Why can't the Lord's New Testament churches just do what He sent them into the world to do? Why do His churches have to be involved with everything except the "Great Commission"?
Why can't God's men, whom He called into the gospel ministry, just commit themselves to fulfilling their calling? Why are we, as God called men, trying to change God, His ways, His teachings? Why can't we just preach and teach God's Word?
Why can't God's people be happy with service that is undefiled before God? Why do many seek to stone "Stephen" when truth is taught? Why do they seek the pleasures of the world over the service to the Lord?
1. Because we have to keep up with main stream religion. Because the "Great Comission" is old school, we live in the 21st century, we have to be more hip, mix things up--Hey, if we don't have it or offer it we cant add to the church--God adds not us
2. Because we remain ignorant of Bible truths. We don't study like we should. Because we would rather make people laugh that preach truth that convicts them of sin. Because we want to be popular, liked, men pleasers we have become.
3. God's people are becoming less and less faithful-in service and in godly living. Less interested in the things of God and more interested in competed with false religion.
Summary: If the Lord's churches would commit themselves to the "Great Commission", and God's men would stop playing who is the best preacher and start fulfilling their office, then God's people would be taught, they would be growing, and they would be seeking to please God instead of self.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
HOLDING THE FAITH WITH PARTIALITY
HOLDING THE FAITH WITH PARTIALITY
James 2:1-4
INTRODUCTION
A. James addresses his “brethren”. This is not a physical kinship but a spiritual one. “My brethren”, my brothers and sisters in Christ, fellow members of the Lord’s New Testament churches, those who are now scattered throughout the region.
B. James is going to speak concerning the “faith”
faith: the doctrine of Christ and His teachings, those delivered unto His church.
C. These verses address the manner in which God’s people “have”, hold or possess the faith.
D. These four verses will expose those who are prejudice against those whom the Lord desires to be saved, baptized, and taught the all things.
“have not the faith”
have not the faith: to hold as your personal possession
A. James warns his brethren that they shouldn't hold onto the faith as if it is their own personal property in which they can possess in any manner of their choosing. It is the faith:
“of our Lord Jesus Christ”
A. The “faith” that was delivered unto the saints is the Lord’s system of doctrines in which His church is to deliver unto the world.
1. The church is to preach, baptize, and teach the all things to all men in all places.
B. James refers to our “Lord Jesus Christ” as “the Lord of glory”.
1. The Lord Jesus Christ is the glory of God revealed unto men.
C. Therefore His teachings are God’s teachings and by His teachings, by the faith, all men may see the glory of God and glorify God.
D. Therefore church do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ:
“with respect of persons”
respect of persons: to fix the eye upon, to show partiality or favoritism
A. James addresses a problem that is still present in the Lord’s churches today.
1. We will preach, baptize, and teach those who are appealing to us—we will witness to those who we think will make a good church member.
2. Those who are less desirable to us can receive the faith from someone else.
B. The “faith” is not ours to distribute to who we think deserves it or to those who we desire over others.
1. The Great Commission teaches us that the church is to spread the faith throughout all the world—preaching it to every creature.
“For if there come unto your assembly” 2
A. Not any assembly but “your” assembly”. The church—James addresses the manner in which church members treat visitors, and even their own church members.
Read 2-4
B. James speaks of two men—the man in goodly apparel—and the man dressed in vile raiment. Rich man poor man
C. The rich man was shown favoritism while the poor man was given the lowest estate in the congregation-under the footstool.
D. How do you treat those who come to your assembly?
1. Are some looked upon with greater desire than others?
2. Do we treat everyone the same or do we cater to the rich, the beautiful, intellectual, etc?
3. Who will you give your seat to—the thief, drunkard, drug addict, murderer, beggar—or is it reserved for the rich man.
E. Again the rich man has more to offer than the poor; therefore many times these are treated with favoritism—in hopes to win them that they may give what they have to offer.
F. The poor man wore vile raiment.
vile: dirty, filthy-it reflects a man in a mendicant state, a beggar/ more than dress but this man is nasty and filthy—he can also be a very sinful man (this man represents that which is disgusting to society.
G. The poor man is in the same condition as the fatherless and widows in their affliction (1:26, 27). They don’t have much to offer so their place is under “my” footstool.
1. Many are guilty of showing this partiality to those who visit their assembly.
2. Partiality is even shown within the membership--many churches today are placing all their emphasis on the youth while neglecting the older of the church.
3. The faith is to be delivered unto all men of all ages—rich and poor.
“Are ye not then partial in yourselves”?
A. In your own mind you have made a distinction between the rich man and poor man.
“and are become judges of evil thoughts”
A. By your evil thoughts you have judged as to who you believe is worthy of receiving the faith.
1. In our mind the rich man and poor man are different—one more deserving than the other.
CONCLUSION
A. When we hold the faith with respect of persons we are partial in ourselves and are judges of evil thoughts.
B. We take the faith, which is meant for all men to hear and receive—and distribute it to who we think is worthy.
C. Churches need to take a long look at to whom Jesus delivered the faith.
James 2:1-4
INTRODUCTION
A. James addresses his “brethren”. This is not a physical kinship but a spiritual one. “My brethren”, my brothers and sisters in Christ, fellow members of the Lord’s New Testament churches, those who are now scattered throughout the region.
B. James is going to speak concerning the “faith”
faith: the doctrine of Christ and His teachings, those delivered unto His church.
C. These verses address the manner in which God’s people “have”, hold or possess the faith.
D. These four verses will expose those who are prejudice against those whom the Lord desires to be saved, baptized, and taught the all things.
“have not the faith”
have not the faith: to hold as your personal possession
A. James warns his brethren that they shouldn't hold onto the faith as if it is their own personal property in which they can possess in any manner of their choosing. It is the faith:
“of our Lord Jesus Christ”
A. The “faith” that was delivered unto the saints is the Lord’s system of doctrines in which His church is to deliver unto the world.
1. The church is to preach, baptize, and teach the all things to all men in all places.
B. James refers to our “Lord Jesus Christ” as “the Lord of glory”.
1. The Lord Jesus Christ is the glory of God revealed unto men.
C. Therefore His teachings are God’s teachings and by His teachings, by the faith, all men may see the glory of God and glorify God.
D. Therefore church do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ:
“with respect of persons”
respect of persons: to fix the eye upon, to show partiality or favoritism
A. James addresses a problem that is still present in the Lord’s churches today.
1. We will preach, baptize, and teach those who are appealing to us—we will witness to those who we think will make a good church member.
2. Those who are less desirable to us can receive the faith from someone else.
B. The “faith” is not ours to distribute to who we think deserves it or to those who we desire over others.
1. The Great Commission teaches us that the church is to spread the faith throughout all the world—preaching it to every creature.
“For if there come unto your assembly” 2
A. Not any assembly but “your” assembly”. The church—James addresses the manner in which church members treat visitors, and even their own church members.
Read 2-4
B. James speaks of two men—the man in goodly apparel—and the man dressed in vile raiment. Rich man poor man
C. The rich man was shown favoritism while the poor man was given the lowest estate in the congregation-under the footstool.
D. How do you treat those who come to your assembly?
1. Are some looked upon with greater desire than others?
2. Do we treat everyone the same or do we cater to the rich, the beautiful, intellectual, etc?
3. Who will you give your seat to—the thief, drunkard, drug addict, murderer, beggar—or is it reserved for the rich man.
E. Again the rich man has more to offer than the poor; therefore many times these are treated with favoritism—in hopes to win them that they may give what they have to offer.
F. The poor man wore vile raiment.
vile: dirty, filthy-it reflects a man in a mendicant state, a beggar/ more than dress but this man is nasty and filthy—he can also be a very sinful man (this man represents that which is disgusting to society.
G. The poor man is in the same condition as the fatherless and widows in their affliction (1:26, 27). They don’t have much to offer so their place is under “my” footstool.
1. Many are guilty of showing this partiality to those who visit their assembly.
2. Partiality is even shown within the membership--many churches today are placing all their emphasis on the youth while neglecting the older of the church.
3. The faith is to be delivered unto all men of all ages—rich and poor.
“Are ye not then partial in yourselves”?
A. In your own mind you have made a distinction between the rich man and poor man.
“and are become judges of evil thoughts”
A. By your evil thoughts you have judged as to who you believe is worthy of receiving the faith.
1. In our mind the rich man and poor man are different—one more deserving than the other.
CONCLUSION
A. When we hold the faith with respect of persons we are partial in ourselves and are judges of evil thoughts.
B. We take the faith, which is meant for all men to hear and receive—and distribute it to who we think is worthy.
C. Churches need to take a long look at to whom Jesus delivered the faith.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Pastors, Have you ever been asked?
Oh how I love the questions that are asked when going in view of a call. You know them:
1.Do you agree withe the 21 doctrinal statement of the ABA? We say yes--I ask do you even know them?
2. Grape juice or wine?
3. Do you visit?
4. Testimony of salvation and call
5. Do you mow your grass?
6. Do you run up the utility bills?
7. Etc Etc
8. Do you meet the qualities stated in 1 Timothy 3? Anybody ever said no? of course not
One question that I have never been asked, nor have I ever heard of any my brothers being asked,
Do you have a desire to pastor a New Testament church?
I think it would be a good one to ask--what do you think?
1.Do you agree withe the 21 doctrinal statement of the ABA? We say yes--I ask do you even know them?
2. Grape juice or wine?
3. Do you visit?
4. Testimony of salvation and call
5. Do you mow your grass?
6. Do you run up the utility bills?
7. Etc Etc
8. Do you meet the qualities stated in 1 Timothy 3? Anybody ever said no? of course not
One question that I have never been asked, nor have I ever heard of any my brothers being asked,
Do you have a desire to pastor a New Testament church?
I think it would be a good one to ask--what do you think?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
IF A MAN "SAY" HE HAS FAITH
James 2:14-26
INTRODUCTION
A. These verses of Scripture are very familiar to us. They are the verses that teach us that faith without works is unprofitable; James calls this type of faith, dead faith.
B. A good summation of these verses could be:
1. As God’s people we are to show our faith by our works—we are to do more than just “say” we have faith: works should accompany our faith if we are going to be profitable in the work of the Lord. If we do not have works that accompany our faith the brother or sister isn’t clothed and warmed, the sacrifice of service is not made, and we are not a help to God’s people and His purpose (Rahab).
C. Everything in this summation is true and scriptural, but in the context, is James concerned with the lack of works that are accompanying the saved or is he speaking concerning the absence of saving faith altogether?
1. What is the author saying?
a. As we will discover, these verses do not refer to the saved person who has no works—These verses teach that saving faith WILL produce or result in good works.
D. We like to believe that we cannot tell if a person is saved or unsaved. While we cannot know the heart of man as God knows, the Bible does teach that God’s people, His children who are saved and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, will stand out from the lost.
E. The Bible reveals evidences that prove one’s faith.
“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” 14
profit: advantage
A. To what advantage is it for a man to “say” he has faith?
say: to speak or profess
1. James did not say “What doth it profit……though a man have faith?” but what advantage is it though a man “say he hath faith”
2. A mere profession of faith does not mean a possession of faith, or the natural accompaniments of faith.
“and have not works”
A. How important are works of faith?
1. According to the Bible those who possess faith will have works of faith, thus becoming profitable to and for the Lord.
2. Works of faith are a natural accompaniment of faith; now the man who says he has faith yet no works:
“can faith save him?”
A. There are two kinds of faith here.
faith: A firm relying confidence in the savior Jesus Christ, such a confidence that brings us to repentance and give our lives to him.
faith: An intellectual belief in God and His existence
B. The second faith, “can faith save him?” refers to the intellectual belief in God and His existence.
1. This type of faith cannot save, neither can it or will it produce works of faith.
2. If this type of faith saved, the devils, demons would be saved. 19
C. The Bible teaches that man is saved by grace through faith and not of works (Ephesians 2:8-10). This faith is the first faith, that firm relying confidence in Christ as savoir.
1. When a person has that firm persuasion and conviction, based on God’s Word, that the blood of Jesus saves, and he accepts Christ, he is immediately indwelt with the Holy Spirit.
2. God creates in him a new creature ( 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15). He has a new heart, new desires, one that wants to be profitable for his Savoir.
a. It is this faith only that can produce works of faith—it is this kind of faith that is profitable.
Read 15-17*
A. Faith alone is dead, useless in that it is no faith at all.
B. In verses 17, 20, 26 James refers to faith without works being dead, a dead faith.
Application: This is not teaching that some saved people do not have works of faith therefore their faith is dead, as meaning useless to others. This is teaching that faith without works is dead in that it is no faith at all.
1. It is a faith that is dead in trespasses and sins
2. You can be saved and still sin, but you cannot be saved and nothing change.
C. James gives three examples of works of faith.
1. Each work of faith justifies inward faith to man.
2. Abraham was justified before God by his faith, but his works justified him before man—was profitable
3. Rahab also, her faith justified before men by her works
I. WORKS OF BENEVOLENCE 15, 16
A. The second greatest commandment Matthew 22:37-40
1. Love thy neighbor
Application: How many have no heart when it comes to the suffering of others?
II. WORKS OF SACRIFICE 21-24
A. The greatest commandment Matthew 22:37-40
1. Love God with all our heart, soul and mind
B. Committing ourselves a living sacrifice unto God
Romans 12:1, 2
III. WORKS OF SERVICE 25
1. Service to God’s people
2. Love for our brothers and sisters in Christ
A. Who did Rahab help? God’s people
1. She showed her love for God’s people through her service unto them.
2. She sacrificed her own self, her own safety to help the messengers.
Application: We are called to love our brothers and sisters in Christ.
1. This love is the evidence of our salvation, 1 John 3:11, 14
2. We are commanded to sacrifice ourselves for our brothers and sisters in Christ 1 John 3:16
3. The absences of this kind of love shows an absence of love for God and is indicative of dead faith 1 John 4:20
CONCLUSION
A. We show our saving faith by our works.
B. The Bible teaches that works accompany saving faith.
C. Read 2:26*--Dead, no life
D. James wants people to know that intellectual faith is the same as demon faith, and cannot save.
E. Saving faith does not just believe the things concerning Jesus, saving faith produces repentance, and true repentance unto salvation produces good works.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
THE DISSENTING BEGINNING OF ROMAN CATHOLICISM
Chapter 1
The Foundation of Roman Catholicism
The foundation of the true Christian church is Christ. Jesus said, “upon this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). The “rock” to which Jesus referred was Himself, thus Jesus is the foundation of the church. Paul stated, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). The Roman Catholic Church proclaims its origin and foundation to be in Christ. The Catechism declares, “The one true Church established by Christ is the Catholic Church.”[i] While the Roman Catholic religion claims its origin and foundation to be in Christ, the history of the church dictates something opposite. History reveals the origin and foundation of Roman Catholicism to be men, and its construction began with the dissenting of New Testament churches from truth.
L.L. Clover, “Baptist History” wrote, “by the middle of the second century there was a great change in the attitude and practices of many of the churches. This was due largely to the fact Christianity was growing into a thing well known and widely accepted in the Roman Empire. The leaders among the Christians were sore troubled as to ways and means of marshalling and controlling the ignorant masses that were coming to them from heathenism.”[ii] The attempt to control this issue began a practice that replaced Christ as the head of the church. This new practice was a preacher rule or a church official rule. Clover stated, “Thus preacher rule, church official rule; along with thoughts of universalism, which were the seeds of Catholicism, began to raise their ugly heads upon the horizon of the Christian world. Along with these ideas there came also a relaxing of moral standards, and demands for a separated church membership taught by the first churches.”[iii]
In the first two centuries, Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire and into much of the known civilization. Over this period of time, some of the churches began to practice error and compromise. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans influenced many churches in the first two centuries of the church. The Nicolaitans, a kindred to a antinomian sect: these where “One of a sect who maintain, that, under the gospel dispensation, the law is of no use or obligation; or who hold doctrines which supersede the necessity of good works and a virtuous life. This sect originated with John Agricola about the year 1538.abused the doctrine of Christian liberty.”[iv] H. Cowan, “The Bible Dictionary” wrote, “In defiance of the apostle’s warnings, (1 Corinthians 6:13-20; 8:9, 10; 10:8) as well as of the decree of the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15), they permitted participation in heathen feasts connected with idolatry and in the fornication which frequently accompanied such feasts.”[v]
While Jesus commended the church at Ephesus for hating the “deeds” of the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:6), He condemned the church of Pergamos for having those who hold their doctrine (Revelation 2:15). The Easton’s Bible dictionary states concerning the Nicolaitans, “They were seemingly a class of professing Christians, who sought to introduce into the church a false freedom or licentiousness, thus abusing Paul’s doctrine of grace, and were probably identical with those who held to the doctrine of Baalam.”[vi] Jesus said concerning the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, “which thing I hate.” (Revelation 2:14). Jesus hated the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. The word “hate” translates from the Greek word “misw”, a present active indicative verb indicating an action that is a reality. Jesus actually hated the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes. Spiros Zodhiates, “The Complete Word Study Dictionary”, defines “misw” as “the opposite of agapao, to love, phileo, to be a friend, it is equivalent to not loving.”[vii] Zodhiates refers to apecomai as a synonym for misow. Apecomai means to abstain or refrain.[viii]
The doctrine of the Nicolaitans were contrary to the teachings of Christ and the apostles. The churches received warnings to abstain from practicing and refrain from fellowship with those whom Jesus said concerning “which thing I hate.” In the church epistles of the Bible, Paul dealt with many of these errors that streamed from Nicolaitan teachings. John, while on the Isle of Patmos, wrote letters to the seven churches of Asia concerning the practicing of error. Some of the New Testament churches in this time began to follow false teachings and practice false doctrine. While some were content to adhere to the new teachings and practices, some were not willing to accept the changes. J.M. Carrol in his book “The Trail of Blood”, wrote, “This irregularity began in a small way, even before the close of the second century. This was possibly the first serious departure from the New Testament church order.” [ix]
The churches that accepted the new doctrines and practices began a dissention from the teachings of Christ and the apostles while others held to the ancient landmark teachings of Christ. From around A.D. 90, when John wrote the Revelation, until around A.D. 251, many teachings and practices of the churches changed. The heresies about which Paul and John warned the churches had festered; the heresy among the churches threatened their existence as true New Testament churches. A split was inevitable. True New Testament churches did not accept the heresies of the churches that forsook truth. Around the middle of the second century, churches that held to truth declared a non-fellowship with those which practiced heresy. Concerning the dissent ,J.M. Carroll wrote, “Let it be remembered that changes like these here mentioned were not made in a day, nor even within a year. They came about slowly and never within all the churches. Some of the churches vigorously repudiated them. So much so that in A.D. 251, the loyal churches declared non-fellowship from those churches which accepted and practiced these errors. An thus came about the first real official separation among the churches.”[x] As a result the foundation of Roman Catholicism began. Just as John prepared the material for the Lord’s New Testament church, so the heresies instilled in the churches of the first three centuries laid the foundation for what exists today as the Roman Catholic Church, a foundation of heresies and dissents from truth.
The Founder of Roman Catholicism
Around A.D. 306, Constantine, the Emperor of Rome, in the course of his wars with his enemies to establish himself on the throne, had a vision. Halley’s Bible Handbook records that, “on the eve of the battle of Milvain Bridge, just outside Rome (October 27, A.D. 312), he saw in the sky, just above the setting sun, a vision of the Cross, and above it the words, “In This Sign Conquer.”[xi] Constantine believed that the vision was a sign from God, and he decided to fight under the banner of Christ. He won the victory. Halley’s Bible Handbook called it, “a Turning Point in the history of Christianity.”[xii]
Until Constantine’s vision, many different sects persecuted Christians. After seeing the vision, Constantine made his Edict of Toleration. History records the nature of this edict “By this Edict, Constantine granted to (Christians and to all others full liberty of following that religion which each may choose) this was the first edict of its kind in history”[xiii] Constantine, now in favor of Christianity, offered many favors unto them. Among these favors were such as ministers were exempt from taxes and military service. He encouraged and helped in building churches. He also made Christianity the religion of his court.
In A.D. 325, Constantine issued a general exhortation to all his subjects to embrace Christianity.[xiv] Constantine, in his mind, saw himself as a great protector and perpetuator of Christianity; under his reign he built churches, stopped persecution, provided Bibles for many, stopped the gladiatorial fights that killed innocent people, reformed slavery, and abolished crucifixion as a form of execution. Many believed that the Chritianization of the Roman Empire would bring many great things to Christians and Christianity. As history reveals, however; Constantine’s good desire to advance Christianity proved to be destructive to true Christianity.
During his reign, Constantine created a hierarchy of church leaders. J.M. Carrol wrote in his book, “The Trail of Blood”, in reference to the Hierarchy, “The hierarchy organized under the leadership of Constantine, rapidly developed into what is now known as the Catholic Church. This newly developing church joined to a temporal government no longer simply an executive to carry out the completed laws of the New Testament, began to be legislative, amending or annulling old laws or enacting new ones utterly unknown to the New Testament.”[xv] The subjects of this newly developing church were those churches that dissented from the truth in the years prior. The churches looked for someone to head the churches, to protect the churches from heresies and provide the churches with direction. The churches that accepted Constantine’s hierarchy did not realize that they, in desiring these things of men, looked for someone to replace Christ as their provider, protector and perpetuator.
The distorted dream of Constantine for a Christian Rome ended with his death and the coronation of the Emperor Theodosius (A.D. 378). Theodosius reigned as emperor for 20 years, bringing great persecution to the once-protected Christians. Theodosius made Christianity the state religion.[xvi] He began a reign of terror to all who did not unite with the church. The nature of the church changed. The churches that united with Constantine and Rome desired to witness to the world of Christ, however, this changed under Theodosius. Halley’s Bible Handbook records that, “the Military Spirit of Imperial Rome had entered the church. The church conquered the Roman Empire. But in reality the Roman Empire had conquered the church, by making the church over into the Image of the Roman Empire.”[xvii]
The dissenting churches now depended upon Rome instead of Christ, thus putting on Rome instead of Jesus. The Roman Catholic Church portrays its founders and foundation, the evil Roman Empire. Christ is not the founder or foundation of the Roman Catholic Church as the church claims. Christ, the founder and foundation of His church, founded it during His personal ministry on earth and founded it upon Himself. The Roman Catholic Church finds its founder in Roman emperors and its foundation in heresy and Roman traditions as well as traditions of many cultures.
The Fallibility of Roman Catholicism
. The Roman Catholic Church accredits its growth and power to Rome. The church accepted and practiced the doctrines of Balaam and Nicolas: the church also accepted and practiced beliefs and teachings from many different cultures. Don Nardo wrote in his book, “Catholicism” “It is not by accident that the oldest surviving Christian denomination still has its main headquarters in Rome and calls itself the Roman Catholic Church. Nor is it by mere chance that today’s Catholics, as well as members of other Christian denominations that sprang from Catholicism, retain numerous beliefs, rituals, and customs that developed in ancient Roman society.”[xviii]
The Bible teaches that Christ is the head of the church. The headquarters of the church is where Christ is. Therefore in Heaven and not Rome abide the headquarters of the Lord’s church. Nardo seems to boast of the ancient beginning of Roman Catholicism and its adhering to the numerous beliefs, rituals and customs that developed in the Roman society. The beliefs and practices of the Lord’s church did not develop from society but from Christ Himself. Nowhere in the Bible does God speak of society as being a leader or legislative tool for truth. Jesus said, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:16). The Holy Ghost leads the church into the beliefs and practices taught by Christ, not the beliefs and rituals of man. Today, the Holy Ghost leads the church in the teachings and practices of Christ as revealed in the Bible.
Nardo claims that, “The Romans provided the early religion with two very useful tools that proved crucial in its development.”[xix] Nardo’s statement is correct: The Roman empire was instrumental in the development of Roman Catholicism; however, the Roman Catholic religion is not the true church of Christ as claimed, but on the contrary began with the dissention from truth by true New Testament churches. One of the useful tools provided for the church, according to Nardo, was a well-maintained system of roads.[xx] Because of Rome’s highway system, Nardo said, “Thus Christianity often reached a new regions, not through the work of missionaries or preachers, but rather through traveling traders, slaves and others.”[xxi] According to Nardo, the church owes its growth the Rome and its system of roads.
While the roads of the Roman Empire did in fact provide access to many different places and peoples, God has always been the protector, provider, and perpetuator of His people. Egypt possessed corn in a time of a great famine; Jacob and his family moved to Egypt and in Egypt Jacob’s family grew into a nation of people. It was not the wealth and power of the Egyptians, however, that caused this, but it was the providential care of God. Joseph, when speaking to his brothers, said unto them, “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance” (Genesis 45:5-7). God preserved and protected His people. The Hebrew
word translated “preserve” is ,which means, “to care for or commit to.”[xxii] God preserved, protected and perpetuated His heritage Israel just as He preserves, protects and
perpetuates His heritage, the church, today. Jesus taught His church in the Sermon on the Mount that He would feed them, clothe them, and protect them. Jesus promised His church that as long as they served Him in truth they would never be in want for anything (Matthew 6:25-34).
Jesus, through the Comforter, provides, protects and perpetuates His church; He has the ability to do this without the assistance of any society or culture. Jesus promised this to His church before He ascended into Heaven. Jesus promised, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever” (John 14:16). Through the Holy Ghost, God provides, protects and perpetuates, and that not of the Roman Empire. The word “Comforter” translates from the Greek word paraklhton. James Strong in “The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible”, defines paraklhton as “an intercessor, consoler, advocate, comforter.”[xxiii] The Comforter, the Holy Ghost, is the protecting, providing and perpetuating presence for the church.
The second useful tool in the development of the Roman religion, according to Nardo, was the rich cultural melting pot of the Roman Empire. Nardo wrote,
“Rome provided the early Church was a rich cultural melting pot from which to draw religious ideas, practices and customs. In the first century A.D. the Roman Empire was made up of many different peoples with diverse ethnic, intellectual, and religious backgrounds. The early Christians were strongly influenced by many of the ideas in this Mediterranean melting pot. But they were particularly influenced by the beliefs and customs of the Jews, since the Christian movement was at first an offshoot of Judaism.”[xxiv]
From the claims of Nardo, and others who hold to this belief, it is easy to see that the Roman religion is an institution which foundation is in the dissention of true churches from truth, and its founder a Roman Emperor. Roman Catholicism exemplifies much pride in its construction, which, that by its own admittance formed from beliefs, practices, ritual, and cultures of the Mediterranean area. The fallibility of the Roman Catholic religion is in its foundation, founder and construction. The church’s foundation is heresy. The founder was a Roman Emperor. The construction was the idea of compromise.
Roman Catholicism is a product of an empire that history reveals to be evil. Many true churches of the first three centuries dissented from truth, united with the Roman Empire and birthed the Roman religion. The Roman Catholic religion left the image of Christ and put on the image of the world power. It influenced many during history. Influencing many nations, Roman Catholicism exists as a religious giant in the world. Spreading its heresy throughout the world, this religious tyrant has victimized many with its deceitful and devastating teachings.
[i] Chatechism
[ii] Baptist history pg 172 2 and 3 paragraph
[iii] same as above 3 paragraph
[iv] 1828 antinomean
[v] The Bible Dictionary page 547 vollume 3 big book
[vi] Eastons definition of Nico
[vii] Zodhiates pg 987 3403
[viii] same pg 213 567
[ix] trail of blood ph=g 15 3rd
[x] Trail of blood pg 16, 17
[xi] Halleys Bible Handbok pg 759
[xii] Halleys Book pg 759
[xiii] Same as above
[xiv] Sane as above
[xv] trail fo blood pge 19 --16
[xvi] Halleys pg 760
[xvii] halley 760
[xviii] Nardo pge 12
[xix] nardo pge 12 bottom
[xx] nardo pge 14
[xxi] nardo pge 14
[xxii] strongs
[xxiii] strongs 3875 pg 87
[xxiv] nardo pg 14
The Foundation of Roman Catholicism
The foundation of the true Christian church is Christ. Jesus said, “upon this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). The “rock” to which Jesus referred was Himself, thus Jesus is the foundation of the church. Paul stated, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). The Roman Catholic Church proclaims its origin and foundation to be in Christ. The Catechism declares, “The one true Church established by Christ is the Catholic Church.”[i] While the Roman Catholic religion claims its origin and foundation to be in Christ, the history of the church dictates something opposite. History reveals the origin and foundation of Roman Catholicism to be men, and its construction began with the dissenting of New Testament churches from truth.
L.L. Clover, “Baptist History” wrote, “by the middle of the second century there was a great change in the attitude and practices of many of the churches. This was due largely to the fact Christianity was growing into a thing well known and widely accepted in the Roman Empire. The leaders among the Christians were sore troubled as to ways and means of marshalling and controlling the ignorant masses that were coming to them from heathenism.”[ii] The attempt to control this issue began a practice that replaced Christ as the head of the church. This new practice was a preacher rule or a church official rule. Clover stated, “Thus preacher rule, church official rule; along with thoughts of universalism, which were the seeds of Catholicism, began to raise their ugly heads upon the horizon of the Christian world. Along with these ideas there came also a relaxing of moral standards, and demands for a separated church membership taught by the first churches.”[iii]
In the first two centuries, Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire and into much of the known civilization. Over this period of time, some of the churches began to practice error and compromise. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans influenced many churches in the first two centuries of the church. The Nicolaitans, a kindred to a antinomian sect: these where “One of a sect who maintain, that, under the gospel dispensation, the law is of no use or obligation; or who hold doctrines which supersede the necessity of good works and a virtuous life. This sect originated with John Agricola about the year 1538.abused the doctrine of Christian liberty.”[iv] H. Cowan, “The Bible Dictionary” wrote, “In defiance of the apostle’s warnings, (1 Corinthians 6:13-20; 8:9, 10; 10:8) as well as of the decree of the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15), they permitted participation in heathen feasts connected with idolatry and in the fornication which frequently accompanied such feasts.”[v]
While Jesus commended the church at Ephesus for hating the “deeds” of the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:6), He condemned the church of Pergamos for having those who hold their doctrine (Revelation 2:15). The Easton’s Bible dictionary states concerning the Nicolaitans, “They were seemingly a class of professing Christians, who sought to introduce into the church a false freedom or licentiousness, thus abusing Paul’s doctrine of grace, and were probably identical with those who held to the doctrine of Baalam.”[vi] Jesus said concerning the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, “which thing I hate.” (Revelation 2:14). Jesus hated the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. The word “hate” translates from the Greek word “misw”, a present active indicative verb indicating an action that is a reality. Jesus actually hated the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes. Spiros Zodhiates, “The Complete Word Study Dictionary”, defines “misw” as “the opposite of agapao, to love, phileo, to be a friend, it is equivalent to not loving.”[vii] Zodhiates refers to apecomai as a synonym for misow. Apecomai means to abstain or refrain.[viii]
The doctrine of the Nicolaitans were contrary to the teachings of Christ and the apostles. The churches received warnings to abstain from practicing and refrain from fellowship with those whom Jesus said concerning “which thing I hate.” In the church epistles of the Bible, Paul dealt with many of these errors that streamed from Nicolaitan teachings. John, while on the Isle of Patmos, wrote letters to the seven churches of Asia concerning the practicing of error. Some of the New Testament churches in this time began to follow false teachings and practice false doctrine. While some were content to adhere to the new teachings and practices, some were not willing to accept the changes. J.M. Carrol in his book “The Trail of Blood”, wrote, “This irregularity began in a small way, even before the close of the second century. This was possibly the first serious departure from the New Testament church order.” [ix]
The churches that accepted the new doctrines and practices began a dissention from the teachings of Christ and the apostles while others held to the ancient landmark teachings of Christ. From around A.D. 90, when John wrote the Revelation, until around A.D. 251, many teachings and practices of the churches changed. The heresies about which Paul and John warned the churches had festered; the heresy among the churches threatened their existence as true New Testament churches. A split was inevitable. True New Testament churches did not accept the heresies of the churches that forsook truth. Around the middle of the second century, churches that held to truth declared a non-fellowship with those which practiced heresy. Concerning the dissent ,J.M. Carroll wrote, “Let it be remembered that changes like these here mentioned were not made in a day, nor even within a year. They came about slowly and never within all the churches. Some of the churches vigorously repudiated them. So much so that in A.D. 251, the loyal churches declared non-fellowship from those churches which accepted and practiced these errors. An thus came about the first real official separation among the churches.”[x] As a result the foundation of Roman Catholicism began. Just as John prepared the material for the Lord’s New Testament church, so the heresies instilled in the churches of the first three centuries laid the foundation for what exists today as the Roman Catholic Church, a foundation of heresies and dissents from truth.
The Founder of Roman Catholicism
Around A.D. 306, Constantine, the Emperor of Rome, in the course of his wars with his enemies to establish himself on the throne, had a vision. Halley’s Bible Handbook records that, “on the eve of the battle of Milvain Bridge, just outside Rome (October 27, A.D. 312), he saw in the sky, just above the setting sun, a vision of the Cross, and above it the words, “In This Sign Conquer.”[xi] Constantine believed that the vision was a sign from God, and he decided to fight under the banner of Christ. He won the victory. Halley’s Bible Handbook called it, “a Turning Point in the history of Christianity.”[xii]
Until Constantine’s vision, many different sects persecuted Christians. After seeing the vision, Constantine made his Edict of Toleration. History records the nature of this edict “By this Edict, Constantine granted to (Christians and to all others full liberty of following that religion which each may choose) this was the first edict of its kind in history”[xiii] Constantine, now in favor of Christianity, offered many favors unto them. Among these favors were such as ministers were exempt from taxes and military service. He encouraged and helped in building churches. He also made Christianity the religion of his court.
In A.D. 325, Constantine issued a general exhortation to all his subjects to embrace Christianity.[xiv] Constantine, in his mind, saw himself as a great protector and perpetuator of Christianity; under his reign he built churches, stopped persecution, provided Bibles for many, stopped the gladiatorial fights that killed innocent people, reformed slavery, and abolished crucifixion as a form of execution. Many believed that the Chritianization of the Roman Empire would bring many great things to Christians and Christianity. As history reveals, however; Constantine’s good desire to advance Christianity proved to be destructive to true Christianity.
During his reign, Constantine created a hierarchy of church leaders. J.M. Carrol wrote in his book, “The Trail of Blood”, in reference to the Hierarchy, “The hierarchy organized under the leadership of Constantine, rapidly developed into what is now known as the Catholic Church. This newly developing church joined to a temporal government no longer simply an executive to carry out the completed laws of the New Testament, began to be legislative, amending or annulling old laws or enacting new ones utterly unknown to the New Testament.”[xv] The subjects of this newly developing church were those churches that dissented from the truth in the years prior. The churches looked for someone to head the churches, to protect the churches from heresies and provide the churches with direction. The churches that accepted Constantine’s hierarchy did not realize that they, in desiring these things of men, looked for someone to replace Christ as their provider, protector and perpetuator.
The distorted dream of Constantine for a Christian Rome ended with his death and the coronation of the Emperor Theodosius (A.D. 378). Theodosius reigned as emperor for 20 years, bringing great persecution to the once-protected Christians. Theodosius made Christianity the state religion.[xvi] He began a reign of terror to all who did not unite with the church. The nature of the church changed. The churches that united with Constantine and Rome desired to witness to the world of Christ, however, this changed under Theodosius. Halley’s Bible Handbook records that, “the Military Spirit of Imperial Rome had entered the church. The church conquered the Roman Empire. But in reality the Roman Empire had conquered the church, by making the church over into the Image of the Roman Empire.”[xvii]
The dissenting churches now depended upon Rome instead of Christ, thus putting on Rome instead of Jesus. The Roman Catholic Church portrays its founders and foundation, the evil Roman Empire. Christ is not the founder or foundation of the Roman Catholic Church as the church claims. Christ, the founder and foundation of His church, founded it during His personal ministry on earth and founded it upon Himself. The Roman Catholic Church finds its founder in Roman emperors and its foundation in heresy and Roman traditions as well as traditions of many cultures.
The Fallibility of Roman Catholicism
. The Roman Catholic Church accredits its growth and power to Rome. The church accepted and practiced the doctrines of Balaam and Nicolas: the church also accepted and practiced beliefs and teachings from many different cultures. Don Nardo wrote in his book, “Catholicism” “It is not by accident that the oldest surviving Christian denomination still has its main headquarters in Rome and calls itself the Roman Catholic Church. Nor is it by mere chance that today’s Catholics, as well as members of other Christian denominations that sprang from Catholicism, retain numerous beliefs, rituals, and customs that developed in ancient Roman society.”[xviii]
The Bible teaches that Christ is the head of the church. The headquarters of the church is where Christ is. Therefore in Heaven and not Rome abide the headquarters of the Lord’s church. Nardo seems to boast of the ancient beginning of Roman Catholicism and its adhering to the numerous beliefs, rituals and customs that developed in the Roman society. The beliefs and practices of the Lord’s church did not develop from society but from Christ Himself. Nowhere in the Bible does God speak of society as being a leader or legislative tool for truth. Jesus said, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:16). The Holy Ghost leads the church into the beliefs and practices taught by Christ, not the beliefs and rituals of man. Today, the Holy Ghost leads the church in the teachings and practices of Christ as revealed in the Bible.
Nardo claims that, “The Romans provided the early religion with two very useful tools that proved crucial in its development.”[xix] Nardo’s statement is correct: The Roman empire was instrumental in the development of Roman Catholicism; however, the Roman Catholic religion is not the true church of Christ as claimed, but on the contrary began with the dissention from truth by true New Testament churches. One of the useful tools provided for the church, according to Nardo, was a well-maintained system of roads.[xx] Because of Rome’s highway system, Nardo said, “Thus Christianity often reached a new regions, not through the work of missionaries or preachers, but rather through traveling traders, slaves and others.”[xxi] According to Nardo, the church owes its growth the Rome and its system of roads.
While the roads of the Roman Empire did in fact provide access to many different places and peoples, God has always been the protector, provider, and perpetuator of His people. Egypt possessed corn in a time of a great famine; Jacob and his family moved to Egypt and in Egypt Jacob’s family grew into a nation of people. It was not the wealth and power of the Egyptians, however, that caused this, but it was the providential care of God. Joseph, when speaking to his brothers, said unto them, “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance” (Genesis 45:5-7). God preserved and protected His people. The Hebrew
word translated “preserve” is ,which means, “to care for or commit to.”[xxii] God preserved, protected and perpetuated His heritage Israel just as He preserves, protects and
perpetuates His heritage, the church, today. Jesus taught His church in the Sermon on the Mount that He would feed them, clothe them, and protect them. Jesus promised His church that as long as they served Him in truth they would never be in want for anything (Matthew 6:25-34).
Jesus, through the Comforter, provides, protects and perpetuates His church; He has the ability to do this without the assistance of any society or culture. Jesus promised this to His church before He ascended into Heaven. Jesus promised, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever” (John 14:16). Through the Holy Ghost, God provides, protects and perpetuates, and that not of the Roman Empire. The word “Comforter” translates from the Greek word paraklhton. James Strong in “The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible”, defines paraklhton as “an intercessor, consoler, advocate, comforter.”[xxiii] The Comforter, the Holy Ghost, is the protecting, providing and perpetuating presence for the church.
The second useful tool in the development of the Roman religion, according to Nardo, was the rich cultural melting pot of the Roman Empire. Nardo wrote,
“Rome provided the early Church was a rich cultural melting pot from which to draw religious ideas, practices and customs. In the first century A.D. the Roman Empire was made up of many different peoples with diverse ethnic, intellectual, and religious backgrounds. The early Christians were strongly influenced by many of the ideas in this Mediterranean melting pot. But they were particularly influenced by the beliefs and customs of the Jews, since the Christian movement was at first an offshoot of Judaism.”[xxiv]
From the claims of Nardo, and others who hold to this belief, it is easy to see that the Roman religion is an institution which foundation is in the dissention of true churches from truth, and its founder a Roman Emperor. Roman Catholicism exemplifies much pride in its construction, which, that by its own admittance formed from beliefs, practices, ritual, and cultures of the Mediterranean area. The fallibility of the Roman Catholic religion is in its foundation, founder and construction. The church’s foundation is heresy. The founder was a Roman Emperor. The construction was the idea of compromise.
Roman Catholicism is a product of an empire that history reveals to be evil. Many true churches of the first three centuries dissented from truth, united with the Roman Empire and birthed the Roman religion. The Roman Catholic religion left the image of Christ and put on the image of the world power. It influenced many during history. Influencing many nations, Roman Catholicism exists as a religious giant in the world. Spreading its heresy throughout the world, this religious tyrant has victimized many with its deceitful and devastating teachings.
[i] Chatechism
[ii] Baptist history pg 172 2 and 3 paragraph
[iii] same as above 3 paragraph
[iv] 1828 antinomean
[v] The Bible Dictionary page 547 vollume 3 big book
[vi] Eastons definition of Nico
[vii] Zodhiates pg 987 3403
[viii] same pg 213 567
[ix] trail of blood ph=g 15 3rd
[x] Trail of blood pg 16, 17
[xi] Halleys Bible Handbok pg 759
[xii] Halleys Book pg 759
[xiii] Same as above
[xiv] Sane as above
[xv] trail fo blood pge 19 --16
[xvi] Halleys pg 760
[xvii] halley 760
[xviii] Nardo pge 12
[xix] nardo pge 12 bottom
[xx] nardo pge 14
[xxi] nardo pge 14
[xxii] strongs
[xxiii] strongs 3875 pg 87
[xxiv] nardo pg 14
ROMAN CATHOLICISM
INTRODUCTION (7 Chapters total)
Around 750 years before Christ, the prophet Isaiah prophesied, “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (Isaiah 40:3). Malachi, many years later, prophesied, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple” (Malachi 3:1). Both prophets spoke concerning John the Baptist. The apostle John wrote, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe” (John 1:7, 7). God sent John the Baptist with a special commission. The commission of John included preparing the way of the Lord Jesus Christ and preparing the material that Christ would use to establish His New Testament church.
John the Baptist completed his mission. He prepared the way of the Lord and prepared the material for the church of the Lord Jesus, the material being saved, baptized individuals. Jesus Christ, being the Lord for whom John prepared a way, took the material that John prepared and began His New Testament church. Christ taught His church that He would endure death and burial before rising again after three days. He taught His church that He would leave them but would send them a Comforter to lead and teach them (John 14:26). Before Christ ascended to the Father He gave His church an important duty. Jesus said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19, 20):
In the absence of Jesus, the church would carry on His ministry of leading mankind to salvation. On the Day of Pentecost, God empowered the church that Jesus built. The Holy Spirit came upon the church and gave it power to carry out the important work of spreading the Gospel. Thus the church was a God-ordained institution sent into the world to carry out the laws of the New Testament; Christ being the Head.
After the ascension of Christ, Christianity grew rapidly spreading across the known world. Many New Testament churches arose and continued to carry out the commission of the Lord; however, as Christianity spread throughout the known world, gaining members from different cultures, many problems began to arise. These problems led to the dividing of true New Testament churches. The result of the divisions in the second century of church history was instrumental in the forming of the Roman Catholic religion. The Roman Catholic religion over the past 1700 years, has proved to be evil in its practice, proclamation, and polity. In its history it has compromised truth and converted literally millions of members.
Paul Blanshard wrote in his book, “American Freedom And Catholic Power”, “In two hundred years the Roman Catholic Church in the United States has increased from the smallest to the largest church in the nation, claiming in 1948 the allegiance of some twenty-six million Americans.”[i] Marcus Bach, in his book “Had You Been Born In Another Faith”, concerning Catholics who make the sign of the cross, wrote, “As you make this sign you are assured that there is a community of more than 500,000,000 people throughout the world who understand this salutary act.”[ii] This statistic, a worldwide statistic in 1941, reflects the number of Catholics and others whom Roman Catholicism influenced. Today in the United States statistics show that 63.4 million people in 19,081 parishes profess to be Catholic.[iii] The eleventh edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica states, “The Roman Catholic Church is by far the most widespread, numerous and powerful of all the Christian communions. It is the dominant Church in the majority of European states, in South and Central America and in Mexico; it is the largest single religious body in the United States of America”[iv]
Domination and power is the Catholic plan for the world; this plan is the same as that of Constantine and Theodosus; former emperors of Rome who were instrumental in the founding of Roman Catholicism. These men desired a Catholic, universal, religious world. Today the Roman Catholic religion still desires a Roman Catholic world. Paul Blanshard wrote, “In a Catholic world every national government would establish the Roman Catholic Church in a unique position of privilege, and support its teachers and priests out of public revenues. That is what the Holy See has always demanded in every country where it has had the power to support the demand with reasonable strength.”[v]
Catholicism rules the world; this is the desire of Roman Catholicism; a world in total submission to its hierarchy. Blanshard went on to write, “In any Catholic state, schools receiving public funds would be either entirely Catholic or operated under Catholic moral supervision. Vituperative attacks on the clergy would be suppressed, and all books directly attacking the hierarchy or its doctrines would be forbidden.”[vi] This type of rule, reign and quest for power finds its beginning in the great dictatorships of the first ancient empires. The Catholic plan for the world is the same as ancient kings such as Nimrod, Nebuchadnezzar, the Pharos of Egypt, and the Ceasers of Greece and Rome. These men sought for supreme power over all, even so, does Roman Catholicism.
The Problem
The true desire of Roman Catholicism remains a mystery to its members. The citizens of the United States who are members of the Roman religion do not realize that they, being a citizen of a country that stands for freedom and liberty, are servants of a dictator. This dictator is not a citizen of the United States but of Rome. The Roman Catholic churches of the United States answer to the same dictator: He, the Pope, makes the decisions concerning all moral and spiritual matters of the church as well as the members.
Freedom does not exist in Roman Catholicism, only a state of bondage. Loraine Boettner wrote in her book “Roman Catholicism”, “The lesson of history is that Romanism means the loss of religious liberty and the arrest of national progress.”[vii] Paul wrote, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). God, through the blood of Jesus, has called men out of bondage and unto liberty. Children of God must answer to Christ. He is to have the preeminence in all things (Colossians 1:18). He and He alone is the head of the church. No man has the right to lay claims to this position, save Jesus; who purchased the church with His own blood. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the
Around 750 years before Christ, the prophet Isaiah prophesied, “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (Isaiah 40:3). Malachi, many years later, prophesied, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple” (Malachi 3:1). Both prophets spoke concerning John the Baptist. The apostle John wrote, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe” (John 1:7, 7). God sent John the Baptist with a special commission. The commission of John included preparing the way of the Lord Jesus Christ and preparing the material that Christ would use to establish His New Testament church.
John the Baptist completed his mission. He prepared the way of the Lord and prepared the material for the church of the Lord Jesus, the material being saved, baptized individuals. Jesus Christ, being the Lord for whom John prepared a way, took the material that John prepared and began His New Testament church. Christ taught His church that He would endure death and burial before rising again after three days. He taught His church that He would leave them but would send them a Comforter to lead and teach them (John 14:26). Before Christ ascended to the Father He gave His church an important duty. Jesus said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19, 20):
In the absence of Jesus, the church would carry on His ministry of leading mankind to salvation. On the Day of Pentecost, God empowered the church that Jesus built. The Holy Spirit came upon the church and gave it power to carry out the important work of spreading the Gospel. Thus the church was a God-ordained institution sent into the world to carry out the laws of the New Testament; Christ being the Head.
After the ascension of Christ, Christianity grew rapidly spreading across the known world. Many New Testament churches arose and continued to carry out the commission of the Lord; however, as Christianity spread throughout the known world, gaining members from different cultures, many problems began to arise. These problems led to the dividing of true New Testament churches. The result of the divisions in the second century of church history was instrumental in the forming of the Roman Catholic religion. The Roman Catholic religion over the past 1700 years, has proved to be evil in its practice, proclamation, and polity. In its history it has compromised truth and converted literally millions of members.
Paul Blanshard wrote in his book, “American Freedom And Catholic Power”, “In two hundred years the Roman Catholic Church in the United States has increased from the smallest to the largest church in the nation, claiming in 1948 the allegiance of some twenty-six million Americans.”[i] Marcus Bach, in his book “Had You Been Born In Another Faith”, concerning Catholics who make the sign of the cross, wrote, “As you make this sign you are assured that there is a community of more than 500,000,000 people throughout the world who understand this salutary act.”[ii] This statistic, a worldwide statistic in 1941, reflects the number of Catholics and others whom Roman Catholicism influenced. Today in the United States statistics show that 63.4 million people in 19,081 parishes profess to be Catholic.[iii] The eleventh edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica states, “The Roman Catholic Church is by far the most widespread, numerous and powerful of all the Christian communions. It is the dominant Church in the majority of European states, in South and Central America and in Mexico; it is the largest single religious body in the United States of America”[iv]
Domination and power is the Catholic plan for the world; this plan is the same as that of Constantine and Theodosus; former emperors of Rome who were instrumental in the founding of Roman Catholicism. These men desired a Catholic, universal, religious world. Today the Roman Catholic religion still desires a Roman Catholic world. Paul Blanshard wrote, “In a Catholic world every national government would establish the Roman Catholic Church in a unique position of privilege, and support its teachers and priests out of public revenues. That is what the Holy See has always demanded in every country where it has had the power to support the demand with reasonable strength.”[v]
Catholicism rules the world; this is the desire of Roman Catholicism; a world in total submission to its hierarchy. Blanshard went on to write, “In any Catholic state, schools receiving public funds would be either entirely Catholic or operated under Catholic moral supervision. Vituperative attacks on the clergy would be suppressed, and all books directly attacking the hierarchy or its doctrines would be forbidden.”[vi] This type of rule, reign and quest for power finds its beginning in the great dictatorships of the first ancient empires. The Catholic plan for the world is the same as ancient kings such as Nimrod, Nebuchadnezzar, the Pharos of Egypt, and the Ceasers of Greece and Rome. These men sought for supreme power over all, even so, does Roman Catholicism.
The Problem
The true desire of Roman Catholicism remains a mystery to its members. The citizens of the United States who are members of the Roman religion do not realize that they, being a citizen of a country that stands for freedom and liberty, are servants of a dictator. This dictator is not a citizen of the United States but of Rome. The Roman Catholic churches of the United States answer to the same dictator: He, the Pope, makes the decisions concerning all moral and spiritual matters of the church as well as the members.
Freedom does not exist in Roman Catholicism, only a state of bondage. Loraine Boettner wrote in her book “Roman Catholicism”, “The lesson of history is that Romanism means the loss of religious liberty and the arrest of national progress.”[vii] Paul wrote, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). God, through the blood of Jesus, has called men out of bondage and unto liberty. Children of God must answer to Christ. He is to have the preeminence in all things (Colossians 1:18). He and He alone is the head of the church. No man has the right to lay claims to this position, save Jesus; who purchased the church with His own blood. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the
church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).
The Purpose
Bible advocates must expose the evils of Roman Catholicism. The Bible and the history of Roman Catholicism prove this religion to be evil and misleading in every form and fashion. Roman Catholicism practices unbiblical principles in the world today. Its practices, proclamations and polity break the great commands of Christ. Those who profess to be Catholic must know what they proclaim. It is sad to know that most Catholics do not know what Catholicism promotes. They walk in the darkness, thus they follow the master of all lies. The Catholic Church has birthed many other false religions. In the 1500s, reformers protested against the church of England, a faction of the Church in Rome. These reformers desired liberty from the hierarchy of the Church. The eleventh edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica states, (Protestantism) has survived as embodying for many the conception of liberty, of the right of private judgment, of toleration for every progressive idea in religion, as opposed to the Roman Catholic principles of authority and tradition,”[viii] The Encyclopedia Britannica lists Protestants in America as Methodists, Lutherans, Disciples of Christ, Congregationalists, and Episcopalians.[ix] Protestant religions, though protesting against the Roman Catholic church, today practice and proclaim many of the same doctrines as the church in which they once desired to reform. Many of these have re-pledged allegiance to the church and recognize the Pope as the vicar of Christ.
More people are members of the Roman Catholic Church than any other religion in the world. Refusing to accept the Bible as the sole rule of faith and practice and upholding that the traditions passed down to the Church are equal to “thus sayeth the Lord.” Catholicism leads literally millions astray; even those who once protested against the church. The Bible teaches that all Scripture is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible must be the sole rule of faith and practice for mankind. The Scripture exposes the evil in the principles, practices and polity of Roman Catholicism. Exposing the fallibility of Roman Catholicism, using the Bible, is simple; however, the practicality of exposing Roman Catholicism as an evil religion proves to be almost futile.
Bible advocates must expose the evils of Roman Catholicism. The Bible and the history of Roman Catholicism prove this religion to be evil and misleading in every form and fashion. Roman Catholicism practices unbiblical principles in the world today. Its practices, proclamations and polity break the great commands of Christ. Those who profess to be Catholic must know what they proclaim. It is sad to know that most Catholics do not know what Catholicism promotes. They walk in the darkness, thus they follow the master of all lies. The Catholic Church has birthed many other false religions. In the 1500s, reformers protested against the church of England, a faction of the Church in Rome. These reformers desired liberty from the hierarchy of the Church. The eleventh edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica states, (Protestantism) has survived as embodying for many the conception of liberty, of the right of private judgment, of toleration for every progressive idea in religion, as opposed to the Roman Catholic principles of authority and tradition,”[viii] The Encyclopedia Britannica lists Protestants in America as Methodists, Lutherans, Disciples of Christ, Congregationalists, and Episcopalians.[ix] Protestant religions, though protesting against the Roman Catholic church, today practice and proclaim many of the same doctrines as the church in which they once desired to reform. Many of these have re-pledged allegiance to the church and recognize the Pope as the vicar of Christ.
More people are members of the Roman Catholic Church than any other religion in the world. Refusing to accept the Bible as the sole rule of faith and practice and upholding that the traditions passed down to the Church are equal to “thus sayeth the Lord.” Catholicism leads literally millions astray; even those who once protested against the church. The Bible teaches that all Scripture is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible must be the sole rule of faith and practice for mankind. The Scripture exposes the evil in the principles, practices and polity of Roman Catholicism. Exposing the fallibility of Roman Catholicism, using the Bible, is simple; however, the practicality of exposing Roman Catholicism as an evil religion proves to be almost futile.
Members of Roman Catholicism very seldom convert. Roman Catholic doctrine teaches that to question or doubt the faith of the church is to commit heresy or a sin against the faith. Concerning heresy and doubting, the catechism states, "Incredulity is the neglect of revealed truth or the willful refusal to assent to it. Heresy is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith; schism is the refusal of submission to the Roman Pontiff or of communion with the members of Catholicism subject to him." [x] Roman Catholics must adhere and accept without question or doubt all decrees of the Pope and the church; thus, from fear of committing a sin against the faith, members of Roman Catholicism are hesitant to convert for fear of damnation or even death. The practice, proclamation and polity of Roman Catholicism contradict the Bible. The Bible proves Roman Catholicism to be evil; therefore, in light of the Scriptures Roman Catholicism is evil.
[i] paul blanshard in a catholic world
[ii] Had I been born in another faith pge 148
[iii] 12th edition of denominations in America pge 94 see green note book
[iv] encyclopedia Britanica pg 487 right second paragraph
[v] blanshard pg 270 top of page
[vi] same as above pg 270 middle of page
[vii] boettner pg 13 last paragraph
[viii] volume 22 pge 472 britanica left second paragraph
[ix] Encyclopedia Brit. Pg 826 New Werner Edition New American Supplement The Werner company Akron Ohia 1904
[x] The Great Heresies http://www.catholic.com/library/Great_Heresies.asp
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