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Please Note...
The following
information is not intended to offend another and this would also be
contrary to Christian teaching. It should also be noted that over the
centuries many wonderful Christians from the Catholic Church have done
outstanding missionary and other excellent Christian work. There are no
doubt millions of people in the Catholic Church that are not aware of the
things below and that is no reflection on their faith or love for Christ.
This site is NOT anti-catholic and we love ALL
people from all denominations. It is a simple case of the truth must
always be preached as this is God's will. This web page is not a
"slam" against individual Catholics, but against a
"system" that claims to be based upon the authority of the
Bible. If Roman Catholicism were a system of beliefs based upon the Bible,
then with an open Bible, that system should be able to stand up to
examination FROM the Bible! If ANY system fails to meet Christ's
qualification for being true, then it is to be rejected. Jesus said to His
Father in John 17:17, "Thy word is true." This web page is
dedicated to Roman Catholics who desire to know how to be saved. It is our
sincere desire to proclaim to you the Good News of Jesus Christ, because
the Gospel is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.
Many Christians have come from Roman Catholic backgrounds
and we have a heart for those
who do not have a personal relationship with the only Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.
We have compiled some information below for you to see that the Roman
Catholic Religion is NOT the same as the Christian faith presented
in the Holy Bible. We hope that you
would keep an open mind and heart to the information we have provided.
Please feel free to contact us
with any questions that you may have.
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Before
we begin our examination of specific Roman Catholic doctrines, we must
determine who will be the final authority. Here we encounter our first major
discrepancy. The Bible maintains that it is the
one and only final authority, while Catholicism teaches that three final
authorities exist. According to Catholic doctrine, church tradition and the
magisterium are just as much the Word of God as are the written Scriptures.
The question we must ask is, what happens when these three "final
authorities" disagree with each other?
The Roman Catholic Catechism gives
this answer:
"The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word
of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition,
has been entrusted to the living, teaching office of the Church
alone. This means that the task of interpretation has been
entruste d to the bishops in communion with the successor of
Peter, the Bishop of Rome." (Pg. 27, #85) |
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Audio Messages
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- The
Catholic Priesthood Part 1
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- The
Catholic Priesthood Part 2
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- The
Pope and the Papacy
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- Mary Worship Overview
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- Mary Worship Part 1
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- Mary Worship Part 2
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- Mary Worship What the Bible Says
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- Catholic Mass Part 1
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- Catholic Mass Part 2
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- Irreconcilable Differences Part 1
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- Irreconcilable Differences Part
2
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PDF Files
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- Catholic
Concern (written
by a former catholic nun)
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- Roman
Catholicism
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The Roman Catholic Catechism
repeats the same doctrine using different words:
"For, of course, all that has been said about the manner
of interpreting Scripture is ultimately subject to the judgment
of the Church which exercises the divinely conferred commission
and ministry of watching over and interpreting the Word of
God." (Pg. 34, #119) |
Therefore, the Catechism concludes
that the one final authority is not the Bible, but the current teaching of
the Catholic church, since she is the only one qualified to provide an
"authentic interpretation" of God's Word.
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Does
the Bible agree?
If the Bible, tradition and the
teachings of the Catholic church are all, in fact, the Word of God, then
the Bible will concur with this teaching. Unfortunately for Catholicism,
it does not . In fact, quite the contrary is true. God declares in the
Bible that His written Word always has been, and always will be - perfect:
"Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of
thy righteous judgments endureth for ever."
Psalm 119: 160
"The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried
in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep
them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this
generation for ever." Psalm 12:6-7
The Bible boldly declares that it
is the only final authority:"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is
truth." John 17:17
In the book of Revelation, God
delivers this blistering warning about tampering with His written Word:
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"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of
the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto
these things, God shall add unto him the plagues
that are written in this book: And if any man shall take
away from the words of the book of this prophecy,
God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of
the holy city, and from the things which are written in this
book." Revelation 22:18-19
Catholicism claims that only the leadership of the Catholic
church can properly interpret the written Word, but the Bible
disagrees:
"... no
prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation. For the prophecy came
not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of
God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
2 Peter 1:21
Where does God want people to obtain their doctrine... from a
priest - or from the Bible?
"All scripture
is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness:" 2 Timothy 3:16
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Why the |
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is NOT the same as Christianity |
WHY
does
the Bible condemn repetitious prayers, when the Roman Catholic church
encourages them? Jesus said, "7And
when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be
heard because of their many words.8Do
not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
Matthew 6:7,8. The Rosary is a rejection
of Christ’s clear command against praying a repetitious prayer. A Christian is
to simply go to God in prayer, because of Jesus.
WHY
does
the Bible condemn the traditions of men, when the Roman Catholic church
places them on an equal footing with the Word of God? "9And
he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God
in order to observe your own traditions!" Mark 7:9. Traditions like praying for, or
to the dead; not eating meat on Fridays; crossing yourself when you pass near a
church or cemetery, etc., have nothing to do with Christianity in the Bible!
WHY
does
the Roman Catholic church teach that Mary mediates between men and God when the
Bible teaches that Jesus alone is the mediator between God and men? "5For
there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,"
1 Timothy 2:5.
(See also Mary worship audio messages at the top of the page)
WHY
does
the Roman Catholic church teach that no one can be certain of salvation, when
the Bible teaches that salvation is assured in Jesus Christ? "13I
write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you
may know that you have eternal life." 1
John 5:13
WHY
does
the Roman Catholic church say salvation comes through good works, when
the Bible says salvation is a free gift from God, by faith alone, apart from
good works? "8For
it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God—9not
by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9. Our best efforts are as
filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6)
WHY
does
the Roman Catholic Church require its ministers to be unmarried, and called
“priests” when the Bible says they are to be married, and simply calls them
pastors, teachers, and bishops? "2Now
the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate,
self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,"
1 Timothy 3:2 (Go
look it up!)
. It continues in verses 4 and 5, "4He
must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper
respect." (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the
church of God?). Now THAT question is worth asking!
WHY
does
the Roman Catholic Church require people to call a religious man “Father”
when Jesus commanded us to call NO RELIGIOUS MAN “FATHER!” Jesus commanded, "9And
do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in
heaven." Matthew 23:9.
Jesus
said in John 6:63, “the words
that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Over
and over, Jesus said to His critics, “SEARCH
the scriptures” (John 5:39), and "29Jesus
replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the
power of God." (Matthew 22:29). Why go to a
church that claims to be following Jesus, but is not interested in obeying His WORDS?
Sadly, the Bible is only read in bits and pieces instead of as a whole – and
millions are crying for the answer to WHY?! Why doesn’t my church care
about what the Bible says?
WHY
does
the Roman Catholic church teach that Jesus Christ is continually sacrificed
today, when the scripture says the sacrifice of Jesus was necessary only once
for all eternity? “We are sanctified through
the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews
10:10. Jesus Himself in John 19:30, declared triumphantly on the cross, “It
is finished.” Someone needs to answer, Why keep a sacrifice going
that was PERFECT and FINISHED on the cross 2,000 years ago?
Why do we need to feel like we have to sacrifice Jesus over and over again?
Wasn't what He did for us good enough. Isn't the Father's sacrifice of His only
begotten Son enough, to pay for our sins?
Did
you know that the Roman Catholic Church change the 10 Commandments?
"I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will
not give
to another, nor My praise to carved images"
(Isaiah 42:8).
WHY
has
the Roman Catholic church removed the second commandment, which deals
with idolatry, from the Ten Commandments in its catechisms
(from the
Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 4, p. 153)?
In today's culture most Roman Catholics use the New American Standard Bible (NASB).
Please note: You will not find the change in the 10 Commandments in the Catholic
Bibles (only in the Encyclopedia
& Catechism).
You
can also see that the commandments have been changed in the catechism directly from the Vatican
website Click
Here.
To see this
deception, let’s look at the Roman Catholic listing of the Commandments, and compare it
with in Exodus 20 in the Bible:
The
Ten Commandments
(Roman
Catholic)
1.
I am the Lord Thy God; thou shalt not have strange gods before
me.
There
is a WHOLE COMMANDMENT missing here!
2.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord Thy God in vain.
3.
Remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day.
4.
Honour thy father and thy mother.
5.
Thou shalt not kill.
6.
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
7.
Thou shalt not steal.
8.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
9.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife.
10.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s goods.
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The
Ten Commandments
Listed
in the Bible (Exodus 20:1-17)
1.
I am the LORD thy God… Thou
shalt have no other gods before me.
2.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any
graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above,
or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the
earth: Thou shalt not bow down
thyself to them, nor serve them:
for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God...
3. Thou
shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will
not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
4.
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it
holy.
5.
Honour thy father and thy mother:
that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth
thee.
6.
Thou shalt not kill.
7.
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8.
Thou shalt not steal.
9.
Thou shalt not bear false witness
against thy neighbour.
10.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s
house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant,
nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy
neighbour’s.
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The following verse is God's warning from the
Bible that some would in fact think that they could actually change His
laws...
Daniel
7:25 “And
he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the
saints of the most High, and think to change times and LAWS:
and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the
dividing of time.”
Note it says they would think
to change LAWS. This is because in reality man cannot change God's law. The
leaders of the Roman Catholic Church think they have changed it and boast
they have changed it however, even though most Churches have come out of the
Catholic Religion and hence unknowingly followed her tradition, as far as
God is concerned, His Commandments remain unchanged. God's law is eternal
and unchanging as He is. Jesus commented the following in regards to putting
human traditions in place of His law.
Mark 7:6-9
says, "And
he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you
hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but
their heart is far from me;
in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the
commandments of men. 'You leave the commandment of God and hold to the
tradition of men. "And he said to them, "You
have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish
your tradition!"
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Millions
of sincere Catholics believe that the Roman Catholic Church is the true
church established by Christ. As demonstrated below, the gospel according to
Rome is NOT the gospel taught by Christ recorded in the Scriptures. It is a
different gospel, the mixing of faith plus works for justification , the
error condemned in the book of Galatians (Gal. 1:6-9). What would you do if
you found out that many of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Religion were
strongly different than the principles taught in the Christian Holy Bible?
If you are a Catholic who is genuinely searching for the certainty of what
will happen after you die I would recommend to read the Scriptures listed
below and compare them to the Catholic Catechism book to see what holds to
be true. When you look up the Scriptures,... do it from the Roman
Catholic Bible, The New American Bible, translated by members of the
Catholic Biblical Association of America and fully approved by the Roman
Catholic Church. Again, we have compiled
this information below for you to see that the Roman
Catholic Religion is NOT the same as the Christian faith presented
in the Holy Bible. We hope that you
would keep an open mind and heart to the information we have provided.
Please feel free to contact us
with any questions that you may have. If you wish to know what Biblical
Christianity is all about make sure you click on the link at the bottom of
this web page titled "What If?"
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SALVATION
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Bracketed numbers are
references to the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church. example:
[1950-1951]
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Taken from "Roman
Catholicism- What you Need to Know" by James G. McCarthy Harvest
House Publishers © COPYRIGHT 1995
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CATHOLIC
CHURCH
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THE BIBLE
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VS
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Catholic
Church Teaches
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The
Bible Teaches
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1.
Justification is a transformation of the soul in which original sin is
removed and sanctifying grace is infused [1987-1995]
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1.
Justification is an act of God in which He declares a sinner to be
righteous in His sight, having forgiven his sin and imputed to him God's
own righteousness (Romans 3:21-4:8)
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2.
Initial justification is by means of baptism
[1262-
1274]
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2.
Justification is by faith alone (Romans 3:28)
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3.
Adults must prepare for justification through faith and good works
[1247-1249]
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3.
God justifies ungodly sinners who believe (Romans 4:5). Good works are the
result of salvation, not the cause. (Eph. 2:8-10)
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4.
The justified are in themselves beautiful and holy in God's sight
[1992,1999-2000, 2024]
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4.
The justified are in Christ holy and blameless before God (Eph. 1:1-14)
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5.
Justification is furthered by sacraments and good works [1212, 1392,
2010]
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5.
Justification is the imputation of the perfect righteousness of God (2
Corn. 5:21). In Christ the believer has been made complete (Col. 2:10)
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6.
Justification is lost through mortal sin [1033,1855,1874]
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6.
Justification cannot be lost. Those whom God justifies will be saved from
the wrath of God (Romans 5:8,9)
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7.
Catholics guilty of mortal sin are justified again through the sacrament
of penance [980, 1446]
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7.
There is no second justification. Those whom God justifies, He also
glorifies (Romans 8:30)
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8.
Salvation from the eternal consequences of sin is a lifelong process
[161-162, 1254-1255]
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8.
Salvation from the eternal consequences of sin is an instantaneous and
secure act of God coinciding with justification (Romans 5:9)
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9.
Salvation is attained by cooperating with grace through faith, good works,
and participation in the sacraments [183, 1129, 1815, 2002]
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9.
Salvation is attained by grace through faith apart from works (Eph.
2:8-9). Good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation (Eph.
2:10).
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10.
Faith is belief in God and the firm acceptance of all that the Church
proposes for belief [ 181-182, 1814]
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10.
Saving faith is the entrusting of oneself to Christ as Lord and Savior
(Romans 10:8-17)
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11.
Grace is merited by good works [ 2010, 2027]
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11.
Grace is a free gift (Romans 11:6)
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12.
Venial sins do not incur eternal punishment [1855, 1863]
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12.
Every sin is punishable by eternal death (Romans 6:23)
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13.
Serious sins must be confessed to a priest [1456-1457]
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13.
Sin is to be confessed directly to God
(Ezra
10:11)
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14.
The priest forgives sin as a judge [1442,1461]
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14.
No one can forgive sin but God alone (Mark 2:7)
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15.
When the guilt of sin is forgiven, temporal punishment remains [1472-1473]
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15.
When God forgives sin, He completely forgives (Col. 2:13; Isaiah 43:25)
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16.
Acts of penance make satisfaction for the temporal punishment of sin
[1434, 1459-1460]
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16.Jesus
made perfect satisfaction for all sin
(1John
2:1,2)
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17.
Indulgences dispensed by the Church for acts of piety release sinners from
temporal punishment [1471-1473]
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17.
Jesus released believers from their sins by His blood (Rev. 1:5)
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18.
Purgatory is necessary to atone for sin and cleanse the soul [1030-1031]
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18.
Purgatory does not exist in the Bible. Jesus made purification for sins on
the cross (Hebrews 1:3)
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19.
Poor souls suffering in purgatory can be helped by those alive on
earth offering up prayers, good works, and the sacrifices of the Mass
[1032,1371, 1479]
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19.
Those who sleep in Christ need no help. To be absent from the body is to
be home with the Lord
(2
Corn. 5:8)
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20.
No one can know if he will attain to eternal life [1036, 2005]
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20.
The believer can know that he has eternal life by the Word of God (1John
5:13)
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21.
Eternal life is a merited reward [1821, 2010]
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21.
Eternal life is a the free gift of God (Romans 6:23)
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22.
The Roman Catholic Church is necessary for salvation [846]
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22.
There is salvation in no one but the Lord Jesus Christ, "for
there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by
which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
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THE
MASS
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CATHOLIC CHURCH
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THE BIBLE
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VS
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Catholic
Church Teaches
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The
Bible Teaches
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1.
The Last Supper was a real sacrifice in which Christ's blood was poured
out for our sins in the cup [610-611, 621, 1339]
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1.
The Last Supper was a Passover meal. Christ's blood was poured out for our
sins at the cross
(1Peter
2:24)
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2.
The bread and wine become the real body and blood of Christ [1373-1377]
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2.
The bread and wine are symbols of the body and blood of Christ (1 Corn.
11:23-25)
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3.
Christ's body and blood exist wholly and entirely in every fragment of
consecrated bread and wine in every Roman Catholic church around the world
[1374, 1377]
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3.
Christ is bodily present in heaven
(Hebrews
10:12,13)
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4.The
consecrated bread and wine are heavenly food which help one to attain to
eternal life [1392, 1405, 1419]
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4.
The bread and wine are symbols which help one to remember Christ (Luke
22:19)
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5.
God desires that consecrated bread and wine be worshiped as divine
[1378-1381]
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5.
God forbids the worship of any object, even those intended to
represent Him
(Exodus
20;4,5; Isaiah 42:8)
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6.
Christ has ordained certain men to a ministerial priesthood to perpetuate
the sacrifice of the cross [1142, 1547, 1577]
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6.
Christ has ordained every believer to a holy and royal priesthood to offer
spiritual sacrifices, the praise of their lips, and lives yielded to God
(1Peter 2:5-10; Hebrews 13:15; Romans 12:1)
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7.
The Sacrifice of the Mass is the sacrifice of the cross [1085, 1365-1367].
Only the manner in which it is offered is different [1367]
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7.
The sacrifice of the cross is a historical event. It occurred once,
approximately 2000 yrs ago, outside Jerusalem (Mark 15:21-41)
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8.
The sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated in the Sacrifice of the Mass
[1323, 1382]
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8.
The sacrifice of the cross is finished (John 19:30)
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9.
The sacrificial work of redemption is continually carried out through the
Sacrifice of the Mass [1364, 1405, 1846]
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9.
The sacrificial work of redemption was finished when Christ gave His life
for us on the cross (Eph. 1:7; Hebrews 1:3)
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10.
The Church is to continue the sacrifice of Christ for the salvation of the
world [1323, 1382, 1405, 1407]
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10.The
church is to proclaim the Lord's death for the salvation of the world (1
Corn. 11:26)
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MARY
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CATHOLIC
CHURCH
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THE BIBLE
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VS
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Catholic
Church Teaches
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The
Bible Teaches
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1. Mary was preserved from
all stain of original sin from the first instant of her conception.
[490-492]
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1. Mary, a descendant of
Adam, was born in sin (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12)
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2. Mary, "the
All-Holy," lived a perfectly sinless life [411, 493]
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2. Mary was a sinner; God
alone is holy (Luke 18:19; Romans 3:23; Rev. 15:4)
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3. Mary was a virgin
before, during, and after the birth of Jesus Christ [496-511]
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3. Mary was a virgin until
the birth of Christ (Matthew 1:25). Later she had other children (Matthew
13:55, 56; Psalm 69:8)
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4. Mary is the mother of
God [963, 971, 2677]
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4. Mary was the earthly
mother of Jesus (John 2:1)
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5. Mary is the Mother of
the Church [963, 975]
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5. Mary is a member of the
church (Acts 1:14; 1Corn. 12:13,27)
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6. Mary is the
co-redeemer, for she participated with Christ in the painful act of
redemption [618,964,968,970]
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6. Christ alone is the
Redeemer, for He alone suffered and died for sin (1 Peter 1:18,19)
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7. At the end of her life,
Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven [966,974]
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7. Upon her death, Mary's
body returned to dust (Genesis 3:19)
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8. Mary is the co-mediator
to whom we can entrust all our cares and petitions [968-970, 2677]
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8. Christ Jesus is the one
mediator to whom we can entrust all our cares and petitions (1 Timothy
2:5; John 14:13,14; 1 Peter 5:7)
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9. We should entrust
ourselves to Mary, surrendering "the hour of our death" wholly
to her care [2677]
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9. We should entrust
ourselves to the Lord Jesus, surrendering the hour of our death wholly to
His care (Romans 10:13; Acts 4:12)
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10.God has exalted Mary in
heavenly glory as Queen of Heaven and Earth [966]. She is to be praised
with special devotion [971,2675]
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10. The name of the Lord
is to be praised, for He alone is exalted above heaven and earth (Psalm
148:13). God commands, "You shall have no other gods before Me."
(Exodus 20:3).
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Authority
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CATHOLIC
CHURCH
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THE BIBLE
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VS
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Catholic
Church Teaches
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The
Bible Teaches
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1. Peter was the head of
the apostles [552, 765, 880]
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1. Christ was the head of
the apostles (John 13:13)
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2. The bishops are the
successors of the apostles [861-862, 938]
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2. The apostles had no
successors, for to succeed them one needed to be a witness of Christ's
resurrection (Acts 1:21,22)
|
3. The Pope, as the Bishop
of Rome, is the successor of Peter [882, 936]
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3. Peter had no successor.
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4. the bishops, with the
Pope as their head, rule the universal Church [883, 894-896]
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4. Christ, the head of the
body, rules the universal church (Colossians 1:18)
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5. God has entrusted
revelation to the Roman Catholic bishops [81,86]
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5.God has entrusted
revelation to the saints (Jude 3)
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6. The Magisterium is the
authoritative teacher of the Church [85-87]
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6. The Holy Spirit is the
authoritative teacher of the church (John 14:26; 16:13; 1 John 2:27)
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7. The Magisterium
is the infallible interpreter of Scripture [890-891, 2034-2035]
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7. Scripture is the only
infallible interpreter of Scripture (Acts 17:11)
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8. The Pope is infallible
in his authoritative teaching [891]
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8. God alone is infallible
(Numbers 23:19)
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9. Scripture and Tradition
together are the Word of God [ 81, 85, 97, 182]
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9. Scripture is the Word
of God (John 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:20,21). Tradition is the
words of men (Mark 7:1-13)
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10. Scripture and
Tradition together are the Church's supreme rule of faith [80,82]
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10. Scripture is the
church's rule of faith (Mark 7:7-13; 2 Timothy 3:16,17)
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HISTORY
OF CATHOLIC PRACTICES |
The
following refer to the time each practices were either A) first
introduced, B) formulated, C) adopted by council, or D) proclaimed
by a pope:
-
310
Prayers for the dead began.
-
375 The worship of saints.
-
394 The Mass was adopted
-
431 The worship of Mary began to develop.
-
593 The doctrine of purgatory was introduced.
-
606 Claims to papal supremacy took root.
-
650 Feasts in honor of the Virgin Mary started.
-
709 Kissing the pope's foot began with Pope Constantine
-
750 The pope first assumed temporal power.
-
787 The worship of images and relics was introduced.
-
819 The first observance of the Feast of Assumption
began.
-
850 The invention of holy water.
-
965 The blessing of the bells.
-
983 The canonization of saints was formulated.
-
998 Lent, Advent, and fasting from meat on Friday.
-
1003
Feasts for the dead were introduced
-
1074
The celibacy of the priesthood was asserted.
-
1076
The doctrine of papal infallibility suggested.
-
1090
The use of prayer beads (Rosary)
-
1115
Confession of sins to a priest was instituted.
-
1140
The doctrine of seven sacraments was introduced.
-
1190
The sale of indulgences.
-
1215
Transubstantiation was adopted by Pope Innocent III.
-
1216
The acceptance of auricular confession of sins to a priest.
-
1220
Holy water accepted
-
1226
The elevation and adoration of the wafer began.
-
1274
Purgatory was declared doctrine at the Second Council of
Lyons.
-
1303
The Catholic Church as the only true Church for Salvation.
-
1316
The Ave Maria was introduced.
-
1414
Only Catholic priests can say the Mass and partake of the
wine.
-
1438
Purgatory and the seven sacraments officially decreed.
-
1545
Tradition declared to be equal with Scripture by Council of
Trent.
-
1546
The Apocryphal books added to the Bible by the Council of
Trent.
-
1547
Rejection of justification by faith alone.
-
1562
The Mass declared a propitiatory offering.
-
1854
The immaculate conception announced by Pius IX.
-
1864
The doctrine of the temporal power of the pope was proclaimed.
-
1870
Papal infallibility was proclaimed at Vatican I.
-
1950
The bodily assumption and personal corporeal presence of the
Virgin in heaven proclaimed by Pope Pius III.
Even with
the above stated, there was much dissension by Catholic scholars
concerning certain doctrine. For instance, at the Council of
Trent, not everyone thought the Apocrypha was Scripture.
Nacchianti and Bonuccio rejected the idea that tradition held
equal footing with the Scriptures (Gerrit C. Berkouwer, The
Second Vatican Council and the New Catholicism Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1965, p. 93). And not all believed the pope should
be considered infallible, nor did some of them accept the idea of
Mary's immaculate conception (See encyclopedia articles on Vatican
II and August Bernhard Hasler, How the Pope Became infallible:
Pius IX and the Politics of Persuasion, Garden City, NY:
Doubleday, 1981, pp. 189ff.)
There are
many more Scriptural abuses that could be added to the list above:
monks, nuns, monastaries, convents, holy week, Ash Wednesday, holy
oil, Palm Sunday, All Saints Day, relics, novenas, St. Christopher
medals, charms, incense, forty days of lent, etc. etc. The
above is nothing more than human inventions that have developed
throughout the centuries. Not
one of these traditions can be found in Scripture! |
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Click below to read...
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CATECHISM
OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
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Gospel Tracts for Roman Catholic's
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Personal Word to
the Reader
Dear friend, you may
still have doubts and questions about the Catholic Religion. I encourage
you to keep praying and searching the Scriptures. Good Messengers
Ministries is willing to help
you the best way we can. So please don’t hesitate to write and discuss
any questions with us. Contact
Us Here
If the above page
has helped you to see that the Roman Catholic Religion is built on traditions
of men rather than the true living Word of God (the Bible) then we did our job, but
what is MOST important to us is your salvation. The Good News of what Jesus has
done for sinners like you and me is what we need to be concerned about. If
today you died and went before the Judgment of God where would you go?
What If? What if today was your day? I would strongly recommend going to our
Gospel web site www.GotOurTract.com
and reading about what God did for you and for me 2,000 years ago.
Perhaps, you now
understand the Gospel and the Lord has granted you repentance and faith in
Christ Jesus. Now you don’t depend on anything you do, your own
goodness, any saint or religion. Now you rely by faith on the Lord Jesus
Christ; He is your one and only Savior. I rejoice with you and praise God
for His wonderful grace. This is the beginning of an exciting journey --
the end is even better, Heaven! You now desire is to follow the Lord and
to please Him in all things. The Christian life is not a bed of roses. He
gives joy unspeakable, but His wise providence will also lead you through
much sorrow and pain. That is the way we grow and mature.
I encourage you to
read the Bible every day with an attitude of reverence. God is speaking to
you -- listen well! Go daily to a private place, and open your heart to
God, our heavenly Father. Thank and praise Him; confess your sins and pray
for yourself and others.
As a member of the
body of Christ, the church, it is your privilege to join a local Christian
assembly. We need one another. The Lord wants you to be baptized in the
name the Triune God, and thereafter to partake of the Lord’s Supper in
remembrance of His sacrifice for us. Moreover, the teaching and preaching
of the Word is invaluable for every Christian to grow in the grace and
knowledge of Christ.
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