Have you ever heard of apostolic succession? Conclaves?
Paul was called by God independent of the original disciples.
Are you saying God cannot or does not call men to His service as He did with Paul?
“apostolic succession? Conclaves?”
How about showing those ideas in Scripture?
Have you ever heard of apostolic succession? Conclaves?
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Yes, and there is no justification for either of those concepts whatsoever in the actual words and teaching of the Apostles.
And even if I were to accept it, which I don’t, there is even less reason to believe that Rome holds the authority of Christ, considering that their doctrine of justification is almost the exact opposite of what Jesus and the Apostles taught.
Yes, we've heard of the fabrications of Catholicism to justify their doctrines and power claims.
Sure...but those are man-created words and not Scriptural terms and certainly not any confirmation that what calls itself the Roman Catholic Church is THE church Jesus established. What was handed down (succession) was the teachings of the truth as revealed by the Holy Spirit and which was preserved for us in Holy Scripture. The Vincentian Canon talks about the true faith as being that which was believed always, everywhere and by all. Roman Catholicism cannot truthfully make that claim. That is why the Roman Catholic church cannot assert it is THE church of Jesus Christ even though they co-opted the label "catholic" which meant UNIVERSAL. The true ekklesia - the body and bride of Christ - consists of all those throughout time, nations, peoples and tongues who have entrusted themselves to the saving power of Jesus Christ and not themselves.