Absurdity is the quality or state of being absurd. Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines “absurd” as that which is ridiculously unreasonable, unsound, or incongruous (incompatible, not logical): lacking order or value. The American Heritage Dictionary goes on to state that “absurd” is that which is devoid of meaning, value, or purpose. Listen to Mr. H. Gregory Adams’ proclamation in his pamphlet (Are Some Roman Catholics Saved?), “Just as you cannot mix fire and water, neither can one be a saved person and remain a faithful Roman Catholic.”

What did the dictionary tell us? An absurd statement is devoid of meaning, value, or purpose. Mr. Adams’ statement is truly absurd; but it is not without purpose. His statement and his entire pamphlet are designed to draw unsuspecting Roman Catholics out of the Roman Catholic Church. Every Catholic who takes Mr. Adams’ bait walks away from the surest path to eternal salvation; for the surest path to eternal salvation flows through the Catholic Church. What does our Lord and Savior tell the first pope, in Mt 16:18? “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” Jesus established one Church. Only the Roman Catholic Church can trace its root back 2000 years through 264 popes to Saint Peter to Jesus Christ. The Roman Catholic Church is the church founded by Jesus.

“Except a man be born again, he CANNOT see the kingdom of God,” reads Mr. Adams’ translation of Jn 3:3. Then Mr. Adams goes on to ask, “Are Roman Catholics born again by the Spirit of the living God? Have they had a personal experience with Christ and have Him alone as Savior, Lord and Master?”

If you are a faithful, baptized Catholic and are asked this question, you can confidently state, “Yes! Through baptism I have been born again by the Holy Spirit. Yes! Each time I receive the Body, Blood, soul, and divinity of the one and only Savior, Lord, and Master---Jesus Christ, I have a personal experience with Him.”

Jn 3:3 can be translated “Except a man be born again;” but it can be more accurately translated “Except a man be born from above.” There are Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant translations of Jn 3:3 that use “be born from above.” In chapter 3 of his gospel, Saint John focuses on Baptism. When we are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we are born again from above; for the Holy Spirit comes down from heaven and cleanses our soul of original and personal sin. Through Baptism, we are born anew, freed from sin and full of grace. The Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox churches, and mainline Protestant churches have always taught that in John chapter 3, Jesus is teaching us about Baptism and its role in salvation. Many fundamentalist and evangelical Christians reject the idea that Baptism is necessary for salvation. The Bible does not support this “recent” theology on Baptism. 1 Pet 3:21a says, “Baptism now saves you.”

Mr. Adams continues on in his pamphlet and declares, “Roman Catholicism is essentially a religion of works and not of grace as taught in the Scriptures. Merits are earned, or even purchased with money, yet the assurance and joy of salvation are ever absent no matter how much satisfaction may be derived from sincere worship, conscientious living, or laudable good works.”

The Roman Catholic Church has never taught that a person is saved through their good works. This notion has been proclaimed by non-Catholics and non-Orthodox Christians for 500 years. It’s a lie. Do not feed this lie by thinking or saying your good deeds will open the gates of heaven for you. There is only one way that a person is saved: through the grace of God. No man, woman, or child was ever saved by their good works. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) states, “Salvation is the forgiveness of sins and restoration of friendship with God, which can be done by God alone.” CCC 1996 says, “Our justification (our salvation) comes from the grace of God.” CCC 1987 says, “The grace of the Holy Spirit has the power to justify us, that is, to cleanse us from our sins and to communicate to us ‘the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ’ and through Baptism.” Saint Paul says in Eph 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast.”

The Catechism says, “Merit is the reward which God promises and gives to those who love Him and by His grace perform good works. One CANNOT ‘merit’ justification or eternal life, which are the free gift of God; the source of any merit we have before God is due to the grace of Christ in us.” The Church has never taught that merits are earned or purchased; but unlike many non-Catholic and non-Eastern Orthodox denominations the Church believes that, when a man or woman is justified by God’s grace and faith in Jesus Christ, he or she can perform supernatural works and become a partner in the work of redemption.

Mr. Adams is providing us with an opportunity to delve deep into many of teachings that separate the Catholic Church from other followers of Jesus. Join me next week as we continue to discuss his pamphlet. May your faith in Jesus Christ and His Church grow ever stronger through prayer, worship, and study.

For more insight read CCC paragraphs 977-998, 1213, 1277, 1279-80, 1996-99, 2005-11, 2025-27. Also, pull out your “Catholic” Bible and reference Ezek 36:25-27; Mt 5:16; 7:17-21; 28:18-20; Mk 16:15-16; Jn 3:1-6; Acts 2:38-39; 16:15a, 29-33; Rom 2:6-7; 3:22-30; 5:12-19; 1 Cor 15:21-23; Gal 5:4-6; Eph 2:8-10; Col 2:11-12; 2 Thes 2:15; 3:6; 1 Tim 3:15; Tit 1:16a; 3:4-7; Jam 2:24, 26; 1 Pet 3:19-21a; Rev 14:13; 20:12-13.