THE CLARITY OF GOD’S WORD – THE CONTRAST BETWEEN BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY AND CATHOLICISM

• Words are because they shape our thoughts, emotions, and actions, both in ourselves and in others. They are the foundation of communication, and the words we choose can build up or tear down relationships, influence perceptions, and even impact our understanding of the world.
• “God’s word is and infallible” refers to the fact that God’s revelation, the Bible is free from error and capable of fulfilling its intended purpose.
• Infallibility: This term means that God’s word is incapable of leading people astray. It ensures that the Bible, when properly understood, will always lead to .
• 2 Timothy 3:16
• Inerrancy: This refers to the fact that the Bible is free from factual errors, especially in matters of faith and practice.

“The Bible is not only a source of knowledge about God, but it serves us as a practical guide for daily living.” It stands alone as no other work of literature can, and it has stood the test of time through the centuries.”  Warren Wiersbe

• 2 Peter 1:20-21
• The Bible itself is evidence for its own infallibility; God’s word contradicts itself.
• 1 John 1:1-2
• God’s word gives us that come with a divine promise.
• Deuteronomy 28:1-6 (LSB)
• Revelation 22:18-19 (LSB)
• The promise of obeying God’s commandments is found throughout Scripture, emphasizing that obedience leads to blessings, prosperity, and a deeper relationship with God.
• Fact: You must fall in love with His word to fall in love with Christ.
• Psalm 37:4-6 Delight yourself in Yahweh; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to Yahweh, Trust in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday.
• For over 72 years now Cielo Vista Church has committed to teach straight out of God’s word and we teach Scripture in its entirety. Our first value that you will see here is, “Biblical Truth Alive in Love.”

• Here are some of the major between Biblical Christianity and Catholicism.
• Biblical Christianity is a major branch of Christianity that originated in the 16th-century Reformation, rejecting the authority of the Pope of Rome. Key tenets include the Bible as the ultimate authority, salvation by grace through faith alone, and the priesthood of all believers.

1. THE CHURCH

• The Catholic Church has softened its stance toward Biblical Christians, calling them “estranged brothers.” To be a part of the church in its fullness, a Catholic must be immersed in the Roman Catholic system of sacraments, orders, and under the authority of the Pope.
• I want to emphasize something very key here: the Pope is considered (without error) when he speaks ex cathedra (from the chair); that is, when he makes official doctrinal pronouncements.
• In the Christian faith, the church is, of course, important; the key point is that the church is defined as God’s people, are the church. The building, the fact that we have structure as in Pastors, Elders, Deacons as defined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, 1 Peter 5:1-5, Acts 20:17-28, are all key. However, we who serve are just men, and we ultimate authority to the one who created the church, His church.

2. SCRIPTURE

• Catholics have a larger biblical canon. The Catholic church has added 7 additional books to the Scriptures for a total of 73 books. They are Tobit, Judith, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), and Baruch. The Catholic Bible also includes additions to the books of Esther and Daniel.
• The Magisterium (the government of the Catholic Church) has the authority to make interpretations. “The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living, teaching, office of the Church alone . . . to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.”
• We believe and trust the canon of Scripture was by God, not men. Making this distinction is important. The accepted books were not considered inspired because humans determined that they should be part of the canon; they were included in the canon because God inspired them at the time they were written. God’s people were only responsible for discovering or recognizing the canon.

3. THE LORD’S SUPPER

• Central to the Catholic faith is the Mass (their worship service), and central to the Mass is the celebration of the Eucharist. Catholics believe that bread and wine are transubstantiated ( into the actual, physical body and blood of Jesus Christ). This is simply not the intent of Jesus when He spoke in terms of the last supper with His disciples.
• Jesus made it exceedingly obvious what He meant. John 6:63 declares, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” Jesus specifically stated that His words are “spirit.” Jesus was using physical concepts, eating and drinking, to teach spiritual truth.

4. BAPTISM 

• Catholics teach that “salvation” is conferred (granted) in the act of Baptism.” The waters of baptism wash away original sin and join them with Christ. Baptism is not merely a sign and seal of grace but confers saving grace.
• The issue is abundantly clear; the New Testament only describes in Jesus Christ being baptized. Nowhere in the New Testament is an infant or unbelieving child baptized. Some point to Acts 16 and the Philippian jailer’s household being baptized, but again, the text does not mention children or infants.

5. MARY

• In the Catholic church, Mary is not only the earthly mother of Christ, but the mother of the church. She is said to have been conceived without original sin (the immaculate conception) and at the end of her earthly life “was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things”
• To Catholics Mary was more than just the faith-filled mother of Jesus: “The Blessed Virgin (as she is referred to) is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.”
• The fact is that in the Scriptures is any of this found. The term mother of God could be taken wrongly as implying that Mary was the source or originator of God. God had no creator or mother. God was. In fact, early on in Exodus it is clear when God discloses to Moses. I am that I am! Exodus 3:14:

6. PURGATORY

• In Catholicism those who die in God’s grace, but still imperfectly purified, are assured of eternal life, but must first undergo purification in a place called purgatory.
• Because of the presence of this intermediate state, the Catholic Church has developed the practice of prayer for the dead (Rosary). “The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead.
• In Biblical Christianity, the phrase absent from the body is found in 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, Paul states that he is confident in his destiny and longs for the day when he can be “absent from the body” and be present with the Lord he loves and serves. To be “absent” from one’s body simply means to die because, at death, the spirit is separated from the body and moves to another place—either heaven with the Lord or hell, separated from God for eternity.

7. SALVATION

• Catholics believe that Christ’s righteousness is imparted to the believer by “grace through faith,” but that is not sufficient to justify the believer. The believer must supplement the righteousness of Christ imparted to him with meritorious works.
• Biblical Christians believe that, based on faith in Christ , believers are justified by God, as all their sins are paid for by Christ on the cross, and His righteousness is imputed to them.
• Ephesians 2:8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

Pastor John MacArthur. In his publication called “Finishing Well” he says this.

“All results belong to God. Spiritual life is a creative miracle done by God. If you are faithful to proclaim the truth, that is as far as you can go. Only God can save the soul. It has nothing to do with us; it has everything to do with Jesus Christ.” Pastor John MacArthur

• I also hope that today equips you with the ability to speak in love to a family member or a friend who would ask you about why you believe what you do and show them that there is no room for error when it comes to the Word of God. His perfect, infallible, and inerrant love letter to us.

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I know that the penalty for my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I can’t do anything about my situation. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sin and trust in You alone as the only One who can place me in an eternal relationship with the living God. I receive joyfully receive Your gift of GRACE. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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