1437. The Catholic Way of Salvation

Pope Francis and the RCC have been successful in deceiving so many people of all faiths because spiritual discernment is so scarce today. America’s churches, including many evangelicals, have fallen prey to Satan’s subtle strategies to lure all brands of Christians away from the simple truth and into all sorts of false and demonic doctrines. The desire to grow the numbers instead of the faith has led to one compromise after another.

The Bible exhorts us to test all things and to hold on to what is good, staying away from every kind of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). Most of our churches have let go of so much that is good and embraced so much of what is evil that discernment is no longer possible. This is why I believe the Pope will be successful in making the prophecies of Revelation 17 come true.

So, let’s take a quick look at the difference between Catholic teaching and the Bible regarding salvation. According to Roman Catholicism, salvation requires faith plus works. In addition to faith, a person must be baptized, do good works, receive the sacraments, obey the law, and go to the weekly sacrifice of the mass to have their sins forgiven. This is clearly another gospel, and those who preach it are accursed, turned over to God for destruction (Galatians 1:6-9).

The Bible’s way of salvation is clear and simple: faith alone without works. God saves us so that we will then do good works in the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:8-10). Before we’re saved, we are incapable of doing truly good works (Romans 3:12; 8:5-6, 13). All a person can do is to believe in Jesus’ complete and sufficient work on the cross as He paid the price for the sins of the world with his own blood (John 6:47).

His last words on the cross were “It is finished” (John 19:31). He accomplished everything that needed to be done to bring salvation when He removed the very thing that separated man from God—our sins. Christ’s payment for our sins was a once for all time transaction (Hebrews 10:12). Anyone can be declared innocent by believing. Once a person realizes the magnitude of his or her guilt and the magnitude of God’s grace so freely offered, repentance will automatically follow.

Yet, in every Roman Catholic Church, every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins (Hebrews 10:11).

Catholicism and the Bible are also divided on How a person is purified of sin. The Bible says it’s by the blood of Christ. The RC Church says it’s by the fires of Purgatory (a concept never mentioned in the Bible). Another difference lies in who mediates between God and Man. The Bible clearly states that there is only one mediator—the man, Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). The RC Church says there are many other mediators including the priests, the popes, and the sinless mediatrix called Mary.

Part of the unbiblical veneration of Mary is the Catholic belief that Mary was a perpetual virgin, meaning that Jesus had no brothers or sisters. For detailed evidence for why this is false, read my article Did Jesus Have Brothers and Sisters?

According to the Bible, anyone who teaches “another gospel” is under Divine condemnation. This post is a warning to all who are involved with Roman Catholicism In any way, especially since Pope Francis is leading the current ecumenical movement to unite Protestants and Catholics under a common banner. The truth is that there can be no unity with any group that is so unbiblical in its teaching.

The little book of Colossians presents a beautiful picture of the sufficiency and supremacy of Jesus Christ. We can’t add a thing to His perfect and sufficient work. Please read this little book and take in the magnitude of all that Christ has already accomplished for us. To add anything says that what He did wasn’t enough, and He needs our help. This is ludicrous. The truth is that Jesus Had to go to the cross because mankind was filled with sin and incapable of doing anything of value (Romans 3:10-18). Jesus had to do it all for us. If we add anything to what He has already accomplished, we nullify the grace of God (Gal. 2:21).

It’s time to exchange a dead religion for a vibrant relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. In future posts, I will present other very specific ways in which Catholic teaching contradicts God’s Word. If you have concerns about Roman Catholicism or just want more vibrant life than the RCC is offering, check out Proclaimingthegospel.org. It is a great ministry to Catholics.

Next week we’ll look at additional ways in which Catholic teaching differs from Scripture.