THE ROMAN CHURCH'S DISPUTES WITH THE BIBLE

Also see, The Criminal History Of Rome

http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2006/12/history-of-papacy-heresies-of-rome.html


Loren Davis,THE ROMAN CHURCH'S DISPUTES WITH THE BIBLE


http://www.lorendavis.com/news_articles_roman.html


The Roman Church disagrees with almost every point in the Bible. Look carefully at what the Roman Church teaches and compare it with the teachings in the Holy Bible.

1. The Roman Church teaches that THE POPE AND THE ROMAN CHURCH ARE INFALLIBLE AND THE FINAL AUTHORITY OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
THE BIBLE TEACHES
That IT (THE BIBLE) IS THE FINAL AUTHORITY OF THE CHRISTIAN'S FAITH.
*Matthew 4:4 "Man shall not live by bread alone but by EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD."
*Romans 3:4 "let God be true and EVERY MAN A LIAR."
*Romans 3:23 "For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
Does the word "ALL" exclude the Pope? The Bible and the Godhead alone are infallible.
*Revelation. 22:18-19 "If ANY MAN SHALL ADD unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if ANY MAN SHALL TAKE AWAY FROM THE WORDS of this book of this prophecy, GOD SHALL TAKE AWAY HIS PART OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE." (They will not go to heaven! This is talking about ANYBODY who tampers with the Bible!)

2. The Roman Church teaches that THE POPE IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH
The Roman Church votes on the man who is to fill Christ's shoes to be the Head of the Church.
THE BIBLE TEACHES
*Ephesians 5:23 "CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH, And hath put all things under His feet and gave Him (Christ) to be THE HEAD over all things to the church, which is his body…"
*Ephesians 1:22. The head of the Church is not up for a vote. It was settled 2,000 years ago. It is Jesus the Christ alone!

3. The Roman Church teaches that PETER WAS THE FIRST POPE
a. The Bible never once says that Peter was a Pope. The word Pope is not found in the Bible.
b. PETER COULD NOT QUALIFY TO BE A POPE BECAUSE HE WAS MARRIED. According to the qualifications of the Church of Rome, a Pope must be single.
*Matthew 8:14 speaks of Peter's mother-in-law who was sick with a fever. It is impossible for Peter to have a mother-in-law unless he is married. Paul's remarks show that the Apostles were married men.
*I Corinthians 9:5 "Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?" (Cephas was Peter's name in Aramaic…) "thou shalt be called Cephas, a stone…" John 1:42 also shows Peter was married.
c. The Roman Church DEMANDS THAT PEOPLE BOW DOWN TO THE POPE
THE BIBLE says that Peter forbid people to bow down to him.
*Acts 3:12-13 tells about people who followed Peter after God used him to bring about a great miracle. Peter said, "why do you look on us as though by our holiness this man is healed? It is by the name of Jesus…stand up, I myself am also a man!". Acts 10:25, 26.
Peter always pointed people to Jesus. He refused to take the glory for any miracles. He was just a man who was used by God.
d. The Roman Church CALLS THE POPE THE CHIEF SHEPHERD
THE BIBLE TEACHES
*1 Peter 5: 4, Peter spoke of Jesus as the CHIEF SHEPHERD and when "HE shall appear we shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."
e. The Roman Church DRESSES THE POPE LIKE ROYALTY
The Bible teaches that PETER WAS A FISHERMAN. HE WORE THE CLOTHES OF A FISHERMAN, NOT OF AN EMPEROR.
f. The Roman Church teaches that PETER WAS THE BISHOP OF ROME
The Bible teaches that PETER WAS AN APOSTLE TO THE JEWS, NOT TO THE GENTILES.
*Galatians 2:9 speaks of Peter as Cephas "to go to them of THE CIRCUMCISION" (The Jews were the only ones circumcised at this time. This letter was written by Paul around 58 A.D).
The first time Peter preached the Gospel to the GENTILES WAS AT JERUSALEM, NOT AT ROME. Nowhere in scripture does it mention about a Pope or Universal Bishop.
The APOSTLE PAUL WAS THE APOSTLE TO ROME. It was Paul, not Peter, who wrote the Book of Romans.
*Romans 11:13 Paul says, "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I AM THE APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES…" Rome was a city of GENTILES.

Biblically, there is no evidence that Peter ever came close to Rome. To say that Peter was the Bishop of Rome is not scriptural. The Apostle Paul, not Peter, was THE MOST EFFECTIVE APOSTLE.
*Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:11, "In nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles".
Paul even REBUKED Peter
*Galatians 2:11-14 "But when Peter was come to Antioch, I WITHSTOOD HIM TO THE FACE, because HE WAS TO BE BLAMED. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?"
DOES ANYONE REBUKE AN INFALLIBLE POPE? g. The Roman Church teaches that PETER IS THE ROCK UPON WHICH THE CHURCH IS BUILT
THE BIBLE TEACHES
*Matthew 16:13 carries the discourse between Jesus and Peter. Jesus asked Peter, "who do men say that I am?" The focus of the question is on Jesus Christ, not on Peter. Peter answered, "thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God."
Jesus answered Peter, "UPON THIS ROCK (upon the revelation of who Jesus is, the Christ, the Son of the living God, on this FACT, THIS ROCK of WHO I AM, Jesus said, "will I build my Church…". The Church of our Lord Jesus Christ is not based on who Peter is, but on who Jesus is! Peter is not the Savior of the world, JESUS IS.
*Acts 4:10-12 openly declares that Jesus is "THE STONE that the builders REJECTED, which IS BECOME THE HEAD OF THE CORNER ."… "Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders REJECTED, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?"
*Matthew 21:42; …"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not."
*Isaiah 53:3. Says of Jesus, "He was despised and REJECTED men".
Christ was rejected as the cornerstone. Now the Roman Church is having Peter take Jesus' place. JESUS IS CALLED THE CORNERSTONE. The cornerstone is always the rock upon which a building is built.
*Psalms 18:2 says, "THE LORD IS MY ROCK." CHRIST, NOT PETER, IS THE LORD, THE ROCK THE CHURCH IS BUILT ON.
*Matthew 7:15 warns us, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."
4. The Roman Church BELIEVES IN A HUMAN PRIESTHOOD
The job of the Roman priesthood is to be mediators between God and man. This is an Old Testament concept, but this human priesthood is no longer in effect. It was replaced after Jesus came.

*Hebrews 7:23 "And they truly WERE many priests ("were" expresses past tense), because they (priests) were not suffered (allowed) to continue by reason of death: but this man (Jesus), because he continueth forever (never dies), hath an unchangeable priesthood…seeing he, (Jesus), liveth to make intercession (mediate) for them. (No longer is a human priest needed to intercede for us to God). For such a high priest (Jesus) became us, who is holy (that is Jesus)." No priest is our mediator now.

Now JESUS IS OUR ONLY MEDIATOR
*Hebrews 7:24-28, "But this man (Jesus), because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he (Jesus) is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him (not a priest), seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who NEEDETH NOT DAILY, AS THOSE HIGH PRIESTS, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore."
*Hebrews 8:1 "we have a high priest (Jesus) who is set on the right hand of majesty in the heavens." The New Testament teaches that the time of men being priests is over. Christ is now the one and only high priest.

5. The Roman Church teaches that WE ARE TO CALL PRIESTS FATHER AND THE POPE "THE HOLY FATHER"
THE BIBLE TEACHES
*Matthew 23:9 "And CALL NO MAN FATHER UPON THE EARTH: for one is your father, which is in heaven…"

6. The Roman Church teaches PRIESTS AND NUNS SHOULD REMAIN CELIBATE
THE BIBLE TEACHES
*I Timothy 4:1 "in the latter times some shall depart from the faith GIVING HEED TO SEDUCING SPIRITS AND DOCTRINES OF DEVILS; SPEAKING LIES IN HYPOCRISY; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; FORBIDDING TO MARRY.
Celibacy as taught in the Bible is optional. It is not a commandment for Christ's ministers to be celibate. (See 1 Corinthians 7).
< br> 7. The Roman Church teaches THAT WE ARE TO PRAY TO THE SAINTS AND MARY
THE BIBLE TEACHES
The First Commandment in Exodus 20:3 emphatically commands, "thou shalt have no other gods before me."
Anyone you pray to you are making a god.
< br> MARY AND THE SAINTS DIED.
*Hebrews 9:27 "And as it is appointed unto men once to die."
Jesus rose from the dead. The Bible never says that Mary rose from the dead.
< br> *Isaiah 8:19-20 CONDEMNS PRAYING TO THE DEAD. "And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God: FOR THE LIVING TO THE DEAD? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

8. The Roman Church teaches that WE SHOULD PRAY TO MARY FOR MIRACLES
THE BIBLE TEACHES
No place in the Bible does it ever record one miracle that Mary ever did. No one ever came to Mary in the Bible to receive a miracle.
*John 2:1, at the marriage at Cana, "the mother of Jesus was there." John 2:5 "his mother (Mary) saith unto the servants. Whatsoever He (referring to Jesus) saith unto you (not what I say, but what Jesus says), do it!"

Mary was always pointing people away from her and to her son Jesus to get their problems solved. Jesus (not Mary) performed the miracles! Mary never exalted herself to equal status with Jesus. Mary is not a goddess! According to scripture there is only God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

JESUS' POSITION ON THE "ADULATION" OF MARY
* Luke 11:27-28 references Mary, "A certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto Him, (Jesus), Blessed is the womb that bare thee...and the paps which thou hast sucked." (We must reflect that there were many goddesses worshipped at this time. Suddenly, this woman began to exalt and glorify Mary like she would one of the goddesses.) "…but He (Jesus) said, yea, RATHER (INSTEAD of blessing his mother) blessed are they that hear the word and keep it."

The same phrase "blessed above women" was used of another woman in the Old Testament
*Judges 5:24 "blessed above women shall JAEL the wife of Heber the Kenite be..." But that did not make Jael a goddess.

When the issue of Mary's exaltation arose, Jesus immediately stopped it! Today, many overlook and ignore Christ's words on Mary's exaltation.

9. The Roman Church teaches that Mary was immaculately conceived and did not have a human father, putting her birth on the same miraculous level as Jesus. (That is exactly the same thing that the Baal religions believed about their VIRGIN GODDESSES. The Roman Church just transferred it to Mary). The teaching of Mary's Immaculate Conception is foundational to justify the Roman Church's TEACHING THAT MARY WAS WITHOUT ORIGINAL SIN. There is nothing in scripture to substantiate this.
THE BIBLE TEACHES
*Luke 1:47, Mary said, "And my spirit hath rejoiced in God MY SAVIOUR.."
If Mary needed the Saviour, then she had to have had original sin and could not be a saviour herself. She needed Jesus to save her from her sins. Mary was not equal with Jesus. She was a virgin who was without reproach and God used her.

The teaching that MARY WAS SUPERIOR to other humans does not match Jesus' statement in…
*Matthew 12:46-50, "WHO IS MY MOTHER?…behold my mother and my brethern! For whosoever shall do the will of my father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and MOTHER".

10. MARY WAS NOT IMMACULATELY CONCEIVED but had AN EARTHLY FATHER
a. THE GENEOLOGY OF JOSEPH
The Bible teaches, concerning the geneology of Joseph in Matthew 1:16, that JOSEPH'S ANCESTRY BEGAN FROM DAVID through David's son SOLOMON. JACOB was THE FATHER OF JOSEPH. JOSEPH'S GENEOLOGY STARTS AT ABRAHAM.
b. THE GENEOLOGY OF MARY
The geneology of Mary is critical concerning the issue of Mary's Immaculate Conception, which literally means that she had no earthly father but was conceived just like Jesus. Mary's geneology is found in Luke 3:23-38 and refutes this non-biblical teaching.

In vs. 38, Joseph's geneology starts at Abraham, but Mary's starts at Adam. THE DEMARCATION OF MARY AND JOSEPH'S GENEOLOGY BEGINS AT DAVID. Notice closely! Whereas JOSEPH came from David's SON SOLOMON, Matthew. 1:6; MARY'S LINEAGE COMES FROM David's son NATHAN. See Luke 3:31.

It was the Jewish custom to us the man's name instead of the woman's even when tracing a woman's geneology. It was like saying for example "Mrs. Joseph", without saying the name of the woman or using the term Mrs.).

JOSEPH'S FATHER WAS JACOB, Matthew 1:16, MARY'S FATHER WAS HELI, Luke 3:23. *Luke 3:23 says, "And Jesus himself…being (as supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of HELI… " Remember in Matthew 1:16 it declares that Jacob was Joseph's father. Heli was definitely Mary's father. This proves that Mary had an earthly father and was not immaculately conceived.

THE ISSUE OF JESUS ALSO BEING THE SON OF MAN

Another reason why Mary could not have been immaculately conceived is that if Mary was divine and had no earthly father, then JESUS COULD NOT BE THE SON OF MAN, Matthew 9:6, 8:29. Jesus had to have an earthly mother to get the flesh of a human.

The flesh of a child comes from his mother, but the DNA BLOODLINE IS DETERMINED BY THE FATHER. This scientifically explains how Jesus could be a God-man. HE HAD THE FLESH OF MARY (which made Him THE SON OF MAN, and He had the Blood of His Father God, which made Him the SON OF GOD).

Man's blood was contaminated by sin from The Fall in the Garden of Eden, but THE BLOOD OF JESUS WAS DIVINE and had NO Contamination from sin.

*Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." JESUS WAS GOD IN THE FLESH.

*1 Timothy 3:16 "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: GOD WAS M A N I F E S T I N T H E F L E S H."

If Mary was Immaculately conceived, Jesus could not have been "the Son of man"; God incarnate; God in the flesh; Immanuel, God with us.

11. The Roman Church teaches THE PERPETUAL VIRGINITY OF MARY
This teaching started three hundred years after Christ's ascension. It was not until 451 at the Council of Chalcedon that this doctrine became official in Rome. This doctrine was adopted by vote.

THE BIBLE TEACHES
MARY MARRIED Joseph and had other children besides Jesus.
No one marries unless they are planning to have a "marriage relationship".
*Matthew 1:20 says that the angel of the Lord told Joseph to marry Mary. "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take to thee Mary for thy wife." Also, Luke 2:5.
*Mark 6:3 says, "the people inquired about Jesus, is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, THE BROTHER of James and Joses, and of Juda and Simon?"
In this scripture FOUR half BROTHERS OF JESUS are mentioned coming from this same mother, Mary. Mary was Joseph's only wife.

*Matthew 1:25 says that Jesus was Mary's "firstborn" son.
*Matthew 13:55 talks about Jesus' brothers again. Verse 56 says, "And HIS SISTERS, are they not also with us?"
*Acts 1:14; Galatians 1:19. "But other of the apostles saw I none, save James THE LORD'S BROTHER."
*Psalms 69:8-9 prophesying of Jesus says, "I am become a stranger unto MY OWN BRETHREN, and an alien to MY MOTHER'S CHILDREN." (Brothers and sisters).
This prophecy given in Psalms about Jesus was fulfilled in John 7:3-10.

For Mary to have been the wife of Joseph, and for Jesus to have brothers and sisters, is CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE from the Bible that MARY DID NOT REMAIN A VIRGIN after the birth of Jesus. For Mary to be a Perpetual Virgin is physically impossible in the light of these scriptures.

12. The Roman Church teaches THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY, that Mary did not die but ascended to heaven just like Jesus

The Assumption of Mary was not proclaimed as doctrine by the Church of Rome until 1951 when Pope Pius XII declared it. The Roman Church then said that three days after Mary died, her tomb was found empty. They also teach that she is now seated at the right hand of her son Jesus and sits as THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN where she constantly makes intercession for people (the position given in the Bible only to Jesus the Christ). The Roman Church tries to make Mary do everything that Jesus did. Many places in the world have holidays celebrating The Assumption of Mary. The Bible never says Mary ascended to heaven. It is very apparent they have attempted to replace Jesus with Mary. They still refer to Jesus enough not to appear so obvious.

*John 3:13 "NO MAN HATH ASCENDED UP TO HEAVEN, BUT HE THAT CAME DOWN to earth, even THE SON OF MAN which is in heaven." This scripture alone refutes the teaching of Mary's assumption. JESUS ALONE, the son of man, ascended to heaven! THE ONLY REFERENCE TO THE BIBLE OF SOMEONE SEATED ON THE RIGHT HAND, WAS JESUS WHO WAS SEATED ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD.
*Mark 16:19 "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and SAT ON TE RIGHT HAND OF GOD."
The Bible says nothing of Mary seated on the right hand of God or Jesus. Mary, being called the Queen of Heaven, comes directly from Baal.

Some have disputed the scripture that no man has ascended to heaven but Christ. They bring up Enoch and Elijah. One should note that Enoch and Elijah did not ascend to heaven, they went to Paradise.
*Luke 23:43 "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise."

PARADISE WAS THE BOSOM OF ABRAHAM. It was the holding place for the people of God who had died in the Old Testament era. *Luke 16:22 "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried."

The Old Testament people of God remained in Paradise, The Bosom of Abraham, until Jesus came. At Jesus' resurrection they were released to heaven.
*Ephesians 4:8-10 "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ASCENDED UP far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)"

Today, New Testament believers do not go to Paradise, their spirits go straight to heaven.
*2 Corinthians 5:8 "We are confident, I say, and willing rather TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY, and to be PRESENT WITH THE LORD."

Nothing in the Bible alludes in any way to Mary ascending up to heaven nor sitting on the right hand of God. That is an extra-biblical doctrine voted in by the Roman Church. That is defying Revelation 22:18-19 by adding to the Word of God. 13. The Roman Church teaches that MARY AND THE INFANT JESUS LIVE IN YOU
This teaching exalts Mary and diminishes Jesus. Classifying Him as "The Infant Jesus", portrays Jesus as dependant on Mary, helpless and powerless.

THE BIBLE TEACHES:
Jesus did not stay an infant. He grew into full maturity. Portraying Jesus as an infant conveys weakness. The Roman Church's image of Jesus' figure pathetically nailed to the cross or being an infant, leaves the impression that Jesus is weak and helpless. This distorts the true image of Jesus. He is not a defeated, pathetic creature!
*Matthew 28:18 "And JESUS came and SPAKE unto them, saying, ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME in heaven and in earth." Nowhere in the Bible does it ever state that Mary or the INFANT Jesus will live in you.
*Colossians 1:27 " CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory."
*I Corinthians 6:19 says, "your body is the temple of the HOLY GHOST."
Not once does the Bible say your body is the "temple of Mary". This is Babylonian Mother-Child worship. 14. The Roman Church teaches that Mary is CO-MEDIATOR with Jesus 1
THE BIBLE TEACHES
*I Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and ONE MEDIATOR between God and men, the man CHRIST JESUS."
*Hebrews 9:15 "And for this cause HE IS THE MEDIATOR of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance". Now we have a New Covenant with God, The New Testament of Jesus Christ.

15. The Roman Church teaches that MARY IS CO-REDEEMER WITH CHRIST 2
THE BIBLE TEACHES
*Hebrews 9:22 "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and WITHOUT SHEDDING OF BLOOD IS NO REMISSION."

No place in scripture does it ever say or infer that Mary ever shed any blood for our sins. (Some have said she did that through her female cycle. If that is the case, then any woman could be our redeemer). But Mary's Son Jesus, shed His blood on the cross for the sins of the world.

*John 19:34 "But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced HIS SIDE, and forthwith came there out blood and water."
*Matthew 26:28 "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
*Romans 5:9 "Much more then, BEING NOW JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, we shall be saved from wrath through him."
*Luke 1:68 says "HE (Jesus) visited and REDEEMED his people".
*Hebrews. 9:12…"neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by HIS OWN BLOOD he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."

16. The Roman Church teaches that MARY IS THE WOMAN Revelation 12, CLOTHED WITH THE SUN; THE MOON UNDER HER FEET; AND A CROWN OF TWELVE STARS.
*Revelation 12:1 "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:"
This WOMAN is not referring to Mary but to the Jews. These scriptures are referring to the Great Tribulation when Satan will be wroth with the Jews. woman is the Jews; the manchild is Jesus who was born from the Jewish nation and was caught up to the throne of God. The woman is the 144,000 Jews of Revelation 7:5-8 that God sealed and protected probably at Petra during the Tribulation.

17. The Roman Church teaches that MARY AND THE SAINTS HEAL DIFFERENT DISEASES
*Acts 3:12-16 "And when PETER saw it, he ANSWERED unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath GLORIFIED HIS SON JESUS; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And his name THROUGH FAITH IN HIS NAME HATH MADE THIS MAN STRONG, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all."
*Matthew 9:6 "But 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."

JESUS ALONE IS THE HEALER! (See the chapter on Healing)
*Acts 10:38 "How God anointed JESUS of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and HEALING ALL that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."
*Isaiah 53:5 "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and WITH HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED.'

18. The Roman Church teaches that there is a PURGATORY

They teach a Progressive Salvation which evolves through the Mass, Works, and Purgatory and involves giving the church money. They do not believe in the instantaneous salvation that the Bible teaches. (See the chapter on: A This World Gospel, under Purgatory).

PURGATORY IS A PLACE OF FIRE AND SUFFERING. This was referenced in these scriptures regarding the pagans.
*Leviticus 18:21 talks about their "seed passing through the fire of Molech." This is referencing the pagans purgatory.
*Jeremiah 7:31 talks about the high place of Tophet which was built...to burn their sons and daughters in the fire." (They literally burned their bodies in fire).
19. THE ROMAN CHURCH LINKS MONEY TO DELIVERANCE FROM PURGATORY
Hezel said, "As soon as the money in the casket rings, the troubled soul from purgatory springs". Priests admit they don't know when a person ever gets out of purgatory. Therefore it is an endless amount of masses and offerings from the bereaved loved ones for any hope of saving their departed loved ones. The Irish have a saying, "high money, high mass; lo money, lo mass". The more money one gives the Church, the faster their loved ones will get out of Purgatory no matter how the person lived or how often he attended church.

During WW II, the Archbishop of Winnepeg wrote a letter dated March 1, 1944, that would guarantee mothers that their departed sons would be freed from Purgatory if they gave the Church a forty dollar ($40) offering.

THE BIBLE TEACHES
*Deuteronomy 26:14 "I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor GIVEN OUGHT thereof FOR THE DEAD."
*Peter himself wrote in I Peter 1:18-19 "we are NOT REDEEMED WITH corruptible things as SILVER AND GOLD, but with the precious blood of Christ...without spot or blemish."
*Ephesians 2:8,9, says, "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 boast".
*Psalms 49:6-7 "they that trust in the multitude of riches, NONE OF THEM CAN BY ANY MEANS REDEEM HIS BROTHER, NOR GIVE TO GOD A RANSOM FOR HIM."
*In Acts 8:20 Peter said, "THY MONEY PERISH WITH THEE, because thou hast THOUGHT THE GIFT OF GOD MAY BE PURCHASED WITH MONEY".
*Matthew 23:14 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For YE DEVOUR WIDOWS' HOUSES, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation."
(The doctrine of Purgatory does exactly this. The teaching of Purgatory devours widows houses taking advantage of the grief and superstition of the bereaved).

We are taught in the Bible to pray for the living and never once does the Bible tell us that we are to pray for the dead. According to God's Word, one's eternal destiny is set at death! The doctrine of praying for the souls of the dead and giving money to help them, is found in all Baal religions. The idea of selling indulgences which are licenses to sin with impunity, was another money making strategy of the Roman Church. This is one of the main reasons that Martin Luther rebelled against the Roman Church and instigated The Reformation.

*I Corinthians 15:29 refers to this practice. "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?"
He is not teaching the baptism of the dead, but is referring to the what the pagans practiced, who don't even believe in Christ or the resurrection.

According to the Bible, no one can make a decision for another regarding salvation. Some have tried to use "Paradise" to prove Purgatory's existence, but PARADISE WAS NOT A HOLDING PLACE FOR SINNERS, it was a holding place for Old Testament SAINTS.

When PEOPLE died they INSTANTLY WENT TO PARADISE OR HELL, (Rich man and Lazarus). THEY DID NOT GO TO SOME INTERIM PURGATORY.
*In Luke 23:43 as Jesus was dying on the cross, He told the penitent thief, "THIS DAY wilt thou be with me in paradise." Paradise was not a place of torture.
"This day" meant there was no interim waiting as the teaching of Purgatory declares.

*The Bible teaches in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that for a child of God, "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." Since Christ rose from the dead there is no longer a waiting period for the people of God to go to heaven. (There is a resurrection day though when we receive a new glorified body).

ONE'S ETERNAL JUDGMENT IS SET WHEN HE DIES
*Hebrews 9:27 "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."
After death, nothing you can do can alter someone's eternal destiny. Getting right with God has to be done by each person BEFORE he dies. No one else can do it for you. To teach otherwise is to defy the Word of God; is heartless; and gives false hope. Once one dies, no amount of burning candles, money, and praying will make a difference where one will spend eternity.

*Luke 16:19-31 tells the story about the Rich Man and Lazarus. v. 23-24" the Rich man after he died, and was buried; and in HELL he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame."
(Note: IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE DIED HE WAS IN HELL).

Abraham answered him, "between us there is a great gulf FIXED (that means it won't move) so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence." The Bible clearly states that after one dies his eternal destiny is FIXED. If he dies without Christ nothing can be done to rectify it.

If the teaching of Purgatory were true it would make YOU the Savior of your family and friends; and money would be the redeemer and not Jesus!

Good works, money, personal abstinence, sacrifice, and Purgatory do not purify anybody.
*I Corinthians 13:3 "though I GIVE MY BODY TO BE BURNED and have not love, IT PROFITETH ME NOTHING".
*The Bible says in Acts 20:38; Hebrews 9:14; Romans 5:9; and Ephesians 1:7 that we are "cleansed by the blood of Jesus", we are NOT cleansed by fire. We live good lives and do good works as a result of being purified by Christ's precious blood, but we are not cleansed by works themselves.

20. The Roman Church says THE POPE, NOT JESUS, HOLDS THE KEYS TO DEATH, HELL AND THE GRAVE. That is not scriptural! That is putting the Pope in Christ's place.
*Revelation. 1:18 Jesus said, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and HAVE THE KEYS OF HELL AND OF DEATH ".

21. The Roman Church teaches that we are TO PRAY THE ROSARY. This is repetitious praying using prayer beads.
*Matthew. 6:7-13 "But when ye pray, USE NOT VAIN REPETITIONS, AS THE HEATHEN DO for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking."

Praying the Rosary defies the Bible's command against repetitious praying! Praying The Rosary is never mentioned in the Bible.
*Mark 12:38-40 "And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widows' houses, and FOR A PRETENCE MAKE LONG PRAYERS: these shall receive greater damnation."

22. The Roman Church traditionally has taught AGAINST being BORN AGAIN. Since they have lost many of their parishioners, particularly to the Pentecostals, they have changed, in rhetoric at least, their position on this doctrine.

Now they claim to believe in" being born" again. However, they have totally REDEFINED THE MEANING. THEY SAY ALL WHO JOIN THE ROMAN CHURCH AND HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED IN IT ARE BORN AGAIN. 3

THE BIBLE TEACHES
*JOHN 3:3 "Except a man is BORN AGAIN he will not inherit the kingdom of God."

Being born again is a spiritual experience with God and does not happen by a physical act of joining any church or being baptized! The Bible teaches that Jesus, not any church, is our Savior. Any church that declares that one must join their church to be saved is not basing this on scriptural authority. By being clever, they have seduced many ex-Roman members who left the Church to come back to the church again, saying they do believe in being BORN AGAIN.

23. The Roman Church teaches TRANSUBSTANTIATION, that is that in the communion the wine is transformed into the literal blood of Christ, and the wafer is transformed into Christ's literal body.

THE BIBLE TEACHES
*Matthew 26:26-29 "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; or this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I WILL NOT DRINK henceforth of this FRUIT OF THE VINE, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

Jesus called the contents of the cup THE FRUIT OF THE VINE. He is not literally drinking His own blood. He had not yet even been crucified. All of His blood was still in His body.

To accurately divide the truth one must understand that Jesus often used parables and figurative speech to describe spiritual things. When He used a parable He would say, "The Kingdom of God is like…" Luke 20:9 is another parable. For example, the Bible speaks of Jesus as the "door", and the "rock", but that does not mean He was saying that He was literally an inanimate door; or a rock.

Jesus is called "The Lamb of God". John 1:29. That does not mean He was not a human but an animal. The lamb was slain in the Old Testament for a sin offering. Now instead of lambs being slain, Jesus was "the sacrificial lamb" slain as a sin offering for the world. These are SYMBOLIC expressions to help us understand what He has to offer us, and to link it with the Old Testament lamb. He has now taken its place.

Jesus spoke of the bread as His body, and the wine as His blood. The bread and the drink are powerful enhancers of faith that help us grasp being one with Him. The communion is a physical act linked to a spiritual union with the Lord. Jesus still called the wine the "fruit of the vine" after he blessed it. He drank of the same cup also. Jesus said we are one with Him. That does not mean that we are one physically with Him, it means that we are one spiritually with Him. We are one physically with our husband or wife.

GOD COMMANDED AGAINST EATING BLOOD
*Leviticus 17:10-12 "And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I WILL EVEN SET MY FACE AGAINST THAT SOUL THAT EATETH BLOOD, and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, NO SOUL OF YOU SHALL EAT BLOOD, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood."

The scriptures of the Bible do not contradict each other when rightly divided. When Jesus spoke of drinking of His blood, He was speaking of a spiritual thing, of receiving spiritual life from Him, (because the life is in the blood), otherwise He would have been contradicting the commands of Leviticus.

*2 Timothy 2:15-16 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH. But SHUN PROFANE AND VAIN BABBLINGS: for they will increase unto more ungodliness."
Many spin the Word of God into absurdity.

24. The Roman Church teaches that at death we must have LAST RITES. A priest must come and minister the sacraments to the one who is dying
THE BIBLE TEACHES
Last Rites are never mentioned in the Bible, much less that they have anything to do with salvation. The scriptures alone predicate the basis for salvation. LAST RITES implies strongly that it doesn't matter how one lives or what his relationship with Christ was related to whether he goes to heaven or not. With Last Rites it only matters if the priest comes in time to administer them. This GIVES FALSE HOPE. If one knows Christ personally, when he is dying he needs no priest to assist him to get to heaven. He only needs to call out to Jesus.

25. The Roman Church teaches that the Church can canonize people into becoming SAINTS. These saints can be prayed to for help and blessings
THE BIBLE TEACHES
*I Corinthians 1:2 says, "Unto the church of God...to them that are sanctified by the Holy Ghost. (The Holy Ghost, not the Church sanctifies people).
*Romans 15:16 says, we are "sanctified by the Holy Ghost," "...called to be SAINTS."
THIS IS TALKING ABOUT ALL BELIEVERS IN CHRIST, not an exclusive few that the Roman Church recognizes. When the Bible is talking about saints it is talking about all who have been spiritually born again. John. 3:3.
*Ephesians 1:1 says, "to the SAINTS (believers) who are at Ephesus."
*Philippians 1:1 says, "...to the SAINTS (believers) who are at Philippi."
*Colossians 1:2…"To the SAINTS and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colossae: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
None of these saints referred to had been canonized before the Roman Church came into existance. No place in scripture does it say that an organized church has been authorized to canonize people and make them saints.
W O R S H I P P I N G S A I N T S I S A N C E S T O R
W O R S H I P.
Ancestor worship was referenced in II Kings 23:5 as "THE HOST OF HEAVEN" and is a part of Baal worship.

26 The Roman Church teaches that WE ARE TO PRAY TO IDOLS
This is not scriptural! We are to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus. John 14:13. The Roman Church also says that they stand strongly for the Ten Commandments. Their Duhey version deletes "Thou shalt not make before me any graven image". Often they deny that these statues are idols. Just what is an idol then? It is a graven image!

THE BIBLE TEACHES
*2 Chronicles 33:6-7 "he wrought MUCH EVIL in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. And HE SET A CARVED IMAGE, the idol which he had made, IN THE HOUSE OF GOD,"
Statues of saints defy the Ten Commandments.
*Exodus 20:4-6 "Thou shalt NOT MAKE ANY GRAVEN IMAGE, THOU SHALT NOT BOW DOWN THYSELF TO THEM, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God…, And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS."
A STATUE IS A GRAVEN IMAGE?

THE APOSTLE PAUL, LIKE MOSES, FOUGHT IDOLATRY

When the Apostle Paul came to Ephesus, he refused to compromise with paganism. The people he preached to were truly converted to Christ and changed. The Gospel shut down the craft of idol making in Rome. Perhaps that is the reason that the Roman Church didn't choose the Apostle Paul to be the Bishop of Rome, the first Pope. They didn't like his Gospel which was against idolatry.
*Acts 19:24-27 "And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: So that not only this OUR CRAFT IS IN DANGER to be set at nought; but also that THE TEMPLE OF THE GREAT GODDESS DIANA SHOULD BE DESPISED, AND HER MAGNIFICENCE SHOULD BE DESTROYED, whom all Asia and THE WORLD WORSHIPPETH. And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, GREAT IS DIANA OF THE EPHESIANS."

Graven images are made of Mary, Jesus, and the saints. People are encouraged to burn candles and pray to the images.
*Romans 1:23 "They CHANGED THE GLORY OF THE INCORRUPTIBLE GOD, INTO AN IMAGE".
*Acts 17:16 says, "Paul's spirit was stirred (he was upset) when he saw THE WHOLE CITY GIVEN TO IDOLATRY."
*I Corinthians 10:14 …"Wherefore, my dearly beloved, FLEE FROM IDOLATRY."
*Galatians 5:19-21…"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness IDOLATRY…, of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

Those who practice idolatry shall not inherit the kingdom of God, according to the Bible. What difference is there in "Christian" images and the images the pagans bow to?
*Daniel 3:1-7 it says, "The people...fell down and worshipped THE GOLDEN IMAGE that Nebuchadnezzar had set up."

THE PEOPLE WERE TOLD TO DESTROY EVEN THEIR PAGAN PICTURES OF THE OTHER GODS BECAUSE THEY WERE IDOLATROUS
*Numbers 33:52 "Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and DESTROY ALL THEIR PICTURES."

IDOLS ATTRACT DEMONS

*1 Corinthians10:20 "But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they SACRIFICE TO DEVILS, and NOT TO GOD: and I would not that ye should have FELLOWSHIP WITH DEVILS."
*1 Corinthians 10:21 "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and THE CUP OF DEVILS: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of THE TABLE OF DEVILS." 27. The Roman Church is full of RITUALISM
The Roman Church is ritualistic, and methodical in their form of worship. This is accompanied by all of the ornate and symbolic paraphernalia of pagan worship.
*Hebrews 9:1-10 tells us the first covenant had ordinances of divine services, and a worldly sanctuary. There was a tabernacle, candlestick, table, shewbread; the second veil, the golden censer, the ark of the covenant overlaid with gold, Aaron's rod; the tables of the covenant; the cherubim; the priests; meats, drinks, washings and carnal ordinances.

THE FIRST COVENANT WAS NOT PERFECT BUT WAS A TYPE OF SHADOW OF THINGS TO COME.
*Hebrews 9:9-12 "Which WAS A FIGURE FOR THE TIME then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."
*Hebrews 9:23-24 "It was therefore necessary that THE PATTERN OF THINGS in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:"
*Hebrews 10:1…"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect."

WE ARE NOW IN THE SECOND COVENANT, THE NEW TESTAMENT. The old covenant with its ornate religious symbols and rituals have passed away. We are now living in the fulfillment of the old.
*Jesus said in John 4:24-26 "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he."

28. The Roman Church teaches that THEY ARE THE ONLY CHURCH AND THAT ONE HAS TO BE A MEMBER OF IT TO BE SAVED

THE BIBLE TEACHES
CHRIST IS THE SAVIOUR NOT THE ROMAN CHURCH
*John 4:42 says, "...this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the World."
(See the next chapter on "Another Jesus" under Saviour).

To make joining a church the main criteria for being saved is to substitute that church in place of Jesus as the Savior of our souls. This is an anti-biblical practice.

29. The Roman Church makes the claim that JESUS HAS GIVEN THEIR PRIESTS
POWER TO FORGIVE SIN
There is no scripture to substantiate this.
*Mark 2:10 "But that ye may know that THE SON OF MAN HATH POWER ON EARTH TO FORGIVE SINS, (he saith to the sick of the palsy)."
*Luke 11:4 "And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil."
Jesus taught that we are to forgive those who sin against us. But that does not give us the position to take God's place for giving forgiveness of sins committed against Him. When one sins against God, In God, only through the Saviour, Jesus Christ, can one find forgiveness. Man is making himself a god, the Saviour, by trying to take God's place in forgiving men's sins against Him. No man has the power to forgive sins that are against God. This issue is between the individual who sinned and God alone. Christ is the ONLY MEDIATOR who can bring reconciliation between man and God.

THE ROMAN CHURCH'S STAND ON EVOLUTION

Regarding this issue, an article on the front page of the Houston Chronicle newspaper of October 25, 1996 has bold headings, "POPE SAYS HUMANS MAY BE THE RESULT OF THE GRADUAL PROCESS OF EVOLUTION". I quote, "Pope John Paul II has put the teaching authority of the Roman Catholic Church firmly behind the view that the human body may not have been the immediate creation of God, but is the product of a gradual process of evolution." "With a formal statement sent to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences on Wednesday and made public Thursday, the pope said that fresh knowledge leads to recognition of the theory of evolution as more that just a hypothesis." "The church has never formally condemned the theory of evolution." "In 1950 Pope Pius XII raised no objection to the promulgation of Darwin's views as a 'serious hypothesis'."

"But in public schools...the statement is seen as supporting the idea that religious faith and the teaching of evolution can easily co-exist. In his statement, the pope did not address the apparent conflict with Biblical versions in Genesis of the creation of the universe and human beings." "The Pope did say, however, that the essential point of Pius' message was that 'if the human body has its origin in living material which pre-exists it, the spiritual soul is immediately created by God'." "Italian papers, which reported the news in front page stories. 'THE POPE REHABILITATES DARWIN', read the sober headline on the Rome daily II Messaggero. 'THE POPE SAYS WE MAY DESCEND FROM MONKEYS."

This is a hundred and eighty degrees opposite of what is taught in the Book of Genesis about the creation of man.

SHOULD THE ROMAN CHURCH BE RECOGNIZED
AS A CHRISTIAN CHURCH?

How can the Roman Church be labeled Christian whey it copies the symbols and doctrines of God's mortal enemy Baal, and rejects what the Bible says? THE ROMAN CHURCH CONTRADICTS JESUS AND THE BIBLE ON PRACTICALLY EVERY ISSUE.

*Revelation 17:3-6 "So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, FULL OF NAMES OF BLASPHEMY, having seven heads and ten horns

THE REFORMATION AND PROTESTANTISM

The Roman Church did not allow the laity to have, or read, the Bible for many centuries. Although, it was corrupted by the doctrines and symbols of Baal, there still were many true born again Christians inside her that believed God's Word. Those who voiced their concerns were severely persecuted by its Inquisitions. THE ROMAN CHURCH HAD HIJACKED CHRISTIANITY.
In the 1500's, Martin Lutheran took a stand against the many unscriptural practices of the Roman Church. Out of this rebellion came the Protestant Movement. Protestantism was PROTESTING the paganization of Christianity by the Roman Church.

*Revelation 18:4-5 "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, COME OUT of her MY PEOPLE, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath REMEMBERED HER INIQUITIES."

This article comes from one of the chapters of my book, The Paganization of Christianity,