As Christians, we need to be always ready to give a defense to everyone who asks for the reason of our hope in Christ Jesus (1 Peter 3:15). Since I am an evangelist working in the white fields for harvest in the Roman Catholic Church, I often receive emotional letters from Catholics who challenge me about my faith in Jesus. Following are several letters from Catholics and the defense I gave them for my faith in Christ Jesus.

Personal bias and prejudice are difficult to set aside when one’s religious faith is involved. Accordingly, we must examine all the facts objectively. We must be careful what we accept as truth. My knowledge of Catholicism comes from its official teachings. From your comments, I wonder if you have read the new Catechism of the Catholic Church. In paragraph 1821 we read, "each one of us should hope...to obtain the joy of heaven, as God’s eternal reward for the good works accomplished with the grace of Christ." According to the Bible, heaven is not a reward but a gift, and it is by grace through faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). In fact, when you mix works with grace as your Catechism teaches, grace is no longer grace (Romans 11:6). You are correct, Rome has always taught salvation by grace alone, but Catholic grace is not true grace. God’s grace is unmerited. It does not flow from the side of Christ, through the hands of Mary, through the sacraments administered by Catholic priests as your church teaches. It is not earned as described in paragraph 2027, "We can merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed to attain eternal life." If the Pope’s main function is to insure nothing is deleted from the Bible, how do you explain his approval to delete the 2nd Commandment of God from page 496 of the new Catechism? When I took the Bible seriously I left the Catholic Church, never to return to a system which deceives its people concerning the most critical issue of their lives—how can sinners be reconciled to a holy God.

I have never said I am right. In fact I never ask people to believe as I believe, but to believe only what God has revealed through His written word. I point people to the Scriptures which are able to make them wise unto salvation. As the Holy Spirit illuminates their minds and hearts they will find the narrow road that leads to eternal life (Matthew 7:13-14).

Paragraph 1129 of your new Catechism states, "The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the Covenant are necessary for salvation." In paragraph 1257, it further states: "Baptism is necessary for salvation… the Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude." Many Catholics do not know what their Catechism teaches. Roman Catholicism is a very complex religion which attempts to control its people with obligatory sacraments and rituals. If you desire to be a disciple of Jesus, do as He says. Abide in His Word! Only then will you know the truth which will set you free from the bondage of deception. Repented sinners are "justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus [not sacraments]; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith" (Romans 3:24-25). Be obedient to the Scriptures and withdraw yourself from the Catholic clergy who teach doctrines contrary to the words of Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 6:3-5).

The church Jesus established is made up of all who have been called by the Father and sealed by the Holy Spirit upon repenting and believing the glorious Gospel of grace. They are called saints because He has saved them completely, having obtained their eternal redemption by shedding His blood to purge away their sins. They were baptized by one Spirit into one body, which is the church. The physical building where people worship or their denominational affiliation does not determine membership in the true church. Accordingly there are many people within Catholic and Protestant churches who profess Christ but have never experienced the second birth. Everyone born of God believes the same Gospel. All believers of Jesus Christ are united in God’s Gospel.

The difference is found in Ephesians 2:10. Those who have been born of God will do works God has prepared for them. Prior to being born again and justified, sinners are spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1). Therefore any righteous works are done in the flesh and not in the Spirit and are filthy rags in God’s sight (Isaiah 64:6). James is addressing those who profess Christ, but their lack of evidence (works) indicate they may not really possess Christ. The Bible teaches that justification = Faith + nothing, whereas Roman Catholicism teaches justification = faith + works. No one can add to Christ’s perfect work of redemption. Any attempt to do so nullifies God’s grace. Once Jesus saves us we do the works God has prepared for us out of love and appreciation and to glorify our Father in heaven. Christians do works because Jesus has saved them. The new Catholic Catechism teaches that Catholics do works to merit their salvation.

According to John, chapter 10, when any lost sheep, no matter what church or religion they are in, hears the voice of the Good Shepherd they will follow Him. They hear His voice when His Gospel is proclaimed. The Good Shepherd protects His flock from sheep stealers. As long as Christians continue receiving spiritual food from Him through His word, they will never follow the voice of a robber or a thief trying to steal them away. A Catholic can become a Christian when the true shepherd calls, but a Christian following Christ will never follow the voice of a stranger whose deceptive motive is to capture and hold in bondage.