As a former Roman Catholic, I truly appreciate who the REAL Jesus Christ is now more than ever, and I will continue to preach the truth until Jesus comes. What a grand deliverance it is, to know that I do not need to go through an earthly Priest to have my sins forgiven at a confessional booth, or by attending a Roman Catholic Mass. When I think back to all the years that I spent in the system of Roman Catholicism, and all the man-made traditions that I endured it is kind of scary. But it works for the good, because I know that I serve an AMAZING God, who was able to pull me out of that darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
As I look back to the mid 1980’s and all the Catholic Charismatic Healing Masses that I attended, I remember the Catholic Rosary being prayed continuously during the healing time of the Mass. Mary is such a great stronghold for millions of Catholics, and I liken that to the stronghold of “Diana of the Ephesians” which is written about in Acts 19:21-41. The apostle Paul preached against the idolatry in that city and the place went wild. It can be very exciting to hear and read about supernatural happenings, and that’s what got my attention with the apparitions (appearances) of “Mary” at Medjugorje, Yugoslavia. During the time that Cathy and I were in the Catholic Charismatic movement, the Apparitions of Mary at Yugoslavia were popular, and many people were making the trip there to see what was happening. We had met a couple of different people who told us that the gold chain on their Rosary beads changed from a silver color to a golden color, after their visit there. One kind lady told us that she saw a spectacular vision, as she looked into the Sun, and she described it in detail.
But then Jesus Christ came to the rescue, and the Lord opened our eyes by His Spirit, and through the truth of the scriptures, He brought us out of that great deception. I must say at this point that many people make the fatal mistake of never studying the Word of God (Bible) for themselves, because if they did, then things would be different. I had a decision to make regarding the messages at Medjugorje. When I examined the Bible (the scriptures) I saw that the messages that “Mary” was giving was in direct contradiction to the message of the Bible. You see the Bible puts it’s focus on Jesus Christ and the redemption of souls. When you read the Old Covenant (Testament) you will see many types and shadows, as well as numerous prophecies pointing you to Jesus Christ. It is not about Mary at all.
In the book of John, you will find Jesus conversing with the religious Jewish people who resisted Him, and wanted nothing to do with Him or His message:
Verily, verily (Truly, truly), I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Then said the JEWS unto him, NOW WE KNOW THAT THOU HAST A DEVIL. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: WHOM MAKEST THOU THYSELF? JESUS answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your GOD: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a LIAR like unto YOU: but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father ABRAHAM rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the JEWS unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen ABRAHAM? JESUS said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but JESUS hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. (John 8:51-59)
That is one of the most powerful confrontations that we find in the Bible (Word of God) between Jesus and the religious unbelieving Jewish people. Jesus identified Himself as the I AM, and that is the exact name that God had given to Moses when He spoke out of the burning bush. (Exodus 3:13-14) The Jewish people knew what Jesus was saying about Himself, and they believed that He was guilty of blasphemy, and that is why they picked up stones to cast at Him! (Leviticus 24:16)
Folks there is a battle going on in the spirit realm between the true Kingdom of God, and the kingdom of this present evil world. (Galatians 1:4) When a person has been truly born again of the Spirit of God, there is an immediate awakening in the heart of that individual as to the identity of Jesus Christ. When I was born again, I read the Bible with a “new set of eyes “because it was the Holy Spirit within me who was guiding me into all truth. (John 16:13) I was now able to recognize that the REAL Jesus Christ was not just a little infant in a crib, but the true and living Son of God! Listen to Jesus testify about Himself.
“I am ALPHA and OMEGA, the beginning and the ending, saith the LORD, which IS, and which WAS, and which IS TO COME, the ALMIGHTY.” (Revelation 1:8)
” . . . I am ALPHA and OMEGA, the FIRST and the LAST . . . ” (Revelation 1:11)
” . . . Fear not; I am the FIRST and the LAST: I AM HE THAT LIVETH, AND WAS DEAD; and, behold, I AM ALIVE FOR EVERMORE, Amen; and have the KEYS of HELL and of DEATH.” (Revelation 1:17-18)
Read that again folks! JESUS CHRIST said that HE has the KEYS of HELL and of DEATH! We carry KEYS to our homes, automobiles, and many other precious things, BUT there is NOTHING more PRECIOUS than to KNOW the REAL Jesus Christ. He is the ONLY ONE who has the KEYS of HELL and of DEATH! He is the ONLY ONE who will bring YOU inside Heaven, and don’t you ever forget that!
” . . . These things saith the FIRST and the LAST, which was DEAD, and is ALIVE” (Revelation 2:8)
” I am ALPHA and OMEGA, the BEGINNING and the END, the FIRST and the LAST.” (Revelation 22:13)
“Thus saith the LORD the KING of ISRAEL, and his REDEEMER the LORD of hosts; I AM the FIRST, and I AM the LAST; and BESIDE ME there is NO GOD. (Isaiah 44:6)
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: That the BLESSING of ABRAHAM might come on the GENTILES through JESUS CHRIST; that we might receive the PROMISE of the SPIRIT through FAITH. (Galatians 3:13-14)
Did you read that? Folks, I do not care whether you are Jewish or Gentile, but I must tell you that you will NEVER enter Heaven without first receiving the PROMISE of the Holy Spirit inside your own heart! That PROMISE is available to ALL people, and it will NEVER come without a genuine FAITH in Jesus Christ! When the Bible talks about repentance it is talking about making an about face from going your OWN sinful way, to following the LORD JESUS CHRIST for yourself!
JESUS saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an ISRAELITE indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? JESUS answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the SON of GOD; thou art the KING OF ISRAEL. (John 1:47-49)
JESUS saith unto him, I AM the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE: no MAN cometh unto the Father, BUT BY ME. (John 14:6)
When I was born again of the Spirit, I realized that I was TRULY SAVED, and I did not need an earthly Roman Catholic priest! The Holy Spirit opened the scriptures (God’s Word) to me, and showed me that the great High Priest, Jesus Christ ALREADY PAID for my sins, when he DIED on the cross.
But CHRIST being come an HIGH PRIEST of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but BY HIS OWN BLOOD he entered in ONCE into the holy place, having obtained ETERNAL redemption for US. (Hebrews 9:11-12)
When I was born again, I also knew that I did not need to pray to Mary or the Catholic Saints anymore, because Jesus Christ was the only mediator that the Father recognizes!
For there is ONE GOD, and ONE MEDIATOR between GOD and men, the man CHRIST JESUS; (1 Timothy 2:5)
When I was born again, I cherished the absolute truth that I did not need the Roman Catholic Mass to satisfy the justice of God, for sins committed against Him, because Jesus Christ took care of that almost two thousand years ago.
But GOD commendeth his LOVE toward US, in that, while WE were yet SINNERS, CHRIST died for US. Much more then, being now JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, we shall be SAVED from WRATH through HIM. (Romans 5:8-9)
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious BLOOD OF CHRIST, as of a LAMB without BLEMISH and without SPOT: (1 Peter 1:18-19)
I thank God for His grace and mercy toward me and my wife, and every other true believer in Jesus Christ. It does not matter whether you are religious or not. There is nothing that is more important than knowing where you are going to spend eternity! That empty, gnawing feeling that you have inside your heart, is the Lord Jesus Christ trying to get your attention. There is no amount of riches, possessions, or money in this world that is going to satisfy your soul, and you probably already know that. The hour is late, and I encourage you to seek the truth now. Have you met the REAL Jesus Christ yet?