by Dr. Ken Lawson

(All emphases added by Dr. Lawson)

The Roman Catholic Position:

Source: The New Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism, 1969.

p. 162 What is the Holy Eucharist?

The Holy Eucharist is a sacrament and a sacrifice. In the Holy Eucharist, under the appearance of bread and wine, the Lord Christ is contained, offered, and received.

p. 166 Why does Christ give us His own body and blood in the Holy Eucharist?

Christ gives us His own body and blood in the Holy Eucharist:

First, to be offered as a sacrifice commemorating and renewing for all time the sacrifice of the cross.

p. 168 What is the Mass?

The Mass is the sacrifice of the New Law in which Christ, through the ministry of the priest, offers Himself to God in an unbloody manner under the appearances of bread and wine.

p. 171 The Mass- The Perfect Sacrifice

The Mass continues the sacrifice of the cross. Each time Mass is offered, the sacrifice of Christ is repeated. A new sacrifice is not offered, but by divine power, one and the same sacrifice is repeated.

The Biblical Position:

Source: Confraternity Revision of the Bible, 1966.

Romans 6:9-10 "Knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more; Death has no more dominion over Him. For in that He died, He died unto sin once; But in that He now lives, He lives unto God."

Hebrews 7:27 [Christ] "does not need daily . . . to offer up sacrifice . . . for this He did once, when He offered up Himself"

Hebrews 9:12 " . . . By His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, to obtain eternal redemption for us.".

Hebrews 9:25-26 "Christ should not have to offer Himself often . . . but now once . . . He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself"

Hebrews 9:28 "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to those who look to Him, He shall appear a second time without sin unto salvation."

Hebrews 10:10 "We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus once for all. "

I Peter 3:18 "Christ has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He will bring us to God."

Conclusions:

1. The traditions endorsed by the Church of Rome contradict and oppose the very teachings of the Apostles as found in the Roman Catholic Bible. The position of Christ being "continually sacrificed" in the Mass is opposite the Bible teaching of Christ "once offered" for sin. The positions are incompatible.

2. Since a fundamental principle of Christianity is the once for all finished sacrifice for sin made by Christ on the cross, it appears that the Church of Rome is in question as to whether it is a Christian institution at all.

3. Since salvation from sin is based solely on Christ's once for all death on the cross, Roman Catholics are in need of coming to Christ alone for salvation. An essential aspect of evangelism toward Catholics is pointing out to them the finished work of Christ on the cross as compared to the never ending need for the Roman Mass to be observed.

4. Ask your Roman Catholic friends, "How many Masses must be said for you to enter into Heaven?" Since the number can never be known, this is a perfect opportunity to point them to Jesus, Who said on the cross, -"It is Finished."

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