QUESTIONS ONLY YOU CAN ANSWER - OR CAN YOU?
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE MAIN MENU
Dear Friend,
If you are a Roman Catholic, then this little Booklet was written especially for you.
Like you, I was born into a devout Roman Catholic family. My brother, sisters and I grew up in a typical Irish home, here in the heart of County Tipperary.
The Family Rosary was said regularly, and our parents ensured we all attended Mass and the Sacraments.
Some years ago, I felt compelled to seek answers to what I considered to be some very important questions.
My search for the answers to these questions culminated in a life-changing experience.
I would now like to take this opportunity to share with you some of these questions.
May I suggest you write down the answers to each of the questions and then, having done this, do what I did, and examine the answers very carefully, to see if you are, in fact, fully satisfied that, if you were to die today, you would go directly to Heaven.
1: Q: HOW MANY times have you been to Confession already?
A:______________________________________________
2: Q: HOW many more times will you need to go?
A: _________________________________________
3: Q: HOW will you know when you have gone to Confession enough times?
A: ______________________________________________
4: Q: WHY do you believe you need to go to Confession again and again?
A: _____________________________________________
5: Q: WHAT about all the sins you have forgotten, and have never repented of or confessed?
A: ______________________________________________
6: Q: WHAT IF some of those forgotten or unconfessed sins are Mortal sins?
A: ______________________________________________
7: Q: HOW can you be sure you won't die in a state of Mortal sin?
A: ______________________________________________
8: Q: CAN you really expect to get to Heaven when you know that the sins you have never repented of or confessed are not forgiven?
A: ___________________________________________________________________
9: Q: HAVE you ever confessed your sins directly to God, instead of to a Priest? If not, WHY?
A:_______________________________________________________________________
10: Q: WHAT do you think would happen if you confessed your sins directly to
God?
A: ____________________________________________________________________
11: Q: WHY do you think the Apostle John wrote in the Bible, " IF we confess our
sins ( to God ), He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
ALL unrighteousness." ( 1 John.Ch.1 v 9)
A: _______________________________________________________________________
12: Q: HOW MANY Acts of Contrition have you said in the past?
A: ______________________________________________________
13: Q: HOW MANY more do you think you will need to say?
A:___________________________________________________
14: Q: HOW will you know when you have said enough of them?
A: ______________________________________________________
15: Q: HOW MANY Penances have you done in the past?
A: _______________________________________________
16: Q: HOW MANY more do you think you will need to do?
A: _________________________________________________
17: Q: IN what way have you benefited from doing all those Penances
A:___________________________________________________________
18: Q: IF it is necessary for us to do Penance for the forgiveness of our sins, why didn't Jesus say so?
A: ___________________________________________________________________
19: Q: IF Penance is necessary for the forgiveness of our sins, why is this not mentioned even once in the Bible?
A: _________________________________________________________________
20: Q: WHAT does Repentance involve?
A: _________________________________________________________________
21: Q: WHY do you think Jesus said, " Repent ye, and believe the Gospel."
( Mark.Ch.1 v 15 ) ; " Except ye Repent, ye shall all likewise perish "
( Luke Ch.13 v 3 ) ; " And that Repentance and remission of sins should
be preached in His Name among all nations-" ( Luke Ch.24 v 47 )
A: _______________________________________________________________
22: Q: IN the light of what Jesus said, do you think forgiveness of sins is possible without Repentance?
A: _____________________________________________________________________
23: Q: DO you think Salvation is possible without Repentance?
A:_____________________________________________________
24: Q: HAVE you ever truly repented of your sins?
A: __________________________________________
25: Q: HOW many more times will you need to attend Church?
A: ____________________________________________________
26: Q: HOW many more Holy Days of Obligation will you need to observe?
A: ________________________________________________________________
27: Q: DO you think it is important to wear a Holy Medal? If so, WHY?
A: ____________________________________________________________
28 : Q: WHY didn't Jesus ever tell anybody to wear a Holy Medal?
A: _______________________________________________________
29: Q: DO you think it is important to wear a Scapular? If so, why?
A: _______________________________________________________
30: Q: IF wearing a Scapular is beneficial, why didn't Jesus ever mention it?
A: _______________________________________________________________
31: Q: WHY ,if wearing a Holy Medal or a Scapular is important, did none of the
God-Inspired writers of the Scriptures mention it?
A: ____________________________________________________________________
32: Q: WHY do you worship and pray before a statue?
A: ____________________________________________
33: Q: WHY do you pray before the Holy Picture of a Saint?
A: ________________________________________________
34: Q: WHY do you venerate and depend upon the Relic of a dead Saint?
A: ____________________________________________________________
35: Q: HOW MANY Saints are there in Heaven?
A:_____________________________________________
36:Q: HOW MANY of these Saints have you prayed to?
A: ____________________________________________
37: Q: HOW did you know which ones to pray to?
A: ____________________________________________
38: Q: DO you think the Blessed Virgin or any of the Saints are Mediators in
Heaven? In other words, do you believe they can speak on your behalf, represent
you, pray for you, and help you to secure salvation?
A: ____________________________________________________________________
39: Q: IF there are other Mediators in Heaven, WHY do you think God inspired the
Apostles Paul and John to write in the Bible that there is only ONE Mediator, and
to actually identify Him by Name? : " For there is one God, and ONE MEDIATOR
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." ( 1 Timothy Ch.2 v 5 ) ;
"-It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand
of God, who also maketh INTERCESSION for us." ( Romans Ch.8 v 34 ) ;
" But if anybody does sin, we have ONE who speaks to the Father in our defence -
Jesus Christ the Righteous One." ( 1 John Ch 2 v 1 )
A: ________________________________________________________________________
40: Q: HOW MANY Masses have you attended already?
A; _____________________________________________
41: Q: HOW MANY more Masses do you think you will need to attend?
A: ____________________________________________________________
42: Q: HOW will you know when you have attended enough Masses?
A __________________________________________________________
: 43: Q: HOW MANY Masses will need to be said after your death, to secure your
release from Purgatory?
A: ___________________________________________________________________
44: Q: HOW MANY of your sins will actually be forgiven as a result of each Mass that is said for the repose of your soul?
A: _____________________________________________________________________
45: Q: HOW MUCH time will be deducted from the duration of your stay in Purgatory, as a result of each Mass that is said for you after you die?
A: ________________________________________________________________
46: Q: HOW will your relatives know when enough Masses have been said for you?
A: _____________________________________________________________________
47: Q: HOW MANY Mass Cards will your relatives need to buy to help get you out of Purgatory?
A: ___________________________________________________________________
48: Q: HOW will the Priests know when enough Masses have been said for you?
A: ____________________________________________________________________
49: Q: HOW do you know if all the Masses you got the priests to say for your deceased relatives helped to get them out of Purgatory?
A: __________________________________________________________________
50: Q: IF they are still in Purgatory, how many more Masses will need to be said
to secure their release?
A: ____________________________________________________________________
51: Q: HOW many prayers will need to be said for you, after your death, to help shorten your stay in Purgatory?
A: ____________________________________________________________________
52: A: HOW MANY of your sins will actually be forgiven as a result of each prayer that is said for the repose of your soul?
A: _________________________________________________________________
53: Q: HOW MUCH time will be deducted from the duration of your stay in Purgatory, as a result of each prayer that is said for you?
A: __________________________________________________________________
54: Q: HOW will your family know when enough prayers have been said for you?
A: _____________________________________________________________________
55: Q: HOW will the priests know when enough prayers have been said for the
repose of your soul?
A: ____________________________________________________________________
56: Q: HOW can you be sure that any or all of these efforts will secure your release from Purgatory?
A: ________________________________________________________________
57: Q: WHY do you believe such a place as Purgatory exists?
A: ________________________________________________________________
58: Q: IF there is such a place as Purgatory, why didn't Jesus ever mention it?
A: ________________________________________________________________
59: Q: IF Purgatory exists, why did none of the Apostles preach or write about it?
A: ____________________________________________________________________
60: Q: IF there is such a place as Purgatory, why is it not mentioned even once in
the Bible?
A: ____________________________________________________________________
61: Q: WHY does God say in the Scriptures that ALL who die in their sins go to Hell, if there is such a place as Purgatory, and some sinners go there?
A: ___________________________________________________________________
62:Q: WHY do you believe your sins will be Purged, ( a ) In the Future;
( b ) By the Fire of Purgation; ( c ) In a Place called Purgatory, when God specifically teaches in the Scriptures that our sin was Purged, ( a ) In the Past;
( b ) By a Person, ( Jesus Christ ); (c) At a Place called Calvary.?
" When He ( Christ ) had by himself PURGED our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high "; " And almost all things are by the law PURGED with BLOOD; and without the shedding of blood is no remission."
( Hebrews.Ch.1.v.3 ; Ch.9.v.22 ).
A: __________________________________________________________________
63: Q: WHY do you believe you will have to suffer for your sins ( in Purgatory ),
when God's word declares that Christ has already suffered for our sins, as our Substitute? " Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." ( Isaiah.Ch.53.v.4--6 ).
A: ____________________________________________________________________
64: Q: HOW MANY times have you received Holy Communion already?
A: ____________________________________________________________
65: Q: HOW MANY more times do you think you will need to receive it?
A: _____________________________________________________________
66: Q: HOW will you know when you have received it enough times?
A: __________________________________________________________
67: Q: HOW MANY times did Jesus have to die?
A: __________________________________________________________
68: Q: WHY, if His death on the cross secured forgiveness for our sins, does Jesus have to be sacrificed and die during each Mass?
A:_____________________________________________________________________
69: Q: HOW MANY more times do you think Jesus will need to be sacrificed and die before your sins can be forgiven.?
A: ____________________________________________________________________
70: Q: HOW will you know when Jesus has died enough times?
A: _____________________________________________________
71: Q: WHY is Jesus sacrificed daily during thousands of Masses, in thousands of different locations around the world if, according to the Bible, ONE sacrifice for sins was sufficient?
A: ____________________________________________________________________
72: Q: WHY are these sacrifices being offered repeatedly when, according to the Inspired word of God, " Christ was ONCE offered to bear the sins of many " ;
" We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE for
all " ; " But this man, after he had offered ONE sacrifice for sins FOR EVER, sat down on the right hand of God " ; " For by ONE offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified " ; "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is NO MORE OFFERING for
sin " ( Hebrews Ch. 9 v 28 ; Ch.10 vs.10, 12, 14, 17, 18 )
A: ____________________________________________________________________
73: Q: WHY was Jesus resurrected from the dead?
A: ____________________________________________________________________
74 Q: WHAT was the point in raising Jesus from the dead, if He was going to be continually dying, thousands of times each day, during the Mass?
A: ____________________________________________________________________
75: Q: WHY do you believe Jesus dies again and again, when He Himself said,
" I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am ALIVE FOREVERMORE "
( Revelation.Ch.1 v 18 ) According to what Jesus is saying here, He died ONCE, then rose from the dead, NEVER to die again.
A:_____________________________________________________________________
76: Q: HOW can Jesus be present in His Physical body, during thousands of Masses, in thousands of different locations around the world at the SAME TIME if, according to the Jesus Himself, He is Physically present, since His Ascension, at His Father's right hand, in Heaven: " But FROM NOW ON , the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." ( Luke.Ch.22 v 69 )
And if God inspired the Apostle Paul to write, "-It is Christ that dieth, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, who
also maketh Intercession for us." ( Romans.Ch. 8 v 34 ),
HOW can He possibly be physically present elsewhere at the same time?
A: _____________________________________________________________________
77: Q: DO you think Indulgences are necessary for Salvation?
A: ___________________________________________________
78: Q: HOW MANY Indulgences have you earned already?
A; ___________________________________________________
79: Q: How many more Indulgences do you think you will need to earn?
A: ____________________________________________________________
80: Q: HOW will you know when you have earned enough Indulgences?
A: _____________________________________________________________
81: Q: If Indulgences are necessary for Salvation, why didn't Jesus say so?
A: ______________________________________________________________
82: Q: WHY, if Indulgences are necessary for Salvation, is this not mentioned in the Bible?
A: ___________________________________________________________________
83: Q: HOW MANY of the Church Sacraments do you need to receive?
A: ____________________________________________________________
84: Q: HOW MANY of the Church Laws do you need to keep?
A: ____________________________________________________
85: Q: HOW MANY good works and charitable deeds have you done already?
A: __________________________________________________________________
86: Q: HOW MANY more of them do you think you will you need to do?
A: ______________________________________________________________
87: Q: HOW will you know when you have done enough good works and charitable deeds?
A: _______________________________________________________________
88: Q: DO you think that being religious, wearing Holy Medals or Scapulars,
attending Church, and doing good works will help you merit Salvation?
A: _________________________________________________________________
89: Q: IF any or all of these efforts could help you to merit Salvation, why do you
think God inspired the Apostle Paul to write in the Bible, " For it is by GRACE you
have been saved, through FAITH - and this not from yourselves, it is the GIFT of
God - NOT BY WORKS, so that no-one can boast " ( Ephesians.Ch.2 vs 8 -9 )
" But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAD DONE, but according
to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the
Holy Ghost." ( Titus.Ch.3.vs.4 - 5 )
A: ______________________________________________________________________
90: Q: DO you think it is possible for you to earn enough of God's
Grace to save your soul?
A: __________________________________________________________
91: Q: DID you know that Salvation cannot be earned or merited? According to the
Scriptures, Salvation is by GRACE, that is, God's UNMERITED favour to the
sinner. The undeserving sinner receives from God the FREE GIFT of Eternal Life.
" For the GRACE of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men "
( Titus.Ch.2 v 11 )
" Being justified FREELY by His GRACE through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus " ( Romans.Ch.3 v 24 )
" For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is Eternal Life through Jesus
Christ our Lord " ( Romans.Ch.6 v 23 )
A: _______________________________________________________________________
92: Q: HOW MANY times have you prayed to the Blessed Virgin?
A: ______________________________________________________
93: Q: HOW MANY times have you said the Rosary?
A: __________________________________________
94: Q: HOW MANY times have you asked the Blessed Virgin to help you?
A: ______________________________________________________________
95: Q: WHY didn't God tell us in the Bible to go to the Blessed Virgin when we
needed help?
A: ___________________________________________________________________
96: Q: WHY didn't Jesus ever direct anybody to the Blessed Virgin when they
needed help? Instead, He said, " Come unto ME, all ye that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest " ( Matthew.Ch.11 v 28 )
" I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by ME "
( John.Ch.14 v 6 )
A: _____________________________________________________________________
97: Q: DID you know that the Blessed Virgin directed people to Jesus? " His mother
said to the servants, 'Do whatever HE tells you' " ( John.Ch.2 v 5 )
A: ________________________________________________________________________
98: Q: HAVE you ever taken the Blessed Virgin's advice, and gone directly to Jesus?
A: ______________________________________________________________________
99: Q: HAVE you heeded her advice to " Do whatever HE tells you." ?
A: __________________________________________________________
100: Q: HAVE YOU responded to what Jesus is telling you? He says," Behold, I
stand at the door and knock: If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will
come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me."( Revelation.Ch.3 v 20 )
He is knocking on the door of your heart, asking you to open up your life, and to
invite Him in as Saviour and Lord. HE is willing to come in right NOW! Are YOU
willing to ask Him in.?
A: ____________________________________________________________________
101: Q: HOW do you know that what you have believed in and depended upon for so many years will get you to Heaven?
A: ____________________________________________________________________
102: Q: IF being religious and doing your best can save your soul, WHY did Jesus die on the cross?
A:____________________________________________________________________
103: Q: HOW will you know, on your death bed, if all your sins have been forgiven?
A: _______________________________________________________________
104: Q: HOW prepared am you to face death, if you are only HOPING that all is well between God and you?
A: ___________________________________________________________________
105: Q: HOW will you know, before you die, if you have done enough to prepare yourself for your two appointments? (a) " And as it is appointed unto men once to die, (b) But after this the Judgement " ( Hebrews.Ch. 9 v 27 )
A: ____________________________________________________________________
106: Q: ARE you really looking forward to the day when you will stand ALONE before God's Judgement throne, without a priest, or the Blessed Virgin, or any of the Saints to speak on your behalf?
A: ____________________________________________________________________
107: Q: WHERE will you go to when you die?
A: ________________________________________
108: Q: IF you were to die right now, do you think you would go to Heaven?
A: ________________________________________________________________
109: Q: IF you died today, and God said to you," Give Me one good reason why I should allow you into Heaven ", what would you say?
A: ___________________________________________________________________
110: Q: WHY, after so many years of faithfully adhering to the teachings of your Church, and of doing your best to lead a good life, are you still UNSURE of eternal life?
A: ___________________________________________________________________
111: Q: DO you think it is possible to actually KNOW that you will go directly to Heaven when you die?
A: ____________________________________________________________________
112: Q: WOULD you like to know how you CAN have this assurance?
A: ________________________________________________________
Dear Friend,
Perhaps your answer to question No. 111 is similar to what mine was. My response to the question was as follows:
" No, it is not possible for me to actually KNOW for certain that I will go directly to Heaven when I die! How can anybody KNOW if they will be saved! Even though I have been a devout Roman Catholic, and made every effort to lead a good life, I still don't know WHAT will happen to my soul when I die, because I don't know if I have done enough to merit eternal life! I don't actually know if I will die in a state of Grace, or go to the grave in a state of Mortal sin! I HOPE I will go to Heaven, but I don't KNOW! "
My answer to question No.112 was as follows: " YES, of course I would like to know how I can have the assurance of eternal life. But HOW can I obtain this assurance, this certainty? If all my religious activities and good works couldn't produce this assurance, where can I turn to? "
I decided to turn to the Scriptures, to see if God could tell me, in His Inspired word, if it were in fact, possible for someone to KNOW they would go to Heaven, and if so, how this assurance could be obtained.
I read in John's First Epistle, in Ch.5 vs. 11-13, the following words: " And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."
I could see here that the Inspired Apostle was saying that God has GIVEN to us,
( as a gift ), eternal life. This means it cannot be earned or merited. This life is in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This means that eternal life is in a Person, not in a religion, as I had believed for many years.
John goes on to say that, " He that hath the Son hath life." In other words, the person who has recognised that eternal life is in Christ, and has personally acknowledged Him as Saviour, and is depending upon Him alone, and his work on their behalf, for salvation, possesses eternal life, right now, and KNOWS he will go to Heaven.
On the other hand, John says that the person who has not acknowledged Christ as Saviour, does NOT have eternal life. " He that hath not the Son of God hath not life ". This means that a person may have plenty of religion and good works, but if they do not have Christ, in other words, if they are not trusting in Christ alone for salvation, they can KNOW, right now, that they do not have eternal life.
I noticed that in verse 13, he twice mentions the word "Believe." This means to have Faith in Jesus Christ and His work on the sinner's behalf. John is saying here that salvation is by Faith.
I also discovered in the Scriptures that the Apostle Paul wrote of the futility of depending upon his own righteousness for salvation, and that he clearly stated the necessity of Faith in Christ: " And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by FAITH." ( Philippians Ch.3 v 9 )
He also wrote concerning the foolishness of depending upon religious activities for Salvation, and again he highlighted the sinner's need to put his faith in Christ:
" Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by FAITH.".( Galatians Ch.3 v 24 )
But what really spoke to me, and answered ALL my questions was what I read in Romans Ch.5 v 1:
" Therefore being justified by FAITH, we have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
I could see clearly that God was saying here, in His word, that the sinner can be justified. In other words, he can be declared to be " NOT GUILTY ". God can grant this pardon to the sinner because Christ died in his place, as his substitute, paying in full the penalty for the guilt of his sins. The pardon is granted to the person who repents of his sins, and puts his FAITH in Christ, believing that through His sinless life and substitutionary death on the cross, Christ paid the ONLY price that could redeem sinners.
I was so grateful to God for showing me so clearly from His word, the Holy Bible, that I could KNOW for certain that I would go to Heaven when I died. I thanked Him for showing me how I could have this assurance. By God's Grace, I repented of my sins, and abandoned all my dependence upon what I thought I could do to earn salvation. I asked God to save me by putting to my account all that Christ had done on my behalf, and He did.
KNOWING now that I had been justified by God brought PEACE to my troubled soul. The worries, doubts and fears I had concerning the destination of my soul disappeared. KNOWING that I was no longer depending, for my Salvation, upon my own religious activities, good works or merits, but instead on the Person of Jesus Christ and His work on my behalf, brought that great assurance of Eternal Life that I had longed for.
Friend, you too, can have this great Peace and Assurance that comes from KNOWING that your sins have been forgiven, and that you will go to Heaven when you die.
Your answer to the final question in this booklet, one which was asked nearly two thousand years ago, will determine where you will spend eternity.
Q: " WHAT must I do to be saved? "
A: ________________________________________________
According to the Scriptures, the correct answer is as follows:
" BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."
( Acts.Ch.16 vs 30-31 )
If YOU are asking this question today, remember, the answer is still the same.
If you would like to discuss any of the questions or the answers, I will be glad to help. You can contact me at the following address or by email.
You will have noticed that in this little Booklet I have quoted a number of verses from the Bible. May I encourage you to look up these verses in your own Bible.
If you do not have a Bible of your own, I will be very glad to supply you with one.
I would also like to offer to you some literature which explains very clearly the Way of Salvation.
A number of Cassette Tapes containing Gospel Messages and Gospel Music are also available.
All of this material is completely free of charge, and without obligation.
Dick Keogh
email - Israel@esatclear.ie
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE MAIN MENU