The Bible declares repeatedly that salvation is not of works and not by the deeds of the law, yet Rome insists that salvation is indeed through works in obedience to its 'new law.'  Vatican II declares that 'preaching the gospel,' a task of the bishops, is to help all men 'attain to salvation through faith, baptism, and the observance of the commandments' instead of salvation by faith alone, as the Bible states.  Vatican II declares 'that God Himself has made known to the human race how men by serving Him can be saved.'

     The most important part of 'serving Him' and 'observance of the commandments' for salvation involves participation in the sacraments, principally baptism and the mass.  The long work of salvation is begun through baptism and continues for life through participation in other sacraments, good works, and suffering.  The Catholic is never certain of the outcome or how long it will take.  One hopes not to die in mortal sin, which sends the soul not to purgatory, but to hell, from which there is no escape.

     The Catholic Church affirms that a 'repentant sinner' is justified by 'grace'.  That sounds Biblical and deceives many.  Though the words may be the same as evangelicals use, the Catholic meaning is entirely different.  The church insists that a 'repentant sinner' who has been justified by 'grace' must still suffer to be 'purged' of his sins, either here or in purgatory, and most likely in both.  That dogma denies the sufficiency of Christ's suffering for sin upon the cross.  It is a false gospel, which Paul cursed (Galatians 1:8 ).

     Grace cannot be granted on the basis of a mere book keeping entry in Heaven, but by the debt having been paid in full by Christ: 'being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus' (Romans 3:24).  The Catholic gospel of salvation by works and ritual stands in the fullest opposition to God's grace.  It is, in fact, a rejection of God's offer of salvation by grace though faith in what Christ has done.  It requires that Christ's sacrifice be supplemented by our works and/or suffering.

     The gospel that we must believe to be saved is called 'the gospel of the grace of God' (Acts 20:24) because 'by grace are ye saved.'  Grace by its very nature excludes works.  Paul argues: 'If by grace, then is it no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace.  But if it be of works, then is it no more grace; otherwise work is no more work (Romans 11:6)."   One cannot earn, merit, or pay for grace or else it would no longer be grace.  Salvation can only be received from God as a gift of his grace by those who admit they neither deserve it nor can do anything to earn or merit it.

     To earn salvation, some priests and nuns put stones in their shoes, wear haircloth shirts, and flagellate themselves even today.  Go to any Catholic country on church holidays, and see penitents beating themselves, pilgrims crawling upon their knees toward some Marian shrine, others staggering under heavy crosses, and still others hoping to better their chances of salvation by purchasing candles to burn before an image of 'our lady' of this or that or some other 'saint'.  In some places, such as the Philippines, a few zealots even have themselves nailed to crosses to hang in agony for a time to pay at least part of the price for their own salvation and for others as well.  Far from rebuking these efforts, Rome encourages them.

     Catholicism employs many Biblical words [grace, redemption, salvation, etc.], but with an unbiblical meaning.  Catholicism affirms that Christ is the only begotten Son of God, one with the Father, who died for our sins, rose the third day, and will return to earth to reign.  To that truth, however, have been added dogmas, which pervert the gospel.  Ignorant of these additions, many evangelicals think Catholics are Christians and pass that delusion on to others.

     The Pope claims to be infallible, and therefore the church through him as its head, also claims infallibility.  Ordinary Catholics must not question anything that the Pope or the church have to say concerning faith and morals.  The councils and catechisms have for centuries declared the need for such total submission, and they still insist upon it today.  Few Catholics know that Popes quarreled and fought with one another, excommunicated one another, and sometimes even killed each other.  It is difficult to find even a few Popes after the fifth century who have exhibited the basic Christian virtues.  Their lives as recorded in the Catholic encyclopedia read like an unbeliever's soap opera of lust, madness, mayhem and murder.  Nevertheless, all of these master criminals, poisoners, adulterers, and mass murderers are considered to have been infallible when they spoke ex cathedra-that is, when they made dogmatic pronouncements upon faith and morals to the whole church.

Contrary to what Roman Catholics are taught, the Papal office did not originate with Peter.  Bishop of Lyons [178-200], provided a list of the first 12 bishops of Rome.  Linus was the first.  Peter's name does not appear.  Eusebius of Calsaria, the father of church history, never mentions Peter as bishop of Rome.  He simply says that Peter came to Rome 'about the end of his days' and was crucified there.  Paul, in writing his epistle to the Romans, greets many people by name, but not Peter.  The simple truth is that the Roman Catholic Church itself, with all of its archives, cannot verify an accurate and complete list of the Popes.  The alleged 'unbroken line of succession back to Peter' is therefore a mere fiction.

     A further example can be found when, in 896, Pope Stephan VII had the corpse of the previous Pope Formosus [891-896] exhumed eight months after burial.  Dressed in his former Papal vestments and propped on a throne in the council chamber, the cadaver of Formosus was 'tried' and found guilty of having crowned as emperor one of Charlemagne's many illegitimate descendants.  (In fact, there have been a number of Popes who were themselves the illegitimate sons of previous Popes.  They were thus illicit claimants to the alleged throne of Peter and therefore hardly capable of passing on their successors apostolic authority.)  Having been condemned by Pope Stephen VII, the former Pope Formosus's corpse was stripped, the three fingers of benediction on the right hand were hacked off, and the remains thrown to the mob outside, who dragged them through the streets and threw them in the Tiber river.  Pope Stephen VII then declared all of Formosus's ordinations invalid, creating a most serious problem which haunts the Roman Catholic church to this day.  Namely, there is still the question of which priests, bishops, et al, down to the present time may be in the line of those ordained by Formosus and are therefore without genuine apostolic authority.  Pope Paul IV declared 'By the plenitude of Papal power' that all of the acts of heretical Popes were null and void.  That infallible declaration leaves 'apostolic succession' in ruins.

     The Roman Catholic Church is by far the wealthiest institution on earth, most of Rome's wealth has been acquired through the sale of salvation.  Untold billions of dollars have been paid to the Church by those who thought they were purchasing heaven on the installment plan for themselves or for their loved ones.  The practice continues to this day.  While it is less obvious here in the United States, this practice of purchasing salvation is rather blatant in places where Catholicism is in control.  No greater deception or abomination could be perpetrated.  Christ and his disciples lived in poverty.  He told his followers not to lay up treasure on this earth but in heaven.  The Roman Catholic Church has disobeyed that command and has accumulated a plethora of riches without equal, of which the Roman Pontiff is the supreme administrator and steward.

    [flash=200,200]http:// Pagan Rome made sport of throwing Christians to the lions, burning, and otherwise killing thousands of Christians and not a few Jews.  Yet 'Christian' Rome slaughtered many times that number of both Christians and Jews.  Besides those victims of the inquisition, there were the Huguenots, Albigeses, Waldenses, and other Christians who were massacred, tortured, and burned at the stake by the hundreds of thousands, simply because they refused to align themselves with the Roman Catholic Church with its corruption and heretical dogmatic practices.  Unable to ignore their consciences, these victims tried to follow the teachings of Christ and the apostles independent of Rome, and for that crime they were maligned, hunted, imprisoned, tortured, and slain. [/flash] Try to imagine being suddenly arrested in the middle of the night and taken to an unknown location kept secret from family and friends.  You are not told the charges against you, nor the identity of your accusers, who remain unknown and thus immune from any examination to discover whether they are telling the truth.  Whatever the accusation, it is accepted as fact and you are guilty without trial.  The 'trial' will be by the most ingeniously painful torture that continues until you confess to that unnamed crime or heresy of which you have been accused.  Imagine the torment of dislocated joints, torn and seared flesh, internal injuries, broken bones on the rack and other devices, mended by doctors so they could be torn asunder again by fresh torture.  Still, no matter what you confess, it never fits the secret accusation, so the torture continues until at last you expire from the unbearable trauma.  Such was the fate of millions.  These were real people: mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters-all with hopes and dreams, passions and feelings, and many with a faith that could not be broken by torture or fire.  Remember that this terror, this evil of such grand proportion that it is unimaginable today, was carried on for centuries in the name of Christ by the command of those who claimed to be the vicars of Christ.  They are still honored with that title by this church, which has never admitted that the inquisitions were wrong.  She has not repented or apologized, and she dares to pose today as the supreme teacher and example of morals and truth.  Remember also that the doctrines which supported the inquisitions remain in force within the Roman Catholic Church even at the present time.

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How do know of bad popes if not that thesame church admitted to it. they have been many bad popes, priest and bishops just like we have many bad pastors, men, women, people in general but are we to judge? I never knew Frosbel was a god to determine who is good are who is bad. The fact that we have bad pastors does it mean all pastors are bad? the fact that we have corrupt politicians does it mean that all politicians are corrupt. frosbel, you talk and criticize like you are a saint. Yes you without sin that is why you call others sinners. Saint Frosbel. Give it up loser, the more you condemn the church the more it grows"let him who is without sin be the first to throw a stone". Just do what you think is right and leave the rest for God on the last day. Who knows you may be right or I may be right but one thing is certain we all are HUMANS (the pope, myself, frosbel and all)

lucenzo:

How do know of bad popes if not that thesame church admitted to it. they have been many bad popes, priest and bishops just like we have many bad pastors, men, women, people in general but are we to judge? I never knew Frosbel was a god to determine who is good are who is bad. The fact that we have bad pastors does it mean all pastors are bad? the fact that we have corrupt politicians does it mean that all politicians are corrupt. frosbel, you talk and criticize like you are a saint. Yes you without sin that is why you call others sinners. Saint Frosbel. Give it up loser, the more you condemn the church the more it grows"let him who is without sin be the first to throw a stone". Just do what you think is right and leave the rest for God on the last day. Who knows you may be right or I may be right but one thing is certain we all are HUMANS (the pope, myself, frosbel and all)

instead of insulting him like most catholics do, refute his arguments logically and we will accept them if sensible otherwise shut it.

The Catholic church has been a mess to since i became an adult. They are alien to the doctrines Jesus preached.

The Bible declares repeatedly that salvation is not of works and not by the deeds of the law, yet Rome insists that salvation is indeed through works in obedience to its 'new law.'

My friend stop deceiveing yourself.Indeed sts Paul did preach justificaton by faith alone as against the pharisees who were trying to become justified by the jewish la.But the works St Paul had in mind was simply observance of he jewish law.

St James inbis epistle ststed plainly that faith without works is dead.You mean to tell me that simply verbally professing Jesus as Lord and saviour will save u? well Jesus has this to say to you

Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44“Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ 45“Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46“These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

The Catholic Church affirms that a 'repentant sinner' is justified by 'grace'. That sounds Biblical and deceives many. Though the words may be the same as evangelicals use, the Catholic meaning is entirely different. The church insists that a 'repentant sinner' who has been justified by 'grace' must still suffer to be 'purged' of his sins, either here or in purgatory, and most likely in both. That dogma denies the sufficiency of Christ's suffering for sin upon the cross. It is a false gospel, which Paul cursed (Galatians 1:8 ).

Mr man I know you are doing copy and paste but try and understand catholic doctrine b4 pasting nonsesnse.The boldened portion is not a teaching of the catholic church.

The Pope claims to be infallible, and therefore the church through him as its head, also claims infallibility. Ordinary Catholics must not question anything that the Pope or the church have to say concerning faith and morals. The councils and catechisms have for centuries declared the need for such total submission, and they still insist upon it today. Few Catholics know that Popes quarreled and fought with one another, excommunicated one another, and sometimes even killed each other. It is difficult to find even a few Popes after the fifth century who have exhibited the basic Christian virtues. Their lives as recorded in the Catholic encyclopedia read like an unbeliever's soap opera of lust, madness, mayhem and murder. Nevertheless, all of these master criminals, poisoners, adulterers, and mass murderers are considered to have been infallible when they spoke ex cathedra-that is, when they made dogmatic pronouncements upon faith and morals to the whole church.

I would also like you to study the church teacings on papal infalliblity,which does not mean the pope cannot commit sins.The dogma in question has only been invoked once in the history of the cathholc church.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_infallibility

Contrary to what Roman Catholics are taught, the Papal office did not originate with Peter. Bishop of Lyons [178-200], provided a list of the first 12 bishops of Rome. Linus was the first. Peter's name does not appear. Eusebius of Calsaria, the father of church history, never mentions Peter as bishop of Rome. He simply says that Peter came to Rome 'about the end of his days' and was crucified there. Paul, in writing his epistle to the Romans, greets many people by name, but not Peter. The simple truth is that the Roman Catholic Church itself, with all of its archives, cannot verify an accurate and complete list of the Popes. The alleged 'unbroken line of succession back to Peter' is therefore a mere fiction

This is what st Ireneaus the bishop of lyons wrote in his second century classic against heresis


The blessed Apostles, then, founded and built up the church in Rome. They committed the office of bishop into the hands of Linus. Of this, Linus, Paul makes mention in the Epistles to Timothy. To him succeeded Anacletus. After him, in the third place from the Apostles, Clement was allotted the office of bishop." St. Irenaeus ("Against All Heresies," c. 180 A.D.)

But since it would take too long to set out here the successions of all the churches, we shall turn to that great, ancient and universally known church founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles Peter and Paul, and we shall show that the tradition it has received of the apostles and the faith that it preaches to men has come down to our time through the regular succession of its bishops; and thus we shall confute all those who, in whatever way, whether by self-complacency, vainglory, blindness or error, enter into unauthorized assemblies. For it is with this Roman church, by reason of its more powerful pre-eminence that every other church, that is to say all the faithful everywhere, ought to agree, inasmuch as in this church the apostolic tradition has been preserved continuously by those who come from everywhere." St. Irenaeus ("Against All Heresies," c. 180 A.D

Cornelius was made bishop by the judgment of God and of His Christ. This was by the testimony of almost all the clergy, by the election of the people who were then present, and by the assembly of ancient priests and good men, This occurred when the place of Fabian, that is, when the place of Peter and the degree of the priestly chair, was vacant." St. Cyprian Of Carthage ("Epistle 53 to Antonius," c. 250 A.D.)

"On him (Peter) He builds the Church, and to him He gives the command to feed the sheep, and although He assigns a like power to all the apostles, yet He founded a single chair (cathedra), and He established by His own authority a source and an intrinsic reason for that unity, If someone does not hold fast to this unity of Peter, can he imagine that he still holds the faith? If he (should) desert the chair of Peter upon whom the Church was built, can he still be confident that he is in the Church?" St. Cyprian Of Carthage ("On the Unity of the Catholic Church," 251 A.D.)

"[T]his is the way in which the apostolic churches transmit their lists: like the church of the Smyrneans, which records that Polycarp was placed there by John, like the church of the Romans, where Clement was ordained by Peter" (Demurrer Against the Heretics 32:2 [A.D. 200]). -Tertullian of carthage
Cyprian of Carthage

"The Lord says to Peter: ‘I say to you,’ he says, ‘that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it. . . . ’ [Matt. 16:18]. On him [Peter] he builds the Church, and to him he gives the command to feed the sheep [John 21:17], and although he assigns a like power to all the apostles, yet he founded a single chair [cathedra], and he established by his own authority a source and an intrinsic reason for that unity. . . . If someone [today] does not hold fast to this unity of Peter, can he imagine that he still holds the faith? If he [should] desert the chair of Peter upon whom the Church was built, can he still be confident that he is in the Church?" (The Unity of the Catholic Church 4; first edition [A.D. 251]).


Victor . . . was the thirteenth bishop of Rome from Peter" (The Little Labyrinth [A.D. 211], in Eusebius, Church History 5:28:3).

My friend stop deceiveing yourself.Indeed sts Paul did preach justificaton by faith alone as against the pharisees who were trying to become justified by the jewish la.But the works St Paul had in mind was simply observance of he jewish law.

St James inbis epistle ststed plainly that faith without works is dead.You mean to tell me that simply verbally professing Jesus as Lord and saviour will save u? well Jesus has this to say to you

Faith without the work of repentance from dead works is useless we agree.

But we are saved by :

1. Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and that he died for our sins
2. Agreeing with God's word that we have sinned against him
3. Repenting of our sins
4. Asking for the Holy Spirit of GOD
5. Living a righteous live by the GRACE of GOD.


This is not so with the Catholics, who MUST pray to MARY, Dead saints, use candles, incense, visit Mary apparitions, bow before statues , sprinkling of Holy water and all sorts of abominable and perverse activities.

Mr man I know you are doing copy and paste but try and understand catholic doctrine b4 pasting nonsesnse.The boldened portion is not a teaching of the catholic church.

I was a catholic, so please don't even start. I know about the faith possibly a bit more than you may imagine.

I would also like you to study the church teacings on papal infalliblity,which does not mean the pope cannot commit sins.The dogma in question has only been invoked once in the history of the cathholc church.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_infallibility

The pope is not Christ's representative on earth, we ALL are who are called Christians BUT Jesus Christ is the head of the church. The position of pope together with its diabolical practices is an abomination to the almighty GOD.

The blessed Apostles, then, founded and built up the church in Rome.  They committed the office of bishop into the hands of Linus.  Of this, Linus, Paul makes mention in the Epistles to Timothy.  To him succeeded Anacletus.  After him, in the third place from the Apostles, Clement was allotted the office of bishop."  St. Irenaeus ("Against All Heresies," c. 180 A.D.)

Lies, there were churches in Rome, Ephesus, Corinth, Sardis etc etc. But these were not so called physical structures, these were people who made the BODY of Christ who is the HEAD of the church.

Really sad that the vatican today was built on the back of indulgences for the forgiveness of sins centuries ago. What a sham, using the money of the poor to erect man-made towers of babel.

But since it would take too long to set out here the successions of all the churches, we shall turn to that great, ancient and universally known church founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles Peter and Paul, and we shall show that the tradition it has received of the apostles and the faith that it preaches to men has come down to our time through the regular succession of its bishops; and thus we shall confute all those who, in whatever way, whether by self-complacency, vainglory, blindness or error, enter into unauthorized assemblies.  For it is with this Roman church, by reason of its more powerful pre-eminence that every other church, that is to say all the faithful everywhere, ought to agree, inasmuch as in this church the apostolic tradition has been preserved continuously by those who come from everywhere."  St. Irenaeus ("Against All Heresies," c. 180 A.D

Peter as proven by history never went to Rome talk less of building a church. And by the way the true church was built on the foundational knowledge that Jesus Christ was the corner stone, the foundation and not Peter as falsely stated by the catholic church.

The catholic church ( and I will shortly provide ample proof ) is simply a continuation of the false religious mixture of compromised christian practices with the pagan culture of Rome. e.g Queen of heaven ( a pagan roman goddess ) now revered as 'mary'.

Cornelius was made bishop by the judgment of God and of His Christ.  This was by the testimony of almost all the clergy, by the election of the people who were then present, and by the assembly of ancient priests and good men,   This occurred when the place of Fabian, that is, when the place of Peter and the degree of the priestly chair, was vacant."  St. Cyprian Of Carthage ("Epistle 53 to Antonius," c. 250 A.D.)

Where is it in the bible ? lol. You keep quoting made up historical documents.

"On him (Peter) He builds the Church, and to him He gives the command to feed the sheep, and although He assigns a like power to all the apostles, yet He founded a single chair (cathedra), and He established by His own authority a source and an intrinsic reason for that unity,   If someone does not hold fast to this unity of Peter, can he imagine that he still holds the faith?  If he (should) desert the chair of Peter upon whom the Church was built, can he still be confident that he is in the Church?"  St. Cyprian Of Carthage ("On the Unity of the Catholic Church," 251 A.D.)

One common lie by catholics.

Sorry , the church was built on the revealed knowledge to Peter, that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God.

"[T]his is the way in which the apostolic churches transmit their lists: like the church of the Smyrneans, which records that Polycarp was placed there by John, like the church of the Romans, where Clement was ordained by Peter" (Demurrer Against the Heretics 32:2 [A.D. 200]). -Tertullian of carthage
Cyprian of Carthage

Explain what church means to you.

Faith without the work of repentance from dead works is useless we agree.

since you agree why did you go ahead to paste this nonsence thread.

This is not so with the Catholics, who MUST pray to MARY, Dead saints, use candles, incense, visit Mary apparitions, bow before statues , sprinkling of Holy water and all sorts of abominable and perverse activities

you are deluded

I was a catholic, so please don't even start. I know about the faith possibly a bit more than you may imagine.

you obviously never undestood the church doctrine but was merely a church goer.

The pope is not Christ's representative on earth, we ALL are who are called Christians BUT Jesus Christ is the head of the church. The position of pope together with its diabolical practices is an abomination to the almighty GOD.

The papacy was instituted by Jesus himself on simon peter

You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18).
whenn he was about to ascend in the gospel of John he handed over his flock to peter asking him to take care of his sheep .

Peter as proven by history never went to Rome talk less of building a church. And by the way the true church was built on the foundational knowledge that Jesus Christ was the corner stone, the foundation and not Peter as falsely stated by the catholic church.

I ve provided concrete historical proof to prove that peter was in the church of Rome yet he you stand ranting without making anyattempt to provide any historical writing in the first four centuries to disclaim my assertions.

Where is it in the bible ? lol. You keep quoting made up historical documents

you are making me laugh ,how did you think the bible came about.For your information the bible did not exist until it was created by these same church fathers you are now trying to discredit in the fourth century CE. even d bible and the authourship of all the four gospel has no biblical basis as the were anonymous writings which were only named by the catholic church

LoveKing: The Catholic church has been a mess to since i became an adult. They are alien to the doctrines Jesus preached.

well said

[size=16pt]What exactly is the meaning of salvation?[/size]

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is an illustration of salvation. The prodigal son thought that he was better off on his own; away from the father. So, he demanded that the father give him his own inheritance and the father obliged him. He took off and began to enjoy his inheritance. Unfortunately, it wasn't long before his inheritance finished. The Parable of the Prodigal Son is illustrative of what Adam did. He copied Satan and followed a path that disconnected him from God. The life of God (the Anointing) that he enjoyed in the Garden of God eventually got depleted. Since he was no longer connected to God, there was no way to replenish the divine life. Soon enough, diseases and other problems of this world came and he died. He died within the 1,000-year day in which he ate the forbidden fruit.

God gave we descendants of Adam the opportunity to get back to Him, through Jesus Christ. Getting back to God (receiving the Spirit of God) is what salvation is all about. Possession of the Spirit of God gives us the potential to be free from sin and death. Without freedom from sin, our nearness to God (possession of the Holy Spirit) cannot last. Sin grieves the Holy Spirit.

Ep. 4:22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
Ep. 4:23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
Ep. 4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ep. 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour, for we are all members of one body.
Ep. 4:26 “In your anger do not sin”: [Psalm 4:4] Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
Ep. 4:27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
Ep. 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
Ep. 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ep. 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Ep. 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.


Coming to the topic of this thread, people need to realize that the Roman Catholic Church took over from the Early Church. They inherited the teachings of the Early Church; however, a lot of the teachings of the Early Church were misunderstood by the Europeans who took over the Church from the Jews. Hence, you will see some truth in the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, but most of the truth is misrepresented, due to misunderstanding.

The Roman Catholic Church is right in their teaching that good works is necessary for salvation; salvation here meaning nearness to God. Without holiness no man can be near to God (Mt 5:3, Heb 12:14). Do not mind those who say that once saved (that is near to God) always saved (that is, always near to God). People who talk about the doctrine of eternal security have never experienced God; they only talk about God. A person who has experience of nearness to God knows what sin can do to nearness to God. Experience is the best teacher.

Where the RCC goes wrong in its doctrines is that they view spiritual principles from the worldly (or fleshly) point of view. For example, people condemn the RCC for their doctrine of purgatory. The doctrine of purgatory may not be wrong after all; but the purging of sins from dead saints is a purely spiritual matter and not a matter of floggings and fleshly pain. In the same way, doing acts of holiness is not something that a person does by his/her power, but something that a person has to do by the power of the Holy Spirit.