An Invitation

This was not written to attack or criticize Catholic people. Having been born and raised as a Roman Catholic, I understand how average Catholics think and feel about their religion.

Two factors motivated the writing of this book. First, to expose the fact that Roman Catholicism is not Biblical. It is a religion comprised of traditions of men which violate scripture at every turn.

Secondly, I would love for you to experience the freedom and peace I found when I broke free from the bondages of the Catholic church by placing my hope for salvation in Jesus Christ alone.

Tens of thousands of other former Catholics have experienced this same freedom and peace.

As I mentioned, I was born and raised a Roman Catholic. At birth, I was baptized. I also received my First Communion and Confirmation. During grade school, I attended weekly religious instruction classes and attended Mass each Sunday. I confessed my sins to a priest and regularly received Communion.

At age 18, I enlisted in the United States Navy, leaving home and the Catholic church behind. While in the military, a friend invited me to a non-Catholic church. Though somewhat resistant, I agreed to try it once.

That first service was one I will never forget. When the pastor preached, he seemed to be talking straight at me. He concluded his sermon by inviting those who wanted to repent of their sins and be saved to come up front.

My heart began pounding like a jackhammer. I knew something powerful was going on but I felt frozen in my seat.

The pastor ended the service that morning with these words, "I believe that someone said no to Jesus today. I pray you won' t die before you have another opportunity to receive Him or you will spend eternity separated from God." I knew he was talking to me.

Within seconds, the pounding stopped. I knew that God had spoken to - and I had said no:

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20

A couple of days later that same friend invited me to the next church service. I could hardly wait. Again, the pastor preached and again the pounding in my chest began as his sermon came to a close. When the pastor gave the invitation, I bolted out of my seat.

A young man at the front opened his Bible and showed me how I could receive the gift of eternal life. He read me verses, showing that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. He explained how Jesus had paid the full price for our sins on the cross.

He told me that I could repent of my sins and by faith ask Jesus to come into my heart and be my own personal Lord and Savior.

In my own words, I admitted to God that I was a sinner who deserved hell, but that I wanted to go to heaven. Then I invited Jesus Christ to come into my heart and save me.

I can't explain the feeling, but it was like a thousand pound weight was hoisted off my shoulders. Instantly, I knew that I had been set free. I knew that Jesus had come into my heart and had made me a brand new person. A lifetime of good works could never have accomplished the miracle that took place in those few moments.

It has been over twenty years since that day, and though I have failed the Lord many times, He has never failed me or left me. He is more real and more precious to me today than ever. I would not trade places with anyone or give up my relationship with Jesus for anything this world has to offer.

Precious Roman Catholic, that same freedom and joy is available to you. You can receive Jesus as your Savior right now. You have heard the truth and now you can be made free:

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32

The wonderful goodness of God is leading you to repentance and salvation:

"Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" Romans 2:4

God wants you to be saved today:

"...behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6:2

If you would like to become a child of God, just bow your head and talk to God from your heart. In your own words, pray something like this:

"Dear Jesus, I admit that I'm a sinner. I repent of all my sins and I ask you to come into my heart and save me. I repent of trusting in a false religion that demands good works for salvation. I now see that You paid the full price for all my sins on the cross. I reject the teachings of Catholicism and I place my trust in you alone.

From now on the final authority in my life will be Your Word, not the traditions of the Catholic church.

Thank you, Lord, for saving me and for giving me the gift of eternal life. In Jesus' name, Amen."

If you just prayed a prayer like that and really meant it, God's Word promises that you were just born into God's family:

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" John 1:12

My friend, this entire book was written so you could hear and be convinced by God of the truth of this message. Please receive the gift of eternal life. Only then will you be able to experience the joy and peace of knowing that your sins are forgiven.

My prayer is twofold:

First, that you will begin a personal relationship with God and experience true freedom that is only available in Christ. Secondly, that you will be set free from the bondage of the Catholic church. This book was not written to criticize you, but to lead you to these wonderful truths. May God bless you as you begin your new life in Him:

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17

-- Casey Simpson (csimpson@sympatico.ca), January 22, 2001

Answers

Hey! Would someone give a good knock to the record-player? The needle is stuck again. I keep hearing the same boring melody over and over again.
[Man, these pitiable, misguided apostates sure do know how to do one thing well -- copy-and-paste their stock phony "testimonies" from the sites of Jack Chick and similar bigots. Definitely a D-minus for creativity this time.]

May God forgive them.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), January 22, 2001.

Casey:

I envy you, you and others like you, I really do! "I knew I had been set free!" What a statement! "Once saved, always saved!" I wish I could accept that. But my God says it's not that easy. My God tells me we have to be ever-vigilant! He tells me it's a constant battle, but if I hang in there, the rewards are "heavenly"!

God bless you,

Ed

-- Ed Lauzon (grader@accglobal.net), January 22, 2001.

Dear Casey-- If you ''broke free'' from the bondage of the Catholic Church at 18 by having Jesus come into your heart, and repenting your sins, how were you in the Church for the first 18 years, going to confession and communion etc., but NOT willing to receive Jesus and repent your sins, --even in confession? Your cart is before your horse, I think. I'm an old Catholic, and had that same upbringing. I always knew I had Jesus in my heart. I sinned, but repented; I was forgiven in turn. You couldn't accomplish that? Didn't you try?

You just needed that Preacher-Man to lead you to salvation, and take you to Jesus, huh? While you were a good Catholic, it never ocurred to you you ''needed Jesus--'' OK-- Now you're coming in here, to fight for the Jesus of the Bible. You are sure these sons of Satan, these Catholics, will LIE-- and tell you, OH NO, Casey! You don't need any Jesus!!! Just rely on this bogus Church, the bogus Pope, etc., Why should you or me need Jesus? --You think that's what's in here?

Casey, you came to the right place. Stay connected, because if you're still here in a month, we'll accept you back into the Church of the Holy Apostles and Jesus Christ. You are that ''Big Fish'' the holy Cure of Ars was always talking about. I want to make you my fish. You came to just the right place, don't be afraid!

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), January 22, 2001.

John, Ed, Eugene,

You too can be set free and really know Jesus in a personal way. However you are so tied to your traditions and fallacies of Catholicsm that you cannot see clearly. Just trust in the Lord, pray and ask Him to show you the truth and He will.

-- Casey Simpson (csimpson@sympatico.ca), January 22, 2001.

My posts must be growing in stature! I feel honoured to be included with the likes of Messrs. Chavez and Gecik! But you are correct about one thing Casey, I could NEVER walk out on the Church, for one reason: the Eucharist! No one else has Him!

God bless,

Ed

-- Ed Lauzon (grader@accglobal.net), January 22, 2001.

Ed,

With regard to your Eucharist, what does the Lord say? "The flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit".

-- Casey Simpson (csimpson@sympatico.ca), January 22, 2001.

Swing and a miss, Casey: Our Lord said in NOuncertain terms, ''Take and eat of it; This is my Body'' (Matt, 26:27) --That's strike ONE, Mighty Casey.

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), January 22, 2001.

Dear Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ;
Through the holy intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Thy Mother, and of Thy holy apostles, with our patron Saint James, grant us the conversion and salvation of Casey our Brother-- Amen!

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), January 22, 2001.

Greetings: Praise God for Casey and the others who truly know Jesus now. Dont be surprised by the fiery trial, walk by fath in Jesus he will continue to lead. Those who mock and oppose you are the same ones that reject Jesus. be encouraged brothers and sisters the truth has set you free, the spiritual truth, from earthly wisdom.May God continue to bringdown the walls of deception. Have you read in your Bibles about Jericho, let us rejoice in Jesus and the walls will fall down. Do not eat fless with blood in it Gods word say, why have people thinking in their minde that their drinking Jesus's blood. when he commanded not to. To get people to break a comaanment you have hide it-Gods word does say Satan is crafty-- tahnk God for Jesus

-- Jesus saved me Alex (Jesusislife@christianemail.com), January 22, 2001.

Greetings: Praise God for Casey and the others who truly know Jesus now. Dont be surprised by the fiery trial, walk by fath in Jesus he will continue to lead. Those who mock and oppose you are the same ones that reject Jesus. be encouraged brothers and sisters the truth has set you free, the spiritual truth, from earthly wisdom.May God continue to bringdown the walls of deception. Have you read in your Bibles about Jericho, let us rejoice in Jesus and the walls will fall down. Do not eat fless with blood in it Gods word say, why have people thinking in their minde that their drinking Jesus's blood. when he commanded not to. To get people to break a comaanment you have hide it-Gods word does say Satan is crafty-- thank God for Jesus

-- Jesus saved me Alex (Jesusislife@christianemail.com), January 22, 2001.

Eugene,

Save your non-biblical prayers for someone else. I am already saved; are you?

-- Casey Simpson (csimpson@sympatico.ca), January 23, 2001.

Hi Alex Jr!
Look what the cat dragged in!
So, you and Casey At the Bat are soul-brothers? Well, AlexJr-- Matt:26, 28; A note from Our Saviour-'' Take this and drink, it is the cup ofMy Blood, the Blood of the New Covenant . . .'' Why don't you read the Gospel of Matthew from beginning to end, Alex Jr? I'm surprised Casey and you never saw it before.

Jesus is in all of it-- and you claim to follow Him. The Catholic Church of the Holy Apostles is not afraid to drink the Precious Blood of Jesus-- He told us clearly:(John 6: 56-57) ''For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, abides in me and I in him.'' --Do you know the real meaning of the English ''INDEED'', Alex Jr? It means ''No kidding!'' The real thing! Learn to speak English, Junior. Or you'll never graduate from High School.

Does Jesus abide in YOU? I pray He will, soon!
*Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Apostles of Our Lord Jesus Christ, with the ''Brother of the Lord'' , Our Patron and Protector, Holy Saint James* Thank You, Lord!--Amen /

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), January 23, 2001.

Dear Casey,

Your testimony is wonderful. Praise God !!

My heart was pounding a little faster when I read it.

May God bless you in an awesome, powerful way!

Love in Christ, Susan

-- SSM (non-catholic follower of Jesus Christ) (heartwjesus@yahoo.com), January 23, 2001.

Dear Alex,

I thank God for your FIRE. Praise God!!

Love in Christ, Susan

-- SSM (non-catholic follower of Jesus Christ) (heartwjesus@yahoo.com), January 23, 2001.

Jmj

Hi, Eugene.
You are slaying me, man, with that "grade A material." [Swing and a miss, Casey (at the bat)].
Don't worry, sir. Casey and Alex are not "soul-brothers." Since they are both "sola scriptura soloists," you can leave 'em in a room to "talk shop," and they will be fighting tooth and nail about several doctrines within an hour. (May they come to their senses some day!)

Now, a serious point ...
Casey wrote: "With regard to your Eucharist, what does the Lord say? 'The flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit.'"
Eugene, you were definitely right to mention, "Take and eat. This is my Body."
But that leaves Casey without an understanding of the verse he quoted. It's amazing the way fundies will quote that one verse from John 6, but ignore all the much-repeated, insistent words of Jesus commanding the consumption of the his Body and Blood -- and ignore the fact that many of his disciples deserted Jesus because of this "hard saying."
And so, if Casey's verse does not mean what he thought it meant, what does it mean?
As I said, Jesus repeatedly instructed the people to eat and drink him, warning those who did not do so that they would not have life. He ends the string of admonitions by saying, at vv. 55-56 -- (and, watch this, Junior): "For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him." Again and again, he has emphasized the paramount importance of eating his "flesh."
Then, at v. 63, after John's intervening commentary about the disloyal disciples, Jesus speaks again, saying, "It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life."
Jesus is God. He is not going to contradict himself. He is not going to say repeatedly that eating his "flesh" is absolutely vital ... only to turn around and say that it is "of no avail"!!! People who don't get themselves in trouble by following "sola scriptura" can learn the proper meaning of verse 63. Jesus is not speaking of HIS flesh in that verse, but is using the word "flesh" metaphorically, to refer to OUR weak human nature, our tendency to look at things from a materialistic standpoint, and especially our five senses. He is telling the doubtful disciples that they won't be able to trust their own "flesh" about the Eucharist (which will still look like bread and wine) -- but must trust in the Holy Spirit for the faith to believe Christ's repeated assurances that it will actually be his Flesh and Blood.

St. James, pray for us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, beloved mother of God, pray for us.
God bless you.
John


-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), January 23, 2001.

I love your bold and clear defense of the Words of Our Saviour, John. You have wisdom and grace from the Holy Spirit, and I invoke the holy intercession of Our Lady's Immaculate Heart, and of St. James the Apostle, for the Mercy of Jesus Christ. He it is that makes saints out of abject sinners; Sacred Heart of Jesus, we adore Thee!

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), January 23, 2001.

!Muchisimas gracias, amigo Eugenio!
To God be the glory. JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), January 23, 2001.

to J. F. Gecik,

JOHN 6 VERSES 1 THROUGH 21

In this first part of the chapter Jesus feeds 5,000 people with just five barley loaves and two little fish.

JOHN 6 VERSES 22 THROUGH 25

The following day, the people went looking for Jesus.

JOHN 6 VERSES 26 THROUGH 27

When the people found Jesus, He told them that they didn't look for Him because of the miracle they had just experienced. They came looking for Him because they wanted some more food (v. 26). Then He told them not to labour for the meat that perishes but for the meat which would give them everlasting life. Jesus said He would give to them.

JOHN 6 VERSES 28 THROUGH 29

Then the people said, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?"

Jesus' response in v. 29 is very important to understand...

"This is the work of God, that ye BELIEVE on him whom he hath sent."

JOHN 6 VERSES 30 THROUGH 31

Look at the hardness of the peoples' hearts in v. 30. They said, "What SIGN shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?" Did you see it? Only the day before He performed that huge miracle before them and they totally ignored it saying, "Show us something so we'll believe you". They did not believe in Jesus.

Then in v. 31 the people mention how their fathers, the Israelites, ate manna in the desert. Remember God fed them out there for 40 years. The people now wanted Jesus to feed them all the food they wanted.

JOHN 6 VERSES 32 THROUGH 33

Jesus then told them that God is giving them the TRUE bread from heaven. Jesus told them "The bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven and GIVETH LIFE unto the world." In other words, Jesus is the bread that gives nourishment to the world. But what kind of nourishment? We shall soon see.

JOHN 6 VERSES 34 THROUGH 35

Then the people said, "Lord, evermore give us this bread." Jesus responded by telling them, "I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE: he that COMETH TO ME shall never hunger; and he that BELIEVETH ON ME shall never thirst."

We all know that no physical bread can make us full for the rest of our lives and no physical drink can quench our thirst for the rest of our lives. Then what did He mean? We shall soon see.

JOHN 6 VERSES 36 THROUGH 40

Jesus then plainly tells the people that even though they had SEEN Him they did not believe in Him. In verse 40 He told them once again, "And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and BELIEVETH on him, may have everlasting life."

Jesus said if we come to Him and BELIEVE in Him we will get everlasting life just like eating physical bread gives us physical life. The people were talking about physical life, Jesus was talking about the spiritual--where we will spend eternal life.

JOHN 6 VERSES 41 THROUGH 42

The people didn't want to hear this believing business because they didn't believe in Him. They murmured at him because he said that he was the bread that came down from heaven. They started thinking back about His supposed family (Joseph was not His father). They basically said in verse 42, "We know his mother and father. How can he say he came down from heaven?"

JOHN 6 VERSES 43 THROUGH 47

Jesus then told the people that anyone who hears and learns from God the Father will come to Him, others won't. He told them what they needed to do and they ignored it and even got indignant about it. Once again Jesus tells them what to do, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that BELIEVETH on me hath everlasting life."

JOHN 6 VERSES 48 THROUGH 51 -- THE BREAKDOWN

Now Jesus breaks it all the way down in these verses. These greedy ol' people were just concerned with having their stomach's full so He spoke to them on that level which seemed to be the only they could understand. He basically told them, "Your fathers ate manna and they are DEAD. I am the living bread, eat me and YOU WILL LIVE FOREVER. My body is the bread I will give for the life of the world."

What did He mean by eat me?

Remember He told them that the work of God was to BELIEVE on Jesus.

To believe is to accept, internalize, and absorb which is what eating is--allowing an outside substance to come inside of you. But unlike physical bread which is eaten and cast out through the digestive system, the spiritual bread, the word of God, is eaten/internalized through belief and never cast out. It remains inside of us. In verse 58, Jesus explains that when we eat Him it is "NOT as your fathers did eat manna and are dead". It is not the same kind of eating. It is INTERNALIZING, ACCEPTING, BELIEVING HIM.

Jesus' flesh is food because His flesh was crucified on the cross to pay for our death penalty of hell and the lake of fire--this is eternal death. If we believe that this happened and confess Him we will not experience spiritual death. We will go to heaven--this is eternal life. Believing/internalizing/eating this fact gives us eternal life. We need physical bread to stay alive, we need belief in His sacrifice (spiritual bread) so we can live forever.

What about the blood? Jesus blood is drink because the shedding of blood is required to forgive our sins. The blood forgives our sins and washes them away forever so we can live with a Holy and Just God who NEVER sins and can't live with sin. Hebrews 9:22 says blood is required in order to get forgiveness of sins/remission,

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. Once again, if we accept Jesus, internalize Him, yea eat Him, we have ETERNAL LIFE. The people were talking about physical life, Jesus was talking about SPIRITUAL life. Remember, when asked what we have to do to do the works of God, Jesus said,

"He that BELIEVETH on me hath everlasting LIFE." When we believe on Jesus Christ, He actually lives inside of us, never to be purged like physical bread like the eucharist which goes out in the dung! A Catholic who holds to the eucharist as being Jesus says that my God is in their feces! Ridiculous.

Because I believe, Jesus lives in me.

JOHN 6 VERSES 52 THROUGH 69

This caused the unbelieving Jews to say, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" They are still thinking about physical life and physical bread. Jesus is talking about spiritual life and spiritual bread. He has told them over and over that the work of God is to believe on Him and they repeatedly refuse to believe on Him and persist in seeking physical bread.

In v. 55, Jesus said, "My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed." Many people were offended at the thought of what they perceived as cannibalism. Because of their unbelief, they were still thinking in the physical realm.

What about the disciples that left him? Was it because they had to literally eat His flesh and drink His blood? No! They left because they did not believe the claims that Jesus made just like the greedy people who didn't believe either. Because they did not believe, they could not understand what Jesus was saying (see I Cor 2:14).

In verse 63, Jesus asked the disciples that murmured, "Doth this offend you? It is the SPIRIT that quickeneth (gives life); THE FLESH PROFITETH NOTHING: the words that I speak unto you, THEY ARE SPIRIT, and they are life." He told them plainly that He was not talking literally. He said, "...the words that I speak unto you, THEY ARE SPIRIT." He also told them here that the physical flesh profits NOTHING, ZERO, ZILCH, NIL, NADA--NOTHING!

The Catholic religion purposely leaves out verses 63-64 when claiming that John 6 is about the eucharist. The word, "eucharist" is not even in the Bible. There is no concept of the eucharist in Bible--but there is in pagan religion...

What we've done here is straight exposition from the Bible. You don't have to take my word for it, you can get your Bible and do the exact same thing--compare this to your Bible. We are talking about the difference between life and death here. It would behoove any Catholic to check this out and decide if they want to continue trusting the eucharist for their eternal life instead of trusting the real Jesus who loves them and died for them.

Actually I think this whole message should be repeated on a Thread of it's own.

-- Casey Simpson (csimpson@sympatico.ca), January 25, 2001.

Hello, Casy, and welcome back--
You don't understand the scriptures that you've taken so much pain to render us here. The entire message of Our Lord has been corrupted by your Bible teachers, or ministers; in order that you should reject Catholicism.

I'll try to tell you why: In the beginning of the Christian era, no other church which called Christ the Lord was spreading the Gospel, except the Roman Catholic Church. But we won't find the name ''Roman Catholic'' in the Acts, or the epistles. It was simply called ''Church'', or assembly, of the faithful. Yet, it did all the work of carrying the Word of god to all nations, as Christ had commanded.

Whenever you see in Paul's epistles, for instance, any reference by him to ''the faith'', or ''Church,'' or, ''One Baptism'' or a variety of expressions meant to say ''Us'', the people of God-- Jesus' followers-- He was talking about the Catholic Church! Everything dating back to the beginning describes the Catholic Church, and only much later was it described as ''Catholic'', which only means ''Universal''. Universal, Casey-- is simply meant to say, ''everywhere.'' Because that's where the Catholic Church was--everywhere that Christ was preached.

The best proof is baptism. From the very start, it was a hallmark of the Christian Church. It still is. Why?

Because it's UNIVERSAL; Catholic. Not many Christian denominations actually denounce baptism. The biblical evidence for it is too overwhelming. Now, the Catholic Church without even the barest doubt was baptising Christians EASILY a thousand years before any other church. What does that mean, Casey? It means there was no other church extant in the first century at least. But Protestant ministers deny the church-- it puts them in the obvious roles of usurpers! Catholicism is the oldest, therefore the first Church! Now, I'm going to let you in on the best part. The same Church, the Universal, Catholic Church; also gave Holy Communion to every faithful mamber of the Church. Holy Communion, or the Eucharist-- is just as old and accepted in Christ's Church (1Cor. 11:23 ) as is Holy Baptism. It has been there from the start, and is described in Acts as ''the breaking of the bread''.

Casey, I ask you please-- go back to your Bible, and after saying a prayer directly to Jesus Our Redeemer for His blessing, read the passages from 1Cor. 11:23 onward, where Paul describes the Holy Eucharist. Paul believed the actual Body and Blood of Jesus were given to us under the appearance of bread and wine. This is what Paul taught his disciples.

Only the most obstinate heart will be able to deny the truth-- in these verses. God bless you always, Casey. You seek only the truth, so you have to keep looking. You have yet to find it; but this is your first good chance.

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), January 25, 2001.

Eugene, thank you, thank you, thank you! You didn't know it when you wrote that but you were helping me immensely! You were answering a question I have asked and asked but never really understood the answers given. You explained it with crystal clarity. In fact, I'm going to print it out. Thanks again!!!!!

-- jackiea (jackiea@hotmail.com), January 26, 2001.

Casey,

Amen!

One thing I might add to your post is that the bread is unleavened. That is very important, indeed! Remember Jesus warned many times about the leaven of the Pharises and Saducces.

Eugene,

Do you realize what you just wrote? Please look at the statement you made:

"The entire message of Our Lord has been corrupted by your Bible teachers, or ministers; in order that you should reject Catholicism."

Ask yourself, have you ever read or heard that the entire message of Jesus our Lord was so that we will accept him and gain eternal life? Please reread your statement, what do you really worship? Jesus or Catholicism? I hope this is a typo, because it sure gives the idea that you place Catholicism over Jesus. I hope not.

-- Israel (notofthis@world.com), January 26, 2001.

Eugene, Jackiea,

Do yourself a favor Jackiea and make a copy of this.

The Catholic church contends that baptism is necessary for salvation:

The Catechism teaches that: "The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation." Pg. 320, #1257

All Catholics should be aware that the Lord does not agree with this statement. The Bible teaches that salvation is a free gift that works can never buy. This doctrine was devised by Catholicism:

The Catechism teaches that: "The Church does not know of any other means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude..." Pg. 320, #1257 "The faithful are born anew by Baptism..." Pg. 311, #1212

"Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, and are incorporated into the Church..." Pg. 312, #1213

The Bible could not disagree more:

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" John 1:12

Despite Bible verses like these, the Catechism teaches that:

"Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte 'a new creature,' an adopted son of God, who has become a 'partaker of the divine nature,' member of Christ and co-heir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit." Pg. 322, #1265 "By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin." Pg. 321, #1263 (See pg. 257, #985)

All these doctrines violate a host of Scriptures. The Bible teaches that only Christ can forgive our sins, performing a "good work" like baptism will never do it:

"In whom we have redemption through his (Christ's) blood, the forgiveness of sins..." Ephesians 1:7

If baptism is necessary for salvation, would the Apostle Paul have proclaimed:

"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel..." 1 Corinthians 1:17

Or would this same great man of God have stated:

"I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;" 1 Corinthians 1:14

John the Baptist's message was:

"Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 3:2

After people repented, then they were...

"... baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins." Matthew 3:6

Listen to what the Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip as they discussed the subject of baptism:

"And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Acts 8:36-37

The Bible teaches that baptism should occur after salvation, not as a requirement for salvation. When the Philippian jailer asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Paul answered:

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house... And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway." Acts 16:30, 31, 33

First, they believed, then they were baptized. Baptism always follows salvation! Here's another example:

"And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." Acts 18:8

In Acts chapter two, Peter, the supposed first pope, preached. When he finished:

"... they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." Acts 2:41

Again, they were baptized, not to become sons of God, but because they already were sons of God.

When Philip preached to the people of Samaria, first came salvation, then baptism:

"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." Acts 8:12

Soon after in that same passage, Simon, a deceiving sorcerer, followed the same path:

"Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip..." Acts 8:13

The Catechism states:

"All the sacraments are sacred links uniting the faithful with one another and binding them to Jesus Christ, and above all Baptism, the gate by which we enter into the Church." Pg. 248, #950

Just before his death, the thief on the cross next to Jesus put his faith in Jesus Christ. Obviously, he was never baptized, but he still went to paradise. Why? Because salvation is through faith in Christ, not through baptism.

The Catechism also contends that when a person is baptized, it is really Jesus Himself who is doing the baptizing:

"By his (Christ's) power he is present in the sacraments so that when anybody baptizes, it is really Christ himself who baptizes." Pg. 283, #1088

Simply stated, this is another Catholic tradition not found in God's Word.

Another Contradiction

Here is another Catholic doctrine:

"Baptism indeed is the seal of eternal life." Pg. 324, #1274

But the Bible disagrees again, stating that the eternal destiny of God's children has been sealed with the Holy Spirit:

"... in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," Ephesians 1:13 "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30

Conclusion

Is baptism necessary for salvation? Catholic tradition and God's Word are at odds. The Catechism says "yes." God's Word says "no."

Who will you believe?

-- Casey Simpson (csimpson@sympatico.ca)), January 26, 2001.

Eugene, Jackiea

What does God mean by "church"

When the Bible uses the words "the church," it always refers to all those who trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, not just to members of the Catholic church:

"Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord..." 1 Corinthians 1:2

The Apostle Paul wrote:

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;" Ephesians 5:25

Paul was not a Catholic, yet he knew that Christ loved him and died for him. Certainly, no one would dare say that Paul was not a Christian because he was not a Catholic.

Would anyone suggest that God only loves Catholics?... or that He only died for Catholics? Such would be the case if the Catholic church was the only church.

Paul also proclaimed:

"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us..." Ephesians 5:2

-- Casey Simpson (csimpson@sympatico.ca), January 26, 2001.

Israel,

"One thing I might add to your post is that the bread is unleavened. That is very important, indeed! Remember Jesus warned many times about the leaven of the Pharises and Saducces."

Thank you so much for bringing that to our attention. Yes the leavened bread signifies sin. Isn't our Holy Bible absolutely fantastic?

-- Casey Simpson (csimpson@sympatico.ca), January 26, 2001.

Israel; --I should have said ''entire message of Our Lord as represented in John, 6-- from verses :27 all the way to :67--'' These words of Jesus Christ have had their true meaning distorted by Protestants and anti-Catholics from the start. In spite of the obvious fact they always had been correctly interpreted by the Church dating back 1,500 years or more.

This false interpretation forwarded by Casey ''Internalizing, accepting, believing; instead of the literal meaning of Jesus, EAT-- is the stock lip-service paid to Jesus Christ's clear offer to his disciples of His Body and Blood as food and drink-- in the Holy Eucharist; lip service because these ''teachers'' of Casey's may repeat the Words, in terms of great revelation, truth, etc., but NOT as representing a promise of the Catholic Mass! The bias is completely transparent. Such meanings as Casey has accepted as the truth are nothing but ''parsing'' the clear statements of Jesus Christ. They call this faith!

Catholic liturgy and the form and matter of the Mass are very precise: bread must be unleavened, and wine is pure fermented wine, not juice of any fruit, etc.,

As long as I'm in the zone now, I want to reply also to a gratuitously repulsive and vile remark made about the Holy Eucharist by Dr. Oizo. He's told this Catholic forum that the Body of Our Divine Lord is turned into mere offal, or excrement--as a communion wafer to eat; opposed to his sanitary, pure, logical-- call to the rest of us, to keep ''Spiritual'' the relations we have with God. Of all the presumptuous, unholy and evil things I've ever heard from an anti-Catholic, his remark is the worst.

The species of *seemingly* bread and wine consecrated into the Body and Blood of Jesus, is consumed with devotion and scrupulous care by all the faithful-- in Holy Mass. The substance of Our Divine Lord's trans-substantiated Body and Blood remain that glorious and Holy sacrament as long as, and NO LONGER THAN they are intact within our body. Upon dissolving into the digestive state, --no longer are they that sacramental presence of Jesus. We are left with His interior, Spiritual and Real presence in our souls-- where He will continue to be forever, as long as we remain in the state of grace.

Dr. ''Ozio'' crossed the threshhold of decency, when he uttered such an abomination. Our Lord have mercy on his immortal soul! Amen--
Glorious and sacred heart of Jesus, Have Mercy on us! Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us! James, Holy Apostle, be our Guide and Vindicator in this, your forum!

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), January 26, 2001.

Good answer, Eugene! I had never felt that Jesus was really digested by us after we get the Eucharist. We are so careful to be respectful of the Eucharist that I couldn't really imagine that the Church would ever say that we turned Jesus into excrement. I mean, we're not even supposed to eat for at least an hour before we take Communion, the priest drinks whatever Eucharist is left, instead of pouring it down the drain, etc. I am glad to know even more about God's beautiful gift to us, now, and that your quick response ended any confusion.

-Hannah

p.s. Is St. James of our forum one of the "Sons of Thunder"?

God, we dedicate this site to you. St. James and Mother Mary, pray for us.

-- Hannah (archiegoodwin_and_nerowolfe@hotmail.com), January 26, 2001.

Jmj

Hi, Hannah and Eugene.
Since Eugene seems to have missed your question, Hannah -- perhaps because the site has been down -- I will take the liberty of answering.
Yes. Eugene immensely enjoyed his pilgrimage to Compostela, Spain, where St. James the Greater (Santiago in Spanish) is honored. This St. James was the brother of St. John -- the "boanerges" (sons of thunder), the sons of Zebedee and Salome. [He is distinguished from St. James the Less (probably so known because he was shorter), who was the author of the great epistle and was an early martyr as Bishop of Jerusalem.] Eugene and Ed put our forum under the patronage of St. James the Greater.

I wanted to let you know that, just as, on another thread, I revealed Casey to be a plagiarizer of Jack Chick's anti-Catholic trash, so on this thread (on 12/26), he used copy-and-paste to bring in the anti-Baptism "tract" found here. It appears that Casey is incapable of original thinking and writing. Yes, he and pals claim the ability to read and interpret scripture on their own, but when the time comes to make a point, they have to rely on stealing pages of an "encyclical" by Pope Chick.

Thank you, Eugene, for your eloquent defense of the true meaning of John 6. We believe the truth just as St. Paul believed it -- and as did the Fathers of the Church (recorded in their writings from the first century onward).

May Jesus hear the prayers of Our Lady and St. James on our behalf.
God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), January 28, 2001.

Ha! That's funny, John-- Pope Chick! Maybe Chick the 23rd? Lol!

I suspected this Casey routine was borrowed, as soon as he used the ''freed from the bondage(s) of the Catholic Church'' line ; that purported experience in his youth. Then afterward, the 5th paragraph in his opening statement--''I was raised a Catholic,etc., baptised, received my first Communion, Confirmation--'' and the rest. This was a Catholic! But he was freed! I met this quaint testimony years and years ago, through the Plymouth Brethren preacher I told you of.

That one fancied he was doing me such a gracious favor, to offer me the pamphlet written by a ''priest,'' a Fr, Chiniquy, of Canadian nationality, I think. That ''convert'' gave the same hackneyed testimony. Born Catholic. All the sacraments; never missed Mass and the Rosary; then! Look out! He spied a passage in the Bible, and it said, ''For God so loved the world, that he gave His only-begotten Son, '' and the scales -- Yup, they fell right away from his Catholic eyes! A production so banal and pre-digested, just to show the gullible how worthless the Catholic Church had been, ''Never telling Him Jesus died for our sins! --But, now, he was saved!!! This is the pap that keeps sincere souls like Casey separated from the True Church! This is what ''missionaries'' to Mexico and So. America, from these denominations, are going to ''reveal'' to dumb Catholics there! Oh, Lord! *** Mother Mary Immaculate, help our forum become a light for Casey and many more Christians hungering for the Faith! Amen. Saint james, Pray for us! ***

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), January 28, 2001.

Jmj

You are NOT going to believe this, Eugene!

You'll recall that, some days ago, I showed, by a link, that ol' Casey Simpson had plagiarized (from a Chick page) the original 01/22 message that opened this thread. (He pretended to be the ex-Catholic who wrote that silliness.)
Then, a couple of hours ago, I showed, again by a link, that ol' Casey had plagiarized another Chick page -- this one on Baptism -- on 01/26.
But now, I found that he plagiarized that complex, imaginative, and dead-wrong exegesis of the verses of John 6. Yeah, the guy who pretends to know everything got that beauty from this page.

If I were some of his buddies here, I'd drum him out of the Chick Corps for conduct unbecoming a S.o.B (Son of a Bigot).

And, as if that were not enough, Eugene, I found the work of your buddy "Chiniquy," so that you can relive old times. (Not surprisingly, it was buried among the pages at the site that is beloved of beelzebub -- "www.jesus-is-lord.com".) Here it is -- an entire book of 67 long chapters, for Pete's sake!

St. James, pray for us.
Mother most chaste, pray for us.
God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), January 29, 2001.

Man, that is far out! But why should that surprise us? The perpetrators of this ''evangelization'' have no Church of their own, no doctrine, or tenets. They just plagiarize the Holy Bible itself, for the purpose of bowdlerizing the words of the Catholic Church.

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), January 29, 2001.

Dear John and all,
I took another look at that page; and it has an unreal aura about this author; it scares you with his monstruous pride; out of control with his undisguised hate for the Catholic Church. A style like his was probably not so exceptional in the days when preachers loved ''fire and brimstone'' in the revival tent.

It's dated now. We must consider that these were the men that spoke for Protestantism; and teachers of the succeeding generations we see today, who still see ''Rome'' as a Church of the ignorant, and Catholics as inferior human beings. Here's a sample of Chiniquy:

''Those ministers of the Gospel [Protestants] were great models of temperance and stability, . . . when my bishops, with their priests, were swimming in the deadly waters of drunkenness!'' And: ''Thus it is that the only true great nations in the world are Protestant! Thus it is that they are powerful! The Protestant nations are the only ones that acquit themselves like men in the arena of this world; Protestant nations only, march as Giants at the head of the civilized world; everywhere they are the advance guard . . .''

Sounds like what Israel told us, at the beginning of his thread, right? Exodus II, he named it. Lol! I'm thinking of answering his earlier question (was side-tracked in a digression) on a new thread. If he's still lurking, and I'm sure he is-- see what he thinks.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Amen! St. James, pray for us! Amen.

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), January 31, 2001.

The word, "eucharist" is not even in the Bible. There is no concept of the eucharist in Bible--but there is in pagan religion...

I suppose that the fact that the word "eucharist" is not even in the Bible means that the Catholic Church is a false religion. Where in the Bible do I find the following words: Lutherans, Anglicans, Calvinists, Baptists, Episcopalians, Zwinglians, Methodists, Adventists, Presbyterians, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc......? Do you see the implication?

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), February 04, 2001.

Well how do we know it isn't in the four gospels? We have translations from other languages to Greek, etc., I don't speak Greek at all. However I do seem to recall Eucharist stands for ''Giving thanks'' --or its equivalent. When Jesus broke bread, He looked up to His Father in heaven and ''gave thanks'', and that's where the word comes from. Isn't it?

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), February 04, 2001.

Jmj

You've got it, Eugene!
Luke 22:17 and 19, when transliterated from Greek characters, comes out roughly to:
"Kai dexamenos pothrion eucharistEsas eipen labete touto kai diamerisate eautois ... kai labOn arton eucharistEsas eklasen kai edwken autois legOn touto estin to sOma mou to uper umOn didomenon touto poieite eis tEn emEn anamnEsin"

This means, "And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves ... And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

Forms of this Greek word, "eucharisteo," are used in the gospels and in 1 Cor 11:24, our clearest passages about the Blessed Sacrament. A form of "eucharisteo" is also used in the passage concerning the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, a prefigurement of the Blessed Sacrament. And easily overlooked is the fact that a form of "eucharisteo" is used in this passage from Acts, which refers to St. Paul: "... he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat."

St. James, pray for us.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.
God bless you.
John


-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), February 04, 2001.

EUREKA, EUREKA:

1Cr 11:24 And [2532] (kai) when he had given thanks [2168] (euchariste) (5660), he brake [2806] (klao) (5656) [it], and [2532] (kai) said [2036] (epo) (5627), Take [2983] (lambano) (5628), eat [5315] (phago) (5628): this [5124] (touto)

When I first posted about the eucharist I found the Greek text in the Blue Letter Bible, with a translation into English and concordance with other Biblical texts referring to the same topic. I wasn't able to copy the text. After many trials I gave up, but finally at least I could copy , if not the Greek text, at least the Latin words that correspond to it. I hope that this proves that the word EUCHARIST is certainly in the Bible, and not once, but many times.

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), February 05, 2001.

Casey, It would be very interesting to hear again from you after you read the answers given to your assertion that the word EUCHARIST is not in the Bible.

At the personal level I would like to see what you think about the Lutherans, anglicans, etc. etc. not being in the Bible.

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), February 06, 2001.