Another Jesus?
Another Jesus?
By Mike Gendron
Is the Jesus of the Roman Catholic Church the biblical Jesus? Knowing and believing the real Jesus is critical because Jesus said, “If you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins” (John 8:24). A different Jesus is preached by many deceivers (2 Corinthians 11:3-4) who deny His finished work of redemption.
The Mormons preach Jesus is the brother of Lucifer and was a man who became God. The Jehovah Witnesses preach Jesus was not God but claim he was Michael the arch angel. Roman Catholicism preaches a Jesus that was unable to purge all sin or pay the complete penalty for sin.
The Biblical Jesus assures Christians they have been saved from condemnation. “Now that we have been justified by His blood, it is all the more certain that we shall be saved by Him from God’s wrath” (Roman 5:9). The one time, perfect and all sufficient sacrifice of Jesus completely satisfied the wrath of God (1 John 2:2). Roman Catholicism denies this fundamental teaching and deceives its people into believing that the sacrifice of the Mass satisfied God’s wrath not only for the sins of the living but also for the sins of the dead (Canon 3, Council of Trent). Catholics are cursed with anathema by their church if they claim they are saved from God’s wrath, (Canon 30, Council of Trent). Catholics know Jesus only as a “gate opener” to heaven. For Catholics to go through the gates of heaven they must save themselves through the Mass and sacraments.
The Jesus of the Bible expiates sin. “Through His blood, God made Him the means of the expiation for all who believe” (Roman 3:25). Yet the Catholic Church teaches Catholics must expiate their own sins. “This may be done through the sorrows, miseries and trials of this life and, above all, through death. Otherwise the expiation must be made in the next life through fire and torments of purifying punishments” (Vatican Council II).
The Jesus of the Bible is the only mediator between God and man (I Timothy 2:15), yet the Roman Catholic Church offers Mary as the mediator. Pope Pius IX proclaimed that “God has committed to Mary the treasury of all good things, in order that everyone may know that through her are obtained every hope, every grace, and all salvation. For this is His will: that we obtain everything through Mary.”
The Jesus of the Bible claimed He was the only way to the heavenly Father (John 14:6). Vatican II denies this by stating, “the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst who are the Moslems.”
So why does the Roman Catholic Church hide the real Jesus from its followers? Because the real Jesus sets people free! In contrast, the Roman Catholic Church maintains control of its people through legalistic rituals, sacraments and threats of anathema’s. The biblical Jesus saves believers from the bondage of sin, deception and religion.