Thursday, October 29, 2020

 Friday, October 29, 2020

THE POPE AND GOOD ATHEISTS


TODAY'S FEATURED NEWS STORY

The following May 23, 2020 quote from Christian Headlines represents only one of scores of articles which have flooded the media: "Pope Francis caused a stir this week when he declared during his homily at Wednesday Mass in Rome that everyone was redeemed through Jesus, including atheists, the Huffington Post reports. Francis emphasized the importance of "doing good" as a principle that unites all humanity, and told the story of a Catholic who asked a priest if even atheists had been redeemed by Jesus. "Even them, everyone," the pope answered. "We all have the duty to good. ... The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! 'Father, the atheists?' Even the atheists. Everyone! ... We must meet one another doing good. 'But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!' But do good: we will meet one another there."

This represents far more than another quotation from a pope who seems to delight in carefully worded pronouncements which can be taken either way, much to the chagrin of Catholics and Protestants. This conclusion is actually the fruit of Vatican 2 and is consistent with its dictums. For a brief video overview of all the forces this council set in motion, visit Jim's expose on the subject. Note, especially, the video entitled The New Ecumenism - Vatican 2 on this page.

The real issue, however, is neither historical nor philosophical at its core. It is biblical. The Word of God is unequivocal.  None of us, rich or poor, self-centered or self-sacrificing, Catholic, protestant, or atheist, can ever have our sins forgiven or go to heaven, based on our good intentions or good works. In fact, this is the core issue on which the gospel is built. As sinners, no amount of good we can ever do could make up for the fact that we are alienated from God and dead in our sins. 

Friend, you can cross your fingers and hope that your own good works will carry you through, or you can be placed into the Lord Jesus Christ and be accepted, based on His goodness and holiness. This is the perfect time to take ten or fifteen minutes, in order to gain a clear understanding of what the gospel really is!
The short of it is that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins - for each of us individually. You may know that you have your sins forgiven and you may know that you have eternal life today!

​Remember, we are always available to chat about this important subject!

​TODAY'S NEWS RELATED SCRIPTURES

Whether you are religious or atheistic, your sins have separated you from God.

But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
And your sins have hidden His face from you,

So that He will not hear.   - Isaiah 59:2  NKJV

“There is none righteous, no, not one; 
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God."  - Romans 3:10 NKJV

For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, - Romans 3:22b and 23.  - NKJV

God provided forgiveness through the death of His Son on the cross.


For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  - Romans 5:6-9

God provides this gift freely and without obligation, based on the death and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"...being justified [freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus  - Romans 3:24 NKJV

"Jesus said to her, 
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”   - John 11:23,24

"not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."  - Titus 3:5-7 NKJV

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