Posted on 02/28/2008 6:25:40 AM PST by Manfred the Wonder Dawg
ROMAN CATHOLICISM: A DIFFERENT GOSPEL
In their lust for unity the Emergent Church and post-evangelical “Protestants” are right now embracing the Roman Catholic Church as another Christian denomination. But the issue is simple: If, as taught the Church of Rome, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without “the new birth in baptism” then we are now in hopeless contradiction with the Gospel contained in Holy Scripture.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8)
Speaking The Truth In Love
Let me make this as clear as I possibly can for the Roman Catholics who may read this work in Christ from Apprising Ministries. I personally am former member of the Church of Rome and care very deeply about those, such as the majority of my own family line, who are trapped in this apostate man-made system of religion known as Roman Catholicism. I also fully realize that what I say may sound “unloving” and possibly even “harsh.” However, there is just nothing that I can do about that. By not telling the Truth we aren’t doing anyone a service.
(Excerpt) Read more at apprising.org ...
the HS is not at man's command and that includes any priest or pastor. He lists where He will. Just going through a ritual does not gift one with the Holy Spirit. the proof is in your own church. how many untold numbers have supposedly been baptized as infants, and grow up without a clue as to the saving nature of Christ.
Yet they all differ in their doctrines. The Church is the "pillar and bulwark of the truth." This was guaranteed by Christ Himself. therefore, the true Church must be unified in doctrine and preserve the same from the beginning. For you to go to all sorts of different church bodies merely makes one presuppose that you ratify the divisions between them. But these divisions clearly cannot be the will of God! You must use discernment to sort out the various sources for this division, until you have distilled from the confusion the one source of doctrine that has remained pure, and, from which purity, its ratification as God's self-willed doctrine can be inferred. Only one Church qualifies. For the reasons I've given elsewhere on this thread, the church in question is not post-Reformational!
For instance:
36?-67 Period Peter leads the new Christian Church, moves the church headquarters from Jerusalem to Rome
Pure speculation. No valid historical record exists.
Mattias was a mistake God selected Saul in his own time and method.. for Judas replacement.. just because the Apostle did something does make it right.. they made lots of mistaks.. all of them..
The Reformation led to the end of that stuff.
good find..
Right on Sister!
It's all from God.
If it is not factual... PROVE IT...
And as to what was destroyed, well, I dunno. You would think that the church would have destroyed Origen by that account, or Tertullian, who held some heterodox opinions. Or suppressed the condemnation of Honorius I, which certainly doesn't look good for the Roman See.
This is really the key point. Is the church a physical institution, or is it the body of believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit? I think the latter, I believe you think the former.
Exactly, although I'd mix what you said and say the Church is a visible institution filled with believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit! :)
If the church is the body of indwelt believers there is no reason to believe they would all be wrong on a theological issue such as Baptism.
Right! But why is there any reason to believe the "indwelt believers" who presumably made up the Church in the first place (including the Fathers) would have gone so far astray on this? I think your sensibility on this is 100% correct. :)
The only way the entire body of the church could end up wrong on a theological issue is if all authority were invested in a man, or group of men. Humans are fallible, even if they claim not to be.
But yet, the Apostles certainly taught infallibly, and the Scriptures written by men are certainly infallible. It appears God can, in certain limited circumstances, give even to men the power to teach with a charism that He alone has.
Amen, and of course, then there’s Simon Magus.
“It is faith in Christ, as our Savior, that saves. Baptism is an outward expression of that belief.”
I think it is clear from just these two passages, belief precedes baptism.
Acts 8:35-37, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
Acts 10:42-47, “And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?”
Yes I learned from your homepage that you’re witty, glad you told us
This charisma you speak of is mental not spiritual..
God(Holy Spirit) bestows gifts men do not..
But men do elect officers to their Clubs(denominations,sects)..
yes, we make a confession of faith and then are baptized, not the other way around, yet there are churches who insist on doing it backwards, thinking that holy water saves.
I. Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace, immediately instituted by God, to represent Christ and his benefits, and to confirm our interest in him: as also to put a visible difference between those that belong unto the Church, and the rest of thw world; and solemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ, according to his Word.
II. There is in every sacrament a spiritual relation, or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing signified; whence it comes to pass that the names and effects of the one are attributed to the other.
III. The grace which is exhibited in or by the sacraments, rightly used, is not conferred by any power in them; neither doth the efficacy of a sacrament depend upon the piety or intention of him that doth administer it, but upon the work of the Spirit, and the word of institution, which conatins, together with a precept authorizing the use thereof, a promise of benefit to worthy receivers.
IV. There be only two sacraments ordained by Christ our Lord in the gospels, that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord: neither or which may be dispensed by any but a minister of the Word, lawfully ordained.
V. The sacraments of the Old Testament, in regard of the spiritual things thereby signified and exhibited, were, for substance, the same with those of the New.
VI. The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinancy the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited and conferred by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God's own will, in his appointed time.
The only "condition" for our salvation is Jesus Christ on the cross whose blood was shed for His sheep.
I always hope RCs read their Bibles to know context as well as a verse.
The Holy Spirit is spirit; the water of regeneration is spirit. We are spiritually-reborn.
Just like Jesus is the "bread from heaven," but He is not a loaf of Wonderbread in the sky. He is our spiritual sustenance.
Our baptism is by the Holy Spirit who employs water as a sign and symbol of our status as His adopted children. The water does not save anyone. God alone by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit saves the fallen sinner. Take your eyes off the material word and raise them to the spiritual world. That's where salvation resides.
Nicodemus was having trouble understanding how a man could be "born again" when he is already old. John explained it isn't another earthly, human birth, but a spiritual rebirth. Spiritually, not materialistically.
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?" -- John 3:4-12 "Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
John chastised Nicodemus for not understanding the spiritual truth of a believer's rebirth and his new life in Christ.
John continually stresses that while he is baptizing with water, it is merely a symbol of the heavenly baptism God bestows on His own.
He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." -- John 3:27,30-36"John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven...
The gift of faith in the Son is what saves us; faith alone through grace alone in Christ alone.
"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." -- John 7:37-38"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." -- John 6:35
Spiritual waters, spiritually-discerned.
Sorry my friend, you put it forth to begin with, it is your obligation to support it, not I. Further, it appears that you have by your silence agreed that the website posted it for its own purposes - true? So, do you still believe everything you read on the internet?
Thank you.
I went to new advent and found a passing reference on the Synod at Soissons as well.
It is an interesting book. At times it is very complimentary of the RCC and some of the Popes.
Personally, I eschew all of the doctrines and traditions of men across the board.
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men. - Mark 7:7
To God be the glory!
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