Roman Catholics (questions asked by them)

7. Don’t you think you are presumptuous by affirming that you are saved and that when you die you will go immediately to heaven?

No, we don’t think we are presumptuous by affirming these things. For the Scripture authorizes us to make these statements, in that the Scripture says: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8), and also: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). Therefore, as you can see, the apostles wrote that we who have believed are saved and have eternal life. How can you then accuse us of presumptuousness because we simply say to you what the Bible says to us? And not only what the Bible says to us, but also what the Spirit of God testifies to us, for the Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17). We who have believed in the Lord have the testimony of God in our hearts which is this: “That God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (1 John 5:11). We have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed and therefore I spoke (2 Corinthians 4:13), therefore since we have believed in the Lord, we also speak about what He has done for us in His mercy, and about what He will do for us because we are sure that He who raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us before God. To Him be the glory now and forever. Amen.

Instead, you, Roman Catholics, are presumptuous by saying that eternal life must be gained and you are doing every effort to deserve it, for since the Bible states that eternal life is the gift of God (Romans 6:23) and that we are justified freely by the grace of God through faith in Christ (Romans 3:24), it is obvious that to affirm the opposite is presumptuousness. You speak as if God were selling eternal life, as if He gave eternal life in return for some good works or for some human sacrifices, but that’s not true. If it were as you think, Christ died in vain and His grace would be worthless. Therefore, reflect seriously upon your presumptuous words, repent of your wicked words and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to receive salvation from sin and eternal life. Otherwise when you die, you will go to hell.

Back