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.
Wow! Just wow!
There are those that know the truth and still deny it. They deny the Real Presence because their “new” found faith denies. They know the truth and are afraid to admit it. The hatred of all things Catholic is that deep.
“All the world’s evils are caused by lukewarm Catholics”.
Pope Pius V
Maybe they should be more concerned with Hebrews 9:27.
“There are those that know the truth and still deny it.” We’ve noticed that about a few catholics on these threads. But we keep praying for them and wading into their insults and slurs. Time is short, we need to use it while the light is still here. The restrainer is leaving soon.
If only you had ears to hear ...
Your sentence is incoherent.
I went to catholic grade school and high school, where I learned how to read and write. Bonfire's sentence is perfectly understandable, and I agree with him. 😂
RVN_Vet.
Maybe a different question should be asked, like how many times, if you catch my drift.
I’m curious as to how many times they on average for all catholics have to be reborn???
I was a catholic, and even I don't know exactly how to answer that question, but I will try. I had never heard of anything about being born from above, like in John 3. All I was ever told, was that it was much less serious to commit venial sins, I was told not to commit any mortal sins, though no one ever told me exactly what mortal or venial sins were. If I committed a mortal sin, I would lose my salvation. As I recall, the only ways to get salvation back, were to go sit in the little box and tell the priest my sins, or make a perfect act of contrition, but no one told me what that meant either. So, I guess you could say they had to be "reborn" an unlimited number of times, by going to confession. After awhile, I realized I was powerless to stop committing mortal sins, so I just gave it all up. 😇 I hope that helps.
Roger on the restrainer. 😇
You candor shines like a beacon over the stormy waves. Pray some see it and follow it to safe harbor.
“I went to catholic grade school and high school”.
“All the evils in the world are due to lukewarm/lapsed Catholics”
Pope Pius V
You know, I used to think the world revolved around me, and that if I saw the light, millions more would also see the light. Alas, for the most part, that did not happen. It happened to a few, but only a remnant. Most people continue on the broad road to destruction. Many are called, but few are chosen. I guess the reason I try to live for Jesus, is out of gratitude that He chose me before the foundation of the world. Why He did not choose others, I do not know. 😂
I am not a lukewarm catholic, or a lapsed catholic. I am an ex catholic. Praise God for that.
Thank you for print that. Very informative.
I don't want to be. 😂😇😎
You have been born from above, Brother, so it doesn’t matter what religion tries to say you belong to them, you’re in the Jesus family now. And going about the family business, I notice. Good, guy!
You are most welcome.
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