If you've been keeping abreast of world
news, you know that the new pope is putting the late Pope John Paul on
the fast-lane of "sainthood." It makes no
difference, of course, what God's sentiments are in this
paganistic ritual, for if the Roman Catholic hierarchy decrees that
someone be elected a saint, that's it—regardless.
But this is the history of Roman Catholicism.
According to
Catholic doctrine, Pope John Paul cannot be elected a "saint"
unless it can be substantiated that he performed at least three "miracles."
Now watch closely the Vatican over the next few months and you will see
a number of Catholics coming forth and claiming that Pope John Paul "healed"
them. But you will not be seeing legitimate miracles. Instead, you
will be viewing counterfeit miracles.
How do I know
this? The great apostle Paul, in prophesying about Roman Catholicism,
declared, "The coming of the lawless one [Roman Catholicism]
will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all
kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders, and in every
sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing" (2 Thess. 2:9-10).
Popes claim to
be apostles. To be an authentic apostle, he must demonstrate
his apostleship by performing signs, wonders, and miracles. "The
things that mark an apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were
done among you with great perseverance" (Paul, 2
Cor. 12:12).
So unless a pope is able to effect supernatural signs, wonders, and
miracles, he cannot be an apostle. Pope John Paul might have performed
counterfeit miracles, but the Vatican will try hard to manufacture and
invent and devise bona-fide miracles. Their efforts will be futile.
And what about
this "saint" question? Again, we see the Roman
Hierarchy devising laws that God did not author, for if a believer is
not a saint before death, he will not be a saint after death.
The term "saint"
in the scriptures does not carry the idea of perfection,
impeccability, flawless excellence, or place one in a spiritual
celebrity status. The core definition of "saint"
refers to one who has been sanctified or set apart
to serve the God of creation.
Every living
believer is a saint. And not once did any apostle write
a letter to dead saints! Their letters were written to
living saints. Allow me to demonstrate.
"To the congregation of God in Corinth, to those sanctified [or made to be saints] in
Christ Jesus..." (1 Cor.
1:2). "To
the congregation of God in Corinth, together with all the saints
throughout Achaia" (2
Cor. 1:1). "To
the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 1:1). "To all the saints
in Christ Jesus at Philippi" (Phil.
1:1).
All of these
statements were addressed to living saints. To show you how
deceptive the Vatican and her clergy are, I have before me The
Catholic Living Bible. The term "saints" in all of
the above passages has been deleted. Why? Because to include them
would be a direct contradiction of Catholic doctrine, which says that
one cannot be a saint until he passes on.
In closing this
weekend edition, I say to my Catholic
friends and readers: Place your allegiance in and
give your loyalty to Jesus only. You don't need religion. You need a relationship.
A good, strong relationship with the Man called Jesus will save you in
the end.
Your pope cannot save you, nor forgive you. Your church
cannot deliver you to paradise. No church can accomplish that feat.
But Jesus can! Be neither Catholic nor Protestant. Be a Christian
only, but not the only Christian. Only then will you experience
freedom in Jesus. Trust me, I know—"been there, done that."
(written by
Buff Scott Jr)
Sounds right to me.
