J
joe370
Guest
One more thing…
Jesus Christ is the founder and Head of his Body, the Church. He is its principal and invisible foundation, and without Him the Church would be lifeless as a headless body. But in Matthew 16:17-19 Jesus gives Simon a new calling and a new name to signify it: “Rock”. This reveals the nature of the mission Peter would fulfill as the visible foundation of the Church on earth. Peter derives his mission and authority from Jesus, therefore Peter can be the Church’s foundation on earth only because Christ is the Church’s cornerstone in heaven:
*“So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord…” *Ephesians 2:20
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Revelation 21:14
Similarly, consider this: what word describes a person who tends sheep? A shepherd, of course, and Jesus identifies Himself as one:
*“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” *John 10:11
But later, Jesus confirmed Peter in the role of shepherd over the Church:
…Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” John 21:17
Certainly Jesus is not contradicting Himself, nor is He relinquishing His role as the first among shepherds. But here He delegates to Peter ALONE, a shepherding function which Christ, (the supreme honor) -in His wisdom, made an essential part of His Church. Peter can be shepherd of the Church only because Christ is the pre-eminent Good Shepherd who commissions Peter to service. Peter as shepherd does not challenge or diminish Jesus Christ as Shepherd. Rather, Peter gives glory to Christ through faithfulness to his calling, just as the “blessed” Mother Mary does not diminish Jesus Christ as our One mediator, rather she (Magnifies the Lord) --gives glory to Christ through faithfulness to her calling…
Jesus Christ is the founder and Head of his Body, the Church. He is its principal and invisible foundation, and without Him the Church would be lifeless as a headless body. But in Matthew 16:17-19 Jesus gives Simon a new calling and a new name to signify it: “Rock”. This reveals the nature of the mission Peter would fulfill as the visible foundation of the Church on earth. Peter derives his mission and authority from Jesus, therefore Peter can be the Church’s foundation on earth only because Christ is the Church’s cornerstone in heaven:
*“So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord…” *Ephesians 2:20
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Revelation 21:14
Similarly, consider this: what word describes a person who tends sheep? A shepherd, of course, and Jesus identifies Himself as one:
*“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” *John 10:11
But later, Jesus confirmed Peter in the role of shepherd over the Church:
…Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” John 21:17
Certainly Jesus is not contradicting Himself, nor is He relinquishing His role as the first among shepherds. But here He delegates to Peter ALONE, a shepherding function which Christ, (the supreme honor) -in His wisdom, made an essential part of His Church. Peter can be shepherd of the Church only because Christ is the pre-eminent Good Shepherd who commissions Peter to service. Peter as shepherd does not challenge or diminish Jesus Christ as Shepherd. Rather, Peter gives glory to Christ through faithfulness to his calling, just as the “blessed” Mother Mary does not diminish Jesus Christ as our One mediator, rather she (Magnifies the Lord) --gives glory to Christ through faithfulness to her calling…
). Look into history - especially the Church Fathers. Read 1 timothy 3:15. And have you ever read Matthew 16:18 - the church will never be overcome. Your assumptions about the Catholic Church are unfounded, and if you looked into it more you would find out you are wrong. Your ignorance and arrogance is keeping you from the truth.