Nearly everyone who doesn’t live under a rock has heard of the Pope, the Vatican, and the Roman Catholic Church. In fact, many believe there is little difference between Catholicism and other Christian Churches. This is contrary to what the Roman Catholic Church actually teaches. The Vatican, through its leaders and through the assertion of the Pope, that:

“Orthodox Churches are defective for not recognizing the primacy of the Pope, and that Protestant “ecclesial communities … cannot be called ‘Churches’ in the proper sense.” The reason given for the latter assertion was that “these Communities do not enjoy apostolic succession in the sacrament of Orders, and are, therefore, deprived of a constitutive element [the Eucharist] of the Church.”

The Catholic Church teaches that the Apostle Peter was the first Christ given leader of the “Church”, and that he was it’s first “Pope”. “According to the Annuario Pontificio, the papal annual, there have been more than 260 Popes since St. Peter.” Since the “Pope” is associated with the one and only Catholic Church, and “Protestants”, that is, those who are not Catholic will not affirm the Pope as the one and only leader of the Church, then non-Catholic bodies of believers are not considered a part of the Church.

if you’re not Catholic, You’re not in the “Church”

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraphs 846-48) we are told:

“Outside the Church there is no Salvation”: How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers? Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body:

“Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it”.

The Vatican does make an exception on this point, saying:

“This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church: “Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience – those too may achieve eternal salvation”

So if you’re ignorant of the fact that the only Church on earth is the Roman Catholic Church, and come to God in faith, then God can save you even though you were ignorant of the truth. But once you know the truth, you are to join the Church, the Catholic Church.

Well, what does the BIBLE say? We’ve seen what the Pope says, but frankly I’d rather see what the Bible says. A person becomes a Christian by placing their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, not in His Church. The Bible says:

Acts 16:31 (ESV) Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Romans 3:28 (ESV) … we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Romans 5:1 (ESV) … since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:12-14 (KJV) we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Salvation is a Divine Act, whereby when one receives Jesus as Lord and Savior, God the Holy Spirit comes to that believer and changes them, making them “born again” into the Kingdom of God.

Furthermore, the Bible teaches that God Himself joins us to Christ’s Church at the point of salvation. Speaking of the Church of Christ, the Apostle wrote:

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (KJV) as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

When the Apostle wrote these words there was no Roman Catholic Church. The Church at the time that these words were written was under persecution by both Roman Authorities as well as Jewish Authorities. Christians were martyred for their faith, and considered heretics by the pagan religions around them. Christians suffered gruesome deaths for what they believed.

Though you may be of a particular “denomination”, may be Catholic or Protestant, if you are a genuine Christian you are bound to the Church of Christ by the Spirit of God. All believers, saved by faith in Christ, are part of this worldwide body. Believers meet together in various types of local churches, but every believer in Christ is a part of Christ’s Church. Jesus affirmed this when He said:

Matthew 18:20 (NASB) For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.

It does not matter how large the Body of believers, if those believers are “gathered together in the Name of Christ – for His glory – then Jesus is in attendance”. One of the early Pastors called Clement of Alexandria wrote (Stromata, 7.5, AD 220):

“For it is not now the place, but the assemblage of the elect, that I call the Church.”

The Bible defines “The Church” as a gathering of “those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.” (1 Corinthians 1:2). As a Pastor I can tell you that there are gatherings of every denomination of Christianity on many Sundays who are not actually the Church of Christ. The Church is the gathering together of those who are born again by faith in Christ, and we gather not to glorify ourselves, but to glorify the God Who so graciously saved us in Christ.

Word Study: The word we translate “Church” is the Greek ekklesia. This word is found over 100 times in our New Testament. Ekklesia means “those who are called out of the world”. The early Church or the Ekklesia met in private homes (Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:2) and in city wide assemblies (Romans 16:23; Acts 14:27; 8:1; 13:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1). The Bible speaks of …

Acts 9:31 … the Church (Ekklesia) throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria

You are a part of Christ’s Spiritual Body, the Ekklesia, if you “Hold fast to the Head (that’s Jesus), from Whom the entire Body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God” (Colossians 2:19).

The Church is not built on Peter (who was not a Pope), but is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:20-22). An early Pastor named Ignatius of Antioch wrote in 105 AD:

“where Christ is, there is the … Church”

Formation Of The Roman Catholic Church

As I mentioned before, Christianity and the Church did not start out as “Roman Catholic”. Christians were vilified and persecuted as heretics until the reign of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337 AD).

Constantine’s father Constantius was a member of the Tetrarchy, the ruling class established by Roman Emperor Diocletian. Constantius was a persecutor and killer of Christians. When his father died, Constantine moved to destroy the Tetrarchy and take over the Roman Empire. Prior to a decisive victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge (October 28, 312 AD), Church Historian Eusebius said that when Constantine was praying:

“A remarkable sign appeared in the heavens above the sun, the trophy of a cross of light with the message, ‘by this conquer.’”.

Constantine had the Cross painted on his soldiers shields. After the victory at Milvian Bridge against the armies of Maxentius, Constantine moved to remove persecution from Christians. In February 313 AD, Western Roman Emperor Constantine I and Emperor Licinius, who controlled the Balkans, met in modern-day Milan and, among other things, agreed to change Roman policies towards Christians.

Called the Edict of Milan, Christianity was given legal status and reprieved from persecution throughout the Roman Empire. This prepared the way for the Edict of Thessalonica (AD 380) which made Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire.

Though this appeared to be a good thing, it was actually the worst thing that could happen to Christianity. The Apostle wrote:

2 Timothy 3:11-12 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Our Lord Jesus said “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24). The CROSS was the Roman method of capital punishment against traitors, thieves, murderers, and heretics. Jesus told us as believers that we would be “hated of all men for My sake” (Mark 13:13). He said:

John 15:18-21 (NIV) If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.

Christianity was never meant to blend with culture or with the darkness or with the government. Christianity is built on the application of the Word of God. Once Christianity was bound to the state of Rome, as Rome conquered areas it demanded that those conquered adhere to “Christianity”, often at the point of the sword. People cannot be converted to Christianity by crusade or force. The faith of Christianity is based on “whosoever will”. Many of the errors found in the Roman Catholic Church are a result of forcing unbelievers into the “flock”. When they came, they came with their false gods and goddesses, their unbiblical ideas.

Roman Catholicism And Scripture

Christians believe in the sufficiency and authority of the Scripture above any human document. When believers began to stand up against Roman Catholic excesses (the Protestant Reformation that began in 1517 AD with Martin Luther), one of the key doctrines was Sola Scriptura, which is Latin for “Scripture Alone”. The Christian affirms that Scripture – the Holy Bible – is the sole source of Divine Revelation, the only inspired, infallible, final, and authoritative norm of faith and practice”. We as believers quote the Apostle:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be {mature}, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

It is “THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES that we have hope” (Romans 15:4), and the “PROPHETIC WORD that is our lamp shining in a dark place” (2 Peter 1:19-21). Our Lord Jesus chastised the Pharisees, saying “You are WRONG, because you KNOW NEITHER THE SCRIPTURES nor the POWER OF GOD” (Mark 12:24). It is the Word of God that “guards our way” (Psalm 119:9). Catholics do not believe in Scripture alone, but believe in:

Roman Catholic Traditions, &
Papal Authority (Decrees of the Pope)

Many of the Catholic doctrines like purgatory, praying to the saints, praying the Rosary, seeking Christ through His mother Mary, the Queen of Heaven, Holy Water, Baptism of Infants, the priest’s power to forgive sin, the Infallibility of the Pope as the “Vicar of Christ”, and so on, are based on Catholic tradition and not Scripture. In fact, the Catholic Church teaches that only the Church and it’s priests can properly interpret the Bible. This is contrary to what Jesus promised:

John 14:16-17, 26 (KJV) … I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth … 26 …. 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 16:13-14, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

When the believer receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit of Promise comes to us. He “ABIDES IN US, and we in Him. He teaches us ALL THINGS” (AP, 1 John 2:27).

Roman Catholicism And Salvation

The Protestant Reformation not only taught Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone), but also taught Sola Fide (by Faith Alone). Believers in Christ hold that it is faith alone in Christ alone that saves the soul. It is not works that saves us, but Christ Who saves us. Jesus said:

John 14:6 (KJV) … I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 10:9 (ESV) I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

1 John 5:11-12 (ESV) And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Once saved by faith in Christ, our Lord sends the Holy Spirit to indwell us, and to sanctify us or to make us more like Christ. Genuine faith in Christ, the Scripture tells us, will produce a changed life and result in good or Godly works (James 2:20–26). Justification is not by faith plus works, but a person who is truly justified by faith will show the fruit of the Spirit in their lives (Galatians 5:16-26). Christlike works are an outward show of genuine faith in Christ (James 2:14, 17, 20, 26). The Bible says that:

Titus 2:14 (ESV) {the Lord Jesus} gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

The person who professes Christ as Lord and Savior but who is not interested in living for Him is actually a deluded unbeliever. “We are Christ’s workmanship, created to do good works” (Ephesians 2:10, AP).

Christians believe that baptism is an ORDINANCE – a command of Christ – that every believer will willingly seek out. Catholicism believes that BAPTISM is a SACRAMENT – something necessary for salvation. For this reason Catholics baptize babies, whereas Protestants will not do so. If baptism is necessary for salvation, reasons the Catholic, it is best to baptize the baby as soon as possible lest it undergo sudden infant death syndrome and end up in hell. Baptism of babies is no where endorsed in the Scriptures, but it is taught as a sacrament by Catholics. For this reason they sprinkle the baby.

Catholics teach the sacrament of CONFIRMATION. They teach that when children are trained to be good Catholics, that they are “confirmed” into the Church. The priest lays hands on the child, and at that point the child receives the Holy Spirit of God. It is only the priest who can confer the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands – the Catholic priest. However, the Scripture teaches:

1 Peter 2:9 … (ESV) you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Every believer in Christ is a priest before God. Since we are “JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST” (Romans 8:17), and since Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is “a King and a Priest unto God”:

Revelation 1:5-6 … (KJV) Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Then every believer is a King and a Priest unto God according to the Scripture. The Holy Spirit is not imparted to us by the laying on of hands of a Catholic Priest. The Holy Spirit is sent to us by Christ Jesus at the point of our salvation.

The Catholic Church teaches the sacrament of Penance. When a sin is committed, the Catholic is to go to their priest, and confess that sin to the priest. The priest then “absolves” you of your sin, and gives the Catholic acts that they must do to right themselves spiritually with God. This is contrary to the Scripture teaches:

1 John 1:7-9 (KJV) But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confession of sins is not made to any man on this earth, but to God the Son, Whose Blood cleanses us from all sin. Sin is an offense against God, and so only God can forgive sin. The only human being who has ever had the power to forgive sin on the earth is the Lord Jesus Christ. In Matthew Chapter 9 a paralyzed man was brought to Jesus, Who said:

Matthew 9:2 … Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

This upset the Pharisees who knew that only God could forgive sins. Jesus looked at them and, using His Messianic Title (Son of Man) said:

Matthew 9:6-7 (KJV) that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7 And he arose, and departed to his house.

Only God has the power to forgive sins. “The Father judges no man, but HAS COMMITTED ALL JUDGMENT TO THE SON” (John 5:22). Only God can forgive sin. The Bible does not teach PENANCE, but REPENTANCE. When you sin, confess that sin to God the Son and He will cleanse you of all.

The Catholic Church teaches prayer to the saints, and to Mary the Mother of Christ. A document from Saint Paul Seminary entitled “Explaining Why Catholics Pray To Saints” notes:

“… the idea of the communion of saints. This is a fundamental belief in Catholic theology that recognizes the interconnectedness of all members of the Church, whether they are living on Earth, in purgatory, or in heaven. Catholics believe that canonized saints, who are individuals recognized by the Church for their exceptional holiness, continue to be a part of this communion even after death. When Catholics pray to saints, they are reaching out to these holy individuals, seeking their intercession and guidance in their relationship with God. … Catholics believe that saints can intercede on their behalf with God due to their closeness to Him.”

This is, once more, contrary to the Scripture. The Bible says:

1 Timothy 2:5-6 (KJV) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

The Bible tells us that “Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant” (Hebrews 9:15). It is Christ and Christ alone that stands between us and God. We have assurance of salvation because:

Hebrews 7:25 (ESV) … {Jesus} is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

There is no one who stands between us and God but Jesus Christ. To teach that Mary or some Saint intercedes for us is Biblically incorrect. Further, there is no purgatory taught in the Scripture. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

“All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.”

The Catholics get the concept of purgatory from the Apocrypha (2 Maccabees 12:45) and the teaching of the popes. The thought is that when we leave this life, we are imperfect. So we must go through an intermediary area where God tunes us up for Heaven. But this is nonsense. Our sins are covered by the Blood of Christ. It is His work that saves us, not our works. Further, the Bible does NOT teach that a Christian goes through an intermediary area upon leaving this life. The Apostle wrote to the Philippian Church:

Philippians 1:21-23 (ESV) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

Paul did not say “I desire to depart this life, and head toward purgatory”. He spoke of departing this life an BEING WITH CHRIST. There is no “tune up garage” before you get to Heaven. When you leave this life, God eradicates you of all sin, and brings you into His presence – if you are IN CHRIST. Another text is

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (ESV) So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

When you leave this life, dear believer, you are “at home with the Lord”.

In Conclusion or Summary

That which is called “The Catholic Church” is as imperfect and blemished as every other Church on the earth is. Can you be saved and be a Catholic? I’ll answer that with a question: Can you be saved and be a Baptist, a Presbyterian, a Church of Christ, a Methodist? Absolutely. If you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and are fully reliant upon Him for salvation, then yes, you can be saved. It is not the denomination that saves you, but your faith in Christ Jesus. Having said that, I would not recommend the Catholic Church to any Christian. It is Christ’s death alone that can satisfy or propitiate God’s wrath against sinners (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10). No man on this earth is your priest, dear believer. Every believer is a king and a priest unto God, and Jesus Christ our High Priest. No man dressed in black, or red, or in white so called the “Vicar of Christ” forgives sin nor makes you right before God. As the Scripture says:

Titus 3:5-7 (ESV) {God} saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Find yourselves a Bible believing Church and immerse yourself in the Scriptures, not in what a human institution teaches. May God lead you in the right path. Amen and Amen.