Posted on 07/01/2015 7:13:05 AM PDT by 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.
Protesters correcting the Judaizers, I guess.
Great observation, caww. Thank you!
And Happy Fourth of July!
You knew that!
In your opinion, has Vatican II changed the proclamation of Trent?
Jesus says that if we do not forgive others we will not be forgiven. So merely faith is not enough. Kind of simple.
You have it backwards. Catholics put our faith in the Church because we place our faith in Jesus on the Cross.
The Catholic Church does not disagree with Scripture. It disagrees with Protestant interpretations of Scripture. From my point of view it is Protestantism that disagrees with Scripture.
I'll anticipate your Catholic answer to include some plea to purgatory for 'cleansing' so the person once at the finish line of salvation trail can then eventually enter Heaven. Is that an accurate portrayal of how one who does not forgive others yet is following sacramental trail arrives at salvation entry into Heaven?
And in Catholicism the Catholic is continuously accessing the propitiatory sacrifice at Mass to accomplish what?
Excellent question! I myself do not agree 100% with the posted at that site answer tot he question. I do find the scripture passages quite persuasive however.
I posted the entry for the question, so that a dialogue over the Bema Seat in HEAVEN might be contrasted with striving for salvation and purgatory, both found to be foundational in Catholic dogma ... well, until Vatican II sought to launch an ecumenism.
How can there be forgiveness without salvation or salvation without forgiveness?
To offer fitting worship to God and to have access to the grace of God to increase our love for him.
According to the RCC Catechism the Mass is essential to obtain salvation. That is the reason every effort is made on the battlefield to administer the Mass before death of a soldier. Is that correct, have I characterized the Mass properly with this? ... I’m not referring to last rites, I refer to the effort to bring a Mass to the dying man.
Vatican II, in confirming complete agreement with Trent says that actually without being a Catholic you are doomed to eternal damnation. However, at the end of Vatican II there is a blurring of this agreement to allow for salvation by God’s Grace to Buddhists, Moslems, Hindus, etc.
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