Why We Believe

Priests are a group in the church set aside to minister to the needs of believers and mediate before God for them.

All believers are priests before God. (Romans 12:1, 1 Timothy 2:1) Jesus mediates on our behalf (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:23-25)

Authority is based on the Bible and Church tradition as interpreted by the pope and church leadership

Authority is based on Scripture alone. Scripture is interpreted by itself. (2 Timothy 3:15, 16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21)

There are seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders, Marriage, Penance, Eucharist, Extreme Unction (anointing the sick) of which are means utilized by the individual to achieve salvation.

Two ordinances are recognized: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the identification of the believer in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. The Lord’s Supper memorializes the breaking of Christ’s body and the shedding of blood for our salvation. (1 Peter3:21; 1 Corinthians 10:16)

Part of the authority in the Roman Catholic Church. It includes church councils and papal pronouncements

Tradition can help in interpretation, but is not authoritative as is the Bible. (cf. references on Authority)

An honoring of people in the church’s history including Mary, the mother of Jesus. These people can be prayed to for blessing and favors. Mary is the Mother of God and co-mediatrix between God, Jesus and men

Only God is to be worshipped and venerated. There are no special class of believers over other believers. (Psalm 81:9; Luke 4:8; Revelation 19:10)

The Romanist uses 1 Corinthians 3:11-13 to argue for a period of time or state of being when believers are purged from their sins after death to prepare for heaven. Believers do not go directly to heaven.

The biblical Christian uses 1 Corinthians 3:11-13 and 1 Corinthians 5:10 to argue for a judgment seat to rule on our rewards, not on the state of our salvation. Believers go directly to be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

Justification is a process that begins with the work of Christ on the cross, is provided to the believer with baptism and is completed through the practice of the sacraments as prescribed by the Roman Church.

Justification is made available by the grace of God at the cross through the faith of the believer. Grace is imputed when the believer first believes. Sanctification is the process that makes the believer more like Christ throughout the believer’s lifetime. (Romans 3:8,26, 30; 4:5; Galatians 3:8)

Dispensed through the church to individuals for salvation. The combined efforts of all the saints are added to the merits of Christ’s work on the cross available to the believer (Colossians 1:24).

Solely administered to the believer through the work of Christ shedding His blood on the cross. (cf. references on Justification)

牧师是教会中的一班人，专门服务于信徒的需要，并在神面前为他们进行调解。

所有信徒都是神面前的祭司。 （罗马书12：1，提摩太前书2：1）耶稣为我们调解（提摩太前书2：5;希伯来书7：23-25）

权威是建立在圣经和教会传统的基础上，由教皇和教会领导层解释

权威仅基于圣经。 圣经是自己解释的。 （2提摩太3:15，16; 2彼得1:20，21）

有七个圣礼：洗礼，确认，圣旨，婚姻，悔，圣体圣事，至尊大赦（膏药病人），是个人用来实现救恩的手段。

公认有两个法令：洗礼和主的晚餐。 洗礼是对基督的死，葬礼和复活信徒的认同。 主的晚餐纪念了基督的身体的破碎和为我们的救赎而流血。 （彼得前书3:21;哥林多前书10:16）

罗马天主教的权威的一部分。 它包括教堂理事会和教皇的宣告

传统可以帮助解释，但不像圣经那样权威。 （请参阅授权参考

纪念教会历史上的人们，包括耶稣的母亲玛丽。 可以祈求这些人的祝福和恩惠。 玛丽是上帝的母亲，是上帝，耶稣和人类之间的共同中介。

应当敬拜和尊敬只有上帝。 与其他信徒相比，没有特别的信徒阶层。 （诗篇81：9;路加福音4：8;启示录19:10

罗马天主教徒使用哥林多前书3：11-13并争论一段时间，即信徒去世后从罪恶中解脱出来，为天堂做准备。 信徒们不会直接去天堂。

圣经的基督徒使用哥林多前书3：11-13和哥林多前书5:10来争辩一个审判席位，以统治我们的报酬，而不是我们的得救状态。 信徒直接与主同在（帖撒罗尼迦前书4:17)

称义是一个从洗礼开始并贯穿一生的过程。 称义始于基督的工作，并通过罗马教会规定的圣礼的实践而完成。

借着信徒的信仰，上帝的恩典在十字架上可以使人称义。 当信徒第一次相信时，恩典就被推定了。 成圣是使信徒一生中更像基督的过程。 （罗马书3：8,26，30; 4：5;加拉太书3：8）

通过教会分配给个人进行救赎。 所有圣徒的共同努力，加上基督在十字架上所做工作的优点（歌罗西书1：24）。

通过基督在十字架上流血的工作，对信徒实行唯一管理。 （请参阅有关证明的参考）