Week VIII Noah & The ONE Door, Part 3
This is a LONG one… and I only cover Catholicism… the remaining two (Jehovah Witness & Lodges) will follow shortly ( I Hope).
Ok, here we go… these three religions will probably be the most controversial. Sometimes we “grow up” being Catholic, Jehovah Witness and/or with family members involved in the Lodges.
Probably that is the case with many of you reading this post.
I grew up “Baptist”.
But, there came a time in my life when I realized not everyone was a “Baptist” or even a Christian. I had an interest in knowing what others believed, and then I had to know why I believed what I did.
Did I believe only because I was brought up in a Christian family? Did I believe only because I went to a Baptist Church? Did I believe only to make my family happy?
We have all faced questions about our beliefs, at least we should have by now. Sometimes people will say “Well, I was raised Catholic, so I’ll be a Catholic,… Or she’s from a JW family, so she has to be a JW too.”
That’s not true.
You see, we each come to the place in our own lives, where we have to face the real questions.
Do I really believe what I’ve been taught all my life? What about this, or that? Why is that taught? Where did that come from? How do you know this? Why do I believe that?
We cannot be Christians just because we were ‘taught’ that as kids… it’s a conscious decision, you have to decide to believe God or you have to decide not to believe God. There’s no middle ground, there’s no fence to sit on- you either do, or you don’t.
When we all (believers and non-believers alike) stand before God to give and account, you will have to answer for your decision. One way will lead to eternity with the all glorious God of the universe, the other will lead to eternity spent with the enemy of our souls, in an everlasting torment.
But you cannot ever say I am a _____________ because I was born ‘that way’. It’s not true… you are what you are because you decided to be.
Sometimes it’s really sad when we realize that what we have been taught to believe, what we’ve lived, what we been a part of, is a lie.
Many sincere people have been caught and lead astray by false teachers.
Many teachers have taught falsely because they never dug deeper into what they had been taught and were now teaching.
The scriptures are the only infallible word we have. The word from any man, regardless of how ‘holy’, how spiritual, how godly he might seem to be, pales in comparison to the word of the God Almighty. We fool ourselves and do God an injustice when we equate man’s words and teachings with His- they are nowhere near. Every single person on this earth is fallible- where they claim to speak for God, for the Church or for anyone else. We are not God, we do not possess infallibility, we cannot.
I’m sorry if you have been mislead by a religion that you thought (and hoped) was true.
I’m sorry to be the one to cause you grief.
But the Word of God speaks so clearly- listen to it. You be the judge. Take of the blinders, take away the excuses, see GOD speak, hear what HE says, Listen to HIS words… then you judge if what you have been taught is from HIM. IF it’s not from God, who is it from? These are hard questions to ask yourself, the resulting conclusions may bring you some grief and torment, but does that make the truth any less truthful?
I guess I struggle with these last three religions because I know so many people, well meaning, God seeking friends who have been mislead by Catholicism, the Jehovah Witnesses, and by the Lodge(s).
It breaks my heart to know the struggles they will face as they come to terms with the lies they have been taught for years.
But I’ll tell you something more troubling… not teaching God’s Word for fear of offending one of them. I cannot be silent. I will not be silent.
I may lose friends, family may forsake me, I may not be popular (Oh, well that’s not such a big problem), I may be passed over because of my ‘radical’ views and my ‘intolerance’… but when I stand before God I hope to say that I spoke the truth regardless of the consequences.
You see I am only responsible for doing my part… teaching from the Word, You are accountable for what you do with it now.
If you hear the truth but forsake it, deny it, refute it… then you don’t offend me, you offend God and He will hold you accountable.
I pray that you will carefully consider the evidence before you. Pray over it. Research it. Ask God for the discernment you need, the strength required to face the facts.
The strength required to go against a family history of Catholicism, Jehovah Witness Communion or Lodge memberships. The power to stand in the truth of HIS Word, and only the truth. Forsake the teachings of man that conflict with His HOLY WORD, turn to Him, He will not lead you astray.
Catholicism – Catholics
- Please be aware that the Roman Catholic Church teaches that the Word of God is not the sole authority in the life of a believer, that the ‘traditions’ of the church hold EQUAL authority to God’s Word. Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture make up a single sacred deposit of the Word of God . . ." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 97 and "Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence." (Par. 82).
Christians believe that the Bible is the final authority on all things. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness… 2 Tim 3:16
Mark 7:8-9, "Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men. 9He was also saying to them, You nicely set aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition."
Therefore, I will try to show the errors of the Roman Catholic Church by both the Bible and through her own writings (Catechism).
Please remember that God can never contradict himself. Therefore any teaching that contradicts God’s Word(The Bible) must be considered as not from God, but as false.
1. THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE GOD - Believe
2. ONE GOD, THREE PERSONS (THE TRINITY) - Believe
3. JESUS IS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD - Believe
4. JESUS IS THE SECOND PERSON OF THE TRINITY - Believe
5. JESUS WAS BORN OF A VIRGIN – Believe… however, problems come where they have added to the scriptures in this area:
1. That Mary was born WITHOUT sin. This is known as the “Immaculate Conception”. Many falsely believe that this term refers to Jesus’ birth (and it would be so) however the church applies it to Mary and to her birth. This is not Biblical. Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 966
491 Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, "full of grace" through God,134 was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854:
The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.135
2. Mary was sinless her entire life. The Bible tells us that Christ alone was sinless, that EVERYONE else has sinned, and is in need of the salvation provided by Jesus. Mary herself calls Christ her ‘savior’… if she was born without sin and remained sinless her entire life, she would not need a savior. Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 508
508 From among the descendants of Eve, God chose the Virgin Mary to be the mother of his Son. "Full of grace", Mary is "the most excellent fruit of redemption" (SC 103): from the first instant of her conception, she was totally preserved from the stain of original sin and she remained pure from all personal sin throughout her life.
3. That Mary remained a virgin all her life. She is known in the RC Church as “the Perpetual Virgin”. This is not Biblical, in fact the Bible clearly states that Joseph did not ‘know’ her (in the sexual sense) until after Jesus’ birth. The Bible also states that Jesus was her ‘first born’, intimating that others followed. Jesus’ brothers and sisters are also mentioned by the apostles.
Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 510 510 Mary "remained a virgin in conceiving her Son, a virgin in giving birth to him, a virgin in carrying him, a virgin in nursing him at her breast, always a virgin" (St. Augustine, Serm. 186, 1: PL 38, 999): with her whole being she is "the handmaid of the Lord" (Lk 1:38).
499 The deepening of faith in the virginal motherhood led the Church to confess Mary's real and perpetual virginity even in the act of giving birth to the Son of God made man.154 In fact, Christ's birth "did not diminish his mother's virginal integrity but sanctified it."155 And so the liturgy of the Church celebrates Mary as Aeiparthenos, the "Ever-virgin".156
4. Mary was assumed bodily into Heaven. This is known as the “Assumption”. The RC Church teaches that Mary did not die, that God took her directly to Heaven where she became the Queen of all things. This is not Biblical. Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 966
966 "Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death."508 The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son's Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians:
In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death.509
5. Praying to Mary. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that Mary is to be prayed to, that in praying to her souls are delivered from death (see above quote). She is called “Mediatrix” (below).
969 "This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation . . . . Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix."512
971 "All generations will call me blessed": "The Church's devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship."515 The Church rightly honors "the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of 'Mother of God,' to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs. . . . This very special devotion . . . differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration."516 The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an "epitome of the whole Gospel," express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.517
There are other errors within the Roman Church’s teachings about Jesus’ birth and Mary, but I’ve covered five of them to show the level of problems present.
6. JESUS LIVED A SINLESS LIFE AND WAS CRUCIFIED ON THE CROSS AS THE FINAL AND COMPLETE PAYMENT FOR OUR SIN – Believe Jesus died on the cross, but not sufficiently for all our sin.
www.carm.org explains the Church’s teaching in this way:
Because the Catholic view of justification is a cooperative effort between God and man, this justification can be lost and regained by man's failure to maintain sufficient grace through meritorious works. Now I must admit that within Protestant churches there are different opinions on this very matter of eternal security. Some believe salvation can be lost while others do not. I am not here attempting to address this issue. Rather, I seek to point out that Roman Catholicism teaches that works are necessary for this "re-attainment" of justification.
This is how...
According to Catholic theology, penance is a sacrament where a person, through a Catholic priest (CCC, par. 987), receives forgiveness of the sins committed after baptism. The penitent person must confess his sins to a priest. The priest pronounces absolution and imposes acts of Penance to be performed.
"Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial communion. It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification. The Fathers of the Church present this sacrament as 'the second plank (of salvation) after the shipwreck which is the loss of grace," (CCC, par. 1446).
The Council of Trent (Sess. XIV, c. i) declared regarding Penance:
"As a means of regaining grace and justice, penance was at all times necessary for those who had defiled their souls with any mortal sin. . . ."
Acts of penance vary, but some of them are prayer, saying the rosary, reading the scripture, saying a number of "Our Father's" or "Hail Mary's" prayers, doing good works, fasting, and other such things.
Is it by doing these acts of penance that the Catholic is able to regain his justified state before God? I am astounded to think that they are taught to believe that by their works of penance justification is regained. In essence it is earning one's salvation. Think about it. If you do not have it and you get it by saying prayers, fasting, and/or doing good works, then you are guilty of "works righteousness" salvation which is condemned by the Bible. "Works Righteousness" means that a person is trying to attain or keep his position with God based upon his works. It is a false teaching.
I confess my sins to God. He forgives me (1 John 1:9). I do not need a Catholic priest to be my mediator of forgiveness. I need the true mediator and High Priest, Jesus. He alone is my mediator (1 Tim. 2:5). He has all authority in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18) to forgive my sins and intercede for me. He finished the work on the cross (John 19:30) so that I do not need to perform any work in order to gain, maintain, or even regain my salvation. That is why the Bible teaches that we are justified by faith (Rom. 5:1) apart from works (Rom. 3:28).
To say that we can add to the finished work of Christ on the cross is to say that what He did was not sufficient to save us. May this never be! We are saved by grace through faith, not grace through faith and our works. If it were, then grace would not be grace.
"But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace," (Rom. 11:6).
7. JESUS WAS RESURRECTED BODILY FROM THE GRAVE - Believe
8. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE THIRD PERSON OF THE TRINITY - Believe
9. SALVATION IS BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, NOT OF WORKS- No, salvation comes only through the Roman Catholic Church, and is not ‘by faith alone’.
i) Salvation is dependent upon Baptism (first). One cannot be saved without first being baptized in the Roman Catholic Church.
>977 Our Lord tied the forgiveness of sins to faith and Baptism: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved."521 Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of forgiveness of sins because it unites us with Christ, who died for our sins and rose for our justification, so that "we too might walk in newness of life."522
ii) Penance is also required(mentioned also in #6 above).
980 It is through the sacrament of Penance that the baptized can be reconciled with God and with the Church:
Penance has rightly been called by the holy Fathers "a laborious kind of baptism." This sacrament of Penance is necessary for salvation for those who have fallen after Baptism, just as Baptism is necessary for salvation for those who have not yet been reborn.525
987 "In the forgiveness of sins, both priests and sacraments are instruments which our Lord Jesus Christ, the only author and liberal giver of salvation, wills to use in order to efface our sins and give us the grace of justification" (Roman Catechism, I, 11, 6).
"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" (accursed) (Council of Trent, Canons on Justification, Canon 9).
"If any one saith, that man is truly absolved from his sins and justified, because he assuredly believed himself absolved and justified; or, that no one is truly justified but he who believes himself justified; and that, by this faith alone, absolution and justification are effected; let him be anathema. (accursed)" (Canon 14).
The Roman Catholic Church pronounces curses (anathema) on anyone who claims that salvation is by faith alone. If they curse all who believe ‘in faith alone’, they must by default believe that salvation comes with faith PLUS something else.
10. THERE IS A HELL AND ALL WHO REJECT THE CHRIST OF THE BIBLE WILL SPEND ETERNITY THERE – Believe, but also add to this teaching the doctrine of Purgatory:
The Second Vatican Council, p. 63, says, "The truth has been divinely revealed that sins are followed by punishments. God’s holiness and justice inflict them. Sins must be expiated. This may be done on this earth through the sorrows, miseries and trials of this life and, above all, through death. Otherwise the expiation must be made in the next life through fire and torments or purifying punishments."
1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.
1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.606 The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:607
As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.608
www.carmorg:
According to Roman Catholic Doctrine, though a person may be in a state of grace, he may not enter heaven until he is purified from sins that were not dealt with on earth. Baptism remits sins committed up to that point, but prayers, indulgences, penance, absolution, and the Mass are means by which the sinner is able to expiate sins committed after baptism. If sins are not remitted, after death he must suffer the flames of purification until he is sufficiently cleansed and pure so as to enter into the presence of God. Additionally, intercession can be made by Catholics on behalf of those who are presently in purgatory. This is also done through saying the Mass, certain acts of penance, saying the Rosary, or by indulgences where the benefit is applied to the dead in purgatory.
The length of time that someone must suffer in this state is never known, but it is considered to be proportional to the nature and severity of the sins committed. Therefore, it could be anywhere from a few hours to millions of years.
Jesus said, "It is finished," (John 19:30)
Jesus bore our sins in His body, paid the penalty for them, and died. He said, "It is finished." In Greek, the phrase, "It is finished" is one word, tetelestai.
In ancient Greek papyri texts that were receipts for taxes, when a debt was paid in full, the word tetelestai was written on the document. This meant that the debt had been paid in full.
In other words, Jesus had finished the work of atonement. But not only atonement (to make amends, to make right), but also of propitiation (turning away God's wrath). He had fully paid the debt invoked by the sinner. There was nothing more to be done... It was finished.
Yet, the doctrine of Purgatory, in effect, is saying that we must suffer in Purgatory for sins not covered by baptism and not covered by the cross. It is to say that the work of Christ is not finished and that there are things we must do to complete the sacrificial, cleansing work of Christ. This amounts to earning heaven by our good works, albeit a work of suffering. Additionally, the doctrine of Purgatory implies that a person must atone for his own sins. It implies that the person must do more than what the Law of God requires of him. This is called supererogation.
When Jesus said, "It is finished," all that was necessary in the atonement was concluded and all in Christ were justified. We cannot complete or add to Christ's work through our suffering. Purgatory is not only unnecessary, but it contradicts God's Word.
WOW… are you still here? This one was extra long, but it needed to be. I never want you to feel that I am picking on Catholics. I’m not.
I have tried very hard to use their own writings to show where they disagree with the Word of God.
I know some will read the Catechism excerpts and claim I have misinterpreted them, or have taken them out of context. I will assure you that I have been very careful not to.
Please read, or re-read these will an open heart. SEE what they say, HEAR what they teach.
It would certainly make my life a whole lot easier if I could say “Oh, I agree with the Roman Catholic Church teachings, but I don’t.
I don’t … not because I’m a Christian, not because I’m a Baptist (most days), not because I have some axe to grind with them… I don’t agree with their teachings because I cannot find any Biblical basis for them.
I cannot hold to teachings that are ‘in addition’ to the Word of God anymore than I could believe teachings that removed part of God’s Word. Both are equally as wrong.
It’s hard when it’s all you’ve ever known. It’s difficult when family and friends don’t understand.
But, your eternity is at stake… find the truth, search for it, seek it, crave it.
John 16: 12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
Pray for the Holy Spirit’s leading- He is the Spirit of Truth who will guide you into ALL TRUTH.
Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight
Trust HIM to show you the truth. Don’t trust me, I can be wrong…. Don’t trust your pastor or priest, they can be wrong… Don’t trust your Church it can be wrong… TRUST IN THE LORD. Seek His word, pour over it, search and study it (I think I may have said this somewhere before :o)
Trusting Him to use this rambling in His service,
Nancy
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