Is the Roman Catholic Church the one true church founded by Christ, or an apostate church that has departed from the faith of the apostles? This question had a very clear-cut answer 400 years ago when the Reformers departed from the heretical teaching of Popes. Today, however, there are many evangelicals who are not so sure.
Jude warned the church to
contend for the faith against apostates who attempt to steal away disciples. In
verse 4 of his epistle, he wrote, "For certain men whose condemnation was
written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless
men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny
Jesus Christ our only sovereign and Lord." Jude identifies the apostates
by certain characteristics. They are ungodly because they supplant God's
sovereign authority with an authority of their own. Apostates turn the grace of
God into a commodity that can be bought, bartered or merited. They pervert the
gospel of grace into a gospel of works. They deny the supremacy and sovereignty
of Christ and give His divine attributes and titles to others. They deny the
sufficiency of the word and work of Christ. It is these impostors who lead
people away from "the faith which was once for all delivered to the
saints." Do any of these characteristics convict the Catholic Church of
being apostate? Let us compare them with teachings from the new Catechism of
the Catholic Church (paragraph numbers are in parenthesis).
Apostates teach a
different gospel
The Catholic Church has
nullified the Gospel of grace by adding additional requirements for salvation.
It teaches baptism (1257), church membership (845), the sacraments (1129), obeying
the commandments (2068), good works (1821) and the sacrifice of the mass (1405)
are all necessary for salvation. This is another gospel, and those who teach it
are condemned as severely as Paul condemned the Judaizers for teaching a false
gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). Catholic priests are needed to dispense salvation
through seven sacraments. From baptism through purgatory, Catholics are taught
they can gain a right standing before God by what they do instead of believing
what God has done for them through Christ. Catholics are taught they "can
merit the graces needed for the attainment of eternal life" (2027). Each
Catholic must attain their own salvation (1477).
Apostates deny salvation
on the merits of Christ alone
The Catholic Church
teaches that through indulgences "Catholics can attain their own salvation
and at the same time cooperate in saving their brothers" (1477). The pope
claims to have the power to transfer the merits of one sinner to another to
reduce their punishment for sin. "An indulgence is a remission of the
temporal punishment due to sins which the sinner gains through the Church,
which... dispenses from the Vatican treasury...the prayers and good works of
Mary and all the saints" (1471-79). Rome also "commends almsgiving and
works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead" (1032). From Scripture
we know that "no man can redeem the life of another or give to God a
ransom for him, the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever
enough" (Psalm 49:7-8).
Apostates condemn the
Gospel of grace
For over 400 years Rome
has not only preached a different gospel but also has condemned anyone who
believes the glorious Gospel of grace. Many Christians are unaware the Councils
of Trent and Vatican II issued over 100 anathema's (condemnations) on anyone
who believes salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
All these condemnations are still in effect today as evidenced by these two
examples:
"If anyone says the
sinner is justified by faith alone, meaning that nothing else is required to
cooperate in order to obtain the grace of justification, let him be
anathema."1
The Catholic Church,
"condemns with anathema those who say that indulgences are useless or that
the Church does not have the power to grant them."2
Rome also condemns anyone
who believes they are assured of eternal life. This anathema denies the words
of Christ, who said, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never
perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand" (John 10:28). For those who
reject the words of Christ, Jesus said, "there is a judge for the one who
rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will
condemn him at the last day" (John 12:48). Catholics must recognize there
are more serious consequences for being condemned by the infallible Word of God
than by the fallible teachings of their church.
Apostates deny the
sufficiency of Christ's atonement
Catholic teaching denies
that Christ's sacrifice was sufficient to expiate all the guilt and punishment
of sin. Instead they teach a cleansing fire is needed for "those who are
expiating their sins in purgatory" (1475). The doctrine of Purgatory is an
utter denial of the sufficiency of Christ's perfect sacrifice for sin, yet
Catholics are asked to accept it as a grace (1473). The pope has the power to
bring them out of purgatory, but refuses to do so, unless indulgences are
offered in their name.3 "All who die still imperfectly purified
undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy
of heaven" (1030).
Rome teaches that
Catholics can carry their own cross to expiate their sins and the sins of
others (1474-77). What a glaring contradiction this is. The cross of the
sinless and perfect savior is said to be insufficient to expiate sins, yet the
cross of lowly sinners is said to be sufficient to do what Christ could not do.
No priest can tell Catholics how many indulgences are needed or how long one
has to suffer for each sin. This only perpetuates a religious system that holds
Catholics in bondage and at the mercy of their church indefinitely. However,
the writer of Hebrews declared, "For by one offering He [Jesus] has
perfected for all time those who are sanctified" (10:14), and "after
[Christ] had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of
the majesty in heaven" (1:3).
Apostates deny Christ's
sacrifice is finished
The Catholic Church
teaches the sacrifice of Jesus must continue daily on its altars for the
reparation of the sins of the living and the dead (1414). This is done so that
sins may be expiated and the wrath of God may be appeased. Although Scriptures
teach the Lord's supper is a memorial, Rome declares it is a real sacrifice and
asserts Jesus is immolated (killed) as a sacrificial victim each time the Mass
is offered. "The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist
are one single sacrifice" (1367). Rome claims the priest has the power to
call Jesus down from heaven, and transubstantiate a wafer into his physical
body, blood, soul and divinity. After almighty God has been reduced to a
lifeless, inanimate piece of bread the priest lifts it up to be worshipped. The
priest then re-presents Jesus Christ as a sacrifice to the Father. This
practice is strongly rebuked by Scripture. Paul wrote "we know that since
Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again...the death he died, he
died to sin once for all" (Romans 6:9-10). In anticipation that apostates
would declare Christ is present when He is not, Jesus warned us, if anyone says
to you, "'Look here is the Christ,' or 'There He is!' do not believe
it" (Matthew 24:23). When Jesus "offered for all time one sacrifice
for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God...there is no longer any
sacrifice for sin" (Hebrews 10: 12,18). To deny the words of our blood
stained Savior, who said "It is finished" is to reject the essential
doctrine of the Gospel (John 19:30). For if the work of redemption is not
finished then all humanity remains condemned to hell and dead in their sins.
Apostates deny the
sufficiency and authority of God's Word
Rome declares that
Scripture along with "tradition must be accepted and honored with equal
sentiments of devotion and reverence." Pagan traditions and practices
began tainting the doctrinal purity of the early church when it ignored the rebuke
of Jesus concerning tradition. Jesus firmly denounced religious leaders for
allowing their traditions to nullify the Word of God (Mark 7:6-13). Apostates
show a lack of awe and reverence of God's sovereign power by supplanting His
authority with an authority of their own. They do this by removing, adding, and
altering the inspired Word of God.
Catholic Bishops have
removed the 2nd commandment of God in their new Catechism (page 496). It is no
wonder Rome removed the commandment, which forbids the making and worshipping
of statues. There are huge profits that have been made from the sale of
statues. In the 16th century Rome added the Apocrypha to its canon of inspired
books in an attempt to justify its doctrine of Purgatory. Rome should take heed
of the warnings God gives to those who add to His word. "Do not add to his
words or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar" (Prov. 30:6).
Apostates demand
submission to mediators other than Christ
Catholics must submit to
the pope who "by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, has full supreme
and universal power over the whole church, a power he can exercise
unhindered" (882). They must also submit to The Magisterium, which is said
to be the infallible teaching authority of the Church. Catholics are taught
they cannot receive forgiveness for mortal sins unless they confess to yet
another mediator, a priest. Catholics also seek Mary as a mediator who has been
elevated to Mediatrix, Co-redeemer, and Advocate by Rome. Yet Scripture reveals
Jesus is the only mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). Jesus alone is
"holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, [and] exalted above the
heavens" (Hebrews 7:26).
Is the Roman Catholic
Church guilty of apostasy? The evidence is overwhelming. The truth must be told
in love with courage and conviction. The eternal destiny of millions of
precious souls hangs in the balance. The Catholic Church has fallen away from
the faith of the apostles and gone the way of apostates.
How are Christians to
respond? Toward individual Catholics we must obey the Scriptures, and call them
out of their apostate churches (Revelation 18:4). We must proclaim the true
Gospel and make disciples of them! Toward the religious system that holds
Catholics in bondage, we must expose their unfruitful deeds of darkness
(Ephesians 5:11). We must correct and rebuke their false teaching (2 Tim 4:2)
and contend for the faith (Jude 3). And finally we must avoid those who oppose
sound doctrine (Romans 16:17). This means refusing to join hands with apostates
"to advance the mission of Christ." It means rebuking the ecumenical
thrust for unity at the expense of truth. We must obey the Scriptures for the
glory and purpose of Christ. May He be exalted and praised in all that we do!
Footnotes:
1 Canon 9, Sixth Session,
Council of Trent
2 Sacred Liturgy, Chapter
IV, paragraph 8, Vatican Council II
3 Sacred Liturgy, Chapter
IV, paragraph 7, Vatican Council II
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