Can you be a Catholic and be saved? The answer is yes, just not a good one!

The Catholic Church gets many things right. Catholics and born-again believers can both say that Chaldean Creed in full agreement, except perhaps for the word ‘catholic’. Yet even there, the word itself simply means universal. Catholics and born-again believers agree on most of the books of the Bible, The difference being that Catholics accept as inspired books not found in the Septuagint. The New Testaments are identical. But here is where Catholicism goes astray. It's in the ‘ands,’ the additions not found nor substantiated by Scripture. Here are a few examples:

Infant baptism: Forget the dispute between sprinkle and immersion. Infant baptism is not found in the Bible. Infants are presented and blessed but not baptized. Salvation can only happen when a person has reached the age of reason, realizes they are a sinner in need of a savior, and accepts Christ as their Lord and Savior. It is a personal decision that must be made by the person. God has no grandchildren.

Prayer to Saints: There is no praying to the Saints in scripture. Scripture says:

"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus"(1 Timothy 2:5-6). And again, "Whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you” (John 16:23). Not only that, but the word ‘saint’ is almost always used to refer to people who are alive. There's not one place in Scripture where we're asked to pray to dead people. In fact, the Book of Isaiah forbids it. In Isaiah 8:19, “Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?”. Living Saints are asked to pray for petitions and for other Saints, but even the request is to ask Jesus. Dead Saints have no power or authority. Why would we go to the billows boy when we can go to the blacksmith? Jesus himself loves us. Jesus Himself died for us, and Jesus Himself lives to make intercession for us. Why would we go to anyone else but to Jesus?

Mariology: Born-again believers do not hate Mary. Let me say that again. Born-again believers do not hate Mary. Jesus loved her, and So do we, but we do not pray to her. We are never told to pray to her. She has never been given any special title or authority in Scripture. The Catholic Church has added titles to her over the years, especially in the last 200 years. She was declared Immaculate in 1854 and assumed into heaven in 1950. Perpetually virgin in 1964. None of these are in Scripture. The rosary itself is forbidden, "They think by their vain repetitions of prayers that God will hear them.” Matthew 6:5-7. Mary herself declares that Jesus is her savior in Luke 1:46-47, "My spirit rejoices in God, my Savior." Mary admits, herself, that she needs a savior. As further evidence, the Apostle John, with whom she lived the rest of her life. Rarely mentions her and never tells us to pray to her.

The sacrifice of the mass: The best way to understand the development of Catholicism over the years is to understand her four main influences besides scripture: Judaism, Paganism, Rome, and philosophy. These influences have caused them to add things not found in the Bible. The Mass is taken from Judaism. There is a priest who wears priestly robes and offers the sacrifice on the altar. None of these elements are found in the New Testament. And are, in fact, forbidden. Peter declares that all believers are a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9). Christ himself declares. "It is finished!” (John 19:30), and Hebrews 9:24-28 says, “Not that he should offer himself often. So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.” And again, “every priest stands ministering sacrifices repeatedly, which can never take away sins. But this man, after he offered one sacrifice for sins forever sat down at the right hand of God.” (Hebrews 10: 11-12).

The Pope, Cardinals, Magisterium, purgatory: Peter was never a Pope. He wasn't even Bishop of Jerusalem; James, the brother of Jesus, was. In fact, in 1 Peter 5:1, Peter refers to himself as ”I am a fellow elder.“ Equal to other elders. Scripture never mentions Peter going to Rome when he most likely did. Peter's last letter was written just before his death, yet he never mentioned succession or Paul's letter to the Romans. It is clear that the church was already established before Paul even got there Romans 1:13. Paul never mentions Peter, although he does mention meeting him in Antioch. He does praise Peter for being an effective worker among the Jews, but he also says in Galatians 2:6, “Those who seemed to be something, whatever they were, it makes no difference to me. God shows personal favoritism to no man.” Cardinals are nowhere in the Bible and won't appear for over 1000 years. The number of sacraments has changed over the years. At one time, there were as many as 11. The Sacrament of the sick by a priest is not mentioned. Neither is the Magisterium. In fact, the whole Council of Jerusalem refused much of Canon law and further church councils. Acts 15:6-49, in particular, verse 10, “Why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples?“ And again in verse 28, “ For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.“

Good works: The Catholic Church insists that faith and good works or performing rituals will get you into heaven. The sacrament of confession is not mentioned in the Bible, although Matthew 16:16-19 is used to justify this and popery. The Catholic Church makes a distinction between venial( that is, small sins) and mortal (that is, big sins.) James 2:10 reminds us, "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” Paul repeatedly emphasized his good works are helpless to save us. For example, Romans 3:9-27, and Romans 5:6-11. We do good works not to somehow appease God but because we love Him and desire to obey him. Christ reminds us in Luke 17:10, “When you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” No sacrament, no pope, no act on our part can save us, Jesus says. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20). No sacrifices, no sacraments, no mass, no press to dead people. Jesus paid it all and did it all. Salvation is a gift from a loving God who desires to spend eternity with us. Jesus says, ”It is your Father's great pleasure to give you the Kingdom!”Luke 12:32