Many people believe that Christianity and Roman Catholicism are the same. Yet though the Roman Catholic Church uses the Bible and a similar vocabulary (such as “faith in Jesus” and “saved by grace”), their definitions are very different to what the Bible teaches. A closer examination of Catholic doctrine reveals many serious errors and contradictions between Roman Catholicism and the Word of God.

Sections

• Contradictions between the Bible and Catholic Catechisms
• The Pope and RCC do not distribute the “keys” to eternal life.
• Grace is a free gift, not an earned reward
• God’s grace is not imparted through the sacraments

Contradictions between the Bible and Catholic Catechisms

Catechisms summarize the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church. Once the Pope makes these doctrines official, they are considered as authoritative as the Bible. However, there are many contradictions between the Bible and Catholic catechisms.

Consider a few of the following comparisons between the Bible and Catholic Catechisms.

The Pope and Roman Catholic Church do not distribute the “keys” to eternal life. 

Jesus Christ said,

“Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church… And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:18-19)

Romanism uses this to teach that Peter is the “rock” – the “First Pope”, upon which Christ’s church is founded. They believe that Peter (and all subsequent popes) have the “keys of the kingdom” to dictate everything necessary for salvation through the Roman Catholic Church. However, examining the Scriptures in context reveals that this is not what the Bible teaches.

The Pope and Roman Catholic Church do not distribute the “keys” to eternal life.

If Peter is the “first Pope”, all successive popes have the authority to dictate what is required to gain eternal life. According to the Vatican 2 Council, “God’s only-begotten Son… has won a treasure for the militant Church… he has entrusted it to blessed Peter, the key-bearer of heaven, and to his successors who are Christ’s vicars on earth, so that they may distribute it to the faithful for the salvation.”[1]

If the Roman Catholic Church has the “keys” to dictate what is necessary for salvation, then a person must come through the Roman Catholic system in order to get to Heaven.

The Vatican II Council states, “For it is through Christ’s Catholic Church alone, which is the universal help towards salvation, that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained. It was to the apostolic college alone of which Peter is the head, that we believe that our Lord entrusted all the blessings of the New Covenant, in order to establish on earth the one Body of Christ into which all those should be fully incorporated who belong in any way to the people of God.”[2]

This leads to the false doctrine that the Roman Catholic Church is necessary for salvation.

The misinterpretation of Matthew 16:18-19 may be found by examining the original Greek, revealing that Christ called Peter (Petros) a “piece of rock”, and upon this rock (Petra), “a mass of rock/foundation stone, bedrock”, He would build His church. In other words, two different Greek words are used, and refer to two different things. God never intended to build the church on Peter, but on Jesus Christ.

The Bible clearly states that Jesus Christ alone is the foundation stone upon which sinners may obtain salvation.

“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” Ephesians 2:20

The true New Testament Christian church teaches the apostles’ doctrine, which is laid upon the teachings of Jesus Christ Himself.

“They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Acts 2:42

Peter was a piece of rock built upon the foundation which Jesus Christ laid. God used him in a special way to “unlock” the gift of the Holy Ghost to the Jews and Gentiles in the book of Acts.

“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 10:44-45

Since Christ is the Rock, He alone can determine how a person may be saved. The Bible plainly teaches that salvation is only through simple faith in Jesus Christ alone.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

Grace is a free gift, not an earned reward

When a Roman Catholic priest speaks of salvation through the grace of Jesus Christ, he does not mean the unmerited, free grace of Christ whereby a believing sinner is eternally and completely and once-for-all saved from sin. By “grace,” the Roman Catholic Church means God’s help to live a righteous life. 

Consider the following quote from Vatican II:

“All children of the Church should nevertheless remember that their exalted condition results, not from their own merits, but from the grace of Christ. If they fail to respond in thought, word and deed to that grace, not only shall they not be saved, but they shall be the more severely judged” (Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, chap. 2, 14, p. 337).

The Bible condemns any mixture of grace plus works. (Galatians 1:6-8) God’s grace is undeserved and freely given, not something that can be earned by any works or self-effort.

God’s standard is not goodness but perfection.

“Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity.” (Habakkuk 1:13)

Regarding man’s good works, the Bible teaches

 “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…” (Isaiah 64:6)

No amount of religion or good works can meet God’s holy standard of perfection, let alone take away sin.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

However, God did not require that man be “good enough” by demanding an impossible list of law works to keep, but sent His only begotten Son to pay the penalty of sin for us.

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)

This is the grace of God!

God freely offers full forgiveness of sins and eternal life with Him to all who repent of their sin and trust in Jesus Christ alone as Lord and Savior.

For more information, read article by Dr. David Cloud, “What the Roman Catholic Church teaches about salvation.” http://www.wayoflife.org/database/what_the_catholic_church_teaches_about_salvation.html

God’s grace is not imparted through the sacraments

The Roman Catholic Church teaches faith in Jesus Christ PLUS good deeds, such as keeping the sacraments of the church, to receive God’s grace. This means that Jesus Christ’s work on the cross was not enough; man must earn God’s favour. This also means that a person must come through the Roman Catholic Church to receive the sacraments, making the church an essential part of salvation.
Consider the following quotes from RCC theologists:

“In recent years the church has reiterated again and again that we are saved by faith and the sacraments of faith. Both are necessary.” (J.D. Crichton, Christian Celebration: The Sacraments, p. 65).
“The seven sacraments are the necessary means established by Christ through which His redeeming, life-giving, sanctifying grace is imparted to individuals’ souls. You must centre your life upon the sacraments established by Christ if you want to save your soul. The sacraments are the source of your real life, the divine life that will unite you with God in this world and in eternity. Let nothing make you think that you can get along without the sacraments. Without them your soul must die. … If you don’t receive the sacraments at all, you don’t receive grace. If you don’t receive them properly, that is, if you receive them seldom and with little devotion, you receive less grace” (L.G. Lovasik, The Eucharist in Catholic Life, pp. 14,15).

The sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church include Baptism, Penance, the Eucharist (Mass), Confirmation, Matrimony and Extreme Unction (Last Rites).

Baptism is considered the first step of salvation. Once a person is baptized, even if only an infant, he is considered “born again”, and part of the Church. However, this is only the first step. The individual must also confess all his sins on a regular basis to a priest (Penance), receive God’s grace by partaking in the Eucharist regularly, and so on.

No Roman Catholic can be fully assured of going to Heaven after death, because he cannot be certain that his “good” has outweighed the “bad” or that his very last sin will be forgiven at the point of death.

The Bible demonstrates all throughout the Old and New Testament that people were only saved by simple faith, believing in God’s promises rather than themselves.

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  Romans 4:3

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Acts 16:31

Salvation is offered only by believing in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf, and trusting in Him alone, not any good works.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:9-10, 13

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

FOOTNOTES

[1] Vatican II, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Apostolic Constitution on the Revision of Indulgences, Chap. 4, 7, p. 80)

[2]Vatican II, Decree on Ecumenism, Chap. 2, 3, p. 415