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OR the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:18-32)
The Pontiff of Rome has more convincingly earned for himself, with credible logic, the moniker of ‘anti-Christ’ (if any doubt remained) in his most recent disavowal of clearly stated biblical morals – in fact, standing the counsel of Holy Writ on its head – by his advocacy of what he terms ‘civil unions’ for practicing homosexuals. “Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God,” Francis said in an interview for the documentary "Francesco." “What we have to have is a civil union law; that way they are legally covered.” Homosexuality is a grave sin, and those who practice the sin are NOT the Children of God, but of the Devil. “41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:41-44)
The underlined portions in the text above from John 8 perfectly describe “the little horn” of Rome – Francis.
I remember the tired old idiom, All Roads Lead to Rome[1], arrogantly proclaimed by my Roman Catholic friends. The term arose from the road system of the Roman Empire which was the central convergence of all Roman roads constructed by the Empire. It later came to refer to the Roman Catholic Church, and rightly so, since that church represents the mammon of Caesar more than any other. All roads of Catholicism may lead to Rome, but certainly not to the Gates of Heaven. There is only One Way that leads to salvation and that Way is Jesus Christ.
I make frequent trips to Atlanta from southern Alabama. My community is surrounded by a network of roads – many beginning in a northerly direction toward Atlanta, but either stop short, or swerve off-course prior to that destination. To be sure of getting to Atlanta, I must take I-85 in order to be assured of getting to Atlanta.
But the road to Heaven is even more restrictive than any choice of roads – it is limited to the Narrow Way laid out by our Lord Jesus Christ and not some, golden-robed, tin-horned saint in a dark chamber in Rome.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Words of Jesus, John 14:6
The pope of Rome feels absolutely comfortable in contradicting and defying the Word of God and claiming an holy mandate in so doing. He is no representative of God on earth – that representative is Jesus Christ – the Lord is my Bishop and the Bishop and High Priest of all who claim His grace and mercy. “ 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
On the obverse side of the Roman coin would be the over-judgmentalism demonstrated by many Protestant Christians concerning the abject sin of sexual perversion. No sin is beyond the scope of our Lord’s forgiveness other than that of a constant rejection of the Holy Ghost and its counsel. If a person who is an admitted homosexual comes to my church, I will in no wise refuse him admittance. The sinner comes to church for a reason. But I will not satisfy his perversions by giving comfort to him in his sins. Can God forgive such a person and change the very course of their lives? YES, He can do so! He has done so for everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Note the below text from Paul:
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NOW ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (I Corinthians 6:9-11)
Note that there were SOME among the audience to whom Paul spoke who had practiced all those sins listed – including sexual perversion. But now their sins had been washed clean by the redeeming Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I love my Roman Catholic friends in spite of the grave errors taught by their man-run church. I believe many love the Lord and are His children by faith. But their testimony could be made so much stronger and valid were they to recognize the evils of the man who declares counsel in contradiction with the Word of God and His Book. I urge them to lay aside all superstitions with which they have been deceived and go to the very source of the Fountain of the Waters of Life rather than drinking downstream (i.e. from Rome) where the feet of men and beasts have muddied the waters.
