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(Part I)
In October of
1981, while visiting a friend in
the hospital, I was
confronted with the question,
“Are you a born again
believer in
the
Lord Jesus Christ according to
the Word at God?” I was also asked, “Would you like to invite
the Lord Jesus in your heart to
save
you and to give you eternal
life?” Well, these phrases were foreign to
my
vocabulary. You see,
my
friend happened to
be a born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. I wasn’t.
In
his hospital room he shared with
me from
the Bible how God in us Supreme
love and grace, provided a way
for
me
to have all
my
sins forgiven and washed away. He
shared with me how God sent us only-begotten Son to die for
me.
It was amazingly revealed to
me
that Jesus Christ died once and
for all on the
cross at Calvary for the sins of
all that would believe and call upon his
name. Tears
filled my
eyes when
I began to realize how Jesus
carried the cross, shed His blood on that cross, was
ridiculed, spat on and beaten for ME! It was shown to
me
from God’s glorious Word how
Jesus then died, was buried
and
how He arose in glory to be
my
Savior! He is
now
my
only way to God and
my only Mediator.
Yes,
I needed salvation and I
came
to realize then, and every day
since then, that salvation comes only
through
Jesus Christ
alone. No other can fill His place nor can He again be put to
death for He died once and for all on that cross
at
Calvary almost 2000 years
ago!
On that day I prayed and received
Christ Jesus
and believed in His Lordship! And
do you know what? He saved
me because He
promised to in His Word,
the
Bible!
You’re probably wondering what this
has
to do with
my
leaving the
Roman
Catholic Church. Everything! I
was a Roman Catholic
for
23 years prior to my
conversion. As a Catholic
I believed many things which were necessary in order to be a
“good” Catholic. I came
to realize at the time of
my conversion and the months following that most of the
teachings of the Roman Catholic Church stand contrary to the
Bible. I realize this may
sound shocking to some but
I believe if anyone is willing to take God's Word in one hand,
the teachings of the Roman
Catholic Church in the
other, one will come
to
the same
conclusion. With this conclusion
one is left with the decision of following the teachings of
Rome
or the teachings of God’ s Holy Word, the Bible. I would like
to, lovingly and Biblically, share with you these differences.
I prayerfully hope God might use this information to edify and
help you.
(Part II)
After becoming a born again believer in Jesus Christ and being
led by the Holy Spirit according to the Bible, His Word, I
began
to find that the Roman
Catholic Church’s
teachings were not
in harmony with the Scriptures.
Because of limited space I will share only a few reasons for
my
leaving the RCC. I will
continue in the next newsletter. First, the
RCC teaches
that their priests have at least
two powers. One is the power to forgive the sins of their
people. They believe these sins are forgiven or absolved
either in private confessions or in a general absolution (as a
large group present in the
church). The second power
that the RCC priests claim to have is the power of
“transubstantiation”. With this power they claim that the
priest has the power to take the Lord Jesus Christ from His
throne in heaven, change the Lord’s body, blood, soul, and
divinity, into the form of bread
and
wine at every Roman
Catholic Mass. They ‘then believe that Jesus is offered as a
continual sacrifice for the sins of their people.
Those who truly believe in the finished work
of the Lord Jesus Christ and read their Bible believe that
Jesus died ONCE FOR ALL! Hebrews Ch.7-10) Christ made it clear
from the cross, “IT IS FINISHED!”. (John 19:30) The Bible
makes it clear that no man can forgive sins no matter how
sincere he might be. Only GOD can forgive sins. (Mark 2:7) The
Word of God says that Christ will come again in glory, not in
the form of bread and wine. It is clear that when Jesus said,
“This is my body,” He was speaking symbolically, just as He
did when He called us His “sheep” and when He called Himself
the “door,” “vine,” “shepherd,” etc. Jesus said, “It is the
Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words
that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” For believers
to believe that Jesus is “continually being offered as a
sacrifice” is to deny God’ s Word... “knowing that Christ,
having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death
no longer is master over Him” (Romans 6:9).
Another reason for leaving the RCC is the church’s belief in
the dogma of Mary. The RCC teaches that Mary is the Church’s
model. She is called the “mother” of the church. In the
Documents of Vatican II, she is called the church’s “Advocate,
Auxiliatrix, Adjutrix, and Mediatrix.” The RCC believe that
she is without sin and that she never died, that she ascended
bodily into heaven as did Jesus.
The
Word of God makes it clear that Mary was “blessed among
women”, NOT blessed ABOVE women. In the Old Testament a woman
named Jael was called
“blessed among women” (Judges 5:21). That doesn’t mean we are
to worship her! The Bible
makes it clear that “ALL
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Jesus died on the cross f or our sins and MARY’S! In the book
of Luke, Chapter 2, we find Mary called God her Savior. Why
does she need a Savior if she was without sin? The Bible also
makes
it
clear that
Jesus is the only Mediator for us. “There is one God, and one
Mediator between God and
man; the
man
Christ Jesus” (1
Tim. 3:5). “There is no other name given under heaven whereby
we must be saved” (Acts 1:12).
The
RCC also teaches that salvation, true salvation, comes only
through the Roman Catholic Church. It is through her
sacraments and her grace. The Bible contradicts this in that
“He saved you, not by deeds you have done in righteousness,
but by His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing
by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).
(Part III)
“This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far
away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me. TEACHING AS
DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN. Neglecting the commandments of
God, you hold to
the tradition of
men...
You nicely set aside
the commandment of God in order to keep YOUR TRADITION...
invalidating the Word of God by your tradition which you have
handed down” (Mark 7). “Is this not the reason you are
mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures, or the
power of God?” (Mark 12:21).
As a
Catholic, I was taught
many
“traditions of men” which were
philosophically rationalized to agree with the Bible. I did
not understand the Scriptures nor the power of God, but after
my salvation the words of Jesus
became true
to
me:
“You shall know the truth and the
truth will set you free... If therefore the Son shall
make
you free, you shall
be free indeed” (John 8:32,36). In the Catholic Church I was
not free. I had no assurance of my salvation because, as a
Catholic, my salvation depended on the Sacraments of the (RCC)
church, the intermediation of Mary and the saints, and the
forgiveness of God rested upon the priest through the
confessional and the Sacrifice of the Mass. I did not realize
the free gift of the Almighty God in Jesus Christ by faith
alone.
Another reason for my leaving the Roman Catholic church is the
supposed “infallibility of the pope.” It is taught in the RCC
that the pope is the successor of Simon Peter. They claim that
Jesus gave Peter the authority of the church and that Jesus
gave Him the infallibility to go along with it.
It is evident in the Bible that Peter was not
a pope but an elder by his own confession (1 Peter 5:1). There
is no Scriptural evidence of Peter going to Rome. It was
Paul’s call of God to the Romans. In Paul’ s letter to the
Romans, his greetings do not include Peter (Romans 16). In the
Book of Matthew, Jesus told Peter that We would build His
church upon Himself (Jesus), not Peter. If Jesus built it upon
Peter and gave Him infallibility, then why was Peter used of
Satan in the following verses, requiring the rebuke of Jesus?
(Matthew 16:23). Why does Peter in his own epistle call Jesus
the Rock, not himself? (1 Peter 2). Paul only calls Jesus the
“Rock” (1 Cor. 10:4). If Peter were infallible, then why would
Paul have rebuked him? (Galatians 2:11-21) My friend, it is
evident that the false teaching that Peter was pope and that
the pope is infallible, whether sitting on a chair or standing
on a roof, is not anchored in the Bible.
It
is evident that there is One who sits on His Throne who offers
you salvation in Him alone! His name is Jesus and He will
judge by His Word, not tradition!
(Part IV)
“All
Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for
reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that
the
man
of God may be adequate, equipped
for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). “But know this first
of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own
interpretation, for no prophecy was made by an act of human
will, but men
moved by the
Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:20, 21).
When
one studies the Bible, it is evident that the Word of God is
sufficient in itself. It needs no additions of books or
traditions of
men.
The Bible is the Word of God. It
is God’s complete revelation of Himself to us. The
Roman
Catholic Church disagrees.
“Consequently, it is
not from Sacred Scripture
alone
that the Church (RCC)
draws her
certainty about everything which
has been revealed. Therefore both sacred tradition and sacred
scripture are to be accepted and venerated with the
same
sense of devotion and
reverence... Sacred tradition and
sacred
Scripture form
one sacred deposit
of the Word of God,
which is committed to the Church (RCC). . . The task of
authentically interpreting the word of God, whether written or
handed on, has been entrusted exclusively to the living
teaching office of the Church (RCC).
“It is clear, therefore, that sacred
tradition, sacred Scripture, and the teaching
authority of
the Church (RCC), in accord with God’s
most
wise design, are so linked and
joined together that one
cannot stand without the
others, and that all together and each in its own
way.. contribute effectively to
the salvation of
souls.” (Documents
of Vatican II, Dogmatic Const. of Divine Rev. Ch. 2, sec 9-10)
It
is evident that the Roman Catholic Church denies the sole
authority of God’s Word, the Bible. She claims that her
tradition “contributes to salvation”. This false teaching was
another reason f or
my
exodus out of her. The Bible
makes
it clear that God’s
Word stands alone! We are not to add to it! (Deut. 4:2;
Proverbs 30: 5, 6; Revelation 22: 18, 19) Salvation comes only
by faith in Jesus Christ according to His Word the Bible,
without traditions and added books (I Peter 1: 18-20).
The Catholic
Church
has “another” Bible.
In their
Bible they
have added the 11 books of the
“Apocrypha”. These Books were added in 15116, along with their
teaching that their tradition was equal to Scripture. These
books are met Scripture. Any careful examination will attest
to that. “See to it that no one
takes
you captive through philosophy
and empty deception, according to the tradition of
men,
according to the
elementary principles of the world, rather than according to
Christ” (Colossians 2:8).
(Part V)
“No man can redeem the
life of another
or give to God a
ransom for him-
the ransom for a life is costly,
no
payment is
ever
enough-” (Psalm 19:7-8)
“It is appointed for men to die once
and after this comes the judgement” (Hebrews 9: 27)
November 2nd is
“All Souls Day” in the Roman Catholic Church. It is a time
when the Catholic faithful who have died are remembered. They
are also prayed for and to by the members of the RCC. Many of
these dead ones are believed to be in a place or state called
Purgatory. They believe that penances, indulgences, and Masses
can be performed to rescue, if not lessen, the punishment that
these may be facing.
The
Roman Church teaches that purgatory is a place in which souls
who depart in this life and are in God’s grace suffer for a
time because they still need to be cleansed from venial sins.
They may still have to pay the punishment due to mortal sins,
even though the guilt and eternal punishment of which may have
been remitted.
An
indulgence is the remission granted by the Catholic Church f
or the punishment due to sin that has already been forgiven.
The disturbance caused by that sin can be atoned for
by penance,
suffering, or good works. An indulgence granted to the souls
in purgatory may
shorten the
stay in that punishment or lessen the severity of it.
The
Modern Catholic Dictionary defines purgatory as follows:
“The place or condition in which the souls of the just are
purified after death and before they enter Heaven. They
may
be purified of the guilt of
their venial sins, as
in this life, by
an act
of contrition deriving from charity and
performed with the
help of
grace.
This sorrow
does
not, however, affect the
punishment
for sins, because in the next world there is no longer any
possibility of merit. The souls are certainly purified by
atoning f or the temporal punishments due to sin by their
willing acceptance of suffering imposed by God. The
sufferings in purgatory are not the same f or all, but
apportioned to each person’s degree of sinfulness. Moreover,
these sufferings can be lessened in duration and intensity
through the prayers and good works of the faithful on earth.
Nor are the pains incompatible with great peace and joy,
since the poor souls deeply love God and are sure they will
reach heaven. As members of the Church Suffering, the
souls
in
purgatory can
intercede for the persons on
earth,
who
are therefore encouraged
to invoke
their aid. Purgatory will not continue after the general
judgement, but its duration for any particular soul
continues until it is free from all guilt and punishment.
Immediately on purification the soul is assumed into
heaven.” (pg. 152)
In other words, the
Roman
Catholic Church believes that
there are many who upon death
do not go to heaven,
but to a place of punishment were they must pay for their
sins. Those of their faith on earth can pray to them for
intercession and should pray for them that they may not suffer
long before advancing to heaven.
It
is also held that persons on earth can provide different
means
of “payment” for the
punishment due for their own sins
as
well
as
the sins of the
deceased through prayers, penances, acts of charity (giving of
money), or good works.
The Bible has a lot to say against these false
teachings. As we have seen, we cannot redeem anyone else
(Psalm 49:7-8). After death comes the judgement, not
purgatory! (Hebrews 9:27). The word “purgatory” is not found
in the Bible. The doctrine of purgatory is not taught in the
Holy Scriptures. We cannot be redeemed by money!
The first epistle of Peter
states, “You were not redeemed with perishable things like
silver and gold from your futile way of life inherited from
your forefathers, but with the precious blood of the Lamb,
unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. (1 Peter
1:18-19) See
also Isaiah 52: 3,
55:1; Acts 8: 20.
The
total cleansing of our sins was performed by the one time
sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross of Calvary! (See Gal.
2:1-11; 1 John 1:7; Hebrews 9:1-11; Romans 8:1). Jesus told
the repentant thief on the cross, “Today you will be with Me
in Paradise!” (Luke 23:43).
“And
when you were dead in your transgression and the
uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with
Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having
cancelled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees
against us... We has taken it out of the way, having nailed it
to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14).
“If
we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness” (1
John 1:9).
“Truly, truly, I say to you,
he who hears My
Word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does
not come into judgement, but has passed out of death into
life” (John 5:24). |
