Vlad — in that passage of Scripture, Jesus is speaking to His **disciples**, not only to Peter or His other Apostles.
I am a disciple of Jesus, and therefore (according to the passage you’ve referenced) have been given the authority to offer forgiveness in Jesus’ name.
For what it’s worth, I appreciate the clarity that this discussion has provided — Roman Catholics believe that salvation is not found in Christ alone, but in their particular denomination. And those who aren’t members of their denomination are not able to experience the fullness of Christ. Indeed, they may not even be forgiven and saved if they only trust in Jesus, and are not members of the wayward Roman Catholic Church. I appreciate how such heresy has been so clearly stated by certain Roman Catholic FReepers in this discussion. May this discussion lead people away from Rome and instead toward unadulterated faith in Jesus, our Savior.
Thumbs up^^
Thank you. I could not have stated it any better.
Thank you. I could not have stated it any better.
You wrote:
“Vlad — in that passage of Scripture, Jesus is speaking to His **disciples**, not only to Peter or His other Apostles.”
Even if that were the case, it would in no way negate what I have said.
“I am a disciple of Jesus, and therefore (according to the passage you’ve referenced) have been given the authority to offer forgiveness in Jesus’ name.”
No. You are not a commissioned disciple. You have no such power.
“For what it’s worth, I appreciate the clarity that this discussion has provided — Roman Catholics believe that salvation is not found in Christ alone, but in their particular denomination.”
No one here said that. Also, you cannot divide the Church from Christ - which is what you are doing even if you don’t realize it. The Church is Christ’s body. Those who want to belong fully to Chist want to belong to His Church and not some latter day sect set up sometime after 1500.
“And those who aren’t members of their denomination are not able to experience the fullness of Christ.”
I’ve never been in a denomination. I’m in the Church. Only Protestants really have denominations. And no, someone outside the Church cannot experience the fullness of Christ as He ordained it to be in earthly life - after all the Church is His body. Again, you are dividing Christ from His Church in your thinking.
“Indeed, they may not even be forgiven and saved if they only trust in Jesus, and are not members of the wayward Roman Catholic Church.”
Again we see in your comments a distorted view of reality. That is to be expected from sectarians who mentally divide Christ from His body.
“I appreciate how such heresy has been so clearly stated by certain Roman Catholic FReepers in this discussion.”
I appreciate how easy it is for Protestant sectarians to apparently invent things out of thin air, deny scripture, twist scripture, and be just plain wrong. When someone is in a man-made sect then that is to be expected.
“May this discussion lead people away from Rome and instead toward unadulterated faith in Jesus, our Savior.”
Unadulterated faith in Christ would naturally entail love of His Church and avoidance of man-made sects. Some people welcome the grace to have that unadulterated faith and be members of His body. Others remain Protestant and just post on FreeRepublic.
Could there be any connection between the prideful superiority of the Catholic church and its Pope and the serious problem with pedophile priests? Sandusky had the same kind of superior pridefulness and inability to even realize that he was wrong. Any institution which has an overwhelmingly inflated opinion of its own perfection stands in danger of serious mistakes, even a great University. The Greeks call it HUBRIS.