The most crucial problem with the Roman Catholic Church is its belief that faith alone in Christ is not sufficient for salvation. The Bible clearly and consistently states that receiving Jesus Christ as Savior, by grace through faith, grants salvation (John 1:12; 3:16,18,36; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-10,13; Ephesians 2:8-9). The Roman Catholic Church rejects this. The official position of the Roman Catholic Church is that a person must believe in Jesus Christ AND be baptized AND receive the Eucharist along with the other sacraments AND obey the decrees of the Roman Catholic Church AND perform meritorious works AND not die with any mortal sins AND etc., etc., etc. Catholic divergence from the Bible on this most crucial of issues, salvation, means that yes, Catholicism is a false religion. If a person believes what the Catholic Church officially teaches, he/she will not be saved. Any claim that works or rituals must be added to faith in order for salvation to be achieved is a claim that Jesus’ death was not sufficient to fully purchase our salvation.
While salvation by faith is the most crucial issue, in comparing Roman Catholicism with the Word of God, there are many other differences and contradictions as well. The Roman Catholic Church teaches many doctrines that are in disagreement with what the Bible declares. These include apostolic succession, worship of saints or Mary, prayer to saints or Mary, the pope / papacy, infant baptism, transubstantiation, plenary indulgences, the sacramental system, and purgatory. While Catholics claim Scriptural support for these concepts, none of these teachings have any solid foundation in the clear teaching of Scripture. These concepts are based on Catholic tradition, not the Word of God. In fact, they all clearly contradict Biblical principles.
In regards to the question “Are Catholics saved?”, this is a more difficult question to answer. It is impossible to give a universal statement on the salvation of all members of any denomination of Christianity. Not ALL Baptists are saved. Not ALL Presbyterians are saved. Not ALL Lutherans are saved. Salvation is determined by personal faith in Jesus alone for salvation, not by titles or denominational identification. Despite the unbiblical beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church, there are genuine believers who attend Roman Catholic churches. There are many Roman Catholics who have genuinely placed their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. However, these Catholic Christians are believers despite what the Catholic Church teaches, not because of what it teaches. To varying degrees, the Catholic Church teaches from the Bible and points people to Jesus Christ as the Savior. As a result, people are sometimes saved in Catholic churches. The Bible has an impact whenever it is proclaimed (Isaiah 55:11). Catholic Christians remain in the Catholic Church out of ignorance of what the Catholic Church truly stands for, out of family tradition and peer pressure, or out of a desire to reach other Catholics for Christ.
At the same time, the Catholic Church also leads many people away from a genuine faith relationship with Christ. The unbiblical beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church have often given the enemies of Christ opportunity to blaspheme. The Roman Catholic Church is not the church that Jesus Christ established. It is not a church that is based on the teachings of the Apostles (as described in the Book of Acts and the New Testament epistles). While Jesus’ words in Mark 7:9 were directed towards the Pharisees, they accurately describe the Roman Catholic Church, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!”
I’d recommend you read the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church, because you don’t quite have their beliefs and teachings on salvation correctly. In short, all Catholics–Roman, Byzantine, Oriental, and others–believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone and that we are justified by faith AND works per James 4:25. All of the Catholic churches also teach that Christ is merciful and we can have some hope that someone who died, for example, after committing a mortal sin without the sacrament of reconciliation can still go to Heaven if they are repentant of that sin, whether that repentance happens on earth or the moment they see Christ.
I don’t see any sources for what you claim the Roman Catholic church believes, so I’m wary to believe anything you say about them A good resource would be the Vatican’s website. I’d be interested to hear what you think the other Catholic churches believe,
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Before we continue this discussion answer me one question: “What is the final authority on God, Christianity and the True Church? The Bible or the Bishop of Rome?”
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Neither. Ecclesiastical councils are, as evidenced by the Acts of the Apostles, which became part of the Canon of Scripture because of an Ecclesiastical Council.
If you knew the true teachings of all of the Catholic churches, not just what a few Catholics say, you’d know this to be the case.
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And by “Ecclesiastical” I mean “Ecumenical”. Sleep deprivation wins the vocabulary wars once again.
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Ammending my previous comment slightly, I’d like to point out that no one but God is the finally authority on God. However, I believe, as does the Catholic Church, that the Holy Spirit works through these Ecumenical Councils to communicate and give words to God’s teachings.
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I would like to reply to some of your thoughts here. I am an ex-Protestant so I know that side of the coin also. I also read your comment on Teresa’s blog about the Church being the “source of the antichrist” and responded to it as well. This is to educate you on a few things regarding the Church and her teachings. So I will begin on this topic which is “salvation.” First and foremost we believe the ONLY way one can obtain salvation is through Jesus. We also believe we have to maintain our salvation. So let us begin.
Romans 3:25 says: “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are PAST, through the forbearance of God.” KJV Right there Sola Scriptura tells you, “Jesus died for all PAST sins. Not present not future. So what does this mean?
When did Paul ever say, “There is nothing you have to do in regards to your salvation?” In fact he said, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” did he not? Phil 2:12 So right there Paul tells us, “WE” have to work out our salvation and the key word here being “own.” My salvation belongs to know one but myself, and it is between the Lord and MYSELF. Not anyone else.
How do we work out this salvation? We were given many instructions. First we must profess a belief in Christ as our Savior. Now Jesus did die for “all” sin, but as I said Scripture tells us they were “past” sins. So how do we peace it together? Jesus, Peter, Paul, and all the Apostles said we must repent and confess our sins with a contrite heart, even to one another. These are for the “present” sins we have committed today. Jesus died for the past, and we cannot repent and confess the sins we have not yet committed tomorrow. So from this alone it is not just as easy as saying, “I believe in You, Jesus.” All of this is straight out of the Bible.
What Jesus did on the Cross was consummate man back to God. Because of the Cross we now can be forgiven of the sins we committed today, and will tomorrow. First we have to repent and confess those sins. So to say we have nothing to do with maintaining our salvation other than saying, “We believe in You Jesus,” is wrong. In the Gospels does it not tell us if we are bringing a gift to the altar and have a quarrel with our brother, leave the gift and go and straighten things out with our brother? Then come back and offer the gift.
Now works. Does works play a part in our salvation? Scripture plainly tells us, “We are going to be judged by our works.” It also tells us that is what is going to separate the “sheep” and “goats.” James tells us, “Faith without works is dead.” But Paul tells us something different doesn’t he? So how do we peace it together? Paul was speaking of works under the law. James was speaking of works under grace. Two entirely different types of works. The judgment of the works: Matthew 25:35-46 KJV Go read it. The sheep were the ones who did works such as clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, taking care of the sick, etc. They went to heaven. The goats were the ones who did not, went to hell. So never think works do not play a part in us getting to heaven or hell, because they do. You are Sola Scriptura, you are a Protestant. What do you do with these Scriptures, ignore them, because they do not fit your beliefs? Even Jesus Himself said, “I come to do my Father’s works.”
1 Timothy 3:15 KJV “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the “house” of God, which is the Church of the living God, the “pillar and ground of the truth.” Right there proves there was a Church. It is the foundation of the “truth.” Now look at that. It does not say “Scripture” is, it says the Church is. Find me another Church that was back there at that time, who gave the Eucharist (as Jesus, Peter and Paul instructed) outside of the Church that does it today, which is the Catholic Church, and I will believe you. There was not one until Martin Luther, 1500 years later. You need to read the Mass of the Early Christians, and look at the dates. St. Ignatius of Antioch was one of John’s followers. He did exactly like the Catholic Church does today. Please go read about him and all the thousand of others. Read about the Popes after Peter, their names are in the Bible.
As far as tradition? 2 Thessalonians 2:15 KJV “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions, which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” Right here proves there were “traditions” which were given by “mouth.” You do not know them because they were only given to one Church, the Catholic Church. I did not either until I converted. Regardless if one is Sola Scriptura, one cannot just ignore all of these Scriptures, because one does not want to believe them. There was no Bible back then, almost everything came by word of mouth. The Bible in it’s entirety did not come together until some 300 years later, which the Catholic Church put together. You trusted those men for the very Bible you read. To go through all those writings and you believe they were infallible on what writings were inspired and which ones were not, don’t you? If your answer is “no” then you do not believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, and he did not give the Council the wisdom so they could be “infallible” in putting it together. Another point there, when you are reading the Bible, who is it written by? Men! God does inspire men with His infallible truth. So to say “men are not infallible when it comes to the teachings of God” is wrong. Again, it was men who God gave all of these writings to. Protestants have traditions also which are not in the Bible, believe me. They just do not think they do.
I hope this helps shed some light on what we believe and yes, purgatory is in the Bible. The word is not but that does not mean the place is not there. The word Trinity is not, but you believe in that don’t you, which is a teaching of the Catholic Church. The word Trinity is not there, but that does not mean it does not exist, does it? God Bless, SR
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The word propitiation carries the basic idea of appeasement, or satisfaction, specifically towards God. Propitiation is a two-part act that involves appeasing the wrath of an offended person and being reconciled to him.
The necessity of appeasing God is something many religions have in common. In ancient pagan religions, as well as in many religions today, the idea is taught that man appeases God by offering various gifts or sacrifices. However, the Bible teaches that God Himself has provided the only means through which His wrath can be appeased and sinful man can be reconciled to Him. In the New Testament, the act of propitiation always refers to the work of God and not the sacrifices or gifts offered by man. The reason for this is that man is totally incapable of satisfying God’s justice except by spending eternity in hell. There is no service, sacrifice or gift that man can offer that will appease the holy wrath of God or satisfy His perfect justice. The only satisfaction, or propitiation, that could be acceptable to God and that could reconcile man to Him, had to be made by God. For this reason God the Son, Jesus Christ, came into the world in human flesh to be the perfect sacrifice for sin and make atonement or “propitiation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17).
The word propitiation is used in several key verses to explain what Jesus accomplished through His death on the cross. For example, in Romans 3:24-25 we see that believers in Christ have been “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed.” These verses are a key point in Paul’s argument in the Book of Romans and are really at the heart of the Gospel message.
In the first three chapters of Romans, Paul has made the argument that everybody, both Jew and Gentile alike, is under the condemnation of God and deserving of His wrath (Romans 1:18). Everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). All of us deserve His wrath and punishment. God in His infinite grace and mercy has provided a way that His wrath can be appeased and we can be reconciled to Him. That way is through the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus Christ, as the atonement or payment for sins. It is through faith in Jesus Christ as God’s perfect sacrifice, foretold in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament, that we can be reconciled to God. It is only because of Christ’s perfect life, His death on the cross, and His resurrection on the third day that a lost sinner deserving of hell can be reconciled to a Holy God. The wonderful truth of the Gospel message is that Christians are saved from God’s wrath and reconciled to God not because “we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). The only way for God’s wrath against sinful man to be appeased and for us to be reconciled to God is through Jesus Christ. There is no other way. This truth is also communicated in 1 John 2:2; “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” An important part of Christ’s saving work includes deliverance from God’s wrath that the unbelieving sinner is under, because Jesus’ atonement on the cross is the only thing that can turn away God’s divine wrath. Those that reject Christ as their Savior and refuse to believe in Him have no hope of salvation. They can only look forward to facing the wrath of God that they have stored up for the coming day of judgment (Romans 2:5). There is no other propitiation or sacrifice that can be made for their sins.
: When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we receive salvation and forgiveness. But that’s not all. The Bible says we also receive justification, redemption, reconciliation, atonement, propitiation, and regeneration. Each of these theological terms expresses wonderful truths about the blessing we receive when Jesus becomes our Savior. Salvation and forgiveness, while related, are not exactly the same.
The term salvation comes from the Greek word sozo, which means “to be delivered, rescued.” Salvation is deliverance from the penalty of sin, that is, eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23; Matthew 25:46). Salvation is God’s rescuing us from our deserved fate. Salvation also includes a more immediate deliverance from the power of sin in this life. Sin has lost its dominion over the saved ones (Romans 6:14). Faith in Jesus Christ rescues us from the empty and meaningless life described in Ecclesiastes and provides us with a life that is abundant and fruitful (John 10:10; Galatians 5:22–23).
The term forgiveness comes from the Greek word aphiemi, which means “to let go, to give up, to keep no longer.” When Jesus forgives us, our sins, trespasses, iniquities, and transgressions are erased, wiped off the record. Forgiveness of sin is analogous to financial debt being erased. When God forgives us of our sins, we are free. Our sins are wiped out. God will never hold them against us (Psalm 103:12).
Salvation and forgiveness are closely related. There is no salvation without forgiveness. Salvation is God’s delivering us from the consequences of sin. Forgiveness is God’s erasing our sin debt. To use a financial illustration, forgiveness is God’s shredding the documents that list our debt, and salvation is God’s letting us out of debtors’ prison. Praise God for the wonderful salvation and forgiveness He has provided. May our lives reflect gratitude for all He has done for us (Romans 12:1).
In his epistle, James makes the statement “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). Faith without works is dead faith because the lack of works reveals an unchanged life or a spiritually dead heart. There are many Scriptures that make it very clear that true saving faith will result in a transformed life, which is demonstrated by the “works” we do. How we live reveals what we believe and whether the faith we profess to have is a living faith.
James 2:14–26 is sometimes taken out of context in an attempt to create a works-based system of righteousness, but that is contrary to many other Scriptures. James is not saying that our works make us righteous before God, but he is making it clear that real saving faith is demonstrated by good works. Works are not the cause of salvation; works are the evidence of salvation. The person who claims to be a Christian but lives in willful disobedience to Christ with a life that shows no works has a false or dead faith and is not saved. James is clearly making a contrast between two different types of faith—truth faith that saves and false faith that is dead.
Many profess to be Christians, but their lives and their priorities indicate otherwise. Jesus put it this way: “By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers’” (Matthew 7:16–23).
Notice that the message of Jesus is the same as the message of James. Obedience to God is the mark of true saving faith. James uses the examples of Abraham and Rahab to show the type of works that demonstrate salvation, and both of those examples are of people who obeyed God in faith. Saying we believe in Jesus does not save us, nor does religious service. What saves us is the Holy Spirit’s regeneration of our hearts, and that regeneration will be seen in a life of faith demonstrated by ongoing obedience to God.
Misunderstanding the relationship of faith and works comes from a misunderstanding of what the Bible teaches about salvation. There are really two errors in regards to the relationship between works and faith. The first error is the gospel of “easy believism.” This error is the belief that one can “make a decision for Christ” or “pray a prayer of salvation,” and based upon that profession of faith salvation occurs. This is also called “decisional regeneration” and is dangerous and deceptive. Often those who advocate this view of salvation say that once a person has prayed the sinners’ prayer or made a profession of faith he is saved regardless of how he lives afterwards. This leads to the creation of a new category of person called the “carnal Christian” in order to excuse the ungodly lifestyles of many who have made a one-time profession of faith in Christ. Yet, as we can see in James and other verses of Scripture, this type of profession of faith that does not result in a life of obedience to Christ is in reality a dead faith that does not save.
The other error in regards to the relationship between works and faith is to make works part of what justifies us before God. The mixture of works and faith together creates a works-based system of righteousness which is totally contrary to what Scripture teaches. There is no conflict between Romans 4:5, “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,” and what James wrote when he said, “Faith without works is dead.” Works come from true faith and a heart that has been justified by God by faith alone. The works that follow salvation do not make us righteous before God; they simply flow from a heart that has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit as naturally as water flows downhill.
Understanding the relationship between faith and works is important because it helps us avoid the errors mentioned above. Saying we believe in Christ does not save us, nor does praying a prayer of salvation or making a “decision” for Christ. Salvation is a sovereign act of God whereby unregenerate sinners have the “washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” poured out on them (Titus 3:5), thereby causing them to be born again (John 3:3). When this happens, God gives them new hearts and puts a new spirit within them (Ezekiel 36:26). God removes their sin-hardened hearts of stone and replaces them with hearts of flesh and fills them with the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit who causes them to walk in obedience to His statues and judgments (Ezekiel 36:26–27).
Faith without works is dead because it reveals a heart that has not been transformed by God. When we have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, our lives will demonstrate that by the way we live and our works of obedience to God. It will be evident by the fruit of the Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22) and a desire to obey God and live a life that glorifies Him. Christians belong to Christ, and as His sheep they hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:26–30).
True saving faith is always manifested by good works and a life that desires to live in obedience to God. Ephesians 2:8–10 makes it clear that works do not save us but that we are saved “for good works which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them.” When we are truly born again we will have hearts that are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. God’s law is written in our hearts so that we might walk in His statutes and judgments. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Faith without works is dead because it comes from a heart that has not been regenerated by God. It is an empty profession of faith from someone to whom Christ will say, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.”
I sincerely trust this explains where you are mislead in what you have been taught and now believe.
May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless and keep you.
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I wanted to come back and say one more thing. We also have to be baptized, so to just say I believe in you Jesus is only partly correct. There is so much more to it than just saying those words, even though they are the most important of words. Getting to heaven just does not come that freely, and who are we to think it ever would? God is a very holy God, who commands a lot from us. God Bless, SR
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Thank you for your kind response. I agree with most of what you said here. In saying that though, I also believe what I wrote to you. “Works” ARE the “fruits of our faith.” I totally believe that, but if we are judged by them, they do so count. I believe with all you wrote to me and what I wrote to you, one must put it all together. Jesus is the ONLY appeasement of God’s wrath, that is also taught in the Church. Catholics do not try and “appease God’s wrath in our works,” but we do believe they do count and will count when we are judged, and they are a most important part of living a spiritual life.
If you believe I am being mislead, that is your right. I as well do believe you are not looking at the entire picture and putting all the Scriptures together. Just like the Scriptures I gave you on the “traditions” and there being a “Church,” they were ignored.
I do believe God is going to work all of this out. Over 33,000 different denominations have sprung up over the years. That means people view Scripture over 33,000 different ways. I cannot believe in my heart that is how God intended it to be. He is God, and He always had His way which He wanted to be worshipped, and someone to always lead others in His path. God does not change. He does not change His way of doing things. We have done no different than Israel did in the OT. With every single break off, it was done because someone did not agree, therefore always leaving something behind. To me that is where “man” has once again failed.
If I may offer another excellent book for you to read, “A Father Who Keeps His Promises” by Scott Hahn. It is the best book I have ever gotten my hands on. He is also a convert who truly set out to destroy the teachings of the Church. He is brilliant and extremely wise. I think you might enjoy the reading.
Again thank you for your kind response, I will agree to disagree, and God Bless, SR
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Hello, SR;
You are quite welcome.
Tomorrow I am posting further on “works.” I trust you will read it and; not only read it, but allow it to soak in. It is entitled “Why is Salvation by works the predominantly viewpoint?”
It is ironic, I suppose, your mentioning 33,000 denominations. I have also posted on the topic of “30,000 denominations.” Perhaps you will do a search on my site and review it.
No, I have not forsaken you and failed to respond on traditionalism. That too will be addressed tomorrow as well.
SR you realize there is but One True Church don’t you? And, it is not the Catholic Church formed some 300 years after. It is the Church founded by Jesus Christ alone….. not Constantine and the papacy. The Bible is the only true authority on God, Christ and salvation (amongst other thing/topics.
Having said that, I also believe that there are many, many Christian characteristics held within the Catholic Church…. so, as to whether, or not, I believe you (and others) are being mislead? In some regards I have to say, with deep conviction and sorrow, yes I do…. but, again, this is not to say that Catholicism is a bad thing…. only the parts which are not biblical do I speak out openly against. And, that goes for other denominations and religions throughout the world.
We can always have an open dialog together, SR. I hope your feelings are similar.
Yours in Christ;
Michael
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Had the RCC chosen Paul as the alleged first pope, the case would have been stronger. Still wrong but stronger. Paul was un-married, while Peter was yoked to a wife, and rightly so, for a qualification for an elder was ‘the husband of one wife.’ Peter was uniquely disqualified for ‘pope,’ thankfully, God is wiser than man, and forsaw the millenial nonsense of a human head of a religious fraternity.
Paul on the other hand was pastor, teacher, evangelist, prophet, apostle, but was unqualified to be an elder, having no wife. Ah yes, the perfection of scripture. We must make note of things that differ.
As to the topic of faith and works, I have always appreciated the distinction that the Spirit of God makes. Paul wrote of justification before God; James wrote of Justification before men, and scripture bears this out in every regard. ‘YE SEE then how a man is justified by works, and not faith only…’ Correct, for God needs not see anything.
And again, ‘If a man WERE justified by works, he has whereof to boast…but NOT before God.’
One is from heavens viewpoint, the other is from man’s. We would be better served to see things from God’s perspective.
But good stuff here.
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Naked Truth,
I would like to respond to what you said about Paul being pastor, teacher, etc… Who did Paul study under? It was Peter who taught Paul, and that I believe is in Acts. You know Peter is often slighted I feel because Paul was very good at what he did and he did it so well, and wrote so many writings about Jesus and the faith walk. I think we forget who he studied under. We forget Peter was actually taught by Christ Himself. It was Peter only, of all Apostles when Christ said, “Who do you say I am,” who replied, “You are the Christ.” Peter was the only Apostle who knew Jesus was who He said He was. We miss these things about Peter. We focus more on the denial I think.
Peter was given the “keys” to the Church and the word “keys” is only mentioned one other time in the Bible and that is in the book of Isaiah. (I am sorry it is late but if you would like I will look up exactly where) Anyways, the keys in Isaiah also came with “authority.” This is what Peter also had, when he was handed the “keys” by our Lord. The passage in Isaiah is what “foreshadowed” the keys given to Peter.
If one will read the Bible from OT to NT one will see it is a complete repeat. All that was done in the OT was repeated in the NT, sometimes in a different way. Examples: The first shedding of blood for sin was when God killed the animals and clothed Adam and Eve. Isaac being taken to be killed by Abraham foreshadowed Christ. 3000 were killed when Moses came down off of the mountain and 3000 were saved in the NT. The “keys” are the same thing. Just as Abraham, Moses, David, etc… taught and led the people, so did Peter along with Paul and the others. It all started after Christ, with Peter though.
Peter was the one who was given the authority to do these teachings by our Lord. Though I love Paul, I always go back to who taught him. God Bless, SR
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sr-
A man could go to bible college or seminary and have more ‘gift’ than a housefly. Spiritual gifts are God given. Period.
A ‘pastor,’ teacher,’ one who has the gift of ‘helps,’ and all others, has been so equipped by the Head Himself. Without this knowledge, one will be lost in the fog of religious man man made tradition.
Paul is the key to the New Testament, By the way, the Lord has the keys to hell and death, and it was Paul who rebuked the so called infallible Peter for his prejudicial behaviour. It was Paul who was given the mystery to fill up the scriptures. It was Paul who called ‘MY gospel’ this treasure in earthen vessels.
Paul was taught by Christ Himself.
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TYPO sorry
Should read ‘no more gift than a housefly.’
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