Our Protestant friends have come farther than many. “I believe in Jesus and The Bible. I am saved!” Many are led to believe that’s all they have to do. Catholics know why belief is not enough.
1. Jesus said that we must obey His instructions. He was very clear! “You are My friends if you obey My commands.” He said even more frightening words in John 3:36, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
Now, that is scary! A person who disobeys The Son will not only die, “but the wrath of God remains on him.” No one in his right mind would ignore that!
2. Jesus gave us many instructions. They include believing in God, loving God, and loving our neighbor. Which command did He repeat most often? Jesus repeated, 14 times, “If you do not eat My Body and drink My Blood you do not have life in you.”
The men who wrote the New Testament were The First Catholic Bishops. They repeated the importance of “If you do not eat My Body and drink My Blood you do not have life in you.” at least ten more times!
It is possible for any person to understand: “I must obey to be saved. The only way I may obey ‘If you do not eat My Body and drink My Blood you do not have life in you.’ is to receive Communion in any Catholic Mass following The Last Supper.”
Then, many are blessed to understand that many who say “I believe. I love God and my neighbor.” lead those same neighbors away from obeying Jesus.
Some do not know any better. Some do. Catholics know why belief is not enough. We must share those basic facts.
