Consider some of the questions Jesus asked the religious people of His day. He challenged Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, about his knowledge of the Kingdom of God, "Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?" (John 3:10). He asked the stubborn-hearted Pharisees who were blinded by religious tradition, "If I speak the truth, why do you not believe me?" (John 8:46). Then He exposed how corrupt their religion had become with this pointed question, "Why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?" (Mat. 15:3). Possibly the most important question that the Lord Jesus ever asked was: "Who do you say that I am?" (Mat. 16:15). Clearly, the response to this question carries eternal consequences because Jesus warned, "If you do not believe that I am [He], you will indeed die in your sins" (John 8:24).
Knowing how effective this method can be, I developed some questions to ask our Catholic family and friends.
What is your most trustworthy source for truth? Where do you go to find the answers about life's most critical issues?
We must tell people there is only one source for truth that will never mislead you, never deceive you, nor try to control you. It is Jesus Christ who is the personification of truth (John 14:6). He declared His Word is truth, and He came to testify to the truth (John 17:17; 18:37). Everyone on the side of truth listens to Jesus. Why would anyone go anywhere else for truth? Jesus said, "If you abide in My Word...you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32). Free from what? Free from the bondage of religious deception. Knowledge of the truth is necessary to escape from the snare of the devil who holds people captive to do his will (2 Tim. 2:25-26). Satan uses deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ to blind people from the truth (2 Cor. 11:13-15). We must tell Catholics to trust Christ and His infallible Word for eternal life rather than fallible men and their religious traditions.
Do you know that there is only one way God saves sinners? Do you know that any other way will take you down the broad road to destruction?
We must tell people that salvation is offered only to those who repent and trust the Lord Jesus Christ, His perfect life, His atoning death, and His glorious resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1-4). He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). We must proclaim the Lord Jesus is sufficient to save sinners completely and forever because by His one offering for sin He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified (Heb. 10:14). We must declare that Christ is the only mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5). Only by faith in the perfect, finished, sufficient, and unrepeatable sacrifice for sin can we be reconciled to God (John 19:30).
Did you know that Jesus put an end to the sacerdotal priesthood?
When Jesus cried out in victory, "It is finished," the veil in the temple that separated the Holy of Holies from sinful man was torn open by God (Mat. 27:51). Repenting sinners can now come directly to God through faith in the shed blood of the Savior (Rom. 3:23- 26). Priests are no longer needed to offer sacrifices for sin (Heb. 10:18). In fact, the only legitimate priesthood which remains on earth today is the royal priesthood of all believers who offer sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving for being called out of darkness into the marvelous light of the Son (1 Pet. 2:9).
Did you know Jesus finished the work of redemption? Catholicism denies this by teaching, "The work of our redemption is carried on" every time the Eucharist is celebrated (CCC, 1405). God's Word declares, "He [Jesus] entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption" (Heb. 9:12). "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7).
Why do you believe in Purgatory to purify your sins?
God's Word says, "When He [Jesus] had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3). "He gave Himself for us to... purify for Himself a people for His own possession" (Titus 2:14). "The blood of Jesus...cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). We must tell Catholics that Purgatory does not exist. It is a fatal mistake for anyone to put their trust in a fictitious place instead of in the person of Jesus Christ.
Where will you spend eternity?
The answers we hear most often from Catholics are, "I hope its heaven" or "I don't know." It is for this reason I developed a message entitled, Where Will You Spend Eternity? In the message I clearly present "what the Gospel is" and "what it is not..."
The good news of salvation through Jesus Christ is only good news when it is believed. Those who reject Christ and His Word will be judged and have to bear the eternal punishment for their sin in the eternal lake of fire. It is our prayer that those who are lost in religion will believe what God says and not what man says God says." Pro-Gospel.org
