Are Roman Catholics Christians or Heretics? Part 4 - A Different Gospel
- Bill Fuller
- Nov 7, 2023
- 10 min read
Updated: Aug 19, 2024
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).
This is the fourth part in a seven-part series entitled, ARE ROMAN CATHOLICS CHRISTIANS OR HERETICS. There are seven (7) major differences between Roman Catholic Doctrine and Christianity. They are a different Church, Authority, Jesus, Gospel, Mary, View of Sin, and a different Path to Eternity.
The Christian Gospel
The Gospel is the "Good News" of Jesus Christ. Jesus Saves! He is the only one who saves you from sin and death. Why and how He did it is very good news. Jesus took upon Himself the punishment for our sins so that we could be saved from death and hell and live with God for eternity.
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more than, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation" (Romans 5:8-11).
The Gospel is generally God's plan of Salvation, depicted in the 5 Solas, and the benefits which are first and foremost justification.
Central Truth of the Gospel
The central truth of the gospel is that God has provided a way of salvation for men through the gift of His son to the world. He suffered as a sacrifice for sin, overcame death, and now offers a share in His triumph to all who will accept it. The gospel is good news because it is a gift of God, not something that must be earned by penance or by self-improvement.
"And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. (Jn 3:14-16).
"For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf. Therefore, from now on we recognize no one by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:14-19).
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds "(Titus 2:11–14).
The Gospel in a Nutshell
In 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, the apostle Paul summarizes the most basic ingredients of the gospel message, namely, the death, burial, resurrection, and appearances of the resurrected Christ. Note the four clauses introduced by that in bold type in verses 3-5 below:
"Now I make known to you, brothers and sisters, the gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, in which you also stand, by which you also are saved, if you hold firmly to the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I handed down to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also" (1 Cor 15:1-8).
The Five Solas of Christianity
The five solas are five Latin phrases popularized during the Protestant Reformation that emphasized the distinctions between the early Reformers and the Roman Catholic Church. The word sola is the Latin word for “only” and was used in relation to five key teachings that defined the biblical pleas of Protestants.
1. Sola scriptura: “Scripture alone”
2. Sola fide: “faith alone”
3. Sola gratia: “grace alone”
4. Solo Christo: “Christ alone”
5. Soli Deo gloria: “to the glory of God alone”
Each of these Solas can be seen both as a corrective to the excesses (heresy) of the Roman Catholic Church at the start of the Reformation and as a positive biblical declaration.
Sola Scriptura emphasizes the Bible alone as the source of authority for Christians. By saying, “Scripture alone,” the Reformers rejected both the divine authority of the Roman Catholic Pope and confidence in sacred tradition. Only the Bible was “inspired by God” (2 Peter 1:20-21) and “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Anything taught by the Pope or in tradition that contradicted the Bible was to be rejected.
Sola Fide emphasizes salvation as a free gift. The Roman Catholic Church of the time emphasized the use of indulgences (donating money) to buy status with God. Good works, including baptism, were seen as required for salvation. Sola Fide stated that salvation is a free gift to all who accept it by faith (John 3:16). Salvation is not based on human effort or good deeds (Ephesians 2:9).
Sola Gratia emphasizes grace as the reason for our salvation. In other words, salvation comes from what God has done rather than what we do. Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches,
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Solo Christo (sometimes listed as Solus Christus, “through Christ alone”) emphasizes the role of Jesus in salvation. The Roman Catholic tradition had placed church leaders such as priests in the role of intercessor between the laity and God. Reformers emphasized Jesus’ role as our “high priest” who intercedes on our behalf before the Father. Hebrews 4:15 teaches,
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus is the One who offers access to God, not a human spiritual leader."
Soli Deo Gloria emphasizes the glory of God as the goal of life. Rather than striving to please church leaders, keep a list of rules, or guard our own interests, our goal is to glorify the Lord. The idea of soli Deo gloria is found in 1 Corinthians 10:31:
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
The five Solas of the Protestant Reformation offered a strong corrective to the faulty practices and beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church. They led to the Council of Trent where over years these heresies were made Doctrines. Anyone who believed, even one, of these "Five Solas" were deemed an Anathema, excommunicated, and cursed to eternal damnation.
We are called to focus on Scripture, accept salvation by grace through faith, magnify only Jesus Christ, and live for God’s glory.
CHRISTIANITY | ROMAN CATHOLICISM |
Scripture Alone | Scripture + Tradition + Magisterium |
Faith Alone | Faith + Works |
Grace Alone | Grace + Merit + Infused grace by Church |
Christ Alone | Christ + Other Mediators (Mary & Priests) |
To God the Glory Aone | Glory to God + Mary, Saints & Popes |
Protestants Believe All Five | If you believe just one of these you are an "anathama" or damned to Hell by Church |
Doctrine of Justification
Justification is an act of God whereby He pronounces a sinner to be righteous because of that sinner’s faith in Christ. Properly understood, justification has to do with God’s declaration about the sinner, not any change within the sinner. That is, justification does not make anyone holy; it simply declares him to be not guilty before God and therefore treated as holy. The actual change toward holiness in the sinner occurs with sanctification.
“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, . . . so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:21–26).
We are justified, declared righteous, at the moment of our salvation. Jesus Christ finished the work required for our justification on the cross.
“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” (Romans 5:9).
He who was delivered over because of our wrongdoings and was raised because of our justification” (Romans 4:25).
Several important facts about justification are to be noted:
Justification comes apart from the law; that is, we cannot earn justification through rule-keeping or our own good works. |
Justification is made possible in the sacrificial death of Christ; it is based on the shed blood of Christ. |
Justification is the free and gracious gift of God bestowed on those who receive by faith the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. |
Justification demonstrates the righteousness of God. |
Justification is where Jesus takes upon Himself your sin, and then gives (imputes to) you His Righteousness. |
What Happens When You Believe in Jesus and Are Justified.
1) The remission of the penalty of sin, which was death. | "He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). |
2) The restoration to God’s favor, and eternal life which had been lost due to our sin. | "The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36). |
3) So, justification is more than an acquittal; it is full acceptance. We are now friends of God. | "And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, and Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called a friend of God" (James 2:23). |
4) Believers are now co-heirs with Christ and will be Glorified with Jesus. | "And if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him" (Romans 8:17). |
5) The imputation of righteousness, which is the reckoning of Christ’s righteousness to the Christians account. | "But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account” (Romans 4:5–8). |
6) We are declared to be righteous forensically (legally). | “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). |
Part 4. Christians and Catholics Have a Different Gospel
Roman Catholic View of Justification
Rome's doctrine of justification is antithetical to the Biblica doctrine of justification. One is revealed by God, the other invented by men, one is by grace, the other by merit, one offers divine assurance, the other a false hope. When Biblical Doctrine is compromised the very meaning and purpose of the Gospel is lost. When you get justification wrong you get the Gospel of Jesus Christ wrong.
Salvation is by Grace through Faith PLUS SACRAMENTS
BIBLICAL SALVATION | CATHOLIC SALVATION |
Salvation is by Grace through Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). | Is by Faith PLUS SACRAMENTS (1129) |
Those who believe anything else believe in vain (1 Corinthians 15:2). | the Mass (1405), Purgatory (1030), indulgences (1495), Baptism (1256), law giving (2068), good works (2016) |
Justified by Jesus' Blood (Romans 5:8-11) | Justified by Church Infusing Grace drop by drop through merit |
Roman Catholic Traditions Distort the Gospel
Roman Catholics DENY SALVATION BY Grace Alone through Faith Alone in Christ Alone according to Scripture Alone.
Roman Catholics REJECT ETERNAL LIFE which is the Promise of the Gospel.
Roman Catholics Continue the Work of Redemption on an Alter that Jesus Finished on the Cross.
Roman Catholics Deny that All Sins are Mortal.
Roman Catholics are Totally Dependent Upon Priests
"The Roman Catholic Church not only does not teach the doctrine of Assurance of Salvation, it preaches and teaches against it. Why? The explanation is quite simple. As long as you are uncertain, you are dependent upon the priests. If you have Assurance of Salvation, you do not need a priest, you do not need help from the Virgin Mary, or the works of supererogation of the saints; you go directly to God through Christ" (Martyn Lloyd-Jones).
 | Priest Offers the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist |
 | Priest Baptises for Regeneration and Justification |
 | Priest Hears Confession and Absolves Sin |
 | Priest Imparts Holy Spirit at Confirmation |
 | Priest Gives Last Rites |
 | Priest Offers Mass for Souls Suffering in Purgatory |
 | Priest Baptise Infants Making Them Church Member |
WHEN YOU GET THE GOSPEL WRONG YOU ARE A HERETIC
To get a more accurate and comprehensive view of the Roman Catholic church please read all my blogs outlining the seven (7) major differences between Roman Catholic Doctrine and Christianity. They are a different Church, Authority, Jesus, Gospel, Mary, View of Sin, and a different Path to Eternity. www.fullerofgraceandtruth.com/blog
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