TREASURES IN YOUR CATHOLIC BIBLE
a study course by Bill Jackson
Introduction
. It is fitting that a basic course in the Bible should have the Gospel of
St. John as its theme. St. John is known as the disciple whom Jesus loved,
and his name brings to mind the idea of loving communion with the Lord Jesus.
. Although nearly 2000 years have passed since the earthly life of our Lord,
He is still waiting to share the same love with those who will follow Him. It
is to this end that this Bible course is dedicated.
. Each lesson will consist of a scripture portion for you to read, with some
notes from the passage. Please read the verses at least twice, then read the
notes and answer the questions. After answering the questions, you may check
them with the Answer Key after Lesson 7. If you have any points that you have
a question about, please write. We are glad to enter into discussion on any
of the Bible truths.
. God bless you as you study His Word!
LESSON 1 ST. JOHN'S GOSPEL IN A NUT SHELL
Read: St. John 1:1-14
. We see the Lord Jesus revealed to us as the Word, or expression, of God.
His eternal being with the Father is majestically unfolded in verse 1.
. In verse 3 we see the Lord Jesus as Creator; in verse 4 as Life-giver. This
life is more than mere physical being, as this is the Light of men. Verse 9
tells us this is the True Light for all.
. Pervious to the Incarnation (which means the Word made flesh, see verse
14), although the Light of Christ did shine in the darkness of the world, the
Light was not known. This leads us to the beginning of the manifestation of
this True Light.
. We see a witness raised up to testify of the true Light. He was John the
Baptist, and although the Bible plainly states that he was not that Light, he
gathered men together under his powerful preaching to tell them not of
himself--but of the coming Light, the Lord Jesus Christ.
. But even though He was heralded by John, and even though He gave life-
giving Light, our Lord was not accepted by many. Verses 10 and 11 are among
the saddest in scripture; not only that the world as a whole did not recieve
Him--even His own people turned their backs on Him.
. So it has always been, and so it is now. Most men choose their own ways
rather than His, and while He has stamped His image upon two thousand years of
history, the Lord Jesus Christ is, to the vast majority of the human race, an
unknown Person.
. We can take heart that some did recieve Him, and became Sons of God. Those
of His early followers, including the writer St. John, testified that they saw
His Glory, for He was full of Grace and Truth. The remainder of the chapter
gives ample evidence of this wonderful Grace of Jesus.
. Today there are still men that see His Glory. Poverty, war, hatred,
violence, trouble; all these were present in the first century when the Light
of the world dawned upon the Judean hills. Some, only a comparative few saw
that Glory. The world has not changed very much since, for amid all the
problems and perplexities of the 20th century living, some (but very few) see
His Glory and are blessed.
. Becoming His Sons involved a miracle never before revealed to the world.
Those who believed (trusted) in Him were born of God. Ordinary men recieved a
New Birth, and in the initial revelation of this phenomenon (we shall read
more of it in Lesson 3), God plainly illustrates the New Birth by telling us
what it is not.
. (1) It is not "of blood", that is, you cannot inherit the New Birth as you
inherit other features and tendencies from your parents.
. (2) It is not "of the will of the flesh", that is, it is not the normal
tendency for any person in the world. Left to ourselves we couldn't
experience the New Birth.
. (3) It is not "of the will of man", that is, no man can decree, when,
where or how you will recieve the New Birth. It is not dependent on any act
by any other person.
. In the simplest terms, to be expanded later, we are plainly told that it is
to be "born ...of God." No nobler birth can be mans, and treasures yet to be
unfolded in God's Word will make it clear how all can enter into this grand
experience and truly become sons of God.
QUESTIONS
Answer True or False.
1. John's Gospel clearly states that Jesus is the Eternal Son of God.
2. John the Baptist was the Light of men.
3. Everyone eagerly recieved ˙the ˙Light of Christ.
4. Those who recieved ˙Christ became sons of God.
5. In order to recieve the New Birth, we must rely on the cooperation of men.
6. Those who recieve the Lord Jesus Christ see His Glory.
7. We are God's children because we have Christian parents.
LESSON 2 MARY'S ONLY COMMAND
Read: St. John 2:1-11
. From verse 11 of this chapter we can see the purpose of Jesus' first
miracle. It was to manifest His Glory so His disciples would believe in Him.
. Besides this primary importance of the miraculous changing of water to
wine, it is interesting to see the role that Mary the mother of Jesus played
in this. It is one of the few times between the birth and Passion of the Lord
that she is mentioned. The words that she spoke in John 2 contain the only
command that Mary ever uttered.
. Any Bible student, whether Protestant or Catholic, will admit the important
part Mary played in bringing the Lord Jesus Christ into the world. It will
therefore be very helpful to contemplate the importance of her only command.
. Mary's first statement, "they have no wine" (v. 3) gives us a good
indication of her practicality. She was no mystical, ethereal creature; she
was a down-toearth woman, seeing a small but real need.
. So often we tend to think of Bible heroes walking around with halos, as if
they were of another world and didn't know te realities of this one. Jesus
didn't walk around with a light shining on His head and neither did Peter or
Mary. True holiness is demonstrated by a life of dedication to God, not a
halo.
. Mary classed herself with humanity and saw human need, just as she spoke on
the "Magnificat" (St. Luke 1:46-55) of her need of a Saviour. Thus she
counted herself a sinner, not in the sense of great wickedness, but as one who
shared the lot of all mankind. As St. Augustine said, "Mary was more blessed
in having Jesus as her Saviour than in giving Him birth.
. Jesus' retort to Mary sounds abrupt, but His addressing her as "Woman"
carries no idea of disrespect. Jesus said it was not yet time for Him to
perform a miracle, and yet a moment later a miracle was performed. Is this a
mistake? Did Jesus act solely because Mary had pointed out the need?
. A look at these few verses will convince us that neither of these is true.
We know He made no mistakes, and we can see that His response to Mary's
initial plea was negative.
. Our attention must be focused upon verse five, which is the key. This
verse contains the only command that Mary ever gave: "Whatsoever He saith
unto you, do it." To this statement Jesus gave full and immediate response,
thereby demonstrating important truths about His power.
. First, we see that His miraculous power came into operation in response to
obedience that was prompted by faith. Imagine drawing water and carrying it
out to the table as if it were wine. But in doing so, it became manifest that
is was wine!
. In this light, we see Mary as the one who drew attention to Jesus, and made
it clear that it was reliance on Him that would meet their need. Anyone who is
looking to a church, its sacraments, or to their own good works as a means of
salvation would do well to take heed to Mary's only command!
. We also see that Jesus' miraculous power does not come into operation
automatically whenever there is a need. Were this true, all sinners on earth
would be instantly be converted.
. A MIRACLE OF GRACE TAKES PLACE WHEN THE NEED FOR SALVATION IS RECOGNIZED
AND THE REMEDY IS APPLIED IN OBEDIENCE TO THE WORDS OF JESUS.
. The command of the Virgin Mary was that we should obey the words of Jesus,
and that we should rely on Him to perform in our lives that which we need.
The greatest miracle is the true conversion of a sinner to God. In this we
see the same principles as were present at Jesus' first miracle at Cana.
. (1) RECOGNITION OF A NEED. John 2:3 - "they have no wine." This pictures
man's need of salvation, as Romans 3:23 says, "all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God."
. (2) UNDERSTANDING THE CONSEQUENCES. As shortage of wine would have ruined
the feast, sin ruins the lives of men. (Romans 6:23 -- "the wages of
sin is death.")
. (3) OUR ONLY HELP IS CHRIST. As He met the need at Cana, He can solve the
sin problem in your life. St. Peter says, "Who his own bare our sins in
his own body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24). St. John adds "the blood of
Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
. (4) BECAUSE OF OUR FAITH IN HIM WE BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD. It is not because
of our background, good works or church attendence (see John 1:12).
QUESTIONS Answer True or False
1. Jesus turned the water into wine because Mary asked Him to.
2. John 2 records Mary's only command in scripture.
3. Mary did ˙not need salvation because she was sinless.
4. Sin is a destructive force and results in death.
5. As long as we are sincere, ˙we will get to Heaven.
6. Everyone needs salvation; the ˙Bible ˙says, ˙"all have sinned."
7. The blood of Jesus Christ can wash us clean from all sin.
LESSON 3 THE NEW BIRTH
Read: St. John 3:1-16
. In chapter one, St. John outlines some basic facts about the New Birth by
telling us what it is not. By emphasizing that this operation is not of man's
doing, he clearly establishes the fact that the New Birth is supernatural. It
is not the act of a minister, a priest or a church--it is an act of God.
Having the foundatin laid, now the Lord Jesus gives personal application in
chapter three.
. In St. John 3:3, Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the
Kingdom of God." The necessity of this New Birth is repeated in verses 5 and
7. If our Lord was so careful to underline the importance of the New Birth,
it is worth our while to find out what it is.
. Without this experience no one can get to Heaven. Unless each of us is
born again, we will never see God's Heavenly Kingdom.
. Nicodemus had a hard time understanding the New Birth (see verse 4), and so
it is today. Many very educated men cannot understand the simplicity of this
regenerative act of God.
. As we have already seen, the New Birth is not Baptism. It is not making
resolutions, however sincerely. It does not come to a person because of the
station on life which he was born, or because of inherited religious beliefs.
It is a supernatural Act of God.
. Jesus plainly stated that one must be born of water and the Holy Spirit --
but if some kind of a "water birth" administered by man was needed to get
spiritual life, it would not be a supernatural Act of God. And the Word of
God is very plain that the New Birth is supernatural.
. It is very easy to understand that man becomes a natural creature when he
has a natural birth--the birth by water. Having had this natural birth and
being a natural man, he must now have a spiritual birth--a New Birth.
. Jesus says plainly, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that
which is born of the Spirit is Spirit" (St. John 3:6). By the natural (water)
birth man becomes natural; by the spiritual (Spirit) birth, man becomes
spiritual. As the natural birth brings a natural life, so the spiritual birth
gives man a spiritual life, the life of God.
. How to recieve this spiritual birth which is the New Birth (being born
again) is outlined in John's Gospel, chapter 3, verse 16. This verse should
be memorized, as it contains the heart of the Gospel.
. To be spiritually dead is to perish. In John 3:16 we read of those who do
not perish; instead, they have a wonderful Gift called Everlasting Life.
. WHY?--Because they have recieved the New Birth, and as they were once dead
in their sins, they have been brought to life by the New Birth. They have
become spiritually ALIVE when once they were DEAD.
. HOW?--By believing in (or trusting in) the Lord Jesus Christ. No work that
I can do, nor any ceremony performed over me can do the job. Jesus alone can
save, and I must trust Him to do it. Anything else that I may be trusting--
good works, alms, sacraments, saints, prayers, all must be seen to be lacking.
If we have faith in these things to help to save us, we cannot be fully
trusting in the Lord Jesus. Since His Sacrifice was infinitely able to save,
nothing can be added to His work, so we must trust Him alone.
. Truly trusting in Him means to place my whole reliance on Him for
salvation. As the poet puts it:
. "Upon a life I could not live; Upon a death I could not die; On Another's
Life, Another's Death I stake my whole eternity."
QUESTIONS Answer True of False
1. Jesus repeatedly told us the New Birth is necessary.
2. Nicodemus had no trouble understanding all Jesus said.
3. Man recieves natural life from his natural parents in his first birth.
4. This natural life is governed by natural laws; spiritual birth is governed
by spiritual laws.
5. A person is born again when he truly trusts Christ as his Saviour.
6. The New Birth is Baptism in water.
7. John 3:16 teaches that everlasting life is a gift.
LESSON 4 HOW AVERT GOD'S JUDGEMENT
Read: St. John 5:19-27
. The message of the Gospel according to St. John is one of great hope and
promise. In chapter one we found out that we can become true children of God.
In chapter two, we saw the Lord Jesus as the One Who can meet every need--
material and spiritual. In chapter three, we studied the New Birth --God's
supernatural act that makes us His Children when we recieve Jesus as our
perfect Saviour.
. Now we are going to look at Judgement, and at first, this seems a reversal
of the theme of the promise of everlasting life, and in vivid contrast is the
fact that there is etrernal judgement waiting for some. We can only
understand the introduction of this sober thought when we realize God's motive
for speaking of judgement is to tell us how we will be able to avert it.
. Judgement is mentioned three times in the nine verses; in verses 22 and 27,
we are told that God the Father has committed all judgement to the Son. In
between these two verses, in verse 24, we have one of the most wonderful
statements that ever fell from the lips of Jesus. Note it carefully one
phrase at a time.
. "Verily, Verily (truly), I say unto you" --these words point ahead to the
importance of the coming statement, and its complete trustworthiness. Jesus
indicated He is going to say something of vital importance.
. "He that heareth my word" refers to the message of the Gospel (the Good
News), which the disciples of Jesus were told to preach to the world. This is
still being faithfully proclaimed today. It is not man's word; it is God's
infallible Word.
. "Believeth on him that sent me" tells us the importance of our believing
the testimony that God gives concerning the saving power of Jesus Christ. God
never bears witness to any saving power in a church or Christian minister.
There is one Saviour from sin; He is the perfect Saviour. The sacrificial
death of Jesus was sufficient to take away sin, and God declares in His Word
that Jesus died for us, in our place, as our Substitute. Because He took the
punishment we deserved, we can recieve the free gift we do not deserve. A
gift from God is freely given, not merited or earned. God's Word tells us
plainly that His salvation is a gift.
. "Hath everlasting life" --this speaks of present possession of a life that
is eternal, and cannot pass away. Nothing can take it away or destroy it, for
it comes from God and is everlasting.
. "Shall not come into condemnation" (the Catholic version says "cometh into
judgement")--this means there can be no thought of hell or purgatory for those
who have heard His Word and believed the testimony that God has given about
Jesus Christ. Instead of living our lives in dread of what may be awaiting us
in eternity, we are confident--not in ourselves, but in the perfection of Him
Whom we trust for everlasting life.
. "Is passed from death to life" refers to what we studied in the last
lesson--the New Birth. We were spiritually dead, and when we recieve the Lord
Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we are re-born; we are brought supernaturally
from death to life. In the last part of verse 24 we are assured that a person
who has looked to Jesus Christ for salvation has already passed from death
(where we recieve a gift we do not deserve).
. That gift is eternal life, and once we have recieved this gift we are truly
converted to Christ and eternally secure because of His sacrificial death for
us, and the miracle of the New Birth that operated in our lives as we place
our trust for salvation completely upon Jesus Christ alone.
QUESTIONS Answer True of False
1. God desires that all of us escape His Judgement for sin.
2. The words of Jesus in John 5:24 ˙are completely true.
3. His promise is to those who respond to the Gospel message.
4. God tell us in His Word that we are saved by a human priest.
5. The church is God's means of salvation.
6. When we are born again, we pass from death to life.
LESSON 5 THE BREAD OF LIFE
Read: St. John 6:31-55
. This is one of the most important lessons of our study. We have learned
basic truths concerning salvation. Every chapter of John's Gospel contains
precious teaching about how we can escape the consequences of sin. We can be
children of God, born again by His supernatural power, as we hear His Word and
trust Jesus as our Saviour from sin.
. We understand salvation by seeing it from different aspects. If we read
John 4, we see Jesus pictured as the Water of Life. Now, in John 6, we see
Him as the Bread of life, and we are taught how to partake of HIm.
. John 6:54 is important; it teaches us that we must partake of hrist, and it
portrays this in literal terms--eat His flesh and drink His blood. Some tell
us this speaks of the Mass, where there is claimed to be a literal eating and
drinking of Christ in Holy Communion.
. If this were true, it would be necessary for one to take Holy Communion
only once in a life time. Verse 55 says that if we eat His flesh and drink
His blood we HAVE (present tense) everlasting life. If Jesus literally meant
eating and drinking, He surely meant everlasting life--a life that would be
eternal and never-ending.
. When a person recieves everlasting life, he has that which can never pass
away; therefore once a person truly eats the flesh of Jesus and drinks His
blood they are eternally saved.
. Literal terms are used because this partaking of Christ is more than a
shadow or a symbol. It is a glorious reality, and far surpasses any religious
experience such as the Jews were used to. For them, religion was going to
worship once a week, reciting prescribed prayers and doing religious deeds.
Partaking of a person's very existence was foreign to their thoughts, but
Jesus said this was necessary if they were to have eternal life.
. Jesus further explained His words in verse 63 when He said, "It is the
spirit that quickeneth (or bring life); the flesh profiteth nothing." So it's
a spiritual partaking of Christ--but it is so real that it completely differs
from anything we had previously known in our life.
. St. John 6:33 had told us, in introducing this thought, that Jesus is the
bread of God, and that He gives life. This prepares us for the idea of
partaking of Him, and thereby recieving everlasting life.
. Look carefully at St. John 6:35, for this sums up the whole truth God is
bringing to us here. "He that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that
believeth on me shall never thirst."
. Here both thoughts are expressed--eating and drinking. Here is positive
assurence to the partakers--shall NEVER hunger; shall NEVER thirst! Here is
clearly set out the conditions to be brought to this place of everlasting life
and full assurance.
. "He that comes to Jesus" -in coming we of necessity leave other things
behind. We must turn from our sin; the Bible calls this repentance. We must
forsake the things we had relied on for salvation, even though they were
religious and good things.
. Perhaps they are the things we have always relied on for salvation --
prayers, masses, confessions, penances, indulgences--all things must be left
behind when coming to Jesus.
. The same though is implied when we speak of believing in Jesus. This does
not mean to believe something about Him; it means to trust Him completely, to
have full reliance on Him and Him alone for our salvation.
. If you are trusting old religious observances they must be scrapped if you
are to truly partake of Christ, and recieve His free gift of everlasting life.
QUESTIONS Answer True of False
1. Although seen from different aspects, God has only one plan of salvation.
2. Knowing Christ as Saviour is more than ordinary religious experience.
3. We can drink Jesus' blood when we take Holy Communion.
4. Jesus said it is the Spirit that gives life.
5. Anyone who truly comes to Jesus will never hunger spiritually.
6. If we truly trust christ, there is nothing else upon which we rely.
7. In John 6:55, Jesus was speaking about the Sacrifice of the Mass.
LESSON 6 HE DIED FOR ME
Read: St. John 19:17-30
. We have studied various aspects of salvation, and have learned much
concerning how this gift can be recieved. Now in this lesson we are going to
view the great sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ--the actual purchase price
of this great salvation.
. This part of the life of Jesus is often called His Passion--which simply
means His sufferings. While the sufferings on the Cross are unique, they are
a climax to a life of suffering which began when Jesus Christ left Heaven's
Glory and, for our sakes, became man.
. The events surrounding Calvary burst upon our viewing of the life of our
Lord suddenly, but this was no unexpected event as far as He was concerned. He
knew man would fall, and therefore He ordained the death of Christ before the
world was created.
. In chapter 18, we can read of Peter's denial, of Jesus' appearing before
Annas, Caiaphas and Pilate and of the release of Barabbas, who the Jews chose
instead of Jesus. In the begining of chapet 19, we find Jesus still before
Pilate, and we read of His being mistreated by the Roman soldiers. After
making efforts to realease Him Pilate gave in to the Jews and delivered Jesus
to them for crucifixion.
. An account of His journey to Calvary follows, and it is interesting to note
that, in scripture, it does not record the three times Jesus was said to have
fallen beneath His Cross, nor does it mention any meeting with Veronica or
Mary.
. Jesus was crucified between two thieves, and in another Gospel we read that
one of these, in the hour of his death, asked the Lord Jesus for salvation,
which was graciously granted him.
. The soldiers parted His garments and gambled for His coat, all in
fulfillment of prophecy. From the account in the four Gospels, we find that
33 Old testament prophecies were fulfilled in the Passion of Jesus.
. Jesus' mother was standing by the Cross with two other women and the
Apostle John. Mary's husband Joseph had most likely died before this event,
and the brothers of our Lord mentioned in scripture were unbelievers. With
the loving care of a son to his mother, Jesus indicated his desire that John
should henceforth treat Mary as his own mother, and John readily obeyed.
. To build the doctrine of the Universal Motherhood of Mary over Christians
out of this incident is to employ private interpretation to put into the Bible
thoughts that are not there. This was a personal request of a loving Son, and
its fulfillment in the later part of verse 27 ends its significance.
. Now that His last earthly tie was taken care of, Jesus said, "I thirst."
Many Bible students see in this statement the full agony of Christ, literally
suffering the pains of hell for our redemption. And Jesus in reality did
become our Substitute--dying the death we deserve to die so that we, trusting
in HIm, might recieve the benefits of this perfect sacrifice for sin--His Gift
of eternal Life!
. Jesus then said, "It is finished." And indeed it was. His redemptive
death on the Cross fulfilled, Jesus commended His Spirit to His Father and
died.
. And the wonderful trust that comes echoing down the centuries--HE DIED FOR
ME!
QUESTIONS Answer True of False
1. God's great salvation is a free gift.
2. John's ˙gospel tells us of Jesus meeting St. Veronica.
3. Jesus was crucified between two thieves.
4. Much Old Testament prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus died.
5. Jesus asked John to care for His mother Mary.
6. Jesus died on Calvary as my substitute.
7. Jesus' death and resurrection completed God's plan of redemption.
LESSON 7 JESUS' PARTING WORDS
Read: St. John 20:21-31
. St. John, chapter 20 begins with the wonderful news of Jesus'
resurrection from the dead. His Sacrifice was complete, and its full
acceptance by God was verified by the resurrection.
. As He met again with the disciples who could hardly believe the good news,
Jesus spoke some important words. Obedience to His instructions brings
success to His Church.
. First, He gives them His salutation of "Peace." They had been troubled and
distressed; He assures them that in Him they can have peace--and He says the
same to believers today.
. Then He makes the remarkable statement that He is sending them as the
Father sent Him. There could be no higher calling, and we note that it was
the disciples that are gathered here, not just the eleven apostiles.
. Breathing upon them, He speaks of the recieving of the Holy Spirit, and
then He gives them the actual power to remit and to retain sin.
. We can see here in verses 21-23 three thoughts linked together:
(1) the commission to go preach the Gospel;
(2) the promise of power ˙of the Holy Spirit; ˙and
(3) the authority to remit and retain sin.
These should never be separated on our thinking; they all go together.
. Looking at the other recorded Commissions of the Lord Jesus in the other
Gospels, we see striking similarities.
. In Matthew 28, we see the commission to go (v.19) and this going is
dependant on the power of God. The authority is given to make disciples and
to teach them the truth (v. 19, 20).
. In Mark 16, the commission is given in verse 15, the promise of the power
of the Holy Spirit in verse 17, and the fact that they can proclaim this
gospel with full authority in verse 16: "He that believeth (the gospel you
preach) shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be condemned." We see
God's willingness to seal the judgement on men on the basis of their reaction
to the Gospel.
. In Luke 24, the commission is given in verse 47, the promise of power in
verse 49, and in St. Luke's continued narrative in the book of Acts, it is
recorded that they preached the Gospel with authority (chapter 2, verse 38).
. What it all adds up to is that there is power on earth today to remit and
retain sin, this power is vested in the disciples of Christ and is recognized
as being valid in Heaven. This power was not given to the Apostles alone, but
to all the Christians.
. God never intended, in the life ot His Church, to have sacramental powers
residing in a select group of men, who could then use these powers to rule the
rest of the Church. Claims to apostolic succession as a means to transmitting
sacramental power aren't founded on Scritpure. And it is always the Bible,
not Tradition, that must guide us (2 Timothy 3:16,17).
. Let us then search the scriptures. In John 20, verses 19-23, we read that
Jesus spoke to the DISCIPLES. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit fell upon the
DISCIPLES, enabling them to fulfill the commission of Jesus. Since the words
commanding a proclamation of the Gospel were addressed to DISCIPLES and the
power to Perform that command was poured out upon DISCIPLES, we see that all
who are His DISCIPLES--truly trusting Him--have a part in the great work of
proclaiming the Gospel message to all the world.
. If you are truly trusting Christ, you can tell others by your words and
actions. No longer can you take part in religious observances that deny the
completion of His work, and as you take this stand for Him, it can be the
means of someone else understanding His truth and placing their trust for
salvation not in religious duties, but in the perfect sacrifice of the Son of
God on Calvary.
QUESTIONS Answer True or False
1. The resurrection verified God's accepetnce of Christ's completed sacrifice.
2. Jesus gives peace to troubled hearts.
3. Christians are sent into the world as Christ was sent by His Father.
4. The power ot the Holy Spirit is necessary to the preaching of the Gospel.
5. The authority of the preacher of the Gospel was given by God.
6. With this authority, a Christian can proclaim forgiveness of sin.
PLEASE ANSWER QUESTION 7 HONESTLY AND PERSONALLY
7. I sincerely repent of my sins and want the Lord Jesus Christ to be my
perfect Saviour. I renounce all faith I may have had in religious
observances to save me or to contribute to my salvation, and I testify
that all saving virtue is in the Person of Jesus Christ. I realize that
nothing -- Masses, Penances, Indulgences, Purgatory--can help to save me,
and I call upon the Lord Jesus Christ for His salvation.
Answer YES or NO
If your answer is Yes, please write to:
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