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.
The question catholics better ask for themselves is how can a loving God turn His back on sincere folks who have lent themselves to blasphemies rather than accept The Lord Jesus Christ on Faith and be immediately born from above. What escape is there if catholics ignore so great a salvation as the Gift of Grace and immediate adoption into His family?
Crucifying Christ afresh.
If His sacrifice wasn’t adequate the first time around, when He died on a tree fulfilling prophecy, what on God’s green earth makes them think that “bringing Him down again” yanking Him off His throne, is going to work this time, especially when the CCC states that it’s a bloodless sacrifice, which is totally incapable of remitting one sin?
Let me know if you get an answer.
In the meatime, I’ll be getting the popcorn and gallons of butter ready....
No sir, I don't think He bows His head to anyone. Not now, not ever.
So many sincere people, so sincerely wrong and doomed by attaching themselves to the blasphemous 'other religion', another gospel, and rejecting Salvation immediately and adoption into God's family tot eh Glory of Christ, not catholic sacraments along the RCC salvation trail.
Well of course Christ as one of three in the One God does not bow to any created thing, any created lie, any created man. BUT that lie has the ‘nihil obstat’ given to it. Would that a few catholics could have spiritual eyes to see the blasphemy. Sadly, we have already seen how some will see it then make an excuse for it or fabricate some reason why they will not receive the Truth.
Wide is the road and broad is the way that leads to destruction and many are those who find it.
Might doesn’t make right and appealing to numbers does NOTHING to convince someone who believes in the sufficiency of Christ on the cross that Catholicsm is correct.
On the contrary, it’s a huge warning flag that you’re on the WRONG path.
It can’t guarantee anyone a place in heaven, even after a lifetime of jumping through the right hoops.
I am left wondering how cathollcs can so easily ignore Hebrews 9:28 ... ‘without reference to sin’, yet the RCC priest brings The Christ out of Heaven to sacrifice Him continually for sins, and commands Jesus to bow to the RCC priest? Wonder which priest will release Jesus to return the second time tot he Earth as prophesied in the Bible? When will the catholic church release their captive victim to return for His Bride? When will ... oh never mind. The blasphemies are beginning to make me ill.
Jesus is NO victim...
That’s for sure.
I don’t recall anywhere in scripture where He’s ever referred to as a “victim”.
“Victims” aren’t in control at all times and they don’t lay their lives down willingly.
‘The right hoops’ only play in another gospel, not the Gospel proclaimed in the Bible. Salvation by following the RCC trail hallmarked with essential sacraments administered by the RCC priesthood greater than Jesus The Christ, well that salvation is not trailing into Heaven. It serves to mock the Blood of The Christ though, and that’s pleasing to only one being and his cackling demons.
They teach that the priest is christ ..an alter Christus
In persona Christi is a Latin phrase meaning “in the person of Christ,” an important concept in Roman Catholicism and, in varying degrees, to other Christian traditions. A priest is In persona christi, because he acts as Jesus and as God. An extended term, In persona Christi capitis, “in the person of Christ the head,” was introduced in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
RM please review my posts 848, 854, and 875 and explain to Resettozero that my answer is completely true, since I can't comment on a document without directly reading it myself for veracity. It is entirely possible that he author is being quoted out of context and until it is seen in it's entirely in context any answer would be tentative at best.
Could you also explain to him the precedent established that you are entitled to ask a question 3 times before it become harassment.
So you think Jesus switched topics mid conversation? It’s evident that every one who has died drank water. Therefore we can deduce that drinking water causes death.
Do Catholics not die?
Thank you for posting a comment that has no bearing on anything.
Well! There's part of the problem right there! I do believe Jesus spoke about those highly educated who think they are wise.
The question highlights the demonic methodology of ‘selective literalism’. It is precisely what has been employed by Catholicism to disregard all the rest of the scriptures in order to found a pagan practice and blasphemous rites which hold catholics captive tot he heresies. So, asking if Catholics get thirsty or hungry points immediately at the heretical practice of selective literalism. And yes, that is the word I coined for this demonic methodology.
“See how your argument works? It’s stupid,ignorant and no TRUE conservative BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN will fall for those demonic liberal tactics”.
Your sentence is incoherent.
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