By Vincent Wall, former Catholic.
According to Vatican figures there are 1.2 billion Catholics throughout the world. The Pope is the spiritual head of every Roman Catholic and holds enormous influence over the souls of his people. As in previous years, Pope Francis will conduct this year’s Easter Masses and will give an Easter message that will be broadcast to millions of people throughout the world.
The message Francis gives may be popular, but will it be truthful?
If Pope Francis was to tell the real truth about Easter it could be a life changing message, setting free millions of Catholics from spiritual fear and bondage. Unfortunately, when the Pope delivers his Easter message this year, I fear that he will miss the main ingredients of the Gospel of Christ.
In all my years of attendance at Easter Masses I never heard that salvation was in Christ alone. I was always told that salvation and forgiveness was obtained through the Church and its sacraments. I was never told that salvation was independent of my own good works and that my only hope of entering Heaven was to place my faith in the one sacrifice Christ offered on Calvary when He died for the sins of the entire world. (, , )
Unfortunately Catholics will not hear Pope Francis tell the honest truth that his priests are incapable of providing any sacrifice this Easter, or any other time, that can remove even one sin.
The Bible says:
And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man (Christ), after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:11-12)
If Pope Francis does not tell the truth of the Gospel this Easter, then my dear Catholics friends, why is he your spiritual leader? And why do you not look to Jesus Christ alone for salvation? Millions have done so and now they rejoice in that one sacrifice that atones for their every sin.
For by grace (undeserved favour) are you saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, unless any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9)
God offers you salvation as a free gift: Why not receive it now?
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1.12)
Tradition or Truth - which are you following?
The Catholic Church has strayed far from biblical truth.
All Christians must be prepared, no matter how high the cost, to confront false teachings wherever they find it, so that many who have a zeal for God can discover the true righteousness available in Jesus Christ.
This book is prepared with the prayer that Catholics will see the errors of the Church of Rome and turn to Jesus Christ alone. Also that Protestants will be made aware of the dangers of the ecumenical movement that is seeking to bring all churches together in a last-days world church.