Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15.5.

2:42 AM

The Roman Catholic Church asserts that it represents true Christianity here on earth. This religion of more that one billion people has said that there is no salvation outside of the Roman Catholic Church. Past and present popes have defended this doctrine of ecclesiastical salvation as evidenced by this quotes:

"[The most Holy Roman Church] firmly believes, professes, and proclaims that those not living within the Catholic Church, not only pagan, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics cannot become participants in eternal life, but will depart into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angel..." (Pope Eugene IV and the Council of Florence A.D. 1438-1445)

"There is no salvation outside the Church. From her alone there flows surely and fully the life-giving force destined in Christ and in His Spirit, to renew the whole of humanity, and therefore directing every human being to become a part of the Mystical Body of Christ." (Pope John Paul II, Radio Message for Franciscan Vigil in St. Peter's and Assisi, October 3, 1981, L'Osservatore Romano, October 12, 1981)

While it is true that certain biblical truths are still taught in Catholicism, yet what it says here is not what is found in the bible. Thus it was for this cause that the Protestant Reformation arose in the 16th Century.

Rome has often pictured this important historical event as a movement that grew out of a new and heretical idea which originated from Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ullrich Zwingli and the rest of the reformers. She takes pride in calling herself as the only one holy, catholic, and apostolic church of Christianity. According to her teaching all the other churches, Protestant or otherwise, do not carry the fullness of true faith and as such they cannot be saved. She teaches that for a person to be saved, he must be baptised into the Catholic Church, do the sacraments, and perform the necessary good works. Aside from these, the Reformers felt that many other practices of Catholicism seriously contradict Scriptural teaching, although now they have answers for the practices, supported by Popes and other Catholic priests. Thus, what many people ask is, Is the Roman Catholic Church the true church of Jesus Christ as she claims herself to be?

The Protestant Reformation stood for the biblical truth that there can be no salvation except by grace through faith in Christ alone as revealed through the Holy Scriptures and that the whole work of man's salvation is for the glory of God alone. S.H Tow writes:

"The four cardinal pillars of the Reformation sum up the most holy faith: Scripture alone, by faith alone, by grace alone, and by Christ alone. It categorically excludes sacramental salvation, the mediatorial merit of priests and "saints", it excludes any salvifical role of the church, or the merit of any acts or services for God; it allows no place whatsoever for any sort of "faith" or religion in gaining one's salvation. Finally, it allows no part for images and idols in worship and it excludes the doctrine of purgatory."

Some Catholic theologians maintain that the Reformation was just a religions insurrection of disgruntled priest and monks. Together with their doctrines, these reformers were condemned by Rome's dreaded anathemas. These anathemas were never recanted ever since.

In the last decade, there has been a concerted effort to merge Roman Catholicism with traditional Protestantism. As a result, worship or prayer services conducted jointly by Protestant ministers and Catholic clergy have become all too common recently in many parts of the world. Christian bookstores have been flooded with literature that appeals to both Protestants and Catholics alike as if there are no more doctrinal and practical differences existing between theim. Has the Roman Catholic Church changed in its teachings on vital doctrines of the Christian faith? Do both sides now preach the same gospel message? If not, then this seems to suggest that the 16th century Reformation was, after all, a big mistake and that all Protestants should begin to march "Romeward bound."

Catholics claim that the true faith and its fullness carried through the centuries from the apostolic age cannot be found outside of their church. They further claim that because they have the majority of about one billion people in membership worldwide, so many could not all have been wrong at the same time. This fact, they say, only affirms that Catholicism represents true Christianity here on earth. Is the Roman Catholic Church all that it claims to be? Can these claims be substantiated from the Bible? We'll try to uncover the truth behind this matter.

The Reformed Protestant faith is founded upon biblical truth even as Rome has branded the movement as heretical. It was not a rebelling protest to an established papal heirarchy but a return to New Testament Christianity and the simplicity of the apostolic church. Neither was it a new ideology that sprung up during its time as some Catholics may suppose, but simply a restoration of the faith that was once delievered unto the New Testament saints.

This is a short extract from "Biblical Perspective of the Roman Church" I typed it out and took away some harsh words... However if there still are any, I apologise for it.

Anyway, we can see that although this extract keeps saying protestant, protestant, protestant, However, we can see that not all protestant churches are alike nowadays. Some new denominations have popped out, claiming new doctrine, saying we should worship God with loud music and everything. Still, my church, New-Life Bible-Presbyterian Church and many other Bible-Presbyterian Churches nowadays still hold on strong to biblical teaching, and have not swayed in whatsoever ways. There are no contraditions in the bible, however the catholics do think so. In my own opinion, it is because of the unbelieve of the bible, that is why there has been so much different interpretations of verses and new practices being formed.

Since this religious system also believes that the Bible is the word of God, its doctrines must be challenged on the basis of Scripture to see if it does measure up to what they profess to believe. The Bible commands us to "prove all things" (1Thess. 5:21); to "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you of the hope that is in you" (1Pet. 3:15); and to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delievered unto the saints" (Jude 3). Its is in this spirit that Catholic doctrines will be subjected to the biblical test. Pope Pius XII himself stated as he quotes St. Jerone in his Divino Afflante Spiritu, "To ignore the Scripture is to ignore Christ."

The above paragraph was written by a former catholic himself. I myself feel that if someone was to reject the bible as the true word of God, but as a book written by sinners and should not be trusted, the person is shutting his heart from God, and there is no more need to continue reading anymore of these posts because he will never believe anything we say, for he has closed his eyes to ignore the scripture, indirectly ignoring Christ's call.

This is by no means a personal attack on anyone. Do consider rather than insult for the intents of this post is not to judge the faith of individual Roman Catholics, but to show how some of their beliefs violates Scripture in every turn.

God Bless.

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

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