The Gospel According to Rome Session 4 The Mass A Survey of How and Why the Roman Catholic Church Has Departed From Biblical Truth and Authority 2013, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute
To better understand: Objectives for this Course what the differences are between Roman Catholicism and biblical Christianity how Roman Catholicism departed from biblical truth how to evangelize Roman Catholics by helping them to know the truths of Scripture why ecumenical efforts by Catholics and biblical Christianity based on biblical error must be avoided Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Psalms 119:105 2013, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute 2
Course Schedule 2013, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute Session Date Topic Material Covered We are here 1 5/19/2013 Introduction Course and text overview 2 5/26/2013 Salvation - Justification TGATR, pgs 21-87 3 6/2/2013 Salvation Final Destiny TGATR, pgs 89-121 4 6/9/2013 The Mass and Sacraments TGATR, pgs 123-177 5 6/16/2013 The Role of Mary TGATR, pgs 180-228 6 6/23/2013 Church Authority -The TGATR, pages 231-261 Pope and Bishops 7 6/30/2013 Church Authority -The Magisterium TGATR, pgs 263-280 8 7/7/2013 Church Authority - Tradition TGATR, pgs 281-310; 341-344 9 7/14/2013 SecretAccess: The Vaticanand the United States 10 7/21/2013 The Roman Catholic Bible and the Apocrypha DVD TGATR, pages 337-340 11 7/28/2013 Sola Scriptura TGATR, pages 344-355 12 8/4/2013 Ecumenical Outreach TBA 13 8/11/2013 TBA TBA 14 8/18/2013 TBA TBA 3
The Mass - Catholicism vs. The Bible Roman Catholicism Teaches 1. The Last Supper was a real sacrifice in which Christ s blood was poured out forour sins in the cup (of blessing). 610-611, 621, 1339. 2. The bread and wine become the real body and blood of Christ. 1373-1377. 3. Christ s body and bloodexist wholly and entirely in every fragment of consecrated bread and wine in every Roman Catholic church around the world. 1374, 1377. 4. The consecrated bread and wineare heavenly food which help one to attain to eternal life. 1392, 1405, 1419. 5. God desires that consecrated bread and wine be worshiped as divine. 1378-1381. 6. Christ has ordainedcertain men to a ministerial priesthood to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross. 1142, 1547, 1577 7. The Sacrificeof the Mass is the sacrifice of the cross. 1085, 1365-1367. Only the manner in which it is offered is different. 1367. 8. The sacrificeof the cross is perpetuated in the Sacrifice of the Mass. 1325-1382. The Bible Says The Last Supper was a (traditional, Old Testament) Passover meal. Christ s bloodwas poured out for our sins at the cross. 1 Pet. 2:24. The bread and wine are symbols of the body and blood of Christ (1 Cor. 11:23-25. (They metaphorically represent the real body and blood). Christ is bodily present (only)in heaven. Hisphysical body can only be one place at a time. (It His divine nature not His human nature which is omnipresent.) Heb. 10:12-13 The bread and wine are symbolswhich help one to remember Christ (and the sacrifice for sin He made on our behalf). Luke 22:19; Jo. 6:63 God forbidsthe worship of any object, even those intended to represent Him. Ex. 20:4-5; Isaiah 42:8 Christ has ordainedevery believer to a holy and royal priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices, the praise of their lips, and lives yielded to God. 1 Pet. 2:5-10; Heb. 13:15; Ro. 12:1. The sacrifice of the crosswas a historical event. It occurred (only) once, approximately 2000 years ago, outside Jerusalem. Mark 15:21-41. The sacrifice of the cross is finished. (It was a one time event, never to be repeated.) John 19:30. 4
9. The Mass makes presentchrist in His death and victimhood. 1353, 1362, 1364, 1367, 1409. 10. At each Mass,the priest re-presents to the Father the sacrifice of Christ. 1354, 1357. 11. The Mass is an unbloody sacrifice which atones for the sins of the livingand the dead. 1367, 1371, 1414. 12. Each sacrifice of the Mass appeases God s wrath against sin. 1371, 1414 13. The faithful receive the benefits of the cross in fullest measure throughthe sacrifice of the Mass. 1366, 1407 14. The sacrificialwork of redemption is continually carried out through the sacrifice of the Mass. 1364, 1405, 1846 15. The Church is to continue the sacrificeof Christ for the salvation of the world. 1323, 1382, 1405, 1407 Christ should not be presented in His death and victimhood, for He has risen and is alive for forevermore. Rev. 1:17-18; Ro. 6:9-10. Christ presentedthe sacrifice of Himself to the Father once at the consummation of the ages. Heb. 9:24:28 Without the sheddingof blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. Lev. 17:11; Heb. 9:22 The once-for-all sacrificeof the cross fully appeased God s wrath against sin (for any who believes in Christ as their Savior). Heb. 10:12-18 Believers receive (all) the benefits of the cross in fullest measure in Christ through faith. Eph. 1:3-14 The sacrificialwork of redemption was finished when Christ gave His life for us on the cross. Eph. 1:7; Heb. 1:3, Jo. 6:63 The church is to proclaim the Lord s death (on the cross) for the salvation of the world (until He comes). 1 Cor. 11:26 5
Overview of Session 4 The Mass General notes on the Roman Catholic Mass (Chapter 6) The first Mass (p. 127) The consecration of the Mass (p. 128) The sacrament of the Eucharist (p. 129) The worship or adoration of the Eucharist (p. 131) A biblical response to the Roman Catholic view (p. 133-144) More on the Mass (Chapter 7) The continuation of the Cross (p. 148) The re-presentation of the sacrifice of Christ (p. 150) Each Mass applies the saving power of the sacrifice of the Cross (p. 153) A biblical response (p. 155-177) 6
Organization of the Catechism of the Catholic Church Fidei Depositum The Prologue - paragraphs 1-25 Part I The Profession of Faith (organized by the Structure of the Apostle s Creed) - paragraphs 26-1065 Part II The Celebration of the Christian Mystery (organized by the Liturgy and the Sacraments) - paragraphs 1066-1690 2d Edition 1997, 2865 paragraphs, 822 pages Part III Life in Christ (organized under a number of special topics and the Ten Commandments) paragraphs 1691-2557 Part IV Christian Prayer (organized under a number of prayer topics and The Lord s Prayer) paragraphs 2558-2865 7
The Mass According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church The Holy Mass (missa) is the liturgy or ritual of sending forth (missio) of the faithfulso they may fulfill God s will in their daily lives. 1332 The Eucharist is the central event of the Mass, the sacrament of sacraments includes consecration and partaking of the wine and bread which has been transformed into the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ. Also known as Holy Communion see text, p. 333 Eucharist = eucharisto -to give thanks, 2 Thessalonians 1:3. we ought to always give thanks to God The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. The other sacraments and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented to it. 1324 It is the sign and cause by which the Church is kept in being. 1325 8
The First Mass According to the Catholic Church (Text, p. 327) The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci a1495-1498, is in the convent of Santa Maria della Grazie (Holy Mary of Grace) 9
The First Mass According to Roman Catholicism (Text, p. 127) Matthew 26:26-28, when Jesus said This is My body and This is My blood over the bread and the wine, He changed them into His literal body and blood. This was the first Eucharist. 621 At the Last Supper, Jesus also told His disciples, Do this in remembrance of Me (Luke 22:19). The Church teaches that by those words, the Lord ordained His disciples as priests and commissioned them to offer the Mass. 611, 1337 Offering the Mass and forgiving sins were to be the two principal functions of the priests. 1461, 1566 As we shall soon see, there is no biblical basis for these conclusions. They are mere inferences wrongly drawn by the allegorical interpretation of the Scriptures in which meaning was read into the Scriptures (eisegesis), rather than exegesis in which the meaning is taken out of the text of Scripture. 10
Allegorical Interpretation (not in text) Allegory -A legitimate figure of speech. Allegories are like sustained metaphors (comparisons) usually with an underlying meaning. Made Up Example: Mary had a little lamb, It's fleece was white as snow, Everywhere that Mary went, The little lamb was sure to go. A False Allegorical Interpretation (Eisegesis) This is a story of Mary, the Mother of God Her little lamb is the Church The lamb has fleece white as snow because prayers to Mary keep the Church from sin Therefore, the Church should always follow Mary Definition: Seeing a hidden meaning or assigning a spiritual meaning or truth to a text (often wrongly when the plain sense of the text makes sense). Caution: Unless we know, a text is written in allegorical language, we do violence to the text and meaning by forcing such a meaning on the text. 11
The Sacrament of the Eucharist (Text, p. 129) The Church teaches that the Eucharist is a means of grace 1392 Just as material food produces nourishment for the physical body, the flesh and blood of Christ produces spiritual nourishment to the soul for the living and the dead in purgatory. 1414 It changes the believer into what has been received, more like Christ. It forgives believers from venial sins and preserves the believer from future mortal sins.1395, 1416 The Catholic must attend Mass to receive the benefit. Daily is best, once a year is required. No one may take of the Eucharist is they do not believe in the bread and wine are the actual, physical body of Christ. 1355 Eucharistic communion with those ecclesial communities separated from the Church is not possible. 1400 12
The Worship of the Eucharist (Text, p. 131) Roman Catholics are to hold the Eucharist in highest honor worshipping it with the supreme adoration with the same worship of latria or adoration that we offer to God. 1178, 1183, 1378, 1418, 2691 The Church also promotes worship of the Eucharist though special orders of men and women dedicated to the continuous adoration of consecration bread and wine (e.g. The Nuns of the Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament). Tabernacles for the Eucharist 13
The Monstrance holds the consecrated host for perpetual adoration. Note the sunburst imagery which is rooted in pagan worship of the sun. In the opening prayer of the Perpetual chapel in St. Peter Basilica Pope John Paul II prayed for a perpetual adoration chapel in every parish in the world 14
The Priest s Words of Consecration in the Mass From The Faith of Millions, John O Brien, a Catholic priest This book has the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur are official Roman Catholic declarations that a book or pamphlet is free of doctrinal or moral error." When the priest pronounces the tremendous words of consecration, he reaches up into the heavens, brings Christ down from His throne, and places Him upon our altar to be offered up again as the Victim for the sins of man. It is a power greater than that of monarchs and emperors: it is greater than that of saints and angels, greater than that of Seraphim and Cherubim. Indeed it is greater even than the power of the Virgin Mary. While the Blessed Virgin was the human agency by which Christ became incarnate a single time, the priest brings Christ down from heaven, and renders Him present on our altar as the eternal Victim for the sins of man not once but a thousand times! The priest speaks and lo! Christ, the eternal and omnipotent God, bows His head in humble obedience to the priest s command. These words are sacrilegious, profane, irreverent and a violation of the honor and holiness of the Lord Jesus Christ! 15
The Catholic Doctrine of Transubstantiation (text, p. 133-134) The words of consecration supposedly accomplishes three things 1373-1381 1. The inner essences of the bread and wine cease to exist. 2. The outward appearances of the bread and wine remain. 3. The inner essence of Christ's true body and blood come to exist under the appearance of the bread and wine. The Eucharist cannot be apprehended by the senses, but only by faith. 1381 This view of form and substance comes from Greek philosophy which had a profound affect on the early Church. 16
A Biblical Response to Catholic Teaching on the Mass (text, 133 ff) the alleged miraculous change explained by transubstantiation is not in the Bible. There is noprecedent in the Bible for a miracle in which God expects the faithful to believe something supernatural has occurred when all outward evidence says otherwise. 17
The Prohibition Against Eating and Drinking Blood (text, 135 ff.) Jo. 6:48, I am the Bread of Life Jo. 10:9, I am the Door Jo. 8-12, I am the Light of the World Jo. 10:11, I am the Good Shepherd Jo. 11:25, I am the Resurrection Jo. 14:6, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life Jo. 15:1, I am the True Vine Jo. 16:25 I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. Jesus disciples at the Last Supper would have been horrified and objected if the Lord had asked them to actually drink His blood and eat His body. Lev. 17:10-14 specifically prohibits the drinking of blood as unclean. In Acts 10:14, Peter declares, I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean In Acts 15:29, the council at Jerusalem instructed new Gentile converts to abstain from the drinking of blood. The disciples were well accustomed to the Lord using figurative language in His teaching. 18
Eternal Life is Through Faith in Christ Alone (text, 138 ff.) Roman Catholicism bases its teaching on the Last Supper and the Eucharist on chapter 6 of the Gospel of John. 1336, 1338, 1406 I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh. John 6:51 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you shall have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food and My blood is true drink. John 6:53-55 See the context of these key verses by turning to John 6 and the explanation on page 139 of the text. 19
The Mass as a Continuing Sacrifice of Christ (text, 148 ff.) Sacrifice is the primary purpose of the Mass. Pope John II wrote, The Eucharist is above all else a sacrifice. At the Mass, Christ offers Himself again to the Father through the hands of the priest. In the Mass, the Church considers the priest another Christ. 1348, 1566 acting in the Person of Christ. The priest no longer exists as an individual person. He has turned into a sacramental sign, the representative of Christ, present upon the altar and offering himself in sacrifice. (Dogmatic Theology of the Laity.) The offering of the body and blood of Christ in the Mass is said to be an unbloody sacrifice and unbloody immolation with Christ as a most victim. 1085, 1353, 1362, 1364, 1367, 1383, 1409, 1545 20
A Biblical Response (text, 155 ff.) Christ asked to be remembered, not sacrificed. Luke 22:19, Do this in remembrance of Me. The Scriptures neverrefer to the Last Supper of the Lord s Supper as a sacrifice. See the six arguments of the Catholic Church and the rebuttal (p. 156-162). Christ s work of redemption is finished not continuing. John 19:30, It is finished! Perfect tense = the tense of completed action. Action completed in past time typically with the results continuing. Christ made everybeliever a priest, not a select few. Rev. 1:6; 1 Pet. 2:9. As priests we may go straight to God in worship and offer up spiritual sacrifices (1 Pet. 2:5) a yielded life Ro. 12:1; gifts in support of the Lord s work (Phil. 4:18; and praise to God (Heb. 13:15). 21
2013, Ed Sherwood, Berachah Bible Institute Sharing Your Faith With Catholics To the Catholic Reader p. 311 To the Non-Catholic Reader - p. 313 Pray for Catholics p. 315 Develop Friendships p. 315 Stimulate Thought p. 316 Promote Bible Study p. 316 Address the Real Problem p. 317 Encourage a Clean Break p. 317 Anticipate Trials p. 318 Continue to Learn p. 318 Oppose Ecumenism p. 319 Each week we will briefly review one of the guidelines for sharing our faith with Catholics Faith comes from hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ. Romans 10:17 22
End of Session 4 Thank you for your participation! The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:8 23
Spiritually Alive Spiritually Dead The Gospel According to Rome page 96-97 24