A Little Sermon on the GOOD NEWS of the Wittenberg Reformation

·        The Bible has authority over the church not the church over the Bible (2 Tim. 3:16 vs.  CCC 119).

·        The Bible teaches that a person is born by the Word and the Spirit not by water (1 Peter 1:23, 3:8 vs. CCC 694).

·        The Bible teaches that a Christian is eternally justified once through faith, and so, we are not justified by works and sacraments (Rom. 4:5, 8:30 vs. CCC 1035 and 1446).

·        God’s grace is unmerited and so it is, not merited (Eph. 2:8-9 vs. CCC 2010).

·        Christians are saved for good works but not by good works in any way (Eph. 2:10 vs. CCC 1477).

·        Salvation is in Jesus Christ not in the Roman Catholic Church (Eph. 1:7 vs. CCC 846).

·        Christians are purified by the blood of Christ only but not by the fires of purgatory (1 John 1:7 vs. CCC 1030).

·        Christians understand the Lord’s Supper is a memorial of the finished work of Christ but it is not a sacrifice of Christ which continues the work (1 Cor. 11:24-25 vs. 1367, 1414).

·        Christians receive Jesus permanently in the heart.  It is done spiritually but it is not done frequently and physically in the stomach (2 Cor. 1:22 vs. CCC 1374-78).

·        Christians are priests and saints, and as Christians we do not need a priest, and Roman Catholic in light of the Gospel are not saints (1 Peter 2:9; Eph. 1:1; 2 Cor. 1:1 vs. CCC 987).

·        Christians are condemned by the Roman Catholic church because of the anathemas of Trent and Vatican II, but Roman Catholics are condemned by the divine Word (John 12:48; Gal. 1:9).

·        Jesus alone is the Savior (nothing else takes away sin):  “He saved us, not because of any righteous deeds we had done, but because of His mercy.”  (Titus 3:5).

·        Jesus is the sinless Redeemer (not the Virgin Mary as the sinless CoRedeemix):  “For you know it was not perishable things…that you are redeemed…but with the precious blood of Christ.”  (First Peter 1:18, 19).

·        Jesus is our Mediator (not praying to saints or Mary):  “God is one, one also is the mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”  (First Timothy 2:5).

·        Jesus finished the work of redemption (not continual offerings at Mass):  “By one offering He has forever perfected those who are being sanctified.”  (Hebrews 10:14). “Unlike other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices.”  (Hebrews 7:27, 28).

·        There is salvation in Jesus (this denies the understanding Pope John Paul has which was modified universalism):  “There is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name in the whole world given to men by which we are to be saved.”  (Acts 4:12).

·        Jesus remitted sins (not Mass offerings):  “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22).  “Since these [sins] have been forgiven, there is no further offering for sin.” (Hebrews 10:18).

·        Jesus has cleansed His people from their sins (not the offering of the Mass):  “When He had cleansed us from our sins, He took His seat at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:3).  “Christ…presents you to God holy, free of reproach and blame.”  (Colossians 1:22).

·        Jesus is head of the church (not the Pope in anyway):  “He has put all things under Christ’s feet and made Him, thus exalted, head of the church.”  (Ephesians 1:22, 23).