Most Catholics would disagree with the title of this post. They would cite their veneration of the cross in images, sculptures, and jewelry as proof positive that they not only adore the cross, but in fact even idolize it.
However, the issue I wish to address is not in regards to the Catholics’ adoration of the physical symbol of the cross itself, nor their devotion to that physical symbol. The issue at hand—where the cross is an offense to Roman Catholics—is in its preaching.
The Romish religion has long been antithetical not to the symbol, but to the meaning and purpose of the cross. The Biblical view of the cross is that this was where the Father caused all of our iniquity to fall upon Him, and it was where the the perfect, spotless, unblemished, Lamb of God stood in our place taking the very punishment and wrath of God that we so rightly and justly deserve, and where it pleased the Father to crush His Son and put him to grief.
Paramount to the true preaching of the cross is the fact that Christ uttered “it is finished.” But paramount to Roman Catholicism (and necessary for its continued existence), is the heretical idea that “it is not finished.” This keeps its people in subjection to the organization (and with that subjection of course comes money and power).
Roman Catholicism teaches that you must do some part on your own to merit God’s favor, that your redemption was not purchased complete and in-full on the cross. Not only is this in stark opposition to the Scriptures, but it renders the Savior’s sacrifice as being insufficient. It is because of this that Romanism rejects the true Gospel of the cross of Christ; exchanging the once-and-for-all perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:18, Hebrews 7:27, 9:12, 9:24-28, 10:10-12) for a false doctrine of an imagined (and wholly unattainable) righteousness based on man’s efforts. This is why the preaching of the cross is foolishness to Roman Catholics.
Would God be a just and righteous judge if He can be bribed with our measly works? What self-righteous works can fallen man possibly offer to a holy and righteous God anyway?
Your effort to offer God what you think are righteous enough works is equivalent to standing before a judge facing the charge of murder and telling the judge, “I gave money to a charity once, I haven’t shoplifted since high school, I helped my neighbor pull weeds in his yard, and I always leave my waitress a big tip.” None of these niceties will satisfy the required punishment for your guilt of murder anymore than your church attendance, reciting of a rosary, the lighting of a candle, being baptized, or even wearing a crucifix will satisfy God’s requirement for the punishment that you and I deserve for sinning against an infinitely holy God. All of your “righteous” works are filthy rags!
What do you possibly think you can offer God that was not already provided in the death of His only begotten Son upon the cross?
The Vatican’s continued proclamation of such things as the necessity of the sacraments for salvation is simply another gospel and thus is anathema.
The Apostle Paul dealt with this matter already when he wrote to the Church in Galatia rebuking the Judaizers who sought to preach another gospel. They said salvation came from Christ and circumcision. Beware of the one who says it’s Christ and anything else that saves. If something–anything–other than Christ’s shed blood is necessary to save you, then the death of Christ was insufficient and God’s own blood was not enough.
Yet the Romish system today not only says salvation comes from Christ and something else, but that the “and” consists of numerous conditions and requirements added to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ–far beyond what the Judaizers ever proposed!
How in the world, if the Judaizers were wrong for adding just one work to Christ’s sacrifice, can Rome justify adding numerous works to Christ’s sacrifice? Because the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those that are perishing; foolishness because they believe redemption can’t be that simple.
Let’s look at just one example of why I say that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to the Romish religious system: Purgatory.
From Mike Gendron’s Proclaiming the Gospel (April/June 2009):
The Catholic Encyclopedia defines purgatory as “a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God’s grace, are not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions.”
Not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions? Oh my. Just the idea is rank heresy and a slap in the face not only to God’s grace but also to the sacrifice of His only Son. One who believes this cannot expect to find himself in Heaven. One who believes this is essentially saying the perfect sacrifice of the perfect Son was not enough to satisfy God’s justice. Oh dear one, I beseech you to see this for what it is: a doctrine of demons that will damn a man’s soul to an eternity in Hell.
Jesus Christ paid the price completly and in-full. When He said “it is finished” He meant it!
Gendron continues:
The Council of Trent dares to declare that “God does not always remit the whole punishment due to sin together with the guilt. God requires satisfaction and will punish sin. . . . The sinner, failing to do penance in this life, may be punished in another world, and so not be cast off eternally from God.” (Ses. 15, Can. XI).
It is true that God does require satisfaction for sin. It is not true, however, that we have any part of that infinite, eternal, and holy transaction. Satisfaction was already met on the cross where God’s perfect Son died as a substitution for sinful, fallen mankind. Gendron is absolutely right when he calls it “audacity” to teach otherwise:
Those Catholic Bishops had the audacity to declare that the suffering and death of God’s perfect man and man’s perfect substitute was not sufficient to satisfy divine justice for sin.
Romanism continues its audaciousness of preaching another gospel as it continues to perpetuate the idea that satisfaction of God’s justice was not met by the One who He sent to take away the sins of the world and who indeed accomplished the task set before Him, paying the price in full.
Gendron aptly inquires:
Catholics teach that their Jesus can save them from eternal punishment (Hell) but not from temporal punishment (Purgatory). Where is the logic in teaching that an eternal debt has been canceled but a temporal debt is still owed and must be paid?
He also brings up a good point when he asks:
The Catholic treasury of merit contains the infinite merits of Christ commingled with the finite merits of Mary and the saints. These merits are said to be dispensed in the form of indulgences to those suffering in Purgatory. Where is the logic in the need to add anything to the inexhaustible, unfailing, infinite merits of Christ?
There is no Purgatory. The Bible speaks of only Heaven and Hell. It is appointed for man to die once, and then the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). There is no in-between place where you can be punished of sins that Christ already took the punishment for. You are either in Christ when you die and then ushered into Heaven, or you will be found trusting in your own merit and be damned to the Lake of Fire where the smoke of your torment will rise forever. The day of salvation is today, now, while you are still alive on this earth. Those who rely on the law for their justification have not only fallen from grace, but are severed from Christ!
So why does the Vatican perpetuate the idea of Purgatory when it’s absent from any mention in Scripture and there is absolutely no Biblical support or justification for it?
Gendron hits the nail on the head: Money!
Over the centuries billions of dollars have been paid to Roman Catholic priests to obtain relief from imaginary sufferings in Purgatory’s fire. The Catholic clergy has always taught that the period of suffering in Purgatory can be shortened by purchasing indulgences and novenas, buying Mass cards and providing gifts of money. When a Catholic dies, money is extracted from mourning loved ones to shorten the deceased’s punishment in Purgatory. . . . It is no wonder that the Catholic religion has become the richest institution in the world. The buying and selling of God’s grace has been a very lucrative business for the Vatican.
And Gendron hits the nail on the head again: Power!
Another motivation for Rome to fabricate the heretical doctrine of Purgatory is its powerful effect on controlling people. Ultimately, the enslavement and subjugation of people is the goal of every false religion, and Purgatory does exactly that. The concept of a terrifying prison with a purging fire, governed by religious leaders, is a most brilliant invention. . . . This dreadful fear and uncertainty is the most ruthless form of religious bondage and deception!
Any person, group, organization or religion that preaches a gospel other than the perfect and complete propitiation of Jesus Christ—who took upon Himself the punishment that we so justly deserve—is not only preaching a false gospel, but will always be unreceptive, antagonistic, and even hostile to the true preaching of the cross. It was a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles, and it is the same today in Romanism.
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See related: The preaching of the cross is foolishness . . . to Mormons
Christ Alone Wyoming 
Amen and amen! I thank the Lord for The Reformation. Far too may evangelicals forgot – if they ever knew – what that was all about. The divide is not merely symbols and rituals – it’s another gospel! God help those who think Rome is something other than a synagogue of Satan.
I recommend two books for Christians who desire to know why The Reformation was and is necessary.
http://www.lighthousetrails.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LTP&Product_Code=AJ&Category_Code=RO
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I was raised Catholic, but I have been redeemed by the grace of God alone. Most of my family is still Catholic and many friends and family have died in that faith.
I have come to the conclusion that it is thought by many members in my family that it is cheaper to pay for indulgences than to give up sin and live for Christ. Who wants to be a party pooper, the unpopular guest at a family event, and be a total self-righteous fuddy-duddy… (that would be my brother and I, he is also saved)…
After the funeral, the family is immediately asked by the officiating priest for their commitment to a monthly mass, and whatever other rituals will reduce the time in purgatory.
This saddens me so so much, and I continue to pray for their salvation.
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“Without works your faith is dead,” so what is dead faith going to do for you? It is dead and cease to exist.
We are made in the image and likeness of God. God worked as He created. God also did many works of mercy. If we cease to do this, then that part of God will cease to exist on earth.
The most misquoted, misunderstood Scriptures are the ones on work and faith. Paul preached that “faith is apart from the works of the law.” James preached that “faith and works go hand and hand, one compliments the other.” These are the works under the system of grace and not the law.
Works of mercy. The perfect religion to God as stated in James, are those you take care of the orphans and widows and are unstained by the world.
So if these works make religion perfect in God’s eyes, how can we discount works?
To say any different is making scripture contradict itself and God’s Word does not do this.
Then if you go to Corinthians our works are going to be tested by fire, and those works which do not get burned up will receive a reward from God. The Church gave the name Purgatory as the place where this refinement is going to happen. If you do not agree with the place where it is going to happen, you cannot discount the event, as the Bible clearly speaks of it. Jesus also told us to do the works of our Father, as this is how we will be known.
So to discount works in its entirety is false teachings.
As far as the Bible speaking of only heaven and hell. Lazarus was in the “bossom” of Abraham. Paul also prayed for the dead.
As far as the selling of indulgences the same is going on today in the Protestant world. You cannot turn on a television that some preacher is not begging you for money, promising you are going to get rich, you will get that new car and million dollars. If that is not selling the blessings of God I do not know what is. At least the people buying their way out of purgatory thought they would get to heaven faster, they did not buy them for wealth or their material needs.
As far as “salvation” that comes through Jesus. My last account He died for each and every one of us. It is true we must work our “own” salvation out with fear and trembling, but who is to say who has done this and who has not.
So I just posted this to clear up some misquoted facts.
God Bless
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Paul also prayed for the dead.
I am unaware of Paul ever doing this. Could you please show us where he did this?
As far as the selling of indulgences the same is going on today in the Protestant world. You cannot turn on a television that some preacher is not begging you for money, promising you are going to get rich, you will get that new car and million dollars.
These are heretics who are twisting the Scriptures to bring themselves financial gain (much like the Romish indulgences). These are not true preachers of Christ.
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Dear Nubins:
Thanks for your comment.
A proper context is necessary when approaching the Faith vs Works debate. I never see the works-is-essential-to-gain-salvation crowd quote such verses as
Galatians 3:10
For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.”
And Galatians 5:4
You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
And James 2:10
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
Good works are the by-product of a true conversion. See Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Know these three things:
1). Those who seek to be justified by their own merit are severed from Christ and under a curse.
2). Salvation is a gift (you don’t “earn” gifts) provided by God’s grace.
3). Our good works are the fruit, not the root of our salvation.
Sincerely,
– The Pilgrim
P.S. For more, check out my post Faith vs Works.
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I’m not Roman Catholic, but I do need to speak against misrepresentation when it arises. The author of the post fails to understand the Catholic view of works as it relates to faith. I suggest everyone read this:
http://www.cin.org/users/james/files/faith-al.htm
If you think about it, most Protestants (exception being the “free grace” crowd) believe works is required to get into heaven. Faith without works is dead. A faith without works is not a saving faith. Therefore it can be said that without works one will not enter heaven. People can debate whether or not works are what justify someone, but the point remains that without works, one cannot enter heaven. Simply put, to get into heaven requires sanctification AND justification. Even if justification were only faith, sanctification is not. Justification + Sanctification = Entrance into Heaven. Too often we just assume justification alone = heaven. Justification Alone is not a tenet of the Reformation FYI.
Also, the author confuses the issues of temporal punishment with eternal punishment. If the author’s position is correct, then why does Paul talk about disciplining Christians when they sin? Penance is about the temporal punishment for sins, not about paying the price for eternal consequences. To use an oft used example, if a kid hits a baseball through your window, you can forgive him, but the window remains broken. Catholics view penance as a means by which the window is paid for and fixed, even though the person is completely forgiven of the action and did not cut off the relationship between the kid and the owner of the window. The parallel is not exact, but illustrates the difference. If Christ paid ALL temporal punishment for sin, there is no room for Church discipline.
I could go on, but my point is that we must not argue against a straw man. We should not decry a Catholicism we invented ourselves instead of that which exists.
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Dear Richard:
You have clearly misunderstood the context of James’ Epistle. He was not advocating adding anything to the grace of Christ as you are suggesting. Sanctification does not equal Heaven. Sanctification is a tangible result of justification. Justification and justification alone equals Heaven.
If someone claims to be born again, yet there is no change in their life, nor no evidence of sanctification, then their claim is suspect.
The Judaizers were accursed for adding one little requirement to the grace of Christ. How many are you suggesting we add?
What exactly is it that we need to add to the perfect sacrifice of Christ to “earn” His free “gift?”
Please tell me, how was Paul justified? How was Abraham justified? How are you justified?
– The Pilgrim
P.S. You claim not to be Catholic (in spite of defending Roman Catholicism and even purgatory) but you neglected to mention what you are. Can you advise? Thanks.
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Nope! Jesus Christ ‘gets us into Heaven’.
Period.
You have the cart before the horse.
Before Christ saved us and we were given eternal life as adopted sons into God’s Kingdom, we were spiritually DEAD.
I’ve never seen a dead person do much of anything.
We were separated from God because of our sins… our lawlessness.
Once Jesus removed our barrier to God and His Kingdom, and gave us life, then we are able to respond to Him. And, out of gratitude for saving us, we desire to do good works.
Catholics have their ‘horses’ and ‘carts’ mixed up for them by the Romish system, in order to keep them in bondage.
The Vatican compounds the sin by diminishing the finished Work of Christ on the cross.
The Book of James reads just fine…
Catholics: You just have your sequence of events mixed up.
1) Jesus saves you COMPLETELY. Just Him. No one else saves you… not even you.
2) Now that you are saved… by Jesus alone… you perform good works out of gratitude to the Savior for what He did for you.
Now your works will be acceptable to God, because they do not attempt to rob Christ of His glory!
… and you wouldn’t try to do that, would you?
Saved by GRACE alone through FAITH alone in CHRIST alone (and now performing good works because of my gratitude to Christ),
– Jeff H
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Richard wrote: “Penance is about the temporal punishment for sins, not about paying the price for eternal consequences.”
Actually it is nothing of the sort but rather another work that Catholics are instructed to work in order to receive (or so they are told) forgiveness of sin. It is the sealing of the envelope if you will whereby if these specific instructions from the priest are followed (like 10 “Our Father’s” and 15 “Hail Mary’s”), then forgiveness is guaranteed, if not, then forgiveness will not be received.
Of course none of this is found in the Bible but that matters not to Rome. For the truth of the matter is that penance is a sham and a denial that God forgives sin when the penitent seeks forgiveness through simple prayer (see Lk 18:13-14, Mt 6:12).
And it is a lack of faith. A lack of faith because it does not take God at his word because the individual does not believe forgiveness can be that “easy.” To use your baseball example, let’s say the child goes to the home owners and sheepishly admits his fault and confesses his sin. The people whose window was broken are graciously individuals though, and they say unto the young boy, thou art forgiven, go they way, rejoice and worry not about the window for we will fix it at our own expense.
The boy though will not accept this grace though and protests saying he will pay and fix the window through his earned monies, his work if you will. The home owners push back and say, no worries, it is on our account, we want to fix it ourselves; it is an act of grace we want to give unto you. But the boy walks off, gets his piggy bank, breaks it open and gets out the monies to fix the window. Here, he presents it to the couple and they with heavy hearts at the stubborn refusal of the boy to accept their gift of grace begrudgingly take the money and fix the window with his money (i.e. his works).
You should be able to see that the home owner’s offer of grace and forgiveness is no longer so for now it has been refused and rejected. Rather, the fixing of the window is now a work resultant from the work of the boy. One who can now claim that it was by his work, his monies, whereby the window was fixed.
This is penance; this is Catholicism – a denial of God’s gift of forgiveness through his Son as appropriated by faith without works.
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So I don’t know if this will ever be published, but I’m going to give it a shot anyway.
I, unlike a previous poster, will admit that I am Catholic. I’m not here to argue or debate. I do agree however that if you’re going to argue against Catholicism, then you should at least argue against a Catholicism that exists as opposed to one that is misrepresented. I’m sure there’s enough about our actual beliefs that you would disagree with, so it seems unnecessary to argue against us for things we don’t even believe.
It is true that we do not accept the reformation theological precept of Sola Fide. We do not, however, believe we are saved by our works. This seems a popular thing to say about us, but it’s just blatantly incorrect. While not accepting Sola Fide, we do however believe in Sola Gratia. It is only the Grace we receive from God that saves us. If we do good works, it is because God has given us the grace to do so. If we love Christ, it is because God has given us the grace to do so. Etc. Everything good in us comes by the Grace of God alone…especially, and above all, our eternal salvation. I can accept grace alone, but I cannot accept faith alone…especially in view of James 2:24 which blatantly says, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
I do believe in Purgatory, and I feel there is justification in scripture to do so. I will not be debating that here, though. Seems like the crowd wouldn’t appreciate my thoughts on the matter. I will say, though, that a lot of fuss was made about how much money the “romish church” makes off the doctrine. I must say that if the Church leaned on Mass offerings for financial support…the whole of the Church leadership would be starving to death.
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Dear faithfulservant:
Thank you for your comment.
If one accepts the unbiblical idea of purgatory, then one cannot possibly believe in grace alone by faith alone in Christ alone (this was the whole idea of the post).
Purgatory requires you to pay for your sins . . . a blasphemous and heretical concept! So to say you believe in grace alone, only to turn around and say you believe in purgatory is contradictory.
What more can you add to the perfect Lamb of God who died as a substitute, purchasing us with His own blood (Acts 20:28)? What can you add to the preciousness and perfection of God’s own blood by YOUR suffering?
Sincerely,
– The Pilgrim
P.S. Please read the book of James in its context. Your misunderstanding of the text you cited is common when it is wrested from its context and not interpreted with the whole of Scripture.
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When a born again Christian has a dialog with a catholic, first thing he must realize is, that he is speaking to a spiritually dead person.
1 Corinthians 2:14
King James Version (KJV)
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
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