Mrs. Don-o,
Because of my respect and appreciate for you, I will not take your post apart, verse by verse.
I will simply say that on every point I find the Scriptures are not saying what you wrote. Ironically, there are different reasons for each point.
In any case, what you are arguing is that the Church can teach whatever it wishes, without the restrictions of God’s revelation, because it is the church. This is a false argument.
In this instance, the Roman Church invented a process to create a new super-Christian title that is foreign to Scripture. It perverts the simplicity of what God inspired and revealed and consequently, diminishes His revelation of EVERY believer’s position in Christ. It clouds the understanding of the members of the Body of Christ who may be included in the Roman Church.
For these reasons and others, it is a man-made religious ladder of works that is to be rejected.
kindest regards.
Not true. That is absolutely NOT what I am arguing. (???I'm surprised you could even imagine such a thing.)
Obviously the Truth is One and is non-self-contradictory. The Church cannot contradict the truths of Scripture, which are the words of the Lord God.
"... Roman Church invented a process to create a new super-Christian title that is foreign to Scripture."
Not true, again. "Saint" just means "Holy," and in most of Europe's languages (the Romance languages) they are expressed by the same word (variations on Sancta) Like Spanish: Santa Cruz = Holy Cross.
Also in the Germanic languages (Heilig, etc.) So Christians can apply the word "holy" to any number of people, places, customs, or things, if they are sepecially associated with, or dedicated to, God.
Think of these terms: Holy Bible. Holy Night. Sacred Music. Holy Land. Sacred Cross. Holy Apostles. Sacred Art. Holy Books. Sacred duty.
None of those phrases are verbatim in the Bible,--- for that matter,the word "Bible" is not even in the Bible--- but we use them every day. Even if they ARE new super-Christian titles not found in Scripture. The canon (book-list) of the BIBLE is not fund in Scripture. So I do not think it unbiblical to speak of holy saints who hold up their holy hands, etc.
God makes things holy. That's it.
I appreciate your gracious and cordial tone, as always. No need to think that any of this is said, or perceived, disrespectfully. We know each other better than that, dear AMPU!