Posted on 06/23/2008 6:10:37 PM PDT by Gamecock
In this way Roman Catholics are deceived. They delight outwardly in images of Christ depicting his sufferings, resurrection and glory. By these images they think their love for him grows more and more strong. But no man-made image can truly represent the person of Christ and his glory. Only the gospel can do that.
John writes not only of himself but of his fellow apostles also, 'We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth' (John 1:14). Now what was his glory of Christ which they saw, and how did they see it?
It was not the glory of Christ's outward condition for he had no earthly glory or grandeur. He kept no court, nor did he entertain people to parties in a great house. He had nowhere to lay his head, even though he created all things. There was nothing about his outward appearance that would attract the eys of the world (Isa. 53:14; 53:2-3). He appeared to others as a 'man or sorrows'.
Neither was it the eternal essential glory of his divine nature that is meant, for this no man can see while in this world. What we shall see in heaven we cannot conceive.
What the apostles witnessed was the glory of 'grace and truth'. They saw the glory of Christ's person and office in the administration of grace and truth. And how did they see this glory? It was by faith and in no other way, for this privilege was given only to those who 'received him' and believe on his name (John 1:12). This was the glory which the Baptist saw when he pointed to Christ and said, 'Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!' (John 1:29).
So, let no one decieve himself. He that has no sight of Christ's glory here shall never see it hereafter. The beholding of Christ's glory is too high, glorious and marvellous for us in our present condition. The splendour of Christ's glory is too much for our physical eyes just as is the sun shining in all its strength. So while we are here on earth we can behold his glory only by faith.
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No man ought to look for anything in heaven if he has not by faith first had some experience of it in this life. If men were convinced of this, they would spend more time in the exercise of faith and love about heavenly things than they usually do. At present they do not know what they enjoy, so they do not know what to expect. This is why men who are complete strangers to seeing the person and glory of Christ by faith have turned to images, pictures and music to help them in their worship.
Ping
I found this small snippet very inspiring. Hope you do the same.
Many thanks for posting this. We walk by faith, not by sight - IF we keep His commandments and obey His revelation to us (that which we call the Bible).
Amen to that. It has long been my complaint that people seek worship experiences (though images, music, whatever) as opposed to worshipping because the Glorious, Almighty God deserves it.
...’in this way Roman Catholics are decieved’.... (stretch)... hahahaha.... (yawn)... hahaha... ah, why bother...
The obligatory Catholic-bashing by self-righteous fundamentalist evangelical FReepers shall commence in 5... 4... 3...
Whoops, it already started...
Thank you. It is a wonderful and inspiring reminder of not letting what we see get in the way of what we know.
“No man ought to look for anything in heaven if he has not by faith first had some experience of it in this life”
We do not take time to be holy because we do not think we have the time or it is time well spent. We will settle for a mess of porridge to soothe our momentary hunger for the holy and erect artificial times, places and things in place of waiting on Him and His Word and then doing it.
ena
How do you eat his Body and Dink his Blood if you don’t reenact the Last Supper and replenish yourself with the Eucharist! It is done through the Mass..which follows scripture..New and Old Testement!
The first blind man said, “It is red.” The second blind man said,”no it is blue!”
“Amen to that. It has long been my complaint that people seek worship experiences (though images, music, whatever) as opposed to worshiping because the Glorious, Almighty God deserves it.”
Amen to ALL that!
I’ve come to the conclusion that arguments between Catholics and Protestants on FreeRepublic start and end with “uh-huh,” “nuh-uh,” “uh-huh!,” “nuh-uh!” As a result, I’ve decided to stay out of it. My discussions about Catholicism happen one-on-one, face-to-face.
Sufficed to say, though, you and I interpret the Bible differently. You believe I have an incomplete or bastard faith, I believe that your faith is replete with mysticism and wrought with extra Biblical Dogma. I have Scripture (from an incomplete Bible you would say) to back my faith and you have Scripture and teachings (from extra Biblical writings I would say) to back yours.
Don’t get me wrong, though, I’m not agreeing to disagree. I believe your faith is about as wrong as you believe mine.
To answer your question though, I take communion in remembrance of the sacrifice that Christ made for me. Through the bread, I remember His body, broken for me. Through the wine, I remember his blood, spilled as an atoning sacrifice for me. It is a time of reflection, all focus is on Christ, none on my replenishing. As a matter of fact, all of my renewing is done through Christ, by the Holy Holy Spirit:
“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 and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
-Titus 3:5-7
I don’t believe in transubstantiation, if that is what was meant to be implied.
Actually the bible is very clear about not to worship graven images, but many Christians especially the people of the catholic faith, where the cross with Jesus our Savior, still on the cross! It is sad, due to the fact they are into there, “traditions of man”. I learned this just by reading the bible, and inquiring about what different faith practice, and what the bible teaches us not to do.
I believe that the Bible everyone is using today was the result of the caretaker Catholic Church. Protestant Churches were Man led schism from the Church Founded. Self Sacrifive is essential To Salvation.. FYI Great article on Purgatory by St Francis DeSales http://www.spiritdaily.com/consolingpurgatorythoughts.htm
Cheers
Only Jesus Christ’s paying the price is essential to salvation. It is through His work, not mine, that salvation is possible.
Great post, thank you. The animals (especially my pets), trees, clouds, seasons, ocean, lightning, Lake Tahoe... all make me praise God in wonder and amazement!
So You can sin show no Remorse and be rewarded??
How do you really feel You know better than Christ who Found his church the Catholic Church..In the Catholic Catechism putting yourself above GOD is Sin... How Can people who decide for them selves or Followed Man made Religions not Put themselves above Gods Church as they Know Better? But To ignore the Eucharist is the Real Folly!Sadly!
You can’t literally eat Christ’s body and drink His blood. The references to eating Christ’s body and drinking His blood are symbolic.
I Guess you have never experienced the Eucharist ... or Blieve Jesus words about it in the Bible..
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