"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." -John 3:3
I recently had an interesting
conversation with a Roman Catholic gentleman. I explained to him that
the Catholic doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary was
unbiblical. Catholics actually believe that Mary, Jesus' mother, was
born without a sin-nature, and lived a sinless life, and was bodily assumed
into Heaven because of her perfection. Of course, there are no such
teachings in the Word of God. Catholicism is a conglomerate of manmade
traditions, which go 100% contrary to the Bible. I explained this to the
man. By the way, I believe in being upfront, and to the point with
people. If being honest offends someone, then so be it. I never
try, as do the cults, to steer around the issue, or hide my true identity. Seventh-Day
Adventists are known to HIDE their true identity when trying to recruit
people into their cult. It is important that we, as genuine Christians,
be straightforward with people. If we have to diminish the truth to make
it acceptable to people, then we are no better than the cults. Keep in
mind that God authored the Bible--the most offensive Book on the planet, as
viewed by unrepentant sinners. Mark Twain the famous author said, "If
there is a God, He is a malign thug." This is how the truth of God's
Word affects unrepentant sinners. The same sun that melts the wax,
hardens the clay. If God didn't feel the need to compromise His Word,
then neither should we.
As I was witnessing to the gentlemen, he asked, "Are you into that re-born religion?" I told him that Jesus said... "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). I explained that being "born again" isn't a religion, or an option; BUT, rather, a command from God Himself. The man said, "I don't understand that re-born stuff." I explained to him that because of Adam's sin, the sin-nature entered into the human race, and passed upon all mankind (Romans 5:12). Thus, all men are born into sin, with an inherent sin-nature, spiritually dead, void of God. All men are sinners (Romans 3:10,19-23). If we realize our guilt and condemnation under God's Law because of our sins, and our justly deserved punishment in the Lake of Fire, then we can be forgiven simply by believing upon Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31), who shed His blood to pay for our sins (1st John 1:7). At the very moment we believe upon Jesus as our Savior, to forgive our sins, God's Holy Spirit comes to indwell our body, i.e., live within us (Romans 8:9; 1st Corinthians 3:16). This is the second birth. There is a saying that is worthy of mention I think... "If you're born once, you die twice; if you're born twice, you die once." That is a good way of looking at the situation. In other words, if you don't get born-again, you will die a physical death and a second death in Hellfire (2nd Thessalonians 1:8,9; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8).
After explaining all this to the man, he made a sad statement to me, saying, "I'm not ready to give up my sins." I explained to him that salvation is a FREE GIFT of God (Romans 5:15; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9), and that he didn't have to give up his sins to be saved (otherwise who could be saved? ... "For all have sinned," Romans 3:23). He explained to me that he wasn't ready to make a commitment to God. Again, I explained to him that eternal life is a gift, paid for by Jesus' blood. I explained to him that Catholicism is rooted in self-righteousness (Mark 7:6-13; Romans 10:3,4), and that no amount of self-righteousness could save him (Titus 3:5). John 6:33 says that we are to seek HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (i.e., Christ's righteousness, 2nd Corinthians 5:21); and not our own self-righteousness.
Then the man said, "I am not ready to REPENT." I finally understood what he was trying to say, and John 3:20 instantly came to my mind...
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." -John 3:20
The man to whom I was witnessing loved his sins more than Jesus Christ. This is what the Apostle Paul meant in 1st Corinthians 16:22 when he said... "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha," i.e., let him be cursed, the Lord is coming. The gentleman to whom I had presented the Gospel, fully understood that salvation requires repentance, i.e., a change of mind about one's sins. Even though he didn't have to actually forsake his sins to be saved, he realized that being born-again requires repentance of the heart, which meant that he could no longer enjoy living in sin. You see, the unsaved world knows more than we often give them credit for (Romans 1:18). The unsaved Catholic man, to whom I was witnessing, fully knew the implications of becoming a born-again Christian. He knew that in order to be saved, his SINS HAD TO BE DEALT WITH, and he could no longer guiltlessly live in sin once he repented of them. One has to admire such honesty in a Christ-rejecter. He fully knew that to come to Jesus Christ for salvation meant to be reproved of his sins, and for God to expect a change once he became a true Christian. I have much more respect for this man's honesty, than I do for the hordes of professed "Christians" today who openly promote lesbianism, abortion, and witchcraft. Would to God that professed Christians were as honest as the unsaved world.
As we neared the end of the
conversation, the Catholic man told me that he was enjoying too many sinful
pleasures in his life to repent at this time. He said he wasn't ready to
be "re-born" as he termed it. I could see that he was uncomfortable with
the issue of sin, and a bit nervous. He said he needed to go, and didn't
want to discuss the issue any further. I thanked him for his time, and
we went our separate ways.
The Curse of Catholicism
It is tragic that one billion people are being woefully deceived by the Catholic religion, which is no church or faith at all. Catholicism is a cult! Catholics are taught that they can live in sin, just so long as they make it right by following the procedures of the Catholic Church. There is NO genuine repentance of the heart in Catholicism, only outward religion (Matthew 15:8). Catholicism is a big smokescreen, which allows people to hide behind religion, instead of finding true Biblical repentance unto salvation.
The entire concept of Mardi Gras (a Catholic holiday) is Satanic to the core. Catholics deliberately indulge in drunken orgies of sin, and then go to make it all right (according to the Catholic Church) on Ash Wednesday (the day after Mardi Gras ends). Members of the Catholic Church live like total heathens--indulging in pornography, drunkenness, gambling, fornication, et cetera--and think it's acceptable to God just so long as they confess to a priest, go to Mass, recite the Rosary to Mary, and observe the Seven Sacraments. Hell will be hot for those who trust the Catholic Church for their salvation, instead of Jesus Christ ALONE as the Word of God commands (John 14:6; 1st Timothy 2:5; Acts 4:10-12). Oh how blind are the hearts of men towards the truth of God's Word! Catholicism may offer religious ceremonialism to people; but they cannot offer anyone eternal life. The Blessed Virgin Mary is a BIG SCAM of the Devil, not taught anywhere in the Scriptures. Mary, Jesus' mother, did NOT remain a virgin; YET, Catholics twist the truth and lie, saying that Mary was a perpetual virgin. Why are people so dumb to believe the lies of Catholicism? Jesus tells us why in Mark 7:6-13... because people willingly reject God's Word to keep their own manmade traditions instead.
If you want to belong to a religion that allows you to live in sin, and tell you everything's ok after performing a few religious acts, then you'll love the Catholic prisonhouse of religion. If you want to look at porn, curse in God's name, talk dirty, lust, hate, get drunk, live like the Devil, and still be a respectable member of your church, then you'll love Catholicism. I was recently in a bookstore and saw a book titled, Catholicism For Dummies! I couldn't help but think how the Devil mocks his children, by calling them "dummies." I've noticed all sorts of occult New Age symbols and demonism on TV lately, on company logos, in music, and in advertising. The Beast system is forming right in front of our face, under our very noses, and the average person is so blinded by love for sin that they can't see their hand in front of their face.
There is NO repentance in the Catholic Church, only religion and more religion. Biblical repentance should result in a changed life (2nd Corinthians 5:17), a Christlike life. Catholics steer clear of any mention of being "born-again," because to be born into God's Kingdom requires genuine REPENTANCE, which is a foreign concept to Catholics.
