Question: What is the difference between
Catholicism and Biblical Christianity?
Answer: Catholicism and Biblical Christianity are divergent
religions. They are built on different foundations, and they propose
different ways of salvation.
In principle, Christianity is built solely on the Holy Scriptures, the
written Word of God. The Bible is our only infallible rule of faith, being
sufficient to give us the sure knowledge of the Gospel for our salvation
and holiness.
Roman Catholicism demands submission of the intellect and will to the
doctrines taught by the Roman magisterium (the Pope and bishops). It is
claimed that the Catholic Church derives its doctrines from the
"sacred deposit" found in Scriptures and Sacred Tradition.
However the faithful cannot verify these doctrines by referring to the
original sources. The Scriptures are inaccessible because only the
magisterium is able to establish the authentic meaning. Similarly the
contents of Sacred Tradition can only be known through the magisterium.
Roman Catholicism is mental and spiritual slavery to the Vatican.
As expected, since the foundations are different, so also are the edifices
built upon them. Christianity stands on the Gospel of God's sovereign
grace. In love, God predestines His chosen ones to be adopted as sons
through Jesus Christ, their sole mediator. The Son became man and gave His
life as a ransom to secure their freedom from sin. Being dead in sin, they
are completely unable to convert ourselves or merit God's favour.
Therefore God graciously grants His people repentance and faith to turn to Him and
trust in Christ Jesus for salvation. Believers are accepted in Christ, solely on
the merit of His righteousness and blood, and not because of any goodness
or human merit. God also resides in His people by the Holy Spirit,
enabling them to obey and glorify the Father, and to guarantee their inheritance in heaven forever.
Rome's "gospel" is not good news at all. The Roman
institution, calling itself "The Church", usurps Christ's
mediatorial office, proclaiming herself as the "sacrament of
salvation." The "Church" dispenses salvation to her
faithful in small portions, starting at baptism and continuing throughout
life. Forgiveness can only be obtained through the sacrament of penance.
The benefits of Christ's sacrifice are accessible through the sacrifice of
the Mass. Instead of teaching the faithful to rest in Christ by faith,
Catholics are taught to perform religious works to "merit grace"
and to do penance to make satisfaction. Even after death, Catholics
remains dependent on the "Church" to relieve their suffering in
Purgatory by masses and indulgences.
The Roman Catholic Church is a mighty obstacle to anyone seeking
salvation, enslaving millions of people to a religious system and
preventing them from coming directly to Christ.
The choice is between the Bible and the Roman magisterium; the choice
is between salvation by grace through faith in Christ, or through human
merit and effort in the Roman religion.