The Testimony of Paul Defina

I was brought up in a very "catholic" home and was taught to attend church faithfully every week. My father says the rosary on a daily basis for the salvation of his soul and he actually cracks the bible open on occasion (but doesn't try to interpret it per order of the church). I can remember sitting around the kitchen table discussing the four gospels of Christ. As a matter of fact, we only seemed to read the Gospels and ignored the epistles, especially the Pauline epistles. One thing I can remember thinking as we read is "Where is Mary's role in all of this"?

1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

Ac 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

I could see my father putting more and more trust in Mary, but I couldn't see where the bible spoke of her saving role. If there can only be one mediator, and it's Jesus, how can Mary also mediate? How can a (so called) Priest mediate? God must have started working on me very early in life because even as a young child I saw this heresy. As a matter of fact, as I approached my teens I was reading the bible here and there and I couldn't see where I needed anything more than to trust in the shed blood of Christ. I found myself listening to evangelical radio programs in the morning and almost everything they said made perfect sense! I struggled to see where the "saving" graces of the roman catholic church, as well as Mary, were needed when Jesus Christ shed every last drop of His Blood to redeem me from my sins. Please refer to my Roman Catholic Church link for details on catholic doctrine verses the bible. One day I started reading the catechism and comparing it to the bible to see if they matched up. They didn't. I searched the internet for details and came across a testimony written by a former roman catholic nun. I read this and it made quite an impression on me, but I was too weak to pull out of the church. I made excuses like "God knows my heart" and "I should try and change the church rather than deserting it" and "My parents will be hurt" etc... So I just decided to stay in the Catholic church and not make any waves with my family. Well, God had another plan! Over the next couple of years I had no peace within. I would be driving to work, listening to these evangelical pastors on the radio, and crying my heart out for all of the sin I had committed in my life. I was confused and depressed because the bible said one thing and the Roman Catholic church said another. I knew that Christ died for my sins and I was forgiven and yet I wasn't quite sure because the catechism said I was going to pay for my sin. I was lost!!! Pleading every moment with God to forgive me without confidence that He would. Finally, I came across www.sounddoctrine.com. I read about the "Great whore" of revelations and emailed Pastor David Rowley with the subject entitled "HELP!!!". He called me on the phone and explained the truth of the gospel according to the bible. I was still skeptical, after all, quitting the Catholic church after 32 years wasn't a small thing. My wife and I studied the bible for about two months before we finally put all of our trust in the Blood of Christ. Of course this means pulling away from a church that demands that you put your trust in the priests, the pope, your own works, Mary, and the sacraments. If all of my trust is to be in Christ's shed Blood, then NONE can be in these other things or I'm a hypocrite and Christ will spew me out of His mouth. What PEACE I have now that I know the truth in Jesus Christ. All of my sin is washed away and I no longer need to remember it, dwell on it, or worry about it. He paid my debt with one offering, the offering of His precious Blood. God wouldn't give me this peace until I pulled out of the Roman Catholic church and looked for a King James only bible preaching church. Free at last!!!

Ga 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

Ga 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

These people (the Galations) were going to get circumcised, as well as trust in the Blood of Christ for salvation. The apostle Paul says to them "Christ is become of no effect unto you" and "ye are fallen from grace". You can't serve two masters!!! You either put ALL of your trust in Jesus Christ's Shed Blood, or you will burn in hell for eternity. Mary can't help. She's a nice person, but she can't mediate. None of what your church tells you to do can help!!! It's simply the Blood that can save you. Nothing else.

You say you have Faith??? You believe in God and Jesus so your not worried about it? Let's se what the bible says:

Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Mt 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

I have one question for you. DO YOU KNOW THE WORD OF GOD??? Every word? If not then you had better question your faith. You know not what you have faith in.

Friend. Are you placing all of your trust in His shed Blood? This means that your not placing any trust in the rosary, the pope, priests, confession, communion, your own works of righteousness etc... Nothing but the Blood of Jesus. If you will pray right now and invite Jesus into your heart, admit your a hell bound sinner and forsake all other means of salvation, HE is sure and just to forgive you, adopt you and seal you unto the day of redemption. From this day on you can KNOW that you HAVE eternal life and all of your past and future sins are covered by His Blood. He will seal you with the Holy Spirit and you are guaranteed a place in heaven. The way I see it is this. When you can open a book that was written over 1900 years ago and it warns about a Roman Church, a great religious city (Vatican city) who's guests are in the depths of HELL (Rev 17:3), WHY WAIT, come out of her now!!!

1Jo 5:13 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.

No more guessing from one day to the next!!! He loves me, He loves me not??? Friend. He LOVES YOU and is waiting for you to receive His Free Gift through the hearing of His precious word. It was hard for me after being deceived for so many years but His word is swift and powerful. Powerful enough to cut through all of the lies Satan has deceived you with all of your life. Read the book of Romans in your bible with a mind for God and you'll see the truth.

May God bless you and lead you to the "simplicity that is in Christ".