Description

Quite a number of people have become Roman Catholics because of the
appeal of the Catholic Sacraments. It is necessary therefore to see just what is
attractive in these seven signs of Catholicism and to analyze the same in the light
of Biblical truth.
The most important difference between Biblical faith and Roman
Catholicism is the issue of what is necessary for an individual’s salvation before
God. Right through the Scriptures justification is seen to be necessary for
salvation and in the New Testament it is the major theme of the Apostles. The
Church of Rome proclaims her seven sacraments as necessary for salvation and
that justification before God is given through the sacrament of Baptism. Thus she
officially teaches,
“Justification is conferred in Baptism, the sacrament of faith. It conforms us to
the righteousness of God, who makes us inwardly just by the power of his
mercy.”1 And “The Most Holy Trinity gives the baptized sanctifying grace, the
grace of justification. . .”2
To be inwardly just by the power of God’s mercy is what many people
would greatly desire. To believe that this is given to you in Baptism is quite
attractive. First because if this were done to you, you might think that you have
great hope that you have become pleasing to God. Secondly because as parent