‘God’s divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.’ (2 Peter 1:3) For centuries, mostly after A.D.300, councils of certain Italians conferred and established various new doctrines of their own determination. These unauthorized requirements are corruptions that need to be discredited. They are misguided distractions from pure Christianity, things that Jesus and his apostles never taught. The truth remains that Christ’s followers must trust in his holy blood sacrifice for forgiveness of sins without adding any works of men’s invention. As he taught the Pharisees: ‘By the traditions of men you make void the word of God.’

The pure original Christianity of the first century left us no lack of religious truth. No such additions were needed or ever approved by divine authority regarding purgatory or transubstantiation or the exaltation of Mary. We have the entire Holy Bible to guide us in all expression of the new life in Christ.