor 3:13-15
the work of each will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire (itself) will test the quality of each one’s work. If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage. But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.
God wipes out our sins, he doesn’t just cover them over. And we must do good works that will be judged when the day comes.
So like most of our Catholic Protestant misunderstandings, you have changed what the term means.
David
October 28, 2011
<> MODERATOR EDIT – Sorry David, no copy and paste jobs.
Justin Edwards
October 27, 2011
Sola Scriptura | Soli Deo Gloria | Solo Christo | Sola Gratia | Sola Fide
brdavision
December 15, 2011
The only one seeming to talk past someone here is you David. Brother Edwards clearly presented what the Holy Scriptures declare concerning justification and you come back at him with copy and paste quotes, here-say, or scriptures taken out of context. The question that must be answered here is: “What does the word of God say?”
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1
Paul specifically says justification comes by faith alone, and because of that faith in Christ Alone we have peace with God.
Mark Cassidy
March 14, 2012
Justin, will you be modifying this page (or the links therein) in the light of Rick Santorum’s poll-topping efforts in Alabama and Mississippi?
It would seem that large swathes of your ‘flock’ cannot comprehend the message that Catholicism is not a Christian faith.
Justin Edwards
March 14, 2012
Hi Mark, I’m not following you. Catholicism is not a part of Christianity, so what do you mean?
Mark Cassidy
March 14, 2012
I just find it hilarious that so many of an evangelical persuasion are voting for a practising Catholic. Clearly they care as little about your absurd nostrum as I do.
Justin Edwards
March 14, 2012
Mark, you are welcome to not visit here, but if you choose to and comment, please do away with the snide remarks that profit nothing. My question for you is what do you believe happens when someone dies?
Thomas S. Barnes
March 14, 2012
Folks just are not informed. Maybe I should start posting this page all over twitter/facebook so people can learn the TRUTH about Catholicism. Good idea Mark.
Justin Edwards
March 14, 2012
Yes, good idea, brother.
Mark Cassidy
March 15, 2012
Thanks Thomas.
Your assertions could indeed do with being exposed to a wider audience; I’m content that people draw their own conclusions. But capitalising a word does not make it more (or less) true – it’s the written equivalent of shouting.
Thomas S. Barnes
March 15, 2012
Hey Mark, When I capitalize TRUTH it is not intended to be shouting at you, but proclaiming the very nature of God. The bible does not tell us He is True, but He is TRUTH. So, the Bible is TRUTH and denounces catholicism. Are you Catholic?
Mark Cassidy
March 16, 2012
Not quite. I’m a Pelagian, and so – like yourself – would be regarded as a heretic.
Thomas S. Barnes
March 16, 2012
You are the first person I have ever spoken to that professed they were Pelagian. Do you define that as not needing God at all for Salvation? Or would you fall under the camp that you and God work together for your salvation.
Regards,
Thomas
Mark Cassidy
March 16, 2012
The latter.
Justin Edwards
March 16, 2012
Hey Mark, would you mind explaining what the Gospel is?
Mark
March 16, 2012
You need me to explain it to you? Now that is disingenuous.
Justin Edwards
March 16, 2012
I think you’re trolling, Mark.
Nitoy Gonzales
August 18, 2012
amen this collection is great God bless u!!!