B
buffalo
Guest
Again, boiling it all down - If you find yourself in heaven you will be Catholic andit will have been through the one,holy,Catholic ans Apostolic Church which Christ founded for this very reason.
- Status
U
una_fides
Guest
The Son of Man is said to return in the clouds in an unmistakable way so that the whole earth will know it when he comes to judge the living and the dead. This is known as the Second Coming of Christ. We have no revelation telling us that he will come again in the flesh and wander the earth. We do have revelation in Scripture that warns us that many will come in the last days saying that they are Christ, and we are not to believe them. We know that their deception will be so great that if it were possible they would deceive even the elect. We are to be always watching and awaiting the Second Coming, which is immanent. Maranatha.
D
Danno2281
Guest
It is imperative to this discussion that we keep in mind the declaration of Vatican I that defined truths mean exactly and only what they meant to those who formulated the definitions. When the word “Church” was used in a definition, what was meant by those who formulated that definition? To be an ecclesial body related to the Church is not to be a member of the Church, but is a sign of disunity, probably (necessarily?) involving heresy or schism, the followers of which are mentioned specifically in the definition of the Council of Florence. Our greatest hope is that some miracle of grace attends them before their souls leave their bodies. Gregory the Great (d 604) declared "we can no more pray for the deceased infidel than we can pray for the devil since they are both condemned to the same eternal and irrevocable punishment (MORALIA). The hope, of course, is that the state of infidelity was overcome by a miracle of grace before physical death.
L
Lionpainter
Guest
Yes, it does say the Son of Man will come upon the clouds. So let me explain more of my experience. For sometime now, I have been able to ask a question of the Good Book and get answer, exact. I sought out the truth of my experience and began praying everyday and using my “faith” to guide me and my experience to ask these kinds of questions. So as I always do; Bless myself, say the Lord’s Prayer, Hail Mary and Glory be to the Father. And, with the Good Book closed I would ask my question and open it. One question that I had asked pertained to my experience was of the feeling of a “Storm”. With the Good Book closed, I opened the Bible to the “Acts of the Apostles” to the chapter where it begins with the
“The Storm”. It tells of the Apostle Paul getting caught in a storm call Euroquillo; Meaning “Northestern”. That storm lasted for days. So it is that my faith reveals to me a storm that will strike before
winter is over and it too will last for days. I have all the faith in the world God’s Word is at hand.
“The Storm”. It tells of the Apostle Paul getting caught in a storm call Euroquillo; Meaning “Northestern”. That storm lasted for days. So it is that my faith reveals to me a storm that will strike before
winter is over and it too will last for days. I have all the faith in the world God’s Word is at hand.
D
dtf123
Guest
Catholic is an adjective derived from the Greek adjective καθολικός (katholikos), meaning “whole” or “complete”. The Nicene Creed, as developed and approved by the Ecumenical council of the Christian Church by the Assyrian Church of the East, the Oriental Orthodox, the Eastern Orthodox, the Roman Catholics, the Old Catholics, and a number of other Western Christian groups, includes the use of this word in it’s obvious meaning at the time and to this day.
Specifically, it states:
“And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. In one holy catholic and apostolic Church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.”
While Catholics believe themselves to be the one true church one does not need to deny that true believers exist in churches that do not recognize the authority of the Pope. To believe that, you only need to believe that true Christians can be deceived as to the particulars of the faith.
And it is with that same reasoning that I do not assume my Catholic friends to be damned just because they differ on some particulars of the faith.
No reasonable person can claim that all Catholics or Presbyterians or Methodist or Baptist are true Christians. Therefore, it would be difficult to reason that Christ Body consist of the members of a certain denominational body, since we know that many members of any denominational body are in fact false confessors of the faith. Can a person who denies Christ with his heart but publicly confesses Him be part of His body? Can such a deceiver as this join as one with the Holiness of Christ?
The church that scripture talks about must be understood as those who Christ has chose before the begining of time to be his (Eph 1) and exist throughout the world confessing Him as Lord and Savior in their hearts and minds.
Specifically, it states:
“And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. In one holy catholic and apostolic Church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.”
While Catholics believe themselves to be the one true church one does not need to deny that true believers exist in churches that do not recognize the authority of the Pope. To believe that, you only need to believe that true Christians can be deceived as to the particulars of the faith.
And it is with that same reasoning that I do not assume my Catholic friends to be damned just because they differ on some particulars of the faith.
No reasonable person can claim that all Catholics or Presbyterians or Methodist or Baptist are true Christians. Therefore, it would be difficult to reason that Christ Body consist of the members of a certain denominational body, since we know that many members of any denominational body are in fact false confessors of the faith. Can a person who denies Christ with his heart but publicly confesses Him be part of His body? Can such a deceiver as this join as one with the Holiness of Christ?
The church that scripture talks about must be understood as those who Christ has chose before the begining of time to be his (Eph 1) and exist throughout the world confessing Him as Lord and Savior in their hearts and minds.
S
SeanTom
Guest
ENTERING GOD’S KINGDOM
There is only one GUARANTEED way for Christians to enter God’s Kingdom., and that way is through our Lord, Jesus Christ as supported by the one true church, the Catholic church. CCC 754: “The Church is, accordingly, the sole and necessary gateway to which is Christ. It is also the flock of which God himself foretold that he would be the shepherd, and whose sheep, even though governed by human shepherds, are unfailingly nourished and led by Christ himself, the Good Shepherd and Prince of Shepherds, who gave his life for his sheep”. The Catholic Church, the only true church, was made manifest to the world on the day of Pentecost by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles where they then went forth preaching to and baptizing thousands - a great harvest of souls for the early Church.
For non-Catholics, there are possibly other ways to attain Heaven for those who do not know Jesus for reasons not of their own doing.
The above four examples speak for themselves and are ways for non-practicing Christians to enter God’s Kingdom. However, the people in these examples are subject to God’s compassion and mercy. BUT none of these four ways are guarantees that they will enter Heaven, they all depend on God’s mercy.
As for the Jewish people, I honestly don’t know how God will handle them, since they don’t believe that Jesus is the Savior for all people, and I can’t even render an opinion. All I know is that God is Just, God is compassionate, God is love and God will judge all people wisely and then either accept or reject them from His Heavenly Kingdom. God knows what is in their hearts and will judge them accordingly.
HOWEVER, there is a way we can GUARANTEE our admittance to God’s Heavenly Kingdom, and this certainly is the way we should all strive to
accomplish… In John 11:25: Jesus said…. ’I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” John 14:6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me” Jesus tells us that if we follow His teachings, we WILL see the Kingdom of God. That is His GUARANTEE to us.
The Catholic Catechism teaches: Article 847 “Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.” The phrase “through no fault of their own” can mean many things. But we must remember that we are all encouraged to find out as much as we can as to how we can attain God’s Heavenly Kingdom. “Through no fault of their own” doesn’t mean that one did not seek the truth, but refers to those who perhaps, for some reason or another, were hidden from the truth by force or otherwise restrained from knowing the truth through reading Scripture or Scriptural teachings.
I leave you with the following questions: Do we want to GUARANTEE our acceptance into God’s Kingdom? Or do we want to take chances and hope that God’s compassion and love for His adopted children, under any and all circumstances, will be our “ticket” into Heaven? Think about it! In order to GUARANTEE your entrance into Heaven, you should know that the one true church is the Catholic church. Follow the teachings of Jesus as given to us by the Catholic Church, study God’s Word in Scripture, go to Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, receive the Rite of Reconciliation and Holy Communion as often as you can, and love your brothers and sisters in Christ.
There is only one GUARANTEED way for Christians to enter God’s Kingdom., and that way is through our Lord, Jesus Christ as supported by the one true church, the Catholic church. CCC 754: “The Church is, accordingly, the sole and necessary gateway to which is Christ. It is also the flock of which God himself foretold that he would be the shepherd, and whose sheep, even though governed by human shepherds, are unfailingly nourished and led by Christ himself, the Good Shepherd and Prince of Shepherds, who gave his life for his sheep”. The Catholic Church, the only true church, was made manifest to the world on the day of Pentecost by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles where they then went forth preaching to and baptizing thousands - a great harvest of souls for the early Church.
For non-Catholics, there are possibly other ways to attain Heaven for those who do not know Jesus for reasons not of their own doing.
- There are those who live in isolated areas of our world who never heard of Jesus and have never seen or heard God’s Word as given to us in Scripture. If they live lives worthy of God’s acceptance, they will then come under the merciful judgment of Jesus and will be taken into Heaven, if God so Wills.
- There are those who call themselves Atheists; but were born into an Atheist’s family and were never permitted to hear of Jesus or His Kingdom; nor were they ever introduced to God or Jesus in any other way. If they didn’t believe in God because they never knew who He was, then God would, in His mercy, judge these people accordingly. We can not second guess how God will handle this, but must leave it up to His compassion and mercy.
- There are those who call themselves Agnostics. These Agnostics neither believe nor disbelieve in God, but sort of live on the rail of the fence. They believe in God only to the extent that they say “just in case there is one, I better not turn my back on Him”. But they are turning their backs on Him if they never seek Him out nor read or listen to His Word. These Agnostics , unless they change their ways, probably will not see God’s Kingdom.
- Then there are those who do evil acts and live a life of sin. Although they knew of God, they never attended church nor did they want anything to do with God‘s goodness. They, in effect, turn their backs on God and renounce His existence. These people surely are destined for Hell. With one exception:
The above four examples speak for themselves and are ways for non-practicing Christians to enter God’s Kingdom. However, the people in these examples are subject to God’s compassion and mercy. BUT none of these four ways are guarantees that they will enter Heaven, they all depend on God’s mercy.
As for the Jewish people, I honestly don’t know how God will handle them, since they don’t believe that Jesus is the Savior for all people, and I can’t even render an opinion. All I know is that God is Just, God is compassionate, God is love and God will judge all people wisely and then either accept or reject them from His Heavenly Kingdom. God knows what is in their hearts and will judge them accordingly.
HOWEVER, there is a way we can GUARANTEE our admittance to God’s Heavenly Kingdom, and this certainly is the way we should all strive to
accomplish… In John 11:25: Jesus said…. ’I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” John 14:6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me” Jesus tells us that if we follow His teachings, we WILL see the Kingdom of God. That is His GUARANTEE to us.
The Catholic Catechism teaches: Article 847 “Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.” The phrase “through no fault of their own” can mean many things. But we must remember that we are all encouraged to find out as much as we can as to how we can attain God’s Heavenly Kingdom. “Through no fault of their own” doesn’t mean that one did not seek the truth, but refers to those who perhaps, for some reason or another, were hidden from the truth by force or otherwise restrained from knowing the truth through reading Scripture or Scriptural teachings.
I leave you with the following questions: Do we want to GUARANTEE our acceptance into God’s Kingdom? Or do we want to take chances and hope that God’s compassion and love for His adopted children, under any and all circumstances, will be our “ticket” into Heaven? Think about it! In order to GUARANTEE your entrance into Heaven, you should know that the one true church is the Catholic church. Follow the teachings of Jesus as given to us by the Catholic Church, study God’s Word in Scripture, go to Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, receive the Rite of Reconciliation and Holy Communion as often as you can, and love your brothers and sisters in Christ.
R
ron77nyc
Guest
I think we should thank our Redeemer for His sacrifice and give God the honor for His plan of salvation that is entrusted to the Church when it is taught properly - the New Covenant. The Church without Jesus is nothing but another religion trying to earn salvation by doing good deeds. WE ARE SAVED BY A PERSON NOT A RELIGION.
T
Tantum_ergo
Guest
But the Church Christ established is His Bride–and the two are ‘one flesh’ spiritually.
The Catholic Church is not ‘the Catholic religion’, not ‘one of many religions’–The Catholic Church is one with Christ.
So to claim that a ‘religion’ does not save might be correct–the contention that the Catholic Church is ‘a religion alone’ (ignoring its unity with the person of Christ) is not.
The Catholic Church is not ‘the Catholic religion’, not ‘one of many religions’–The Catholic Church is one with Christ.
So to claim that a ‘religion’ does not save might be correct–the contention that the Catholic Church is ‘a religion alone’ (ignoring its unity with the person of Christ) is not.
D
Danno2281
Guest
There is much in this post that needs to be addressed. The author might consider those things that separate the various ‘Christian’ ecclesial groupings as insignificant insofar as the determination of membership in the Church, but his understanding is not the understanding of the Church Itself, and “Who hears you hears Me.” The Church is founded upon Peter, and it is to Rome that the Church of Corinth appealed (Pope Clement) in the first century, and to Rome that Photius appealed before he rejected Rome’s authority because it displeased him. The Eastern churches agreed to the formulation of doctrine of the Council of Florence which has been printed above, but were later sadly led too abjure that unity to which they had been called and upon which they had agreed. By that action they embraced that schism which they had previously condemned, removing themselves from the unity affirmed in the Creed when it speaks of ONE holy catholic and apostolic Church. We hope that this sad state of affairs will be soon remedied by a generous openness to one another, and a gentlenes in proclaiming the truth, but the truth of the unity of Chirst’s one Church must be both proclaimed and defended.
C
codebilly
Guest
Yes there is salvation “outside” the “Catholic” church. This can be proved with one word:
Hermits.
Holy Hermits (prophets) are a well known part of Judeo Christian and Catholic history. A reasonably strong case can be made that hermits in the early church did not attend mass regularly if ever, partake in the communion and receive the Blessed Sacrament, did not go to confession, and may not even have been baptized.
It may be true that even some desert fathers renounced the social trappings of the “early church” including its debates among its philosophers and “fled” to the shelter of “God Alone” in the desert.
Any serious study of the Church fathers clearly indicates we had many controversial topics of debate in the early church. For example, St. Justin Martyr’s teaching regarding Jesus and Apollo.
The above statements do not diminish the authority of the Church, however they merely highlight the fact that true Catholics can NEVER be fundamentalist and remain Catholic. We have to accept that our religion is a revelation by way of the “sum of parts”.
In our history (Judeo Christian) revelation comes by the prophets and saints, the scripture (usually revealed by the prophets and written down by the saints), and universal revelation. Said universal revelation is conveyed to the Mystical and Social Body of Christ by authority of the Church’s Magisterium.
What kind of “Catholic” is a hermit? Even if the hermit was once a practicing catholic, then retires to the wilderness, he is no longer practicing anything.
Would anyone be bold enough to pass judgement on such a soul and proclaim, they have no salvation?
I suspect the answer lies 40 days deep in a barren, dark and cold deserted place.
Hermits.
Holy Hermits (prophets) are a well known part of Judeo Christian and Catholic history. A reasonably strong case can be made that hermits in the early church did not attend mass regularly if ever, partake in the communion and receive the Blessed Sacrament, did not go to confession, and may not even have been baptized.
It may be true that even some desert fathers renounced the social trappings of the “early church” including its debates among its philosophers and “fled” to the shelter of “God Alone” in the desert.
Any serious study of the Church fathers clearly indicates we had many controversial topics of debate in the early church. For example, St. Justin Martyr’s teaching regarding Jesus and Apollo.
The above statements do not diminish the authority of the Church, however they merely highlight the fact that true Catholics can NEVER be fundamentalist and remain Catholic. We have to accept that our religion is a revelation by way of the “sum of parts”.
In our history (Judeo Christian) revelation comes by the prophets and saints, the scripture (usually revealed by the prophets and written down by the saints), and universal revelation. Said universal revelation is conveyed to the Mystical and Social Body of Christ by authority of the Church’s Magisterium.
What kind of “Catholic” is a hermit? Even if the hermit was once a practicing catholic, then retires to the wilderness, he is no longer practicing anything.
Would anyone be bold enough to pass judgement on such a soul and proclaim, they have no salvation?
I suspect the answer lies 40 days deep in a barren, dark and cold deserted place.
R
ron77nyc
Guest
I agree with you. The Catholic Church is not just another religion when taught properly. My response was to buffalo who said
When disconnected from the head which is Jesus it is just another religion. We are not forgiven because we are Catholic. We are forgiven by the goodness of God and the sacrifice of His Son.
B
buffalo
Guest
I should have added the Body of Christ part.
R
rfpapcun
Guest
I disagree on the dangers here. We are all sinners – so why should Catholics become self-righteous?!
The real danger is that people are left outside the Ark of Salvation. “Unless you be born again of water and the Spirit, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” The Church has always taken these words to absolutely require baptism for salvation.
Our theological parsing does not determine who is saved and who is not. Hopefully we engage in this talk to enable us to decide how we should act in a practical way.
The liberal side – God is compassionate, leave it to His mercy, etc. – presumes a lot. Unless what Christ said is true, this argument makes Him a liar. It also renders the Great Commission an exercise in futility. If aborted babies are saved by God’s mercy, then abortion is not the work of the devil, but the greatest boon to mankind, since all those millions are saved. Finally, this position makes the Church quasi-irrelevant, since most of mankind can be saved without the benefit of the sacraments or the Mass.
By contrast, the rigorous position takes Scripture and the Magisterium to mean what they say. (If in fact you read these things carefully, how could they have said what they meant more forcefully?!) But by being less inclusive, we don’t place people in hell – we merely seek to establish their probable peril and to warn them of it. Other than hurting feelings, what is the downside to this?
Yet everywhere we look, we see Catholics indignantly defending the ability of non-Catholics to be saved. And for what purpose?
.
R
ron77nyc
Guest
We are not saved by baptism alone. Baptism without faith is useless.
Jesus only died once. Not at every Mass. The message of the gospel is that those who believe in this resurrected Jesus and persevere until the end have eternal life. The gospel does not say just keep going to Mass and confession and you will be saved. You must believe in the resurrection. We have this gift of salvation by the work of God first and then our own willingness to change. This is God’s mercy and if He wants to saved unbaptised infants or non-Catholics are you going to question it?
J
jfreak64
Guest
Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Ephesians 2:5
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Ephesians 2:5
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
S
Sharon_Lynn
Guest
And “Everyone” who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved! Acts 2:21
Sirs, what must I do to be saved? They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved- you and your household. Acts 16:30-31
We, in the Catholic faith, need to see what Jesus said & only Jesus! He makes it very clear that ALL are welcome at the banquet table,if they believe, not just a specific denomination or “Church”
Sirs, what must I do to be saved? They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved- you and your household. Acts 16:30-31
We, in the Catholic faith, need to see what Jesus said & only Jesus! He makes it very clear that ALL are welcome at the banquet table,if they believe, not just a specific denomination or “Church”
B
buffalo
Guest
How many churches did Jesus start?
J
jfreak64
Guest
I don’t know how many churches did JESUS start. I fail to find in scripture where HE started the Catholic church. Oh I know that JESUS told Peter that upon this rock, meaning the rock of his proclamation that JESUS was the SON of GOD, Not that JESUS was going to start a church based upon a man, Peter. Besides, Peter had a mother-in-law, which meant he had a wife which is taboo for a priest. And if Peter was to be the first pope, which they are to be considered infalliable, why did Paul confront him for an error in his behavior around the jews( Galatians 2). Or even upon Peter’s denial of being a disciple of the CHRIST???
Peter’s testimony that Jesus was the Christ.
Peter, for himself and his brethren, said that they were assured of our Lord’s being the promised Messiah, the Son of the living God. This showed that they believed Jesus to be more than man. Our Lord declared Peter to be blessed, as the teaching of God made him differ from his unbelieving countrymen. Christ added that he had named him Peter, in allusion to his stability or firmness in professing the truth. The word translated to rock, is not the same word as Peter, but is of a similar meaning. Nothing can be more wrong than to suppose that Christ meant the person of Peter was the rock. Without doubt Christ himself is the Rock, the tried foundation of the church; and woe to him that attempts to lay any other! Peter’s confession is this rock as to doctrine. If Jesus be not the Christ, those that own him are not of the church, but deceivers and deceived. Our Lord next declared the authority with which Peter would be invested. He spoke in the name of his brethren, and this related to them as well as to him. They had no certain knowledge of the characters of men, and were liable to mistakes and sins in their own conduct; but they were kept from error in stating the way of acceptance and salvation, the rule of obedience, the believer’s character and experience, and the final doom of unbelievers and hypocrites. In such matters their decision was right, and it was confirmed in heaven. But all pretensions of any man, either to absolve or retain men’s sins, are blasphemous and absurd. None can forgive sins but God only. And this binding and loosing, in the common language of the Jews, signified to forbid and to allow, or to teach what is lawful or unlawful. (Mt 16:21-23)
Peter’s testimony that Jesus was the Christ.
Peter, for himself and his brethren, said that they were assured of our Lord’s being the promised Messiah, the Son of the living God. This showed that they believed Jesus to be more than man. Our Lord declared Peter to be blessed, as the teaching of God made him differ from his unbelieving countrymen. Christ added that he had named him Peter, in allusion to his stability or firmness in professing the truth. The word translated to rock, is not the same word as Peter, but is of a similar meaning. Nothing can be more wrong than to suppose that Christ meant the person of Peter was the rock. Without doubt Christ himself is the Rock, the tried foundation of the church; and woe to him that attempts to lay any other! Peter’s confession is this rock as to doctrine. If Jesus be not the Christ, those that own him are not of the church, but deceivers and deceived. Our Lord next declared the authority with which Peter would be invested. He spoke in the name of his brethren, and this related to them as well as to him. They had no certain knowledge of the characters of men, and were liable to mistakes and sins in their own conduct; but they were kept from error in stating the way of acceptance and salvation, the rule of obedience, the believer’s character and experience, and the final doom of unbelievers and hypocrites. In such matters their decision was right, and it was confirmed in heaven. But all pretensions of any man, either to absolve or retain men’s sins, are blasphemous and absurd. None can forgive sins but God only. And this binding and loosing, in the common language of the Jews, signified to forbid and to allow, or to teach what is lawful or unlawful. (Mt 16:21-23)
B
buffalo
Guest
Oh Boy! Here we go.
THE CHURCH
Mt 16:18-19 - upon this rock I will build my Church
Mt 18:17 - if he refuses to listen even to the Church…
Mt 28:18-20 - go baptize and teach all nations
Mk 16:15-16 - go to whole world and proclaim gospel
Lk 10:16 - whoever hears you, hears me; rejects you, rejects me.
Jn 14:16, 26 - Holy Spirit with you always, teach/remind you of everything
Jn 16:13 - Spirit of truth will guide you to all truth.
1Tim 3:15 - Church is the pillar and foundation of truth.
The Church must be one
Jn 10:16 - there will be one fold and one shepherd.
Eph 4:3-6 - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father
Rom 16:17 - I urge that there be no divisions among you
1Cor 1:10 - I urge that there be no divisions among you
Phil 2:2 - be of same mind, united in heart thinking one thing
Rom 15:5 - God grant you to think in harmony with one another
Jn 17:17-23 - I pray that they may be one, as we are one
Jn 17:23 - that they may be brought to perfection as one
1Cor 12:13 - in one spirit we are baptized into one body
Rom 12:5 - we, though many, are one body in Christ
Eph 4:4 - one body, one Spirit, called to be one hope
Col 3:15 - the peace into which you were called in one body
Mt 16:18-19 - upon this rock I will build my Church (singular)
Mt 18:17 - tell it to THE Church; if he refuses to listen even to THE Church… (must be visible)
Apostolic Church
Jn 15;16 - Jesus chose special men to be his Apostles
Jn 20:21 - Jesus gave the Apostles his own mission
Lk 22:29-3 - Jesus gave them a kingdom
Mt 16:18 - Jesus built Church on Peter, the rock
Jn 10:16 - one shepherd to shepherd Christ’s sheep
Lk 22:32, Jn 21:17 - Peter appointed to be chief shepherd
Eph 4;11 - church leaders are hierarchical
1Tim 3:1, 8; 5:17 - identifies roles of bishops, priests, deacons
Tit 1:5 - commission for bishops to ordain priests
Authoritative Church
Mt 28:18-20 - Jesus delegates all power to Apostles
Jn 20:23 - power to forgive sin
1Cor 11:23-24 - power to offer sacrifice (Eucharist)
Lk 10:16 - power to speak with Christ’s voice
Mt 18:18 - power to legislate
Mt 18:17 - power to discipline
PAPACY & APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION
Primacy of Peter
Mt 16:18 - upon this rock (Peter) I will build my church
Mt 16;19 - give you keys of the kingdom; power to bind & loose
Lk 22:32 - Peter’s faith will strengthen his brethren
Jn 21:17 - given Christ’s flock as chief shepherd
Mk 16:7 - angel sent to announce Resurrection to Peter
Lk 24:34 - risen Jesus first appeared to Peter
Acts 1:13-26 - headed meeting which elected Matthias
Acts 2:14 - led Apostles in preaching on Pentecost
Acts 2:41 - received first converts
Acts 3:6-7 - performed first miracle after Pentecost
Acts 5:1-11 - inflicted first punishment: Ananias & Saphira
Acts 8:21 - excommunicated first heretic, Simon Magnus
Acts 10:44-46 - received revelation to admit Gentiles into Church
Acts 15:7 - led first council in Jerusalem
Acts 15:19 - pronounces first dogmatic decision
Gal 1:18 - after conversion, Paul visits chief Apostle
*Gal 2:11-14 - I opposed Cephas to his face for his hypocrisy
Peter’s name always heads list of Apostles: Mt 10;14; Mk 3:16-19; Lk 6:14-16; Acts 1:13
“Peter and his companions” Lk 9:32; Mk 16:7
Spoke for Apostles - Mt 18:21; Mk 8:29; Lk 8:45; 12:41; Jn 6:69
Peter’s name occurs 195 times, more than all the rest put together
B
buffalo
Guest
Priestly celibacy is a discipline of the Church. It could change tomorrow. (although it won’t)
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