Quote:
Originally Posted by Miss Blue View Post
I never knew until this forum (except for a few former church friends and family) that "You can't be a Christian IF, or unless you do or don't follow these rules and do as we say-------" then I am given a list of denomination doctrines mostly created by man in the long ago past and handed down through the generations in the name of "church fathers".
I am a believer (not a denominational Christian) and I follow the teachings and wisdom of Christ who taught about the unconditional love of God for myself and for all others. Mostly I follow what the Spirit of God has written and continues to write in my heart so that I can live this short life in His peace with no fear of eternal damnation because I didn't live by man's selfrighteous interpretations of the scriptures, instead of the Holy Spirits.
jmho
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I pray my friend that you'll take the time to read this.
I look forward to your response.
God Bless you,
“ One Only” … Bible arguments prove it
One God… One Set of Faith - beliefs … and only One Church
A “I’m Catholic” document by Pat Miron
Ezeckiel 34:30 “And they shall know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they are my people the house of Israel: saith the Lord God. … Exodus 16:12 “I have heard the murmuring of the children of Israel: say to them: In the evening you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread: and you shall know that I am the Lord your God”
Atheist, agnostics, lukewarm -“catholics,” “catholics” who have abandoned completely their Faith, and a plentitude of Protestant communions seem presently to “be in charge.” And perhaps they are for the present? But is that God’s Will and desired Plan, or the direct result of men’s deviations and gross disobedience? Time shall tell.
From humanities very inception God seemed clearly to have selected only One “Chosen people” as “His own.” … Abram. Noah, Moses, David, Jacob, and the Prophets; the entire Jewish Nation, and in the New Testament; The Apostles, and through Direct Apostolic Succession [Commanded and Demanded by Christ in Mt. 28:19-20]; today’s Catholic Church fills that same role. The bible by itself provides indisputable evidence of this singular and stunning fact. Why this is shall perhaps not be fully understood until the Final Judgment? What is important to the present discussion is simply acknowledging this reality as God’s Divine and Perfect Provincial Will. Only One God, Faith and Church. … “ One Only”
Having been active in the teaching arena for many years; I at time hear confusion about “the Old Testament God” as a “mean and vengeful God”, compared to Jesus in the New Testament who is seen most often portrayed as a “God of Love and Mercy”. How can these divergent views be only “One and the same God?” And yet; that is precisely what they are.
The reason for “both being correct images” of only One God, stem from God’s Own perspective of His requirement for “Perfect Justice”. Here is God’s perspective: Matthew 25:19 “For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” … It’s the idea that “Divine Judgment” is based not on what we know or choose only to accept; rather it will be, as “Perfect Justice” must be, based on what God makes possible for us to know.
Yahweh’s task was significantly different than was Christ on many levels. Education standards, stability verses being Nomadic, availability of writing material; awareness OF God as their Sovereignty and Only One God, took a long time to be comprehended and accepted. It is the normal “ups and downs” of the inevitable educational process; with obedience and severe blatant disobedience requiring reward and punishment that was swift and highly-notable. By the time of the Incarnation, many more cities had been established, resulting in greater stabilization, better education, trade was broader and more sophisticated, and systems of Governance were better and more firmly established. At last God’s Chosen People were sufficiently prepared for the often predicted Messiah.
4Ezra.7: 19 -29 “And he said to me, "You are not a better judge than God, or wiser than the Most High! Let many perish who are now living, rather than that the law of God which is set before them be disregarded! For God strictly commanded those who came into the world, when they came, what they should do to live, and what they should observe to avoid punishment. Nevertheless they were not obedient, and spoke against him; they devised for themselves vain thoughts, and proposed to themselves wicked frauds; they even declared that the Most High does not exist, and they ignored his ways! They scorned his law, and denied his covenants; they have been unfaithful to his statutes, and have not performed his works. "Therefore, Ezra, empty things are for the empty, and full things are for the full. … For my son the Messiah shall be revealed with those who are with him, and those who remain shall rejoice four hundred years. And after these years my son the Messiah shall die, and all who draw human breath.”
4Ezra.12: 32 “this is the Messiah whom the Most High has kept until the end of days, who will arise from the posterity of David, and will come and speak to them; he will denounce them for their ungodliness and for their wickedness, and will cast up before them their contemptuous dealings.”
John.1:41 “He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ). … John.4; 25 “The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things."
1Cor.8: 6 “yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.”
So for all of time; the concept of Only One God has been pressed, taught, expected and accepted, although at times with great difficulty.
The premise then for a single set of Faith beliefs is founded on and flows directly from this first reality of Only One God.
Because all of Christianity agrees on Only “One God” that their can and indeed must be but One, and Only One set of Faith beliefs. A Perfect God simply cannot hold contradictory views of a single truth.
This then leads us to the foundational issue; one widely disputed, widely and incorrectly understood; and one seldom accepted outside of the Catholic Church which is that “Only One Church” is also this same One-God’s Will and the reality of biblical teaching. I will endeavor to provide and explain the biblical evidence that just as clearly as the other two “One Only realities“, is evident if one is candid and a seeker of “the Way, the Truth and the Life.” All notably singular tense. [John 14:6] … John 8:32 “And you shall [CAN] know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
I will proceed by sharing various passages from the Douay Rheims Catholic Bible; because I am a Catholic. However, I think one will find little or no differences in the selected passages in the King James Bible. So the issue then is not what the bible say’s; rather what does the actual Teaching mean. And yes, I intend to prove that this exclusive right, this mandate belongs only to today’s Catholic Church. Indeed, that is the precise challenge that lies before us.
There is only One “Infallible rule” for right understanding of the Bible. It is this: Never-ever; may, can or does one verse, passage or teaching, make void, invalidate, override, or contradict; when rightly understood, another part of the Bible. The reason is obvious. Were this even the slightest possibility [its not], then the Bible would be worthless to learn or teach the Faith of Jesus Christ, and the Blessed Trinity. Amen!
Argument Number [1] NOTE: I’m using the Gospel of Matthew as it’s the First Gospel written, which explains why some of it’s content is not directly repeated in the other Gospels. The Information was known, undisputed and fully accepted by the other bible authors.
Matthew 4: 18-22 “As he [Jesus] walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter [1] and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." [2] Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zeb'edee and John his brother, in the boat with Zeb'edee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him“.
John.15: 16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you [3] and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you”
The evident meaning of these two passages is that “God is in charge.” It is God who selects those He wants for Service. Yes, everyone is to have a role in evangelization; BUT only when given the opportunity to do so by God, and then limited to the opportunity He has given to us. This is not something one presumes or assumes, which is the condition of some hidden [to me at least]; “right” found in all of the Protestant communions. And yes, I fully agree that anyone “with Me”; can’t be at the same time, be against me. Yet that is clearly the case of the Protestant Faiths. The Catholic Church has a 2,000 year history, dating back to Christ; Peter and the Apostles. No other religion has both the total truth and the fullness of that truth which God desires to share with each of us.
Matthew:12:30 “He that is not with me, is against me: and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth.” It is highly significant the extensive use of “singular tense” found as a commons thread in these passages. And that dear friend is a highly signifient point.
Explanation:
[1] Notice ought be taken here that Simon [Peter] is the First Apostle selected by Christ. With God; coincidence, happenstance or luck, simply do not exist. Words have meanings, and the economy of words is further critical because of the cost and availability of writing materials at the time of authorship. [2] Already Christ has made evident that His choosing is with a specific purpose in mind, and at least to this point, limited to those He has already chosen. [3] God remains, and must remain in charge. God’s “job” is to call whom He chooses; our task is to accept; obey and follow.
Argument Number [2] Matthew 10:1-8 “And [Jesus] having called his twelve disciples [Apostles] together, he gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of diseases, and all manner of infirmities. And the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the publican, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. [1] These twelve Jesus sent: commanding them, saying:[2] Go ye not into the way of the Gentiles, and into the city of the Samaritans enter ye not. [3] But go ye rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And going, preach, saying: The kingdom of heaven is at hand.[4] Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils”
Explanation:
[1] No greater evidence exist than what is evident in the fact that Christ clearly extends and transfers His own Godly Powers and Authority to this select group of 12 men who He called “His Apostles” [2] In the beginning Christ attempts to fulfill the Old Testament promises to His One Chosen people. Because of their hardness of hearts; Christ later extends this call to ALL of humanity; thus making necessary Succession of these Powers and Authority. [3] The message they are to share in nothing less than an affirmation that the long awaited Messiah is now in your midst. [4] Christ understands that in order for His Ministry to completed; He must delegate and empower those He has chosen with ‘”Godly” attributes, because the task; the challenge given to them can only be accomplished through, with and by God Himself.
Argument Number [3] Matthew 16:15 -19 “Jesus saith to them: But whom do you [1] say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.[2] And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. [3] And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock [4] I will build my church, [5] and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [6] And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.[7] And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven”
Explanation:
The reason this is the most widely disputed set of verses in the entire bible is that there is, nor can there be any grounds for any religion other than Catholism; if it is true. [1] Here Jesus is asking the Apostles as a group a question. But it is Peter alone; Divinely Inspired who makes reply on behalf of all of them. A clear indication that already some degree of his leadership is evident. [2] Jesus confirms Peter in the Holy Spirit by clarifying that he was speaking through and for God [the Father.. Though the Holy Spirit] what The Father wanted him to proclaim. A Divinely Inspired proclamation! [3] Jesus now changes the name of “Simon” to “Peter” [which is the framework for present Tradition of Popes-new name practice]. When ever God changes the name of a person it is indicative of great grace and expectations of God for that person. [Abram to Abraham for example] [4] It is no accident that “Peter alone” is mentioned. Just as there was a High Priest heading the hierarchy of the Jews; so too would there be One Only in Charge and empowered in this new “church” founded on the New Covenant; which voided the one in existence up to that moment. [Jer.31:31, Lk. 22:20, Heb. 8:8 & 13] …[5] Highly significant are the next words of Christ: “I [God] will build [He alone is the architect] of “My church” [singular: one and only One] desired, wanted or needed to accomplish Christ mandated Mission. The term “church” is invented here by Christ to clarify and make exceedingly clear that what He is doing is Founding a New, Separate, Different and overriding religion. The choice of location God selected was no accident and indeed is a critical part of right understanding. Caesarea Philippi [verse 13] was the site of the areas largest Pagan Temple; so clearly implied here is the task of Peter to overcome this Pagan-faith-practice, and supplant it with God’s own truth. There were Pagan Temples and Jewish Synagogues in existence at the time; but NO “church.” [6] How the handing on the Keys essential for entry into Heaven itself by God directly to Peter is ignored, overlooked and by intent denied is astounding! How can anyone honestly doubt the intent of God is doing this? [7] The terms chosen by Christ when rightly understood in the context of “binding and loosing” which were very common Rabbinical terms of Power and freedom of Governance; fully enforceable at Law. Cites were then often walled and fortified as was Jerusalem itself; with real gates, real doors and a real “gate-keeper” who unlocked them in the morning for commerce and locked them at night for security. This “holder of the Key’s” was most often the “Prime Minister” who answered directly and only to the King. This is the precise role Christ envisioned and implemented through the selection of Peter.
Argument Number [4] Matthew 16:18 “And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand. And if he will not hear them: tell the church. [1] And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican. [2] Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven.
Explanation:
[1] Affirmation of Christ intent for a totally new Religion and form of Governance is here cited to make clear the above passages. Disputes that had it the past been taken to the High Priest or Sanhedrin, are now to be taken to Peter and the other Apostles: “The Church.” [singular][2] The Powers and Authority granted to Peter ALONE; is now extended through Peter to include all of the Apostles.
Argument Number [5] [Post Resurrection] Matthew 28: 16, 18-20 “And the eleven [remaining] disciples [“Apostles only“: see Mt. 10: above] went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them.[1] And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. [2] Going therefore, teach ye all nations; [3] baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. [4] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you [5] and behold I [Jesus: Personally] am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world [6].
Explanation:
[1] This conversation too is critical to right understanding. Here Jesus is addressing only the remaining Apostles. Judas having hung himself in despair. This fulfills the pre-Death promise of Jesus, to afterwards meet them [the Apostles] in Galilee, [Mt. 26-32] [2] Next Then we see evidence of God’s Own Powers and Authority being passed on [again] by absolute necessity to these very [and exclusively to them]; Apostles. [3] “to ALL NATIONS” means the entire world. By absolute necessity then, in order to fulfill this “Command” issued by our Perfect God; Succession of Powers and Authority HAD to continue beyond the life’s and deaths of the Apostles. Certainly Christ did not intend for this new religion to end with the demise of the Apostles who are foundational with Christ as the Corner Stone; of a New Covenant; but not its competition. If not, the fulfillment of the mandate is impossible and God‘s Plan and Will would be left uncompleted; a simply impossible to accept position.[4] … The form Christ desires the Sacrament of Baptism to take is clearly articulated as Christ Institutes this First of His Seven Sacraments. Highly notable is that it does NOT exclude Infant Baptism; for it is God’s desire that “all men” participate in His salvation [conditionally]. Babies too have Souls! [1st. Tim. 2:4] [5] Take note again of the fact that Christ is addressing directly and exclusively; only His Apostles and issues directly “to them alone” the “Command” to teach “all nations”. [see also: Eph. 2:20; 3:9-10 & 4:1-7]. [6] This final promise [post-Resurrection] affirms Christ Real Presence in the Eucharist. Another Sacrament Instituted By Christ. The Promise here specifies Himself to remain “with them.”; not only the Holy Spirit as separately promised elsewhere. [John 14:16-17].
Argument Number [6] Having established Only One God; Faith and Church we now proceed to the evidence for the practice of Succession.
First from the perspective of the Apostles: Acts 1:24-26 “And praying, they said: Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, To take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas hath by transgression fallen, that he might go to his own place. And they gave them lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” [1] From the hands of God directly: … Acts 24:16 “And when we were all fallen down on the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew tongue: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goad” [2]
Explanation:
[1] Here is evidence of both Peter and the Apostles recognition of the absolute need for Succession [2] and also God’s continued direct involvement in the choosing of these men.
Argument Number [7] Deals with the God protected and guided Authority of “His One Church” [1] John 14:16-17 “And I [Jesus /God] will ask the [My] Father, [1] and he shall give you another Paraclete, [2] [Person in the Blessed Trinity: the Holy Spirit] that he may abide with you for ever. [3] The spirit of truth, [4] whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, nor knoweth him [5]: but you shall know him; because he shall abide with you, and shall be in you.”
Explanation:
[1] This conversation takes place between Jesus in BOTH His humanity and His Divinity and His Father and is expressly on behalf of only His Apostles. [2] Christ makes evident that “truth” is a “singular thing.” [3] And that this “Truth-warranty” is never-ending: “forever.” [4] The world’s reality seems “naturally” to “ kick against the goad of God’s singular truth [s].” This is a direct effect of Lost Grace and willing complicity in falsehoods. [Perhaps not fully known or understood because of the lack of Grace?] [5] But you; My Apostles and those whom I choose; shall be protected from teaching in error on all matters of Faith and Morals; because the holy Spirit will Guide you, protect you and lead you; AND even reside in you!
Argument Number [8] John 20: 19- 23 “Now when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples [Apostles] were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them: Peace be to you. [1] And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you.[2] When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. [3] Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.” [4]
Explanation:
[1] Twice in these brief passages Jesus tells them [and us… My] “Peace be with you” Thus we can know that is God’s desire for us, and in a most special way to those He calls to Ministry to have “peaceful hearts founded on belief, obedience and right and full-understanding of Him. [2]Using precise terms Christ, once again passes His Godly Powers and Authority on to His Apostles, and THROUGH them by absolute necessity, to their Successors. …“As God did send Me; so too I God now send you” [addressing once again, only Peter and the other Apostles]. [3] Here Christ fulfills His Promise to the Apostles made earlier in [John 14] and is seen sending as promised the Holy Spirit to actually reside within the Apostles. [4] Yes, now that the Apostles are empowered as was Christ Himself; now that they are “filled with the Holy Spirit”; Jesus further empowers and commands them to in His name; with His authority to determine whose sins shall be forgiven and whose shall not. It remains Christ who does the actual forgiving; but ONLY after being given the essential permission of His Priest to do so. It is the priest again as “the [“Persona Christi”] “person of Christ”; just as in the instant of Transubstanuation that is transformed and performs this act as Christ Himself. Once again we witness Christ Instituting yet another Sacrament. The Sacrament of Confession; the only KNOWN forgiveness of sin. As a FYI; Priest were used for this function in the Old Testament too; but not with the same degree of authority and Power. SEE: Lev. 5:13 & 6:7.
Argument Number [9] It seems reasonable that some might ask a “YES-BUT.” … Were these teaches understood, accepted and applied in the early Church? It seems prudent to reference the “Last Apostle”; Paul, to see what He taught and what has been Divinely Inspired Teaching handed on to us.
John 1:42 “And he brought him to Jesus. And Jesus looking upon him, said: Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is interpreted Peter.”
Paul’s Testimony speaks for itself. Amen!
One 1 Corinthians 1:12 “Now this I say, that every one of you saith: I indeed am of Paul; and I am of Apollo; and I am of Cephas; and I of Christ.”
Two 1 Corinthians 15:5 “And that he [The Risen Christ] was seen by Cephas; and after that by the eleven”
Three Eph. 5: 23 “Christ is the head of the church [singular] , his body“, [singular]
Four Eph. 2:19-20 “Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners; but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and the domestics of God, Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone
Five Romans 13: 1-4 “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
Six Romans 16: 17-19 “ I appeal to you, brethren, to take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by fair and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded. For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I would have you wise as to what is good and guileless as to what is evil”
Seven 1Tim. 3: 15 “if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church [SINGULAR] of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth”
Eight Romans 15: 4-6 “that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”
Nine 2nd. Cor. 9: 13 “Under the test of this service, you will glorify God by your obedience in acknowledging the gospel [singular] of Christ,”
Ten Eph. 4: 1-7 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body [WHICH MEANS ONE CHURCH] and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, [ONLY ONE SET OF BELEFS] one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
Eleven 2 Tim. 4: 1-4 ”I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.”
Twelve Eph. 3: 9-10 “And to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church [singular] the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,
John 10: 16 And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.
Acts.20: 28 “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God [SINGULAR] which he obtained with the blood of his own Son.”
May God please grant us His Wisdom and Understanding; and make it possible for ALL to come to HIS TRUTH! Amen
Pat Miron
SUMMATION:
Luke.10: 16 “He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." Mt. 7:21, 24-27 “Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but [ONLY] he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven…Every one therefore that heareth these my words, and doth them, shall be likened to a wise man that built his house upon a rock, And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded on a rock. And every one that heareth these my words, and doth them not, shall be like a foolish man that built his house upon the sand, And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall thereof.” AMEN!
IamACatholic
Patrick
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