Charles Spurgeon’s Sermon from Isaiah 59:19

"In 325, [Roman] Emperor Constantine, for reasons of state craft and subtle policy, made Christianity the national religion [of Rome], and thus struck the most fearful blow at the vitals of Christianity. The union of church and state is a fatal blow to true religion. The king’s hand wherever it falls upon the church[es] of Christ brings the king’s evil with it. There never was a church whose spirituality survived it yet, and there never will be. Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, and if we try to marry the church of Christ to a worldly kingdom, we engender innumerable mischief's. So it happened that when the church [at Rome] became outwardly glorious she became spiritually debased. Her communion table glittered with gold and silver plate, but her communion with Christ was not so golden as before. Her ministers were enriched, but their doctrine was impoverished. for every ounce of outward gold which she gained, she lost a treasure of grace. Her bishops became lords, and her flocks were famished. Her humble meeting-places were exchanged for grand basilicas, but the true glory was departed. she became like the heathen around her, and began to set up the images of her saints, until at last, after years of gradual declension, the church [at] Rome ceased to be [a] church of Christ, and that which was once nominally [a] church of Christ actually became the Antichrist.. Black darkness covered the lands, and the dark ages set in. Instead of pardon bought with the blood of Jesus, false priests made merchandise of souls, and pardons were hawked in the streets. Instead of deacons and elders adorned with holiness and purity; monks, and nuns, and priests, and even popes became monsters of filthiness. Instead of justification by faith, men proclaimed justification by pilgrimages and by penances. The crucifix took the place of Christ Jesus, and a piece of bread was lifted up a god, and men bowed before it, and said, ‘These be your gods, O Israel, that redeemed you from the wrath to come’."

The Roman Catholic Position
on the "Church"

"The Roman Catholic Church has released a 36 page declaration that the Roman Catholic Church, alone, has a corner on salvation. All other churches are "not churches in the proper sense."

The document stresses the doctrine that salvation is by grace but declares that the church alone can dispense that grace and the only real church is the Roman Catholic church.

Other churches or "ecclesial communities" can only provide this grace in a partial way, depending on how closely they resemble Roman Catholicism. For example, the Eastern Orthodox are very close because they worship the wafer god and have a hierarchy of priestcraft. Even though they do not recognize the Pope in Rome as universal head of the church, they are still considered part of the true "church."

All others who call themselves churches are really only "ecclesial communities" and cannot provide the means of grace required for salvation. Presumably, Protestant churches are especially out in the cold because they have purposely broken off from the "true church" rebelling against the only church which Christ established through Peter the first pope.

However, individual members of these "ecclesial communities" who receive baptism get a little bit of grace. This is only because Roman Catholicism teaches baptismal regeneration, that original sin is forgiven by baptism.

However, since Roman Catholic salvation is on the installment plan, where one must continue to receive the ‘sacraments’ or lose it, this baptism in an ‘ecclesial community’ doesn’t really go anywhere unless you convert to Catholicism and continue receiving the Jesus wafer from a priest.

It is clear that any unity of the Protestants with the Roman Catholics will be on the pope’s terms, not theirs.

Further, another dictum sent to the world-wide bishops’ conferences stated: ‘It must always be clear, when the expression Sister Churches is used in this proper sense, that the one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Universal Church is not sister but mother of all particular Churches.’

In all its reaching out to other religions and churches, Rome has not wavered on its claim to full ownership of the Kingdom of God on earth. She will not tolerate any attack on the idea that she is the source of saving grace for salvation and hope of eternal life." (Battlecry, 01)

The Roman Catholic Church on the Bible

"The Roman Catholic bishops of the United Kingdom have issued a publication warning their people that the Bible is not entirely accurate.  The document, titled 'The Gift of Scripture,' says, 'We should not expect to find in Scripture full scientific accuracy or complete historical precision'...  The foreword is written by Cardinal Keith O'Brien of Scotland.  The document says the early chapters of Genesis are legendary and the Book of Revelation is not to be taken literally and does not describe the end of the world."

The Pope Calls For a New World Government

"Pope Benedict XVI in his statement, 'Charity in Truth,' calls for "A true world political authority," (or one world government) that has the authority to enforce all of its decisions."
Baptist Voice, Aug. 2009