The Bible Christian who wishes to engage the Roman Catholic in conversation regarding the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ must seriously examine their motives before they engage in such a controversial activity.

Their motives must rest on the honest desire to fulfil the commission to “Preach the Gospel” Rom 10 v 12-15

They must understand that there are at least three types of Roman Catholic.

1) There is the sincere Roman Catholic whose devotion to Jesus according to their understanding and their knowledge must be recognised.

2) There is the mediocre Roman Catholic who half believes and for the best part gives very little evidence in their life that they are Roman Catholics.

3) There is the Roman Catholic who has been so disillusioned by the Church that they are anti anything that resembles “Christianity”.

The need also to understand the possibility that the devote Roman Catholic may well be a “Christian” without having realised the “Liberty whereby Christ has set them free”.

By taking the gospel to Roman Catholics we are affirming our belief that the Church of Rome itself is an Apostate Church because it fails to embrace the Basic Fundamental and Essential Doctrine of Holy Scripture regarding how a Sinner is reconciled to a Holy God.

Which is by Grace alone through Faith alone in Christ Alone.

The Theology of Evangelical Protestantism is we believe the clear and indisputable setting forth of the teachings of Holy Scripture. No other theology, Roman, Liberal or Modernist reflects the teaching of Holy Scripture.

It is because our Theology is so contrary to Roman Catholic Theology that we find it imperative that we witness to the saving Grace of God through Faith in Christ alone and seek to bring Roman Catholics into that knowledge of salvation.

Our Motive should be:

That we witness because we love the Lord Jesus Christ and desire others to come to know him and worship him in Spirit and in Truth.

Our Methods should be:

1) Witness to Personal Salvation.
2) Quote Scripture chapter and verse.
3) Concentrate on Reconciliation to God by Faith.
4) Answer all questions honestly and admit it if you do not know an answer.
5) Be polite and courteous.
6) Take time and do not rush.

Our tools are:

1) The Word of God. The sword of the Holy Spirit.
2) Prayer. Mighty through God in the pulling down of strongholds
3) Knowledge. Of the Scriptures first and basic Roman Catholic Teaching.

Before I begin to speak on the subject of the Sufficiency of Scripture Alone as a basis for the Christian's faith and walk, let me draw attention, for the sake of those who may not be aware, to the starting point of all the Roman Catholic approach to Doctrine.

When I first studied statistics the lecturer reminded us that you could make statistics say anything you want them to say, it all depends on where you start. So is it with this and any other debate. That includes both sides.

The starting point for Roman Catholics is this:

No Roman Catholic (or any one else either) is permitted to extract any meaning or understanding from any text of scripture as only the Church of Rome is capable of this.

Council of Trent 4th session says “...Furthermore it decrees that one relying on his own judgement shall in matters of faith and morals pertaining to the edification of Christian doctrine presume to interpret them contrary to that sense which Holy Mother Church, to whom it belongs to judge their true sense and interpretation, has held or holds...”.

This implies that the Roman Catholic Church demands the blind obedience of the mind and soul, disclaiming the individual’s responsibility to understand and perceive what God is declaring in His word.

This is SOMETHING ROMAN CATHOLICS NEED TO CONSIDER as there is little difference between their acceptance of Rome's claims and the Mormon who accepts Joseph Smith and his special glasses.

Our starting point is this:-

We believe that any person through reading or hearing the Word of God, the scriptures, can be led by the Holy Spirit into understanding the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ and can be led by the Holy Spirit to repentance and Faith in Jesus.

Now for our defence of Sole Sufficiency of Scripture:-

The Scriptures themselves claim that they are sufficient.

They contain sufficient information to bring a sinner from their lost state into a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, to spiritually feed them ensuring that they will grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus and will instruct them in God's plan for regeneration, justification, sanctification and glorification. Without using space to quote verses in full let me quote in part and you reader check them for yourself.

Ps 119 v 130 God's word gives light and understanding
Rom 10 v 17 Faith comes by hearing God's word
1Pet 2 v 2 God's word feeds babes in Christ
2Tim3v16 All Scripture is profitable for every circumstance
Heb 4 v12 Is sharper than a two edged sword

John tells us that his gospel alone contains sufficient information for a person to find salvation.

This is just a sample to show that Scripture is the complete guide for the sinner seeking redemption and sanctification.

To suggest that more is needed would have to be proven and Evangelical Protestants have been waiting for centuries for the Roman Church to show that her added doctrines, which she demands we believe in order to be saved, have the Seal of God on them.

To claim the early church did not believe is scripture alone as the scripture was still being written is to say the least naïve.

The Apostles were the source of God's revelation and when they spoke teaching the churches by word of mouth or by letter, the churches were hearing the Word of God. To claim that they said more than was written down could not contradict what has been written down, neither is their any evidence that what gets paraded as the Oral tradition of the apostles was known to them.

The Scripture contains all that we need as stated above.

Finally let me enquire what is the alternative to Scripture Alone.

With scripture at least we know what Jesus and the apostles taught. Without the Sole Sufficiency of Scripture the church would be left in a state of chaos and confusion, with bishop and bishop and lots of others also claiming that God had revealed new doctrine to them that must be accepted.

How would we judge if we rested not on scripture alone. Others who reject our stand should examine the history of their own Church and the Protestant churches who have in the past rejected the sufficiency of scripture and consider the spiritual darkness that has followed.

It is for those who claim to have this GOD GIVEN AUTHORITY to introduce new doctrines and alter what scripture declares is necessary for salvation, to produce proof that they speak for God

As God never contradicts Himself is it any wonder that they remain so silent.
May the Good Lord enlighten us all.

Although as Evangelical Christians we do not look for Doctrine outside of the Word of God. The Roman Catholic Church claims that such a doctrine was created at the Reformation and that the early Church knew nothing of this.

Just to prove them wrong:-

We know that the Scriptures are perfect, as being spoken by the Word of God and His Spirit. (St. Irenaeus c. A.D. 120-c. 203, Lib. II c. 47)
We have received the disposition of our salvation by no others, but those by whom the Gospel came to us; which they then preached, and afterwards by God's will delivered to us in the Scriptures, to be the pillar and ground of our faith. (St. Irenaeus, Lib. III. c. 1)

Let the shop of Hermogenes prove that what it advances is written; or if it be not written, let it fear the malediction uttered against those who dare to add or to retrench. (Tertullian c. 160-240, adv. Hermog.)

There is one God, whom we do not otherwise acknowledge, brethren, but out of the Sacred Scriptures. For as he, who would profess the wisdom of this world cannot otherwise attain it, unless he read the doctrines of the philosophers; so whosoever will exercise piety towards God, can learn it nowhere but from the
Holy Scriptures. (St. Hippolytus c. 170-c.235, adv. Noetum, c. IX)

Instead of asking what Holy Scripture says, they strain every nerve to find a syllogistic figure to bolster up their godlessness. If anyone challenges them with a text from Divine Scripture, they examine it to see whether it can be turned into a conjunctive or disjunctive syllogistic figure. They put aside the sacred word of God, and devote themselves to geometry--earth measurement--because they are from the earth and speak from the earth, and do not know the One who comes from above. When people avail themselves of the arts of unbelievers to lend colour to their heretical views, and with godless rascality corrupt the simple Faith of Holy Writ, it is obvious that they are nowhere near the Faith. (Eusebius c. 260-c.340)

And if anything remains which Holy Scripture does not determine, no other third scripture ought to be received to authorize any knowledge, but we must "commit to the fire" what remains, that is, reserve it unto God. (Origen c. 185-c.254, Hom. in Lev.)

And with simple-minded trust in God, we accepted the conclusions to be drawn from the proofs and teachings of Holy Writ. (Eusebius, in The History of the Church, quoting Dionysius c. 200-c. 265, bishop of Alexandria)

The Holy and Divinely inspired writings are sufficient of themselves alone to make known the truth. (St. Athanasius 296-373, Orat. Contr. Gent. Tom. I)

What the Scriptures have not declared, you will never find. (St. Athanasius, De S. Trin. Dial.)

It is a mockery to ask questions, or to make discourses, on that which is not written. (St. Athanasius, Epist. Ad. Serap.)

In the Holy Scriptures alone is the instruction of religion announced--to which let no man add, from which let no man detract--which are sufficient in themselves for the enunciation of the truth. (St. Athanasius, adv. Gentes init.)

Do not believe me simply, unless you receive the proof of what I say from Holy Scripture. (St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catech. A.D. 348)

Concerning the divine and holy mysteries of the faith, even the most casual remark ought not to be delivered without the sacred Scriptures. (St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catech. IV.12)

It is evidently a falling away from the faith, and a proof of great presumption, to neglect any part of what is written, or to introduce anything that is not written. (St. Basil c. 329-379, bishop of Caesarea, de Vera Fide)

How can we use those things, which we find not in the Scriptures!
(St. Ambrose c. 339-397, Offic. Lib. 1, c. 23)

To receive the opinions of others, when we have a rule by which we can examine everything? I mean the Divine law. It is for this reason that I conjure you all, without resting in the slightest degree on the judgment of others, to consult the Scriptures. (St. John Chrysostom c. 347-407, Homil. xiii. in 2 Cor.)

`Tis from ignorance of Scripture that all our evils arise; hence the plague of so many heresies, hence our careless lives, our fruitless labors… They err who look not to the bright rays of the divine Scriptures, because they walk in darkness. (St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Romans)

Look for no other teacher; thou hast the oracles of God; none teaches thee like these. (St. John Chrysostom, Homil. IX in Ep. Coloss.)

When you shall see the wicked heresy, which is the army of Antichrist, standing in the holy places of the church, then let those who are in Judea head for the mountains, that is, those who are Christians should head for the Scriptures. For the true Judea is Christendom, and the mountains are the Scriptures of the prophets and apostles, as it is written: "Her foundations are in the Holy but why should all Christians at this time head for the Scriptures?" Because in this period in which heresy has taken possession of the churches there can be no proof of true Christianity nor any other refuge for Christians who want to know the truth of the faith except the divine Scriptures.

But now there is for those who want to know which is the true church of Christ no way to know it except only the through the Scriptures. (Traditionally ascribed to St. John Chrysostom, glossa ordinaria 49th Homily, on Mat. 24)

In those things, which are plainly laid down in Scripture, all things are found, which embrace faith and morals. (St. Augustine, De Doctrina Christiana A.D. 427, Lib. II, c. 9)

The canon of the Scriptures is perfect, and in itself suffices to the full, and more, for all demands. (St. Vincent of Lérins, Adversus profanes omnium novitates haereticorum commonitorium A.D.434)

The source of error is that when men are hindered by some obscurity in knowing the truth, they run not to prophets, or apostles, or evangelists, but to themselves. (St. Leo, Ep. xxviii to Flavian 13 June 449)

www.justforcatholics.org
www.cwrc-rz.org
www.dodone.com
www.protestant-truth.org
www.reformationireland.com
www.ianpaisley.org

These sites are well worth a visit and a lot can be learnt from them.

I would recommend that you request Theo-logical from cwrc, it is most informative.

Books worth reading are:-

The Great Exchange -Justification by Faith Alone by Philip H Eveson
Do or done by Dr. Bill Jackson
Scriptural Evangelism by Dr. Bill Jackson
Letters between a Catholic & an Evangelical by
J.R.Waiss & James G McCarthy
The Reformation Conflict by Robert L Reymond
Standing Room only by Philip DeCourcy

And for good measure the video tape
Catholics,Evangelical and the New Quest for unity by
John MacArthur, R.C.Sproul,James Kennedy and John Ankerberg.

This tape is a must.

Do e-mail if you want personal help or advice. info@in-understanding.org

"Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness". Rom 4 v 4-5

Every blessing

Dermot Nash