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GUEST ARTICLE
Ten Areas
of Deadly Deception
Among Catholics
I f you are acquainted with
the teachings of Roman Catholicism and the message of the
Bible, you are aware of the irreconcilable differences between
the two. Some of the areas are lesser in significance and
will not be cited here. On the other hand, some are clearly
related to salvation. It is important, especially
for Catholics, to know about the most serious false teachings
they have been taught so they can make the vital needed changes
and find the only salvation the Bible offers.
Below are the most dangerous false doctrines believed
by millions of Roman Catholics, past and present:
1. Roman
Catholics are dangerously taught they were born again at
infant baptism.
This single concept alone has been responsible for hundreds
of millions of Catholics going to hell over the centuries.
Folks, if you think you already have what is needed to enter
God’s kingdom, you won’t be trying to find it. In their minds,
Catholics got this when they were babies, without
repentance and faith in Jesus.
The truth is, one gets Biblically born again only when
he turns away from his sins and places his faith in the
Lord Jesus to the point of dedication and commitment. The
concept of infant baptism is not found anywhere
in the Bible.
2. Roman
Catholics dangerously think they receive Christ when
they partake of the communion wafer.
This false and deadly concept is the result of the bogus
idea that the communion elements (bread and wine) have been transubstantiated by
the priest into the literal body, blood, soul and divinity
of Jesus Christ. This has also led people into the worship of
the consecrated communion wafer as one would worship God himself.
Hence, the fruit of this false doctrine is also idolatry,
a soul-damning sin.
The truth is: one receives Christ when he believes
on his name (John 1:12). This is another way
of saying when one turns from his idols to serve
the true and living God (1 Thess. 1:9). (No one receives Christ
in his mouth, then swallows him to be digested.)
3. Roman
Catholics wrongly think their church system was founded
by Jesus on Peter the first pope.
The superiority the Roman Catholic Church claims
for itself comes from this fallacious concept, which has
led people into increasing error especially as Catholicism
has drifted further and further into darkness over the centuries.
Most Catholics are not aware of the doctrines that were added
over the centuries or that certain popes were denounced
as heretics by other popes. The whole idea of
a papacy itself is unscriptural.
After Jesus spoke Mt. 16:18, Peter was not recognized
as the chief Apostle among the Twelve. Mk. 8:29 is
the parallel account to Mt. 16:18. Less than one full chapter
later, the disciples were arguing which of them was the
greatest (Mk. 9:24). Hence, they didn’t understand
Peter to be the chief. See also Acts 15 where Peter
did not preside over the Jerusalem church council.
4. Catholics
think Mary is their life, sweetness and hope and
proclaim her as such when they recite the Rosary, which
they say is the epitome of the whole gospel.
The idea that Mary could possibly be our life, sweetness
and hope is impossible, according to the pages of the
New Testament. Catholicism has erected a false Mary, which
has a primary role in people’s salvation. Such has misled
many sincere people.
The truth is: Mary plays absolutely no role in
our salvation. For one to become Biblically saved,
he will have to place all 100% of his faith (a submissive
faith) in the Lord Jesus or he will be damned. This
means you cannot trust in being a Catholic, the sacraments
and/or Mary along with the Lord Jesus. You must trust in
Jesus alone (100%). That implies a turning away from your
sins.
5. Catholics
think if they die wearing the brown scapular they
will not suffer the fires of hell.
Such a teaching is so strange that it is hard to believe
anyone would accept it, but this is what Catholics have been
taught. Such a teaching also reflects the spiritual inabilities
and darkness of their hierarchy (papacy) for allowing this
dangerous concept to be taught as truth.
6. Catholics
think the sacraments are a means of them receiving grace needed
for salvation.
Because Catholics have been taught this way, they are trusting
in the sacraments for salvation instead of the
Lord Jesus as the Bible declares. Such a false teaching
has also placed the Catholic in the mind set of thinking
he must remain in the Catholic system to go to Penance and
get communion (Holy Eucharist), which they also
think should be worshiped as God.
7. Catholics
confess their sins to a priest instead of to God.
This false concept goes back again to the false authority
the papacy (and its priesthood) claims for itself. The Bible
speaks of a royal priesthood for all believers (1
Pet. 2:9). There is no unique priesthood with the ability
to forgive sins.
We can go directly to God, without a priest or
Mary and get forgiven, if we go in repentance,
sincerity and humility (Luke 18:13,14).
8. Catholics
who read and believe the Fatima Visions are dangerously
thinking that Mary is our refuge and the way that
will lead us to God.
There is no way to calculate how many sincere people have
been misled by Roman Catholic Marian visions, which they
have endorsed as being from God. Of all of these,
perhaps the most misleading are the Fatima, Portugal visions,
which would have one look to Mary for his refuge and the
way to God. Such an error is a sure way to miss God’s
paradise kingdom and end up in hell. God is our refuge and Jesus
is the only way to God (Psa. 16:1; John 14:6;
etc.).
9. Many
Catholics are just hoping to enter Purgatory and
there get purged of their sins to afterwards get to Heaven.
Because the Catholic Church teaches the purging of sins after physical
death in the fires of Purgatory, many Catholics are
only hoping to get there and afterwards make their way to
heaven. Folks, there is no such place as Purgatory. We
can only get cleansed from our sins by contacting the blood
of Jesus when we repent and have faith. After getting born
again, we must forgive others who sin against us (Mt. 6:14,15)
and confess the sins to God (1 John 1:9).
10. Catholics
have been lethally misinformed about how to show their love for
the Lord Jesus.
Catholics think they show their love for Jesus by bowing before
an image (they think is of him) and kissing that image.
The truth is: we show our love for Jesus by obeying
his commands (John 14:15), and bowing before images
is disobedience and idolatry (Exodus
20:4-6).
For any person, Catholic or non-Catholic, to find the vital
truths about salvation, as found in the Bible,
it will take a sincere heart-felt effort from a heart which
loves God’s truth regardless what it says.
The clear message of salvation as found in the Bible centers
around Jesus Christ. We must have a faith that will loyally
following him until death for our salvation. (There
is no once saved always saved.)
Dan and Cheryl Corner
Evangelical Outreach
PO Box 265, Washington, PA 15301
http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/rcdeception.htm
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