The agreements of the ecumenical movement never promote true Biblical Protestantism

Many Roman Catholic Priests like to quote this agreement to seek to prove that the Church of Rome has changed its view on the doctrine of Justification – but this is a complete deception.

The truth is that the Roman Catholic Church never retracted its position on justification as a result of this declaration.

The only decision that they have come to is to stop condemning each other’s doctrines, which suits the Roman Catholic Church.

There are two questions that I would like to ask. First of all if the Roman Catholic Church now believe that Justification is by Faith alone in Christ alone by grace alone does Rome now admit that Luther was right and mother church was wrong?

Secondly, if Rome now believes that Justification is by Faith alone in Christ alone by grace alone will she now change Her Catechisms and dogmas accordingly?

Not until the Church of Rome answers these questions positively will Protestants begin to believe that popery has changed. It reminds me what Bishop J.C.Ryle said, “There can be no peace with Rome until Rome makes peace with God.” What Ryle meant by this was a sea-change in what Rome teaches and believes.

The truth is this – All the agreements of the ecumenical movement never promote true Biblical Protestantism.

All these agreements, just like this Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification between the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation ever do, is to seek to weaken the position of the Protestant faith and take the spotlight off the errors of Popery.

The Church of Rome will always take the advantage in any ecumenical setup over weak, insecure apostate Protestants who have lost their way when it comes to the teaching of the Bible.

All we hear today is that the Catholic Church has changed. However, the strange thing is when I talk to Roman Catholics about their doctrines they don’t believe that their Church has changed in any way.

They still worship Mary, they still pray to the Saints, they still believe that they are saved through the sacraments of the Church, and they still believe that the priests can give them absolution.

Therefore who am I to believe the Roman Catholic on the street, or mother church with all her corruption?

(Rev) John Gray, Free Presbyterian Church