Answering The Roman Catholic Church 12

the next thing we examine is Papal infallibility. An anonymous woman, who had left the Roman Catholic Church to briefly join a protestant church, commented upon learning her Pastor read several commentaries and choosing which one sounded most right to him, “He put himself in the place of the Pope.”

Huh?

This shows the depth of the programming that Roman Catholics get, viewing a difference between the laity (non clergy) and the priesthood. The Priest is the supreme holder of knowledge, and the Pope infallible.

On the contrary, there’s no evidence from Scripture for the priesthood, or for the Pope. Or for Pala infallibility.

Here’s the test: cite me ONE verse from the Bible upholding Papal infallibility.

There are none.

As a matter of fact, of the various Catholic councils, there is no mention of Papal Infallibility until the 19th Century. And as I mentioned before… it was put to a vote. And there were Bishops and Cardinals who voted against it. If this were a teaching of God not set in writing (the supposed basis of the Magisterium, already refuted at length…) why did they vote against it? Were these supposedly Godly men opposing God?

If this were a Scriptural mandate… why was there a vote? Why not just cite the Scripture and get on with it? There was a vote simply because it wasn’t a Scriptural mandate.

What, then, shall we say of the Pope who was murdered by a jealous husband, who caught him sleeping with his wife? If the Papal infallibility is a fact, then are we saying the jealous husband was wrong? That the Pope was correct and infallible for committing adultery?

What about the popes who kept their prostitutes housed in the Vatican itself? Were they correct and infallible for comitting fornication with harlots?

The Roman Catholic will object, and say the Pope is infallible only when speaking Ex Cathedra.

How can you speak infallibility, and not think it? How can you think it and not do it?

This begs the question, then. When is he speaking Ex Cathedra and when is he not? We have logical issues here. If the Pope is the mouth of God, and is infallible, what if he gets so caught in the ecstasy of speaking for God he forgets to let someone know he is speaking Ex Cathedra?

There remains the issue that at no time did God command the office of a Pope, or an Arch Bishop, or a Cardinal, or even a priesthood. The Roman Catholic priesthood is usurping the rightful place of the believer, which is appointed a nation of kings and priests before God.

Any person who says they are without sin is a liar. The Pope cannot be infallible if he is a sinner. Infallibility means one is God.

So, to paraphrase the Catholic woman I quoted earlier in ths post, “He (the Pope) puts himself in the place of God.” This is essentially what she is saying.

6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. 7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. Psalm 82:6-7 (KJV)

11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. Isaiah 14:11-15 (KJV)

1 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: 3 Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee: 4 With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures: 5 By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches: 6 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; 7 Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness. 8 They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas. 9 Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee. 10 Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 28:1-10 (KJV)

11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. 19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more. Ezekiel 28:11-19 (KJV)

Finally, from Mary Ann Collin’s book “Catholic Concerns: Where does the Road to Rome lead?”

The history of the early Church shows that the Bishop of Rome was considered to be just another bishop. For example, Pope Gregory (590-604 A.D.) explicitly stated that all of the bishops were equal. He specifically repudiated the idea that any one bishop could be the supreme ruler of the Church.

The claim for papal infallibility does not stand up to the test of history. For example, Pope Zosimus (417-418 A.D.) reversed the pronouncement of a previous pope. He also retracted a doctrinal pronouncement that he himself had previously made. Pope Honorious was condemned as a heretic by the Sixth Ecumenical Council (680-681 A.D.). He was also condemned as a heretic by Pope Leo II, as well as by every other pope until the eleventh century. So here we have “infallible” popes condemning another “infallible” pope as a heretic. In 1870, the First Vatican Council abolished “infallible” papal decrees and the decrees of two previous “infallible” councils.5

The doctrine of Assumption of Mary was officially declared to be a dogma of the Roman Catholic faith in 1950. This means that every Roman Catholic is required to believe this doctrine without questioning it. However, as we will see, the teaching of the Assumption originated with heretical writings which were officially condemned by the early Church.

In 495 A.D., Pope Gelasius issued a decree which rejected this teaching as heresy and its proponents as heretics. In the sixth century, Pope Hormisdas also condemned as heretics those authors who taught the doctrine of the Assumption of Mary. The early Church clearly considered the doctrine of the Assumption of Mary to be a heresy worthy of condemnation. Here we have “infallible” popes declaring something to be a heresy. Then in 1950, Pope Pius XII, another “infallible” pope, declared it to be official Roman Catholic doctrine.

Answering The Roman Catholic Church 11

So far, we’ve examined:

• one needs only the written Bibl
• If you are saved, you should be able to simply read and understand the Bible. If you cannot understand it, this is a warning sign you may not be saved.
• The commandments in the NT are so easy, one does not require a Magisterium to understand it
• The RCc has no proof whatsoever for a Magisterium.
• The Bible was once delivered to the saints, and at the close of the canon in AD 95, anyone who adds to it is under a curse.
• The Roman Catholic views of the Bible
• The laity and the ownership/study/reading of the Bible
• The Magisterium refuted
• Salvation by faith alone vs. works
• infant baptism refuted
• baptismal regeneration refuted
• The Apocrypha was never quoted by the New Testament
• The Apocrypha was not considered scripture by anyone for at least 400 years – after all the official lists of the inspired canon had been done
• The apocrypha was never quoted by church fathers for at least 2 centuries after the time of Christ
• The Bible is only the 66 books of the bible

Now, we’re done with the subject of the word of God. We’ve settled that the Magisterium is not the word of God, but the traditions of the church given equal or higher weight than the word of God. We’ve settled that the Apocrypha is not inspired or part of the Bible. We’ve settled that we are to be guided by the Bible alone, or as the Roman Catholics like to call it, “Sola Scriptura” – a subject they enjoy belittling.

Let’s deal with all the verses on the saints.

….

Done.

There is no verses on special people, holy men and women who can do miraculous powers and have the ability to intercede for our sakes on behalf of God. Indeed, it’s amazing such a doctrine exists in the Roman Catholic church, as it has absolutely zero scriptural support. LIke most Roman Catholic teachings.

Who then are the saints? The New Testament makes numerous references to them.

If you are born again, you are a saint.

That probably sounds like blasphemy to a Roman Catholic.

the word Saint is not Greek, but Latin. It has the origin in Sanctus, meaning “made holy, set apart for holy use”. The greek word is ἅγιος, Hagios (“Holy”), and the Hebrew is ‏חָסִיד Hassid, meaning righteous, holy, consecrated. Again, we need to remember that all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are Sanctified, set apart for Holy Use, separated from the world.

With this in mind, it becomes clear that all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are saints. So I am just as much a saint as St. John of the Cross, or St. Francis, or even Padre Pia – probably more so, as I’ve been born again, and I see no testimony of faith or a born again experience from any of the aforementioned.

David Cloud did a study of the life of Mother Theresa, and concluded that as she had no testimony, no evidence of being born again, showed none of the Biblical evidence of being born again (changed life, desire for God’s Holy Bible, a desire to evangelize) – she was most likely not born again. And this may shock you, but the Bible says in the strongest language that…

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 (KJV)

If you cannot enter the kingdom of God, where are you?

7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 (KJV)

I say this to awaken the Roman Catholic that God led here for thepurpose of reading this. I say this not to criticize, but rather to wake you. If a person that acts righteous and feeds the poor, takes care of those with leprosy and cares for orphans cannot save themselves of their own righteousness – neither can you. I urge you to be born again as soon as possible. Recognizing you may not ave read everything I’ve written on the subject, being born again is not confirmation, baptism, or accepting the Host at the Mass. Please read all of the pages on Roman Catholicism, as in the beginning I explain how to be born again spiritually, what that is and what it does and does not mean.

“But I thought the saints make intercession for us before the throne of God!!!”

Nope.

22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. Hebrews 7:22-27 (KJV)

9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Hebrews 10:9-14 (KJV)

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who maketh intercession for us. Remember these verses, as they will get important when we discuss the Mass.

“So the Saints don’t make intercession for us?”

That was dealt with once and for all in the parable of Lazarus. By the way, the Parable of Lazarus is not a parable, but a real even recounted by the Lord. In the parables, they are always “A certain man” or “There was a king”. The Lord does not mention names in parables. Only the Rich Man is unnamed.

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Luke 16:19-31 (KJV)

Notice neither Abraham nor Lazarus are able to help the Rich Man. They do not speak to God on his behalf, nor make intercession for him. Abraham talks about the “great gulf fixed”, how he is unable to leave, to come or go. And thus it was until Christ brought forth the captives. The righteous no longer are in Abraham’s bosom, but rather now in heaven.

There is no scriptural support for the saints mkaing intercession to God. Again, if this were a doctrine of God, He would have had it placed in Scripture in plain words, and not by some allegorical mystical interpretation, the kind that Augustine extolled and Origen advocated. That kind of Bible interpretation is the deeds of unSaved men, forced to interpret the Bible in this manner because they do not have the Holy Spirit to bring understanding.

The Bible concludes this discussion in Hebrews by explaining it is the Lord who maketh intercession for us.

Answering The Roman Catholic Church 10

It’s been quite the survey, and we’ve just barely gotten started! There’s so many areas to cover, such as Maryolatry, Papal Infallibility, the Apocrypha, the Sacraments, purgatory, auricular confession, penance, the priesthood, the mass, transubstantiation and the host, indulgences – I think the first problem I ran into is this:

Roman Catholicism is so unScriptural in so many areas, I hardly know where to start!

Since I started by dealing with the Magisterium (probably in more depth than my readers wanted to know), I’ll turn next to the issues of the Apocrypha.

Back in the ’90’s, I worked very briefly with a Catholic, who was very aggressive in his outlook and demeanor. He demanded to know, triumphantly, that “If the Bible says cursed is he who takes away from the Bible – why did Protestants remove the Apocrypha from the Bible???”

I think he was a little at a loss when I explained that the Apocrypha was never part of the canon. Indeed, in the earliest lists of canon from the pre-Nicean fathers, they are not mentioned.

Nor are they quoted by any of the Pre-Nicean church fathers – at least, those before AD 200.

In addition, the apocryphal books are not accepted as Scripture by the Jewish people. They are indeed ignored in all lists of canon. It’s possible they were accepted by a few fringe groups of Jews (such as the Qumran scribes) but mainstream Judaism never accepted them. They were always considered extra-canonical, and the writings of men as opposed to Scripture which was the writing of God.

In addition, David Cloud writes in his Way of Life Encyclopedia of Christianity and the Bible:

“They were not received as inspired Scripture by the churches during the first four centuries after Christ.” (WOL Encyclopedia, Pg. 32)

he also writes,

“They were not written in the Hebrew language, which was alone used by the inspired historians and prophets of the O.T.” (WOL Encyclopedia, Pg. 32)

Another, and more telling point, is that the Apocrypha, much of it written before the New Testament was written, is never quoted once in the New Testament.

So, to answer my Roman Catholic co-worker – we didn’t take them away. You added them. When?

it wasn’t until 1546, at the Council of Trent, that the Apocrypha was added, in conjunction to an Anathema prononuced against anyone who does not accept them as Scripture. LIterally, a damning to Hell.

Not to beat a dead horse – but again, why nothing mentioned of the apocrypha in the lists of Scripture until over four centuries later? Why did it take 1500 years to pronounce them Scripture, if they were?

Finally, the Apocrypha does not have a single incident of “Thus sayeth the Lord.” You can read the Bible and know it is the Bible, the word of God. However, the Apocrypha reads like what it is, the writings of various Jewish apocalyptic groups. The time of the Maccabees was a time of the organizing of many apocalyptic groups of Jews, such as the Essenes, the Qumran scribes, the various groups described in the Gospels such as the Pharisees, the Saducees, the Herodians, the disciples of John the Baptist, The zealotes, the Hellenists, the Alexandrians, and the sons of Light (possibly a reference to the Essenes).

Many rose, wrote spurious literature to support their claims, and quickly withered away and vanished, leaving only a few copies of their works. The Pseudopigrapha contains many examples of their works. A cursory study of the Pseudopigrapha compared to the apocrypha presents the same general feeling and impression – these are the works of fallible men. And returning to the Bible gives an unmistakeable feel of – the Bible is the preserved, inerrant word of God.

Notice also that they teach many unScriptural things, such as magic.

Then the angel said unto him, Dost thou not remember the precepts which thy father gave thee, that thou shouldest marry a wife of thine own kindred? wherefore hear me, O my brother; for she shall be given thee to wife; and make thou no reckoning of the evil spirit; for this same night shall she be given thee in marriage. And when thou shalt come into the marriage chamber, thou shalt take the ashes of perfume, and shalt lay upon them some of the heart and liver of the fish, and shalt make a smoke with it: And the devil shall smell it, and flee away, and never come again any more: but when thou shalt come to her, rise up both of you, and pray to God which is merciful, who will have pity on you, and save you: fear not, for she is appointed unto thee from the beginning; and thou shalt preserve her, and she shall go with thee. Moreover I suppose that she shall bear thee children. Now when Tobias had heard these things, he loved her, and his heart was effectually joined to her. Tobit 6:15-17 (KJVApocrypha)

Does this sound like Scripture? Does this sound like “Thus sayeth the Lord”? Obviously not.

Answering The Roman Catholic Church 9

“By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin. … The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are ‘reborn of water and the Spirit.’ God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism … Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte ‘a new creature,’an adopted son of God, who has become a ‘partaker of the divine nature,’ member of Christ and co-heir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit. … From the baptismal fonts is born the one People of God of the New Covenant” (The New Catholic Catechism, 1994, #1263,1257,1265,1267).

David Cloud writes in his Way Of Life Encyclopedia of Christianity and The Bible,

Infant baptism is contrary to the New Testament teaching about baptism. Infant baptism uses the wrong mode—sprinkling rather than immersion. Infant baptism uses the wrong subject—infants unable to believe and be born again. Infant baptism has the wrong purpose—to impart salvation or spiritual blessings. (WOL Encyclopedia, Pg. 48, Way of Life Publications)

There can be found in the Bible zero verses in support of infant “baptism”.

There can be found in the Bible zero verses supporting “baptism” by sprinkling.

Here are all the verses in the New Testament which talk about sprinkling.

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: Hebrews 9:13 (KJV)

19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Hebrews 9:19 (KJV)

21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. Hebrews 9:21 (KJV)

22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22 (KJV)

28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. Hebrews 11:28 (KJV)

24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. Hebrews 12:24 (KJV)

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 1 Peter 1:2 (KJV)

I’m sure you’re wondering, “How is he ever going to get out of this one? That seems pretty conclusive to me!” Okay, let’s try an exercise. Don’t skim the verses. Read them.

……

Did you spot it yet?

What word is missing? Baptize. Baptized. Baptism.

Baptism in the Old Testament is only by full immersion. All the uses of “Sprinkle” or “sprinkled” are for three things…

• Oil – kind of rough on a person to immerse them in the anointing oil. It would take DAYS to get that off you! So they were anointed or sprinkledm depending on the uses of it.
• Blood – The Lord was merciful in that Old Testament saints were just anointed or sprinkled with the blood, not fully immersed. Again, kind of oogy and creepy if we had to be fully submersed in pools of blood. Ugh. Many people would vomit at the sight or smell of it – let alone get into it.
• Water of cleansing – this is the water that had the ashes of the Red Heifer (Parah Adumah in Hebrew, for you language fanatics) mixed in it.

The water of cleansing was sprinkled on the tent of meeting, to avoid ruining it (both the water of cleansing, and the sanctuary!) and on those who were Za’arah. The za’arot is a skin disease no longer on the earth right now. The translators of the King James Bible preferred to render this as “Leprosy”. Why? It was a form of leprosy, but not the kind we currently are familiar with (Hanson’s Disease). Hanson’s disease cannot spread to clothing or earthen homes. The Za’arah Leprosy could.

The water of purification was sprinkled on the Za’arot. why? Because if you dunked the leper into it… it contaminated the water of purification, and it could no longer be used for anything else. And red heifer’s are in very short supply. The Parah Adumah had to be without blemish, all red with no white hairs. It’s probable that the same water of purification was used for centuries until another red heifer could be found… and more prepared.

And after the leper was cured, he was to… what?

9 But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean. Leviticus 14:9 (KJV)

Full immersion. The Jewish people have always understood Baptism to mean full immersion. The Mikvah (baptismal) was always one that one stepped into, and immersed your entire body three times, to ensure every part of your body went under the water.

So the New Testament operates under the understanding of what was taught in the Old Testament.

“This false sacramental gospel kept my parents from ever telling me that I was a sinner and needed a Savior. They thought that I had received eternal life in baptism. I am positive that there are millions of Lutherans believing the same thing my parents did and which I was taught and believed for many years. I was saved at age 45 when I finally heard the true gospel and believed it. We believe that millions of souls are at stake because of this false teaching” (The Berean Call, August 2001).

The baptism of John teaches full immersion…

22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. John 3:22-23 (KJV)

If baptism were by sprinkling… all John needed was a flagon of water. Good to go! No need to go to the deep part of the Jordan. Notice Hebrews 10:22 uses “sprinkled” referring to blood, and “Washed” to refer to baptism. they are two different things, two different mediums, and tlaking about two different subjects – salvation and sanctification.

Baptism is not a “sacrament” or “Means of added grace”. It is a symbol, an outward sign. It should be the first act of a believer, showing his voluntary obediance to the word of God. If you depend on it to save, believe it or not, you have put the cart before the horse. You have the tail wagging the dog.

You need to be born again first. admit you are a sinner, and that there is no way you can save yourself. You are doomed to Hell, now and forever, unless the Lord saves you.

Repent of your sins, confess to the Lord Jesus Christ you are a sinner. Tell Him you’re sorry for your sins and rebellion, and ask Him to save you from Hell.

If you do this with an honest and repentant heart, then the Lord will save you. There’ll be evidence in your life, a changed nature. You’ll want to read the Bible, and attend a Godly church, one that teaches proper doctrine and Biblical truth. No changed nature? You weren’t born again.

Once you find that you are showing the evidences of a changed life, join a Godly church. Your baptism should be done from the motive of, “The Bible says i should do this. So i’m going to do it. I don’t want anything to stand in the way of it.” If you have any other motives for wanting to be baptized, go back to step one.

You’ll find that your attitude about your baptism by immersion was, “There. I did it. I obeyed the Lord.” You should feel… wet until you dry off. That’s about it. There’s no mystic sensation, no lightening of the spirit, no pins and needles (unless they left the baptismal warmer plugged in, and it has a short in it…). Baptism was just your identification with the death of the Lord and His bodily ressurection. “Buried with Him in death…raised to walk in the newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)

Getting back to infant baptism, the doctrine as taught by many churches is that the Church replaces Israel. This is incorrect. For starters, we need to understand that the Bible almost always refers to Churches, not to a universal church. Israel is Israel. Christianity is Christianity. Yes, all of Israel will eventually be born again believers, those that accept Christ while still alive. But the “Church” does not replace Israel.

Next, the Roman Catholic, Episcopal, and Lutheran Churches teach that since Israel had circumcision, this is replaced by Baptism.

That has no scriptural support whatsoever. Jewish males are circumcised on the eighth day. Jewish women are not. Is infant baptism for males only? No. So by practice they admit this is not true. It’s just an attempt to find a Scripture, ANYWHERE, that can justify an unBiblical practice.

My Wish for John Paul II

My Wish For Pope John Paul II

Answering The Roman Catholic Church 8

Yesterday we discussed the beginning about Baptismal Regeneration. Now we’re going to briefly examine it, and again deal with – how are we saved? Today, I’m going to let the Bible answer you.

50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. Luke 7:50 (KJV)

42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. Luke 18:42 (KJV)

11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Acts 15:11 (KJV)

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Romans 3:24 (KJV)

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Romans 3:28-30 (KJV)

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Romans 4:5 (KJV) 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, Romans 4:16 (KJV)

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 5:1 (KJV)

30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. Romans 9:30 (KJV)

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. Romans 10:4 (KJV)

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. Romans 11:6 (KJV)

16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Galatians 2:16 (KJV)

21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:21 (KJV)

5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Galatians 3:5-6 (KJV)

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:24 (KJV)

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 1:13 (KJV)

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: Philippians 3:9 (KJV)

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:15 (KJV)

We are saved by Faith, not by works, as Ephesians points out. Romans 11:6 points out if it be works it is none more grace. In other words, if you believe you must earn your salvation, then it is no longer grace.

Nowhere does the Bible say that Baptism saves. Nowhere. It is a misunderstanding of John 3:5 – and John 3:6 explains the meaning of John 3:5.

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:5 (KJV)

When we examine John 3:6, the Lord expains the symbolism.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. John 3:6-8 (KJV)

The water birth is the first, natural birth. You must be born again of the spirit. Although I have heard the interpretation that the Gospel is represented in this discussion by the term “water”, and I don’t have a problem with that, as the Bible does describe the Gospel as being “Living waters”. I hesitate to apply that usage, as it can lead one to spiritualize everything in the Bible, and that is the first error of Hermaneutics – “Seek the plain sense, lest any other sense make nonsense.”

David Cloud says in his Way Of Life Encyclopedia of Christianity and The Bible,

What Is the Purpose of Baptism? It is not for salvation, but is a public testimony of faith in Christ and a picture of the gospel. To interpret the Bible properly, the Bible teacher must “compare spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:13). The false teacher, though, takes verses out of context and uses isolated verses to overthrow the clear teaching of the Bible as a whole. He puts one definition on a Bible word and then forces that definition into all passages, regardless of the context. That is what those do who teach that baptismis a part of salvation.

False teachers use John 3:5 to teach the heresy of baptismal regeneration, claiming that to be “born of water” refers to salvation. For the following reasons, we know this is not true: (1) The passage says absolutely nothing about baptism. (2) Jesus is contrasting thenatural birth with the spiritual birth. Thus “born of water” refers to the tiny unborn baby enclosed in a sack of water in his mother’s womb; and when the water breaks he is born of water. (3) In this same passage, Christ taught that salvation is by faith alone and notby ritual or works (Jn. 3:14-18, 36). (WOL Encyclopedia, Pg. 46, Way Of Life Publications)

Again, as I pointed out in the beginning of the Roman Catholic series, Baptism is a work. Salvation must be of grace, not of works. I can boast, “I was baptized!” I cannot boast, “I surrendered my life to the Lord and asked Him to save me.

Even if salvation was by baptism (and I think I’ve proved pretty conclusively it is not), the Roman Catholic certainly cannot apply. Why? Because you must choose to be saved. And an infant cannot choose to be saved.

“What about the scores of Protestants that were baptized as babies? Doesn’t that mean you’re saying only Catholics can’t be saved by baptism???”

No, i’m saying that anyone that is “Baptized” as an infant has not been baptized. Nobody on earth is saved by baptizm. We are saved by grace, by repentance and by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible makes that clear, abundantly clear. Any Protestant that rests on getting their forehead wet as their salvation is in for a horrible shock a second or two after death. Those flames are not a mythical purgatory. That’s hellfire. And you will be there forever, not until “your sins are paid for.” How many Roman Catholics are in eternal torment beacuse the Roman Catholic “church” lied to them about salvation? And the horror sinks in when you realize that some of them may still be holding out in the hope that it will someday end when their “Penance” is completed. The truth will sink in eventually – this is not purgatory. This is Hell.

But we’ll deal with that soon enough as we deal with Purgatory.

So any Lutheran, Presbyterian, Church of Christ, Methodist, Roman Catholic, etc. who thinks “I’m saved because I was sprinkled as a baby”… you’re horribly mistaken.

Get a Bible, read it, study it. try to prove me wrong. But the point is, you must be prepared to believe exactly what the Bible teaches you. Not to look for proofs of your pre-concieved notions or to force it to conform to your doctrines, but rather to believe what it says.

History is full of men appointed by Lutherans, Episcopals, Roman Catholics, and Methodists who openly and honestly examined the Bible for proofs of infant Baptism… and who became Baptists as a result. Look it up. i’ve already listed most of the verses on this above.

Answering The Roman Catholic Church 7

The subject of Baptismal Regeneration is one that most Christians are silent on.Many protestant denominations and churches teach a modified form of Baptismal regeneration. Episcopals teach it, Lutherans consider it a means of “Added grace”, which again shows that most Protestant churches really only took a foot out of the roman Catholic church , while leaving the other one fully planted in there! Baptist churches were never historically part of Rome, something else that annoys many protestants.

David Cloud writes, “The New Catholic Catechism (1994) dogmatically declares: ‘the Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are ‘reborn of water and the Spirit.’ God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism…” (1257). (Is The Roman Catholic Church Changing? pg 60, David Cloud)

Billy Graham, an enthusiastic supporter of the Roman Catholic Church, once told the Lutheran Standard in an interview, “We cannot fully understand the miracles of God, but I believe that a miracle can happen in these children so that they are regenerated, that is, made Christian, through infant baptism. If you want to call that baptismal regeneration, that’s all right with me” (Graham, interview with Wilfred Bockelman, associate editor of the Lutheran Standard, American Lutheran Church, Lutheran Standard, October 10, 1961).

That’s Ecumenism in action.

CARM, in their ‘Catholic Terminology’ writing defines Baptism as “Baptism – One of seven sacraments that takes away original sin and actual sin.” (CARM – Roman Catholicism E-Sword Module)

Salvation through Baptism, as I’ve already mentioned before, is a work. Again, to paraphrase CARM, Salvation is either by faith or by works. There’s no other option. You cannot say, “We are saved through faith, and then must maintain it by works.” That’s not salvation by faith. That’s Salvation by works and an unhealthy dose of lying to yourself.

You cannot say, “We are saved by faith and our works.” That is again salvation by works. Salvation is by faith, alone.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:14-19 (KJV)

There’s nothing in there about works, but obviously a born again experience.

23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:23-26 (KJV)

That’s a bottom line statement. “With men, it is impossible.” That’s the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. Bottom line. We cannot save ourselves. “Who then can be saved?” “With God, all things are possible.” It is not possible to save ourselves.

We cannot earn our salvation. It must come from God.

The biggest error in false religions and denominations that hold to erroneous beliefs, is that of confusing Salvation and Sanctification. That’s the major problem. It is an error that is commonly made by both the unSaved, and also by new believers without enough Bbiel study. The more mature believer begins to leave that position almost immediately, having read through the Bible enough. The Roman Catholic Church makes that same error.