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THE “FOURTEEN DEADLY SINS” OF ROMAN CATHOLICISM
The Wages Of Sin Is Death (Rom.6:23a)
The Roman Catholic Church and its Pope has once again done
something that deviates drastically from the Scriptures. In the latest
pronouncement from the
Traditional Catholic doctrine
divides sins into mortal and venial (lesser) and holds that mortal sins, if
unrepented, lead to eternal damnation. But as our subtitle points out, the
Bible says the penalty for sin (singular)
is eternal spiritual death. That means from God’s point of view, the so-called
“venial sins” are no different than “mortal sins” as far as penalty is
concerned:
“Behold, all souls are Mine; as the soul of
the father, so also the soul of the son is Mine; the soul that sins, it
shall die” Ezekiel 18:4 (Amplified
Bible, emphasis mine).
So please note there are no specifics nor degrees mentioned—just a
plainly stated fact that all those who sin will die! And we know from the
teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament that the ultimate
penalty for sin is eternal damnation.
And what so many
do not understand is that a single deviation from the perfection
demanded by God’s holiness and righteousness is sin!
So the sooner we get that fact through our thick skulls the better! You and
I, along with everybody else on the planet are sinners because not one of us is perfect. And in the same way that telling
a lie makes one a liar, committing one teeny little sin makes one a sinner and
puts them under God’s sentence of eternal death.
“The ungodly are perverse and
estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking
lies” Psalms 58:3 (Amplified Bible).
However, our intent is not to enter into a discussion of sin and
forgiveness, because that topic has been covered in a previous article:
www.cuttingedge.org/articles/p191.htm
So let us take a close look at
First and foremost, the “new” sin of polluting the environment raises at least one important theological question as well as others concerning the obvious alignment with the “green” environmental agenda of the New World Order presently being implemented by governments around the globe. Since the Bible does not mention the subject of pollution directly or even in principle, from whom or what authority did the Pope get the message that it is now a sin? The problem has been around for centuries so why all of a sudden did it become a sin and why was it not a sin last year? Did God change His mind and let the Pope in on it so he could spread the message?
“For I am the Lord, I do not change; that is why
you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed” Malachi
3:6 (Amplified Bible, emphasis mine).
“Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the
same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages)” Hebrews 13:8 (Amplified Bible).
“Every good gift and every perfect (free,
large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that
gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or
setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse]” James 1:17 (Amplified Bible).
Everything God wants His people to know about sin and salvation is contained within the pages of the Bible. And all who dare to add to it or take from it (Popes, Mormon “prophets,” Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc.) will be harshly judged: (All quotes are from the Amplified Bible and emphasis is ours).
“You shall not add to the word which I
command you, neither shall you diminish it, that you may keep the
commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” Deuteronomy 4:2
“Whatever I command you, be watchful to do it;
you shall not add to it or diminish it” Deuteronomy 12:32
“Every word of God is tried and
purified; He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him. 6
Add not to His words, lest He reprove you, and you be found a
liar” Proverbs 30:5-6
“Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the
Lord’s house [Jeremiah] and speak to all [the people of] the cities of
“I [personally solemnly] warn everyone who
listens to the statements of the prophecy [the predictions and the consolations
and admonitions pertaining to them] in this book: If anyone shall add
anything to them, God will add and lay upon him the plagues (the
afflictions and the calamities) that are recorded and described in
this book. 19 And if anyone cancels or takes away from
the statements of the book of this prophecy [these predictions relating to
Christ’s kingdom and its speedy triumph, together with the consolations and
admonitions or warnings pertaining to them], God will cancel and take
away from him his share in the tree of life and in the city of holiness (purity
and hallowedness), which are described and promised in this book” Revelation 22:18-19
As far as the new sin of “obscene riches” is concerned, we must ask at what point does wealth become obscene? Who or what will make that determination and upon what authority will it be based? When a reporter on the ABC news program “Nightline” (3-10-08), was discussing the list of additional sins he seized the opportunity to take a jab at the opulence and great wealth of the Catholic Church itself! After all, those who live in glass houses…..!
Next is the sin of “causing social injustice.” Who is going to define what that means and the precise point at which it will be violated? Who will do the same for obscene riches or polluting the environment? Answer: The Roman Catholic Church upon its own authority and not the Word of God.
What about genetic engineering? While it is true that
tinkering with nature has the potential for great ethical and moral wrong, is
it necessary to throw out the baby with the bath water by making a blanket
declaration that the entire field of study is to be condemned? Once again the
And concerning the “use of drugs,” it is assumed that this refers to illegal abuse—something that we agree is definitely sinful behavior. But you can just about bet the farm the Roman Catholic Church will not extend it to include the abuse of alcohol! What is the essential difference? Unless statistics have changed drastically over the past few years, alcohol abuse continues to be at the very top of the list where financial loss to business/industry is concerned. It is said that it now costs American businesses about $134 billion in productivity losses nationally each year. Alcoholics and problem drinkers are absent from work 4 to 8 times more often than normal employees. When they do show up, substance abusers are 33 percent less productive. Furthermore, up to 40 percent of industrial fatalities can be linked to alcohol abuse. Between 38 and 50 percent of all workers’ compensation claims are related to substance abuse. So why should this not qualify for being just as sinful as abusing other types of drugs? This is but one example of how the RCC fails to go far enough in condemning sin.
A perfect example of the RCC not going far enough and doing too little too late is pedophilia—the sexual abuse of children. Because as everyone knows, there has been a world-wide scandal about Catholic priests molesting children in recent years and yet the Pope has just now decided that such behavior is a mortal sin! Once again we must ask the obvious question: why was it not considered a mortal sin in the past?
Finally, we come to the sin of abortion. Although it is
agreed that in the vast majority of cases abortion is nothing but legalized
murder, there are some instances—such as ending the life of the infant to save
the life of the mother—in which it is not murder. Killing yes, murder
no, because the Scriptures make a distinction between the two. God’s
commandment of “Thou shalt not kill,” clearly refers to a prohibition against
murder because in many instances He directed the army of
So we wish to say to good Catholics everywhere that we are
not your enemy and it greatly troubles us that there is such open-ended
ambiguity on the part of your spiritual leadership. They are quite literally
making up the rules as they go along (which they have done for the better part
of two thousand years) in order to keep you in a perpetual state of fear
and bondage. That is why the Lord Jesus Christ had this to say about the
Pharisees, the New Testament-era equivalent of your priesthood and Papal
hierarchy:
“In vain (fruitlessly and without profit) do
they worship Me, ordering and teaching [to be obeyed] as doctrines
the commandments and precepts of men. Mark 7:7 (Amplified Bible, emphasis mine).
He also said something concerning sacerdotal authority that you should
consider:
“And do not call anyone [in the church] on
earth father, for you have one Father, Who is in heaven” Matthew 23:9 (Amplified Bible).
Love for Jesus Christ is what prompts believers to comply with His commandments, while fear is the stock and trade of priestcraft! Whenever sinful men have wrangled themselves into a position to exercise unlimited spiritual authority over others, they have always taken steps to insure such power would remain unbroken. And the threat of excommunication/eternal damnation for any who would dare to question their authority continues to be an excellent weapon! (Roman Catholics are certainly not alone in this, because Mormons have the same problem).
All those who have truly placed their faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ to save them from the penalty of sin have been forgiven by God the Father and will never be placed in what legal systems call “the threat of double jeopardy.” And that wonderful fact completely does away with the “sword of Damocles” that a religious hierarchy wants to hold over your head to keep you in fearful bondage to its capricious whims.
A case in point involves the necessity for repentance from the so-called mortal sins if one is to enter heaven when they die. This repetitious requirement, along with the confessional and a host of other related burdens that have absolutely no basis in Scripture, are rendered null and void in Jesus Christ! To repent of one’s sins is a necessary part of the new birth, but where eternal salvation itself is concerned repentance is only required once. Thereafter, the sins a believer commits (and yes, we will continue to sin) are those against a heavenly Father and not the Supreme Judge of the Universe. Repentance will be necessary to remain in an unbroken walk of fellowship with our Savior, but failures to do so have no bearing whatsoever on our position in Christ. The difference is due to the fact that chastening is the punishment for disobedient children, not eternal damnation!
“For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone
whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and
welcomes to His heart and cherishes” Hebrews 12:6 (Amplified Bible).
So please put aside any animosity or distrust you may have about this message and honestly ask yourself if you really trust anybody other than Jesus Christ Himself to make the rules as to whether or not you will go to heaven when you die? Also do you really believe any mortal man or group of men should have that authority? I can assure you that the Bible clearly teaches that they do not! So may I lovingly urge you to study the New Testament Scriptures for yourself and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance as you try to discern the truth?
“And you will know the Truth, and the Truth
will set you free” John 8:32 (Amplified
Bible).
If you have been born again and received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, but have been very lukewarm in your spiritual walk with Him, you need to immediately ask Him for forgiveness and for renewal. He will instantly forgive you, and fill your heart with the joy of the Holy Spirit. Then, you need to begin a daily walk of prayer and personal Bible Study.
If you have never placed your trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior, but have come to sense His reality and the approaching End of the Age, and want to receive His FREE Gift of Eternal Life, you can do so now, in the privacy of your home. Once you truly believe in Him as Lord and Savior, you are spiritually Born Again, and are as assured of Heaven as if you were already there. Then, you can rest assured that the Kingdom of Antichrist will not touch you spiritually. If you would like to become Born Again, turn to our Salvation Page now.
We hope you have been blessed by this ministry, which seeks to educate and warn people, so that they can see the coming New World Order Kingdom of Antichrist in their daily news.
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Finally, we would love to hear from you. You can write us at:
Cutting Edge Ministries, C/O Pastor Ron Riffe
P.O. Box 26
Gordo, AL 35466
You can also E-Mail Pastor Ronald Riffe regarding questions or comments about this article.
God bless you