Exclusive Interview with John Ankerberg of the "John Ankerberg Show" Concerning Roman Catholicism

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• published: 26 May 2014
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See our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" at http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFFA8D69D1B914715. Larry Wessels, director of Christian Answers of Austin, Texas/ Christian Debater (YouTube channel CANSWERSTV at http://www.youtube.com/user/CAnswersTV); websites: http://www.BibleQuery.org, http://www.HistoryCart.com & http://www.MuslimHope.com) presents Dr. John Ankerberg in this exclusive interview given to our camera crew during a conference held in Dallas, Texas during 1999. John Ankerberg is an American Christian evangelist and TV presenter. He is an ordained minister and has written 91 books focusing on religious subjects. He is the producer and host of the nationally televised weekly half-hour program "The John Ankerberg Show" ("The Television Program Producer of the Year Award" -- National Religious Broadcasters, 1992). Ankerberg holds degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Luther Rice Seminary. In 1987, Ankerberg presented evidence that exposed moral failings of televangelist Jim Bakker, which included solicitation for sex and homosexual relations. In 1995 Ankerberg and other evangelical leaders expressed opposition to the proposed Evangelicals and Catholics Together ecumenical document designed to foster a sense of unity and cooperation between Protestant evangelicals and Catholics. This opposition resulted in a meeting which drafted an amendment clarifying the beliefs of the evangelical signers, which stated that "cooperation with evangelically committed Roman Catholics, does not imply acceptance of Roman Catholic doctrinal distinctives or endorsement of the Roman Catholic Church system." Ankerberg stated that the meeting "heals the breach", but "failed to mollify the concerns of many evangelicals." Some of Dr. Ankerberg's books include: The Facts on Halloween, Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs, Fast Facts on Islam, Fast Facts on Mormonism, The Facts on Jehovah's Witnesses, Cult Watch & The Facts on Roman Catholicism. Dr. Ankerberg answers the following questions about Roman Catholicism: 1. Are people saved by faith alone in Christ or not? Romans 5:1 2. What about mortal sins according to Roman Catholicism? What about Roman progressive justification & ultimate justification which may lead to purgatory? What about forensic justification & imputed righteousness? Romans 4:5 3. Did the Roman Catholic Church actually pronounce an anathema (ecclesiastical curse) against themselves? Galatians 1:6-9 4. Should Roman Catholics & Evangelical Christians preach the gospel together & in unity? 5. Is Roman Catholicism a mechanical (sacramental) religion? How does Jesus become your savior? 1 Timothy 2:5 Is Roman Catholicism and Christianity the same thing? No, Catholicism violates the biblical doctrine of salvation by grace through faith alone. Paul the apostle, for example, tells us in Romans 4:5, "But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness." But Roman Catholicism denies that and says, " . . . so that all men may attain salvation through faith, Baptism and the observance of the Commandments," (CCC, par 2068). Also, consider this: "If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema" (Council of Trent, Canons on Justification, Canon 9). So, even though Roman Catholicism claims to be Christian and that it is the one true church, it violates the essentials of the Christian faith. It goes beyond what is written in God's word (1 Cor. 4:6). It denies the sole and true sovereignty of the living God by promoting prayer to and the worship of Mary. Also, it denies justification by faith alone in Christ alone. It is not a Christian church.