Len Lisenbee's Outdoor World

    Len Lisenbee is the Outdoor Columnist for the Canadaigua Daily Messenger, Shooting Editor of the former New York Sportsman, retired Special Agent with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and book author of "TALES FROM THE MARSH AND OTHER DRIVEL" a unique look with fact and fiction of his years as a federal game warden.
 

[Author's Note: There are two important articles on this page: "How Do I Find Salvation"; and "Can Catholics Find Salvation In The Roman Catholic Church?"]

There are many people who honestly believe they are going to heaven when they die. They most often say things like, "I go to church," or "I believe in God," or "I pray to God all the time," or "I was baptized as a child," or "I try to live a good, Christian life," or "I give money to my church or favorite charity." In their own hearts and minds they honestly believe they have earned eternal life in heaven by the things they have done while here on earth.

Unfortunately, nothing could be further from God's truth. Jesus tells us, "For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:14) What does He mean with this warning? Jesus is here telling us that many people want to be Christians and receive the free gift of eternal life, but few actually use the one and only correct method for obtaining that free gift from God. They instead think they can do things, called good works, that will earn them heavenly space. However, that is not God's way.

God has made it clear that salvation is a free gift of His grace, and it is freely given by Him to those who deserve it. It cannot be earned by anyone through either their thoughts or good works.

So, how do you qualify for salvation to everlasting life? That, as we find in the Bible, is simplicity itself. You must do four things, and you must do them in the proper order, too.

First, you must develop a strong, heartfelt belief that Jesus was and is the Christ, the Son of the living God. The best way to do this is to read the Bible, and especially the first four books of the New Testament, plus Acts of the Apostles and Romans. Pay particular attention to verses such as, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23). Or, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) And, don't overlook, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10) That leads us to, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

Once you believe absolutely in your heart that Jesus is the Son of the living God, then your second step is to honestly and fervently repent of your sinful ways and honestly make a change in your entire lifestyle to live according to God's love. You must love your neighbor (all of those persons around you) as you love yourself. You must develop a desire to want to help others in any way you possibly can. But not to worry. These kinds of feelings come naturally to all true Christians. They will come to you, too.

Third, you must get down on your knees in some quiet, secret place, humble yourself before God, and pray to Him. Tell Him you know you are a sinner. Tell Him you believe His Son died on the Cross, taking the sins of the world onto his own pure, sinless self, so that you may have the free gift of everlasting life. And, you must ask God to give you that free gift. Ask the Lord Jesus to come into your life and be your savior. Ask Him to guide you, and direct you, and help you to be the kind of Christian and person He wants you to be. If you say such a prayer, and if your faith is good in the sight of God, then you are saved from that point onward.

The fourth step is adult baptism. In order for baptism to have any spiritual significance, it must be experienced by a person after he has asked God for salvation. Anyone who was baptized as an infant or small child did not receive a spiritual baptism according to what we find in Scripture. Belief in Jesus must always come before any meaningful baptism into the body (Church) of Christ can actually occur. However, for every person who does have a strong faith in Jesus as the Son of the living God, and who does ask Jesus to be his personal savior, then baptism has a strong, positive affect on his life. The emersion signifies death of the old, sinful person. Then, when you are raised up out of the water, you are reborn (born again) as a true Christian in Christ, and your eternal fate is sealed in Christ's love for you.

Is there any other way for anyone to reach heaven? Nope! God has made it clear in His truth that we call the Bible that there is only one way. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:13-14) That is God's truth.

Is all of this just my opinion? No, it is found in the New Testament, and is God's truth, not mine. I am a sinner, just like everyone else. No doubt I am the lowest sinner of all. But I trust in God to forgive me of my many sins, and I try my best not to sin. Always attempting to do the right thing makes it easier to avoid sin.

What about preachers who say other things? Are they wrong in what they teach? Well, if they teach anything that is not found in the Bible, anything at all, then they are among those that Jesus warned us about. "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" (Matthew 7:15-16) And Paul taught us, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8-9) This matter was so important to Paul that he actually repeated it twice in two sequential verses. He was inspired by God, so that lets you know just how important this particular point is to Him.

There are all kinds of false teachers in the world, each spouting off his own version of blasphemy. There is only one source for God's truth, and that is the Bible. It is the only source of spiritual information we can trust with our immortal souls. It is literally our roadmap to heaven. All we have to do is read it and follow the directions carefully and completely. It is the simplicity of God's free gift of salvation. "For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward." (2nd Corinthians 1:12) And, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." (2nd Corinthians 11:3)

Trust in God's word, and you cannot go wrong in this life or the next!

Len Lisenbee

The Roman Catholic church is, without doubt, one of the largest religious denominations in the world. The number of people within the United States that claim Catholicism as their church of choice runs around 60 million. That substantial number swells to around one billion members world wide. If strength is found in numbers, then this church is truly formidable.

There is one question that, mainly because it may seem insensitive or somehow not politically correct, is rarely addressed. Is there any possible way that a Catholic might find salvation to everlasting life by following the doctrines, traditions and practices of the Roman Catholic church? To gain the answer to that all-important question, we must look at a few facts under the bright light of Scripture's truth.

Before we can address this important question, we must first establish a baseline that we know with a certainty is God's inspired truth. Something to which all Christians can agree is our most reliable source of that truth — the Holy Bible. Without such a reliable reference point, no discussion of this important question would be reliable since, ultimately, it would just be someone's opinion. The Bible is God's infallible truth, and it is not subject to opinion. It's truth is easily discernable. It alone can serve as our baseline for this discussion.

This is not to stipulate that the Bible alone, sola scriptura, is the only source of God's truth. It is simply to establish that the Bible is God's truth. All other sources of spiritual information, therefore, can be examined under the light of scriptural truth. If any such source agrees with what is stated in the Bible, then it is the truth. If, however, the source denies or negates the truth found in Scripture, then it is evil and cannot be accepted as fact by any true Christian.

Jesus made it clear through His teachings that anyone desiring to obtain the free gift of eternal life must do it His way, which is God's way. "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15) So, what are those commandments? Paul gives us the answer to that question when his Phillipian jailer asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:30-31) Believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, and you will be saved. Peter adds one additional condition when he says, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38) So, we can now safely assume that, in order for us to obtain the free gift of eternal life, we must repent of our sinful ways and believe in Jesus as the Christ, the son of God. Furthermore, nothing else is required. (True Christians will want to do good works after they have been born again in the Spirit, but good works can never help anyone become a True Christian. Faith alone in Jesus does that.)

Now, with those facts established, let us examine the Roman Catholic church.

* Catholics believe in a church that has actually changed the word of God, which God tells us makes the church a liar (see Proverbs 30:6). Where did they change the word of God? One good example is with the Ten Commandments, as presented in the Catechism. The church, in its attempt to minimize and hide the real Second Commandment that prohibits any and all image worship, tucked that Commandment in with the First, and then split the Tenth Commandment to make the Ninth and Tenth Commandments. All of this was done to mask God's prohibition on image veneration from Catholics. Catholics that kneel in any way before any image (Mary, Jesus, Joseph, or anybody else) unknowingly demonstrate their hatred for God. "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me." (Exodus 20:5) God prohibits bowing down to any and all images, but Catholics do exactly that. The Roman Catholic church will give any number of reasons why bowing down to images is now somehow permissible, but God still prohibits that activity, and all people who do it demonstrate their hatred for Him. Who do you think is right on bowing down to images? God or the Roman Catholic church.

The church will argue that God now permits "inspired images" to be "venerated" because He ordered two cherubim and a brass serpent to be made to serve His holy purposes. That is utter nonsense, not to mention blatant blasphemy. They ignore the fact that none of those three items were ever intended to be worshiped or prayed to or "through" (to help them focus their prayers to God) by the Jews. In fact, when the Jews attempted to worship the brass serpent, Hezekiah (the king of Judah) broke it. Why? Because God forbid all image worship, including the simple act of kneeling down before any image for any reason. So, God forbids all image worship, and the Roman Catholic church permits, encourages and even requires it. And once again we must ask who is right on this issue? Is it God? Or, is it the Roman Catholic church?

And finally, the church would no doubt claim that Catholics do not "worship" images. They only use them to "focus" prayers and their veneration to the various saints being called upon. That is an argument founded in semantics. God forbids making or using all images. He forbids the kneeling before any image for any reason whatsoever. Anyone who ignores either of those two facts demonstrates that he hates God, regardless of what wonderful, loving thoughts he might harbor within his heart. If the church claims He changed His mind on either of those two prohibitions, then let them demonstrate where He changed His mind in Scripture. Do not say that sacred or "inspired" tradition says He changed His mind. To make that argument would be to add to the word of God, which makes the church a liar according to God's truth. (Reread Proverbs 30:6)

* As a natural extension to that fact of image worship, Catholics believe in a church that has added many, many things to God's Scripture through its traditions-of-men, which is forbidden by God (see Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:6, and Revelation 22:18). God's Holy Scripture is complete because He tells us nothing more needs to be added. Any entity or institution that does add to God's word sins against God, and is proven to be a liar. That is God's truth. Jesus and His apostles clearly taught us that salvation to everlasting life was obtained by obtaining a belief in Jesus as the Son of God, repenting of our sinful ways, and being baptized by emersion in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The Roman Catholic church has added to those requirements by telling Catholics they also need to partake of (some of) the seven sacraments, do a lifetime of good works, be a member of (only) the Roman Catholic church, and obeying every edict and decree of every pope if they even hope to find salvation. All of those "extra" things are additions to God's word. However, they are all lies, according to God's truth as it is found in Scripture.

* In that same vein, Catholics blaspheme God every time they pray to any dead person represented by any image (see Exodus 20:4). All prayers belong to God alone. They should be prayed in the name of Jesus alone. "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." (John 14:13) Similarly, Catholics blaspheme God with every prayer to Mary or any other "saint". "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." (Matthew 4:10) Whenever any Catholic prays to anyone other than God, they are actually committing several great sins. Always remember that praying is a distinct form of worship. A prayer to God is worship of God, just as singing a hymn to God is worship of God. Likewise, prayers to Mary is worship of Mary. The Roman Catholic church can call it anything else they might be able to think of, but it is still the worship of Mary. And, it is a blasphemous sin against God. It denies God what is rightfully His alone — our glory and praise of Him, our heavenly Father. Any prayer said to Mary never reaches God. No doubt she is a saint in Heaven, but she is serving God along with all of the other saints and angels, and not receiving prayers.

Who was Mary? She was the earthly mother of Jesus. Furthermore, she serves no other purpose in God's plan for salvation. The Roman Catholic church has elevated her to unimaginable heights, but to what purpose? She is not the mother of God. She is not co-redeemer. Jesus does not need any assistance in that regard. She is not anyone's spiritual mother. God is our spiritual Father, and Jesus instructed that we should not call any person on earth "Father" in any spiritual sense. Mary was not assumed into heaven. She was not conceived in any kind of immaculate conception. These are all pagan principles derived from their ancient "queen of heaven" that God despised and cursed in the Old Testament. Only Satan would desire to have people believe them. Not one of them originated with God, but every one of these concepts does serve Satan in that they cause innocent people to be deceived away from God and His truth.

* Catholics blaspheme the Holy Spirit every time they worship the eucharist host. However, Jesus warned us about that terrible sin. "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men." (Matthew 12:31). The host and wine of the eucharist are not transformed into the real flesh and blood of the sacrificed Jesus Christ. The truth is that Jesus, with His single sacrifice on the cross for all humanity for all time, completely did away with our need to ever again sacrifice anything to God. The entire ritual of continual sacrifice and daily sacrifice of Jesus in the mass is blasphemy to God because it denies that Jesus finished His work on earth. Furthermore, Christians are continually warned in the New Testament to avoid drinking the blood of sacrifices, while the Roman Catholic church teaches that Catholics must drink the "blood" of the sacrificed Jesus. That is more blasphemy against the truth of God. It is something that can only serve Satan, and never God. And, Catholics are taught that the priest, as he blesses the wafers and wine, calls down the Holy Ghost who transformes them into the real body an blood of Christ. Here is a little secret for all Catholics that their church will never tell them. Attributing a "miracle" to God that actually comes from Satan is blasphemy — blasphemy of the Holy Ghost. That is the one unforgivable sin Jesus told us about. Now does anyone see the hand of Satan in the Roman Catholic church?

Additionally, most Catholics were "baptized" as infants, which means they were never baptized at all as Christ intended us to be baptized, which occurs only after first believing in Him. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36) Catholics are instead deceived by their church into believing that their baptism as an infant somehow protects them spiritually. It does not. Baptism before a solid, heartfelt belief is developed in Jesus is just a bath or brief shower. It serves no spiritual purpose of any kind.

Catholics are taught that they need a lifetime filled with penance, which denies Jesus' completion of His mission while here on earth. He died as penance for all who believe, and nothing anyone can do will add to that glory in any way. "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38) Peter clearly tells us two things here. First, repentance (and a belief in Jesus as the Son of God, found in verse 37) must come before baptism. And, secondly, Jesus died for the remission (complete amnesty) of all sins for all who believe in Him. No more penance on our part is necessary. Jesus did it all!

Catholics are also taught to use the sign of the cross, prayer beads, holy candles, holy salt, holy water, and a whole host of other "holy" items. None of those things are found anywhere in Scripture. In fact, every single one of them are pagan in origin. They are evil by their very nature, and every one of them denies God and renounces His holy word. The Roman Catholic church will no doubt claim that, while their origins may be pagan, it has adopted their use because they are so "beautiful". See the Catholic Encyclopedia, Introduction to the Eucharist, Paragraph #4 for just one such admission.) Now, does anyone who truly loves God honestly believe that He would permit anything pagan to be acceptable within Christianity? If they do, then they do not really know our all-holy God at all.

There are many more things within the Roman Catholic church's system of religion that are not of God in any conceivable way. Therefore, they are all evil in His sight. Catholics are taught to believe in evilness, to trust in evilness, and to pray to evilness. They may not want to admit any such thing, but it is still the truth.

So, with all of this information considered, is it possible for a Catholic who has asked Jesus to come into his life as his Savior to receive the free gift of eternal life? Yes, there is. The Bible tells us so. We read in John 3:16-18, ”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” To be “not condemned” clearly means to be saved to eternal life. The basic belief that Jesus is the Son of God is enough to save the soul of any person. That includes Catholics who partake of all of the above sinful practices, but still have a basic, core belief that Jesus is God’s Son. That is the wonderful simplicity of God’s grace, the wonderful extent of His love and glory.

However, would it be a good thing for Catholics to reject the grossly perverted nature of Roman Catholicism and cling to the simplicity of Christ in a Bible teaching church? Oh yes, it most certainly would. In such a church you would find true, Christian fellowship with like-minded Christians. That fact alone will make your life more enriched with God’s love.

Ultimately, the choice is yours to make. You can demonstrate your true desire to serve Jesus as He instructed us in His holy word. Or, you can remain in the Roman Catholic church and continue to insult Him as you try to love Him. Please choose wisely.

Len Lisenbee

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WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning.

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