Bible Discussion Thread

Why do Roman Catholics continue to offer a sacrifice at the hands of a priest when this is trampling the Lords work of Salvation through His own sacrifice that He once and for all gave for us. This can't be looked on favorably by The Lord. My whole life I spent in RC Church and now see what Paul is saying in this chapter.

To us, who understand the Word differently to the Roman Catholics, their belief & performance of Transubstantiation is one of the most important & revered aspects of remembering & partaking of the Lord. We generally think that they are re-sacrificing Christ by this act - they see that it's not a re-sacrificing, but that the Presence of Christ is evident in the bread & wine, without these being materially changed or even by smell or taste.

When they consider John 6:48-58, they believe that Jesus spoke to the people of having to actually partake of His Body & Blood so that their sins may be forgiven & His Life & Blessing may be transmitted through them. That these elements mystically change during the Mass & re-convert afterwards, continue to give their adherents this belief that they are truly partaking of Christ Himself. Apart from being a false understanding of what the Lord was saying (e.g. when He spoke of the Living Water), this belief, along with many others, holds RCs solidly to the Church, lest by leaving her, they should fall from the Grace of God. And that is why for any leaving that Church, would be an extremely difficult decision to make, both in their mental & spiritual areas. But once free, they are free indeed.

And RCs will readily admit to Christ's physical presence in Heaven, yet for the purpose of the Mass, the elements can be changed & received as such. Even while sitting with His disciples at the Last Supper, Jesus spoke about this matter with them ( Matthew 26:26-28): He was physically present, when they partook of the bread & wine, none of Jesus' Body & Blood were missing, but yet the RC remains convinced that even at the Table, those elements changed mystically.

So, I wonder whether we can make an accusation against them of sacrificing Christ at every occasion of the Mass. It really is their misunderstanding of what Jesus spoke & intended for His disciples to comprehend & practise & their compelling others to be deceived by such a belief.

Chris: Then is what they do sinning? I am troubled for decades now in even seeing idols around the altar, (though I worship these not) and selective verses of Gospel that seeks to 'not offend'; is the RC Church condemning themselves? It's far more than myself. My wife and I raised our children in this faith, all of my family is in this faith. Many of my friends as well. And I think the issue I have in wrestling with this is, who is errorless? And if who as in individuals, then what church? Even, True Believers under a Gospel following pastor that are called to assembly to exhort one another, now follow a man who believes he has license & authority to write his interpretation of God's Word and in doing so transform Christ The Living Word into potentially something else. I am sure that a Repentant Believer in Jesus Christ with Christ's Righteousness over them still will err in the flesh. Aside from Jesus Christ our Lord, who can be perfect in the flesh. And if who as in individuals, then what church? Thanks for listening.

Lou, Yes, what they do is certainly sin & contrary to God's Word. The reliance on the material: what is seen, touched, partaken of, is very important to the Catholic. We can see it in the statues, stained glass windows, the incense, the robes, the crucifix, the elements, etc. Can one worship the Lord without the need for any of this paraphernalia that resembles Old Testament instructions to Israel rather than to those under the New Covenant in Christ's Blood?

So, I understand that you & your family still attend that Church but troubled by what you are seeing & maybe from your reading of the Bible. "Who is errorless?" We can all fall into error, some more than others. Both RC Priest & Protestant Pastor are never inerrant - none can ever say that all of God's Word, His Mind, His Plans are known fully. We can have a good understanding & preach accordingly after much study, but each one has to be convinced in his own heart about the matter & each hearer of the message has to weigh up what is shared. For many years, RCs were prevented from reading the Bible as its interpretation remained in the domain of the clergy. Fortunately now, this is not the case, so questions are being asked, some even coming out of the Church when seeing errors there.

In years past, a couple of my RC acquaintances said that they believed the Truth as given in the Bible but still could not break ties with the Church - maybe for fear, ignorance or being unprepared of the 'unknown'. Christians ought not to be silent listeners digesting everything fed to them from the pulpit. We have to reason what we hear in our hearts & allow God's Spirit to help us discern. You can see much of it here on this Site with various opinions presented. But it's how the Word of God is used in defence of a teaching that's important. If you go now to a RC Priest & debate with him on Purgatory, he will probably want you to go for further teaching & counselling rather than spend time in searching the Scriptures with you.

Thanks for your insights. I need to keep praying earnestly for my family and friends, to seek The Truth in Scripture, for that is where God speaks to us. As for myself, I am daily in The Word and wrestle more now than ever with the very real possibility of not seeing loved ones under Christ's Righteousness. I will keep praying, I will become a nag to Our Father with constant pray for His Hand to turn them. It is very possible then that God in seeing His Son when He look upon me, may have Mercy beyond my mind's understanding today. Thanks again for your responses Chris, May God continue to Bless You through His Son, The Worthy Lamb of God, who lay down His life for us. Peace.

You're right on track, dear brother. Keep studying the Word - more & more Light from God will be revealed to you. Keep 'nagging' the Lord for your loved ones (as many of us do for ours), & 'pray them into the Kingdom'; remember the Lord's parable of the widow who 'nagged' the unjust judge to get justice ( Luke 18:1-8). Even though in different circumstances, the parable was given "that men ought always to pray & not to faint", or 'keep on praying for what you know is right & in God's Will (that none should perish), & don't give up'. Every blessing Lou, in the Lord.