[background=#fff]
THE CATHOLIC CHRONICLES by Keith Green Chronicle II
CHRONICLE II
In Chronicle I, we thoroughly examined the doctrine of
transubstantiation its history, practice, and real meaning. But we have
waited for this second article to answer the question: Why? Why must
there be present in the Mass the literal body and blood of Jesus?
What purpose does it serve? The answer is found in these startling
words:
"The sacrifice of the Mass is the same sacrifice of the cross, for there
is the same priest, the same victim, and the same offering."9
And in the words of Pope Pius IV...
"I profess likewise that in the mass there is offered to God a true,
proper, and propitiatory10 sacrifice for the living and the dead." (11)
That is the incredible truth! The Roman Catholic Church believes and
teaches that in every Mass, in every church, throughout the world
(estimated at up to 200,000 Masses a day) that Jesus Christ is being
offered up again, physically, as a sacrifice for sin (benefitting not only
those alive, but the dead as well!) ("It is appointed unto men once to
die, but after this the judgment" Heb. 9:27.)
Every Roman Mass is a re-creation of Jesus' death for the sins of the
world. Not a symbolic re-creation! But a literal, actual offering of the
flesh and blood of the Lord to make daily atonement for all the sins
that have been daily committed since Jesus was crucified almost
2,000 years ago12 That's why the elements must become physically
Jesus' body and blood, so that they can be once again offered for sin:
"The Holy Eucharist is the perpetual continuation of this act of
sacrifice and surrender of our Lord. When the Lord's Supper is
celebrated, Christ again presents Himself in His act of total surrender
to the Father in death."(13)
"He offers Himself continually to the Father, in the same eternal act
of offering that began on the cross and will never cease." (14)
"The Mass is identical to Calvary it is a sacrifice for sin it must be
perpetuated to take away sin." (15)
The catechism of the Council of Trent required all pastors to explain
that not only did the elements of the Mass contain flesh, bones and
nerves as a part of Christ, "But also a WHOLE CHRIST".(16) Thus it is
referred to as "the sacrifice of the Mass" and as "a renewal of the
sacrifice of the cross"! (17)
THE COUNCIL OF TRENT ON "THE SACRIFICE OF THE MASS”
As we shared in Chronicle I, the Council of Trent was called to clarify
and standardize Catholic doctrine in response to the challenges of
the Reformation. The canons on this subject (passed in Session XXII.
Cap II.) are as follows:
"If any one shall say, that in the Mass there is not offered to God a
true and proper sacrifice, or that what is offered is nothing else than
Christ given to be eaten, let him be anathema."
"If any one shall say that in these words, 'This do in remembrance of
Me', Christ did not make the apostles priests, or did not ordain that
they themselves and other priests should offer His body and blood,
let him be anathema."
“If any one shall say that the sacrifice of the Mass is only of praise
and thanksgiving, or a bare commemoration of the sacrifice
performed on the cross, but not propitiatory; or that it is of benefit only
to the person who takes it, and ought not to be offered for the living
and the dead for sins, punishments, satisfactions, and other
necessities, let him be accursed."
"If any one shall say that a blasphemy is ascribed to the most holy
sacrifice of Christ performed on the cross by the sacrifice of the Mass
let him be accursed." (18)
BUT IS THIS THE BELIEF OF ROME TODAY?
If any be in doubt as to the modern Roman position, we shall quote
the recent (1963-65) Second Vatican Council:
"At the Last Supper. . . our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice
of His body and blood. He did this in order to perpetuate the sacrifice
of the cross. . ." (19)
The catechism books teach that the reason the Mass is the same
sacrifice as that of Calvary is because the victim in each case was
Jesus Christ. (20) (In fact, they refer to the bread of the Eucharist as the
"host", which is the Latin word hostia which literally means "victim". (21)
BUT WHY "THE SACRIFICE" OF THE MASS?
We will now quote the Roman Church's own contemporary literature
to fully answer this question
Sacrifice is the very essence of religion. And it is only through
sacrifice that union with the Creator can be perfectly acquired. It was
through sacrifice that Christ Himself was able to achieve this for man.
It is only through the perpetuation of that sacrifice that this union may
be maintained.
What makes the Mass the most exalted of all sacrifices is the nature
of the victim, Christ Himself. For the Mass is the continuation of
Christ's sacrifice which He offered through His life and death. Jesus
then, is the priest, the offerer of the sacrifice. But Christ was not only
the priest of this sacrifice (of the cross), He was also the victim, the
very object itself of this sacrifice.
The Mass is thus the same as the sacrifice of the cross. No matter
how many times it is offered, nor in how many places at one time, it is
the same sacrifice of Christ. Christ is forever offering Himself in the
Mass. (22)
BUT JESUS SAID "IT IS FINISHED!"
Every true believer loves the sound of these words: "It is finished!"
(John 19:30). For it is the wonderful exclamation that the Lord's
suffering was finally over- He had fulfilled His mission! Jesus had
lived a life of sorrow, bearing the burden of a world gone mad. He
had been rejected by everyone, even His closest friends. He had
lived a perfect life before men and God, and His reward on earth was
to be laughed at, spit upon, beaten beyond recognition, and finally
nailed to a cross. But He had submitted willingly, because it was the
will of His Father to offer Him as the satisfaction of the penalty for all
the sin in the world past, present and future!
But here, in the words of a Roman Catholic priest, is the "true
meaning" of the words "it is finished!" These words do not declare
that His sacrifice was finished, but that He had finished His former,
normal, earthly life and was now fixed in the state of a victim...He
then began His everlasting career as the perpetual sacrifice of the
new law." (23) Hence, according to Rome, Jesus must be forever dying
for sin, "perpetually".
Have you ever wondered why in every Catholic Church they still have
Jesus up on the cross? Every crucifix with Jesus portrayed as nailed
to it, tells the whole Catholic story- Jesus is still dying for the sins of
the world! But that's a lie! We need only look to the Scriptures to see
the truth.
BACK TO THE BOOK
The epistle to the Hebrews speaks of the "once for all" sacrifice of
Christ on the cross, not a daily sacrifice on altars. The Bible
repeatedly affirms in the clearest and most positive terms that Christ's
sacrifice on Calvary was complete in that one offering. And that it was
never to be repeated is set forth explicitly in Hebrews, chapters 7, 9
and 10:
"Who needs 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 7:27)."
...by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having
obtained eternal redemption for us" (Hebrews 9:12).
"Nor yet that He should offer Himself often …but now once in the end
of the world has He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of
Himself. . . so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and
unto those who look for Him shall He appear the second time without
sin unto salvation" (Hebrews 9:25-28)
…we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ
once for all. And every priest stands daily ministering and offering
oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but
this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for the sins forever, sat
down on the right hand of God. . .for by one offering He has perfected
forever those who are sanctified" (10:10-14).
Notice that throughout these verses occurs the statement "once for
all" which shows how perfect, complete and final Jesus' sacrifice was!
His work on the cross constituted one historic event which need
never be repeated and which in fact cannot be repeated. As Paul
says,
"Christ, being raised from the dead dies no more" (Romans 6:9).
Any pretense of a continuous offering for sin is worse than vain, it is
blasphemy and true fulfillment of the Scripture,
"Seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put
Him to an open shame" (Heb. 6:6).
JESUS THE ONLY PRIEST
Jesus not only became the perfect sacrifice for sin, but after being
accepted by God as having totally fulfilled the requirements of the old
covenant, He became "the mediator of a better covenant" (Heb. 8:6).
That means that Jesus is the high priest of every true believer!
"There is one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ"
(I Tim. 2:5).
The Bible teaches that the priesthood of Jesus Christ is unique "You
are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek" (Psalm 110:4 and
Hebrews 7:17.)
"Because He abides forever, (He) holds His priesthood permanently"
(which means that it cannot be transferred to another!) (Heb. 7 17.
24)
But Roman Catholicism teaches that the apostles were ordained by
Jesus Himself (at the Last Supper) to perpetuate the coming sacrifice
He would make on the cross. And that this ordination has been
handed down through the centuries to the current generation of
priests. Therefore, Rome teaches that her priests actually operate
and discharge the priesthood of Jesus Christ, and that they are called
"other Christs" (alter Christus, in Latin.)
This explains the great adulation and honor heaped upon the Roman
priest. The French Catholic Saint J.B.M. Vianney said that
"Where there is no priest there is no sacrifice, and where there is no
sacrifice there is no religion…without the priest the death and passion
of our Lord would be of no avail to us…see the power of the priest!
By one word from his lips, he changes a piece of bread into a God! A
greater feat than the creation of a world."
He also said,
"If I were to meet a priest and an angel, I would salute the priest
before saluting the angel. The angel is a friend of God, but the priest
holds the place of God...next to God Himself, the priest is everything!"
What humiliation for Jesus Christ, the One who has been given a
name "above all other names!"
BUT ISN'T ROME CHANGING?
Today, many are expressing hope that Rome is turning toward
Scriptural Christianity. They point to the many reforms of Vatican II
(that is, such as Masses performed in the common language rather
than exclusively in Latin, the relaxation of taboos such as eating food
on Friday, etc. and also to the ever-widening charismatic renewal.
True, these things appear to be a positive sign of change, and many
are thrilled by them; but most fail to realize that these changes are
only superficial. For Rome could never reject the sacrifice of the Mass
just streamline it enough to keep the truth of its meaning hidden.
Pope John XXIII made it clear that His Church is bound "to all the
teachings of the Church in its entirety and preciseness, as it still
shines forth in the act of the Council of Trent and First Vatican
Council..." (24)
It is clear that the whole of Roman teaching and belief is founded on
this premise of the continual sacrifice of Christ for sin:
It should be easy to see why the Mass holds such an important place
in the Church's life. The Mass is the very essence of the Roman Church.
Within it the Church's life, and the Church's very existence is
centered. If there were no mass, there could be no Catholic Church.
The Mass is our act of worship, an act which we know to be really
worthy of God, because it is the sacrifice of God's own Son.
What the sacrifices of the old law were unable to accomplish- what no
other form of human worship can accomplish- the Mass performs:
Perfect atonement is made for sin.
The souls of men yet unborn, together with those now living and
those who have come into existence since Christ's sacrifice, all have
need of the salvation which Christ has won for us. It is through the
Mass as well as through the other sacraments that the effects of
Christ's salvation are applied to the souls of men.(25)
It is made thoroughly clear that Rome will forever put its faith in the
Mass for the eternal forgiveness of sins. To remove this belief from
her system of theology, would be like knocking out the pillars of a
great edifice- the whole building would come tumbling down!
PAUL'S EXTREME WARNING
As I sat stunned, reading all the "Let them be accursed" threats of the
Council of Trent, I could not help but think how their curses would
only fall back on their own heads for the words of our brother Paul
call out across the centuries:
"But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you
a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be
accursed!" (Gal. 1:<img alt="8)" class="yiv2013913577smiley" title="Cool" />.
Not only does Paul warn that an authentic angel from heaven should
not be heeded while preaching a "different doctrine", but he gives the
ultimate warning "…even though we"! Paul strictly warned the
Galatians, not even to listen to him- the chief apostle and master of
true doctrine- if he should reverse himself on any of the fundamental
teachings of the gospel. How much more then, should we reject the
appalling traditions and practices of a system that is not only
unbiblical, but is actually steeped in mysticism, bordering dangerously
on the occult!
CONCLUSION: THE DEFINITION OF A "CULT"
Now I am sure, many of you who have been reading this, might have
been wondering if (and when) I would use this word. Today, the word
"cult" is thrown around without much thought. People seem much too
eager to use it to describe any individual or group that doesn't exactly
agree with them. And I do not, and will not use the word lightly. But as
far as I can see from the Bible, a person is only in danger of being
grouped with "false brethren" by tampering with three very basic
issues of biblical truth. (These are greatly condensed for this
example.)
1. Who Jesus is- Son of God, God the Son, Creator of the
Universe.
2. What He came to do- to die once for all, for the sins of mankind,
then raise from the dead as the eternal high priest of all true
believers.
3. How a person directly benefits from Christ's death for sin- he is
accounted as righteous through a total faith and rest in the
finished work of Christ, and becomes the possessor of God's
free gift eternal life (salvation).
The Roman Catholic Church has been considered a true Christian
faith, mainly because it is generally known that their theology is quite
orthodox on point #1. But as we have pointed out in these two
chronicles, they are perilously shaky on #2 i.e. the atonement,
Christ's substitutionary death for sinners.
But if there is any doubt left at all, as to whether or not the Roman
Church is authentically and biblically Christian, there will be a
complete and thorough study of the Roman view on how one obtains
salvation in our third installment of "The Catholic Chronicles".[/background]
THE CATHOLIC CHRONICLES by Keith Green Chronicle II
CHRONICLE II
In Chronicle I, we thoroughly examined the doctrine of
transubstantiation its history, practice, and real meaning. But we have
waited for this second article to answer the question: Why? Why must
there be present in the Mass the literal body and blood of Jesus?
What purpose does it serve? The answer is found in these startling
words:
"The sacrifice of the Mass is the same sacrifice of the cross, for there
is the same priest, the same victim, and the same offering."9
And in the words of Pope Pius IV...
"I profess likewise that in the mass there is offered to God a true,
proper, and propitiatory10 sacrifice for the living and the dead." (11)
That is the incredible truth! The Roman Catholic Church believes and
teaches that in every Mass, in every church, throughout the world
(estimated at up to 200,000 Masses a day) that Jesus Christ is being
offered up again, physically, as a sacrifice for sin (benefitting not only
those alive, but the dead as well!) ("It is appointed unto men once to
die, but after this the judgment" Heb. 9:27.)
Every Roman Mass is a re-creation of Jesus' death for the sins of the
world. Not a symbolic re-creation! But a literal, actual offering of the
flesh and blood of the Lord to make daily atonement for all the sins
that have been daily committed since Jesus was crucified almost
2,000 years ago12 That's why the elements must become physically
Jesus' body and blood, so that they can be once again offered for sin:
"The Holy Eucharist is the perpetual continuation of this act of
sacrifice and surrender of our Lord. When the Lord's Supper is
celebrated, Christ again presents Himself in His act of total surrender
to the Father in death."(13)
"He offers Himself continually to the Father, in the same eternal act
of offering that began on the cross and will never cease." (14)
"The Mass is identical to Calvary it is a sacrifice for sin it must be
perpetuated to take away sin." (15)
The catechism of the Council of Trent required all pastors to explain
that not only did the elements of the Mass contain flesh, bones and
nerves as a part of Christ, "But also a WHOLE CHRIST".(16) Thus it is
referred to as "the sacrifice of the Mass" and as "a renewal of the
sacrifice of the cross"! (17)
THE COUNCIL OF TRENT ON "THE SACRIFICE OF THE MASS”
As we shared in Chronicle I, the Council of Trent was called to clarify
and standardize Catholic doctrine in response to the challenges of
the Reformation. The canons on this subject (passed in Session XXII.
Cap II.) are as follows:
"If any one shall say, that in the Mass there is not offered to God a
true and proper sacrifice, or that what is offered is nothing else than
Christ given to be eaten, let him be anathema."
"If any one shall say that in these words, 'This do in remembrance of
Me', Christ did not make the apostles priests, or did not ordain that
they themselves and other priests should offer His body and blood,
let him be anathema."
“If any one shall say that the sacrifice of the Mass is only of praise
and thanksgiving, or a bare commemoration of the sacrifice
performed on the cross, but not propitiatory; or that it is of benefit only
to the person who takes it, and ought not to be offered for the living
and the dead for sins, punishments, satisfactions, and other
necessities, let him be accursed."
"If any one shall say that a blasphemy is ascribed to the most holy
sacrifice of Christ performed on the cross by the sacrifice of the Mass
let him be accursed." (18)
BUT IS THIS THE BELIEF OF ROME TODAY?
If any be in doubt as to the modern Roman position, we shall quote
the recent (1963-65) Second Vatican Council:
"At the Last Supper. . . our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice
of His body and blood. He did this in order to perpetuate the sacrifice
of the cross. . ." (19)
The catechism books teach that the reason the Mass is the same
sacrifice as that of Calvary is because the victim in each case was
Jesus Christ. (20) (In fact, they refer to the bread of the Eucharist as the
"host", which is the Latin word hostia which literally means "victim". (21)
BUT WHY "THE SACRIFICE" OF THE MASS?
We will now quote the Roman Church's own contemporary literature
to fully answer this question
Sacrifice is the very essence of religion. And it is only through
sacrifice that union with the Creator can be perfectly acquired. It was
through sacrifice that Christ Himself was able to achieve this for man.
It is only through the perpetuation of that sacrifice that this union may
be maintained.
What makes the Mass the most exalted of all sacrifices is the nature
of the victim, Christ Himself. For the Mass is the continuation of
Christ's sacrifice which He offered through His life and death. Jesus
then, is the priest, the offerer of the sacrifice. But Christ was not only
the priest of this sacrifice (of the cross), He was also the victim, the
very object itself of this sacrifice.
The Mass is thus the same as the sacrifice of the cross. No matter
how many times it is offered, nor in how many places at one time, it is
the same sacrifice of Christ. Christ is forever offering Himself in the
Mass. (22)
BUT JESUS SAID "IT IS FINISHED!"
Every true believer loves the sound of these words: "It is finished!"
(John 19:30). For it is the wonderful exclamation that the Lord's
suffering was finally over- He had fulfilled His mission! Jesus had
lived a life of sorrow, bearing the burden of a world gone mad. He
had been rejected by everyone, even His closest friends. He had
lived a perfect life before men and God, and His reward on earth was
to be laughed at, spit upon, beaten beyond recognition, and finally
nailed to a cross. But He had submitted willingly, because it was the
will of His Father to offer Him as the satisfaction of the penalty for all
the sin in the world past, present and future!
But here, in the words of a Roman Catholic priest, is the "true
meaning" of the words "it is finished!" These words do not declare
that His sacrifice was finished, but that He had finished His former,
normal, earthly life and was now fixed in the state of a victim...He
then began His everlasting career as the perpetual sacrifice of the
new law." (23) Hence, according to Rome, Jesus must be forever dying
for sin, "perpetually".
Have you ever wondered why in every Catholic Church they still have
Jesus up on the cross? Every crucifix with Jesus portrayed as nailed
to it, tells the whole Catholic story- Jesus is still dying for the sins of
the world! But that's a lie! We need only look to the Scriptures to see
the truth.
BACK TO THE BOOK
The epistle to the Hebrews speaks of the "once for all" sacrifice of
Christ on the cross, not a daily sacrifice on altars. The Bible
repeatedly affirms in the clearest and most positive terms that Christ's
sacrifice on Calvary was complete in that one offering. And that it was
never to be repeated is set forth explicitly in Hebrews, chapters 7, 9
and 10:
"Who needs 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 7:27)."
...by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having
obtained eternal redemption for us" (Hebrews 9:12).
"Nor yet that He should offer Himself often …but now once in the end
of the world has He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of
Himself. . . so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and
unto those who look for Him shall He appear the second time without
sin unto salvation" (Hebrews 9:25-28)
…we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ
once for all. And every priest stands daily ministering and offering
oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but
this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for the sins forever, sat
down on the right hand of God. . .for by one offering He has perfected
forever those who are sanctified" (10:10-14).
Notice that throughout these verses occurs the statement "once for
all" which shows how perfect, complete and final Jesus' sacrifice was!
His work on the cross constituted one historic event which need
never be repeated and which in fact cannot be repeated. As Paul
says,
"Christ, being raised from the dead dies no more" (Romans 6:9).
Any pretense of a continuous offering for sin is worse than vain, it is
blasphemy and true fulfillment of the Scripture,
"Seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put
Him to an open shame" (Heb. 6:6).
JESUS THE ONLY PRIEST
Jesus not only became the perfect sacrifice for sin, but after being
accepted by God as having totally fulfilled the requirements of the old
covenant, He became "the mediator of a better covenant" (Heb. 8:6).
That means that Jesus is the high priest of every true believer!
"There is one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ"
(I Tim. 2:5).
The Bible teaches that the priesthood of Jesus Christ is unique "You
are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek" (Psalm 110:4 and
Hebrews 7:17.)
"Because He abides forever, (He) holds His priesthood permanently"
(which means that it cannot be transferred to another!) (Heb. 7 17.
24)
But Roman Catholicism teaches that the apostles were ordained by
Jesus Himself (at the Last Supper) to perpetuate the coming sacrifice
He would make on the cross. And that this ordination has been
handed down through the centuries to the current generation of
priests. Therefore, Rome teaches that her priests actually operate
and discharge the priesthood of Jesus Christ, and that they are called
"other Christs" (alter Christus, in Latin.)
This explains the great adulation and honor heaped upon the Roman
priest. The French Catholic Saint J.B.M. Vianney said that
"Where there is no priest there is no sacrifice, and where there is no
sacrifice there is no religion…without the priest the death and passion
of our Lord would be of no avail to us…see the power of the priest!
By one word from his lips, he changes a piece of bread into a God! A
greater feat than the creation of a world."
He also said,
"If I were to meet a priest and an angel, I would salute the priest
before saluting the angel. The angel is a friend of God, but the priest
holds the place of God...next to God Himself, the priest is everything!"
What humiliation for Jesus Christ, the One who has been given a
name "above all other names!"
BUT ISN'T ROME CHANGING?
Today, many are expressing hope that Rome is turning toward
Scriptural Christianity. They point to the many reforms of Vatican II
(that is, such as Masses performed in the common language rather
than exclusively in Latin, the relaxation of taboos such as eating food
on Friday, etc. and also to the ever-widening charismatic renewal.
True, these things appear to be a positive sign of change, and many
are thrilled by them; but most fail to realize that these changes are
only superficial. For Rome could never reject the sacrifice of the Mass
just streamline it enough to keep the truth of its meaning hidden.
Pope John XXIII made it clear that His Church is bound "to all the
teachings of the Church in its entirety and preciseness, as it still
shines forth in the act of the Council of Trent and First Vatican
Council..." (24)
It is clear that the whole of Roman teaching and belief is founded on
this premise of the continual sacrifice of Christ for sin:
It should be easy to see why the Mass holds such an important place
in the Church's life. The Mass is the very essence of the Roman Church.
Within it the Church's life, and the Church's very existence is
centered. If there were no mass, there could be no Catholic Church.
The Mass is our act of worship, an act which we know to be really
worthy of God, because it is the sacrifice of God's own Son.
What the sacrifices of the old law were unable to accomplish- what no
other form of human worship can accomplish- the Mass performs:
Perfect atonement is made for sin.
The souls of men yet unborn, together with those now living and
those who have come into existence since Christ's sacrifice, all have
need of the salvation which Christ has won for us. It is through the
Mass as well as through the other sacraments that the effects of
Christ's salvation are applied to the souls of men.(25)
It is made thoroughly clear that Rome will forever put its faith in the
Mass for the eternal forgiveness of sins. To remove this belief from
her system of theology, would be like knocking out the pillars of a
great edifice- the whole building would come tumbling down!
PAUL'S EXTREME WARNING
As I sat stunned, reading all the "Let them be accursed" threats of the
Council of Trent, I could not help but think how their curses would
only fall back on their own heads for the words of our brother Paul
call out across the centuries:
"But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you
a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be
accursed!" (Gal. 1:<img alt="8)" class="yiv2013913577smiley" title="Cool" />.
Not only does Paul warn that an authentic angel from heaven should
not be heeded while preaching a "different doctrine", but he gives the
ultimate warning "…even though we"! Paul strictly warned the
Galatians, not even to listen to him- the chief apostle and master of
true doctrine- if he should reverse himself on any of the fundamental
teachings of the gospel. How much more then, should we reject the
appalling traditions and practices of a system that is not only
unbiblical, but is actually steeped in mysticism, bordering dangerously
on the occult!
CONCLUSION: THE DEFINITION OF A "CULT"
Now I am sure, many of you who have been reading this, might have
been wondering if (and when) I would use this word. Today, the word
"cult" is thrown around without much thought. People seem much too
eager to use it to describe any individual or group that doesn't exactly
agree with them. And I do not, and will not use the word lightly. But as
far as I can see from the Bible, a person is only in danger of being
grouped with "false brethren" by tampering with three very basic
issues of biblical truth. (These are greatly condensed for this
example.)
1. Who Jesus is- Son of God, God the Son, Creator of the
Universe.
2. What He came to do- to die once for all, for the sins of mankind,
then raise from the dead as the eternal high priest of all true
believers.
3. How a person directly benefits from Christ's death for sin- he is
accounted as righteous through a total faith and rest in the
finished work of Christ, and becomes the possessor of God's
free gift eternal life (salvation).
The Roman Catholic Church has been considered a true Christian
faith, mainly because it is generally known that their theology is quite
orthodox on point #1. But as we have pointed out in these two
chronicles, they are perilously shaky on #2 i.e. the atonement,
Christ's substitutionary death for sinners.
But if there is any doubt left at all, as to whether or not the Roman
Church is authentically and biblically Christian, there will be a
complete and thorough study of the Roman view on how one obtains
salvation in our third installment of "The Catholic Chronicles".[/background]
