Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20060702.htm

PROFITABLY LEARNING FROM THE ERRORS OF THE CULTS
Part VIII: Profitably Learning From The Errors Of Roman Catholicism
(Matthew 15:1-3 et al.)
  1. Introduction
    1. The recent evangelical movement known as Evangelicals and Catholics Together would object to our having a lesson on the Roman Catholic Church in this lesson series, and so treating it as a "cult".
    2. However, a quick overview of Catholicism reveals it Biblically IS a cult, and we can learn from its errors:
  2. Profitably Learning From The Errors Of Roman Catholicism, Matthew 15:1-3 et al. (I am indebted to Loraine Boettner's work, Roman Catholicism for much material in this lesson.)
    1. The keystone belief of Catholic dogma is its teaching on authority: Roman Catholicism relies upon Scripture plus Roman Catholic Tradition (apocryphal books, writings of Greek and Latin Church Fathers, Church Councils and Papal Decrees) for its faith and practice, Ibid., Boettner, p. 75, 77.
    2. From this fountainhead of belief flows the following views and practices we show to be Biblically errant:
      1. Belief in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, the mass, penance, extreme unction, marriage and orders to gain merit for salvation, Ibid., p. 188-193. Yet, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:23-27 and Acts 4:12 show salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone as God's gift apart from human merit. Galatians 1:8-9 further states that heralding any Gospel other than this should result in one's excommunication!
      2. Belief that communion renews Christ's offering Himself as a sacrifice for sin in the Mass, Ibid., p. 168-195. However, John 6:54, 63 with Hebrews 9:24-28 counter this belief, showing Christ offered Himself once for all, and that salvation is by faith in His words, not in partaking of His body and blood.
      3. Belief that Mary, Jesus' earthly mother, mediates sins of the laity, Ibid., p. 132-167. However, Mary herself confessed her need of God as Savior (Luke 1:47) and she sinned in unbelief in Mark 3:21, 31!
      4. Belief that the laity find forgiveness through the confessional via the Roman Catholic priest, Ibid., p. 196-217. Yet, 1 John 1:9 teaches forgiveness comes through Christ via confession directly to God.
      5. Belief in a human priesthood that mediates the sins of the laity with God, Ibid., p. 51. However, 1 Timothy 2:5 reveals Jesus alone is man's Mediator with God.
      6. Belief in purgatory after death as an intermediate cleansing location for the faithful, Ibid., p. 218-234. However, 2 Corinthians 5:6-9 reveals the believer goes directly to heaven's bliss at death.
      7. Belief in the line of infallible popes of Catholicism begun by the Apostle Peter, Ibid., p. 104-131. Yet, the Apostle Paul corrected the Apostle Peter of error re: a false, hypocritical Gospel, cf. Galatians 2:11!
      8. Belief in many rituals for holiness (ceremonials, images, the rosary, the crucifix, grottos, scapulars, relics, pilgrimages, prayers for the dead, etc., Ibid., p. 270-297). However, Colossians 2:8 calls us to avoid such unbiblical rituals and traditions that detract from the centrality and sufficiency of Christ.
      9. Belief in a celibate priesthood, Ibid., p. 298-331. However, note 1 Corinthians 9:5 where the Apostle Peter, Roman Catholicism's alleged first pope, was married!
      10. Belief that marriage is valid only in the Roman Catholic Church, Ibid., p. 332-354. Yet, Matthew 8:14 with Matthew 16:18 and Acts 2:1-47 show Peter's marriage was valid before the Church began!
      11. Belief that Roman Catholic Canon Law permits vices otherwise condemned in Scripture providing they are modestly practiced, Ibid., p. 385-406. These include consuming alcoholic drinks, gambling, failure to keep oaths if one had unvoiced "reservations", stealing, baptizing infants of Protestant parents by force if the child's life is endangered, etc. Yet, Titus 1:16 prohibits such double standards in living.
      12. Belief that the Catholic Church may execute heretics, Ibid., p. 385-407. However, only God Himself did this by His supernatural power through the Apostles in the Early Church, Acts 5:1-11; 1 Cor. 5:3-5.
    3. Finally, Matthew 15:1-3 shows Christ Himself countered such religious traditions that thus counter Scripture, so Roman Catholicism is cultic in the most basic sense via reliance on very errant traditions.
Lesson: The Roman Catholic Church erred by depending on TRADITION in ADDITION TO the Word of God, leading the Church to numerous major conflicts with Scripture to the point that it turned cultic. [Martin Luther noted the conflict between Roman Catholic tradition and Scripture in his famous stand at the Diet of Worms, cf. Henry Bettenson, 2nd ed., Documents of the Christian Church, p. 279-283.]

Application: May we SUBJECT all religious TRADITIONS to SCRIPTURE for our faith and practice!