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Series 22 – Catholicism – Biblical Comparison

Series 22 – Catholicism – Biblical Comparison

Lesson for December 10, 2025

Catholicism

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest “Christian” church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It comprises almost 3500 dioceses around the world, each overseen by one or more bishops. The Pope, who is the bishop of Rome, is the chief “pastor” of the church.

The core beliefs of Catholicism are found in the Nicene Creed created in 325 A.D. The Catholic Church teaches that it is the only church founded by Christ, and that its bishops/priests are the successors of Christ’s apostles, and that the Pope is the successor of Peter, who they say was the first Pope. It claims that it practices the original Christian faith taught by the apostles, preserving the faith infallibly through Scripture and sacred tradition, as authentically interpreted through the teaching office of the Catholic Church.

Of its seven sacraments or rituals, the Eucharist/Communion is the principal one, celebrated at Mass. The church teaches that when a priest speaks words of consecration, the bread and wine become the literal body and blood of Christ. Mary is worshipped as the Mother of God, and Queen of Heaven, they believe in her “Immaculate Conception” (conceived without original sin), perpetual virginity, and ascension into Heaven (that Mary was taken to Heaven, body and soul, rather than experiencing bodily decay).

Here is a doctrinal comparison between Catholicism and the Bible. CCC is short for “Catechism of the Catholic Church,” which is a summary of the official teachings of Catholic beliefs.

1.
The Church does not derive doctrine from the holy Scriptures alone (but by) both Scripture and Tradition (CCC, 82)
Scripture alone is authoritative for all doctrine. II Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.”
2.
Only the Roman Catholic Church has the authority to interpret Scripture. “The task of interpreting the Word of God authentically has been entrusted solely to the Magisterium of the Church, that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him.” (CCC 100)
The Word of God is the only and final authority for Christians, not the tradition of men. II Peter 1:20, “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of someone’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
3.
Baptism saves a person. “Justification is conferred in Baptism.” (CCC, 1992)
Water baptism does not justify a person before God. Faith alone in Christ alone justifies a person before God at the moment of salvation. Romans 4:5, “But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.”
4.
Devotion to Mary is both taught and practiced widely. “The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary…express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.” (CCC, 963)
Christians are to worship and serve God alone. Luke 4:8, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.”
5.
Christ is offered again on the altar through the Mass. “Communion is a sacrifice because it (makes present) the sacrifice of the cross.” (CCC, 1366)
The continual re-sacrifice of Christ is not in the Bible. Hebrews 7:27, “Who has no daily need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because He did this once for all time when He offered up Himself.”
6.
“The sacrament of penance (confession to a priest and self-discipline by fasting, praying, and giving money) is another way to remove sin. “Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the offense committed against Him.” (CCC, 1422)
Confession of our personal sins to God brings forgiveness and restoration to fellowship with God. I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
7.
Indulgences remove or reduce time for those who have died and are in Purgatory by various means (money, prayer, applying the good works of another person still alive to their loved ones who have died, etc.). (CCC, 1471)
The concept of Purgatory is not found in the Bible. Everyone is accountable for their own sin and cannot be helped by another person to remove the consequences of that sin. Once a person dies, there is no waiting period in a place called purgatory. Unbelievers go to Hades upon physical death and believers go to Heaven. (Luke 16:19-31; John 14:1-6)
8.
“In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist, the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained.” This change, the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation.” (CCC 1374)
The Scriptures declare that the Lord’s Supper (Communion, the Eucharist) is a memorial (remembrance) to the body and blood of Christ, not the actual consumption of His physical body and blood. Luke 22:19, “And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body, which is being given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant in My blood.'”

Religion is Satan’s ace trump in deceiving people. Millions of people throughout history have been “taken in” by the false teachings of the Catholic Church. For example, their teaching on salvation is a dangerous, devious satanic counterfeit of the truth. Like all religions, the Catholic Church substitutes Bible truth with Bible sounding phrases and terms designed to confuse and fool the unsuspecting. Human good works for salvation are substituted for the grace of God, and people who depend on their false teachings for salvation, will end up in the Lake of Fire.

The Catholic Church, contrary to the Word of God, requires a person to perform human works to gain the approval of God for salvation. These works include church membership, water baptism, religious rituals, performing good deeds, obeying the Ten Commandments, good behavior, and keeping certain religious rules.

On the other hand, the Bible is clear that salvation is a gift from God, appropriated by a simple act of faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Faith is the only system of perception which is totally devoid of any human merit. Only the object has merit, and in salvation the object of faith is Jesus Christ. How much faith does it take to be saved? Just a little bit more than no faith at all. (Luke 17:6) The salvation work of Christ on the Cross excludes anything being added to faith. Titus 3:5-7, “He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we would be justified [made free of the guilt of sin] by His [compassionate, undeserved] grace, and that we would be [acknowledged as acceptable to Him and] made heirs of eternal life [actually experiencing it] according to our hope (His guarantee).”

Grace is all that God is free to do for mankind on the basis of the work of Christ on the Cross. Grace is extended to mankind as unbelievers, living under spiritual death, controlled by their sin nature, and total helplessness regarding salvation. Therefore, as a matter of grace, salvation is entirely the work of God. It is the work of the Father in judging our sins, of the Son in being judged for our sins, and of the Holy Spirit in making the Gospel clear. This is why the way of salvation is by faith alone in Jesus Christ with no human works added to it.