ROMAN CATHOLIC DOCTRINE
When considering doctrines of devils, friends, let us remember that Satan is a trickster and is cunning and sly in his approach. He would not waste his time in telling you to follow him and enjoy everlasting torture. Quite to the contrary, I believe that he would promise you salvation through other means than Jesus Christ. What better way to remove a true believer in Christ than to offer a false sense of security in those things that are not involved in salvation.
As we go through the next couple of weeks exposing the doctrines of man’s religions (currently the Roman Catholic Church), please keep in mind that we love all our neighbors as we are directed to by Christ. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John 13:34) But, even though we love the people, we cannot love the doctrines of men, as we are directed: “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed” (2 John 1:10)
The following are claims that are made in the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church. In other words, as a Catholic, it is required of you to believe in this. Friend, do not take my word for it, instead look for yourself. All the pieces of catechism in this writing are attributed to and can be found at the following website: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p6.htm
These are a fraction of the beliefs that the Roman church holds in regards to Mary, the mother of Jesus:
“The Virgin Mary . . . is acknowledged and honored as being truly the Mother of God and of the redeemer. . . . She is ‘clearly the mother of the members of Christ’ . . . since she has by her charity joined in bringing about the birth of believers in the Church, who are members of its head.”502 “Mary, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church.”503
To claim that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is also the mother of all Christians is to place her on the same level as the Father. We have one Father in heaven. Never in the Bible does it claim that we also have a Mother in heaven. A mother, who by the way, must have been a sinner; otherwise she would not have needed a Savior. But, she did.. “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” (Luke 1:47)
While Catholics are required to believe that Mary was without sin her entire life, the Bible is very clear that, except for the man Christ Jesus, that is not the case:
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one (Rom 3:10)
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23)
To help put this in perspective, let us also remember another passage from the book of Romans… For there is no respect of persons with God. (Rom 2:11)
“This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation . . . . Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.”
I was fairly certain that eternal salvation came from God. Not once in the Bible does it refer to eternal salvation being given to men due to an intercession of Mary, the mother of Jesus. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1 Thes 5:9) And how is that salvation obtained? “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8) In your Christian life you are you “rightly dividing the word of truth?” (2 Tim 2:15) Friend, I say if you are then you will find that the Bible makes no claims that you must have intercession from Mary, the mother of Jesus, in order to receive salvation. It is a “gift of God”.
Let us look closer at this statement in the Catholic Catechism. The church offers titles of Advocate, Helper and Mediatrix to Mary. What does the Bible point us to when we need a Helper?
Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. (Psalms 54:4)
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (Hebrews 13:6)
Or an advocate?
And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (John 2:1)
Or how about if you are looking for a Mediator?
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1Timothy 2:5)
With a Helper, Advocate and Mediator in Jesus Christ why would one even dream of turning to another? As believers in Christ we do not need any other intercession than is offered by Christ on our behalf.
“Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death.”508 The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians
Aren’t fairy tales fun….
But, in all seriousness friends, let us pray that at least some will see their way around the falsehoods of doctrines of men. To lay your faith in anything other than Jesus Christ goes against everything that the Bible teaches us. Of course the Catholic will mock us believers as being bound by “Solo Scriptura,” or believing that the Bible is the sole authority in matters of faith. For we do not give heed to the doctrines of popes or bishops or follow tradition; because as our Lord told the Pharisees “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered” (Mark 7:13)
I was told recently by a Catholic acquaintance that “The Bible contains passages which are not readily understandable or clear which demonstrates the need for an authoritative and infallible teacher.” I feel sorry for this person. That means that they believe that the Word of God was not meant for everyone to understand, but to be interpreted by one and disseminated down to the masses. This would preclude someone from doing what is required: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15) Any religion that convinces its followers that they are not intelligent enough to discern scripture on their own through the help of the Holy Spirit really has a powerful hold over the masses. But, true believers in the Word of God will know that is not the case, “..for this thing was not done in a corner.” (Acts 26:26) And most importantly we are told by Peter, whom they claim to be their first pope, that which is contrary to the above claim: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” (2 Peter 1:20) It is also made clear in the Bible that scripture is what we need, not the wisdom of men: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16)
I will have you know, however, that the popery was not considered to be “infallible” until 1870 under Pope Pius IX. So, I guess I would have to ask: Who was the authoritative and infallible teacher until then? For you and I, friend, there has only ever been one: Jesus Christ.
——Anthony Dentler
….and these are the Signs of the Times
