As the son of Roman Catholic parents, I was born in Wolseley, Saskatchewan, Canada, and raised strictly in their belief. From an early age I tried to be good, but I always fell into sin again and again. Like many people, I was on my way to hell. I was told that as a monk and priest, it would be easier to resist sin and be more aware of salvation. Since I was sincerely seeking salvation, I entered the Benedictine order with the Basilian rules, where I received a long black robe, was given the monastic name of “Saint Hilary the Great,” and made vows. As a monk, I was called "Brother Hilary" during my studies, and "Father Hilary" after being ordained a priest.
Self-torture
I unconditionally wanted to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and thought I could accomplish this with a monastic life. I complied with every smallest monastic rule. I whipped myself every Wednesday and Friday night, sometimes my back was all bloody; I practiced repentance by kissing the ground; I often ate my meager food on my knees or gave it up altogether. I tried many exercises for repentance as I was seriously looking for salvation. I was told that this way I could earn heaven. I did not know that the word of God says , “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; 9 Ye are not saved from works, lest any man should boast (Eph. 2: 8-9).
Finally a priest
After many years of study and physical work in the convent, I was ordained a priest. From now on, I was responsible for 5 parishes in Lamont, Alberta. Every day I read Mass, confessed, prayed the rosary to Mary, worshiped many saints, read the prescribed prayers, and completed the exercises for repenting of my monastic order even more fervently than before. However, all this did not satisfy my restless soul. I wallowed in even greater despair than in my youth, but Christ faithfully cared for me.
The book of God and my church
During my studies as a priest, I had three biblical commentaries at my disposal, among other books, but not the Bible. After being ordained a priest, I came to know the Roman Catholic edition of the Bible, and I came across lines that were completely contrary to my faith and work. If anything in the Bible said so and so, my church claimed just the opposite. Who was right, the Roman church or God? I finally believed God’s word.
The monastic life and sacraments prescribed by the Roman Catholic Church did not help me to come to know Jesus personally and find salvation. After twelve and a half years, I escaped from the convent like a lost sinner, with no peace in my soul. In me was only the nature of "an old man who is corrupt and full of deceptive desires."
I needed a new nature, a new heart. The Bible speaks of the renewal of thought and of the garment of a new man created by God in true justice and holiness. »… .. if you only listened to him and let yourself be taught about him, as the truth is in Jesus. It is necessary to put aside the old man as he has lived hitherto, and who are destroyed by vain desires, to renew yourself in the spirit of your mind, and to clothe the new man, who after
the new is born by the Holy Spirit, only by faith in Jesus Christ and not by the monotonous repetition of prayers, penitential exercises, sacrifices, and good works. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3: 3) They answered him, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you and your house will be saved" (Acts 16:31).
Trust only in Jesus Christ
It became perfectly clear to me that the sacraments invented by my church and my own good works do not benefit salvation.
On the contrary, they lead to some false security. I soon realized in faith that Christ had died for me because I could not save myself. Full of confidence, I expected the salvation of my soul from him. When I confessed my sins, I turned away from them and - in the firm belief that He paid all the punishment for my sins on the cross - invited Christ into my heart and knew that my sins were not only forgiven but also forgotten and that I justified before God. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is death; God's gift of grace is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 6:23). The blood of Jesus cleanses me of all sins. But if we walk in the light, as he himself is in the light, we are in fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. ” (1 Jn 1,7) . I have the peace of God now. “ Because we aretherefore, justified by faith, we live in peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ ”(Romans 5: 1).
What I would like to tell you
Friend, if you are trying to reach heaven by your efforts, I must point out to you that salvation does not come in parts, “lest any man should boast.” We can never earn heaven. Only Christ is the way and the answer. "God is only one. There is only one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, the one who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony in his time (1 Tim 2: 5-6).
Come to him now as you are and confess your sins. Ask him for forgiveness and come to him as the only savior and lord. Because he made your salvation possible, you can trust him with your eternal blessing.
Now he calls you: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Mt 11:28).
Then you can rejoice with me that you have found a savior, the living Christ.
Since his conversion, Henry Gregory Adams has been an active evangelist and defender of the faith. In Oshawa, Canada, he led evangelical missionary work. In early 2001, the Lord called him to Himself.
[Source: https://bereanbeacon.org/sl/henry-gregory-adams-samo-kristus-je-pot/]
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