The Roman Catholic Church is indeed a major religious force in the world. It
has been in the past; it is today and will be in the future. There is no church
wide census, and there are various criteria for determining membership. However,
Roman Catholics estimate that they number about half the total number of
Christians in the world, which makes the Church one of the largest religions in
the world. In 1996, there were 61,208,000 Roman Catholics in the United States.
It is estimated that Catholics represent about half the population in Canada.
The church has certainly been a major force in world affairs. Nations send
ambassadors to the Vatican just as they do to the great geographical powers. Its
universities and monasteries have been centers of learning throughout the ages.
Its missionaries have been a major influence in spreading Western culture. Its
impact on the arts has been unparalleled. It is truly a world religious force.
This topical study is designed as a benefit for the Roman Catholic reader who
desires scriptural insight into many of the major doctrines validated by the
Church. It will not address all the teachings of this religious powerhouse, but
it will highlight key dogma along with pertinent Scriptures that should be
considered along with them.
It should be understood that from its beginning the Roman Catholic Church
recognized the Bible as the sole authority for faith and doctrine. The Bible was
the foundation stone for everyone, layman and clergy. It was not until 1545, at
the Council of Trent, that the Roman Catholic Church declared for the first
time—officially—that tradition was to be equal in authority with canonized
Scripture, the Bible. There is, of course, no problem with tradition when it is
concordant (in agreement) with Scripture.
But even before this important change Pope Boniface the Eighth, in his famous
Bull (“Unum Sanctum”) of 1302, proclaimed, “For every human creature, it is
altogether necessary to salvation that he be subject to the Roman Pontiff.”
This became dogma when in 1870, at the first Vatican Council, Pope Pius the
Ninth declared the doctrine of papal infallibility; which is that the Pope
possesses full and complete power and authority over the whole Church, that he
can rule independently on any church matter, without the concurrence of the
other bishops or the rest of the Church, and that there is no higher authority
on earth than the Pope. So by 1870 the Roman Catholic Church recognized the
Bible, the Pope and church tradition as equal in authority for faith and
doctrine.
And finally, in 1891, Pope Leo the Twelfth elevated Mary, the earthly mother
of Jesus Christ, to the position of Co-Redeemer and Co-Mediator with Christ, by
saying, “From the great treasure of all graces the Lord has brought, nothing
according to the will of God comes to us except through Mary.” He also
stated, “No one can approach Christ except through the Mother.” Today
Roman Catholics recognize, either consciously or unconsciously, four authorities
for faith and doctrine: the Bible, tradition, the Pope and Mary.
Whereas many, if not most, Roman Catholics understand the basis for their
faith and doctrine stemming from tradition, the Pope or Mary; they are less
clear on the Biblical foundation for their faith. This study is designed to
assist them toward this end. It will endeavor to list and often quote many, if
not all, pertinent Scripture applicable to several of their primary doctrines.
The list of some of the most important doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church
and their pertinent scriptural passages follows:
The Trinity
The Roman Catholic Church affirms the doctrine of the Trinity, i.e., that
although God is One, He manifests Himself in three personalities—Father, Son and
Holy Spirit.
God subsists as a plurality of Persons. This triune mode of existence is
clearly seen throughout God’s canonized Word, from the plurality of the name of
God (Heb. Elohim) in the Old Testament to the application of the
attributes, works and worship of God throughout the Bible. Those who accept the
Father as God, yet refuse to do the same for Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit,
either refuse portions or the entire Bible as God’s Word. Within its pages Jesus
is called God (John 1:1, 14; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; 1 John 5:20), and
the Holy Spirit is called God (Acts 5:3-9; 2 Corinthians 3:17). Consider
also Matthew 28:19; John 14:26; 15:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; and 1
Peter 1:2.
The Deity of Jesus Christ
The Roman Catholic Church affirms that Jesus Christ was God manifest in the
flesh.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God
. (John 1:1)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth
.
(John 1:14)
Of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came,
who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen
. (Romans 9:5)
Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and
Savior Jesus Christ.
(Titus 2:13)
The Virgin Birth
The Roman Catholic Church affirms the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall
conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel
. (Isaiah
7:14)
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: after His mother Mary was
betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the
Holy Spirit
. (Matthew 1:18)
Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded
him and took to him his wife, and did not know [have sex with] her till
she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS
.
(Matthew 1:24, 25)
The Sinlessness of Christ
The Roman Catholic Church affirms that Jesus Christ was sinless.
For He [the Father] made Him [the Son] who knew no sin to be
sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
(2
Corinthians 5:21)
For we do not have a High Priest [Jesus Christ] who cannot sympathize
with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
(Hebrews 4:15) See also Hebrews 7:26.
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and
without spot
.
(1 Peter 1:19)
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us
an example, that you should follow His steps: who committed no sin, nor was
deceit found in His mouth.
(1 Peter 2:21, 22)
The Atonement on the Cross
The Roman Catholic Church affirms that Jesus Christ paid for the sins of
mankind and reconciled man to God in His death-sacrifice on the cross of
Calvary.
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God
through the death of His Son . . .
(Romans 5:9, 10)
In Him [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
(Ephesians
1:7)
And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile
all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things on earth, or
things in heaven
. (Colossians 1:20)
And from Jesus Christ, the Faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the dead, and
the Ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from
our sins in His own blood.
(Revelation 1:5)
The Church was Built on Peter, the First Pope
The Roman Catholic Church affirms that the Apostle Peter was the first Pope,
known as the Bishop of Rome, the Vicar of Christ and the Head of the Church, and
that from him there have been an unbroken succession of popes to this day.
Furthermore, it affirms that the Pope is the final authority for issues of faith
and doctrine upon earth.
Its authority for elevating the Roman Pope to Supreme Pontiff and of equal
authority as the Word of God for faith and doctrine rests on one passage of
Scripture. In fact, the authority of the entire Roman Catholic Church stands or
falls on that one passage. The passage is Matthew 16:13-20, as follows:
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples,
saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" So they said, "Some say
John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He
said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said,
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him,
"Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to
you, but My Father who is in heaven. "And I also say to you that you are Peter,
and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades shall not
prevail against it. "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and
whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on
earth will be loosed in heaven." Then He commanded His disciples that they
should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.
Unfortunately Jesus Christ was not establishing Peter as the “foundation
rock” of His Church in this passage of Scripture. An examination of the Greek
words used for “Peter” and “rock” in this passage reveals Christ’s true meaning.
When Christ said, “I also say to you that you are Peter,”
He used the Greek word Petros for Peter, which means “a stone or
small rock.” When Christ said, “on this rock I will build my Church,” He used
the word Petra for rock, which means “a massive stone, a
foundation stone, a bedrock.”
He, in fact, was saying to Peter that he was a small stone, but it is upon
this massive foundation rock that I will build my Church. So if Peter is not the
rock upon which Christ builds His Church, then what is it?
The answer is in the affirmation by Peter two verses before when he declared,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus was saying, “Peter you are correct; it is Christ (the Messiah) who is the
Son of God that the Church will be built upon.”
Furthermore, the New Testament Church to which Christ was referring was later
defined in Scripture as the (spiritual) Body of Christ, which is composed of all
believers worldwide, regardless of religious affiliation or denomination.
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one
another
.
(Romans 12:5)
For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that
one bread
.
(1 Corinthians 10:17)
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually
. (1
Corinthians 12:27)
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things
to the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
(Ephesians 1:22, 23)
. . . Christ is head of the Church; and He is the Savior of the body.
(Ephesians 5:23)
For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones
. (Ephesians
5:30)
Conclusion: The Roman Catholic Church has no scriptural foundation for its
doctrine that states that Christ built His Church on Peter or that there is
authority for any one person, other than Christ Himself, to be Head of the
Church. In fact, an examination of the Old Testament reveals that the Jews would
never have accepted Peter as the Rock. The term “rock” is used in the Old
Testament over 35 times, and it refers either to God or to the coming Messiah
(e.g., Psalm 18:1, 2). At best, this doctrine stems from Roman Catholic
tradition.
Priests and the Power to Bind or Loose
The Roman Catholic Church affirms that the Pope, and through him, its bishops
and priests have been given the authority to bind or loose here on earth. By
this it means the priests have the authority to hear from its parishioners the
confession of sins and to administer absolution (forgiveness) for such sins.
Its authority for this rests in the final portion of the above quoted passage
of Matthew 16, specifically in Matthew 16:19, which follows:
"And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind
on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed
in heaven."
What did Jesus mean by saying this? He addresses the same subject in
Matthew 18:18, as follows:
“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Here Christ is speaking to all His disciples, not just Peter. In effect He is
speaking to all believers from then until now. Again the question, what did He
mean? After His resurrection, He appeared to the disciples and reaffirmed His
instruction:
And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive
the Holy Spirit. "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you
retain the sins of any, they are retained."
(John 20:22, 23)
He gave this authority to all the disciples. So, how were they to
carry out these instructions? The Apostle Peter clarified the issue in Acts
10:42-43, as follows:
"And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He
who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. "To Him all the
prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive
remission of sins."
Jesus gave to His disciples, as well as every believer, the authority to
“proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” which is the power of God unto
salvation—the forgiveness of sins. When a person responds to the Gospel message
by trusting in Christ as his personal Savior, any believer has the authority to
say to him, “Your sins are forgiven.” If that person will not accept Jesus by
faith but turns his back on Him, any believer has the authority to also say,
“Your sins have not been forgiven, and you will remain lost in your sins unless
you repent (turn around by receiving Christ).”
This authority was further clarified by the Apostle Paul, considered the
greatest Apostle of Jesus Christ and human author of 14 books of the New
Testament (far surpassing the two written by the Apostle Peter), in Romans
1:16, as follows:
For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to
salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek
.
The Apostles all knew that the only authority they had in assuring anyone
that their sins were either forgiven or not forgiven rested in that person’s
acceptance or rejection of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And what is the Gospel
(good news)?
In Him [Jesus Christ] you also trusted, after you heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were
sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance
until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
(Ephesians 1:13, 14)
The Gospel is simply this. Jesus Christ took your sins upon Himself while
hanging on the cross of Calvary and He paid the penalty-price for your sins (in
your place) so that you would not have to pay the price (eternity in hell). He
died and was buried but arose in 3 days victorious over sin and the grave and
ascended to God the Father. He did this for you. All you need to do is turn
(repent) from all self-effort (good works) and accept by faith (trust in) Jesus
Christ and what He did for you on the cross for your personal salvation, you
will instantly (upon this decision) be saved—granted eternal life.
It is important to note that according to Scripture no person, other than
Jesus Christ, was ever or will ever be designated as the way to eternal life.
This agency is the exclusive property of Jesus Christ.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not
send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him
might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not
believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God.
(John 3:16-18)
Jesus said to him, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to
the Father except through Me.
(John 14:6)
Conclusion: The Roman Catholic Church has no scriptural foundation for
affirming that its clergy has the power to forgive sin. Furthermore, there are
no passages of Scripture that document anyone confessing one’s sin to any man,
Apostle, priest, pastor, minister, or otherwise for the express purpose of
having one’s sins forgiven. At best, this doctrine stems from Roman Catholic
tradition.
Veneration and Worship of Mary
The Roman Catholic Church affirms the elevation of Mary as the “Mother of
God” and “Queen of Heaven,” to be worshipped and prayed to and equal in
authority for all faith and doctrine. It affirms that Mary was born without
original sin, that she remained a virgin and that she was raised both body and
soul into heaven (The Assumption of Mary). But even more, it has also elevated
her as Co-Redeemer and Co-Mediator with Christ.
If in fact Mary was born without sin, she was not aware of it, for Mary
herself recognized God as her Savior.
And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God
my Savior.
(Luke 1:46, 47)
As to her having any elevated position of honor, Jesus Himself addressed this
issue.
While He [Jesus] was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His
mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to
Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak
with You.” But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother
and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and
said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My
Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
(Matthew
12:46-50)
As to her remaining a virgin, the Bible is clear that this was not the case.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a
public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about
these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that
which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” . . . Then Joseph, being
aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him
his wife, and did not know [have sexual intercourse with] her till she
had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.
(Matthew
1:19, 20, 24, 25)
Mary, in fact, gave birth to several other children (4 brothers and at least
2 sisters) after Jesus.
And when He [Jesus] had come to His own country; He taught them in
their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get
this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His
mother called Mary, and His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His
sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these
things?”
(Matthew 13:54-56)
See also Matthew 12:46, above.
As to the holiness of Mary and her being raised body and soul into heaven,
there is absolutely no scriptural grounds for such a doctrine. In fact, when
Christ was on the cross, He assigned over to one of His disciples (thought to be
John) His mother to be taken and cared for in his home (John 19:25-27).
John was one of the youngest of the disciples. He outlived all the other
disciples, writing several of the books within the Bible—even the Book of
Revelation nearly 70 years after the crucifixion. If anyone would have known
about the “assumption of Mary,” it would have been John. Yet he mentions none of
it in his extensive writings.
As to Mary being a Co-Redeemer and Co-Mediator with Christ (a declaration in
1891 by Pope Leo the Twelfth and later followed by a proclamation issued by Pope
Benedict the Fifteenth), the words of Jesus speak otherwise.
As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed
is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” He replied, “Blessed rather
are those who hear the Word of God and obey it.”
(Luke 11:27, 28)
The Bible is crystal clear on this subject. There is only one Redeemer and
Mediator between God and man—Jesus Christ.
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ
Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all . . .
(1 Timothy 2:5)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
Even the Roman Catholic’s “first pope,” the Apostle Peter, declared,
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other
name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Conclusion: The Roman Catholic Church has no scriptural grounds for affirming
the veneration and worship of Mary. At best, this doctrine stems from Roman
Catholic tradition.
Prayers to Mary and to Dead Saints
The Roman Catholic Church sanctions the praying to Mary and to dead saints.
Justification for praying to Mary or to dead saints is not found in
Scripture. The Bible clearly teaches that prayer is to be directed to God the
Father and in the name (for the honor, glory and benefit) of Jesus Christ. (Matthew
6:9; John 14:13, 14; Ephesians 1:17; 3:14-16; Colossians 1:3, 12; 1
Thessalonians 1:2, 3)
Conclusion: The Roman Catholic Church has no scriptural grounds for
sanctioning the praying to Mary or to dead saints. At best, this doctrine stems
from Roman Catholic tradition.
The Mass and Sacraments as Necessary for Salvation
The Roman Catholic Church affirms that the repeated participation in the mass
and the sacraments is necessary for salvation. It teaches that the administered
wine and wafer actually become the blood and body of Christ—that Christ is
present physically in the mass—and that each of these “non-bloody sacrifices” is
the re-offering of the sacrifice of Christ over and over again.
There is no scriptural foundation for such a claim. In fact this claim—that
salvation is achieved through taking the sacrament of the Mass—denies the
all-sufficiency of Christ and His one-time sacrifice on the cross of Calvary.
By so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Also there
were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He,
because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is
also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He
always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting
for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become
higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to
offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this
He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
(Hebrews 7:22-27)
By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of
Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands ministering daily and
offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But
this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the
right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His
footstool For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being
sanctified. . . Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an
offering for sin.
(Hebrews 10:10-14, 18)
When Christ cried out, “It is finished!” on the cross of Calvary, the
one-time payment for the debt of sin had been made in full. It cannot be
experienced over and over again. To think otherwise is to dissolve the
sufficiency of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and to gravely dishonor Him.
Furthermore, to believe that it is a person’s participation in some ceremony in
order to achieve salvation is to subjugate salvation to works, which is
contradictory to God’s Word and is completely contrary to the meaning and
efficacious (complete and effectual) work of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
(Ephesians
2:8, 9)
Conclusion: The Roman Catholic Church has no scriptural grounds for
participating in the mass and the sacraments in order to achieve salvation. At
best, this doctrine stems from Roman Catholic tradition.
Purgatory
The Roman Catholic Church affirms the existence of Purgatory, a place of
temporary punishment for those who have committed venial sins, which can be
removed by masses said for them, prayers said for them and penance done in
various forms of work.
There is no foundation in the Bible for the concept of Purgatory. It was not
until the Second Council of Lyon, in 1274 A.D., that the Church even gave an
opinion on the subject. Here is what was said:
If those who are truly repentant die in charity before they have
done sufficient penance for their sins of omission and commission,
their souls are cleansed after death in purgatorial cleansing or
punishment. The suffrages of the faithful on earth can be of great
help in relieving these punishments, as for instance, the sacrifice of
the Mass, prayers, almsgiving, and other religious deeds which in the
manner of the Church the faithful are accustomed to offer for others
of the faithful.
Purgatory is a place for those not good enough to go to heaven yet not bad
enough to go to hell. No scriptural proof was ever given. There is none!
However, the teaching of purgatory became the best business investment the Roman
Catholic Church ever made. It produced the system of indulgences—actions one
could perform in order to work off the length of someone else’s stay in
purgatory—and tremendous wealth for the Church through the selling of Masses for
those in purgatory.
Conclusion: The Roman Catholic Church has no scriptural grounds for the
doctrine of Purgatory. At best, this doctrine stems from Roman Catholic
tradition.
Salvation Comes through the Catholic Church; Holy Water; Kneeling and Praying
before Images; and Canonization of Dead Saints
All of the above are without any scriptural foundation. At best, all stem
from Roman Catholic tradition.
It was this tradition that transgressed God’s Word that led Martin
Luther, a Roman Catholic scholar, to post his edict of protest on the front door
of the Catholic Church of Wittenberg, Germany in 1517 A.D. This gave birth to
the Reformation and an eventual proliferation of Protestant denominations that
likewise rejected the unbiblical tradition of the Roman Catholic Church.
The important point for the reader to understand is that the truth lies not
in a religious denomination, be it Catholic or Protestant. Truth cannot be found
in tradition, no matter the church or religious affiliation. Truth only comes by
the Word of God.
Jesus had contempt for the religious leaders of His day. Why? Because they
added tradition to God’s Word. Listen to what he said when the Pharisees came to
Him complaining that some of His disciples were eating bread with unwashed
hands—the Pharisees and the Jews did not eat unless their hands were washed in
the tradition of the elders.
The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from
Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of His disciples eating
food with hands that were “unclean,” that is, unwashed. (The Pharisees
and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial
washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from
the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe
many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and
kettles.) So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why
don't Your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders
instead of eating their food with ‘unclean’ hands?” He replied,
“Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is
written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are
far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are but rules
taught by men.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding
on to the traditions of men.” And He said to them: “You have a fine
way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own
traditions! . . . Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition
that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”
(Mark 7:1-9, 13)
These same Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day who adhered to
tradition rather than the Word of God, received this stinging rebuke from Jesus
Christ.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You
are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on
the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the
same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the
inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” (Matthew
23:27, 28)
The answer my Catholic or Protestant friend cannot be found in the traditions
of either the Catholic or Protestant religions. Religion in fact has always been
a stumbling block to the true seeker of God. Religion is man’s effort to obtain
the approbation or approval of God—it is always based in and on a system of
works.
God’s way is based not on religion but on a relationship or union with a
Person—Jesus Christ. He is the only Way. He is the only Truth. He is the only
Life. No person may come to God the Father and receive eternal life except
through faith in Him and His sacrifice on Calvary.
If you are presently a member of some religious denomination and following
teachings based on tradition rather than on God’s Word, please stop and think.
Open the Bible and read for yourself. The Word of God will be clear. It will
instruct you in the path to righteousness, which is by faith alone in Christ
alone. No religious denomination—be it Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian,
Methodist, Church of God, Church of Christ, Pentecostal, Assembly of God,
Lutheran, Episcopalian, or any other—has full and complete answers to God and
eternal matters. These may only be found in the Word of God. But then, you must
read it. The choice is yours.
