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.
Got ANY evidence to show us, Bob?
First; YOU have to prove that it's a MAIN thing among us!
Keep on trying...
A PROPHECYsays "You will conceive in your womb and bear a son" --- and it IS a true PROPHECY when it comes to pass.
There is NO 'covenant' here at all!
Have you REALLY been taught that there is??
And Elsie says: "Confused are they who hear the word of God and feel they have to ADD to it."
Oh NO!!
I KNOW something different!
Rome says I'm DOOMED!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmZRDUO1wGQR
Well, at LEAST I now know what the UNFORGIVABLE sin is; so I've got THAT goin' for me.
What?
The CCC is supposed to make understanding the BIBLE easier, and now it's required to make itself easier to understand?
I feel like I'm in a Death Spiral here!
You've been reading too much of verga and the NKP guy's output.
MEGO
Well; when one of their members wants to post that THEIR church and ONLY theirs is the TRUE one; then they will get called out; too.
So far; all FR seems to attract is Catholics who think this way.
Mormons used to try to keep up with the barrage of Bible info; but quickly found out they could not keep up.
Getting the 'number' will give one pause for reflection...
I'm shocked, shocked, that none of your colleagues have challenged you to prove the " Church Age" is found in the scriptures, but since you have apparently ceded that requirement and acknowledged your obligation and its jurisdiction, I submit there is a new covenant and one holy catholic apostolic church.
Whatever
The assumption that Mary was assumed bodily assumes evidence for which neither assumption has a Scriptural basis, eh?
So you’re saying that you are NOT going to contact those others and tell them that they are wrong?
But even if there were, all God's covenants are unilateral. God doesn't negotiate on these things, AFIK. To think otherwise is to not know Him at all, eh?
Brigham Young was a President of the Church. Joseph Smith was a President of the Church.
Oh?
I'm sure that Carter, Clinton and the Bushes will take note of the correction needed.
Excellent research! This goes in my notes!
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