Month: July 2008

Quotes from and about the Pope in light of Scriptures

On By KateIn Catholicism1 Comment

The following are quotes from various popes of the catholic religion. I’ve used Scriptures to refute their words and pray that this will open the eyes of lost catholics everywhere.

Our Christian conviction is that Christ is also the messiah of Israel. Certainly it is in the hands of God how and when the unification of Jews and Christians into the people of God will take place.
Pope Benedict XVI

The unification of Jews and Christians took place when Christ died on the cross and redeemed them all.

~Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

~Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

~Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

~Colossians 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

“We must have great respect for these people who also suffer and who want to find their own way of correct living. On the other hand, to create a legal form of a kind of homosexual marriage, in reality, does not help these people.”
Pope Benedict XVI

Where are the Scriptures telling homosexuals that they are living in sin?

~Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

~Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

~Romans 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

“It is theologically and anthropologically important for woman to be at the center of Christianity. Through Mary, and the other holy women, the feminine element stand at the heart of the Christian religion. And this is not in competition with Christ. To think of Christ and Mary as being in competition means ignoring the essential distinctions between these two figures. . . . That is not a competition, but a more profound kind of intimacy. The Mother and Virgin forms an essential part of the Christian picture of man.”
Pope Benedict XVI

Mary has nothing to do with the Christian picture of man. God does not share His throne. He does not share His worship and adoration. He alone is God.

~Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

~Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

~Deuteronomy 4:24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

~Deuteronomy 5:9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,

~Deuteronomy 6:15 (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.

~Joshua 24:19 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.

“We do at least need a new liturgical consciousness, to be rid of this spirit of arbitrary fabrication. Things have gone so far that Sunday litugy groups are cobbling together the liturgy for themselves. . . . The most important thing today is that we should regain respect for the liturgy and for the fact that it is not to be manipulated.”
Pope Benedict XVI

The Word of God is our final authority. Not the catholic church or its sacred traditions and magisterium.

~Mark 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

~Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

“There is one thing we must not forget: it has always been the Mother who reached people in missionary situations and made Christ accessible to them. That is especially true of Latin America. Here, to some extent, Christianity arrived by way of Spanish swords, with deadly heralds. In Mexcio, at first, absolutely nothing could be done about missionary work – until the occurrence for the phenomenon at Guadalupe, and then the Son was suddenly near by way of his Mother.” Page 300

“Initially, it was possible for people to think, with respect to Lourdes, that this little girl had fantasized something. And then it turned out after all the she herself was really there, the Mother -Mary. It is certainly not by chance that people are nowadays turning again to Mary, in whom Christianity becomes loveable again and close to us, and we really do find the door again through the Mother.” Page 459
Pope Benedict XVI

~1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

~John 10:9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

“The Church does not invent sins but recognizes the will of God and has to declare it. Of course, the great thing . . . is that upon the Church, which has to declare the will of God in its full magnitude, in its unconditional rigor, so that man should know his true measure, is bestowed as a gift, at the same time, the task of forgiving.” Page 67
Pope Benedict XVI

~Mark 2:7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

~Luke 5:21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

“Grant that we may be one flock and one shepherd! Do not allow your net to be torn, help us to be servants of unity!
Pope Benedict XVI

~Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

~2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

“Give me an army praying the Rosary, and I will conquer the world.”
–Blessed Pius IX

~Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

“The Pope and God are the same, so he has all power in Heaven and earth.” Pope Pius V, quoted in Barclay, Chapter XXVII, p. 218, “Cities Petrus Bertanous”.

“The Pope takes the place of Jesus Christ on earth…by divine right the Pope has supreme and full power in faith, in morals over each and every pastor and his flock. He is the true vicar, the head of the entire church, the father and teacher of all Christians. He is the infallible ruler, the founder of dogmas, the author of and the judge of councils; the universal ruler of truth, the arbiter of the world, the supreme judge of heaven and earth, the judge of all, being judged by no one, God himself on earth.” Quoted in the New York Catechism.

These words appeared in the Roman Canon Law: “To believe that our Lord God the Pope has not the power to decree as he is decreed, is to be deemed heretical.-I?i the Gloss “Extravagantes” o.f Pope John XXII Cum inter, Tit. XIV, Cap. IV. Ad Callem Sexti Decretalium, Paris, 1685.

~Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

~Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

~Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Out of the very lips of the popes of the catholic church, one can find Scriptures that can prove their words to either be heresy, contradiction, and lies. The pope is not God, my friend. There is no one that can claim that he is God for there is only one God.

~Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

~Isaiah 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

~Isaiah 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

~Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

~Isaiah 45:14 Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.

~Isaiah 45:21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

~Hoseah 13:4 Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.

~Mar 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

~Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

~1 Corinthians 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

How can the catholic church contradict the Word of God and yet manage to say that they are scriptural? They cannot. However, they mislead their members by having them believe that the pope is Christ on earth and, therefore, he has the right to change God’s Word. Dear catholic, how can you be so fooled? Would God truly contradict Himself?

Jesus said,

And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: ~Matthew 12:25

The catholic church cannot be of God because the Word says that the house that is divided against itself will not stand. The catholic church’s beliefs are contrary to God’s Word. God would not contradict Himself and, therefore, the catholic church cannot be of God.

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No One Should be Elevated in Christianity

On By KateIn Catholicism4 Comments

~2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

Paul was chosen to write most of the New Testament and was given an abundance of revelations from Christ. If anyone could have been elevated to a position of authority in the church, it would have been Paul. However, even Paul stated that he was given a thorn in the flesh to buffet him, lest he should be exalted above that he should!

Christ is the head of the Church, not a pope, not Peter, not anyone! This is stated three times in the New Testament:

~1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

~Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

~Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

There is no one that is “above another” in the Church other than Christ. There are Pastors (elders) who teach us from the Word.

~Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Yes, follow after those of the faith, but only if they speak unto you the Word of God! We need to be preached to about sin so that we will fall under conviction, repent and keep going down the straight and narrow road. But not to the point of elevating such a Pastor to a place where it is taught that he is the Vicar of Christ (which means Christ’s replacement here on earth), the pope. Paul did not want to be elevated. Peter did not want to be elevated (Acts 10:25-26). They were our examples and continue to be in God’s Word. Look at what Peter said:

~1 Peter 5:1-3 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: (1) Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; (2) Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. (3)

Something went wrong in the catholic church. The leaders stopped obeying God’s Word and Peter and Paul’s example, and started being lords over God’s heritage. I don’t know how much Bible one needs to see and understand that the hierarchy of the catholic church is wrong!  But their entire Gospel is no longer the simple salvation that Christ taught but their religion is filled with complicated rules, dogmas and unbiblical traditions of men.

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Did Mary Remain a Virgin?

On By KateIn Catholicism2 Comments

The catholic church teaches that Mary continued to be a virgin, even after she gave birth to Jesus Christ. In fact, they claim that she remained a virgin throughout her life. The catechism states:

510 Mary “remained a virgin in conceiving her Son, a virgin in giving birth to him, a virgin in carrying him, a virgin in nursing him at her breast, always a virgin” (St. Augustine, Serm. 186, 1: PL 38, 999): with her whole being she is “the handmaid of the Lord” (Lk 1:38).

Notice that there are no Scripture references made to the “always a virgin” part of this teaching. Instead, they reference words from St. Augustine. If this doctrine could be found in the Bible, you can be sure it would be listed here; thus, a man-made tradition. The reference to Luke 1:38 is to expound that Mary was the handmaid of the Lord. Yes, while that is true, it does not even remotely reference that she was a perpetual virgin! No where in Scriptures does it mention that Mary remained a virgin forever.

The catholic church teaches that Mary did not have other children.

499 The deepening of faith in the virginal motherhood led the Church to confess Mary’s real and perpetual virginity even in the act of giving birth to the Son of God made man.[154] In fact, Christ’s birth “did not diminish his mother’s virginal integrity but sanctified it.”[155] And so the liturgy of the Church celebrates Mary as Aeiparthenos, the “Ever-virgin”.[156]

500 Against this doctrine the objection is sometimes raised that the Bible mentions brothers and sisters of Jesus.[157] The Church has always understood these passages as not referring to other children of the Virgin Mary. In fact James and Joseph, “brothers of Jesus”, are the sons of another Mary, a disciple of Christ, whom St. Matthew significantly calls “the other Mary”.[158] They are close relations of Jesus, according to an Old Testament expression.[159]

The catechism does not say that they believe this dogma according to the Bible, but rather the church says that “the Church was led to confess” and “The Church has always understood” this to be so. These statements prove that this belief is based on tradition, not the Word of God!

~John 2:12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.

Using the catechism’s paragraph 500’s definition, John 2:12 would have to read, he (Christ), and his mother (Mary), and his brethren (Christ’s disciples), and his disciples. Why would John refer to Christ’s disciples twice? It does not make sense because this is not what is depicted in John 2:12. This verse clearly shows us that Jesus’ mother, His brothers and His disciples were with Him. The catholic church is wrestling with the Scriptures so they can maintain tradition.

To accommodate their beliefs, the catholic church teaches that these brethren were cousins or other relatives of Christ’s. However, the Greek word for kinsman is:

G4773
συγγενής
suggenēs
soong-ghen-ace’
From G4862 and G1085; a relative (by blood); by extension a fellow countryman: – cousin, kin (-sfolk, -sman).

The Greek word for brethren in John 7:5 is:

G80
ἀδελφός
adelphos
ad-el-fos’
From G1 (as a connective particle) and δελφύς delphus (the womb); a brother.

If John were referring to Jesus’ cousins or kinsmen, the Greek word suggenēs would have been used.

Christ’s brothers did not believe that He was the Messiah at first. It is evident in:

~John 7:3-5 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. (3) For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. (5) For neither did his brethren believe in him.

There are more verses to support that Mary had children thus proving she could not be a perpetual virgin.

~Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Note: Verse 13 lists the names of the 11 Apostles, therefore, this could not be the “brethren” the catholic church states it is. The Greek word here, again, is adelphos.

Another verse: ~Galatians 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.

Note: Again, the Greek word for brother here is adelphos!

The catholic church cannot justify their teaching by using the Holy Bible so through the years they have invented dogma after dogma to support their beliefs thus laying a foundation made of sand. The dogma of papal infallibility means that when a pope says something, NOTHING can contradict it – EVER. Therefore, the pope says that Mary was a perpetual virgin:

Pope St. Martin I (Lateran Synod in 649 A.D.) declared iit an article of faith – “The blessed ever-virginal and immaculate Mary conceived, without seed, by the Holy Spirit, and without loss of integrity brought Him forth, and after His birth preserved her virginity inviolate.”

For the catholic church to finally give in and say the Scriptures validate that Mary bore other children would mean that the pope would be infallible. That will never happen because that would destroy popedom and the very foundation of the catholic church as it believes that their first pope, Peter, is the rock. The catholic church’s traditions and dogmas will come to ruin just as the house built on sand will come to ruin.

~Luke 6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Are you blindly following what you have been taught? Or are you noble like the Bereans who studied the Scriptures daily to see if what they were being taught matched the Scriptures.

~Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

The catholic receives the words from their priest and church fathers without studying the Word of God to make sure that what they are being taught is scriptural.

~Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

There’s no mystery here – the truth is not stashed away in library treasures or hiding in a basement of lost documents. Nor is the truth to be read and understood and interpreted by only priests, bishops and catholic leaders. It is clearly written in God’s Word that those who participated in the upper room were the Apostles (verse 13), women, Jesus’ mother Mary, and Jesus’ brethren (Greek word adelphos).

I pray that you are one of the few catholics who will not follow blindly but will desire to read the Bible to find out whether these things be so.

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The Tongue of a Wise Woman

On By KateIn Bible Studies, Marriage2 Comments

~Proverbs 15:1-2 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. (1) The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. (2)

I think we have all been through one of those arguments with our dear husbands where we know that he is wrong but he doesn’t know that he is wrong! :-) Yes, we can chuckle at this statement but what do we do as submissive wives during times like these?

Today’s verses tell us what to do. I have used these verses and applied them to my relationship with my beloved. After I remained quiet and didn’t try to prove my point, I discovered that God had the opportunity to work in the situation. If I had “fought back,” God would not have been able to show His glory. More times than not, when I apply Proverbs 15:1-2 in my conversations/arguments with my beloved, the Lord works it out and works in my husband’s heart. When I jump the gun, I don’t give the Lord the opportunity to work in the situation and I make it worse.

I hope that makes sense to ya’ll :-) Try to apply these two verses today with your beloved. God honors His Word!

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Let Your Words Be Seasoned With Salt

On By KateIn Bible Studies6 Comments

~Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

As I was reading this verse this morning, the Lord impressed upon my heart the purpose of salt in our lives.

(1) To add flavor to food

Does my speech add flavor to the conversation? Or am I merely talking to hear myself talk? Do I contribute something from God’s Word when someone opens their heart to me? Or do I sit there and join them in their pity party? We should strive to share verses with everyone we talk to, saved or unsaved, and add flavor to our conversations. Remember, God promises that His Word will not go out void.

(2) To preserve food

Do your words preserve? There are lost souls everywhere and their souls need to be preserved, if you will. They need to hear the Gospel and they need to hear it with “flavor.” Do you see a Christian friend heading toward distruction? That friend needs to be preserved – that friend needs you to love her and show her through the Word what she is doing wrong. I am close to two dear ladies and both are not hesitant in preserving me :-D They would rather see me living for the Lord than to stray and be chastised. That is a characteristic of a good friend!

(3) To heal open sores

We have all gargled with salt water at one time or another. It helps to heal mouth sores. Do your words bring comfort and healing? To the lost, your words should be the Gospel. To the saved, your words should be full of mercy rather than judgment. We say that we love the sinner but hate the sin – do we really ? We need to remember that we all are sinners. Not one day goes by that we are not tempted and sin because of it. So who are we to consider ourselves better than the one who has fallen? We are told to love one another – then our words should bring healing to those who are hurting and draw them to the Word.

Every time I look at a salt shaker, you can be sure I will look at it differently!

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Let Your Words Be Sweet As Honey

On By KateIn Bible Studies6 Comments

It is the Word of God that cleanses us when we obey it.

~Psalm 119:9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

What is more beautiful than a woman beginning her day by dedicating her mouth to the Lord?

~Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

What is in her heart will come out of her mouth. Therefore, when a woman begins her day by dedicating the words from her mouth to the Lord, she is going to make a conscious effort to guard her words. She will weigh her thoughts before speaking them. Her husband will receive kindness and understanding even if he does not deserve them. Since the woman was created for man (and not vice versa), it is our God-given duty to strive to be the godly helpmeet He wishes us to be.

~1 Peter 3:1-2 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; (1) While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. (2)

Speaking only kindness takes practice. Holding your temper or sarcastic retorts takes work. But just think of the wonderful benefits: (1) your in God’s will in doing so, (2) you are being a godly testimony to your husband, and (3) he will see Christ in you and be won over!

When we speak kindness to our beloved, we are showing our love to the Lord! God sees this and He is pleased. Aren’t you pleased when your children do something good? God is the ultimate parent!

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Another Gospel?

On By KateIn CatholicismLeave a comment

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not difficult. God allowed the Gospel to be understood by a child, let alone an adult. However, man and man-made religion have managed to complicate the beautiful simplicity of salvation!

~2 Corinthians 11:3-4 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (3) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (4)

Peter warned of false religion and of the devil disguising himself as a lion roaring wishing to devour.

~1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Would one be devoured by Satan if one were alert and watching? Would one be deceived by the devil’s subtlety if one was in the Word? A banker knows how to recognize counterfeit money because he knows the real thing! So should a Christian be able to recognize false religion by being in the Bible!

Peter warned us of those who preach another Jesus. Just who preaches another Jesus? The catholic church preaches that Jesus’ atoning blood was not enough for complete salvation. The catholic church teaches that salvation is an ongoing process as long as one does the sacraments – go to mass, do penance and indulgence, pray the rosary, go to confession, remain in the catholic church, etc. But that is not what Jesus taught. Jesus’ salvation is not complicated. Jesus’ teachings are not complicated.

~Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ( 8 ) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (9)

~John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

~Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

That is the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ. The catholic church has managed to chain its members into a life of works-based salvation and penance – all of which only create a religious person who, like the Pharisees, is not saved. Peter said to beware of those who corrupt from the simplicity that is in Christ!

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

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Do you claim to be a saved Roman Catholic?

On By KateIn Catholicism22 Comments

QUESTIONS TO ASK A PERSON WHO CLAIMS TO BE A SAVED ROMAN CATHOLIC
By Alex O. Dunlap

Occasionally, some well-meaning Christian thinks he knows a “saved Roman Catholic.” We invite such a person to introduce us to his friend so that we may, in his presence, ask the Roman Catholic these questions. His answers will easily determine that he is not saved in the true, biblical sense. The new “accommodation” approach of the Roman Church in these ecumenical days of apostasy is to use the same expressions as Fundamental Christians. Christian love is not shown by permitting these people to believe they are saved, when they are not. Christian love is shown by making the true Gospel plain and clear so that the “religious but lost” person will realize his unsaved condition and his need of a Saviour. He must receive the true Christ of the Bible, not a counterfeit, as in the Roman, Greek and many other churches. The Apostle Paul said that he was free from the blood of all men because he did not withhold from them all truth. May the same be true of every genuine witness for Jesus Christ! Here are the questions:

1. When were you converted?
2. How were you converted?
3. To what, or to whom, were you converted?
4. What do you believe now that you did not believe before your conversion?
5. What does it mean to be saved?
6. On what scriptural promises do you base your salvation?
7. What does it mean to be born again?
8. Are you sure today that if you die tomorrow, or at any time in the future, you will be in heaven immediately after death?
9. What do you believe about Purgatory?
10. What do you believe about the Mass?
11. Do you still participate in the Mass?
12. Do you believe that any sinner can be saved who dies without trusting in Jesus Christ alone for the salvation of his soul and forgiveness of his sins?
13. Do you believe that Mary and Roman Catholic saints can answer your prayers or help you get to heaven?
14. How do you believe that the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ is applied to your soul?
15. Have you told your priest you have been saved?
16. Do you believe you will still go to heaven if you leave the Roman Catholic Church, receive believer’s baptism and join a fundamentalist Bible believing, non-Catholic church?
17. When and where do you plan to do this?

As questions such as these are discussed in detail, it will become evident that the person is trusting in his works, merits, baptism, confirmation, sacraments, or something BESIDES, OR PLUS, Jesus Christ; and not in Christ and Christ ALONE. He can then be shown the difference between his unbiblical form of salvation and the saving faith of the Bible.

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The Steps to Salvation

On By KateIn Catholicism, Salvation1 Comment

The catholic church teaches that there are several steps to salvation. For the catholic, the first step is baptism as an infant. At this point, the infant is said to be born-again. It is then that he is a member of the church.

“By the sacrament of Baptism, whenever it is properly conferred in the way the Lord determined and received with the proper dispositions of soul, man becomes truly incorporated into the crucified and glorified Christ and is reborn to a sharing of the divine life” (Vatican II, Decree on Ecumenism, chap. 3, II, 22, p. 427).

After baptism, the new convert is taught that he must continue to be nurtured spiritually through confirmation, mass, penance and the sacraments.

“Just as Christ was sent by the Father so also he sent the apostles … that they might preach the Gospel to every creature and proclaim that the Son of God by his death and resurrection had freed us from the power of Satan and from death, and brought us into the Kingdom of his Father. But he also willed that the work of salvation which they preached should be set in train through the sacrifice and sacraments, around which the entire liturgical life revolves” (Vatican II, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Chap. 1, I, 5,6, pp. 23-24).

“The seven Sacraments are the necessary means established by Christ through which His redeeming, life-giving, sanctifying grace is imparted to individuals’ souls. You must centre your life upon the sacraments established by Christ if you want to save your soul. means of salvation. … The sacraments are the source of your real life, the divine life that will unite you with God in this world and in eternity. Let nothing make you think that you can get along without the sacraments. Without them your soul must die. … If you don’t receive the Sacraments, you don’t receive grace. If you don’t receive them properly, that is, if you receive them seldom and with little devotion, you receive less grace” (L.G. Lovasik, The Eucharist in Catholic Life, pp. 14,15).

The catholic doctrine of different steps for salvation are not recorded in the early church according to the Book of Acts.

~Acts 16:30-34 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (30) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (31) And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. (32) And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. (33) And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. (34)

The prison keeper was about to kill himself because the earthquake had shaken the foundations of the prison and the prisoners’ cell doors were open! Instead of escaping, Paul and Silas used the opportunity to lead him to Christ. There were no steps involved – there were no sacraments. In fact, the prison keeper was saved and then he was baptized.

My catholic friend, read the Bible instead of reading after your religion and the words of your catholic “fathers.”  You will find that there is no where in the Bible that teaches sacraments must be kept to achieve salvation. A gift does not need to be earned – it is freely given.

~Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (8 ) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (9)

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Me Obey Him?

On By KateIn Bible Studies1 Comment

Most Christian women who are married to an unbeliever have husbands who are good and kind – and they are willing to live at peace with their Christian wife. Their husbands are not abusive and are decent men. I know a handful of women who are in this situation. In fact, I was in that situation, too.

The topic that kept cropping up in my own spiritual life was being an obedient wife to my unsaved husband. What does the Word of God have to say about this? I use to say, “Ya, but what IF he tells me to do something that’s wrong?” The fact of the matter was that many of the “what if’s” never came to pass. I was worrying over situations that never occurred. This worry is old slew foot’s way of distracting the Christian woman and keeping her from moving forward in her role of submission.

Let’s look at what the Scriptures have to say about being submissive and obedient to our husbands:

~Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

~1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

~1 Corinthians 11:8-9 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

~Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

~Ephesians 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

~Ephesians 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

~Colossians 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

~1 Timothy 2:11-12 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

~Titus 2:4-5 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

~1 Peter 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

~1 Peter 3:5-6 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

I find it interesting that six times we see the appearance of the phrase “own husbands” – we are not to submit to someone else’s husband. There have been a few times that my husband told me, “You listen to your Pastor but you don’t listen to me!” Ouch! Out of the mouth of an unsaved man, God was still teaching me!

God’s Word says we must obey our husbands – not just on the outside but on the inside as well. Submitting and obeying are easy as long as it goes along with what we want. However, when the rubber meets the road, are we as willing to submit and obey when we do not agree with what our husbands want? That is where the Holy Spirit’s work comes in.

Submitting and obeying are not options – we are commanded to do so. When we do not obey, we will be spanked by the Father. Just as our children’s punishments get harsher when they continue to do what we tell them not, so will our punishments be more severe if we refuse to obey God’s Word and obey our husbands.

I hope all this makes sense to you ladies. I find it is much easier to obey the Holy Spirit and submit/obey my husband than it is to resist and suffer punishment as a result. Once we “get this,” our relationship with our husband improves dramatically. I don’t know why the Lord put this on my heart this morning. I pray it is a blessing to someone today.

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