Well first you have to PROVE Rome is HIS church .
Now that is hard to do because scripture has no role for priest, or pope, and has not teachings of apostolic succession.. so it would seem the new testament church was far more like my church on a Sunday than a Roman church.
Second we need to look at what was meant by the quote you gave
GATES are not an OFFENSIVE weapon, one puts up GATES to keep people OUT . You do not bring gates to FIGHT a battle, you put up gated TO KEEP THE WAR OUTSIDE YOUR PROPERTY.
This verse means that believers will storm Hell with the real weapons of our warfare
2Cr 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds 1) a castle, stronghold, fortress, fastness
2) anything on which one relies
2Cr 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
The elect / the saved are to storm the gates of hell with the weapons that God has given us AND WE WILL PREVAIL
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Now that is hard to do because scripture has no role for priest, or pope, and has not teachings of apostolic succession.. so it would seem the new testament church was far more like my church on a Sunday than a Roman church.
Second we need to look at what was meant by the quote you gave.
GATES are not an OFFENSIVE weapon, one puts up GATES to keep people OUT . You do not bring gates to FIGHT a battle, you put up gated TO KEEP THE WAR OUTSIDE YOUR PROPERTY.
This verse means that believers will storm Hell with the real weapons of our warfare
AMEN!!!
Your posts are solid Scriptural teaching. Thank you for them.
After much reflection of the Scripture in question, I believe it is of no consequence to Catholic apologetics to state that you are correct when you say Matt 16:18 can be interpreted as a promise of victory over evil. Indeed as you correctly point out, a “gate” cannot be an offensive weapon.
However this does not negate the Catholic claim that this Scripture indicates the Church will remain visibly intact throughout history, until His return. This is due to the simply logical consequence of a victorious Church: it cannot be both victorious over evil, yet presumably at the same time, fall into apostasy.
We gave you the gospel and do what is in the gospel. You do protestant heresies in contradiction to the gospel; the nonsense that there are no priests in the Gospel being one of them (1 Tim 4:14). You prove yourself. We are just fine.
This verse means that believers will storm Hell with the real weapons of our warfare
Yes, indeed. Christ storms the Gates of Hell and they do not prevail. That is the Paschal mystery that the Catholics celebrate. This is the guarantee that the Catholic Church He built prevails against all heresies and leads men to salvation always, despite Protestant lies, till He comes in glory.