Posted on 04/20/2015 1:46:59 PM PDT by NYer
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of Witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us...Hebrews 12:1
Wonder why Paul needs witnesses? Isn’t God enough?
Praying to the dead is strictly forbidden in the Bible. Deuteronomy 18:11 tells us that anyone who “consults with the dead” is “detestable to the Lord.” The story of Saul consulting a medium to bring up the spirit of the dead Samuel resulted in his death “because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance” (1 Samuel 28:1-25; 1 Chronicles 10:13-14). Clearly, God has declared that such things are not to be done.
http://www.gotquestions.org/praying-to-the-dead.html
Amen.
Could you produce the infallible interpretation of this part of Hebrews for us??
This proves the complete inability of Romanists to rightly interpret the word of God.. it is sad
Lets look at this
THERE WERE NO CHAPTERS IN THE EPISTLES WHEN WRITTEN ...So Chapter 11 and Chapter 12 are the same topic..
So what is the topic of chapter 11???
IT IS THE ROLL CALL OF SAINTS SAVED BY FAITH4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
THEY WERE WITNESSES TO US... NOT WITNESSING US
I pray to Jesus only. He is the Answer not some dead person.
The Saints who have passed aren't dead. Neither are they asleep in the ground. Corrinthians 5 says that to be absent the body is to be present with Christ. It doesn't make sense that we would sleep in the ground when there is no condemnation against us.
Scripture is very supportive of enlisting others to prayer. "where two or more are gathered.." And that's what I understand Roman Catholic theology is basically advocating.
But are the saints omnipresent that they can hear our prayers? or omniscient that they can know our thoughts if the prayer is not voiced? Because if they aren't, then for the saints to hear the prayers, then the Holy Spirit is going to have to pass the prayers to them in order for them to hear.
So without looking down on the catholic practice of praying to the saints, it always made sense to me, to just go straight to the source, to "boldly enter the throne room" and lay our petitions before Him. Or to enlist the help of living saints, rather than enlist the help of past saints which may or may not be able to hear or which might be inundated.
Gee, I thought God was omnipresent!
You make Him sound like this:
1 Kings 17:26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped round the altar that they had made. 27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.”
Isn’t here a scene from Monty Python where 20 crusaders are about to be wiped out by a horde of Muslims. A fight breaks on between a Dominican and a Franciscan monk.
“Free will” “No predestination” they yell as they roll on the ground choking each other.
As this fight breaks out the horde on the hill starts charging.
Somehow your postings always seem to remind me of that.
In Matthew 16:19 Jesus gives authority over his Church to Peter, to bind and loose: "Whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in heaven."
In Matthew 18:18, he gives the power to all the apostles: "Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in heaven."
The Apostles passed this authority on, down through the millennia to their successors through the laying on of hands.
Great movie.
Being a God of the living and not the dead does not mean we should pray to those alive in Christ who are in Heaven. It means those who believed in Him have life ever after.
As a Protestant, my biggest issue with the Catholic Church is it seems the the vast majority of their prayers are to Mary, not Jesus or God. I don’t see how that reconciles I with John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
Mary has a special place in history; she willingly submitted to God’s call on her life. And that calling was huge. But so have many others throughout history.
And you know this how?
We can read
Do not confuse them
Words mean things..
I pray to God, Jesus, Mary, and a ton of Saints. I am covered. Heaven should just give me an express pass so I don’t have to stand in line waiting for the St. Peters to allow me to enter pearly gates. Yep I am that good. lol.
If you are praying to anyone besides God through Jesus, you are already doing it wrong
Do you ask another believer to keep you when you need prayers from them in their prayers to Jesus/God?
Well it is the SAME THING.
Please see post number 38. Thank-you.
You are fully covered by praying to Jesus You do not need anyone else.
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