When we woke up this morning, we did so to the news that the Pope had died.  The Catholic Church has lost its leader.  Obviously, this is going to be news throughout this day, and probably for several days to come.

His death is a tragedy, but not for the reason that most people will be talking about today.  I have already heard it said that, “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and the marginalized” (Gabrille Chung, E! News).

The real tragedy is the death of a person unprepared to meet God in judgment.  How can I say that about the Pope?  The fact is, the Pope was not a member of the Lord’s church.  He was never baptized into Christ, and so he never obeyed the gospel of Christ.  He was the head, not of the Lord’s church, but of a man-made church.  The church that the Lord built only has one head, and His name is Jesus.

Ephesians 1:22-23 (ESV)
²² And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Ephesians 5:23 (ESV)
²³ For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.

Colossians 1:18 (ESV)
¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

The Catholic church, which the Pope was the head of, did not come into existence until nearly five hundred years after the Lord built His church on the day of Pentecost.

Acts 2:47 (ESV)
⁴⁷ Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The Catholic Church was nowhere to be found at this time.

The only place where salvation can be found is in Christ.  Paul said, “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” (2 Timothy 2:10).  Many may not want to hear this today, but the Pope was not in Christ.  The only way to get into Christ is by being baptized scripturally, that is by being burial in the waters of baptism (Romans 6:3-4).  The Pope, being Catholic, a church that baptizes people as infants, was never scripturally baptized.

Yes, today is a sad day, but not because a great spiritual leader died.  The truth is, this Pope taught many things that were contrary to the gospel of Christ, things that even other Catholics know were unscriptural.  Today was tragic because a man died, along with many, many other people, who were outside of the body of Christ and therefore lost.  Every day is tragic from that standpoint.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.