Are Some Roman Catholics Saved

by Rev. H. Gregory Adams

    "Do you believe that there are some Roman Catholics that are saved?" is a question often asked us. "Surely, there should be some Roman Catholics that are saved. They are so sincere!"

    Indeed, they must be saved if they want to reach heaven, but are they? and so there is a tendency for even Bible believing Christians to think the Roman Catholics are saved due to sincerity or to their good works.

But what does the Bible say?
"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God" John 3:3.

    Are Roman Catholics born again by the Spirit of the living God? Have they had a personal experience with Christ and have Him alone as Saviour, Lord and Master?

    "The Truth hurts," and so this might hurt some readers who have relatives and friends among Roman Catholics. but we must tell the truth as it is.

    Indeed there are many Roman Catholics who, in spite of their beliefs, look past it all and reach out by faith to the living Saviour. O yes, such accept Christ as their personal Saviour, are born again and leave the old life behind. Such we call "converted former Roman Catholics."

    But the question here is: Are there any saved Roman Catholics? That is being a saved person and remaining in Roman Catholicism.

    Just as you cannot mix fire and water, neither can one be a saved person and remain a faithful Roman Catholic. What is more, this would be directly against the official teaching of Rome: One who would dare to consider himself, or herself, saved (that is, certain of heaven), being a devout Roman Catholic commits one of the gravest sins - the sin of presumption.

But again the argument that many Roman Catholics "are so sincere" "so kind", etc., etc.

    Sincerity is good. And if sincerity alone could save a person, the monks and nuns would be first to reach heaven. But sincerity is not good enough. God says: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." And again, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast." And no Roman Catholic is a born-again believer in Christ. They know about Christ, but do not know Him personally, therefore trying to work their way to Him.

    Roman Catholicism is essentially a religion of works and not of grace as taught in the Scriptures. Merits are earned, or even purchased with money, yet the assurance and joy of salvation are ever absent no matter how much satisfaction may be derived from sincere worship, conscientious living, or laudable good works.

    Though the cross and death of Christ are emphasized, the saving truths of Redemption are not taught. Or they are so mixed with Mary, penance, purgatory, ritual, mass, and with idol and saint worship, that faith unto salvation is completely obscure.

    Truly, many Roman Catholics, in spite of it all, have accepted Christ into their hearts, their lives - but can they then, being saved, still continue to be Roman Catholics?

    If they did, they would still have to attend mass. Mass is "the unbloody sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ under the appearance of bread and wine." and how can they repeat Calvary when the Bible says:

    "For this He did ONCE" Hebrews 9:11-15. "Christ was ONCE offered" Hebrews 9:28. "The offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE for all" Hebrews 10:10. "For by ONE offering" Hebrews 10:14.

    They would have to continue going to confession to a priest when the Bible says: "Who can forgive sins but God only?" Mark 2:7. "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission" Hebrews 9:22. "And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous" 1 John 2:1,2.

    They would have to continue praying to Mary and the saints when the Bible definitely states: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" 1 Timothy 2:5.

    Then remaining in Roman Catholicism, they must believe that after death there is a place called "purgatory". How could this tally with the fact of being saved? The Bible says: "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin" 1 John 1:7.

    Some tell us that they have met some pretty good Roman Catholics who talked all about Jesus and seemed to trust Him. but then again, if they trust Jesus alone for salvation (and there is no other way), then why mass, confession, beads statues, crucifixes, etc., etc.? Either one knows he is saved, or does not. We do not get gradually saved. What Roman Catholics really are talking about is the wafer being their "Christ." (See Matthew 24:23).

    The Roman Catholics are as lost as the poor African or Hindu. The only difference is that the Roman Catholics are right about us and we do not see the need of evangelizing them. 'Tis distance lends enchantment to the view. May we also quote Carlyle when he said, "To the vulgar eye few things are wonderful that are not distant."

    We urge you to pray for the Roman Catholics and to witness to them as never before. They are lost and need a living Saviour, not one dead on the cross.

    Those who insist that there are saved Roman Catholics either do not know the Bible or do not know Roman Catholicism.

COPYWRIGHT 1987 by Rev. H. Gregory Adams Anyone is free to use this material in its complete and original form. ANY alterations, deletions or additions to this document violate this agreement!