Posted on 06/27/2015 6:34:38 PM PDT by Morgana
According to recent statistics, in the United States alone, there are 327,717 Protestant churches and 19,863 Catholic churches. However, despite the numerous individual congregations here and throughout the world, there’s really only one true Church.
Even though many churches have differences in doctrinal opinions or other characteristics, every church which is based on Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is a part of the true Church. Amazingly, there are thousands of different denominational and independent Christian churches who, for the most part, agree on the basic fundamentals of Christ, but who maintain their separate groups for relatively minor issues. They may not agree on all other matters of doctrine, interpretation, traditions, or the special emphasis placed on certain beliefs.
The true Church will be founded by Jesus Christ Himself in Mt 16:18. It would be built on Simon Peter, Mt 16:18. It would be defended by GOD Himself, Mt 16:18-19. It would have authority given by Jesus Christ, Mt 16:19,18:17-18. It would be guided by the Holy Spirit who will dwell within it, Jn 14:15-17, Act 15:28,16:6. It would be one and undivided, Mk 3:24-25. It would have one fold and one shepherd, Jn 10:16. It would have Priests, Bishops, and Deacons, 1Tim 3:1-13. It must have the Holy Communion celebration, Jn 6:42-70, Act 2:42. It must be found in all nations, Mt 28:19. It must be found in all centuries, Mt 28:20. It must offer the celebration of the sacrifice of the Mass, and offer incense and a ' Pure Offering, ' Malachi 1:11. Jesus Christ said He would be with His Church every day, in every year, until the end of the world, Mt 28:20.
The following list provides points on why otherdenominations are not the true Church:
1. Other churches do not have Authority and Apostolic succession and they deny Pope as unscriptural and also deny that Peter’s successors claim authority over the Church.
Before the Apostles passed on, they started a system, commanded by Jesus Christ, to pass the faith to successors. This was to insure the perpetuity of the Catholic Church which Jesus Christ founded. That system is called "Apostolic Succession” and it has an unbroken line of Popes throughout the ages.
Every Catholic Bishop can show his line of apostolic descent. That is, he can show who consecrated him, who consecrated his consecrator, and so on, all the way back to the Apostles. Jesus Christ vested in the Apostles special Apostolic authority that has been passed down in unbroken succession through the Bishops of the Church for almost two thousand years, so that the present Bishops of the Church truly teach with the voice of Jesus Christ through the Apostles ( Matt. 10:1,40, Matt. 16:19; 18:18, Luke 9:1; 10:19, Luke 22:29, Luke 10:16, Eph. 2:20, John 13:20, Acts 1:15-26, Jn 20:21,Acts 1:20, Jn 17:22-23, Jn 21:15-17, Heb 3:1,Acts 15:22-27, 1 Tim. 4:14, Sirach 45:15, Acts 15:7, Numbers 3:3, 2 Cor. 1:21-22, Acts 14:23 ,Lk 24:49, Jn 12:49 ,Mt 28:19-20, Jn 20:22-23, 1Thess 2:4).
Jesus Christ addressed Peter, and Peter only, when He gave Peter alone, the KEYS to the Kingdom of Heaven, and the power of "Binding and Loosening" of sins, or if you prefer, the "Sacrament of Reconciliation". Clearly, when Jesus addressed Peter only, and at the same time gave him a name change from Simon to Peter, he had appointed Peter as the "prime" Apostle. Later in Matt 18:18, Jesus gave the power of "Binding and Loosening" to all of the Apostles. After Jesus had risen from the dead, He appeared to all of the Apostles and again gave them the power of "Binding and Loosening" in John 20:22-23.
To further strengthen the "Primacy of Peter" Jesus addressed him only, in John 21:15-17, when He commanded him to "Feed My Sheep". As another example, Jesus commanded Simon Peter to strengthen his brethren in Luke 22:31-32.
Peter acknowledged his primacy, when at the Council of Jerusalem, he stood up and said, "Brethren, you know that in early days GOD made choice among us, that through MY mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel and believe." Acts 15:7
Peter's statement was singular in that the truth of the Gospel would come from the primacy of the Catholic Church, and that primacy is the Papacy.
Now that we have a Church Hierarchy guided by the Holy Spirit, one of their primary duties is to hold periodic Church Councils. These Councils are called in order to define revealed truths in Scripture and to address rising heresy, and other problems of the time. The Councils are attended by the Pope and the Bishops, and they are Biblical as evidenced by the following scriptures: "Where there is no Governor, the people shall fall; but there is safety where there is much Council." Prov 11:14
"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; but he that is Wise harkens unto Councils." Prov 12:15 "Designs are brought to nothing where there is no Council; but where there are many Counselors, they are established." Prov 15:22 (Prov 19:20, Prov 20:18, 1Macc 8:15-16, Isa 16:3).
Acts 15:12 - Only after Peter (the Pope) speaks, do Paul and Barnabas (bishops) speak in support of Peter's definitive teaching.
Acts 15:13-14 - Then James speaks to further acknowledge Peter's definitive teaching. "Simeon (Peter) has related how God first visited..."
Rom. 15:20 - Paul says he doesn't want to build on "another man's foundation" referring to Peter, who built the Church in Rome.
1 Cor. 9:5 - Peter is distinguished from the rest of the apostles and brethren of the Lord.
1 Cor. 15:4-8 - Paul distinguishes Jesus' post-resurrection appearances to Peter from those of the other apostles. Christ appeared “to Cephas, then to the twelve.”
Gal.1:18 - Paul spends fifteen days with Peter privately before beginning his ministry, even after Christ's Revelation to Paul.
1 Peter 5:1 - Peter acts as the chief bishop by "exhorting" all the other bishops and elders of the Church.
1 Peter 5:13 - Some Protestants argue against the Papacy by trying to prove Peter was never in Rome. First, this argument is irrelevant to whether Jesus instituted the Papacy. Secondly, this verse demonstrates that Peter was in fact in Rome. Peter writes from "Babylon" which was a code name for Rome during these days of persecution. See, for example, Rev. 14:8, 16:19, 17:5, 18:2,10,21, which show that "Babylon" meant Rome. Rome was the "great city" of the New Testament period. Because Rome during this age was considered the center of the world, the Lord wanted His Church to be established in Rome.
2 Peter 1:14 - Peter writes about Jesus' prediction of Peter's death, embracing the eventual martyrdom that he would suffer.
2 Peter 3:16 - Peter is making a judgment on the proper interpretation of Paul's letters. Peter is the chief shepherd of the flock.
Matt. 23:11; Mark 9:35; 10:44 - Yet Peter, as the first, humbled himself to be the last and servant of all servants.
2. Other churches have human founders. John Smyth, who originally was a bishop in the Church of England, left that church and fled to Holland. He, along with others, formed the first Baptist church around 1610. Now they have numerous Baptist Church divisions among themselves. Non-denominational is a term generally used to refer to one of two forms of independence: political or theological.
Jesus Christ has only one bride, and she is the Church...Jeremiah 16:9, John 3:28-29, Revelation 18:23, 19:7-8, 21:9. Some would say the Church was founded in Matthew 16:18, but Jesus Christ said He 'will ' build His Church on the 'rock' of Peter. Others say the Church was founded at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles in Acts 2:1-47. However that was when the Apostles were given the knowledge, and wisdom, and authority, with which to build the Church upon the cornerstone, which is Jesus Christ.
3. Other churches have many divisions of the Body of Christ and so much confusion. "GOD is not the author of confusion..."1Corinthians 14:33. If GOD is not the author of 33,800+ confused splits in His Body, then who is? It is caused by the disobedience of his creatures. "Has Christ been divided up?"1Corinthians 1:13." the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it." 127:1. Let no one lead you astray with empty words; for because of these things the wrath of GOD comes upon the children of disobedience. Do not, then, become partakers with them."
Ephesians 5:6-7 "The Scribes and Pharisees have sat on the chair of Moses. ALL things, therefore, that they command you, observe and do. But do not act according to their works; for they talk but do nothing.” Matthew 23:2-3. This is a command to be obedient regardless of individual feelings, and it comes from Jesus Christ.
4. Other churches partake in Lord’s Supper and observance of the supper “when they desire and it’s merely a symbol. Some of them ignore the true presence of Christ and they make accusations against such Catholic beliefs. Others forbid the drinking of wine during Lord’s supper.
In Matt. 26:27,29; Mark 14:23,25; Luke 22:17-18; 1 Cor. 11:25-27 , Jesus instituted the Eucharist using wine and commanded us to "do this in remembrance of me." We know that Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the Jewish seder meal, which required the use of wine. Yet some Protestant churches forbid drinking wine. Such a prohibition is not based on the Scriptures.
In Luke 7:33-34 , God the Son drank wine and was accused of being a drunk. Are those Protestant churches that forbid the drinking of wine doing the same?
In John 2:1-11, Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine which was drunk at the wedding at Cana. Wine is a symbol of the life of the Church, in both the Eucharist and, here, the sanctification of the sacrament of marriage. Verse 10 also indicates that the people drank enough wine at the feast to the point that they might not have recognized good wine from bad wine. Yet Jesus creates for them more wine to drink.
In 1 Tim. 5:23, Paul tells Timothy to drink not just water, but a little wine for the sake of his stomach and frequent ailments. If Paul, under divine inspiration, encourages the drinking of wine, why do some Protestant churches prohibit it?
In Gen. 14:18, Melchizedek offers a bread and wine sacrifice, and Jesus is the Priest in the same manner. Heb. 5:6,10; 6:20; 7:15,17.
In Gen. 27:25, Isaac brought Jacob wine, and he drank, with God's favor.
In Neh. 8:10, Nehemiah commands the faithful to drink sweet wine to celebrate the Lord and His holy day.
In Psalm 104:15, the Psalmist writes that "wine gladdens the heart of a man." God gave us the fruit of the vine to enjoy.
Ecclesiastes 9:7 states "drink your wine with a merry heart, for God approves what you do."
On the night of the Last Supper, He established the Priesthood, and commanded them to "Do this in remembrance of Me", thus perpetuating the Holy Eucharist, and fulfilling the prophecy of Malachi 1:11. In John 20:22-23, He breathed upon them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained". He thus empowered them to act in His Person, in "Persona Christi", (2Cor 2:10). The priest had become the hands and the voice of Jesus Christ.
Please read Matt 9:8, "But when the crowds saw it, they were struck with fear, and glorified GOD WHO HAD GIVEN SUCH POWER TO MEN."
1Cor 10:16 says, "The cup of the blessing that we bless, IS IT NOT THE SHARING OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST? And the bread that we break, IS IT NOT THE PARTAKING OF THE BODY OF THE LORD?"
Could St. Paul have said this any clearer than he did here? Where did he say the "symbolic" sharing or the "symbolic" partaking? This verse is absolutely to the point, and there is not a hint of symbolism anywhere.
Did you notice the BLESSING THAT WE BLESS, and the BREAD THAT WE BREAK?
Here, Saint Paul clearly stated that he and the other Apostles have the authority and the power
(Acts 1:8,2:2-4) describes how the Apostles call down "THE WORD" with their word, and then the cup (of wine) is no longer wine, but the Blood of Christ, and the bread is no longer bread, but the Body of Christ.
5. Other churches point out that there are scandals in Catholic Church. Jesus Christ warned us that there would be scandals in His Church. "Woe to the world because of scandals! For it must need be that scandals come, but woe to the man through whom scandal does come!" Matthew 18:7
And He said to His disciples, "It is impossible that scandals should not come; but woe to him through whom they come." Luke 17:1
These are the words of Jesus Christ Himself. Did He say the Church is the source, or the cause of the scandals? No, He said a person is. Remember, the Catholic Church is not a hotel for saints, it is a hospital for sinners (Mark 2:17).
In Matthew 13:24-30, Jesus Christ described His Church, the Kingdom of Heaven, as being a “field of wheat and weeds,” showing that there would be good and bad, saints and sinners, and everyone in between, in the Church until the day when He returned to judge the nations. This means that, sadly, there will be members of His Church, including priests and bishops, who are notorious sinners. We can see this sad reality even at the very beginning of the Church in the person of the Apostle Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ to His enemies (Matthew 26:16-23 ; Luke 22:47-49), and Simon Peter, who denied the Lord three times (Matthew 26:34, 75).
Notice that even Christ’s own hand-picked followers committed scandalous wicked acts! Even so, this did not negate or disprove the truth that Christ transmitted to the world through His Apostles (Mark 16:15). As Christ promised, in spite of the weakness and sinfulness — indeed, the scandals caused by priests and other Catholics, “the gates of hell will not prevail against” the Church. Also there are scandals among non-Catholics as well. Please visit the web http://www.reformation.com/.
6. Did any of these denominations receive authority from Holy Scripture to form their own ecclesial communities? According to the following scriptures:
"Behold I am against the prophets, said the Lord, who use their tongues, and say: The Lord said it. Behold I am against the prophets that have lying dreams, said the Lord, and tell them, and cause my people to err by their lying, and by their wonders, when I sent them not, nor commanded them, who have not profited this people at all, said the Lord." Jeremiah 23:31-32
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." 2Peter 2:1-2
"But these men deride whatever they do not know; and the things they know by instinct like the dumb beasts, become for them a source of destruction." 2Peter 2:12, Jude 1:10
7. Other members of other denominations appear to be the grumbling murmurers, haughty in speech, they cultivate people for the sake of gain and cause divisions as described in scripture: “These are grumbling murmurers walking according to their lusts. And haughty in speech, they cultivate people for the sake of gain. But as for you, beloved, be mindful of the words that have been spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, who kept saying to you that at the end of time there will come scoffers, walking impiously according to their lusts. These are they who set themselves apart, sensual men, not having the Spirit." Jude 1:16-19 "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which you have learned: and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." Romans 16:17-18
8. Many of the other denominations declare that the Holy Spirit is "teaching" them the truth. However, there can be only one truth.
How can the Holy Spirit be in each of the thousands of denominations teaching all of them opposing viewpoints? It is to be noted that all of the following denominations teach from the same Bible, so why the differences in teaching? Why are there so many doctrinal disputes which have arisen between them? There are approximately 37,000* non-Catholic Christian sects in the world today with more new ones appearing every week. All use the same Bible, yet each interpret it differently, and consequently they end up teaching "another Gospel" (Galatians 1:8-9). The sad part is that they all try to justify their existence, and thus their actions of further dividing the Body of Christ by claiming, "The Holy Spirit Told Me" the teaching of Jesus Christ, as He called for "One Fold with One Shepherd" (John 10:16).
These divisions of the Body of Christ are in opposition to the teaching of Holy Scripture, so how could it ever be possible that the Holy Spirit is prompting those who cause them?
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, THAT YOU ALL SAY THE SAME THING; AND THAT THERE BE NO DISSENSIONS AMONG YOU, BUT THAT YOU MAY BE PERFECTLY UNITED IN ONE MIND AND IN ONE JUDGMENT." 1Corinthians 1:10. See also 1Corinthians 11:17-22
"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. "Matthew 12:25 "Anyone who advances and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ, HAS NOT GOD; he who abides in the doctrine, he has both the Father and the Son." 2John 1:9
"For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" 1Peter 4:17
The Bible is very explicit that those who cause these divisions are not from GOD, so therefore, the Holy Spirit could not possibly be prompting other denominations. "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of GOD; because many false prophets have gone forth into the world. By this is the spirit of GOD known: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of GOD. AND EVERY SPIRIT THAT SEVERS JESUS, IS NOT OF GOD, BUT IS OF ANTICHRIST, of whom you have heard that He is coming, and now is already in the world."
1John 4:1-3 warns Satan will give you 99 truths if he can get you to swallow one lie.
Many things yet I have to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when HE, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, has come, HE WILL TEACH YOU ALL THE TRUTH. For He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He will hear He will speak, and THE THINGS THAT ARE TO COME HE WILL DECLARE TO YOU." John 16:12-13
"We are of GOD. He who knows GOD listens to us; he who is not of GOD does not listen to us. BY THIS WE KNOW THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH AND THE SPIRIT OF ERROR." 1John 4:6
There are three spirits, anyone one of which could be the one who is prompting a person.
1. There is first the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, and His prompting is from GOD.
2. Then there is the human spirit which manufactures the prompts through the imagination and other human traits.
3. Finally, there is the evil spirit and its prompting is straight from Satan.
The Spirit of truth is in the Church of truth, the Church which Jesus Christ founded.
How do we determine which Spirit is prompting each of us? Holy Scripture gives us the answer.
"And we are witnesses to these things, and SO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN TO ALL WHO OBEY HIM." Acts 5:32
All who obey Him are prompted by the Holy Spirit. The disobedient are prompted by one of the other spirits.
"Obey your prelates and be subject to them. For they watch as being to render an account of your souls: that they may do this with joy and not with grief. For this is not expedient for you." Hebrews 13:17
This is a command from GOD. If GOD is first in your lives, it is a good sign that the Holy Spirit is prompting you.
9. Other churches are wrong in teaching the plan of salvation.
They teach that a person is saved by prayer. I could tell several incidents in which people were saved by prayer according to the Baptists. One Sunday night three boys, who were alien sinners, a preacher, and myself, all engaged in prayer until the boys arose and confessed that they were saved.
An alien sinner is not saved by prayer. John 9:31 says, "Now we know that God heareth not sinners, but if any man be a worshipper of God and doeth his will, him he heareth." It is God’s will that we "obey the gospel" (II Thess. 1:8) . The gospel commands us to be baptized into Christ "for the remission of sins." (Gal. 3:27; Acts 2:38). We have not done God’s will until we have been baptized into Christ. Hear Isaiah, "Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear." (Isa. 59:2). We are to pray for the lost, that’s true (Rom. 10:1), but the gospel, not prayer, "is the power of God unto salvation." (Rom. 1:16).
Paul says in II Cor. 5:11, "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men." Some people try to persuade God to save the sinner, but Paul persuaded the sinner to obey God. God is willing to save all who will obey. (II Peter 3:9; Titus 2:11; I Tim. 2:4; Heb. 5:9). "God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have OBEYED from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you, being THEN made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." (Romans 6:17-18).
10. Other denominations teach that sinners are saved by faith only.
They say, "All you have to do is believe, and He will save you." Article 5 of their Declaration of Faith, page 48, says that justification is "solely through faith." James says just the opposite, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." (James 2:24). Their doctrine of faith only breaks down on the chief rulers of John 12:42-43. "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." Were the chief rulers saved? If you say "yes," then you disagree with the Apostle John for he says, "every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God." (1 John 4:3). If you say they did not believe, then you disagree with the Apostle John again, for he says they "believed on Him." Sometimes Baptists try to dodge the force of this argument by saying they believed on, not in Him. The Greek is "eis," the strongest expression in this respect in the Greek language.
11. Other denominations do not administer Bible Baptism, they ignore the faith of parents, and they limit Baptism to the Age accountability etc.
Within the pages of the Holy Scriptures you will find that there are a number of different baptisms. These different forms of Baptism are listed below.
1) Baptism of repentance
2) Baptism into the body of Christ
3) Baptism in water
4) Baptism into the Holy Spirit
5) Baptism with Fire.
(Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:7-8, Luke 7:29-30, Luke 20:4, John 3:5, Romans 10: 9-13, Hebrews 10:22, Luke 12:50,Joel. 2:28, Romans 6:3-4, 1 Corinthians 1:13-17, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:27, Ephesians 5:26, Galatians 3:26-27, Acts 8:12-13, Acts 16:15, Acts 1:22)
John’s baptism is out of date. In Acts 19:1-5 we find where Paul re-baptized twelve men who had received John ' s baptism. Aquila and Priscilla took a preacher who knew "only the baptism of John" and "expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly." (Acts 18:24-26).
Baptists baptize people whom they claim already have received the remission of sins. "There is an actual, a real remission of sins when we believe in Christ--there is a declarative, formal, symbolic remission in baptism." (Baptist Church Manual, p. 13).
The Bible plainly states that baptism is FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS (Acts 2:38), or to wash away sins (Acts 22:16).
Baptists do not baptize a person into Christ, but rather, into the Baptist Church. They say any such person is in Christ before baptism. Hear Paul, "For as many of you as have been BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST have put on Christ." (Gal. 3:27) .
Baptist baptism must be on a condition that one is already saved. Bible baptism puts a person into Christ where salvation is. (1 Cor. 12:13; Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:3; II Cor. 5:17; Rom. 6:4; II Tim. 2:10).
Inasmuch as Christian baptism is "for the remission of sins," or to "wash away sins," and to get "into Christ," or "put on Christ," and Baptists do not administer Christian baptism, as has just been pointed out, then it follows that those who obeyed the Baptist plan of Salvation have missed the Lord ' s plan of Salvation, and they are therefore not members of the New Testament Church, the Body of Christ, and have not had their sins remitted, and are not saved.
Many members of other churches will say, "Oh but I know I’m saved." "Well, how do you know it?" "Oh, I just know it. I feel like I am." "What makes you feel like you are saved?" "Because I’m saved," they will say. Saved because they feel good, and feel good because they are saved? Such people prefer their feelings to anything the Bible says. I am not opposed to a person’s feeling good about being a Christian, but I am opposed to a person claiming to be a Christian just because he feels good. Feelings are based on faith. If you will study the scriptures with an open mind rather than through your feelings, you will then begin to feel differently. You will feel that you should turn from the human organization, the Baptist Church and obey the gospel of Christ because the Bible teaches you to do that. Don’t follow your feelings. FOLLOW THE BIBLE and FOLLOW CHRIST.
Where is this stated in the Bible? Not only will you not find this statement in the Bible, you will not find any of the phrases found in the Bible either. Show me where we even read the phrase, "accept Jesus." You will not find it. Show me where you will find the Bible say "personal Savior." You will not find it either. We ought to be concerned and see some red flags when we cannot find in the Bible the very phrases the religious world uses to teach people that they are saved. There must be a problem if I cannot find these things in the scriptures. Further, show me one example of someone accepting Jesus as their personal Savior. Not only will we not read in the Bible we are to accept Jesus as our personal Savior to be saved, but you do not read of any person saying that they did this. Further, I believe we need to ask what this phrase means? What does it mean to accept Jesus as your personal Savior? How do I accept Jesus as my personal Savior? But how does one do this? Can I simply say the words that I accept Jesus as my personal Savior? Is this enough? Can the criminal or murderer do nothing more than utter simple words? Is this all that the Lord requires of me for salvation? Not only does it go against the scriptures, but it goes against our logic. Do we allow our criminals under our legal system to simply say that they are sorry and we let them go free? No, that is completely unacceptable. The criminal has to change his life, show true contrition, and obey the laws of our government before consideration will be given to be released into society again. So why do we believe that God will simply overlook all wrongs by saying sorry? Why do we think that sorry is what God has required of us? When someone wrongs us, is a simple statement of words enough? No, we want to see more than that. We want to see repentance and change. Well, so does the Lord. We should not think that God is some sort of push over that we can do what we want and give a tongue in cheek sorry and everything will be okay.
All disciples are to be baptized. So Infants and children are disciples and hence they can be baptized. "And Jesus came and said to them, ' All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"(Matthew 28:18-19).
Paul places children within covenant which he does, not on the basis of their profession of faith but merely that of a believing parent. As he states "or the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy" (1 Corinthians 7:14). Given such things as: holiness, receiving biblical guidance, kingdom membership, and the ability to give God acceptable praise, it seems we cannot deny the status of disciple from the children of believers
It is clear that the blessing and promise of salvation were not just for adults, but for children as well. And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself’” (Acts 2:38,39) The children mentioned here were young enough to still be considered under the protection and authority of their parents. Although this is only indirect Scriptural evidence, the fact that the Bible mentions that entire “households” were baptized does make it seem probable that children and infants were included.
“Now I did baptize the household of Stephanas ...” (I Corinthians 1:16) (An angel spoke to Cornelius saying) “Send to Joppa, and have Simon, who is called Peter, brought here; and he shall speak words to you by which you will be saved, and all your household.” (Later, when Peter arrived at Cornelius’ household) “...he ordered them to be baptized.” (Acts 11:13b, 14; Acts 10:48a) “And when she (Lydia of Thyatira) and her household had been baptized...” (Acts 16:31, 33b)
The Bible never gives one example of the baptism of a Christian child as an adult, when a child’s capacity to believe the Gospel is developed enough so that he can receive baptism. Neither does the Bible state that every child is in a “suspended state of salvation” until they have reached this age, which one would have to believe if he held to the “age of accountability” theory.
As we know through one man sin is entered the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men.” (Romans 5:12) For this reason “...there are none righteous, not even one” (i.e. not infants). (Romans 3:10) how are these young ones saved from the sin they have received from Adam’s race? They are saved through the regenerative power of baptism and the faith of the Church.
“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration (baptism) and renewing by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5)
Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” (Acts 2:38) “Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.’” (John 3:5) “...when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water, and corresponding to that, baptism now saves you.” (I Peter 3:20,21)
Circumcision, the sign of God’s covenant between the people of Abraham and Himself, was performed on every male child who was eight days old (Genesis 7:12).
Many see a direct parallel between circumcision and Christian baptism in Scriptural passages such as Colossians 2:11,12:
“And in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism...”
If baptism is the “New Testament circumcision” there can definitely be no objection to “sealing” the infant of a consecrated Christian family in Christ’s New Covenant.
b) Moses’ leading his people through the Red Sea is seen as an Old Testament foreshadowing of Christian baptism. The following New Testament passage clearly points to this:
“For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all at the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them, and that rock was Christ.” (I Corinthians 10:1-4).
It is worthwhile to note that “all were baptized” through Moses’ leadership in crossing over the Red Sea. He did not leave the infants or children on the shores of Egypt to become prey to the angry armies of Pharaoh because they were not old enough to believe in the promise of the Old Covenant. Rather, entrusted to the arms of their parents’ faith, they were carried through the “baptism of Moses.”
c) The saving of Noah’s entire family by the ark can also be seen as a foreshadowing of a baptism which includes infants. All that needs to be said, as in the case of Moses’ passing through the Red Sea, is that the entire family was on board the ark. Why should we leave infants out of the ark of baptism?
“And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better from him if with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.” (Mark 9:42)
“For behold, when the sound of your greeting (Theotokos) reached my ears (Elizabeth), the baby (John the Baptist) leaped in my womb for joy.” (Luke 1:44)
“Infants are baptized for the remission of sins. What sins? Whenever have they sinned? In fact, of course, never. And yet: ‘No one is free from defilement.’ (Job 14:4) But defilement is only put away by the mystery of baptism. That is the reason why infants too are baptized.”
There is ... one Lord, one faith, ONE baptism.” (Ephesians 4:4,5) If you have been baptized once, there is no need to be baptized again.
God includes the children of believers as members of this church.
The living God himself embraced the children of believers as members of his church. Genesis 17:7—"I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you."
Some Scriptures which support the possibility of an “infant faith” are:
“Yet Thou are He who didst bring me forth from the womb; Thou didst make me trust when upon my mother’s breast.” (Psalm 22:9)
“And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better from him if with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.” (Mark 9:42)
Christian parents, this means that you must actively nurture your children in the Christian faith. You may not treat your children as neutral until they are "old enough to make their own decision." In baptism, God has laid claim to your child. Thus, you must train your children to respond with faith and obedience to the Christ of the covenant. God deals with individuals, as well as with families. When God baptizes you into Christ, you become part of the Body of Christ, which is the worldwide family of God.
To get the full flavor of this truth, we ought to see the entire New Testament witness. Look at these verses one by one, remembering the normal meaning that any Jew or instructed Gentile would attach to the word "house" and let the cumulative force of these verses overwhelm you:
Matthew 10:12-14 "And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet."
Luke 19:9 "And Jesus said to him, ' Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham’ “ All baptized persons have a right to be instructed in the faith. The child down the street doesn’t have this right, but ours do. The parents have taken a vow to raise that child "in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord."
When a baptized person strays away, we don’t just let them go. They have a right to be exhorted, admonished, censured, removed from fellowship, and excommunicated as a last attempt to restore them to the flock. We do not pursue the children of the world in this way. But our own children have a right to this.
I certainly do not hold the catholic church responsible. What is in the hearts of those who rendered this ruling is twisted to the uttermost. And they have committed a treacherous act, IMHO.
...” most Catholics will stay faithful to that “Church”...
Yes most will, as Jesus did tell us the way is wide that leads to destruction. But I do pray so for those who truly and sincerely seek Jesus over catholic churchianity, that they will heed the trumpet warning, before it’s too late, and come out from her.
If you know there were five centers in Jerusalem, Alexandria, Rome, Constantinople, and Antioch, why are you not, at least, Orthodox ?
If one knows the scriptures, one knows that in the First Century the Messiah gave blessed Peter the authority of the keys to the kingdom of heaven and the power to bind and loose. There was apostolic succession by the laying on of hands and they appointed bishops in more than just the five cities aforementioned.
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Your effort to conflate the devised institution of catholicism with the spiritual body of Christ is rejected, by many of US on these threads. And that is the WE to which I refer. Some catholics are members of the Body of Christ, but the catholic institution is not that body.
Can you provide a historical, visible, universal, alternative for the one holy catholic apostolic church that is physically present in every generation from the First Century to this day ?
BTW, I do not capitalize 'catholic' because capitalizing is a form of respect and I have none for your religion of popery foolery.
Admitting what one does, however inadvertent, is a first step toward confession of sin and reconciliation.
And I join you in that prayer.
Are you not familiar with the beginning of the Church and the church? How many offices of the church were there among The Church in the Upper Room, at Pentecost, in the House of Cornelius? What was the reason for the appointing of Stephen? Who presided over the first church Council at Jerusalem? Who issued the first pronouncement of that council meeting ... which member of The Church issued that first proclamation from the church at Jerusalem? When did the Apostles begin appointing deacons and other servant members of The Church to function in service to the church? And finally, when did the Bishoprics for The Church members which arose from this organizational development of the church become combined under ‘The Primate of all Bishops’?
The word 'tetelestai' was used in the same markets to signify the transaction is finished, done. It was also written on the prisoner's penalty page to signify the penalty was paid in full when they were released from imprisonment.
Salvation is synonymous with Justification, in my calculus, because The Bible aligns us as at enmity with God, then we are in need of making restitution/getting right with God somehow, if possible. [I will spare readers my long-winded explanation of getting right with God.]
Jesus made that restitution on the Cross. So, believing in Him as Redeemer and Lord, we are justified, marked clean from guilt toward God. It is because of this 'cleansing' that God then enters the spirit of the 'being born from above'.
Only God is Righteous, so if we are to do works of righteousness we must have His life in us to carry it forward. That's why I'm fond of connecting being born from above with being then raised up in the Way that we should go, as members in God's adopted family.
The most astonishing contrast between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant Jesus instituted is the reality that God justifies us then puts His Life in us! we are literally reborn in a moment, the moment we believe He is Messiah and Lord, our Lord. ... And lest we forget, no man can take us out of the two hands of God. That no man includes me, even I cannot take me out of His hands. The Promises of God are ALWAYS fulfilled. He spoke worlds into existence. He can speak my security for everlasting.
And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Lest a heretic mock the church of the Laodiceans for being catholic, and thus the Messiah himself, I would remind such a one that if judgment begins with the house of God and we scarcely be saved, the future of a an illegitimate, heretical faith community attendee who despises the one holy catholic apostolic church is ... unprofitable.
In the usual style, the Jews prior to the New Covenant opened to Jews and Gentiles, are conflated with all periods after the Resurrection. I’m not impressed with such foolishness. By merely applying the tool of dispensational perspective such erros could be avoided. Of course it would diminish the nicolaitan hold the RCC claims on people.
That the atonement of Christ was substitutionary, with Him taking responsibility for what we did wrong, and paying the price Divine justice requires for our sins to be forgiven, on His account. But why must it be limited only to those who appropriate it by redemptive faith?
Surely it does not impugn the character or ability of God to provide grace to all, and allow the lost to reject it. The wedding feast was prepared for all, but not all responded to the call to come, (Mt. 22:1-14) and grace can be received in vain, (1Co. 15:2; 2Co. 6:1; Heb. 6:4-8) though as with God's word, it will accomplish His purposes. In which grace is given, and when rejected it justifies God as gracious and condemns man as wicked, and God judges man based upon the light and grace given.
Yet it is hardly tenable to believe that every NT convert understood theological nature of the atonement, but they did believe that Christ died for our sins and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day, (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) and that repentance and remission of sins in his name (Luke 24:47) is offered to all who believe with effectual faith. (Rm. 10:9,10; Heb. 6:9,10)
It is obvious the RC position finds fault with penal substitution as an understanding of the atonement, probably most importantly because it negates the need for ongoing propitiation for sin in the mass.
More specifically, which is due to the unScriptural literalistic rendering,of the Lord's Supper into "the same sacrifice with that of the cross...a sacrifice of propitiation, by which God is appeased and rendered propitious,.” (The Catechism of the Council of Trent, Published by Command of Pope Pius the Fifth (New York: Christian Press, 1905), p. 175) with Jesus continually sacrificing Himself thru the hands of men uniquely ordained as "priests" - unseen in the NT church - who have God obeying them to become flesh and blood - which no NT clergy seen doing - and is eaten in order to obtain spiritual life - which is nowhere the means of obtaining spiritual life.
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