PJM;5514678 said:
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***I have read many wonderful responses but none that specifically respond to the question. Lest we be accused of not being able to, I offer the following possibilities.
1 Jn. 1:8 ******
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
It seems to me that this is the logical and factual place to began our explanation. From here we point out a highly significant difference in the “theology of personal Salvation.” The Catholic position is that it must and always does include Faith, combined with Works. James Chapter 2 is the clearest evidence of this FACT.
The question then is what is the purpose of Thee Church and what are its charges and mandates, In order to reply to this a brief explanation must be given for Mt. 16:18-19, Mt. 18:18; Mt. 28:19-20 and 1 John 4:6. And Jn. 10:1-3, Isaiah 22. All provided below for you’re edification.
Mt. 16: “15 He said to them,… 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
This is the single most important set of verses as it deals with the founding of the RCC and the Primacy of Peter, on which every other teaching rest.
Of great significance was the location of “the district of Caesarea Philippi,” in which to found His new Church with the mandate of Mt. 28:20, “go therefore and teach all nations.” Christ as God has a singular unerring purpose for what He does, says and teaches.
“Caesarea Philippi,” was selected because it was on the mountain [like when He gave the Commandments and Sermon on the Mount] and because it was the location of a very large and highly significant Pagan Temple. Christ intended to show that what He was about to do was to be in opposition to Satan and Pagan [all false religions] religious practices.]
Thee extensive and intentional use of singular tense words; “I, you, Peter, My, Church, rock, are all notably singular as ONE CHURCH and ONE Leader is exactly what Christ envisioned and founded.
Of equal significance are the terms “what ever you [Peter] bind or loose.”
Why? Because then as now Jerusalem [and other cites] were walled and fortified, with real gates and real keys. Further it was common at this time for each city so enclosed to have their own king [and kingdom] and ONE PERSON who answered ONLY to thee king as “keeper of the key’s.” This person always has total and autonomous rule and governance over the kingdom; including the obligation to make and enforce laws, to punish offenders and to freely appoint assistants.
That is precisely the power given by King Jesus, “I give YOU [Peter] thee [all of them] key’s to My Kingdom. Everyone present knew what Jesus was saying and doing. Thee terms “bind” and loose” were common, binding at Jewish Law and a normal expectation for one Given the power and authority of “thee Key’s.” There was and is, no lack of clarity and specific meaning by Jesus!
As further evidence of this indisputable fact, we include the following evidence.
Luke 22:28 "You are those who have continued with me in my trials; 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Isaiah 22: Re: PETER (and Jesus)“ 22 And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. 23 And I will fasten him like a peg in a sure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father’s house. 24 And they will hang on him the whole weight of his father’s house, the offspring and issue, every small vessel,”
1 John 4: 4 Little children, you are of God, and have overcome them; for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world, therefore what they say is of the world, and the world listens to them. We are of God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and he who is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
John 10: 1"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; 2 but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
In closing allow me to offer another reminder from the message and teachings of Christ Jesus.
2 Tim. 3: 16 “All scripture is inspired by God and * profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
Romans 10: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ. “
You have much to learn about Scripture.
***My dear Bible expert friend. I provided an entire Chapter, [James Chapter 2] not simply a single verse in support of the Catholic teaching. Additionally I provided additional verses as evidence.
Either the Bible is TRUE, or it is not! You can’t have it both way’s.
The idea that “the entire bible” is required to support it’s teachings any and one assumes all teachings is highly suspect, and actually lessens the importance of the multiplicity of teachings and messages contained therein.
It seems easier for a non-catholic to provide what they think the Bible is saying, because you’re understanding by default becomes God’s teaching:shrug: Catholics must and can only teach in communion with Chruch teachings. That is what God Has [not had…has] in mind.
Love and prayers,***
Hey, no problem.