The largest segment of the organized Christendom, The Roman Catholic Church, has long opposed the Bible teaching for this age of the Gentiles, wherein ‘salvation is by grace, through faith alone, in Christ alone.’ Rather, she teaches that it is by grace, through faith PLUS certain required good works [rites and rituals].

Sadly, many protestant Christians also ignorantly think “good works” are required along with faith in Christ in order to be save and stay saved.

They protest that 100% grace believers do not place the proper stress on good works, and that the Catholic does place as much emphasis upon grace and faith as we. But Paul makes clear that works negates true faith because it negates the effectual work of Christ at the Cross on our behalf.

“Christ is become of no effect [no benefit] unto you, whosoever of [thinks] you are justified by the law [and it works requirements]; Ye Are Fallen from Grace.” (Galatians 5:4 (KJV)

Our “Apostle to the Gentiles,” Paul is very clear about this most vital doctrinal issue:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

Some would agree that men cannot be saved without Christ or faith or grace, but then objects that the grace of God, accepted by faith in Christ, is not enough to save. He says according to Catholic doctrine: “All men are born in original sin, and all must be cleansed by infant Baptism in and by the Roman church. In infant Baptism they say, grace is implanted in the soul by God and that confers the right to heaven.”

But we must ask; what about the thief on the cross, who looked to Christ in his dying moments and never had an opportunity to be baptized? Was he not saved? (See Luke 23:42,43).

If, according to Heb. 10:4, it is not possible for the blood of bulls and of goats to take away sins (even though required by God), could this writer explain to us how any amount of water could possibly wash away one sin or right one moral wrong?

But one might gather from the above Catholic quotation that the baptized soul at least is safe and secure, since the grace implanted by God “confers the right to heaven.” But not so! The fact is that “The Catholic Church” never gives her devotees true peace or assurance; never sets them free. They say “The right to heaven,” conferred upon the baptized person, is the right to strive for it! Note how the writer goes on to say, “We worship God by the practice of our religious duties in order to obtain our salvation.”

By Contrast, how satisfying and reassuring is the Word of God itself on this subject:

“Now to him that worketh [i.e., for salvation] is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. (NOTE: God will never be a debtor to man)

“But To Him That WORKETH NOT, but [rather] BELIEVETH ON HIM [God] That Justifieth The Ungodly, His FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Rom. 4:4-5).

Neither the works of ‘man’s protestant religion’ or ‘Israel’s God Given Mosaic Law’ or ‘any religion’ can save anybody today, during today’s age of “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:2).

Paul as “the Apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13), unlike the “twelve Apostles Jesus sent only to Israel (Matt. 10:5-6), writes the following.

“… for ye are NOT under the Law, but under Grace.” (Romans 6:14 (KJV)