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Writer's pictureMichelle Hayman

Preserving the Pure: The Call to Uphold God's Unchangeable Word

The Bible explicitly warns against adding to or taking away from God’s Word, a principle that directly challenges many practices introduced by the Catholic Church. In Deuteronomy 4:2, God commands,

“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.”

This instruction is reaffirmed in Revelation 22:18-19, where it is written,


“If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life...”


This strong warning underscores the importance of preserving God’s Word unchanged.


However, certain practices of the Catholic Church appear to diverge from biblical teachings, and this raises questions about their claims to sanctify individuals through the sacraments. The Church’s assertion that it can confer sanctification via the Holy Spirit through rituals like penance or the Eucharist seems to introduce concepts that are not supported by Scripture. Sanctification, as shown in the Bible, is the work of God alone, accomplished through faith and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, not through human rituals or religious offices (see Romans 15:16 and 1 Corinthians 6:11).


Changing the Sabbath and Altering God’s Commands


One notable example of deviation is the Catholic Church's change of the Sabbath. The Bible clearly states in Exodus 20:8-11 that the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, is to be kept holy. However, the Catholic Church claims that it has the authority to transfer the observance of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. While this change was not decreed by Christ or found in the New Testament, the Church bases its authority on apostolic tradition. One notable quote is from the Catholic Record in 1923, which declared,


“The church is above the Bible, and this observance is proof of that fact.”


It emphasizes the belief that the Catholic Church has the authority to make such changes, indicating that the transfer of the Sabbath to Sunday is a mark of ecclesiastical power.

​Yet, Isaiah 66:23 speaks of worship on the Sabbath even in the new heavens and earth, suggesting the Sabbath remains significant beyond this present age.


Isn’t it astonishing how some individuals believe they stand above our divine Creator? This mindset mirrors the arrogance of Satan, who sought to elevate himself above God. Such a perspective is profoundly troubling, as it reflects a lack of humility and an overestimation of human authority. This arrogance can lead to a dangerous distortion of spiritual truth, suggesting that humans have the right to redefine or challenge divine commandments. The implications of this mindset echo throughout history, warning us of the pitfalls of pride and the need for reverence towards God.


This alteration raises significant questions. How can the Church claim to sanctify others by the Holy Spirit while altering one of God's explicit commandments? James 2:10 says,


“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”


This makes it clear that breaking even one of God's commandments is equivalent to breaking the entire law. By changing the Sabbath, the Church appears to disregard a key part of God’s law, which is problematic given that sanctification is about aligning believers with God's will.


Another significant issue is the Church's handling of the Second Commandment, which forbids idolatry. Exodus 20:4-5 commands,

“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image… Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them...”

However, the Catholic Church has historically downplayed this commandment in its teachings, especially regarding the veneration of saints and images of Mary. While the Church differentiates between veneration (dulia) and worship (latria), this distinction is not clearly made in Scripture.


By encouraging the intercession of saints and Mary, the Church appears to promote a practice that the Bible describes as idolatry. In 1 Timothy 2:5, it is declared,


“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”


This directly contradicts the idea of seeking intercession from saints or Mary, as it establishes Christ as the sole mediator. The Bible repeatedly emphasizes that turning to any figure other than God for help or worship is idolatry.


The Inconsistency of Adding Practices Contrary to Scripture


The addition of these practices—changing the Sabbath, omitting or altering the Second Commandment, and seeking the intercession of saints and Mary—creates an inconsistency in the Catholic Church's claim to sanctify believers through the Holy Spirit. The Bible makes it clear that sanctification is a spiritual, inward transformation done by God through His Spirit, not by human mediation or ritualistic observances. By adding or modifying practices contrary to Scripture, the Church seems to contradict the very basis of sanctification, which is alignment with God’s Word and commands.


In essence, if the Church is willing to modify or reinterpret God's clear commandments, how can it claim the authority to mediate sanctification, a process that is divinely ordained and rooted in the unchanged Word of God? The Bible's warnings against adding to or taking away from God's Word challenge the Church’s authority to introduce new practices or claim that human rituals can confer sanctifying grace. True sanctification is the work of God’s Spirit alone, as shown in Scripture, and is not dependent on outward rituals or human institutions.


The phrase "through sanctification of the Spirit" is a powerful biblical concept that underscores the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life. Sanctification, as mentioned in 2 Peter 3:7 and 2 Thessalonians 2:13, describes the process of being made holy and set apart for God’s purposes. This passage makes it clear that sanctification is not something that can be achieved by human effort or through religious rituals, but is a divine work initiated and completed by the Holy Spirit.



In biblical terms, sanctification refers to being set apart for God, a process that involves moral purification and spiritual renewal. Throughout Scripture, sanctification is consistently portrayed as a work done by God, specifically through the Holy Spirit. For example, in

1 Corinthians 6:11, the Apostle Paul writes,


“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.”

This verse underscores that sanctification happens "by the Spirit of our God"—it is God's Spirit that purifies and transforms believers, not any outward ritual or religious leader.


This idea is further reinforced by Romans 15:16, where Paul refers to believers as being “sanctified by the Holy Ghost.” Once again, the emphasis is placed on the Holy Spirit’s role in making a person holy, showing that sanctification is entirely a divine act, beyond human capability. The Bible does not teach that sanctification can be conferred by any human mediator—individuals in ecclesiastical positions, but instead, it is an inward, spiritual transformation brought about by God Himself.


The doctrine of "sanctification of the Spirit" highlights the sovereignty of God in salvation and the process of making believers holy. This sovereignty shows that humans are utterly dependent on God for their sanctification. Neither self-effort, rituals, nor any human authority can bring about this holiness. 1 Peter 1:2 reflects this, where sanctification is linked to the foreknowledge of God and the work of the Spirit, not human mediation. The Bible’s teaching is clear: sanctification is accomplished through the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence in the believer.


In contrast to this biblical teaching, the Catholic doctrine maintains that the Pope, as the Vicar of Christ, has the authority to sanctify individuals through the sacraments, such as confession and penance. However, the Bible consistently teaches that sanctification is the work of God alone. For instance, Hebrews 10:10 affirms that believers are

“sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” This verse reveals that sanctification was accomplished through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, an act that is sufficient for all time and cannot be supplemented or mediated through human means, such as sacraments administered by the Pope or any other religious figure.


The Catholic Church claims that through apostolic succession, the Pope has inherited the authority to sanctify individuals and forgive sins, a doctrine also tied to the idea of papal infallibility. Yet, Romans 3:23 declares,


“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” showing that no human, not even the Pope, is without sin or capable of exercising divine authority to sanctify. This stands in direct contradiction to the notion that the Pope can be a conduit of sanctifying grace, particularly considering that the Roman Catholic Church has altered the second commandment, modified the observance of the Sabbath, and continues to engage in practices that violate God's commandments.


The Bible makes it clear that sanctification is an inward, spiritual process carried out by the Holy Spirit, as reflected in Ephesians 5:26, which speaks of being sanctified

"by the washing of water by the word." Here, the emphasis is on God’s Word and the transformative power of His Spirit, not external rituals or the intervention of clergy.


The biblical concept of sanctification is clear: it is a work of the Holy Spirit that transforms a believer from within, making them holy and setting them apart for God's purposes. Human rituals, religious leaders, and even the Pope cannot confer sanctification because it is a divine act, accomplished solely by God’s Spirit. The Catholic claim that the Pope can sanctify individuals through the sacraments is not supported by Scripture and stands in opposition to the Bible’s teaching that only God can sanctify and forgive sins.


The Catechism of the Catholic Church asserts papal authority in spiritual matters, including sanctification, based on the belief that Christ conferred this authority on St. Peter. Which scripture demonstrates that Peter referred to Christ as the chief cornerstone, rather than himself. This distinction undermines the notion of an unbroken succession of popes, especially considering that Peter was not the first pope in the first place.


1 Peter 2:6 declares, "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded."

Peter talks in the 3rd person.


Additionally, in Acts 4:11, Peter speaks to the religious leaders, declaring,


"This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner."

Again, Peter emphasizes Christ's role as the cornerstone. These passages affirm that Peter's focus was on Christ, rather than his own authority, challenging the idea of an unbroken line of papal succession.


Scripture provides no support for the notion that any human, including the Pope, holds the power to sanctify others. Instead, sanctification remains the exclusive work of the Holy Spirit, as the Bible consistently teaches. Therefore, the Catholic Church’s view of papal sanctification is ultimately a man-made doctrine, inconsistent with the divinely revealed truths of Scripture.


The New Testament does not explicitly support the Catholic teaching that sacraments are divinely instituted by Christ as outward signs that convey grace. For instance, while practices like baptism and communion are present in the New Testament, there is no explicit teaching that these are formal, grace-giving channels meant to be controlled or administered by a specific clergy.


In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands his followers to baptize, and in Luke 22:19, He institutes the Lord’s Supper ("Do this in remembrance of me"), but neither passage states that these acts are channels of divine grace or require a priestly intermediary. Instead, these commands are communal acts of obedience and remembrance.


Additionally, passages like Romans 3:24 and Ephesians 2:8-9 emphasize that grace is received through faith, not through outward rituals. The grace of salvation is described as a gift from God, not something mediated through sacraments or the authority of the clergy.


The idea that Christ only works through the sacraments or through clergy undermines the broader biblical teaching that Christ works directly through all believers who are filled with the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 3:16 states,

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"


This suggests that every believer, once they have received the Holy Spirit, is a direct channel for God’s grace. There is no need for the sacraments or priestly intervention to experience or receive this grace.


Furthermore, 1 Peter 2:9 describes all believers as a "royal priesthood," indicating that the clergy does not hold a special status in conveying grace. Christ’s work in an individual’s life is not restricted to formal rites but is an ongoing, personal relationship made possible through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.


The Bible makes it clear that salvation and grace come through faith, not through outward rituals. Ephesians 2:8-9 says,


"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."


This passage directly counters the idea that performing sacraments can convey grace. Salvation and the outpouring of grace are gifts given freely by God, through faith in Christ, not by participating in sacraments.


The Catholic Church teaches that the sacraments are necessary for salvation, but this contradicts passages like Acts 16:31, where Paul tells the Philippian jailer,


"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."


There is no mention of sacraments here, only belief in Christ as the key to salvation.


The idea that sacraments are a necessary means of grace developed over centuries in the Catholic tradition, not from a clear biblical mandate. The concept of seven sacraments (baptism, Eucharist, penance, confirmation, matrimony, holy orders, and anointing of the sick) was solidified at the Council of Trent in the 16th century, largely in response to Protestant critiques. Before that, Christian communities practiced these rites in various ways, but they were not uniformly defined as channels of grace necessary for salvation.


Moreover, the concept of a sacrament as an “efficacious sign” (meaning that the sacrament itself has the power to confer grace) does not align with the biblical teaching that grace is a free gift from God, given through faith. The formalization of sacraments into rigid, grace-dispensing rites reflects a human effort to institutionalize and commercialize the faith, rather than a divine directive from Christ.



The Catholic doctrine of sacraments depends on the idea that only ordained priests can administer these channels of grace. However, this contradicts the biblical teaching of the priesthood of all believers. As mentioned in 1 Peter 2:5, believers are called

“a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”

Every believer has direct access to God through Christ, and there is no biblical justification for creating a distinct, mediating class of priests who alone have the authority to dispense God’s grace through sacraments.


The doctrine of sacraments as channels of divine grace, controlled by the clergy, is not grounded in Scripture but is instead a man-made tradition developed by the Catholic Church. The New Testament teaches that grace is received through faith in Christ alone, not through rituals or priestly mediation. Christ’s work in the believer's life comes through the Holy Spirit and is not confined to outward signs or sacraments. True believers are called to trust in the sufficiency of Christ’s finished work on the cross, rather than in human traditions that attempt to institutionalize grace. God's commandment that His gospel should not be altered is a crucial tenet of faith. In Revelation 22:18-19, it is explicitly stated:


"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man

shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."


This strong admonition, which the Roman Catholic Church evidently overlooks, underscores the critical need to uphold the integrity of God's word without any human modifications.


Given this divine directive, one must question how practices that involve additions to the gospel—such as sacraments believed to confer grace—can genuinely be attributed to the filling of the Holy Spirit. If the gospel is to remain pure, then the concept of sanctifying individuals through human rituals, as proposed by the Catholic Church, raises significant concerns about its alignment with God’s command.


The notion that the Holy Spirit operates through the sacraments or other church-mediated actions suggests a distortion of the original gospel message, which is rooted in faith and grace rather than human intervention. The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes the sacraments as channels of divine grace, but this idea runs contrary to the biblical principle that grace is a free gift from God received through faith alone, as seen in Ephesians 2:8-9.


By maintaining that the Holy Spirit fills individuals in connection with these altered practices, it implies a reliance on human authority rather than a direct relationship with God. This dependency can lead to a misunderstanding of the nature of true spiritual fulfillment, which comes solely from faith in Christ and not through any additional rituals or doctrines introduced by man.


In summary, if God has commanded that His gospel remain unaltered, how can the acts performed by human institutions, which diverge from this divine mandate, truly represent the filling of the Holy Spirit? This discrepancy invites deeper reflection on the authenticity and source of one's faith and relationship with God.


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