The Mass, the Priesthood and the Bible

In order to gain a clear understanding of what Rome teaches about the Mass, we will now quote extensively from A [Roman Catholic] Catechism of Christian Doctrine, Approved by the Archbishops and bishops of England and Wales, and directed to be used in all their Dioceses, Revised Edition 1985.

"46. Where is Jesus Christ? As God, Jesus Christ is everywhere. As God made man, he is in heaven, AND IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR." "274. Is the Blessed Eucharist a Sacrament only? The Blessed Eucharist is not a Sacrament only: it is also a sacrifice." "275. What is a sacrifice? A sacrifice is the offering of a victim by a priest to God alone, in testimony of his being the Sovereign Lord of all things." "276. What is the Sacrifice of the New Law? The Sacrifice of the New Law is the Mass." "277. What is the Holy Mass? The Holy Mass is the Sacrifice of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, really present on the altar under the appearances of bread and wine, and offered to God for the living and the dead." "278. Is the Holy Mass one and the same Sacrifice with that of the Cross? THE HOLY MASS IS ONE AND THE SAME SACRIFICE WITH THAT OF THE CROSS, inasmuch as Christ, who offered himself a bleeding victim, on the Cross to his heavenly Father, continues to offer himself in an unbloody manner on the altar, through the ministry of his priests." "279. For what ends is the Sacrifice of the Mass offered? The Sacrifice of the Mass is offered for four ends: first to give supreme honour and glory to God; secondly, to thank him for all benefits; thirdly, TO SATISFY GOD FOR OUR SINS AND TO OBTAIN GRACE FOR REPENTENCE; and fourthly, to obtain all other graces and blessings through Jesus Christ." "I profess that in the Mass is OFFERED TO GOD A TRUE, PROPER, AND PROPITIARY SACRIFICE FOR THE LIVING AND THE DEAD ...." The Creed of Pius IV

Now lets look at scripture:

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, AND HE IS THE PROPITIATION for our sins; and not for our sins only, but also for the sins of the whole world." - 1 John 2:1-2

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be THE PROPITIATION for our sins." - 1 John 4:10

It is plain from the above scriptures the Jesus Christ is the propitiation for our sins. Now if Jesus Christ is the propitiation "for our sins, and not for our sins only, but for the sins of the whole world", then ANY OTHER PERSON/ACT/THING which claims that it is propitiary to God is lying!!!

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ occurred once for all time on the cross outside the walls of Jerusalem. It is NOT repeated day after day on Romanist altars around the world as a so-called "bloodless sacrifice" performed by the priests.

"NOR YET THAT HE SHOULD OFFER HIMSELF OFTEN, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others [The Romanist priests claim to be offering Christ's blood - blood other than their own - P Mansbacher] For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now ONCE in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men ONCE to die, but after this the judgment; so Christ WAS ONCE OFFERED to bear the sins of many: and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." - Hebrews 9:27-28

"Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead DIETH NO MORE; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin ONCE ...." - Rom 6:9-10

"And EVERY PRIEST standeth daily ministering and offering OFTENTIMES the SAME SACRIFICES, which can NEVER TAKE AWAY SINS: But this man, after he had OFFERED ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOR EVER, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by ONE OFFERING he hath PERFECTED FOR EVER them that are being sanctified" - Hebrews 10:12-14

"But his man [i.e. Jesus Christ] .... who needeth NOT DAILY, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did ONCE, when he offered up himself." - Hebrews 7:24a & 26

Now the priesthood has been changed - the old temple sacrifices have been abolished. Every Christian is a priest - offering sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving - not reenacting the sacrifice of Christ.

"IF therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that ANOTHER PRIEST should rise after the order of Melchisedec [i.e., Jesus Christ], and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood BEING CHANGED, there is made of necessity a change also of the law." - Hebrews 7:11:12

So the Levitical priesthood has been replaced by the priesthood of Melchisedec. Is this a continuing priesthood? Yes! Are there any number of priests in it? No! There is only ONE UNDYING priest in this order.

"Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; ABIDETH A PRIEST CONTINUALLY." - Hebrews 7:3

"But this man [i.e. Jesus Christ], because he continueth ever, hath an UNCHANGEABLE priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." - Hebrews 7:24-25

"The Holy Ghost was signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: which was a figure for the time THEN PRESENT, in which were OFFERED both gifts and SACRIFICES, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them UNTIL THE TIME OF THE REFORMATION." - Hebrews 9:8-10

Not the Time we call the Reformation starting around 1516, but the reformation of the old order of priestly sacrifice in the temple. This has been DONE AWAY WITH.

Romanisn continues in a system of priesthood which has been abolished and replaced by the priesthood of Melchisedec which has ONE PRIEST - Jesus Christ himself!!!

On final point on office-bearers in the church.

They are all to be married men with well-behaved families.

"For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." - Titus 1:5-9

"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus." - I Timothy 3:2-13

As is well-known, Romanist priests, bishops, arch-bishops, cardinals and popes are unmarried, at least in the legal sense of having a wife and family. Quite a number of them throughout history have had common law wives and mistresses and born many illegitimate children. How does that compare with the biblical "having a good report of them which are without" - I Timothy 3:7?