Yesterday, I met a close friend who is a Roman Catholic on FB. To be sure, I believe she is very moral, affectionate in her sincerity to serve the Lord. But it becomes clear to me that this woman is a committed Romanist when she is focusing more on the sacraments rather than the Scripture itself. So I set out to evangelize her through Messenger. First, I begin to recommend her J.I.Packer's Knowing God. After a lengthy discussion about other topics, I begin to talk about the assurance of salvation. I explained why only Christ can satisfy the justice that we are indebted because of our sins. And I cited Roman 5 to show how faith in Christ alone is the only ground by which we have peace with God. I knew well that I can be accused of antinomianism so I explain that good works do prove that our faiths are genuine. But the bottom line is, Christ alone is to be trusted for our salvation. Time forbids for lengthy discussion so I sent two articles by J.C.Ryle on this subject (I will post it below) before I leave the chat. And so I went to bed very anxious about that. I prayed to God in rejoicing because, by His grace, I'm more concerned for souls and the Gospel than worldly businesses. I prayed that the Holy Ghost might convict her heart that she might see Christ. The next day she blocked me. I couldn't even send her a message. I guess she was confused by what Rev. Ryle has to say:
"The Church of Rome does this systematically. She adds things to Christianity over and above the requirements of the Gospel, of her own invention. She speaks as if Christ’s finished work was not a sufficient foundation for a sinner’s soul, and as if it were not enough to say, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." She sends men to priests and confessors, to penances and absolution, to masses and extreme unction, to fasting and bodily mortification, to the Virgin Mary and the saints – as if these things could add to the safety there is in Christ Jesus. And in doing this she sins against the doctrine of God’s Word with a high hand. Let us beware of any Romish hankering after additions to the simple way of the Gospel, from whatever quarter it may come...."
Thoughts?
https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/ryle/ryle_oneway.html
http://www.biblebb.com/files/ryle/way_of_salvation.htm
"The Church of Rome does this systematically. She adds things to Christianity over and above the requirements of the Gospel, of her own invention. She speaks as if Christ’s finished work was not a sufficient foundation for a sinner’s soul, and as if it were not enough to say, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." She sends men to priests and confessors, to penances and absolution, to masses and extreme unction, to fasting and bodily mortification, to the Virgin Mary and the saints – as if these things could add to the safety there is in Christ Jesus. And in doing this she sins against the doctrine of God’s Word with a high hand. Let us beware of any Romish hankering after additions to the simple way of the Gospel, from whatever quarter it may come...."
Thoughts?
https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/ryle/ryle_oneway.html
http://www.biblebb.com/files/ryle/way_of_salvation.htm