The Lord Jesus Christ Jesus condemned the Pharisees because they were attempting to corrupt the very basis of truth by equating their traditions with the Bible. He denounced them saying; “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees! For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” Today, the senior leadership of the Roman Catholic Church also undermines truth by equating their man-made traditions with God’s Word. Pope Francis and the Roman hierarchy exalt themselves above Holy Scripture. As a result, the Catholic person ends up believing not in the Almighty God and the Bible, but rather the Catholic Church and her tradition.
Ever since the Reformation began 500 years ago, the Roman Church continues to use its influence to camouflage the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
What Is Rome’s Latest Scheme to Camouflage the Truth of the Reformation?
By convincing misinformed people that the Reformation was a mistake, Rome seeks to promote a more sinister objective. Indeed, Rome’s intent is to suppress the truth rediscovered by the Reformation – the glory of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Up until recently, Rome has raged against the need for the Reformation. As shown in the Council of Trent and Vatican Council I, the Roman Catholic Church in the past has taken the tact of debating and condemning those who championed the tenets of the Reformation.
However, the Papacy has refined a new tactic begun around Vatican II. Under the guise of false unity, Rome has sought to exploit the many professing Evangelicals ignorant of the truth of the Gospel of the Reformation. The Vatican has begun to promote this deception aggressively during the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Thus The Catholic Herald quotes Pope Francis in his January 2017 meeting with a delegation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Rome:
“After 50 years of official ecumenical dialogue between Catholics and Lutherans, we have succeeded in clearly articulating points of view which today we agree on. For this we are grateful...’ ‘At the same time we keep alive in our hearts sincere contrition for our faults,’ the Pope said. ‘In this spirit, we recalled in Lund that the intention of Martin Luther 500 years ago was to renew the Church, not divide Her...’
The materials for the week, published by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, say that, after 50 years of dialogue, ‘Catholics are now able to hear Luther’s challenge for the Church of today, recognizing him as a ‘witness to the Gospel.’” Pope Francis is wrong to claim Martin Luther as a fellow “witness of the Gospel”. Francis and Luther hold to entirely different gospels! The same conflict of 500 years ago exists today!
In 2017, Rome has planned several events to convince the world that Protestants no longer have reason to stay separated from her and that the Reformation is no longer necessary.
The Vatican announced in January a new postage stamp to commemorate Martin Luther. Different Roman Catholic sources debate the significance of this change in Vatican efforts from defaming to honoring the Reformation. Undoubtedly, this event has profound implications.
Mauro Olivieri, the head of Rome’s Philatelic and Numismatic Office, views the stamp issuance not only as significant but under the direct orders of the Papacy:
“We have to try to understand the present time and be interpreters of the messages that the Holy Father wishes to convey; with the help and understanding of my Superiors of the Governorate, we develop the idea of a modern philately, which mark the important moments of history: no doubt the issue dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation marks the rapprochement and overcoming of mutual misunderstandings between Christians, and the philately there is.”
This perceived “rapprochement”, or reconciliation, and “overcoming of mutual understandings between Christians” are mere propaganda for the Vatican agenda.
The Gospel of the Reformation: The Authority and Truth of the Bible Alone
The Reformers in the sixteenth century rediscovered God’s written Word as the absolute authority for faith and practice. The Scriptures do not substitute for God, but rather express the very mind of God. Christ taught that mankind ought never to invent subjective interpretations of what God Himself has purportedly said. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
To elevate manmade ideology higher than the Bible is tantamount to calling God a liar. Rome dismisses the greatness of God in promoting tradition as equal to His Word: “Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence.”
The Gospel of the Reformation: Salvation Worked by God’s Grace Alone
The Reformers showed that the Scripture wonderfully declares that sinners, “dead in trespasses and sins" are “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” They echoed the Word of God itself, “for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
In opposition to this truth, Rome alleges grace to be a mere aid transmitted through its sacraments. “The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation. ‘Sacramental grace’ is the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by Christ and proper to each sacrament.”
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