Posted on 08/08/2025 3:48:54 PM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal
Five hundred years have passed since the Reformation began, and yet the influence of the Roman Catholic Church remains strong. I’m not referring to the mammoth oligarchy that seeks to dictate the lives of an estimated one billion people, but rather its continuing influence upon churches outside its realm, including many that adhere to the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture.
While attending Talbot Seminary, I wrote my master’s thesis on Roman Catholic Justification in the Light of Scripture. In my study, I discovered that Catholicism’s key departure from Scripture was its firm insistence that God’s justification of sinners happens at the end of their life. This teaching contradicts what Paul wrote in Romans 5:1: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In other words, God justifies us at the moment of our regeneration (see also Titus 3:4-7). Why is it so important to affirm this clear biblical truth?
It’s because the error of placing our justification at the end of one’s life has crept into evangelical churches in various forms that continue to grow in popularity, as well as negate the glorious hope embedded in the Gospel. It does so by. . .
Undoing the Finality of Our Salvation
I’m not aware of when Catholic theologians first decided that God’s justification of the sinner happens at the end of one’s life, but by the time of Reformation, it had become deeply entrenched in the church’s dogma. This teaching provided the church with the means to control the lives of its members from birth to the grave.
As a result, Catholics can never be sure of their salvation since their final destination depends upon their obedience as well as adherence to the church’s sacraments up to the time of last rites. Under such a scenario, how could anyone be certain of the final outcome of their faith?
Scripture tells us a much different story. Not only does it reveal that God justifies us at the moment of our regeneration, but it also provides us with the security of our hope that Catholicism kills. When God justifies the sinner, He declares that person not guilty of all his or her sins, past present, and future.
The word for “justify” in the Greek comes from the law courts of Paul’s day; it depicted a judge declaring the accused “not guilty” of their crimes. For us, it’s the legal declaration of our righteousness that comes solely through faith by grace. God declares us innocent solely because Jesus bore the punishment for our sins on the cross; His blood covers all of our iniquity. Romans 8:1 states the finality of God’s proclamation of our righteousness, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Later in Romans 8, the apostle elaborates on the permanence of God’s verdict: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” (Romans 8:32-34).
For all of us in Christ Jesus, our justification is a done deal. God, who is not bound by time, looked at our entire life and declared us not guilty of all our sins. Who can possibly overturn His verdict? No one can provide Him with evidence that He didn’t already know about.
The belief that one can lose their salvation, or walk away from their faith, reflects the Roman Catholic understanding of justification, which regards it as a process that’s not fully settled until death. The only way to deny the finality of our salvation is to either say that someone can reverse God’s verdict, which is impossible, or somehow repackage the Catholic teaching of when God credits our account with His righteousness. If it happens at the time of our rebirth, it’s an absolute done deal.
Subjecting the Believer to a Works Mentality
The Roman Catholic error regarding justification empowers the church to enforce obedience whether it be to its traditions, its sacraments, or Scripture. Do we see this same works mentality today outside of the Catholic faith? We do.
I have experienced various forms of legalism in my life. Such teachings deceive believers into thinking they must earn favor with God, which is something they already fully possess via their secure righteous standing before Him, i.e., their justification.
Legalism reverses the order of chapters in the book of Ephesians. Instead of encouraging adherence to Paul’s instructions based upon one’s secure righteous standing before God, the works mentality begins with the commands as the way to assure the believer of his or her favor in the Lord’s sight. Paul never intended for chapters 4-6 of Ephesians to be the means of obtaining God’s approval, but rather the result of our permanent “holy and blameless” standing before God (Ephesians 1:3-14).
Once our focus shifts away from Christ and what He has done for us to how we should live, we lose the joy that comes from our security and the peace from knowing we will surely meet Jesus in the air in the future. The works mentality, popular in many Evangelical churches, is a remnant of Catholicism that spotlights our behavior rather than our glorious hope in Jesus’ appearing.
Adhering to the False Teaching of Replacement Theology
The refusal of a great many churches today to recognize the prophetic significance of Israel also mirrors Catholicism’s teaching on Bible prophecy.
Replacement Theology, or amillennialism, is the longstanding belief of the Roman Catholic Church. Augustine, a fifth century theologian, popularized the teaching that the church is the new Israel, which replaced the church in God’s prophetic program. He denied the future restoration of Israel and applied the Lord’s many promises to do so to the church, albeit spiritually.
Because Israel’s miraculous reappearance as a nation on May 14, 1948, contradicted its long held beliefs, the Vatican refused to recognize Israel as a nation until the end of 1993, a full forty-five years later. Why the delay apart from their realization that Israel’s astounding rebirth refuted their longstanding amillennial beliefs?
What does today’s popularity of Replacement Theology in Bible-believing churches have to do with a biblical understanding of justification? I provide a full answer to this question in my previous article: Can God Change His Mind about Israel? Or About Us?
Based upon Romans 11:28-32, I explain how God’s unfailing mercy lies at the heart of His continuing faithfulness to us as well as to Jacob’s descendants. He will not renege on any of His promises to His people, whether it be to the nation of Israel or to us as New Testament saints. Chapters 9-11 in the book of Romans were not a rabbit trail in Paul’s line of thought, but rather a critical part of it as he showed how the promised future restoration of Israel demonstrates the Lord’s unfailing mercy not only to the Jewish nation, but also to all justified saints, which He proclaimed in Romans 8:31-38.
Identifying the Church as God’s Kingdom
From its inception, the Roman Catholic Church believed it was God’s physical kingdom on earth and hence a political entity, which directly results from its adherence to Replacement Theology, which teaches that the church is just such a realm. Its role as a governing power during the Dark Ages has long since faded, but not this exalted view of itself.
The Vatican is officially the “Vatican City State.” This came about via the 1929 Lateran Treaty between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy through which it became an officially recognized independent governing state. The US sends an ambassador to the Vatican, just like it does for other governing entities.
Unfortunately, the Reformation didn’t change the perception of the church as God’s corporal kingdom on earth. Many churches, deeply steeped in amillennialism or its offshoots, continue to teach that Jesus is now reigning over the nations in fulfillment of such passages such as Psalms 2 and 46 as well as Revelation 20:1-10.
During the past few decades, Dominion Theology has grown exponentially in popularity. It asserts that the church will bring about millennial conditions on the earth and rule over it before Jesus’ returns. Is this not a variation the long ago kingdom aspirations of the Vatican?
The Bible teaches that as New Testament saints; we are heirs to a kingdom rather than current possessors of it (Ephesians 1:12-14; James 2:5). Paul couldn’t have been more clear when he said: “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable” (1 Corinthians 15:50). When Jesus appears, He will transform our lowly bodies into ones like His, immortal and incorruptible (Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:51-55). He will make us fit to inherit His kingdom that’s coming to the earth.
The Bible never identifies the church as a kingdom, but rather describes it as the “body of Christ” with Jesus as its Head. The picture of body life in Romans 12:3-8 is most certainly not that of a kingdom, but rather of functioning entity were all its members enjoy an equal standing. Furthermore, the role of the leaders of a kingdom differs radically from the humble servant leadership Jesus prescribed for His Church (Mark 10:42-45; see also 1 Peter 5:1-5).
Why does this matter? It signifies that we are not now enjoying the glories of God’s promised kingdom on the earth as those who adhere to Replacement Theology claim. The good news is that in the future, we will participate in God’s spectacular kingdom on earth with immortal bodies in a realm devoid of wars, government corruption, overt wickedness, and injustice.
Making One’s Obedience and Feelings the Validation of Salvation
I heard a pastor say this in his Sunday sermon, “You are okay if you love the Lord.” No, no, no, no!! The Bible says that all those in Christ are “okay” because the Lord loves us!
Looking to one’s feelings, or even obedience, as the validation of one’s salvation yields the same fruit as the rigors of Catholicism: it traps believers in the same web of insecurity that obstructs their walk with the Lord and turns their focus away from their joyous blessed hope in Jesus’ appearing.
If it’s true that God’s justification of the sinner happens at the moment of our redemption (Titus 3:4-7) and is by its nature wholly irreversible (Romans 8:1 and 26-39), and Scripture teaches that both are true, the Bible must be the sole rock upon which we must base our assurance of eternal life, not our feelings, our love for the Lord, nor our obedience to some standard.
Our assurance of eternal life comes from what Scripture says about us as New Testament saints, i.e., our justification though faith alone by grace.
A biblical understanding of what happens when God justifies us counters the hope-killing remains of Roman Catholicism in today’s churches that rob believers of the joy that comes from knowing the certainty of their salvation. Scripture frees us from the works mentality that results from thinking we can lose our salvation, walk away from our faith, or must work to keep ourselves within God’s favor and love for us.
Sadly, these vestiges of Roman Catholicism persist in many churches outside its realm. Not only do they breed insecurity and a works-based validation of our hope of eternal life, but in many cases these places of worship also dismiss the biblical hope that we will reign with Jesus in His glorious kingdom, one that will include a restored Israel. Our hope in Jesus’ appearing and what happens afterward is not just dry theology, but something that breathes life into our souls each and every day.
If you have not yet placed your faith in Jesus or are unsure of your salvation, please see my article, Jesus is the Only Path to Eternal Life. In it, I explain the saving message of the cross and how you can know that you belong to the Savior.
That's a nice sales pitch, but that's all it is. If one of your own commits a sufficiently serious sin, you just say, "Ho hum -- guess he was really never saved to begin with". Where's the "assurance"? It's a myth.
I was just recently informed on another site that a minister who strayed "Never knew Jesus". No "assurance" there!
Of course, his sin was really, really big. I mean, just about the worst thing you can imagine.
He became a Catholic.
I am old now, but in my lifetime I have spent years in each of several major divisions of Christendom: I was raised in a Bible-believing Baptist church; Later when I lived in a different part of the world, I spent years in a Pentecostal church. Then, after moving to yet another continent, I spent years attending a Catholic Church. I received my B.A. in Bible and Theology from a preeminent Protestant Evangelical college, and my M.A. in Theological Studies from another well-known evangelical college, and finally my Ph.D. in theology from a Jesuit-affiliated University. I spent many years on the mission field in the middle east, and have written many books on theological subjects. All this to affirm that I respect and cherish my brothers and sisters in Christ across the wide variety of churches and denominations that I have been privileged to have become acquainted with. As a general rule, I will consider myself in fellowship with all who affirm the foundational statements of Christian belief including the Nicene Creed and the Creed of Chaldedon. I would encourage all who read this to confess as Savior and enter into a vital personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!
YOU’RE the one who differentiated between Catholicism and Protestants.
One is a belief system and one a person.
You’re comparing apples and oranges.
And it wasn't until I read John 10:27-30, that the Holy Spirit opened my eyes and I knew I had finally heard the true good news of the gospel - the light turned on. Jesus said:
I am old now, but in my lifetime I have spent years in each of several major divisions of Christendom: I was raised in a Bible-believing Baptist church; Later when I lived in a different part of the world, I spent years in a Pentecostal church. Then, after moving to yet another continent, I spent years attending a Catholic Church. I received my B.A. in Bible and Theology from a preeminent Protestant Evangelical college, and my M.A. in Theological Studies from another well-known evangelical college, and finally my Ph.D. in theology from a Jesuit-affiliated University. I spent many years on the mission field in the middle east, and have written many books on theological subjects. All this to affirm that I respect and cherish my brothers and sisters in Christ across the wide variety of churches and denominations that I have been privileged to have become acquainted with. As a general rule, I will consider myself in fellowship with all who affirm the foundational statements of Christian belief including the Nicene Creed and the Creed of Chaldedon. I would encourage all who read this to confess as Savior and enter into a vital personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!
Oops! Sorry for the repost!
Do Catholics know how to do anything else by cherry pick snippets or something said and misrepresent them?
His whole sentence, of which you only quoted part of it, implying that he later attacks CATHOLICS, is this........
“I’m not referring to the mammoth oligarchy that seeks to dictate the lives of an estimated one billion people, but rather its continuing influence upon churches outside its realm, including many that adhere to the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture.”
It’s the continuing influence of CatholicISM that he’s referring to. NOT Catholics.
There’s assurance for for the born again believer.
If you don’t know if you’re born again, then the answer is, you aren’t. Or you are woefully ignorant of Scripture and spiritually VERY immature.
Or you need to check and see if you simply believe facts or are exercising saving faith in Christ, IOW, TRUSTING Him to save you. Not trusting religious activities, not trusting law keeping, not trusting religious affiliation, not trusting other works.
A distinction that most unsaved don’t get which is why they confuse intellectual assent with saving faith.
Besides, for all your criticism of saving faith and how it offers no assurance, Catholicism offers ZERO assurances of heaven either. Since you claim neither way offers any assurance, then why get under that kind of yoke of bondage that Catholicism lays on people with its legalism?
Amen.
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)
Deuteronomy 8:3
He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
Matthew 4:4
But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Sigh....it’s not an “anti-catholic screed” (much less a daily one) to discuss the doctrine of justification. What part knotted your knickers?
Cute. Of course no one can know another person's heart. Only God sees that. I was born and raised a Roman Catholic but left it when I heard the gospel of the grace of God from Scripture. I read it for myself and the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to realize that I never was told it clearly before. I have no intention of ever going BACK to the Catholic church because I know I would have to relinquish my assurance of salvation lest I be accused of committing the "sin of presumption".
But, here's the thing...if for some reason I ever did decide to go back, I would STILL be saved. My salvation was sealed by the Holy Spirit when I believed and received Jesus Christ as my Savior. It doesn't depend upon what I do or don't do in the future - it never was dependent on my actions. We are saved by the grace of God through faith and not our works LEST ANY SHOULD BOAST. Rejoining the Catholic church would mean I was confused or not thinking right but God would not hold this against me and remove His Spirit. I'm saved by His grace and kept by that same grace. That is how much He loves us. When you're His, He will never cast you out or lose you - He promised this.
Sound Doctrine is all but out the window
What else do you expect?
The only thing Protestants can agree on is that they think the Catholic Church is wrong.
You don’t REALLY believe that do you?
The only thing Catholics can agree on is that they think the Protestantism is wrong.
And they all accuse us of following Luther, whose opinions I am not interested in on anything.
I’m grateful for what he did, but *Protestants* do not idolize people as Catholics do with their saints and pope.
Anyone who wants to see *anti-Catholics screeds* of any kind just needs to check the RF for the multiple anti-pope screeds posted here almost daily by......... Catholics.
Isaiah 45:22 “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Ezekiel 18:32For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
Ezekiel 33:11Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
John 12:32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
John 16:7-11 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
Acts 17:30-31 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
And frankly, if Christ's death on the cross and what He went thorough isn't enough to convince someone God wants to save people, nothing will.
misrepresents Catholic teaching by oversimplifying and inaccurately stating that justification "happens at the end of their life." Official Catholic doctrine, as outlined in the Catechism states that justification begins immediately at the point of faith and baptism (initial justification), is a free gift of grace, and grants real peace with God from the outset— it is also an ongoing process that requires perseverance and can be lost or regained. This contradicts the claim's implication that justification is solely eschatological (end-of-life or final judgment).
The Catechism states: "The grace of the Holy Spirit has the power to justify us, that is, to cleanse us from our sins and to communicate to us the righteousness of God through faith." This is an initial, completed event: "Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call." It includes "the remission of sins, sanctification, and the renewal of the inner man," merited by Christ's Passion—not deferred to the end.
it is also ongoing: "Justification establishes cooperation between God's grace and man's freedom," allowing for growth or loss through sin. Texts like Galatians 5:4 ("you... have fallen away from grace") and Romans 8:24 (saved "in hope") support this future dimension, but the initial act is not at the end.
the author, Brentner, deliberately obfuscated this, he lied in the article
Dispensationalists often label the Catholic view as replacement theology, claiming it erases Israel’s role. Scripture shows fulfillment theology: the Church continues Israel’s covenant as God’s people through Christ, uniting all believers without negating Jewish identity.
Romans 9:6–8: “Not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel… It is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.” True Israel is defined by faith in Christ (Rom 2:28–29), including Jews and Gentiles.
Ephesians 2:14–16: Christ “has broken down the dividing wall of hostility… to create in himself one new man in place of the two.” The Church unites Jews and Gentiles as one people (Col 3:11).
Hebrews 8:6–13: The New Covenant, promised in Jeremiah 31:31–34, fulfills the Old (v. 13, “Obsolete”). Jews are invited into this covenant through Christ (Luke 22:20).
1 Peter 2:9–10: Believers, including Gentiles, are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,” fulfilling Israel’s calling (Exod 19:6) without excluding Jews (1 Pet 1:1, addressed to Jewish Christians).
The Church doesn’t replace Israel but fulfills its purpose as God’s people (Matt 21:43, “The kingdom will be given to a people producing its fruits”). Jews remain beloved (Rom 11:28) and are called to faith (Acts 2:38–39), not annihilation. Dispensationalism’s Israel/Church split fragments God’s plan (Eph 1:9–10), misreading Jewish inclusion as a separate program.
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