Expert: Mrs. Priscilla Lyons - 10/9/2009

Question
QUESTION: Please seek the truth.  Discover Dr. Scott Hahn who was a Preacher for over 20 years and is a Theologian, Professor, Scholar, and converted to Catholicism.  He seeked the truth.
Please also go to http://www.protestanterrors.com/#2 this site and see the reasons the Catholic Faith is the True and Only Church.  God wants us to seek the truth.  You may want to look up information on Dr. Scott Hahn.  He has some amazing proof/information of the Faith and how he determined the Catholic Faith to be the original, True Faith.
Thank You

ANSWER: Dear Lilly,
   Thanks for writing.  Jesus said in John 14:6 " I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me."
   If you feel the Word of God in the flesh (Jesus) and the written Word of God are better seen in Catholicism than in Protestantism, then I wonder if you read and study the Bible through and through.  If you do, perhaps you are differing with the Catholic Church dogma?
   In John 18:37-38 Jesus says, "Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."  Pilate saith unto Him, "What is truth?" which does not sound like he was seeking truth in the right place.  
   I'm glad you're interested in the truth and pray that you seek truth in the right place.  The eternal separation from a perfect God that we all face because of our imperfection, is not a pleasant future, which is why I really appreciate God's provision for salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Is He your Lord?
   Priscilla

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION:  Nowhere in the bible does it state faith "alone" justifies, and this new doctrine was not heard of before the 16th century. Why did the Protestant reformers propose it and what authority gave it to them?
Consider the verse, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in. Naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me." Matthew 25:34-36. Are these not examples of good works? Why would Our Lord give them so much emphasis if only faith was of importance?
Consider the verses, "And behold one came and said to him: Good master, what good shall I do that I may have life everlasting? Who said to him: Why asketh thou me concerning good? One is good, God. But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He said to him: Which? And Jesus said: Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness. Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith to him: All these I have kept from my youth, what is yet wanting to me? Jesus saith to him: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me." Matt 19:16-21. Are the above verses not filled with good works? How much more proof from Scripture do we need to show that Our Lord commanded us to do good works for our salvation?
Consider the verse, "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels: and then will he render to every man according to his works." Matthew 16:27. Again here we have more proof that good works are required of us.
Consider the verse, "And every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labor." 1 Corinthians 3:8. Again this clearly does NOT refer to faith alone, but to labor, which is works.
Consider the verse, "And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:2 (St Paul). What is charity other than helping the needy? Charity is clearly considered among good works. And in the same Chapter we also see the verse, "And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity." (1 Corinthians 13:13). This clearly puts charity BEFORE faith, so to say "faith alone" is all that is required of us is clearly contrary to Scripture.
Consider the verse, "Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only?" James 2:24. How much more plain can it be said that faith alone is not enough for our salvation?
Consider the verse, "What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?" James 2:14. And we see several verses later that the answer to this question is NO.
Consider the verse, "So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself." James 2:17. No explanation is needed for this verse!
Consider the verse, "But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith." James 2:18. Another extremely obvious verse that proves our point on the subject.
Consider the verses, "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar? James 2:20-21. No explanation is needed for these verses.
Consider the verse, "For even as the body without the spirit is dead; so also faith without works is dead." James 2:26. How can the Protestant reformers claim faith is sufficient when we read a verse like this with such obvious meaning?
And finally consider the verse, "Wherefore, brethren, labor the more, that by good works you may make sure your calling and election." 2 Peter 1:10
In summary, justification by faith alone has overwhelming opposition in Scripture. Some Protestants have been known to reference other verses from Scripture in an attempt to show that works are NOT required for our salvation. However if one looks at verses that appear to speak negatively about works, they are clearly referring to works that glorify men and not God. Here we agree; works done to please men do not help with attaining our salvation.
Jesus Christ instructed His Apostles to preach the Gospel to the whole world, therefore they had an "immediate" mission from God. St. Paul sent Timothy of Ephesus and Titus of Crete as Bishops to help him on his first mission, therefore they had a "mediate" mission from someone given the power by God to send them.  
On the other hand, never have we seen any of the Protestant reformers show any mission from God or from anyone else to reform the church. Rather it is readily apparent they wrongfully took it upon themselves to make reforms. "How shall they preach unless they be sent"? Romans 10:15.  
No individual has the right to associate himself with the Apostles or attempt to act under their authority; the individual must be sent or commissioned with divine authority. "He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up another way, the same is a thief and a robber" John 10:1. Here we see Martin Luther openly agreeing with this.
Consider verses such as "As the Father hath sent me, I also send you" John 20:21 and  "He that receiveth whomsoever I send, receiveth me" John 13:20.
How can people without any authority attempt to make such drastic decisions affecting a divinely founded, global Church? Laity or princes do not have authority or power to start such a mission, rather someone must be sent legitimately, in Apostolic fashion, such as from a Bishop, or their mission is null. "Neither doth any man take the honor to himself but he that is called by God, as Aaron was." Hebrews 5:4
If you say the reformers were given appropriate mission to reform the Catholic Church, then we ask who is the authority that sent them? We know it was not the Catholic Church for the ideas of the Reformation are against Catholic teaching, and it was not the Lutheran and other Protestant churches for they were not yet formed when the reformation was being organized. So on who's authority was the mission of the Reformation?
If the church from which the Protestant reformers came were true, they can only be labeled heretics for having left it. And if the church from which the reformers came were NOT true, then that church could not have given the reformers true mission to reform the Catholic Church.





ANSWER:  Thanks for staying with me, Lilly, and for sending the wonderful verses.    
   We both agree that Godly works should be in the life of a Christian, right?  In fact, if there are no works, there is no faith to begin with.  "But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith." James 2:18.
   The works "God has before ordained that we should walk in them" Ephesians 2:10, cannot be accomplished without the "gift of God" "by grace are you saved through faith." Ephesians 2:8
   If you are not justified by faith, you do not have Jesus in you to get the credit for good works.  If YOU take the credit for good works you do, then nothing you do will be enough to provide perfection (not even one sin can enter heaven), which is what Jesus showed the young man in Matt.19:16-23.  You may do really good in most areas, but there will always be at least one area in which you fall short, even if it isn't the same area of that young man.
   I think you misunderstand "faith alone."  Faith in God means believing God knows best about everything, so I entrust everything to Him--my time, my money, my health, my family, my abilities, my inabilities, etc.--He is my Lord.  By faith I am "in Christ...a new creature, old things are passed away; behold all things are become new...For He has made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."  II Corinthians 5:17 and 21.  "In Christ" is putting my arms into the sleeves of the robe of His righteousness, and being covered with the robe of His righteousness, His perfection, so God sees perfection instead of my sins.  If my body is in this robe (Jesus), then where this robe (Jesus) wants to go, I'd better go too, or risk ripping the robe.
   John 10 is all about Jesus being the Door to God.  Only He can commission people to point others to God.  No human being nor even a church has authority to commission God's work, but they can agree with and publicly encourage Jesus' work in others.
   Don't let pride in your works or your church keep you from "dying" to your SELF and being raised to new life in Christ. Romans 6
   Sincerely,
   Priscilla

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: If you feel sin does not affect your salvation, or believe that by simply choosing Jesus as your "personal
savior", you have been saved regardless, below is one of many reasons I believe this is incorrect.
Consider the verses, "And behold one came and said to him: Good master, what good shall I do that I may have life everlasting? Who said to him: Why asketh thou me concerning good? One is good, God. But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Matthew 19:16-17. Why would Our Lord command us to keep the commandments in order to have life everlasting if we are already supposedly saved by choosing Him as our personal savior?Consider the verse, "Wherefore, my dearly beloved, (as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but much more now in my absence,) with fear and trembling work out your salvation." Phil 2:12 (St. Paul). If we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling, this is incompatible with the belief that we are "saved" by simply choosing Our Lord as our personal Savior.Consider the verse, "But Peter said to them: Do penance, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins: and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:38. Of what purpose would St. Peter tell us to do penance for the remission of our sins if we are simply saved and have no need to worry about sin? Consider the verse, "Lest again, when I come, God humble me among you: and I mourn many of them that sinned before, and have not done penance for the uncleanness, and fornication, and lasciviousness, that they have committed." 2 Cor 12:21. For what purpose would St. Paul say penance is necessary to make up for our sins if we are simply saved?
Consider the verse, "And God indeed having winked at the times of this ignorance, now declareth unto men, that all should every where do penance." Acts 17:30. Why does Scripture tell us to do penance if we are already saved by accepting Christ?
And the verses, "Do penance therefore for this thy wickedness; and pray to God, that perhaps this thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee." Acts 8:22 and "No, I say to you: but unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:3 and "And going forth they preached that men should do penance." Mark 6:12. Clearly these verses indicate we are commanded to do more than just believe for our salvation, we must do penance.
And the verse, "Confess therefore your sins one to another: and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much." James 5:16. Here we see even St. James knows being saved is not a given!
Of what purpose are all the references in Scripture to confession of sins, forgiveness of sins, remission of sins, repentance of sins, doing penance, and "blotting out" sin if they are of no concern to our salvation, and if we are not to worry about cleansing ourselves of them?
Consider the verse, "For we must all be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he hath done, whether it be good or evil." 2 Corinthians 5:10. This clearly shows that what we do in life effects how we will be judged. Christ merited our salvation by His death on the cross, but it is NOT guaranteed and CAN be lost if we do not properly accept it and do what Our Lord instructed as mentioned above.
Lastly, if we look at the writings of the early Church Fathers, they all refer to terms such as "attaining", "securing" and "affecting" our salvation. Clearly the early Christian Church openly believed and taught this in accordance with points directly above.
Thank you for listening.  

Answer
The correct word is "repent," not "do penance."  If you believe in God then you agree with Him that your sins (my sins also) are so bad that only the most precious, perfect life of His only begotten Son can mend your broken life, only the blood of Jesus can wash away your sins.  If you believe in God you agree with how He feels about sin--you repent of disobeying Him.  You ask Him to forgive you and change you.  
   If you simply "choose Jesus as your personal Savior" with no intention of believing His viewpoint of sin, then you are no better off than the devils who also believe in God (James 2:19), but they have no intention of changing their viewpoint of sin.
   Matthew 19:16-20 says the young man had kept all the commandments.  Why isn't He going to enter the kingdom of heaven?
   Please reread what I wrote before:   We both agree that Godly works should be in the life of a Christian, right?  In fact, if there are no works, there is no faith to begin with.  "But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith." James 2:18.
  The works "God has before ordained that we should walk in them" Ephesians 2:10, cannot be accomplished without the "gift of God" "by grace are you saved through faith." Ephesians 2:8
  If you are not justified by faith, you do not have Jesus in you to get the credit for good works.  If YOU take the credit for good works you do, then nothing you do will be enough to provide perfection (not even one sin can enter heaven), which is what Jesus showed the young man in Matt.19:16-23.  You may do really good in most areas, but there will always be at least one area in which you fall short, even if it isn't the same area of that young man.
  I think you misunderstand "faith alone."  Faith in God means believing God knows best about everything, so I entrust everything to Him--my time, my money, my health, my family, my abilities, my inabilities, etc.--He is my Lord.  By faith I am "in Christ...a new creature, old things are passed away; behold all things are become new...For He has made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."  II Corinthians 5:17 and 21.  "In Christ" is putting my arms into the sleeves of the robe of His righteousness, and being covered with the robe of His righteousness, His perfection, so God sees perfection instead of my sins.  If my body is in this robe (Jesus), then where this robe (Jesus) wants to go, I'd better go too, or risk ripping the robe.
   Perhaps what some of the early Church Fathers wrote didn't make it into God's inspired Word of God, the Bible, because they may not have expressed God's thoughts correctly.  As Christians we are to walk in the good works God has prepared for us (Eph.2:10), or else we will suffer loss. I Corinthians 3:15  
   The correct word in James 5:16 is "that you may be HEALED" not that you may be SAVED. See verse 14, "Is there any sick among you?"
   Yes, it matters what you do, but only the perfection of Jesus can give you entrance to heaven.  Repent of your sins, entrust your sinful Self to Him and receive His perfect life to live in you and change you to be like Him.  "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me; and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
   Thank you for your time and interest.
   I pray God's best for you.
   Priscilla