Rome’s Rejection of the Christian Faith~Catholicism’s Opposition to the Bible
BY MIKE GENDRON
SEE: http://www.proclaimingthegospel.org;
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational & research purposes:
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Rome's Rejection of the Christian Faith
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It is outrageous that so many of our evangelical leaders continue to promote unity with the apostate Roman Catholic Church. Rather than identify it as a huge mission field of 1.3 billion precious souls, they embrace it as a Christian denomination made up of brothers and sisters in Christ. Tragically, their fallacious position discourages their followers from evangelizing Catholics. We must set the record straight! Catholics need to be evangelized because their religion has rejected the Christian faith.
Rome Rejects the Supremacy of God's Word
God has exalted His name and His Word above all things (Ps. 138:2). “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). Those who reject or dismiss God’s Word as their supreme authority fall into serious error and peril. Rome has done this by elevating its ungodly traditions, which have evolved over 1600 years, to be equal in authority with Scripture. Rome teaches that "Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture make up a single sacred deposit of the Word of God."
Rome Rejects the Sufficiency of God's Son
Jesus is sufficient to save sinners completely by the offering of Himself once, for all sin, for all time (Heb. 7:25-27; 10:10; 14, 18). His blood is sufficient to purify every believer from every sin. His death is sufficient to cancel the eternal sin debt of every believer (Col. 2:14; 1 John 1:7). Rome rejects the sufficiency of Christ by continuing the work of redemption through the sacrifice of the Mass, and by promoting the fable of purgatory and the sacerdotal priesthood.
Rome Rejects the Singularity of God's Gospel
God's one and only Gospel offers salvation by grace apart from merit, through faith in Christ alone, apart from works, according to Scripture alone (Eph. 2:8-9; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Titus 3:5). Rome rejects this Gospel and offers a distorted gospel which brings condemnation on those who teach it (Gal. 1:6-9). Rome's gospel requires Catholics to receive sacraments, observe the commandments, partake in the Eucharist, do good works, and obtain indulgences. Any perversion of the Gospel is ultimately the Devil's delusion, which keeps his captives in religious bondage (2 Tim. 2:24-26).
Rome Rejects the Sovereignty of God's Grace
Clearly it is the will of God, not man's will, that determines who will be born again and graciously adopted into the Father's eternal family (John 1:12-13). Yet, Rome rejects God's sovereignty by teaching it is the will of man through water baptism that determines who will be born of God. Rome says, "Baptism... makes the neophyte a new creature, an adopted son of God ... and co-heir with Him."
Rome Rejects the Security of God's Children
The promise of God's Gospel is eternal life which is upheld by the power of God (1 Pet. 1:3-5). The Lord Jesus promises to keep those He has saved (John 6:37-39). This divine gift of eternal life can never be lost or revoked (John 10:28; Rom. 11:29). Rome rejects this assurance by saying those justified by water baptism who die in mortal sin will go to hell.
Hopefully, this article will encourage Christians to recognize the urgent need to evangelize Catholics with the supreme authority of God's Word and His glorious Gospel of grace!
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