Question Series

What is the difference between a Catholic and a Christian?

Same New Testament

Different Old Testament

Within this we have the Apocrypha

This adds some different elements of scripture:

More emphasis on works where it almost implies it saves us?

Prayer with fasting is good, but better than both is almsgiving with righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than wealth with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold. For almsgiving saves from death and purges away every sin. Those who give alms will enjoy a full life, but those who commit sin and do wrong are their own worst enemies. (Tobit 12:8–10)

Purgatory

2 Macc. 12:43-45 – the prayers for the dead help free them from sin and help them to the reward of heaven. Those in heaven have no sin, and those in hell can no longer be freed from sin. They are in purgatory. Luther was particularly troubled with these verses because he rejected the age-old teaching of purgatory. As a result, he removed Maccabees from the canon of the Bible.

Pray to Mother Mary

Jesus is our mediator, don’t pray to the dead. 1 Timothy 2:5

1 Timothy 2:5 ESV

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

However here are sample prayers that Catholics make and taught by the Catholic Church:

1) Morning Consecration to Mary

My Queen, My Mother, I offer myself entirely to thee. And to show my devotion to thee, I offer thee this day, my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve.

Wherefore, good Mother, as I am thine own, keep me, guard me as thy property and possession. Amen.

2) Hail Holy Queen (Salve Regina)

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, Our life, our sweetness and our hope.

To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve, To thee do we send up our sighs, Mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

What do you notice?

Salvation is different

How Catholics View Salvation:

Christians Apologetics and Research Ministry

Salvation in Roman Catholicism is a process. To begin, God grants actual grace to a person which enables him to believe in Christ (CCC 2000) and also believe in the truth of the Catholic Church (CCC 1814). After belief, the person must be baptized, which is necessary for salvation (CCC 1257). This baptism erases original sin (CCC 405), unites the person with Christ (CCC 977), infuses grace into the person (CCC 1999), and grants justification (CCC 1992, 2020). After baptism, he is saved. But, to maintain his salvation, it is necessary for him to perform good works (CCC 2010, 2068, 2080) and participate in the sacraments (CCC 1129) which provide the grace that is “proper to each sacrament” (CCC 1129, 2003). This is necessary in order to maintain infused grace (CCC 987, 1468). However, grace can be lessened by venial sins or completely lost by mortal sins. Venial sins (CCC 1862) remove part of the infused grace but not the saving grace known as sanctifying grace (CCC 1863). To remedy the problem of venial sins, the Catholic is to take the Eucharist which the Church teaches forgives venial sins (CCC 1416). He must also perform various penance which must be done in concert with perfect contrition (CCC 1452). But there is a problem. Sins require punishment. Even though sins are absolved by a priest (CCC 1463, 1495) the punishment due to a person because of his sin can remain. To deal with that remaining punishment, indulgences are administered to deal with the punishment due to the guilt of the sins already forgiven (CCC 1471, 1498). These indulgences draw upon the “good works of the Blessed Virgin Mary” (CCC 1477) and “of Christ and the saints” so as to obtain “the remission of the temporal punishment due for their sins” (CCC 1478). Furthermore, indulgences can be applied to themselves or the dead (CCC 1471) who are in purgatory (CCC 1498). Now, in case the Catholic has committed a mortal sin, then all his infused grace is lost. To regain this grace, he must partake of special penance (CCC 980) since it helps restore grace that was lost (CCC 1468, 1496). To conclude, the Roman Catholic must have faith, participate in the sacraments, take the Eucharist, keep the commandments, perform penance, and do indulgences in order to attain, maintain, and regain his salvation as well as reduce the punishment due to him for the sins of which he has already forgiven.

So what steps do you notice?

How are we saved?

Grace Alone: Ephesians 2:8-10

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

So what are the main differences?

Different Old Testament added books: Apocrypha

Opposing Concepts to the Bible:

- Purgatory

- Praying for the Dead

- Emphasis on Praying to Mother Mary

- and salvation with faith and works, not by Grace Alone

How do we know if God is listening?

He is our mediator 1 Timothy 2:5

1 Timothy 2:5 ESV

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

He listens when our hearts are in the right space.

This verse is a promise to those in Judah and the Israelites but this theme is true within the New testament and what it states in scripture.

Jeremiah 29:13 ESV

13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

He draws near when we draw near:

James 4:8 ESV

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

He Sympathizes with Us

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 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. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Even if you don’t feel Him or hear Him does not mean He is not listening.

Questions

What are your thoughts on Catholics vs. Christians, any questions or comments you’d like to share?

Why are the different concepts and added books wrong or harmful to who Jesus is? (Answer: Purgatory changes the concept of hell and heaven and serving Jesus there aren’t second chances when we die. , it undermines Jesus as Mary is prayed to rather than Jesus and so are the dead in some cases. Shows the need for works to help our salvation)

Why is it hard to believe God does not listen to our prayers?

Have you had a moment where God has answered your prayer?

If you know the Bible is true, and it states that He does listen to our prayers, what will you try this week to do differently or more of?