Here we see the dishonesty of Protestant polemics in trying to reduce the world-wide Catholic Church to merely that of Rome. The Catholic Church comprises 1.2 billion members (roughly half of all Christians) and is spread throughout the world. Since the Reformation there have been three church councils which were attended by bishops from all around the world.
In putting himself in the place of head of the church, the pope has set himself in the place of Christ. But Jesus Christ alone is the head of the true church.
It is Jesus Christ himself who proclaimed that Simon is Peter, the Rock, on which he will build his church.
Furthermore, Scripture affirms that Peter was not a pope, nor was any such office instituted.
There is no such statement in the Bible.
It’s doubtful [Peter] ever went to Rome to lead any church.
The testimony of the early church, from which we get the New Testament itself, testifies otherwise.
There is only one way in which depraved humanity can stand acceptable to God: justification by faith alone in the Person and finished work of Christ alone.
What we could not do, God did through the perfect life, substitutionary death, and victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christ came to divert and absorb the full wrath of God that should fall on us for our sin. Through faith in the Person and work of Jesus Christ, any sinner is instantaneously, not progressively, declared righteous before holy God.
Except that Scripture is quite clear to the contrary. When our Lord himself was asked what one must do the have eternal life his answer was "keep the commandments" not "just have faith in me." The parable of the sheep and the goats shows that we are judged by what we do, not just by what we believe. Paul is clear that faith alone is not enough:
Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor boy prostitutes nor sodomites nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9-10)Love is the greatest virtue, not faith. And of course we have James:If I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.… So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor. 13:2, 13)
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble. Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works. Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called “the friend of God.” See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by a different route? For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. (James 2:14-26)Faith yes, but nowhere in the Bible does it say faith alone. Indeed, the only time the phrase "faith alone" appears is in the Bible is that above where it says "a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." Paul, even in Romans, is emphatic that we are judged by our works:
Therefore, you are without excuse,a every one of you who passes judgment. For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the very same things. We know that the judgment of God on those who do such things is true. Do you suppose, then, you who judge those who engage in such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you hold his priceless kindness, forbearance, and patience in low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God would lead you to repentance? By your stubbornness and impenitent heart,d you are storing up wrath for yourself for the day of wrath and revelation of the just judgment of God, who will repay everyone according to his works: eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through perseverance in good works, but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness. Yes, affliction and distress will come upon every human being who does evil, Jew first and then Greek. But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, Jew first and then Greek. There is no partiality with God. (Romans 2:1-11)Likewise Revelation:
I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Then another scroll was opened, the book of life. The dead were judged according to their deeds, by what was written in the scrolls. The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades gave up their dead. All the dead were judged according to their deeds. (Revelation 20:12-13)Constantly repeating "faith alone" cannot hide what the Scriptures actually say. It always amazes me that individual Protestants claim an infallibility to interpret Scripture that they deny to the Church as a whole.
A common and I'd argue deliberate distortion of what the Bible actually says. Continue reading.
Christ's statement did not build his church on Peter -- Christ's church is built on the truth that Peter proclaimed which is that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Catholics always -- ALWAYS -- get this wrong, and claim it as justification for the "one true church."
I agree with a lot of what you say and I really believe we can see some things that are wrong in most Churches Catholic or protestant.
Although James was obviously the recognized leader in the Church at Jerusalem, by reading verses 1 through 7 we can see that no one except Christ should be sitting in the high place.
James 2
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Verse 12 through 18 shows that the saved by faith alone crowd are falling short.
James is making this personal, it is not what my religion does, it is what i do.