SCRIPTURE QUIZ FOR CATHOLICS

TEST YOUR SCRIPTURAL I.Q.!

Answer T or F, answers on following pages [below]

  1. Mary acts as the mediator between God and
    man. T   F

  2. Worship to Mary is pleasing to God. T   F

  3. The immaculate conception means that Mary
    was born without sin. T   F

  4. Jesus had four brothers named James, Joses,
    Simon, and Judas, and two or more sisters. T   F

  5. Peter was the "rock" on which Jesus built his
    church. T   F

  6. The mass is the same sacrifice as Christ's death
    on the cross celebrated in an unbloody manner. T   F

  7. Only a priest can forgive sins. T   F

  8. Penance cancels the punishment of sins. T   F

  9. After death, a person must go to purgatory
    before being allowed into Heaven. T   F

  10. Salvation is only available through Jesus Christ. T   F

ANSWERS

(Quotes from the Authorized Version)
  1. False. There is no mention of this in the Bible. It says; "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all," (1 Timothy 2:5-6). See also Hebrew 7:25 and 1st John 2:1-2.
    "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 7:25)
    "(1)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: (2)And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (I John 2:1- 2)

  2. False. Jesus nor anyone ever said to pray to Mary. Scripture says; "as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." (Luke 11:27-28) See also the First and Second Commandments. (Exodus 20:1-5).
    "(1)And God spake all these words, saying, (2)I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. (3)Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (4)Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: (5)Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;" (Exodus 20:1-5).

  3. This doctrine is contrary to Scripture. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:" (Romans 3:23-24). Mary acknowledged that she was a sinner. See Luke 1:46-47.
    "(46)And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, (47)And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." (Luke 1:46- 47)

  4. This is true. "Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us?" (Matthew 13:55-56). See also Mark 3:31; John 2:12; 7:3-5; 1st Corinthians 9:5.
    "There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him." (Mark 3:31)
    "After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days." (John 2:12)
    "(3)His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. (4)For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. (5)For neither did his brethren believe in him." (John 7:3-5)
    "Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?" (I Corinthians 9:5).

  5. False. Christ is the Rock, not Peter. See 1st Corinthians 3:11-12; Ephesians 2:20-21; 1st Peter 2:4-8; Colossians 1:18. The keys (Matthew 16:13- 19) symbolize the authority to open the way of salvation through the preaching of the gospel. See Acts 2 and Acts 10.
    "(11)For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12)Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;" (I Corinthians 3:11-12).
    "(20)And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (21)In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:" (Ephesians 2:20-21).
    "(4)To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, (5)Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (6)Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (7)Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, (8)And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed." (I Peter 2:4-8)
    "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18)
    "(13)When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? (14)And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. (15)He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? (16)And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (17)And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (18)And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (19)And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:13-19)

  6. False. The elaborate ritualism associated with the mass is unscriptural in that it stresses that Christ's sacrifice for sins was insufficient the first time. Peter said "Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God". See also Hebrews 7:27; 9:12; 9:22-28; 10:11-18; John 19:30.
    "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 7:27)
    "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." (Hebrews 9:12)
    "(22)And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (23)It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (24)For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (25)Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; (26)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. (27)And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (28)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 9:22-28)
    "(11)And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: (12)But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (13)From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. (14)For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (15)Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, (16)This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; (17)And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (18)Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." (Hebrews 10:11-18)
    "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." (John 19:30)

  7. False. Only God can forgive sins. "who can forgive sins but God only?" (Mark 2:7). Each individual can go directly to God for forgiveness; "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) See also Acts 10:43 and 13:38-39.
    "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:43)
    "(38)Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (39)And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:38-39)

  8. False. The Bible does not mention penance. God wants people to repent for their sins and turn away from their sinful ways. See 1st John 1:9 (above answer) and also Isaiah 55:7 and Acts 3:19.
    "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:7)
    "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;" (Acts 3:19).

9. False. Purgatory is a Catholic invention not supported by Scripture. There appears an
    isolated passage in the Apocryphal book of II Maccabees 12:39-
    45. The concept of suffering in purgatory after death denies the power
    of the death and resurrection of Christ for mankind. The Bible states
    that "Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust,
    that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh,
    but quickened by the Spirit:" (1 Peter 3:18). Consider the
    example of one of the criminals crucified with Christ
    "(43)And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee,
    To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:40-43). See
    also John 6:39-40.
"(40)But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? (41)And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. (42)And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." (Luke 23:40-42)
"(39)And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (40)And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:39-40)

10. True. This is the good news of the Bible. Since sin has separated man
    from God, he has been lost. However, Jesus paid the supreme price
    with His death on the cross as the sacrificial lamb to provide the
    atonement for our sins. The Bible states; "For all have sinned, and come
    short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the
    redemption that is in Christ Jesus:" (Romans 3:23-24). Thus even
    though we are not perfect in the eyes of God (and never will be),
    our salvation is assured in Jesus Christ. As the Bible states; "(11)And
    this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in
    his Son. (12)He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son
    of God hath not life." (1 John 5:11-15) See also John 14:6 and John
    3:16.
"(13)These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (14)And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: (15)And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." (I John 5:13-15)
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

SCORING
    No. of correct                  
    Answers                         Comments

    8-10                        Very good - you have
                                solid scriptural background.

    6-7                         You could brush 
                                up on your scriptural
                                reading.

    0-5                         You need some improve-
                                ment.  Perhaps a Bible study
                                class would help.

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