The Gospel

According to
Rome
Session 2 Salvation

A Survey of How and

Why the Roman
Catholic Church Has
Departed From
Biblical Truth and
Authority
2013, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute
To better understand:
Objectives for this Course
what the differences are between Roman
Catholicism and biblical Christianity
how Roman Catholicism departed from biblical truth
how to evangelize Roman Catholics by helping them
to know the truths of Scripture
why ecumenical efforts by Catholics and biblical
Christianity based on biblical error must be avoided

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Psalms 119:105
2013, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute 2
The Gospel According to Rome
I. PURPOSE: Review major errors of the
Roman Catholic Church according to
Scripture.
II. LENGTH: 14 week survey.
III. TEXTBOOK. The Gospel According to
Rome. Available in bookstore.
IV. REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING:
A. Reading, attendance, class participation
30%
B. Paper A 1200 word paper on a major
doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church
30%
C. Exam 40%

2013, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute 3

 2013, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute

Course Schedule
Session Date Topic Material Covered
1 5/19/2013 Introduction Course and text overview
2 5/26/2013 Salvation - Justification TGATR, pgs 21-87
3 6/2/2013 Salvation Final Destiny TGATR, pgs 89-121
4 6/9/2013 The Mass and Sacraments TGATR, pgs 123-177
5 6/16/2013 The Role of Mary TGATR, pgs 180-228
6 6/23/2013 Church Authority - The TGATR, pages 231-261
Pope and Bishops
7 6/30/2013 Church Authority - The TGATR, pgs 263-280
Magisterium
8 7/7/2013 Church Authority - Tradition TGATR, pgs 281-310; 341-344
9 7/14/2013 The Vatican and the DVD
United States
10 7/21/2013 The Roman Catholic Bible TGATR, pages 337-340
and the Apocrypha
11 7/28/2013 Sola Scriptura TGATR, pages 344-355
12 8/4/2013 Ecumenical Outreach TBA
13 8/11/2013 TBA TBA

14 8/18/2013 Review and Exam Lectures

4
 Why Is There Such a Wide Difference Between Biblical
Christianity and Roman Catholicism?
Roman Catholicism rejects Sola Scriptura and holds that the truth
of God also includes the Apocrypha, the Magisterium (the
Churchs authority to define, interpret, and teach divine truth),
the Popes ex cathedra rulings, Church tradition, and canon law.

The meaning of the doctrine of Sola Scriptura according to Martin

Luther is this What is asserted without the Scriptures or proven
revelation may be held as an opinion, but need not believed.

Biblical Christianity believes the Bible is the highest authority,

Roman Catholics believe the Church determines what is true the
Church is the highest authority! 5
 The Roman Catholic Way of Salvation
Five Fundamental Beliefs (p.20)
Infants born into Catholic families receive grace and forgiveness of
original sin through the sacrament of baptism. Chapter 1 Infant
Justification

Adult converts to Catholicism receive grace and forgiveness of sins

after proper instruction. Chapter 2 Adult Justification

Sacraments and good works increase grace in the soul; cooperation

with grace preserves grace in the soul. Chapter 3 Increasing and
Preserving Justification.

Grace is lost through mortal sin, but can be regained by the

sacrament of penance. Chapter 4 Rejustification.

Eternal life is attained by dying in a state of grace. Chapter 5 Final

Destiny
6
 The Sacrament
of Baptism
According to
the Catechism

Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in
the Spirit. And the door which gives access to the other sacraments.
Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we
become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made
sharers in her mission: Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through
water in the word. Catechism of the Catholic Church (1213)
7
More from the Catholic Catechism . . .
1254 For all the baptized, children or adults, faith must grow after Baptism.

1256 The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the bishop and priest and, in the Latin Church, also
the deacon.57 In case of necessity, anyone, even a non-baptized person, with the required
intention, can baptize,58 by using the Trinitarian baptismal formula.

1258 The Church has always held the firm conviction that those who suffer death for the sake of
the faith without having received Baptism are baptized by their death for and with Christ. This
Baptism of blood, like the desire for Baptism, brings about the fruits of Baptism without being a
sacrament. (2473)

1260 Since Christ died for all, and since all men are in fact called to one and the same destiny,
which is divine, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility of being made
partakers, in a way known to God, of the Paschal mystery.63 Every man who is ignorant of the
Gospel of Christ and of his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance
with his understanding of it, can be saved. It may be supposed that such persons would have
desired Baptism explicitly if they had known its necessity. (848)

1263 By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment
for sin.66 In those who have been reborn nothing remains that would impede their entry into the
Kingdom of God, neither Adams sin, nor personal sin, nor the consequences of sin, the gravest of
which is separation from God. (977, 1425)
8
 What must I do to be saved?
Catholic Church
Salvation initiated by baptism, faith not
required
Salvation earned through good works
No assurance of salvation because of
dependence on works
Gradual process initiated by water baptism
Righteousness infused by merited grace
though sacraments and works
Can lose salvation by sin (fall from grace)
Confession to priest who forgives sin
Penance for sin
After death - purgatory for purification
Achieve heaven via penance and prayers of
others
Biblical Christianity
Salvation is by faith alone Eph. 2:8-9
Salvation is a free gift of God - Ro. 3:23-25, Ro. 6:23,
Ro. 6:32-33, Eph. 2:8-9, Tit. 3:4-7
Assurance of salvation based on surety of Gods Word
Ro. 5:8-11, 1 Thes. 1:3b-5
Instantaneous at moment of belief, Ro. 5:8-11, 2 Cor.
5:17-18
Righteousness is declared and imputed by faith, works
as result of salvation Ro. 4:4-5, Phil. 3:9, 1 Cor. 6:19
Cannot lose salvation by sin, Jo. 10:27-29; Ro. 8:29-30;
Eph. 1:3-14
Confession of sin to God, 1 Jo. 1:19
No penance, forgiveness complete Ro. 6:7; Col. 2:13-
14
After death - Immediately in Christs presence. 2 Cor.
5:6-8
Rewards in heaven based on works in the name of
Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 5:10, 1 Cor 3:13-14, Col. 3:23-24
9
 Infant Baptism
Catholic Church Biblical Christianity
The infant enters into the life of faith through
baptism
The faith of the priest, parents, and god=parents For as many as received Him, to hem He
justifies the infant in baptism gave the right to become children of God,
The baptism of a helpless infant expresses the even to those who believed in His name,
need for free, unmerited grace who were born not of blood, nor of the
will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but
Parents would be withholding an essential
blessing from their child if they did not baptize of God. John 1:12-13
him or her shortly after birth
Faith is related to and dependent on the
community of believers. Infant baptism portrays Infant baptism misleads Catholics as
this, for the parents promise to raise the child in to their true spiritual condition and
the Catholic faith need by producing false hope. (p. 33
Faith is not a single decision but a process. text)
Baptism provides strength and illumination for
lifelong growth in faith

10
11
 2013, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute

Sharing Your Faith With Catholics

To the Catholic Reader p. 311
To the Non-Catholic Reader- p. 313 Each week we
Pray for Catholics p. 315
will briefly
Develop Friendships p. 315
Stimulate Thought p. 316
review one of
Promote Bible Study p. 316 the guidelines
Address the Real Problem p. 317 for sharing our
Encourage a Clean Break p. 317 faith with
Anticipate Trials p. 318 Catholics
Continue to Learn p. 318
Oppose Ecumenism p. 319

Faith comes from hearing and hearing

through the Word of Christ. Romans 10:17
12
 End of Session 2
Thank you for your participation!

The grass withers, the flower fades,

but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 40:8

13