Roman Catholicism teaches that "We must perform good works. We must truly merit Heaven" (Pocket Catechism, Catholic Book Publisiing Co, New York. Imprimatur: James P. Mahoney D.D. Vicar General, Archdiocese of New York), and yet the Bible says, "For by grace [unmerited favor] you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8, 9-- Catholic Study Bible, New American Version).

My friend, what are you trusting in to get to heaven? Your works? You are a sinner, and sinners are condemned to go to hell. The Bible says, "ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). "Sin" is defined as breaking God's holy LAW-- The Ten Commandments, "Sin is the transgression of the law" (I John 3:4). The Bible warns that "the wages [payment] of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). This "death" is called the SECOND DEATH (hell fire), "But the ... unbelieving... and murderers... and whoremongers, and sorcerers... and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8). This horror is FOREVER!, "The smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night" (Revelation 14:11).

There is only one way to be saved from your sins and the judgment of hell, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father [in heaven], but by me" (John 14:6).

The righteous LAW that you have broken must be satisfied; it must be kept by someone, in order for you to escape judgment. Jesus Christ, God's Son, kept the broken LAW perfectly in place of the believer: He was "made of a woman [became human], made under the law, to redeem them that were under [the curse of] the law" (Galatians 4:4).

Many try to keep the LAW, thinking that they can get to heaven by good works, but "all our righteousnesses [works] are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). A Holy God demands a perfect righteousness. Our only hope is in God's mercy through Christ, "The kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his [God's] mercy he save[s] us" (Titus 3:4,5).

By keeping the LAW Jesus Christ earned a righteousness for the believer. When a sinner calls upon Christ to save him, Christ JUSTIFIES him (presents him holy in God's sight) by putting His earned righteousness to the sinner's credit, "By the righteouness of one [Christ] the free gift came upon all men [believers] unto justification of life... Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified"(Romans 3:20; 5:18).

This is a wonderful truth! "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law.... He [Christ] was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin" (I John 3:4,5). "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

Christ not only earns a righteousness for the believer and puts it to his credit, but he also takes their punishment of death for breaking the LAW, "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures" (I Corinthians 15:3). Since "the wages of sin is death (Hell-- God's wrath for eternity), Christ took God's wrath upon himself on the cross to pay for sin. Just as those in hell are forsaken by God, so Christ, who was bearing the believer's hell on the cross, was forsaken by God. His cry on the cross was, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34). He became cursed of God to save the believer from the curse of the LAW, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree" (Galatians 3:13).

Christ "bare our sins in his own body on the tree" (I Peter 2:24). "For he [God] hath made him [Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (II Cor. 5:21).

Friend, are you saved? Will you escape the wrath of God upon your sin? Has Christ's righteousness been put to your account, or are you trusting in your own righteousnesses which are as filthy rags? Are you trusting Christ's death as the only payment for your sin, or will you pay for your own sin by going to hell?

Friend, BE SAVED TODAY BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE! "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation" (II Corinthians 6:2). "Boast not theyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth" (Proverbs 27:1).

Call upon Christ to be your Savior! "Whosoever shall CALL upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). "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" (John 3:16). "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" (Ephesians 2:8, 9).

Mother Teresa did a great work for the poor, but by the standard of God's holiness all our works are as filthy rags. That is why Saint Paul could say, "There is none that doeth good, no, not one" (Romans 3:12). If Mother Teresa trusted in her works to get to heaven, she went to hell. "Oh no!," you say, "surely she wouldn't have trusted in her works!" Oh really? Why then does Catholicism teach salvation by works? What are you trusting?

- David C. DiCanio