November 11, 1999 (Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - The following article by Cecil Andrews of Belfast, Northern Ireland is from the March 1999 issue of his Take Heed Ministries newsletter (http://www.come.to/takeheedministries)

On 31st July 1998 at a meeting in Dublin Mr. J. I. Packer referred to the present pope as 'a fine Christian man'. I think it is worth considering some of the teachings that have during the past 12 months flowed from the pen of Mr. Packer's 'fine Christian man'.

On 20th March 1998 Pope John Paul II issued a statement to various classes of confessors on the 'Purpose and Benefits of Sacramental Penance'. In that document he stated 'God's salvific will...is carried out in a pre-eminent way in the sacramental ministry of Reconciliation which is the primary objective of the daily service provided by the Penitentiary and the Father confessors'.

In stark contrast the Bible declares "it pleased God by the foolishness of PREACHING [not sacramental ministry] to save them that believe" [1 Corinthians 1:21} and this is emphasised again in Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by HEARING [not sacramental ministry] and hearing by the word of God".

The Pope went on to say 'the sacrament of Reconciliation is such a great concern for the Supreme Pontiff and his brothers in the priesthood because of their office AS MEDIATORS IN CHRIST between God and men'.

Paul, a minister [Ephesians 3:7] writing to Timothy, another minister [1 Timothy 4:6] stated clearly in 1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God and one mediator [not mediators] between God and men the man Christ Jesus".

Later we read from this 'fine Christian man' how 'Sin is the shipwreck from which Baptism and Penance [Sacramental ministry] save us...Obviously the faithful who approach the sacrament of Penance also wish to receive the remission of the temporal punishment due to sin...In this respect the truth of faith and the practice of indulgences are closely connected with the sacrament of Penance. An indulgence is actually the remission before God of the temporal punishment for sins the guilt of which has already been forgiven'.

Paul writing to Titus declares in Titus 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done [such as Baptism and Penance] but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost". Salvation comes through a Sovereign Act of God and not through a Sacramental Act of Man. As for sins being 'forgiven' but still subject to 'temporal punishment' this idea is rejected under the terms of the New Covenant sealed by the precious blood of Christ [Matthew 26:28]. God assures all who are saved by Christ that "their sins and iniquities will I remember no more" [Hebrews 8:12 & 10:17]. As for 'indulgences' I will have more to say shortly.

On 2nd June 1998 we learnt this from the pen of John Paul II -- 'I Urge Catholics to Pray for the Dead'. This message was addressed to the present Abbot of Cluny one of whose predecessors established 'The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed'. The pope also made reference to another agency geared specifically to 'praying for the souls in purgatory' and to a 40-year-old 'bulletin "Lumiere et vie" which promotes prayer for the dead'. His personal attitude was summed up like this 'I therefore encourage Catholics to pray fervently for the dead, for their family members and for all our brothers and sisters who have died that they may obtain the remission of the punishments due to their sins...my Apostolic Blessing...I willingly extend it...to all who pray for the intention of the souls in purgatory, who take part in the Eucharist and who offer sacrifices for the dead'.

Can the living influence the eternal destiny of those who have died? The word of God in Revelation 22:11 says this concerning the future state "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still and he which is filthy let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous let him be righteous still and he that is holy let him be holy still." If a person dies in their sins then they cannot go to be with Christ [John 8:21] and no amount of prayers or payments for masses will alter that stark biblical reality.

Finally on 29th November 1998 in his 'Bull of Indiction of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000' the Pope really put the cat amongst the 'ecumenical pigeons' when he announced details of how the faithful could obtain a 'Jubilee Indulgence' in the year 2000. Those clamouring for ecumenical unity would prefer to keep 'indulgences' safely hidden away but not so the Pope. Listed at the end of his 'bull' are the 'Conditions For Gaining The Jubilee Indulgence'. Here are extracts:

1. 'In Rome. If they make a pious pilgrimage to one of the Patriarchal Basilicas...and there take part in Holy Mass or another liturgical celebration...or...spend some time in Eucharistic adoration...ending with the "Our Father"...and prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary'

2. 'In the Holy Land, if keeping the same conditions...

3. In other ecclesiastical territories, if they make a sacred pilgrimage to the Cathedral Church...or a Shrine designated by the Ordinary...

4. In any place, if they visit for a suitable time their brothers and sisters in need...(the sick, the imprisoned, the elderly...)

I believe Martin Luther if he were able to visit us today would marvel at how such an unscriptural system, out of which he was by the grace of God delivered, can still hold sway in the lives of millions around the world and can have its earthly head described by one formerly regarded as a sound evangelical as 'a fine Christian man'. One is only left to wonder which destination Mr. Packer will choose to obtain his 'Jubilee Indulgence' Jerusalem or Rome. He seems to favour Rome at present! (Cecil Andrews, Take Heed Ministries newsletter, March 1999, Belfast, Northern Ireland).