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| The Scapular |
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works so that no one can boast."--Ephesians 2:8
When he was asked one day to explain the type of works God requires to open heaven's gates to eternal life, Jesus Christ gave this answer: "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." (John 6:29)
With that statement, Christ eliminated every religious system that mandates works as essential for eternal life. Christ made that statement 2,000 years ago, and yet his words today are largely ignored and forgotten.
For example, the Roman Catholic Church, which is considered by many to be the only legitimate voice of Christianity on earth, denies what Christ said. The Catholic Church mandates baptism, church membership and adherence to its sacramental system of works as necessary for salvation.
In defiance of what Christ taught concerning the free gift of eternal life through faith alone, the Catholic Church proclaims this: "If any one saith, that the justice received is not preserved and also increased before God through good works; but that the said works are merely the fruits and signs of Justification obtained, but not a cause of the increase thereof; let him be anathema." COUNCIL OF TRENT: SIXTH SESSION, CANONS CONCERNING JUSTIFICATION CANON XXIV
http://blog.guidedbytruth.com/anathema.php
And so, the Roman Catholic Church pronounces a curse upon everyone who believes what Christ taught. In doing so, the Catholic Church has called Christ a liar.
Concerning salvation, Christ said this: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) And he said this: "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." (John 10:27-28)
Certainly, Roman Catholicism isn't the only religious system that promotes works as the path to eternal life. Islam and Rabbinic Judaism also promote works as do the Jehovah's Witnesses and The Mormon Church.
In addition to works, many of these religious systems also mandate sacred clothing as essential for obtaining righteousness and God's blessings. The Catholic Church mandates such items as scapulars and medals; Mormonism mandates special undergarments while Rabbinic Judaism mandates yarmulkes, tassels (tzitzit) and tallits.
However, no works, religious medals, pendants or clothing have any power to protect us or bring about righteousness. That comes strictly by being born again by faith in Jesus Christ. When we are born again through Christ, His Holy Spirit indwells us to regenerate our souls and mold us into the righteous human beings that God originally created us to be.
Thus, salvation is a free gift from God that cannot be earned, bought, inherited or acquired through exhaustive learning. Any religious system that claims otherwise doesn't speak the truth.
And you can be sure that any religious system that promotes works and adherence to traditions, customs and rituals as the path to heaven will send its adherents to hell. Every time.
In defiance of what Christ taught concerning the free gift of eternal life through faith alone, the Catholic Church proclaims this: "If any one saith, that the justice received is not preserved and also increased before God through good works; but that the said works are merely the fruits and signs of Justification obtained, but not a cause of the increase thereof; let him be anathema." COUNCIL OF TRENT: SIXTH SESSION, CANONS CONCERNING JUSTIFICATION CANON XXIV
http://blog.guidedbytruth.com/anathema.php
And so, the Roman Catholic Church pronounces a curse upon everyone who believes what Christ taught. In doing so, the Catholic Church has called Christ a liar.
Concerning salvation, Christ said this: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) And he said this: "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." (John 10:27-28)
Certainly, Roman Catholicism isn't the only religious system that promotes works as the path to eternal life. Islam and Rabbinic Judaism also promote works as do the Jehovah's Witnesses and The Mormon Church.
In addition to works, many of these religious systems also mandate sacred clothing as essential for obtaining righteousness and God's blessings. The Catholic Church mandates such items as scapulars and medals; Mormonism mandates special undergarments while Rabbinic Judaism mandates yarmulkes, tassels (tzitzit) and tallits.
However, no works, religious medals, pendants or clothing have any power to protect us or bring about righteousness. That comes strictly by being born again by faith in Jesus Christ. When we are born again through Christ, His Holy Spirit indwells us to regenerate our souls and mold us into the righteous human beings that God originally created us to be.
Thus, salvation is a free gift from God that cannot be earned, bought, inherited or acquired through exhaustive learning. Any religious system that claims otherwise doesn't speak the truth.
And you can be sure that any religious system that promotes works and adherence to traditions, customs and rituals as the path to heaven will send its adherents to hell. Every time.
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