A correspondent inquires “about the validity of Catholic faith” as well as the prospect of a Catholic’s “salvation after this life.” He then likewise asks about Seventh Day Adventist and Mormon religions, before signing himself as a “Presbyterian Christian.”
The inquiry implies at least misgivings regarding the legitimacy of some religions (i.e., Catholicism, Adventism and Mormonism). Further, the inquiry presumes that Presbyterianism is a legitimate religion. The only religious authority bigger than Catholicism, Adventism, Mormonism and Presbyterianism by which anyone could ascertain legitimacy or illegitimacy in religion is the Bible.
The birthday of the New Testament church is in Acts Chapter Two. The balance of the Book of Acts plus the rest of the New Testament epistles record information about the church for which Jesus died. The Catholic Church slowly developed over centuries following the first century through apostasy that the apostle Paul predicted (Acts 20:29-30).
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:1-5)
The Roman Catholic Church crystallized in A.D. 606 when Boniface III was accepted as the first universal pope. Previously, there was more than one pope at the same time during the developing years of the apostate Catholic Church. The Catholic Church continued to evolve through the centuries (and continues to evolve). That there is significant difference between the church of the New Testament and the Catholic Church is unquestionable.
Denominational churches sprung into existence during the Protestant Reformation Movement in the 1500’s. The first Protestant denomination to part company with the Catholic Church was the Lutheran Church (1529). Other denominations developed during the Reformation Movement as people departed the Catholic Church, including the Presbyterian Church (1560). The Seventh Day Adventists developed about 300 years after the Reformation Movement (1844). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) was established in 1830.
All of these churches came into existence hundreds of years after the establishment of the New Testament church. None of these churches wears any of the New Testament designations for the New Testament church (e.g., church of God, 1 Cor. 1:2; churches of Christ, Rom. 16:16; etc.). None of these churches practice the salvation taught in the New Testament (e.g., Mark 16:16). None of these churches duplicates the primitive worship of the New Testament church (e.g., singing without instrumental music in worship, Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; observing the Lord’s Supper exclusively each first day of the week, Acts 20:7; etc.). All of these churches possess humanly devised creeds in addition to or instead of the New Testament alone.
How any of these churches differ from each other is irrelevant when they all differ dramatically from the New Testament church and the Gospel by which the New Testament church is regulated. No unkindness is intended, but we are obligated to speak nothing except the Word of God and to speak it in love (1 Peter 4:11; Ephesians 4:15). There were no Catholics, Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons or Presbyterians in the first century; members of the church were simply called Christians (Acts 11:26).
It is still possible for one to become a Christian only (not a denominational Christian) in our century; this occurs the same way in which it occurred in the first century. When the seed of the kingdom (the Word of God, Luke 8:11) is planted in honest hearts, Christians and only Christians are harvested (1 Corinthians 3:6). The apostle Peter told believers in the first recorded Gospel sermon to repent and to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). About 3,000 souls did just that and Jesus Christ added them to his church (Acts 2:41, 47). The sincere truth-seeker will find salvation and membership in the one church over which Jesus Christ alone is the head (Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4). I am more than willing to assist any sincere soul know the truth by which he can be made free from sin (John 8:32).
