“For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” —Romans 10:3,4
Photo
to Right: Deceived Catholics, adults and children alike, sinfully commit
idolatry by bowing and praying to a graven image of Pope John Paul II.
Exodus 20:4-5 strictly forbids even
bowing before images of any likeness of anything, which is the
2nd Commandment.
What a prisonhouse of religion! I was watching the Catholic EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) today and wanted to throw a brick through the TV set. I'd never heard so many lies in my life. Today's program was titled, “The Grace Of A Happy Death.” The show featured Fr. Andrew Apostoli (a member and co-founder of the Community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, CFR), and author of the book titled, “Treasure of Fatima.” Fatima is a big hoax of the Vatican, not prophesied anywhere in the Scriptures.
Surely God would have foretold us of such a great event IF IT WERE TRUE. The entire alleged message of Fatima is blasphemy, totally unscriptural. Mr. Apostoli teaches that devotion to Christ also requires devotion to Mary, which requires devotion to Joseph. Tragically, over a billion people believe this kind of garbage. The Word of God never leads us to recognize Mary nor Joseph in any capacity. To do so is sin according to Isaiah 42:8, “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”
Also featured was Susan Tassone, author of the book, “Prayers For Eternal Life.” Concerning Miss Tassone's disturbing book, we read an advertisement promoting her book...
“Prayers for Eternal Life, by Susan Tassone, another hugely helpful guide to the afterlife by the most popular current writer on purgatory, giving specific prayers, practices, and devotions to aid in achieving the most pleasant, happy death. We can die in happiness. But it takes preparation. Find hope and comfort in prayers to Jesus, with the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, and others!” —SOURCE
Photo to Right: This poor child is being taught idolatry from infancy, as are hundreds-of-millions of Catholic children.
Where in the Word of God are we directed to pray “specific prayers, practices, and devotions to aid in achieving the most pleasant, happy death”?
What a big ugly lie!!! To the contrary, the Bible declares in Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us...”
No amount of prayers, practices, nor devotions can help us obtain eternal life. The Catholic Church is of the Devil.
God doesn't require any self-righteous works from us to be saved (Romans 4:3-5).
In sharp contrast, we are saved solely by Christ's righteousness, which is imputed to every believer at the time of salvation when they believe the Gospel (Romans 4:6; 2nd Corinthians 5:21).
Oh how foolish are the people who allow themselves to remain victims of Catholicism. I plead with you to forsake the false religion of Catholicism (whether Roman or Russian Orthodox), and come to Christ alone by faith to be forgiven and saved eternally.
It is Jesus' precious blood that washes away our sins, and not the sacraments of the Satanic Catholic church...
1st Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
On the EWTN show today, they were talking about litany prayers (i.e., a prayer consisting of a series of invocations by the priest with responses from the congregation), Purgatory, keeping of the Sacraments, praying for the dead, living in a state of grace, devotion to the Rosary, et cetera; but they never once mentioned believing the Gospel (Christ's death on the cross, burial and bodily resurrection three days later) to be saved.
All I ever hear Catholics talking about is religion, religion and more religion; BUT, they never talk about being born-again by FAITH ALONE in Jesus Christ. The reason is because Catholics have PERVERTED the simple gospel of Christ by adding all sorts of prays, practices, and devotions to it. Catholics teach sacramental salvation, that is, that salvation is obtain through keeping the seven sacraments of the Catholic church. Of course, the Bible calls Catholic teachings the doctrines of devils (1st Timothy 4:1-3). Notice that 1st Timothy 4:3 specifically mentions the heresies of forbidding to marry (celibacy for priests) and forbidding to eat red meat (Catholics worship Dagon the fish god by only eating fish on Fridays). These are doctrines of devils, not taught in the holy Scriptures. Roman Catholics DON'T follow the Bible.
I recently visited a magnificent local Catholic church. The outside of the building is exquisitely designed, with a pure brilliant white exterior, and superb lighting shining from the well-manicured landscape at night and I wanted to see what it was like inside. I was passing by and noticed a gathering inside, so I decided to sit in on a Rosary. I couldn't find a Bible nor a song book anywhere, because they memorized everything. Catholics diligently recite dead chants like a herd of zombies, and it feels like you're amongst the living dead from Hell beneath. I felt like I was in a whited coffin filled with rotting corpses.
The Spirit of God is NOT present in any Catholic Church. A Catholic woman once heard me say that and became upset, but that's ok, she needed to hear the truth... the Holy Spirit of God is NOT present in the Catholic church!!! The inside of the building was as beautiful as the outside, sparing no expense. The auditorium is shaped like a big cross, with enough seating for I'd say at least a thousand people. The interior is huge. The ceilings are very high, with golden chandeliers and beautiful decor. Like KFC, but instead of chicken, Catholics know how to do religion right. Unfortunately, it's just that, religion. There is no truth in the Catholic church because it's been suppressed deliberately from the people.
Salvation is NOT found in any religion; but rather, in a Person—the Lord Jesus Christ Who died, was buried and raised up for our sins. If you add anything to faith, then you have corrupted the simplicity that is in Christ (2nd Corinthians 11:3). Adam tried to sew fig leaves together to hide his and Eve's sins, but God rejected Adam's fig-leaf religion. God also rejected Cain's grain offerings, which represented man's very best self-righteous attempts to please God in the flesh. In sharp contrast, God accepted Abel's blood sacrifice (which pictured Abel's faith in the coming Messiah, the Lamb of God, Who taketh away the sins of the world [John 1:29]).
If you add anything to faith alone in Christ, you have perverted the Gospel, “...but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:7). Ephesians 2:8-9, “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.”
The Bible couldn't be more clear; YET, Catholics continue going about to establish their own righteousness (Romans 10:3,4). Salvation is by faith alone in Jesus Christ, without works! The “works” which the Apostle James spoke of, refer to us being justified in man's eyes, not Gods. James clearly says in James 2:18, “Shew ME, and ... shew THEE.” 1st Samuel 16:7 teaches that only God can see our heart; BUT, man cannot. With men we can only be justified by our works, because they cannot see our true intentions in our heart; but with God we are justified by faith, because He does see our heart to the fullest extent (Proverbs 24:12; Hebrews 4:12). Hebrews 4:13, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” Nothing is hidden from God, which is why He can and will judge all men righteously in eternity, without the need for juries nor trial.
Hence, we are justified by works with man, who cannot see
our heart; BUT, we are justified by faith with God, who can see out
heart. Romans 4:5 clearly supports this doctrine, “But to him that
worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is
counted for righteousness.” We mustn't add, diminish, nor corrupt the
Scriptures from what they plainly teach. Men are saved by believing the
gospel (Mark 1:15), that is, that Christ DIED, was BURIED and RESURRECTED three
days later according to the Scriptures (1st Corinthians 15:1-4).
Purgatory Is A Big Lie!
Photo to Right: Luis, 10, prays in idolatry before a statue of Mary in Santa Rosa church in Peru.
There is not one mention in the Word of
God about a place called Purgatory! One of the demonic practices of
Catholicism is that of praying for the dead. The very title of Susan Tassone's book,
“Prayers For Eternal Life,” is heresy. She has also
authored a book titled,
“Rosary for the Holy Souls of Purgatory.” Tassone is a false prophet who teaches damnable heresies.
According to Catholic.com...
"Some Fundamentalists also charge, as though it actually proved something, "The word purgatory is nowhere found in Scripture." This is true, and yet it does not disprove the existence of purgatory or the fact that belief in it has always been part of Church teaching. The words Trinity and Incarnation aren’t in Scripture either, yet those doctrines are clearly taught in it. Likewise, Scripture teaches that purgatory exists, even if it doesn’t use that word and even if 1 Peter 3:19 refers to a place other than purgatory." —SOURCE
Regarding the preceding statement from the
Catholic.com website, it is true that the words “Trinity” and “incarnate”
are not found in the Bible, as neither is the word purgatory. However,
unlike the doctrines of the Godhead (Trinity) and the deity of Jesus (which
are taught elsewhere in the Bible), the manmade tradition of
Purgatory is not and was fabricated
by Gregory The Great in 593 AD. So the doctrines of the Trinity and the
incarnation of Christ are taught in the Bible, but purgatory is not.
Again, the word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible; but, the word “Godhead” certainly is (Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9). It is also true that the word “incarnation” is not in the Bible; but, the deity of Christ is clearly taught (1st Timothy 3:16... “God was manifest in the flesh”). “Incarnation” means that the Word became flesh. God the Father, God the Holy Spirit and God the Son all existed in the flesh, the man, of Jesus Christ (John 1:1-3,10,14; Colossians 2:9; Isaiah 9:6).
Purgatory is NOT taught in the Bible. There is NOTHING in the Bible which teaches Purgatory. The above argument from Catholic.com concerning purgatory is lame. We have solid Biblical evidence of the doctrines of Christ's deity (that He is God almighty) and also of the doctrine of the Godhead. There's NOTHING in the Bible which even remotely suggests a temporary place for the dead who are waiting to be prayed out by loved one's still alive here on earth. The false teaching of purgatory is an evil invention of the Roman Catholic religion, which has been used for centuries as an effective means to exploit people of their money, who donate to the church in hopes of purchasing a loved one out of purgatory.
Once a person dies, their eternal fate is sealed forever and cannot be altered by anyone, not even God, because His Word cannot be broken as He has so PROMISED (John 10:35, “...the scripture cannot be broken”). Mark 13:31, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” Jesus taught that a man must be born-again or else he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. God would be a liar if He allowed anyone to slip through who wasn't saved. If you DIE IN YOUR SINS (John 8:24) without Jesus Christ, then you are going to the Lake of Fire forever.
Purgatory was first introduced in 593 AD. 1st Peter 3:19 has nothing to do with Purgatory. Most theologians agree that 1st Peter 3:19,20 refers to the Spirit of Christ which preached through Noah to the unsaved people of Noah's time. Those lost souls were imprisoned to sin and unbelief, just as most people are today (Galatians 5:1; 2nd Peter 2:20; 1st John 5:19).
There is a common belief among Christians scholars, such as Oliver B. Greene and Jack T. Chick, that an Old Testament place existed called "Paradise." Some respectable scholars, such as Dr. John R. Rice deny this claim. I personally believe there was an Old Testament Paradise, which was part of Hades. Hades (Hell) was composed of two compartments as we read in Luke 16:26 (Torment and Paradise). You can learn much more about Hell here. We should respect the opinions of all these great men, for the issue of paradise is not a fundamental doctrine of the faith. If you believe that Old Testament saints went straight to Heaven, amen, and I wouldn't argue the point.
However, NOT one of the men I just mentioned ever taught that Paradise was "Purgatory" (i.e., a temporary condition of torment or suffering). Paradise was simply a place for Old Testament saints to go until Jesus completed His work of permanent redemption. 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.” Jesus' physical blood once and for all made the sacrifice for the sins of men. Jesus didn't atone for our sins. The word “atonement” is an Old Testament word that means to cover, temporarily, which is all that the blood of lambs and goats could do. Ah, but Jesus' blood permanently washes away the sinner's sins (and God only saves confessed sinners). It is clear from 2nd Corinthians 12:4 that Paradise is now in Heaven.
My point is that whether or not there was a place called "Paradise" in the Old Testament, it is not anything like the damnable teachings of the Catholic religion concerning Purgatory. The entire concept of Purgatory is that some sinners receive a second chance.
The Catholic church recognizes two different types of sins: venial and moral. Venial sins are things like lust and envy; but moral sins are things like murder and adultery according to the Vatican. The Catholic teaching is that if a Catholic dies with unconfessed venial sins, then they go to Purgatory and can be prayed and bought into Heaven only via donations to the church from loved ones or friends. If the unconfessed sins are moral, then they're in Hell and without hope. Furthermore, by confessed I mean unbiblical confession in a booth to a Catholic priest. That is their teaching. At least once every 6-months Catholics are requires to go to confessional. I call it the telephone booth.
One of the saddest and most tragic things I've ever heard was popular EWTN priest John Corapi claiming that he absolved his father's sins just before he died. No man has the God-given power to forgive sin! 1st Timothy 2:5 proclaims that there is only one Mediator between God and men—the man Christ Jesus!!!
Albeit, the Bible doesn't teach different types of sins; but rather, all sin is wicked and punishable by eternal hellfire and damnation (James 2:10). Romans 6:23 teaches that the wages of all sin is death. All it took was one bite from the forbidden piece of fruit to eject Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, and bring the curse of sin and death upon the human race.
Albeit, I believe that they went to Hades (which was compartmentalized into two separate places: Torment and Paradise, which the Bible does seem to indicate in Luke 16:19-31. The rich man was in torment, but Lazarus was in Abraham's Bosom, and there was a great gulf fixed between them, showing that these two places were side-by-side, co-existing in locality. If the story in Luke 16:19-31 is taken literally (and it certainly ought to be since the Lord didn't call it a parable), then the Bible supports the teaching of Hades being compartmentalized into the two distinct places of paradise and torment. Literal names were used in this Biblical account of the rich man and Lazarus, instead of saying that “a certain man” went into a “far country,” as Jesus often spoke in His parables. Jesus was specific here.
Mormons and Jehovah's Witness claim that Luke 16:19-31 is only a figurative parable, and not a real situation that happened. They teach this lie because both false religions DENY a literal Hell that burns with fire and brimstone. I've witnessed to different Jehovah's Witnesses, who differed in doctrinal opinion; but basically, JW's believe that everyone will be given a second chance one day and those who still don't comply with God's ways (JW doctrine that is) will be annihilated (cease to exist). So statistically you'd be much better off becoming a Biblical Christian—because if the JW's are correct you'll receive a second chance one day; but if the Bible's correct you won't, you'll go straight to Hell forever.
There are NO second chances in the grave my friend. You have the choice NOW, and it's totally up to you where you'll spend eternity. If you want to be saved and go to Heaven, then all you have to do is believe on the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus died, was buried and rose up from the dead. The Lord paid for your sins and mine with His precious blood. If you'll receive the gospel as full-payment for your sins, then you'll be saved immediately, irrevocably and eternally. Salvation is a new birth, a second, spiritual birth, that can never be undone once it has happened. Most religious people who profess to be Christians only have the philosophy of Christianity, which they've adopted into their thinking, but they've never truly been born-again by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:9).
The reason is because most professing Christians have believed a false plan of salvation that includes water baptism, keeping sacraments, ceasing from sinful bad habits, committing one's life to God, following Jesus, saying a sinner's prayer, forsaking the world, joining a denomination, endeavoring to live for God, working to be sanctified, changing one's lifestyle, et cetera. Every one of the things I've just mentioned are based in self-righteousness if you rely upon them to save you. The believer's salvation is based solely upon Christ's blood sacrifice for our sins. We are saved by HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, that is, Christ's imputed righteousness (Romans 4:6). James 2:23, “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” What a precious Scripture!!! God is so awesome!
Here is solid proof from Catholic.com, that Catholics believe in works salvation...
"It is entirely correct to say that Christ accomplished all of our salvation for us on the cross. But that does not settle the question of how this redemption is applied to us. Scripture reveals that it is applied to us over the course of time through, among other things, the process of sanctification through which the Christian is made holy. Sanctification involves suffering (Rom. 5:3–5), and purgatory is the final stage of sanctification that some of us need to undergo before we enter heaven. Purgatory is the final phase of Christ’s applying to us the purifying redemption that he accomplished for us by his death on the cross." -SOURCE
What a lie! Purgatory is a place where Roman Catholics think those who have died in a state of grace undergo limited torment to expiate their sins. Clearly, this is works salvation, where the individual is required to pay for their own sins by being tormented.
Purgatory and Occult Satanism
Photo to Right: A statue of Saint Anthony, which is sinfully worshipped by many Catholics.
According to Spiritdaily.com...
"The Amazing Secrets of the Souls in Purgatory, by Sister Emmanuel, a nun from Medjugorje, interviews Maria Simma, an alleged mystic who has the charism of being able to see and talk to the souls in Purgatory. Answers questions like: Who decides if a soul goes to Purgatory? How do we get a soul released from Purgatory? How can we avoid Purgatory? What are the sins that most lead to purgatory? and much more!" -SOURCE
Mystic? You mean psychic! Look up the definitions for "psychic" and "mystic" and they're basically the same. The Word of God condemns consulting with familiar spirits (Leviticus 19:31). Also, talking to dead souls is called "necromancy," and is condemned in the Bible (Deuteronomy 18:11). "Sister Emmanuel" consulted with demonic sources to write her book on Purgatory. A "familiar sprit" is any spirit other than the Holy Spirit. Why would you even interview someone with a familiar spirit Ms. Emmanuel? Your own Catholic Catechism condemns such practices ...
"The Catechism of the Catholic Church is also powerfully clear on the topic:
"All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to ’unveil’ the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomenon of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.
"All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one’s service and have a supernatural power over others—even if this were for the sake of restoring their health—are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it" (CCC 2116–2117)." -SOURCE
Hypocritically, the Catholic religion is one of the world's biggest seller of CHARMS! Their own Catechism condemns "wearing charms." Carefully notice what the Catholic Catechism states above ... "All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead..." Well isn't that interesting! Sister Emmanuel claims to be "...able to see and talk to the souls in Purgatory." Clearly, this is necromancy.
Photo to right: People in Medjugorje praying to the Queen of Heaven.
Also, the Catholic practice of praying to statues and images of dead saints is necromancy. Some Catholics are uncomfortable with their phraseology, and so insist that they pray "with" the saints, not "to" them. However, if one is communicating, or attempting to seek out or pursue the dead in any way, they are by very definition, practicing Necromancy. This is the pagan religious practice which is customary in nearly all pagan religions.
Jesus Christ is the ONE MEDIATOR between God and men (1st Timothy 2:5), and He doesn't need or want any help from dead saints. To teach otherwise is to distort the plain teaching of the Scriptures. Not even one mention is made in the Word of God about praying to, or for, the dead. ALL prayers are to be directed to God alone.
Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father which art in Heaven...”; NOT “our mother,” not “our brother,” not “our sister”; but God the Father alone. Those who die without Christ are doomed forever the moment they leave this world. Praying for the dead is useless and unscriptural. Jesus clearly said, “Ye must be born again” (John 3:3).
