Catholicism is often portrayed within the mainstream media and even in some so-called Christian churches as though it is a denomination of Christianity. This blog will explain why this is not true. It will show the scriptural references, some of the Catholic Catechisms, the man-made doctrines and traditions they espouse. Catholicism is actually described as “the whore” in the book of Revelation. People who believe Catholicism is part of the Church are in grievous error. Catholicism is leading millions into accepting the Antichrist agenda, which will ultimately culminate in a false One World Religious system that will be used by the actual Antichrist and False Prophet for a time, until he will put them down when he receives worship from the world (The Mark of the Beast - 666)
Many undiscerning Christians have fallen prey to the lies of the enemy by not using the Word of God as their first and final authority. They have been led to believe that we are to love everybody and never to question another's belief or to point out error; doing so is deemed as judgmental and critical. These undiscerning believers are actually helping push people into the acceptance of another gospel, another Jesus, which in turn gives another spirit. (2 Cor. 11:4)
Catholicism vs Biblical Christianity
The Catholic Church teaches that there are seven sacraments and each of them contains grace. The seven sacraments are: baptism, penance, Eucharist, confirmation (to receive Holy Spirit), matrimony, holy orders (vows taken by priests and nuns) and anointing of the sick. These are the primary means by which God bestows grace upon people in the Roman Catholic Church. They teach that the sacraments themselves are necessary for salvation [1129 –Catholic Catechism]. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that "by His death and resurrection, Jesus Christ has 'opened' heaven to us" (1026 -references are from 1994 Catholic catechism). Each person attains his own salvation by grace and good works (1477).
True Biblical Christianity teaches that we are saved by grace through faith in the Finished Work of Jesus Christ on the Cross and that the resurrection of Jesus Christ after three days proves that the atonement for sin was sufficient. Jesus Christ was, and is, the sinless spotless Lamb without blemish; His shed blood for guilty sinners is the only way to come to God the Father.
Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
Romans 11:6 - And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
1 Timothy 2:5 - For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Hebrews 4:10 - For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his.
Romans 3:24 - Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Matthew 26:28 - For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Hebrews 9:22 - And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Hebrews 9:12 - Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].
1 John 2:2 - And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.
These Scriptures refute the false teaching of the Catholic Church instantly by showing this to be another gospel. The Bible tells us in the book of Galatians that if anyone comes to you with another gospel, let them be accursed. Galatians 1:8 “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”
It is of utmost importance that you separate yourself from these false teachings of men because they will lead you away from Jesus Christ.
The Catholic Church may pay lip service to a belief in salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, but their doctrines deny these words.
The Roman Catholic Church believes one is saved by membership in the Catholic Church; a belief that water baptism, even of infants, is what constitutes being born-again; and unbiblical beliefs about Mary. They assign Mary God-like capabilities; they say that Mary is the mediatrix (Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 969); Mary made atonement for the sins of man (Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, page 213); Mary is the subject of preaching and worship (Vatican Council II, p. 420), etc. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that Mary is the sinless co-Redeemer. "Without a single sin to restrain her, she gave herself entirely to the person and work of her son; she did so in order to serve the mystery of redemption with Him...being obedient, she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race" (494)
They teach that Mary "did not lay aside her saving office, but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation. She is Advocate…and Mediatrix” (969)
MARY OF THE BIBLE AND THE MARY OF CATHOLICISM
(The following information is excerpted from T.A. McMahon’s article entitled Mary Who?):
“…The only trustworthy account of Mary is found in the Scriptures where information is presented by those who knew her personally and, more importantly, whose writings were under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Fewer than 90 Bible verses address the life of Mary. In them we find a wonderful humble servant of the Lord who rejoices in Him as her Savior (Lk 1:47)… Mary’s ministry was simply the birth and nurturing of the child Jesus. Once He reached adulthood, she played no influential part in His earthly service. It’s at the wedding feast of Cana, which began the public ministry of Jesus, that her last words are recorded. Fittingly, she tells the servants, ‘Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it’ (Jn 2:5)… Mary then fades into the background. Search the Scriptures as you will and you will find no leadership role for Mary among the Apostles. She taught no doctrine.
We never hear of the Apostles seeking her out for counsel. Other than the gospels, Mary is mentioned only once in the New Testament, where the Book of Acts tells us of her simple participation in a prayer meeting along with her sons. The teaching that Mary was a perpetual virgin is contradicted by many verses (Mt 12:46; Mk 6:3; Jn 7: 3,5; 1Cor 9:5; Gal 1:19; Ps 69:8,etc.)…The Apostle Peter, a contemporary of Mary and regarded by Catholics as the first pope, wrote nothing about her. The Apostle Paul…made no mention of the alleged importance of devotions or reparations to Mary…The Apostle John, who wrote the last book of the Bible and was given the care of Mary by Jesus Himself, says nothing about venerating her…Although mankind is being drawn into every kind of spiritual deception in the last days before the return of Jesus, it is especially sad that the real mother of Jesus, the remarkable ‘handmaiden of the Lord’ (Lk 1:38), is so terribly misrepresented, thereby drawing millions away from her Son…
(Conversely), the Mary of Catholicism was immaculately conceived, the Mother of God, a perpetual virgin, Mediatrix between God and man, and the Queen of Heaven…The ‘Mary’ who spoke to Father Gobbi, the founder of the Marian Movement of more than 100,000 priests, declared, ‘Each of my statues is a sign of a presence of mine and reminds you of your heavenly Mother. Therefore it must be honored and put in places of greater veneration…’ Consider Our Lady of Fatima: (she said) ‘Say the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world…God wishes to establish in the world the devotion to My immaculate heart. If people do what I tell you, many souls will be saved and there will be peace.’
This is not the humble and submissive Mary of the Bible. The rosary invokes prayers to Mary ten times for every one for the Lord; Jesus is the Prince of Peace; only Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice saves souls from hell; neither is Mary’s heart immaculate, nor are we to be spiritually devoted to anyone other than our Lord and Savior” (excerpts ended). The Catholic doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is NOT the Christian doctrine which states that Jesus was born without sin. Rather, it states that Mary was born free of any sin: “O, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” The prayer specifically presents her as intercessor. In addition, Catholics believe that as a special privilege Mary was preserved from all sin, even venial sin*. Catholics also hold to the doctrine that Mary, after her death, was “assumpted” bodily into heaven and, therefore, never saw corruption. Both the Feast of the Assumption and the Immaculate Conception are “holydays of obligation” in the Catholic Church and require Catholics to attend a Mass on those days under penalty of “mortal”* sin.
One of the titles the Catholic Church gives Mary is “Queen of Heaven.” In chapters 7:18 and 44:19 Jeremiah actually speaks of the people of Israel making offerings to a “queen of heaven.” Yet a simple reading of the chapters shows that God was exceedingly angry because of this heathen worship.
There is also a mixing of what is Biblical and what is Catholic in the “Hail Mary,” the prayer used repeatedly in the rosary. It states: “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art thou among women…” This is actually found in Luke 1:28. However, the rest of the prayer is not Biblical. It states “…Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” Mary is “holy” only as she is holy in Jesus. She was not the mother of God, but of the child Jesus - stating it as the Catholic Church does confers upon her a title that denotes her superiority over Jesus. She cannot pray for us sinners because she herself was a sinner, and because only Jesus “ever liveth to make intercession for us” (Heb 7:25).
Many undiscerning Christians have fallen prey to the lies of the enemy by not using the Word of God as their first and final authority. They have been led to believe that we are to love everybody and never to question another's belief or to point out error; doing so is deemed as judgmental and critical. These undiscerning believers are actually helping push people into the acceptance of another gospel, another Jesus, which in turn gives another spirit. (2 Cor. 11:4)
Catholicism vs Biblical Christianity
The Catholic Church teaches that there are seven sacraments and each of them contains grace. The seven sacraments are: baptism, penance, Eucharist, confirmation (to receive Holy Spirit), matrimony, holy orders (vows taken by priests and nuns) and anointing of the sick. These are the primary means by which God bestows grace upon people in the Roman Catholic Church. They teach that the sacraments themselves are necessary for salvation [1129 –Catholic Catechism]. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that "by His death and resurrection, Jesus Christ has 'opened' heaven to us" (1026 -references are from 1994 Catholic catechism). Each person attains his own salvation by grace and good works (1477).
True Biblical Christianity teaches that we are saved by grace through faith in the Finished Work of Jesus Christ on the Cross and that the resurrection of Jesus Christ after three days proves that the atonement for sin was sufficient. Jesus Christ was, and is, the sinless spotless Lamb without blemish; His shed blood for guilty sinners is the only way to come to God the Father.
Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
Romans 11:6 - And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
1 Timothy 2:5 - For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Hebrews 4:10 - For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his.
Romans 3:24 - Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Matthew 26:28 - For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Hebrews 9:22 - And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Hebrews 9:12 - Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].
1 John 2:2 - And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.
These Scriptures refute the false teaching of the Catholic Church instantly by showing this to be another gospel. The Bible tells us in the book of Galatians that if anyone comes to you with another gospel, let them be accursed. Galatians 1:8 “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”
It is of utmost importance that you separate yourself from these false teachings of men because they will lead you away from Jesus Christ.
The Catholic Church may pay lip service to a belief in salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, but their doctrines deny these words.
The Roman Catholic Church believes one is saved by membership in the Catholic Church; a belief that water baptism, even of infants, is what constitutes being born-again; and unbiblical beliefs about Mary. They assign Mary God-like capabilities; they say that Mary is the mediatrix (Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 969); Mary made atonement for the sins of man (Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, page 213); Mary is the subject of preaching and worship (Vatican Council II, p. 420), etc. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that Mary is the sinless co-Redeemer. "Without a single sin to restrain her, she gave herself entirely to the person and work of her son; she did so in order to serve the mystery of redemption with Him...being obedient, she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race" (494)
They teach that Mary "did not lay aside her saving office, but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation. She is Advocate…and Mediatrix” (969)
MARY OF THE BIBLE AND THE MARY OF CATHOLICISM
(The following information is excerpted from T.A. McMahon’s article entitled Mary Who?):
“…The only trustworthy account of Mary is found in the Scriptures where information is presented by those who knew her personally and, more importantly, whose writings were under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Fewer than 90 Bible verses address the life of Mary. In them we find a wonderful humble servant of the Lord who rejoices in Him as her Savior (Lk 1:47)… Mary’s ministry was simply the birth and nurturing of the child Jesus. Once He reached adulthood, she played no influential part in His earthly service. It’s at the wedding feast of Cana, which began the public ministry of Jesus, that her last words are recorded. Fittingly, she tells the servants, ‘Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it’ (Jn 2:5)… Mary then fades into the background. Search the Scriptures as you will and you will find no leadership role for Mary among the Apostles. She taught no doctrine.
We never hear of the Apostles seeking her out for counsel. Other than the gospels, Mary is mentioned only once in the New Testament, where the Book of Acts tells us of her simple participation in a prayer meeting along with her sons. The teaching that Mary was a perpetual virgin is contradicted by many verses (Mt 12:46; Mk 6:3; Jn 7: 3,5; 1Cor 9:5; Gal 1:19; Ps 69:8,etc.)…The Apostle Peter, a contemporary of Mary and regarded by Catholics as the first pope, wrote nothing about her. The Apostle Paul…made no mention of the alleged importance of devotions or reparations to Mary…The Apostle John, who wrote the last book of the Bible and was given the care of Mary by Jesus Himself, says nothing about venerating her…Although mankind is being drawn into every kind of spiritual deception in the last days before the return of Jesus, it is especially sad that the real mother of Jesus, the remarkable ‘handmaiden of the Lord’ (Lk 1:38), is so terribly misrepresented, thereby drawing millions away from her Son…
(Conversely), the Mary of Catholicism was immaculately conceived, the Mother of God, a perpetual virgin, Mediatrix between God and man, and the Queen of Heaven…The ‘Mary’ who spoke to Father Gobbi, the founder of the Marian Movement of more than 100,000 priests, declared, ‘Each of my statues is a sign of a presence of mine and reminds you of your heavenly Mother. Therefore it must be honored and put in places of greater veneration…’ Consider Our Lady of Fatima: (she said) ‘Say the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world…God wishes to establish in the world the devotion to My immaculate heart. If people do what I tell you, many souls will be saved and there will be peace.’
This is not the humble and submissive Mary of the Bible. The rosary invokes prayers to Mary ten times for every one for the Lord; Jesus is the Prince of Peace; only Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice saves souls from hell; neither is Mary’s heart immaculate, nor are we to be spiritually devoted to anyone other than our Lord and Savior” (excerpts ended). The Catholic doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is NOT the Christian doctrine which states that Jesus was born without sin. Rather, it states that Mary was born free of any sin: “O, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” The prayer specifically presents her as intercessor. In addition, Catholics believe that as a special privilege Mary was preserved from all sin, even venial sin*. Catholics also hold to the doctrine that Mary, after her death, was “assumpted” bodily into heaven and, therefore, never saw corruption. Both the Feast of the Assumption and the Immaculate Conception are “holydays of obligation” in the Catholic Church and require Catholics to attend a Mass on those days under penalty of “mortal”* sin.
One of the titles the Catholic Church gives Mary is “Queen of Heaven.” In chapters 7:18 and 44:19 Jeremiah actually speaks of the people of Israel making offerings to a “queen of heaven.” Yet a simple reading of the chapters shows that God was exceedingly angry because of this heathen worship.
There is also a mixing of what is Biblical and what is Catholic in the “Hail Mary,” the prayer used repeatedly in the rosary. It states: “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art thou among women…” This is actually found in Luke 1:28. However, the rest of the prayer is not Biblical. It states “…Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” Mary is “holy” only as she is holy in Jesus. She was not the mother of God, but of the child Jesus - stating it as the Catholic Church does confers upon her a title that denotes her superiority over Jesus. She cannot pray for us sinners because she herself was a sinner, and because only Jesus “ever liveth to make intercession for us” (Heb 7:25).