| ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ( C ) CHRISTS' MASS - A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ROMAN CATHOLIC MASS The Mass. This sacramental sacrifice operates with the unscriptural belief that the bread ( a wafer ) and wine, offered by the priest to God, have literally and miraculously become the body and blood of the Lord, even though, the wafer and wine do not physically change. The Mass is a ceremony which, ( according to Roman Catholic belief ), literally is a ongoing sacrifice of Christs' body and shed blood. But the reality is, is that the Catholic Mass represents another sacrifice of Christs' body and blood which is in addition to the one sacrifice that Christ gave of Himself on the cross of Calvary some 2,000 years ago. Catholicism doctrine says that the sacrifice of the Mass is simply an ongoing sacrifice of Christ ( http://www.reachingcatholics.org/redemption.html / http://www.theworkofgod.org/Library/Apologtc/R_Haddad/Bread2.htm ). Christs' sacrifice on the cross is perpetual ( Catechism paragraph # 1382 ). Christ continues to be a " holy victim " in the Roman Catholic mindset of the Mass. The Mass, in Roman Catholic thinking, is one and the same sacrifice, ( not an additional or separate sacrifice ), with the singular sacrifice on the cross which Christ offered of Himself some 2,000 years ago. In Roman Catholic belief, that sacrifice is yet ongoing because Christ is continually made present in the elements of the bread ( a wafer ) and wine, the Eucharist. The process by which this transformation of bread and wine turns into the literal body and blood of Christ is called Transubstantiation ( see article on the Mass and Transubstantiation and visit this website URL: http://matt1618.freeyellow.com/sacrifice.html ). Thus, Catholicism believes that the Eucharist, ( the bread and wine offered in the Mass ), is a literal, true sacrifice and not only a commemorative meal ( see this URL: http://www.catholic.com/library/Sacrifice_of_the_Mass.asp ). Whereas, non-Catholics conclude that the holy communion of scripture is in truth, only, a commemorative meal which symbolizes the means whereby Christ offered His flesh body and blood one time for the sins of the world. Scripture warns the Christian reader that recrucifying of Christ, ( which is really what the Mass represents ), puts Him to an open shame, Heb. 6:6; [4] For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, [5] And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, [6] If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. - Hebrews 6:4-6 http://www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?ArtKey=bible5 http://ccc.scborromeo.org.master.com/texis/master/search/? sufs=0&q=1413&xsubmit=Search&s=SS ( When visiting the scborromeo website, type in the word you want to find or the Catechism paragraph number. For example, type a word such as Mass or Eucharist or Transubstantiation, etc., then click " search " and a listing of the stated teachings of that word from the Catechism of the Catholic Church will appear. Or, type in a Catechism number such as 1413 and then click " search " .) http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a3.htm http://www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?ArtKey=mass Christ died one time for sins and therefore He need not be crucified anymore; His suffering and bodily sacrifice is not ongoing or perpetual. Holy scripture in no manner teaches that Jesus suffers a daily sacrifice of His physical flesh and blood for the sins of the world. For a person to believe and practice that Christ must be a continual offering for sins, via the Catholic Mass, is to believe and practice another gospel which is not founded in holy scripture. The person who believes and practices another gospel not founded in holy scripture is an accursed person and cannot enter the kingdom of heaven; 6. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. - Galations 1:6-9 9. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. - Romans 6:9-10 [12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. - Hebrews 9:12 [28] So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. - Heb. 9:28 2. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. - Ephesians 5:2 [10] By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. [11] And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: [12] But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. [14] For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. - Heb. 10:10-14 [26] For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; [27] Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. - Hebrews 7:26-27 18. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit: - 1 Peter 3:18 Scripture writes quite clear and plain that Christ suffered and died one time for sins. This is gospel, scriptural truth. If we teach that Christ is a holy victim whereby His sacrifice for sins is ongoing and continual; if we teach that Christ is sacrificed each time we take communion then we are accursed because this is another gospel. There is no need for a continual atoning sacrifice, a re-crucifying of Christ for sins. Transubstantiation, the re-sacrificing of Christ within the Roman Catholic Mass is an abomination and puts the Son of God to an open shame. Moreover, the wafer, ( a.k.a. the Eucharist ), is used in place of broken bread and is worshipped, ( Catechism paragraph # 1378 ). www.cephasministry.com/catholic_god_in_a_wafer.html www.cephasministry.com/eucharist.html Also, the Eucharist has, in the estimation of the Roman Catholic Church, the power to cleanse a person from past sin and preserve the person from future sins, ( Catechism paragraph #'s 1393 & 1395 ). http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a3.htm Christmas, the Mass of Christ, has nothing to do with the birth of the Lord. Its' ceremony is in no manner a true rememberance and honor of Christs' sacrificial death as is the communion service that is written about in scripture. Instead, Mass is a shameful re-crucifying of the Lord which is both evil and cursed. Therefore, when the Christian celebrates Christmas then in truth the Christian is celebrating the open, public shame of a re-crucifying of Jesus Christ. An act of which the writer of Hebrews warns the Christian against, ( Hebrews 6:6 ). Christmas celebration turns the heart of Gods' children away from Him to do evil and wickedness. Therefore, in no manner can a Christian who celebrates Christmas please God nor enter the kingdom of heaven. Christmas is a work of darkness; 19. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. - John 3:19-21 23. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. - John 4:23-24 God the Father seeks true worshippers. It is a must to worship God in truth and spirit. Christmas is not truth and thus must take no place in the life of the child of God. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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