THE ANSWER IS A TERSE NO. THEY’RE ALL SMOKE AND MIRRORS
By NiteOwlDave
niteowldave@gmail.com
The Roman Catholic Church (RCC) errs mightily in its staunch position that God’s truth – His way – doses not come solely from the Bible. It insists it comes from the Bible and the church’s traditions.
(We must keep in mind that the church of Rome is just a denomination, and nothing more. The Bible defines the church as the worldwide collective of those who believe in the finished work of Christ, and have called out to Him for His salvation.)
If there are Bible-plus-tradition truth sources, they had better be alignment, with one complimenting the other. There are not. They contrast each other at many spots. Unholy smoke!
The Bible speaks of false teachers in Mark 7:7. It says, “Their worship of me is worthless, because they teach human rules as doctrines.” In other words, if a teaching is Biblical as from God, it should be embraced. If it is not, it should be rejected.
We can’t emphasis enough that everything about God must be must be sourced in the Bible alone. So where then does the RCC differ with the teachings of the Word of God? Let’s have a look at several major divides.
Salvation:
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that salvation is by baptismal regeneration and is maintained through the Catholic sacraments unless a willful act of sin is committed – which we all do regularly- that breaks the state of sanctifying grace.
The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace which is received through simple faith, and that good works are the result of a change of the heart after salvation.
This is taught in 2 Corinthians 5:17 which says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Assurance of salvation:
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that salvation cannot be guaranteed or assured.
The Bible states that the letter of 1 John was written for the purpose of assuring believers of the CERTAINTY of their salvation.
1 John 5:13 says, “I 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.”
Good Works:
The Roman Catholic Church states that Christians are saved by meritorious works (beginning with baptism), and that salvation is maintained by good works (receiving the sacraments, confession of sin to a priest, etc.)
The Bible states that Christians are saved by grace through faith, totally apart from works.
Titus 3:5 says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
Baptism:
The Roman Catholic Church teaches baptismal regeneration of infants, a practice never found in Scripture.
The only possible hint of infant baptism in the Bible that the Roman Catholic Church can point to is that the whole household of the Philippian jailer was baptized in Acts 16:33. However, the context nowhere mentions infants.
In the New Testament, baptism is always practiced AFTER saving faith in Christ. Baptism is not the means of salvation; it is faith in the gospel that saves. The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:14-18,
14 “I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius.”
15 “Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.”
16 “And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.”
17 :’For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”
18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
Prayer:
The Roman Catholic Church teaches Catholics to not only pray to God, but also to petition Mary and the saints for their prayers.
Contrary to this, we are taught in Scripture to pray to God only. We should sign off “In Jesus name” as He is our Saviour, our Mediator.
1 Timothy 2:5 says, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Psalm 148:13 says, “Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.”
Priesthood:
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that there is a distinction between the clergy and the “lay people, “ where the New Testament teaches the priesthood of all believers. That makes me a priest in God’s eyes.
1 Peter 2:9 says, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
Sacraments:
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that a believer is infused (penetrated) with grace upon reception of the sacraments. Such teaching is nowhere found in Scripture.
Confession:
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that unless a believer is hindered, the only way to receive the forgiveness of sins is by confessing them to a priest.
Contrary to this, Scripture teaches that confession of sins is to be made to God.
1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He (God/Jesus) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” It does not say we have to confess to a priest.
Mary:
The Roman Catholic Church teaches, among other things, that Mary is the Queen of Heaven, a perpetual virgin, and the co-redemptress with Jesus who ascended into a Heaven.
In Scripture, she is portrayed as an obedient, believing servant of God, who became the earthly mother of Jesus. None of the other attributes mentioned by the Roman Catholic Church have any basis in the Bible.
The Bible declares that Jesus is the only redeemer. Jesus is the only mediator, not Mary.
Timothy 2:5 says, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
Psalm 148:13 says, “Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.”
Sum up:
Every Christian denomination has traditions and practices that are not explicitly based on Scripture. For example, some denominations have choirs, some don’t. Some have communion or baptism services more frequently than others. Some use hymn books, others use overhead screens.
Such things are fine as long as the practices don’t go against what the Bible orders. The Word of God is always true and reliable. The same cannot be said of RCC church tradition.
There is meaty truth in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 which declares, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
