The Cult of Catholicism Part I

For many centuries, the Roman Catholic Church has been synonymous with Christianity on earth. Many folks believe that Christianity is Catholicism and Catholicism is Christianity.

Nothing could be further from the truth. There is a distinct difference between true biblical Christianity that teaches a gospel of salvation by faith and Roman Catholicism that promotes a gospel of salvation by works and rituals not found in the Bible.

Who's right? The Bible is right, not merely because it predates Catholicism by several centuries, but also because its gospel revealed in the New Testament is validated by several prophecies recorded in the Old Testament hundreds and thousands of years before Jesus Christ appeared in the world.

For example? During the 8th century B.C., the prophet Isaiah revealed that the coming Jewish Messiah would die not only for the sins of His own people the Jews, but for the entire world as well.

Isaiah wrote: "Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5)

Certainly, Christ came and fulfilled that great prophecy 2,000 years ago when He died on Calvary's cross for all sin and He was resurrected from the dead three days later.

Christ's resurrection also fulfilled the ancient prophecies recorded by King David in 1,000 B.C. (Psalm 16:10) and Isaiah (52:13-15, 53:10-12).

If Christ indeed died on the cross for our sins, then works play no part in our salvation. If they were essential for our salvation, then Christ died on the cross in vain.

The apostle Paul wrote: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Christ said this concerning salvation and eternal life: "For God so loved the world that he gave His One and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

In his epistle to the early Roman church, Paul wrote this: "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, 'Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.' For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for everyone who calls on the name of Lord will be Saved." (Romans 10:9-13)

If the Bible so clearly expresses that works play no part in our salvation, then why does the Catholic Church teach the opposite? Because the Catholic Church elevates its own dogma and tradition over the Bible.

In Part II, the seduction and pride of esotericism.