Is Catholicism a false religion? Are Catholics saved?

The most crucial problem with the Roman Catholic Church is its belief that faith alone in Christ is not sufficient for salvation. The Bible clearly and consistently states that receiving Jesus Christ as Savior, by grace through faith, grants salvation (John 1:12; 3:16,18,36; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-10,13; Ephesians 2:8-9). The Roman Catholic Church rejects this. The official position of the Roman Catholic Church is that a person must believe in Jesus Christ AND be baptized AND receive the Eucharist along with the other sacraments AND obey the decrees of the Roman Catholic Church AND perform meritorious works AND not die with any mortal sins AND etc., etc., etc. Catholic divergence from the Bible on this most crucial of issues, salvation, means that yes, Catholicism is a false religion. If a person believes what the Catholic Church officially teaches, he/she will not be saved. Any claim that works or rituals must be added to faith in order for salvation to be achieved is a claim that Jesus’ death was not sufficient to fully purchase our salvation.

While salvation by faith is the most crucial issue, in comparing Roman Catholicism with the Word of God, there are many other differences and contradictions as well. The Roman Catholic Church teaches many doctrines that are in disagreement with what the Bible declares. These include apostolic succession, worship of saints or Mary, prayer to saints or Mary, the pope / papacy, infant baptism, transubstantiation, plenary indulgences, the sacramental system, and purgatory. While Catholics claim Scriptural support for these concepts, none of these teachings have any solid foundation in the clear teaching of Scripture. These concepts are based on Catholic tradition, not the Word of God. In fact, they all clearly contradict Biblical principles.

In regards to the question “Are Catholics saved?”, this is a more difficult question to answer. It is impossible to give a universal statement on the salvation of all members of any denomination of Christianity. Not ALL Baptists are saved. Not ALL Presbyterians are saved. Not ALL Lutherans are saved. Salvation is determined by personal faith in Jesus alone for salvation, not by titles or denominational identification. Despite the unbiblical beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church, there are genuine believers who attend Roman Catholic churches. There are many Roman Catholics who have genuinely placed their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. However, these Catholic Christians are believers despite what the Catholic Church teaches, not because of what it teaches. To varying degrees, the Catholic Church teaches from the Bible and points people to Jesus Christ as the Savior. As a result, people are sometimes saved in Catholic churches. The Bible has an impact whenever it is proclaimed (Isaiah 55:11). Catholic Christians remain in the Catholic Church out of ignorance of what the Catholic Church truly stands for, out of family tradition and peer pressure, or out of a desire to reach other Catholics for Christ.

At the same time, the Catholic Church also leads many people away from a genuine faith relationship with Christ. The unbiblical beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church have often given the enemies of Christ opportunity to blaspheme. The Roman Catholic Church is not the church that Jesus Christ established. It is not a church that is based on the teachings of the Apostles (as described in the Book of Acts and the New Testament epistles). While Jesus’ words in Mark 7:9 were directed towards the Pharisees, they accurately describe the Roman Catholic Church, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!”

A Word About Purgatory

2 Corinthians 5:1-9

A great many people believe falsely in purgatory—a miserable place where people supposedly go after death. In order to advance to heaven, a person supposedly must either suffer long enough to make restitution for his or her sins or be prayed out by loved ones still living. The doctrine is an unbiblical lie, because purgatory is a thinly veiled second chance for people to get into heaven.

There is not a single verse with which to defend the false theology of purgatory. In fact, the very idea of a second route to heaven runs counter to God’s redemptive plan. Jesus Christ was the substitute for you and me, and His death paid our sin-debt. He obtained our eternal redemption with His blood (Heb. 9:12). If there is a place where people can go to suffer for their own sins—in other words, pay their own penalty—then God sending His Son to die makes no sense.

In John 14:2, Jesus told the disciples that He was going away to prepare a place for His followers. Nowhere in scripture do we find any mention of a detour into misery where we “earn” a pass into heaven. The Bible says that believers are either at home in the body, or absent from it and present with the Lord. There is simply no in-between stopover.

I respect the right to believe as one chooses. However, I have a responsibility to present biblical truth. Those who reject Christ get no second chance after death. They are eternally separated from God. But whoever receives salvation is completely forgiven of all sin and guaranteed an eternity with Him.

Are Catholic beliefs and practices biblical?

The issue concerning any church and its practices should be “Is this biblical?” If a teaching is Biblical (taken in context), it should be embraced. If it is not, it should be rejected. God is more interested in whether a church is doing His will and obeying His Word than whether it can trace a line of succession back to Jesus’ apostles. Jesus was very concerned about abandoning the Word of God to follow the traditions of men (Mark 7:7). Traditions are not inherently invalid…there are some good and valuable traditions. Again, the issue must be whether a doctrine, practice, or tradition is Biblical. How then does the Roman Catholic Church compare with the teachings of the Word of God?

Salvation: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that salvation is by baptismal regeneration and is maintained through the Catholic sacraments unless a willful act of sin is committed that breaks the state of sanctifying grace. The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace which is received through simple faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), and that good works are the result of a change of the heart wrought in salvation (Ephesians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17) and the fruit of that new life in Christ (John 15).

Assurance of salvation: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that salvation cannot be guaranteed or assured. 1 John 5:13 states that the letter of 1 John was written for the purpose of assuring believers of the CERTAINTY of their salvation.

Good Works: The Roman Catholic Church states that Christians are saved by meritorious works (beginning with baptism) and that salvation is maintained by good works (receiving the sacraments, confession of sin to a priest, etc.) The Bible states that Christians are saved by grace through faith, totally apart from works (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 3:10-11; Romans 3:19-24).

Baptism: In the New Testament baptism is ALWAYS practiced AFTER saving faith in Christ. Baptism is not the means of salvation; it is faith in the Gospel that saves (1 Corinthians 1:14-18; Romans 10:13-17). The Roman Catholic Church teaches baptismal regeneration of infants, a practice never found in Scripture. The only possible hint of infant baptism in the Bible that the Roman Catholic Church can point to is that the whole household of the Philippian jailer was baptized in Acts 16:33. However, the context nowhere mentions infants. Acts 16:31 declares that salvation is by faith. Paul spoke to all of the household in verse 32, and the whole household believed (verse 34). This passage only supports the baptism of those who have already believed, not of infants.

Prayer: The Roman Catholic Church teaches Catholics to not only pray to God, but also to petition Mary and the saints for their prayers. Contrary to this, we are taught in Scripture to only pray to God (Matthew 6:9; Luke 18:1-7).

Priesthood: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that there is a distinction between the clergy and the “lay people,” whereas the New Testament teaches the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9).

Sacraments: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that a believer is infused with grace upon reception of the sacraments. Such teaching is nowhere found in Scripture.

Confession: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that unless a believer is hindered, the only way to receive the forgiveness of sins is by confessing them to a priest. Contrary to this, Scripture teaches that confession of sins is to be made to God (1 John 1:9).

Mary: The Roman Catholic Church teaches, among other things, that Mary is the Queen of Heaven, a perpetual virgin, and the co-redemptress who ascended into heaven. In Scripture, she is portrayed as an obedient, believing servant of God, who became the mother of Jesus. None of the other attributes mentioned by the Roman Catholic Church have any basis in the Bible. The idea of Mary being the co-redemptress and another mediator between God and man is not only extra-biblical (found only outside of Scripture), but is also unbiblical (contrary to Scripture). Acts 4:12 declares that Jesus is the only redeemer. 1 Timothy 2:5 proclaims that Jesus is the only mediator between God and men.

Many other examples could be given. These issues alone clearly identify the Catholic Church as being unbiblical. Every Christian denomination has traditions and practices that are not explicitly based on Scripture. That is why Scripture must be the standard of Christian faith and practice. The Word of God is always true and reliable. The same cannot be said of church tradition. Our guideline is to be: “What does Scripture say?” (Romans 4:3; Galatians 4:30; Acts 17:11). 2 Timothy 3:16-17 declares, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

“Are Catholic beliefs and practices biblical?”

The issue concerning any church and its practices should be “Is this biblical?”  If a teaching is Biblical (taken in context), it should be embraced. If it is  not, it should be rejected. God is more interested in whether a church is doing  His will and obeying His Word than whether it can trace a line of succession  back to Jesus’ apostles. Jesus was very concerned about abandoning the Word of  God to follow the traditions of men (Mark 7:7).  Traditions are not inherently invalid…there are some good and valuable  traditions. Again, the issue must be whether a doctrine, practice, or tradition  is Biblical. How then does the Roman Catholic Church compare with the teachings  of the Word of God?

Salvation: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that  salvation is by baptismal regeneration and is maintained through the Catholic  sacraments unless a willful act of sin is committed that breaks the state of  sanctifying grace. The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace which is  received through simple faith (Ephesians  2:8-9), and that good works are the result of a change of the heart wrought  in salvation (Ephesians  2:10; 2  Corinthians 5:17) and the fruit of that new life in Christ (John  15).

Assurance of salvation: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that  salvation cannot be guaranteed or assured. 1 John 5:13 states that the letter of 1 John was written for the purpose of assuring  believers of the CERTAINTY of their salvation.

Good Works: The Roman  Catholic Church states that Christians are saved by meritorious works (beginning  with baptism) and that salvation is maintained by good works (receiving the  sacraments, confession of sin to a priest, etc.) The Bible states that  Christians are saved by grace through faith, totally apart from works (Titus 3:5; Ephesians  2:8-9; Galatians  3:10-11; Romans  3:19-24).

Baptism: In the New Testament baptism is ALWAYS practiced  AFTER saving faith in Christ. Baptism is not the means of salvation; it is faith  in the Gospel that saves (1  Corinthians 1:14-18; Romans  10:13-17). The Roman Catholic Church teaches baptismal regeneration of  infants, a practice never found in Scripture. The only possible hint of infant  baptism in the Bible that the Roman Catholic Church can point to is that the  whole household of the Philippian jailer was baptized in Acts 16:33. However, the context nowhere mentions  infants. Acts 16:31 declares that salvation is by faith. Paul spoke to all of the household in verse  32, and the whole household believed (verse 34). This passage only supports the  baptism of those who have already believed, not of infants.

Prayer: The  Roman Catholic Church teaches Catholics to not only pray to God, but also to  petition Mary and the saints for their prayers. Contrary to this, we are taught  in Scripture to only pray to God (Matthew 6:9;  Luke 18:1-7).

Priesthood: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that there is a distinction  between the clergy and the “lay people,” whereas the New Testament teaches the  priesthood of all believers (1 Peter  2:9).

Sacraments: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that a believer  is infused with grace upon reception of the sacraments. Such teaching is nowhere  found in Scripture.

Confession: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that  unless a believer is hindered, the only way to receive the forgiveness of sins  is by confessing them to a priest. Contrary to this, Scripture teaches that  confession of sins is to be made to God (1 John  1:9).

Mary: The Roman Catholic Church teaches, among other things,  that Mary is the Queen of Heaven, a perpetual virgin, and the co-redemptress who  ascended into heaven. In Scripture, she is portrayed as an obedient, believing  servant of God, who became the mother of Jesus. None of the other attributes  mentioned by the Roman Catholic Church have any basis in the Bible. The idea of  Mary being the co-redemptress and another mediator between God and man is not  only extra-biblical (found only outside of Scripture), but is also unbiblical  (contrary to Scripture). Acts 4:12 declares that Jesus is the only redeemer. 1 Timothy  2:5 proclaims that Jesus is the only mediator between God and men.

Many other examples could be given. These issues alone clearly identify the  Catholic Church as being unbiblical. Every Christian denomination has traditions  and practices that are not explicitly based on Scripture. That is why Scripture  must be the standard of Christian faith and practice. The Word of God is always  true and reliable. The same cannot be said of church tradition. Our guideline is  to be: “What does Scripture say?” (Romans 4:3;  Galatians  4:30; Acts 17:11).  2 Timothy  3:16-17 declares, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,  rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may  be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”