We have heard much lately about the office of the pope. Let me first say that there is not one word in the Bible concerning the office of pope. It is an unbiblical office.
The truth needs to be stated and restated concerning the Roman Catholic “church” and its leader. I do not say these things because I hate people with other belief systems I say these things to educate and warn. I view Catholicism as a cult, the largest cult in the world. Catholics need to be delivered from the false teachings of their “church” so-called.
“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” {Galatians 4:16}
One reason there is no hope in the pope is because he accepts worship. People bow down before him, kiss his ring, praise him and exalt him like he is something more than just a man. Jesus said, “… Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” {Matthew 4:10}
He, like Herod in the book of Acts sits on a throne in his royal apparel and the people worship him as a god.
The second reason that there is no hope in the pope is because he accepts blasphemous names or titles. He is called “Holy Father” and should not be called holy nor should he be called father.
Revelation 15:4 states that only God is holy and Jesus said in Matthew 23:9 to call no spiritual or religious leader father.
He is also called the “Vicar of Christ”. Consider the definition of vicar – a person appointed or authorized to perform the functions of another. This man claims to be appointed to perform the functions of Jesus Christ!
The Catholic Encyclopedia defines the term “Vicar of Christ as “…a title of the pope implying his supreme and universal primacy, both of honor and of jurisdiction, over the Church of Christ.”
The pope claims to be the supreme head of the church. But the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ has put all things under His feet and that He is the head of the church.
As the “Vicar of Christ” the pope believes that he along with other priest that he can forgive sins.
“Pope John Paul II on Tuesday dismissed the “wide-spread idea that one can obtain forgiveness directly from God” and exhorted Catholics to confess more often to their priests.” {Los Angeles Times, December 12, 1984}
The third reason there is no hope in the pope is because he teaches a false gospel.
Roman Catholics as a rule believe that a person is saved through good works and through baptism and other rituals or sacraments etcetera. {Ephesians 2:8-9}
They teach baptism is regeneration. The Catholic Encyclopedia states that baptism is “the Sacrament of regeneration or that institution of Christ by which we are reborn to spiritual life.”
The pope teaches salvation by works.
The following is the summary of Cannons 11, 12, 24, 30, 32 from the Council of Trent concerning Justification;
“Official Catholic teaching would not allow the sinner to rely by faith on the mercy of God or to believe that his sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake only. Something more is required. You must keep yourself justified by your own good works. You must merit grace and eternal life by your works. You must pay the debt of sins by your penance and your purgatorial sufferings.”
The Pope teaches a false gospel.
Reason number four is that the pope practices and promotes idolatry. a. He worships Mary and his follower’s bow down to images and statues and relics. The Bible says, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” {1 John 5:21}
Revelation 9:20 “And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk…”
Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines an idol as…
“An image, form or representation, usually of a man or other animal, consecrated as an object of worship; a pagan deity. Idols are usually statues or images, carved out of wood or stone, or formed of metals, particularly silver or gold.”
“Any thing on which we set our affections; that to which we indulge an excessive and sinful attachment.”
“An idol is any thing which usurps the place of God in the hearts of his rational creatures.”
The Roman Catholic church is a system of idolatry and the pope himself is an idol and an idol worshipper.
The truth is…
The pope is just a man.
He cannot forgive sins.
He is not the Head of the church.
He does not have the authority to overrule scripture.
He is an imposter….and has deceived 1.2 billion people.
The Christian Excavator 