The Gospel for Roman Catholics

Southern Baptist Midwestern Seminary For The Church ^ | June 14, 2015 | A.D. Robles

[RnMomof7]

Recently there has been a surge in prominent Evangelicals calling for unity with Roman Catholicism. In one sense there seems to be strong foundational similarities that would justify these calls to unity. Catholics are baptized in the name of the Trinity. God’s revealed word in the Bible -- setting aside their addition of the Apocryphal books, for argument’s sake -- is foundational to their worldview. Catholics love Christ and believe that he died on the cross and rose again to provide grace for sinners.

Obviously there are theological differences associated with the specific teachings of each one of these perceived similarities, and I do not want to minimize the importance of these differences. But for argument‘s sake, at least on the surface, there is some common ground.

There is also a strong agreement in ethical standards. Both Roman Catholics and Evangelicals ground morality on God’s holy nature as revealed in the law of God. This means that on the hot button moral issues of the day; the murder of the unborn, human sexuality, the sanctity of marriage there is solidarity between Roman Catholic and Evangelical ethics because they are coming from the same source.  Again, this seems to justify a call to some sense of unity.

Are these good enough reasons to publically stump for visible unity with Roman Catholics? That question is beyond the scope of this post. But there is a more fundamental question that must be answered first. That question serves as the dividing line between followers of Christ and the world, which separates biblical Christianity from every other worldview; does Rome possess and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

The author of the book of Hebrews in chapter 10 contrasts the gospel with that which is but a shadow of the gospel.  He argues:

"And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." -- Heb 10:11–14

The argument being presented here makes it clear that Christ’s singular sacrifice, his death on the cross, perfects those for whom it is made for. This is the gospel. It is contrasted with the shadow of the gospel in which sacrifices were repeatedly made year after year because though they symbolized the atoning and perfecting sacrifice of Christ, they never themselves perfected those for whom they were made. The gospel of Jesus Christ perfects and any other religious strategies cannot.

This principle is directly applicable to the question of Roman Catholicism and the gospel of God. Roman Catholic worship centers on the mass. The mass is a series of liturgical practices that culminates in the Eucharist which according to paragraph 1068 of the Catholic of the Catholic Church (hereafter CCC) is a divine sacrifice. Paragraph 1367 of CCC calls the Eucharist a “truly propitiatory” sacrifice. This sacrifice is performed repeatedly in the life of a Catholic.

The reason the Eucharist is performed repeatedly is because even though it is claimed to be a propitiatory sacrifice that can make reparation for sins (CCC, 1414), it is a sacrifice that never perfects anyone. According to the Catholic message grace is something that you get from God by performing certain acts.  First, God gives you the grace for faith in Jesus (CCC, 2000).  Second, when you are baptized God graciously erases the sin of Adam from your record (CCC 1257). From that point on you get more grace by doing things like participating in the sacraments, including the Eucharist. The problem is that when you commit sins, you lose some of the grace you have gained and now need more lest your grace be found wanting at final judgment. This forces the Catholic into a position where they need to return day after day, week after week, and year after year to a priest who serves to repeatedly re-present the same sacrifice which never perfects those for whom it is made, since it only offers grace to cover some sin.

This is not the gospel.

Roman Catholics need the gospel for the same reason we all need it. We are all sinners with such a messed up and low view of how holy holiness really is that we think somehow through our own efforts we can attain it. If we just had enough time and willpower we could somehow have our good deeds outweigh our bad, and this will please God just enough for me to be acceptable to him.  This is a satanic lie.  A satanic lie that to some degree or another we have all bought into at some point in our life. 

But the truth is glorious. God is good and God is holy. He is more good and more holy than we can possibly imagine. God is so good and so holy that anything less than absolute perfection is unacceptable in his presence. It is because of God’s awesome goodness and awesome holiness that in his wisdom he has offered us grace, through faith in Christ. A good and holy sacrifice that absolutely without question completely perfects everyone for whom it is made.

[Elsie]

The Catholic Church is the only one that believes, teaches and spreads the whole Gospel to the world.

[Elsie]

The majority of threads that are posted on the Religious Forum are posted by Protestants for the sole purposes of bashing Catholics. Period.

So...

...why do you continue to play?

[Elsie]

Gee, I don’t know, since it’s called a “Religious Forum” I might would expect people to treat each like they would say, at church?

[Elsie]

Well I think bigotry is reprehensible.

Then stop being so bigoted against Protestantism.

We folks are a mere result of SINS at the highest level of the Catholic church.

[Elsie]

Sensor remarks?

Your door is ajar...
Your door is ajar...
Your door is ajar...
Your door is ajar...
Your door is ajar...
Your door is ajar...

[Elsie]

The only weapon the Catholic Church has and needs is the truth.

Too bad your lovely inquisitors came onto this knowledge late.

[Elsie]

As Rush says; if we say it often enough and loud enough eventually they will hear it.

Someone else said something similar...

" The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success
unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly -
- it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over."

[Elsie]

Thanks for posting this.

I can now understand a bit more of why your posts seem to be so bitter at times.

[Elsie]

This county is facing incredible challenges now and Christians should not be fighting among themselves.

Then I'd suggest you stop teasing the pigeons.

[Elsie]

I’m an old man...

Only on the outside...

[Elsie]

Bringing forth good fruit is essential to Salvation as Christ Himself stated it in spite of Protestantism teaching that Christ was wrong and any requirement to bring forth good fruit is "works salvation".

REQUIREMENT?

Did I not post something about that?

[Elsie]

No it is a "gotcha" question.

As in...

"I've gotcha no answer."?

[Elsie]

The ravening wolves of Self and Self Alone Protestantism are here each and every day parading their pride in their Self and pretending Christ was saying much he never said and pretending Christ never said what He clearly did say.

Romulus and WHO??

The ravening wolves of ROME and ROME Alone Catholicism are here each and every day parading their pride in their CHURCH and CONtending Christ was saying much he never said and CONtending Christ never said what He clearly did say.

[Elsie]

I’m in TROUBLE!!!

[af_vet_1981]

Well, here we are, asking Catholics to share the absolute essentials for Salvation.

That was a fairly comprehensive list. Why am I reminded by your comments of the lawyers trying to trap the Messiah ?

According to your words, so let it be unto you ( לוּ יְהִי ). If you are sincere, may you find repentance from dead works and come to love the one holy catholic apostolic church. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak , they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified , and by thy words thou shalt be condemned .
Matthew, Catholic chapter twelve, Protestant verses thirty six to thirty seven,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James

[vladimir998]

Wow, four posts to respond to two of mine. Apparently your posts are as aimless and pointless as ever.

[Resettozero]

We do have to obey Him. Or not?

This question pinpoints the difference in basic attitude between an RC (and many Protestants) and just a regular ole' born-again believer in Lord Jesus Christ alone as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and soon-to-appear-again King.

I did not come to the Lord through singing the old song "Trust and Obey". It was through singing songs such as "Jesus Loves Me".

[rwa265]

Most people have no clue what Rome teaches or believes

---

Let’s give credit where credit is due. RnMomof7 made this statement. I simply agreed with it. But it’s not limited to just Catholics. Very few of us have a good understanding of the teachings of the Catholic Church.

[af_vet_1981]

My answer for the same question is exactly what Mary said at Cana: “Do whatever He tells you.”

If that is not enough for you, then you have much to learn about God and yourself.

“You Catholics claim to know your religion better than any Protestants on FR, so please, make this list complete so we readers don’t miss anything vital, essential, absolutely required, for salvation as a Catholic.”

Do whatever He tells you. That’s the whole list.

I love it.

[rwa265]

Do whatever He tells you.

---

This thread has led me to reflect on the words of Jesus as He finished His great discourse, the Sermon on the Mount. After saying these words in Chapters 5-7, He said:

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” Matthew 7:24-27