The Marriage Supper Parable - A Cartoon with Sound Effects, Music, and Scripture - A Teaching of Jesus in Matthew 22

(See the PDF file here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-l2aOUz80mv-LIyzzPpySegRgZDMaDLT/view?usp=sharing .) The Marriage...

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Catholicism Exposed (What the Bible Says About Catholic Beliefs) (Eucharist) (Purgatory) (Mary) (Catolicismo Expuesto)




Catholicism Exposed


With over a billion adherents and an incalculable amount of wealth, the Roman Catholic Church is one of the largest and wealthiest religions in the world. Its followers can be found all around the world and its influence has been felt in nearly every country since ancient times. The Catholic Church teaches many "doctrines" which cannot be found in the Bible. This article will compare four of them with the Bible. We will see how they contradict the Bible.

(Contents: 

1. The Sacrifice of the Mass (Eucharist) 
2. Mary the “Mediatrix” is False Doctrine and Contradicts Scripture 
3. Purgatory is Not Found in the Bible but Catholics Teach It Regardless 
4. Bowing to Images and Praying to Statues Is against God’s Word 
5. If You Would Like to Have a Relationship with God...)



1. The Sacrifice of the Mass (Eucharist)

The Catholic Church teaches that every Catholic must partake of the Eucharist (round wafers and wine or grape juice), during the Mass, in order to be saved.

"The Eucharist is necessary for salvation, to be received either sacramentally or in desire." (The Question and Answer Catholic Catechism, Q. 1217.) (Bold added)


Catholics believe that the round wafers and wine of the Eucharist transform into Christ’s actual physical body and blood: literal flesh and blood.

"After the consecration, nothing remains of the bread and wine except their external properties. Their substance becomes the living body and blood of Christ." (The Question and Answer Catholic Catechism, Q. 1225.) (Bold added)

"The Eucharist is a sacrament which really, truly, and substantially contains the body and blood, soul, and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ under the appearances of bread and wine. It is the great sacrament..." (The Question and Answer Catholic Catechism, p. 244, Q. 1212.) (Bold added)


But, what does the Bible teach about this subject? Romans 6 addresses this topic.

Romans 6:6-11 (Emphasis added)

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.


Jesus Christ “died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.” Jesus does not die all over again each time someone takes part of the Eucharist. His sacrifice at the Cross of Calvary was done one time to pay for all the sins of the world. Hebrews 10 explains…

Hebrews 10:3-10

3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

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.

Notice verse 10? The Holy Spirit, through the writer of Hebrews says that Christians “are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” This offering of the body of Jesus Christ is again not many times during many Masses, but “once for all”. 

Hebrews 10:14-18

14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Jesus Christ was offered up “once for all”. Verse 18 says, “Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.” To teach otherwise contradicts the Bible, God’s Holy Word.


2. Mary the “Mediatrix” is False Doctrine and Contradicts Scripture



Catholic doctrine states that Mary and Jesus intercede for us.

"She [Mary] is also mediatrix because she continues to intercede for us who are still working out our salvation on earth or suffering in purgatory." (The Question and Answer Catholic Catechism, p. 244, Q. 253.)

Nowhere in scripture is Mary taught to be a mediatrix (or female intercessor between God and man). 1 Timothy 2 reveals…

1 Timothy 2:5-6

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Notice verse 5? “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” There is only one mediator, Jesus Christ.

Mary, the wife of Joseph, had several children. She was never mentioned by any of the writers of the New Testament or by the writers of the Gospel accounts as being someone to pray to. Jesus never ever called Mary “mother”. Instead, Jesus called Mary “woman”, which was a respectful way of addressing her. One time when Jesus was teaching a crowd, Mary and some of her sons came to visit Jesus. Jesus did not call her mother. Instead, he said…

Luke 8:19-21

19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.

20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.

21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

Going back to the subject of prayer... Nowhere in scripture (the Bible) is it taught that prayer can be made to people God created. Look at Psalm 50.

Psalm 50:14-15

14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

God is the only one we offer prayers to. He is the only one who will deliver us. Psalm 97 says…

Psalm 97:7-9

7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.

8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord.

9 For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.


God alone is to be worshiped (worship is a form of prayer). God alone is to be praised. Hebrews 7 teaches us that Jesus Christ makes intercession for us.

Hebrews 7

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.


Jesus Christever liveth to make intercession for them.” Only Jesus Christ intercedes to God the Father on behalf of those who believe in Jesus. Mary is not mentioned anywhere as making intercession, but the Holy Spirit is. Romans 8 tells how the Holy Spirit “maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Romans 8:26-27

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.


The Holy Spirit is masculine, just to note. He “maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.The Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ both intercede for saints, or Christians (see Hebrews 7:25 again). A saint is never a special Christian who has attained some high position. The Bible teaches that every true Christian who serves God is a saint (as in Romans 8:27).


3. Purgatory is Not Found in the Bible but Catholics Teach It Regardless


The Catholic doctrine of Purgatory states that…

"Purgatory is a state or condition in which the souls of the just, who die with the stains of sin, are cleansed before they are admitted to heaven." (The Question and Answer Catholic Catechism, Q. 316.)

"Stain of sin means the temporal punishment still due to venial or forgiven mortal sins. If the punishment has not been satisfied before death, a person must suffer in purgatory to repay this debt which is owed to the divine Majesty." (The Question and Answer Catholic Catechism, Q. 317.)

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ’s precious blood cleanses all the sin of those who trust in Him for Salvation (see Hebrews 9:12). Nowhere is Purgatory, or anything like it, mentioned.

Hebrews 9:11-12

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

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.

Colossians 1:13-14

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Colossians 1:14 teaches that those who trust in Jesus Christ and His blood for salvation “have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” This is nothing we can obtain by good works. It is a free gift of God and “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2 says…

Ephesians 2:8-9

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.

Hebrews 9 talks more about Jesus Christ’s one-time sacrifice to pay for all the sin of those who trust in Him for salvation.

Hebrews 9:24-28

24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Hebrews 9:26 and 28 reveal that Jesus Christ “put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Jesus Christ did this sacrifice “once in the end of the world”. Jesus did this not twice, not many times, but once. One time, Jesus paid for all the sins of those who believe in His name…who believe that He died for their sins, shedding His precious blood on the cross to pay for all their sins (see Romans 10:9-10 and 1 Corinthians 15:3-4).



4. Bowing to Images and Praying to Statues Is against God’s Word


In the Catholic religion, statues, carvings, and images are part of their worship. Each year many thousands of visitors make pilgrimages to see Catholic shrines where they offer up prayers to “saints” and bow before the statues and images.

Exodus 20:4-5

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

The Catholics deny that they are breaking the Ten Commandments by bowing before these images and statues. Catholics are told that showing "special devotion" to (and praying to) "the Blessed Virgin", to statues, and to “saints” is fine because Catholics also give "adoration" to the "Father".

The Catholic Catechism 971 states in part:
"The Church's devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship." 

The Jesus Christ clearly told Satan…
Matthew 4:10
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.



Worship is defined as (1):
"[1.] reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred." [Bold added]
"[2.] formal or ceremonious rendering of such honor and homage: 'They attended worship this morning.'
"[3.] adoring reverence or regard: 'excessive worship of business success.'"



Jesus Christ also clearly taught...

Luke 16:13-15

13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.


What men hold in high esteem “is abomination in the sight of God.” That includes statues and images. Nowhere does the Bible teach that bowing down to statues is okay. The Catholic Catechism 2113 teaches that it is wrong to serve other gods (or creatures or demons or ancestors), in place of God, but implies it is fine to bow before and pray to statues and “saints”. This condition of people claiming to both serve God and also serve graven images is found in 2 Kings 17. God forbids this idolatry.

2 Kings 17:11-12

11 And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the Lord carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger:

12 For they served idols, whereof the Lord had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.

2 Kings 17:39-41

39 But the Lord your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.

40 Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.

41 So these nations feared the Lord, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.


These people feared the Lord, and served their graven images”. 


(Note: Mary has been called "The Queen of Heaven" for a long time by the Roman Catholic Church. The Bible speaks about how the ancient Jews worshiped the "queen of heaven" and provoked God. See Jeremiah 7:17-18.)

Is this any different than what most Catholics do today?


Please remember: Worship is defined as (1):
"[1] reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred." [Bold added]

Remember, Jesus Christ clearly said...
Matthew 4:10
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.



5. If You Would Like to Have a Relationship with the true God, Be an Adopted Child of God, and Go to Heaven…



God loves us so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins and shed His precious blood to pay for all of these sins (John 3:16 and 1 Corinthians. 15:3-4). And He rose from the grave on the third day (1 Cor. 15:4).

The Bible says this about Jesus and Salvation:

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;”

Acts 4:12

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”



HOW TO GET SAVED and KNOW GOD:


1. If you believe and confess aloud, genuinely from your heart, that Jesus Christ has paid for all your sins with His precious blood and has risen from the dead (…knowing that you cannot earn this free gift of salvation) (Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; and Colossians 1:14);

2. And if you repent from your sins (You do this by confessing only to God Himself that you are a sinner and that you want to turn away from sin.) (Romans 3:23; Acts 3:19; and 1 John 1:8-9);

3. And if you have made Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior, you are saved (Jesus cannot be your Lord if you are serving yourself and living selfishly. If He is not your Lord, you would have another master. Jesus said in Luke 16:13: “No servant can serve two masters…”) (Romans 10:9-10 and Luke 16:13).

4. Now seek God with all your heart. Seek to know Him and you will (Jeremiah 29:13).


We need to emphasize this: God does not want us following a strict system of rules in order to please Him. God loves us and is about having a good personal relationship with each one of us as we seek Him and obey Him. God loves you and wants you to get to know Him personally.

John 17:3 says: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."



__________________________

Works Cited

"Worship." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, LLC. n.d. Web. 3 Sept. 2014.


Other Related Articles:

Mystery Babylon – The Great Harlot (What is Mystery Babylon?)

The Mormon Religion Exposed (LDS Church Exposed)

Exposed: “Jehovah’s Witnesses” (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society Exposed)

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please refrain from profanity or advertising on this blog. I appreciate your comments (as long as they are polite and clean).