EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY PROVES ROMAN CATHOLICISM FALSE

[@CAnswersTV]

A free written transcript of this message is available at media-cloud.sermonaudio.com/text/113161415591.pdf . Free written transcripts of this message are available in 20 languages at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=113161415591 . See our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715 with 224 videos. Larry Wessels, director of Christian Answers of Austin, Texas (KZbin channel: CANSWERSTV at kzbin.info, see our playlist "Early Church History" at kzbin.info/aero/PL9931642C7C8FFEAB&feature=plcp; websites www.BIBLEQUERY.ORG, www.HISTORYCART.COM & www.MUSLIMHOPE.COM) presents his ministry's radio broadcast entitled, "Christian Answers Live!" hosted by Lee Meckley. The featured guest in this broadcast is former Roman Catholic William Webster. Mr. Webster is author of the books, "The Church of Rome at the Bar of History," "The Christian: Following Christ as Lord," "Salvation, The Bible, & Roman Catholicism" & various articles including "Why Scripture & the Facts of History Compel Me, A Former Roman Catholic, to Remain a Committed Evangelical Protestant - A Response to Francis Beckwith's 'Return to Rome.'" Mr. Webster is founder & director of CHRISTIAN RESOURCES (website: www.CHRISTIANTRUTH.COM ). Numerous Romanist apologists such as Karl Keating, Scott Hahn, Robert Sungenis, Gerry Mataticks & others make a big issue out of the supposed fact that early Christian church history supports their claim that the Roman Church & its Universal Pope are true institutions of Christianity & therefore must be followed as with Christ Himself. Is this Romanist argument true? Do the early Christian church fathers establish the Pope & the Roman Church as the only true Christian Church on the face of the earth? The facts of history prove the Romanist claims to be false. Just as Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Muslims, New Agers, Campbellites, & a host of other religious movements try to lay claim to Jesus Christ through their invented "histories" the Romanists do the same. This radio program, along with Webster's well documented book, prove from the early Church fathers & Romanist history itself, that Papist claims & doctrines are a fraud. The testimonies of the early church such as "The Didache," Justin Martyr, Theophilus of Antioch, Clement of Alexandria, Cyprian, Athanasius, Augustine, Origen, Eusebius, Chrysostom, Polycarp, Ignatius, Irenaeus, etc. (see our website www.HISTORYCART.COM also), clearly stand in stark contrast to Romanist heresies such as "The Council of Trent," "Vatican 1," "Vatican 2," & Marian Dogmas making the Virgin Mary the "Queen of Heaven & Co-Redemptrix." The Roman Catholic Church is nothing more than a man-made apostate organization putting tradition over Scripture & thus masquerading as a historic, Biblical church. Those wishing to see more videos on numerous theological subjects can go to KZbin OR VIMEO VIDEO (type "LARRY WESSELS" in their respective homepage search boxes). Viewers can also find our 16 hour detailed series on Roman Catholicism with former Catholic Rob Zins, Th.M. Dallas Theological Seminary (program #1 is entitled, "NOT REAL CHRISTIANITY BUT OLD TESTAMENT JUDAISM IN DISGUISE" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/onPFpY2Xbtt6Y6M ) there.

[@CAnswersTV]

The most terrifying words a professing Christian could ever hear would be Jesus saying, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness" (Matt. 7:21-23). The Lord Jesus will declare those horrifying words to many, not a few, who will boast in the many works they did in His Name. They called Him Lord but did not obey His first command to "Repent and believe the Gospel" (Mark 1:15). Who are the "many" who will be turned away on Judgment Day? They are those who thought they could merit eternal life by the works they were doing instead of trusting in the work Christ had done. They also never turned from their sin to follow Jesus Christ in faith. Since they never obeyed the Gospel of Christ, they will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Tragically, when Jesus declares to them, "Depart from Me," there will be no second chance, no excuses, and no blaming the false teachers who deceived them. The Lord Jesus also referred to the "many" when He spoke of the two paths to eternity. Many will travel the broad road to destruction instead of the narrow road to eternal life (Matt. 7:13-14). Rather than striving to enter the narrow gate by testing every man's teaching, they foolishly follow false teachers, who are wolves disguised in sheep's clothing (Luke 13:24; Matt. 7:15). It is a sobering thought to realize that 83% of Americans (click on abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=90356&page=1) profess faith in Christ, but only a few of them show evidence of being born again as new creatures in Christ. According to the research, many of them cannot even communicate the Gospel that has the power to save souls. Part of the blame must be placed on man-centered methods of evangelism such as making a decision to "accept" Christ, or repeating a sinner's prayer, or asking Jesus into your heart, or coming forward for salvation. None of these methods are found in the Bible. The only saving response to the Gospel of Grace is to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15; Acts 16:31). Part of the blame can also be placed on those who compromise the Gospel to make it more inclusive and less offensive (Gal. 1:6-10). With so many false converts, the church has become a mission field. Many professors of Christ are not really possessors of Christ! They are strangers to the new birth. They have never passed from death unto life. They remain condemned because they have not been justified. They remain enemies of God even though they profess to be His friends! They remain enslaved to sin because they have never been set free. They profess the Savior with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him. They deceive other people with their external righteousness, but they cannot deceive God! They are unaware of their pending peril, because they have never examined themselves to see if their faith is genuine (2 Cor. 13:5). The best way we can prove our faith is genuine is to examine it through the lens of Scripture. The apostle John wrote his first epistle so that those who believe in the Lord Jesus may know that they have eternal life (1 John 5:13). We also see many characteristics of false converts in God's Word. Some of them are listed below: You think you are a good person (Romans 3:12). You have a zeal for God without knowledge (Rom. 10:1-4). You have knowledge of God without obedience (Titus 1:16). You do not pursue sanctification (Heb. 12:14; 1 Thess. 4:3). You are self-righteous without repentance (Luke 18:9-14). You seek to establish your own righteousness (Rom. 10:3). You think you can merit or earn eternal life (Titus 3:5). You are unwilling to forgive others (Mat. 6:15). You have no desire to follow Jesus (Luke 9:23). You call Jesus 'Lord' but do not do what He says (Luke 6:46). You do not love other Christians (1 John 4:20-21). You love your sin (John 3:19). You have not departed from iniquity (2 Timothy 2:19). You condone or promote things God hates (Prov. 6:16-19). You are a mere hearer of the Word, not a doer (James 1:22). You are full of pride with no humility (James 4:6). You walk in darkness (1 John 1:6). You live according to your sinful nature (Romans 8:5). You do not love the truth (2 Thess. 2:10-12). You take Jesus as Savior but not as Lord (Romans 10:9). You desire Jesus as a priest to pardon sin, but not as a prophet to instruct you or a king to rule over you. Please know the assurance that we are truly saved is not based on a past decision but on a present reality. So what if we are unsure about our faith and our salvation? We find the answer in God's Word: Abide in God's Word - then you will know the truth that will set you free from religious deception (John 8:31-32). Repent - with godly sorrow for your sins and cry out to God for mercy (Luke 18:13; 2 Cor. 7:10). Believe the Gospel - follow the Lord Jesus Christ in faith (Rom. 10:9-10). Love God - with all you heart, soul and mind (Mat. 22:37; 1 Cor. 16:22). What should we do if we know someone who may be a false convert? Ask them to share the events surrounding their conversion. If their conversion testimony does not line up with Scripture, ask them more questions. Speak the truth in love. Give them Gospel tracts to encourage them (contact our ministry for free tracts & literature at [e-mail]). Give them links to Biblical messages such as countrysidebible.org/cbcmedia?return=single&mediacode=si180711p or "TRUE BELIEVERS & NON BELIEVERS ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL OF THE REFORMATION: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZDHf2OleJpqiM0. Link them to our KZbin channel CAnswersTV (which stands for "Christian Answers Television") at kzbin.info or our website www.BibleQuery.org. Let them know eternity is forever! We can be wrong about a lot of things in this life and still survive, but if we are wrong about our faith, we will pay for that mistake forever and ever (see our playlist "Dealing with Hell, Lake of Fire, Unpopular Bible Doctrines" with 43 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLE04A1D0DFE95B95E. Luke 13:3, ""I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

[@PsycheDismantled]

It's almost like a nightmare trying to figure out what being a Catholic means. Every Catholic seems to tell you something different, there are some that speak blasphemy, placing the church above Jesus Himself. One guy told me that I can't be saved unless I am Catholic and apart of the church. So Jesus doesn't save? He also said God Bless you in the name of The Father, The Son, and the Catholic Church! They took the place of the Holy Spirit? It scared me, it did not convert me. It seemed almost cult like and closer to Islam than Christianity.

[@2agbh72]

Galatians first chapter: If anyone teaches another gospel other than we have taught even an angel of light, accursed let him be ! Catholic church tradition teaches another gospel !

[@EzekielsCall]

The apostles traditions would not contradict what they had already written to the churches. Saying that the apostles gave them traditions which contradict the apostles own words is just nonsensical. And yet that is exactly what the Catholic church tries to do. Their official teachings CONTRADICT clear teachings of the Apostles. What? Are they trying to convince us that Jesus and the Apostles had secret teachings that contradict the scriptures like the gnostics do? Ridiculous. If that were the case then the whole idea that Jesus was Messiah would be ludicrous. But He IS Messiah, and the Apostles would not contradict the teachings they had already given and the teachings of Jesus Christ Himself. ""Whosoever therefore shall confess (speak in agreement with/assent to) me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny (contradict, be in opposition to) me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.".......Matthew 10:32 Confess: Greek word= homologeo: to Speak the SAME with. To be in AGREEMENT with Deny: Greek word = arneomai: to CONTRADICT, to speak in opposition to what He says & who He is. Further, Paul said that if even he himself, or an angel of Heaven were to preach any other gospel, than what they had already given us, that one was cursed. The official teachings of the Catholic church (and Greek Orthodox etc) is that they sacrifice Jesus over and over again, and this bloodless sacrifice pays for sins. The Apostles taught that Jesus died ONCE for all sin, and is NOT to be offered over and over again, and the Scriptures, GOD's word, AFFIRMED by the apostles, says that without blood there is no remission of sins. Yet the Catholic official teaching is that they have a bloodless sacrifice on the altar that pays for sins. it's preposterous. Would they have us believe the Apostles told us one thing and then gave them secret understanding that contradicted their own words? If that's the case, it should all be thrown out. Yet that is NOT the case. Jesus Christ IS the Way, Truth and the Life, and the Word of God is exactly that, it is the words of GOD, not man. Let God be true, and every man a liar.

[@CAnswersTV]

Thanks for your feedback. I went to the 45 minute mark of the video & listened to it for about 2 minutes but I could still hear everything just fine. I then jumped to different points of the video up to the end & once again I had no problem hearing the audio. This video has been up for a year & we haven't had any complaints about the audio until yours. You might have a computer glitch in this regard. Yes, Leander is in our backyard. Praise the Lord for His providence in getting His Word out!

[@CAnswersTV]

Roman Catholics believe Peter was their first pope, but to their peril, they do not believe what he taught. Peter did play a prominent role in the early church, but he always knew the church had only One Head (Eph. 5:23). That exalted position was reserved for the Lord Jesus Christ, who promised to build His church after He purchased it with His own blood (Mat. 16:18; Acts 20:28). Soon after Peter abandoned his career as a fisherman to follow Christ, he became a fisher of men. Several of his sermons were recorded in the Book of Acts, and his doctrinal teachings were recorded in his two epistles. For the purpose of challenging Roman Catholics to examine their faith, I have asked Peter some questions. All of his answers come from his writings and sermons. It is my prayer that Catholics will believe what Peter taught regarding theology, ecclesiology, and soteriology and repent from any of their religious teachings and traditions that oppose the infallible Word of God. Peter, were you the first pope and supreme head of the church? "As your fellow elder", I exhort you to "shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:1-3). Were you infallible? The Lord Jesus rebuked me as a mouthpiece of Satan because I had not set my mind on the interests of God (Mat. 16:23). Paul opposed me to my face, saying I stood condemned, because I was not straightforward about the truth of the Gospel (Galatians 2:11-14). As a man, I was fallible, however, my two epistles contain the infallible Word of God because they were divinely inspired (2 Tim. 3:16). Should we confess our sins to priests? I instructed Simon the Sorcerer to repent of his wickedness and pray to God that his sins may be forgiven (Acts 8:22). Should we pray to Mary and the saints? I said to pray to God (Acts 8:22). When I was in danger I prayed to God, "Lord save me" (Mat. 14:30). Can anyone be saved apart from Jesus Christ? "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). What would you say to Pope Francis, who teaches that atheists can follow their conscience into heaven? "There will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction" (2 Pet. 2:1). Is Mary another sinless mediator? Peter said, "The ignorant and unstable twist Paul's letters to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures" (2 Peter 3:16). Catholic who believe Mary is another mediator have twisted Paul's irrefutable declaration that Christ is only one mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5). Can anyone have assurance of eternal life? God has caused believers to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven and protected by the power of God through faith (1 Pet. 1:3-5). Can indulgences be purchased for the remission of sins? God redeems us "not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Pet. 1:18-19). Can anyone be born again through water baptism? "You have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God" (1 Pet. 1:23). Water baptism is for those who have already received the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:47). Should Jesus Christ be made a sin offering every day during the sacrifice of the Mass? Christ died "for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God" (1 Pet. 3:18). Is the Catholic priesthood necessary to offer sacrifices to God? Every believer has been called out of darkness into Christ's marvelous light to be part of the royal priesthood for the purpose of proclaiming His excellencies (1 Pet. 2:9). Are you the rock upon which Jesus would build His church? My confession of faith in Jesus as the Christ and the Son of God is how the the Lord's church is built (Mat. 16:18). All believers, who have the same God-given faith, are living stones that make up the church. The Lord Jesus is "the chief cornerstone" and "a rock of offense" (1 Peter 2:4-8). The foundation of any building is anchored by the cornerstone. Should Jesus be portrayed as a dead man hanging on a cross or a baby in Mary's arms? The resurrected Christ has ascended into heaven and is at the right hand of God (1 Pet. 3:21-22). What should we do in these days of great deception? Take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:17-18). There is a profound contrast between the teachings of Peter and the opinions of Pope Francis. The enormous disparity between the teachings of these two men is a strong indictment of how far the Roman Catholic Church has departed from the faith of the apostles into apostasy. Just as Catholics must choose between trusting Christ and His Word or the teachings and traditions of their religion, they must also choose between trusting the teachings of Peter and the teachings of Francis. It is impossible to believe two opposing authorities. See our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" with 180 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715

[@CAnswersTV]

Thank you. We appreciate your open & sincere comment. 1 Thessalonians 5:21

[@ryanlj1995]

Great video. Thank you for this. This helped me a lot, and a lot of these things I have heard in this video (including about things that Irenaus [sic?], Cyril, Ambrose, Origen, Jerome, and also the Vatican I Council apparently also teaching the Pope was additionally infallible in areas of discipline in addition to faith and morals (I thought before it was JUST faith and morals). Nor did I know about Pope Liberius being exiled and condemned, nor did I know about Pope Honorius I being condemned as a heretic, despite these men being supposedly infallible in areas of faith and morals. Why was it that I was never told of this stuff before? I'm ex-Roman Catholic by the way, leaning between Lutheranism, Methodism and Disciples of Christ right now. Thank you again for this video and this talk. It's amazing what the Roman church keeps from people.

[@anissueofursincerity]

This talk is specifically directed at roman catholicism. It disregards eastern orthodox, which is also catholic and also claims historical authority.

[@wfqsfg]

Excellent information. I just ordered the book and looking forward to reading it. I learned quit a bit just listening to this audio.

[@CAnswersTV]

Does the Roman Catholic religion really have a 2000 year old history as Roman Catholics constantly argue for? Again & again Romanists argue that their Roman church organization & its hierarchy go back to "Pope" Peter in the first century. Our Director of Research Steve Morrison (webmaster for www.historycart.com/ - which deals with early Christian church history; www.biblequery.org/ - which answers over 8500 Bible questions, & www.muslimhope.com/ - which refutes the false religion of Islam created by Muhammad) has the following reply for Roman Catholics who make the ridiculous "2000 year" claim: "Hi, Just a little correction here. It was said, "Yet only the Catholic Church and its 2000 year history can match." There was no Roman Catholic church back then. The first person to be called a "Pope" was Heraclas of Alexandria (236-249 A.D.). The Copts trace their popes from him, not Roman Catholics. The first Roman bishop to be called a Pope was Siricius (c.384-399 A.D.), after Nicea. So the Copts have prior claim to a pope, not Roman Catholics. A Roman Catholic today cannot consider the Copts as non-Christians, since the Roman Catholic church in more recent times has restored communion with the Coptic church. Furthermore the Greek Orthodox church, which orthodox people would argue goes back father than the Roman Catholic church, never needed a pope. The 325 A.D. Council of Nicea established four "central" metropolitan churches, not one. So if you accept the tradition of the church councils, then by church tradition Rome is NOT the center of the church. The orthodox church did not "break away" from the Roman Catholic church; both churches excommunicated each other. So if you are a Roman Catholic who wants to follow the truth, you must stop saying things like "Yet only the Catholic Church and its 2000 year history can match" because it is a provable, historical lie, as any Greek Orthodox or Copt will strenuously tell you. As Protestants, we want to go back to the Bible, not man-made organizations with their brutal massacres, papal assassinations, anti-popes, forced deposition of popes, a pope tried for heresy after his death, torture and inquisitions, burning their own "saint" at the stake, etc. But that is not my main point here. My main point is that if a Roman Catholic brings up "Yet only the Catholic Church and its 2000 year history can match," once they have been shown that it is provably false, they have to now stop saying that, or else they have disqualified yourselves as someone who cares about the truth. " For more on the subject of early church history as it pertains to Roman Catholicism see Steve Morrison's 18 part church history video series on KZbin - some of the titles from that series are "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY #3: EARLY CHRISTIANS QUOTED SCRIPTURE WITHOUT A ROMANIST OR KJV BIBLE" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4engKyloJuhgtE, "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY #11: BIBLE IS HISTORICALLY RELIABLE BUT NOT ROMAN CATHOLIC TRADITIONS" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/gobZeoGnpJKhrJo, "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY #14: PRE-NICENE (325 A.D.) CHURCH WAS NOT A ROMAN CATHOLIC SYSTEM" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoqVlXeHotinkMk, "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY #15: THERE WAS NO POPE OR CARDINALS; DID HAVE SEX & MONEY RULES" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppLamKlspsqEbrc & "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY #16: GOVERNMENT & RULERS; ROMAN CATHOLICISM VEILS TRUE GOSPEL" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2a8fJawpdRlh5o. Particularly see Steve's website www.HistoryCart.com. Other videos we have on early church history and Roman Catholicism are: "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY PROVES ROMAN CATHOLICISM FALSE" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGcm5ponZiroLM, "HISTORICAL SPLIT BETWEEN ROMAN CATHOLICISM & THE CHRIST OF THE SCRIPTURE: MAN'S WORD OR GOD'S WORD?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4bXaKV5a8aSadU, "THE ORIGINAL EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH WAS NOT A ROMAN CATHOLIC SYSTEM OF SALVATION" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5vFpYmjj5qqm9U, "Vatican System: List of Murdered Popes, 75 Popes Approved Torture, Murder, Burning at the Stake" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqTJppSgmq99la8. Further references: www.christiantruth.com/, www.bereanbeacon.org/ & www.cwrc-rz.org/. See also our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" with 145 videos and counting at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715. 2 Timothy 4: 2-5, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."

[@TheRgordon16]

He forgot one other thing. God has exalted His Word above His name (Psalms 138:2)

[@drose3812]

Excellent, Excellent podcast!! So Very, Very Blessed by all of Mr. William Webster’s research and information!! Especially at the end how he discussed that The Glorious, The Incomparable LORD JESUS CHRIST is our Salvation!! HE Who Gave It All For Us!! HIS Suffering, HIS Death, HIS Burial and HIS Glorious Resurrection accomplished All for us!! To GOD Be The Glory - Great Things HE Has Done!!

[@maryfreeman4566]

i just came from a catholic website called "why do catholics believe Mary was sinless". very sad site, catholics are believing and teaching that Jesus listens only to those who are saints in heaven, Jesus would never listen to a sinner. my point that i made in that website was that Jesus would never turn anyone away who comes to Him trusting and believing in Him. the catholics responding to that video are so steeped in being convinced that only those in heaven have a direct line to Jesus. very sad site.

[@2agbh72]

Thank you Mary for that point. very well said. I keep saying that just as pagans sought false gods for protection guidance and favor so the Catholic church follows only changing the names of the false gods for names of people they regard as especially holly. Its a pagan practice and an abomination to seek the dead. The dead cannot hear anyone's prayers because only God can do that. Only God has all knowledge so as to be able to hear everyone's prayers.

[@connermacdonald7572]

If the RCC WAS directly descended from the “original” New Testament church of Jesus Christ, as taught by His Apostles, why is there NO MENTION of the papacy, worship/adoration/immaculate conception/perpetual virginity/ the assumption/co-redemptrix & mediatrix of Mary, praying to saints, apostolic succession, the ordinances of the church functioning as sacraments, infant baptism, confession of sin to a priest, purgatory, indulgences, or the equal authority of church tradition and Scripture???

[@havoc092]

Sola scriptura is born out in the Judaic principal of checking "presumed" revelation against known good revelation. If a "prophet" arose they checked what he said against prior revelation. In the doing, they went to the Torah. If the prophet wasn't consistent with the witness of past revelation, he got a new rock suit. If Rome had to live with that standard, there'd be no Roman Catholic Church.

[@2agbh72]

Read" The Gospel According To Rome " to know what the catholic church teaches and how it contradicts the Bible

[@CAnswersTV]

It has been properly pointed out that many of the early church fathers fell into numerous heresies & in some cases damnable heresies because, after all, they were not writers of inspired scripture. It is also a fact that the further in time the early church got away from the original apostolic age the more the apparent declension or deterioration of scriptural truth is to be found in the writings of the early church writers (for documented evidence of this please review the writings of early church historian & scholar William Cunningham at www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?speakeronly=true&currsection=sermonsspeaker&keyword=William_Cunningham). In fact, the sixteenth century Reformers looked like university presidents compared to the early church fathers who seemed to be mere school boys by contrast when it came to scriptural apostolic understanding (although Martin Luther did suffer some from his heavy Romanist indoctrination & tradition in some regards). Although the early church fathers can be useful they cannot be put on the same level as the Word of God itself (Psalm 138:2). If the early church fathers say anything that contradicts what the apostolic writers have stated in scripture then any anti scriptural teachings of the early church fathers must be rejected completely (Isaiah 8:20, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.") & the warning of Peter remembered, 2 Peter 3:15-16, "And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." Water Baptism Under the heading of salvation, it is important at this point to touch on baptism. Although it may seem inconsistent to digress into what may be considered an "ordinance" or "sacrament" of the church after indulging in the metaphysical realities of being "in Christ" and being revealed as a son of God, it is necessary since so many of the early church fathers equated our regeneration with the act of immersion. The actual issue of baptismal regeneration, however, we will only touch on at the end. Instead, we will first investigate the apostolic practice, including what was considered valid and the development of baptismal theology in the early church. Baptism is perhaps the most universal of all Christian ordinances. It is considered the "portal" into the Christian church by many branches of Christianity. The early church fathers put a tremendous amount of emphasis on baptism, which sparked a significant amount of debate. Other than the controversies regarding the deity of Christ, the debates and controversies that raged over baptism and rebaptism stand out as the most intense theological debates of the third and fourth centuries. Some of the questions that are still asked today are : a) Did the early church baptize infants? b) Does baptism wash away "original sin"? c) Is an individual regenerated (ie. "born-again") at baptism? In the beginning of all of the gospels, we find how baptism was the central facet of John the Baptist’s ministry. In Judaism, ritual washing was already a practice, particularly with the Essenes and many ascetic groups, but John’s baptism is distinguished as a "baptism unto repentance" (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3; Acts 19:4). In this respect John represents the personification of all of the prophets thus far. The highest moral teaching of Judaism can be seen in the prophets in their emphasis of the heart attitude that God seeks, rather than ritual observances (See Amos 5:21-23). Yet even during John’s ministry, there was already a foreshadowing that the pattern of water baptism served as a type for the spiritual baptism that would be introduced by the Messiah. John says in Matthew’s gospel that he baptized with water, but he that comes after me shall "baptize you with fire and the Holy Spirit". For this reason, we should always keep before us the truth that the water has no "magical" properties about it, nor can it be considered an end itself. Infant Baptism It is a common practice among orthodox, Roman Catholic, as well as several Protestant bodies (ie. Lutheran, Covenant, etc.) to baptize individuals when they are infants. The practice is frequently justified on the grounds that, under the Mosaic economy of salvation, God's covenant was extended to even infants through circumcision, which was to be performed on the eighth day after birth. The covenant of circumcision is said to be a type or foreshadowing of baptism, which serves a similar function under the New Covenant. This reasoning appears in the church documents Apostolic Constitutions (ca. 4th Century) "Do not delay to turn to the Lord, for thou knowest not what the day will bring forth." Do you also baptize your infants, and bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. For He says "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not." (VII:457) as well as Cyprian (V:353) For this reason we think that no one should be hindered from obtaining the grace under the law that was already ordained, and that spiritual circumcision ought not be hindered... and nobody is hindered from baptism and grace how much more should we not hinder an infant, who being lately born, has not sinned, except in being born after the flesh in the nature of Adam. Furthermore, the waters of baptism were thought by many to have a "medicinal" property, and that the water itself was effectual in affecting a rebirth of the spirit of an individual, and they would be regenerated in the act of baptism itself. Are we then to expect that this was the apostolic practice, observed by the apostles and their successors in the apostolic churches? Although the previously mentioned texts demonstrate a belief in an objective and effectual power resident in the waters of baptism, there is even more evidence that would denote the contrary. It can be sufficiently shown that the earliest apostolic teaching on baptism did not make provisions for infants. The primary reason is because faith is an integral element of salvation. Whether one believes in baptismal regeneration or not, it is undeniable that personal faith is the active agent in applying the benefits of Calvary to our lives. Baptism is an ordinance that is entered into only when an individual has made the decision to fully believe in Jesus Christ. We see in the Bible when the apostle Philip was to baptize the Ethiopian eunuch whom he had converted, the eunuch asked "What is to prevent me from being baptized?" Philip answered "If you believe with your whole heart, it is permissible." (Acts 8:36,37) It is interesting that the critical part of verse 37, which clearly implies that one must fully believe in Jesus before being baptized, is missing from many contemporary translations, even though it is found in the majority of original Greek manuscripts. The best evidence for the authenticity of the verse lies in the fact that it is quoted by Scripture by Irenaeus ( Against Heresies XI, 8), and Cyprian (Treatise IX, 2, 43), many, many years before the oldest manuscripts which do not include it were ever written. This fact establishes without question the principle that, according to scripture and church tradition, personal faith is a prerequisite to baptism. Looking through the rest of the New Testament, there are no clear examples of infants being baptized. The inference is that they were not, since such stress in put on repentance, faith and confession of the Lordship of Christ as being intrinsic to the New Birth. Most baptismal texts found in the Patristic church likewise infer that those being baptized are at least old enough to enter into baptism of their own volition. Consider some of the texts from the early church regarding baptism. Didache (ca. 100 A.D.): But before the baptism, let the baptizer fast, and also the baptized, and what ever others can; but thou shall order the baptized to fast one or two days before. Justin Martyr (First Apology; ca 155 A.D.) As many are persuaded and believe that what we teach and say is true, and undertake to live accordingly, are instructed to entreat God with fasting...then they are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated in the same manner in which we ourselves were...For Christ also said :"'Unless you be born-again, you cannot see the kingdom of God". Tertullian (On Baptism) They who are about to enter baptism ought to pray with repeated prayer, fasts, and bendings of the knee, and vigils all the night through, and with the confession of all bygone sins, that they may express the meaning of the baptism of John. Virtually every text from the first two hundred years of Christianity that deal with baptism mention the obligation on the part of those being baptized to be spiritually prepared, usually by repentance and faith, and extended periods of prayer and fasting. This would preclude any possibility of baptism being applicable to infants. Any reference to infants being baptized is conspicuously missing. The whole matter is decisively answered by one text from Tertullian. Tertullian:(On Baptism-III:678) "Unless a man be reborn of water and spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven" has tied to faith the necessity of baptism. Accordingly, all thereafter who became believers used to be baptized...and so according to the disposition, circumstances and even the age of each individual, the delay of baptism is preferable, principally, in the case of little children....For the Lord does indeed say "Forbid them not to come to me". Let them come, then, while they are growing up. Let them come while they are learning; while they learn whither to come; let them become Christians when they have become able to know Christ. Why does the innocent period in life hasten to the "remission of sins"? ..Let them know how to "ask" for salvation, that it may seem to have given "to him that asketh". . If this is indeed the unanimous consent of the church, how did it happen that infant baptism became the norm? Although the answer may be somewhat speculative, we need to look to one of the baptismal texts from Irenaeus. Irenaeus, who held to the orthodox position regarding when one should be baptized, wrote a text which supported the common perception that we are born-again when we are baptized. He said in Against Heresies in 180 A.D. We are lepers in sin, we are made clean by means of the sacred water and invocation of the Lord, from our old transgression; being spiritually regenerate as new born babes, even as the Lord has declared "except a man be born again through water and the Spirit, he shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Years later, we see some Christian writings taking Irenaeus' words and interpreting "spiritually regenerate, as newborn babes" as meaning that we are baptized as new-born babes! In the proper historical and textual context however, this is inconceivable. Thus, sometime in the mid 3rd century and in contradiction to the norm, the practice of baptizing infants started, built largely on a misinterpretation of Irenaeus. Baptism and Original Sin One of the most common arguments in favor of the necessity of infant baptism involves the question of original sin. The Roman church today, for example, views baptism as the means that an individual is cleansed from guilt incurred in the original sin of Adam and Eve. It is thought that the effectiveness of the baptism is in no way dependent upon the recipient of the sacrament. Therefore, it was considered expedient to baptize someone as soon as possible, namely, right after their birth. This is quite different from the biblical teaching, which is that baptism is the symbolic ordinance that typifies our identification with the burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a death to our old life, and the beginning of our new life in Christ. Rather than baptizing immediately after birth, it was actually more common to wait late until the twilight of one's years to be baptized. The rationale for this was that baptism was thought by many to be a one shot deal at forgiveness and pardon, so a late baptism would minimize the opportunity for an individual to accrue any damning sins. Even in the Fourth century this mindset was prevalent, witnessed by the fact that Constantine himself would not be baptized until he was on his deathbed. The earliest archeological evidence we have that a child was baptized comes from an epitaph on a young boys tomb in the Lateran. The quote is from the fourth century and it reads: Florentius set up this inscription for his well deserving son Appronianus, who lived one year, nine months and five days. Since he was truly beloved by his grandmother, and she saw that he was destined for death, she asked of the church that he might depart a believer. Many who have pointed to this as evidence for infant baptism have missed the point of the epitaph altogether. It does not support the idea that infants were baptized. On the contrary. The boy was almost two, not yet baptized, and when it was apparent that he was not going to survive to a mature age, the grandmother made a special request (presumably to baptize him) before his death. This epitaph actually supports the view that infants were not baptized as a normal procedure at that point in church history, and that putting off the practice until later in life was still the most common opinion. If it is true that infants were not baptized, then what about the understanding of original sin? What did happen to a child or an infant that was not baptized? Were they damned because of Adam’s guilt? Again, looking closer at the earliest documents, we find that the early church had a vastly different perception of Adam's sin and it's effects. Shepherd of Hermas (ca. 150 A.D) They are as infant children in whose hearts no evil originates; nor did they know what wickedness is, but always remain as children. Such accordingly without doubt, dwell in the kingdom of God, because they defiled in nothing the commandments of God. ...all infants are honorable before God, and are first in persons with Him. The Shepherd of Hermas, previously noted, was considered canonical by several fathers of the church. According to him, there is no evil in the heart of an infant, and they dwell in the kingdom of God. Below we have a statement by Justin scolding the Roman dignitaries for allowing their pagan priests to sacrifice children from the womb for the purpose of divination. Justin Martyr, First Apology XVIII, 155 A.D) For you let even necromancy, and the divinations, whom you practice on immaculate children, and the invoking of departed human souls. Notice that he calls the children "immaculate". Tertullian apparently held the same regard for infant children. Tertullian, Treatise on the Soul, 204 AD those abodes; if you mean the good why should you judge to be unworthy of such a resting-place the souls of infants and of virgins, and those which, by reason of their condition in life were pure and innocent? In the previously noted text from Tertullian’s On Baptism, he likewise referred to unbaptized infants as "innocent". In addition to these, we have a frequently cited text from the Apocalypse of Peter from the 2nd century, that is quoted by Clement of Alexandria, Theodotus and others, that states emphatically that aborted children are immediately ushered by a guardian angel into paradise, and share in a "better fate". It is understood by these fathers that Adam’s guilt did not extend to one who had not sinned. If it did, then we would all need to concede that every aborted child, miscarriage, stillborn child, or otherwise unbaptized infant that died was in hell. Such an idea would be abhorrent to the early church. The issue is understood biblically in Romans 5:12 which states that "sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men for all have sinned". Notice that the actual agent of death to each individual is that individual’s personal sin. Likewise the next verse states that sin is not imputed where there is no law, that is, no understanding of right and wrong, which surely would be the case with an infant. It must be noted, however, that it would be equally wrong to propose that the descendants of Adam were unaffected by his actions. Man was qualitatively changed, now having the potential to know good and evil. Apparently his will was crippled and frustrated from being able to "do as he ought". (Romans 7:12-24) God, by his own sovereignty, has decreed that all man are bound over to disobedience (Romans 11:32; Galatians 3:22). The operation of sin in our lives, likened to a conception and gestational period in the book of James, "brings forth death ( James 1:14-15). To summarize the issue, then, we could fairly say that the early church taught that infants are guilt free, yet, the due to the fall we know that no natural mortal, upon being able to distinguish right from wrong, can stay guilt free, but instead is prone to sin. When Cyprian of Carthage started promoting infant baptism as a cure from Adam’s sin. He immediately had to defend it against the charge of novelty. As shown, it was not the church’s understanding that infants were in need of cleansing from sin. At the time, however, no major theological counter-thesis was offered. It was not until Pelegius started preaching in the early 5th century that the orthodox church was forced to define the doctrine of "Original Sin". Pelegius, who up to this point had been an orthodox bishop and writer, propounded that Adam’s sin had absolutely no effect on his offspring, and that every individual had the potential to live a perfect and holy life. Pelegius asserted that man was by nature good, and could, by his own will and accord, live pleasingly before God. This extreme position, threatened the very necessity for the sacrifice and atonement of Christ. If justification was by the law, then Christ died in vain (Galatians 2:21). St. Augustine, through a number of polemical writings and Councils, refuted and condemned the teaching of Pelegius. Unfortunately, as is with many conflicts of ideas and words throughout history, the rhetoric and polemic overstated the orthodox position. In order to counter the inherent goodness of all, as taught by Pelegius, Augustine championed the inherent depravity of all, including infants. As a result, he held to the position that all infants are in a state of damnation before God, not because of their sin, but Adam’s. According to Augustine, unbaptized infants go to suffer in hell. Some Roman Catholic theologians have attempted to soften this somewhat, hypothesizing a place called "limbo" which is more humane then hell, so as to deflect the obvious charge of injustice that would come with consigning newborn babies to eternal torment. This has never been officially defined by the Roman church, however. The Augustinian concept of Original Sin, then, must be rejected as a departure from the apostolic rule of faith. Another viewpoint of infant baptism is one which equates the baptismal act with the sign and seal of the New Covenant, akin to circumcision of the Old Covenant. Some of the later texts which support infant baptism suggest that the baptism should be done on the eighth day, as was the circumcision of the Old Covenant. It must be kept in mind, however, that the New Testament frequently mentions circumcision, but never as a type for baptism. Instead, it says "neither circumcision nor uncircumscision means anything, but what counts is a new creation" (Galatians 6:15) which subordinates any "sign or seal" of a covenant to the spiritual reality of being born-again by trust in Christ. Likewise, Paul also points out that even Abraham was justified by believing God, before and independently of the sign of circumcision. (Romans 4:9-11). Consequently, since the New Testament minimizes the alleged typology of circumcision, it is not likely that we would find any apostolic teaching that would equate baptism with the same function of sealing an individual into God’s New Covenant. Instead, we find that both circumcision and baptism both serve as types for the spiritual reality of putting off our flesh and being washed of the impurities of the old nature. The spiritual reality, of course, is most applicable to an adult. Baptismal Regeneration The belief in baptismal regeneration was apparently held by the majority of the early church fathers. Although one could debate writer by writer through the first few centuries as to whether this was indeed an apostolic teaching, in brief, the larger question would be as to whether an individual is saved (regenerated) by faith alone or by faith and baptism. The answer to that question is simply found by examining the scriptures to see whether salvation is imputed to those who believe and are baptized, or to those who merely believe. If the baptismal waters are indeed necessary for salvation, as even some writers proposed, then we should not find any cases in scripture where individuals are "saved" apart from baptism. There are, of course several glaring examples. The thief on the cross (Luke 23:40-43), as well as those in the household of Cornelius who believed and were filled with the Holy Spirit before they were baptized with water (Acts 10:43-48) are two clear examples. There are also numerous examples of Paul’s missionary endeavors, where he preaches and many believe, yet there is no reference to water baptism. With this being the case, we must conclude that water baptism cannot be equally an agent to salvation, since there are cases of individuals being saved by faith apart from the waters of baptism. Neither can the act of baptism carry salvific power in and of it’s self, since there are scriptural examples of individuals receiving baptism at the hand of the apostles, yet that individual still declared to be perishing because there heart was not right with God (cf. The Story of Simon Magus, Acts 8:9-24). Why then did so many early church fathers attribute regeneration at the point of water baptism? We could speculate that the hostile anti-Christian culture may have had a role to play. In the early church, baptism was the public profession before all that the individual was joining themselves to the Christian community. They were declaring that they were dead to their old life of idolatry and paganism. For many, it was the act that destined them to a martyr’s fate. Culturally, there was also the de-emphasis of such rites with many of the Gnostics. Those Gnostics that did have a baptismal ritual (Sethians and Valentians) had it so "super-spiritualized" that it would be construed by many to be a polemic against the normal, orthodox baptismal practice. We would consequently expect an increased emphasis on the act of baptism itself, certainly far more than our culture would remit. It could also be that the significance of water baptism is not derived so much from the agency of the water, but from the agency of faith and public profession of the Lordship of Christ. "If you confess me before men, I will confess you before my heavenly Father" (Matthew 10:32). In any respect, I would deduce that the emphasis on the ritual of baptism with respect to regeneration by the fathers was more a product of these cultural forces than actual apostolic teaching. In summary of the issue, we can see that the post-apostolic church may have had a deeper awareness of the mechanics of salvation, without the burdens of some of today's debates. This is not to say that everyone in the first three centuries understood the magnitude and glorious liberty of salvation in Christ. On the contrary; salvation by faith was one of, if not, the first foundational tenet to fall prey to the apostasy. Very early in the third century, because of the necessity of bearing up under persecution, we can see references to good works (ie. public profession) being necessary for salvation. By the middle of the third century, the regeneration of the believer was ascribed most commonly to happen at baptism. Ultimately, as the Roman Empire broke apart in the fifth century, and the church assumed the role of maintaining order in that civilization, eternal salvation was joined to the reception of the sacraments. Later in western history, this would give the papacy exceptional control over the princes, barons and kings throughout Europe. If a certain ruler would not side with the demands of the Pope, the Pope could vow to withhold the sacraments from that ruler and his subjects. Although that might not have struck fear into the ruler, the prospect of eternal damnation for an entire duchy or kingdom would create a panic and terror among the masses, and the ruler's hand would be forced to reconcile with the Pope. Today there is need to renew the original apostolic understanding of salvation. The gospel message, as typified by the Pauline revelation of grace, righteousness and adoption, is forever coupled to the truths borne by the act of baptism, that of self-abandonment and death to the old life, so as to fully serve God in the newness of life. So many have tried to reinterpret the gospels as merely a means to the end of raising one’s self-esteem, or instilling dignity and human worth. For others, it is a "feel good" message, brimming with warm snugglies of how much God loves us. All though there is truth in both views, we cheat ourselves of the fullness of our common salvation when we see it as less than a total redemption, of the total man, to be fully adopted into Gods’ family as a true child of God. Likewise, we cheat God when we respond with anything less than laying down every aspect of our old life and being, in complete service to God, for His glory alone. For more on the issue of water baptism see our videos: "IS WATER BAPTISM NECESSARY TO ESCAPE HELL & BE SAVED & ARE YOU "BORN AGAIN" (JOHN 3:3-8) BY IT?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYqtpYCMbtaljck & "THE EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN ROMANCE WITH APOSTATE ROMAN CATHOLICISM (PART 1): WATER BAPTISM SALVATION?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqDFi3Z_r7BgkNE. See our website www.BibleQuery.org & the article posted there called "Water Baptism Not Essential for Salvation." See also our newsletter posted there called "Church of Christ." The following link concerning water baptism is very useful at www.gotquestions.org/baptism-salvation.html. 2 Timothy 2:15

[@Hannodb1961]

I see you do respond to comments to your video. That's good, since I need to point something out: You say the Apostles do not quote from the Apocrypha (0:32:28), and yet, we find a quote from the book of Enoch in Jude 14. Should Enoch not be considered Canonical then?

[@CAnswersTV]

A man in Switzerland was planning on joining the pope's Swiss Guard at the Vatican but he was converted to Christ instead. To learn more about this please click on the "view reply" to this comment below.

[@CAnswersTV]

+CAnswersTV As many of you already know last year in 2014 we learned of a young French woman Camille Jolly who came to Christ after watching our videos on KZbin dealing with Roman Catholicism while living outside of Paris, France & was so excited about it she took a three week cargo boat ride across the Atlantic Ocean to visit us here in Austin, Texas. We have several videos about this fascinating situation, just type "Camille Jolly CAnswersTV" in the KZbin search box to hear her tell her story. This year in 2015 we've come to find out about another exciting conversion to Christ & away from apostate Romanism via our videos posted on KZbin against Roman Catholicism. This time it was our series of debates between James White & Dr. Robert Fastiggi that we had posted on KZbin that led a man in Switzerland to come to the true & living Lord Jesus Christ by the sovereign grace of God. What's fascinating about this story is the young Swiss man was preparing to serve in the Swiss Guard for the pope at the Vatican. Someone called into James White's podcast "The Dividing Line" on September 25, 2015 and asked James White about a person who was planning to join the pope's Swiss Guard at the Vatican but was instead recently converted to Christ after watching James White's 4 part 4 hour televised series of debates with Dr. Robert Fastiggi. This debate took place in Austin, Texas back in 1994 although the "almost" Swiss Guard recently viewed it on KZbin. To hear more about this please see James White's video called "Just a Little Conversation on the Pope, Lindy West’s Hatred of Life, and a Call from Chris Arnzen" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5erm5Rqdq17ias. The four part debate series between James White & Robert Fastiggi can be found at the following: "IS THE ROMAN POPE WITHOUT ERROR? - PAPAL INFALLIBILITY DEBATE: JAMES WHITE VS. ROBERT FASTIGGI" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/onmoeHamic-ooq8; "DO ROMAN CATHOLIC INDULGENCES REALLY FORGIVE SINS? DEBATE - JAMES WHITE VS. ROBERT FASTIGGI" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/emqUqmiprbqpa9E; "Is the Roman Catholic Doctrine of the Virgin Mary Biblical? Debate - James White vs. Robert Fastiggi" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4rHipSbjsl9jZY & "HIGHLIGHTS & FULL DEBATE: JUSTIFICATION BEFORE GOD - DR JAMES WHITE VS. DR ROBERT FASTIGGI (#1 OF 4)" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4GziXaIgLJ_q6s. Larry Wessels, director of Christian Answers of Austin, Texas had previously debated Dr. Robert Fastiggi in 1992 in the same Austin TV studio & that 2 hour debate can be found at: "DOES ROMAN CATHOLICISM PREACH A DIFFERENT GOSPEL? DEBATE #1: LARRY WESSELS VS. ROBERT FASTIGGI" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/mafTpJeearhsoMk & "DOES ROMAN CATHOLICISM PREACH A DIFFERENT GOSPEL? DEBATE #2: LARRY WESSELS VS. ROBERT FASTIGGI" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/iovQp4d-rLeKbcU. Jude 21-25

[@sonsoftheedelweiss72]

what are your thoughts on the Orthodox Church vs Catholic Church? Certainly there are differences in beliefs, and you can trace every see or bishop back to Antioch. Thank you very much for your answer.

[@CAnswersTV]

The Eastern Orthodox Church is not a single church but rather a family of 13 self-governing bodies, denominated by the nation in which they are located (e.g., the Greek Orthodox Church, Russian Orthodox Church). They are united in their understanding of the sacraments, doctrine, liturgy, and church government, but each administers its own affairs. The head of each Orthodox church is called a “patriarch” or “metropolitan.” The patriarch of Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) is considered the ecumenical-or universal-patriarch. He is the closest thing to a counterpart to the Pope in the Roman Catholic Church. Unlike the Pope, who is known as VICARIUS FILIUS DEI (the vicar of the Son of God), the bishop of Constantinople is known as PRIMUS INTER PARES (the first amongst equals). He enjoys special honor, but he has no power to interfere with the 12 other Orthodox communions. The first person to be called a "Pope" was Heraclas of Alexandria (236-249 A.D.). The Copts trace their popes from him, not Roman Catholics. The first Roman bishop to be called a Pope was Siricius (c.384-399 A.D.), after Nicea. So the Copts have prior claim to a pope, not Roman Catholics. A Roman Catholic today cannot consider the Copts as non-Christians, since the Roman Catholic Church in more recent times has restored communion with the Coptic church. Furthermore the Greek Orthodox church, which Orthodox people would argue goes back father than the Roman Catholic Church, never needed a pope. - reference: www.HistoryCart.com. Eastern Orthodoxy is very similar to Roman Catholicism in denying clear Biblical doctrines & replacing them with heretical doctrines instead: 1. Claiming to be the one true Church of Christ going back 2000 years while all others are not despite historical facts proving this to be false. 2. The denial of justification by faith alone which then is replaced with a works righteousness system of church related sacraments. 3. The equal authority of church tradition and Scripture. 4. Discouragement of individuals interpreting the Bible apart from tradition. 5. The perpetual virginity of Mary. 6. Prayer for the dead. 7. Baptism of infants without reference to individual responsibility and faith. 8. The possibility of receiving salvation after death. 9. The possibility of losing salvation. The Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church have been in a state of official schism from one another since the East-West Schism of 1054. This schism was caused by historical and linguistic developments, and the ensuing theological differences between the Western and Eastern churches. Main points of discontent between Eastern Orthodoxy and the Catholic Church are the papal primacy and the filioque clause. Filioque is a Latin term added to the original Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed (commonly known as the Nicene Creed), and which has been the subject of great controversy between Eastern and Western Christianity. The Latin term Filioque describes the Holy Spirit as proceeding from both the Father and the Son, (and not from the Father only). In the Nicene Creed it is translated by the English phrase "and [from] the Son": "I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord, the giver of life,who proceedeth from the Father ⟨and the Son⟩.Who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified." For Eastern Orthodox the main point of discontent is voiced by neo-Palamism, which sees the essence-energy distinction, and the experiential vision of God as attained in theoria and theosis, as the main point of divergence between East and West. Orthodoxy emphasizes theosis (literally, “divinization”), the gradual process by which Christians become more and more like Christ. What many in the Orthodox tradition fail to understand is that “divinization” is the progressive result of salvation, not a requirement for salvation itself. The following is a list of Eastern Orthodox theological distinctives: 1. The Church - Eastern Orthodoxy sees itself as the Church, one, holy, catholic, & apostolic, which alone has faithfully maintained Christ's truth through unbroken continuity with the apostles. 2. Apostolic Tradition - That tradition to which the Church is called as guardian, is made up of the Bible, true Councils, the Church Fathers, liturgy, canon law, & icons. 3. The Triune God - Eastern Orthodoxy views the trinity as the essence of their faith, "the catholic truth above all other." 4. Creation & the Fall - Though God created man with free will & rationality, Adam stood in a state of undeveloped simplicity. When he fell, he fell "not from a great height of knowledge & perfection...hence he is not to be judged too harshly for his error." The deteriorating effects of Adam's sin (death, disease) extended to his descendants, but his guilt did not. 5. Salvation & Sacrament - Once Adam initiated the deterioration of human nature, God desired to reverse the process by means of Christ's incarnation: "God descends to the world & becomes man, & man is raised to divine fullness & becomes god." Thus they describe salvation as 'deification or theosis' - the process of becoming metaphysically united with God's divine energies: "We remain creatures while becoming God by grace, as Christ remained God in becoming man by Incarnation." 6. Eastern Orthodoxy loudly repudiates Plato only to embrace Plotinus, whose Neo-Platonic system has been openly cultivated into every aspect of Eastern Orthodox theology, from God's degrees of being to human deification. Such obvious paganism flies in the face of the first commandment (see also Colossians 2:8). 7. Subjugation of Scripture - Christ reserved some of his most heated denunciations for that ecclesiastical body which subjugated God's revelation to human tradition. Eastern Orthodoxy attempts to evade this charge by claiming to preserve only divine tradition. But the Pharisees made the same claim. Those who attempt to suppress God's covenantal word invite on themselves the curses of the covenant. 8. Church as Emperor - With God's written revelation suppressed due to its "obscurity," the ecclesiastics take over the supreme position. Once the "church leaders" rule over God's word then this "church" organization ceases to be Christ's Church. 9. Salvation Without the Cross - Since deification is grounded in the incarnation rather than the atonement, Christ's cross becomes, in principle, non-essential, a quaint side-show in deification. Discussions of substitutionary atonement & propitiation are virtually absent from their published explanations of salvation. 10. Glorification by Human Discipline - Eastern Orthodoxy attempts to evade the charge of self-salvation by appealing to the foundational grace shown in the incarnation. Rome speaks of merit, & the East speaks of acquisition, but both substitute human effort for Christ's effort. 11. Arrogant Worship - Eastern Orthodoxy shows no concern for conforming any aspect of its worship to the requisites of the Lord. They rejoice in imitating the inferior worship of the Old Covenant temple & shallowly overturn the ancient prohibition on venerating images (with their statues, icons, & sacrifices). Both Eastern Orthodoxy & Roman Catholicism fall under the curse of Galatians 1:6-9 since both clearly have a "different gospel" than the one the Bible teaches. We currently have two videos available on Eastern Orthodoxy: "EASTERN ORTHODOXY: SALVATION BY EARNED WORKS, ICONS, TRADITION, DEIFICATION & THE VIRGIN MARY" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/fn6nf4atl8-GmpI & "Eastern Orthodoxy: Spiritual Death or Spiritual Life? Twin Sister of Roman Catholicism & Dead Works" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIa9dmCda5aqjrs. We have 171 videos concerning Roman Catholicism at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715.

[@slick_Ric]

about 40 minutes in the audio becomes completely inaudible, sounds corrupted

[@CAnswersTV]

slick Ric - Thanks for the warning. After seeing your comment I immediately went to the video & double checked the audio throughout the entire video & all was fine. There may be some other reason why the audio started malfunctioning. Sometimes I've had the same problem on various videos over the years but I was usually able to correct it by deleting KZbin then googling it back on with a google search, sort of a KZbin reboot. We've had similar comments such as yours on several of our videos over the years but in the end our audio was good on all our videos & the problem came on the viewers side with either their speakers, computer or their KZbin connection. Hope that helps. Thanks.

[@ommarisaacgarcia1062]

roman catholic always claim that peter is a pope. . and he found the catholic church. . which is not. .

[@CAnswersTV]

“Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” -Luke 13:23-24 Do you understand the question in the above Scripture? “Lord, are there few that be saved?” Someone came to Jesus and wanted to know if “few” people were saved. It's interesting that the person didn't ask if “many” people were saved. Evidently the person had been listening to Jesus' preaching and became convinced that few people were really saved. When the Bible speaks of being “saved,” it means saved from God's wrath upon Christ-rejecting sinners in Hell (for more on hell see our playlist "Dealing with Hell, Lake of Fire, Unpopular Bible Doctrines" with 30 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLE04A1D0DFE95B95E & "Eternal Punishment, Part 1" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=12607145320 & "Eternal Punishment, Part 2" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=12607143539). Romans 5:9, “Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” All Christ-rejecters go to Hell if they die in their sins. If a person is “saved,” then they are going to Heaven when they die. Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” We are saved from the eternal consequences of sin, which is punishment in hellfire. To be saved is synonymous with being “born again.” When a person becomes a born-again child of God, they are saved eternally. EVERY human being MUST to be saved (i.e., born again) to enter into Heaven. John 3:3, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” If a person dies in their sins without believing on Jesus as the Savior, the Son of God, they will burn in Hell forever (Revelation 20:11-15).Just as the disciple who asked Jesus the question in Luke 13:23, I myself often wonder how few are truly born again believers. I dare say not many. Let's consider the question again...“Lord, are there few that be saved?” There are over one billion Catholics in the world who errantly believe that the Catholic Church is going to save them. Roman Catholics do not trust Jesus Christ alone; but rather, rely upon manmade traditions and self-righteous works to save them. According to the Word of God, genuine Catholics are hellbound in their sins because they are trusting in self-righteousness (Romans 3:20; 10:3-4; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5, see our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" with 129 videos & counting at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715). There are over one billion Islamic Muslims in the world who deny that Jesus Christ ever died upon a cross for our sins (see our playlist "Dealing with Islam, Muslims: Sunni, Shi'ite, Alawites, Sufis" with 67 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL1C7F68B548009FDD). According to the Bible, they are antichrists and liars on their way to Hell (1st John 2:22-23). There are over 183,000 cults in Japan alone that deny Jesus Christ as the only Savior of the world. Other false religions include Scientology, Hinduism, Wicca, Buddhism, Seventh Day Adventism, Zoroastrianism, Greek Orthodox, Judaism, Jehovah Witness, Mormonism, Freemasonry, and many more (see our KZbin channel CAnswersTV at kzbin.info with over 615 videos covering most of these anti Christian religions in detail). Why do I call them “false religions”? It's simply because they all corrupt the Biblical teaching of salvation, i.e., the gospel (see our playlist "Dealing with Anti Trinitarians (UPC) & Early Church History" with 48 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL9931642C7C8FFEAB). Most false religions ADD works to faith. Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses DENY the deity of Jesus Christ (i.e., that He is Almighty God) - see our playlists "Dealing with Mormonism, the Religion of Mitt Romney & Utah" with 20 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL11CD0EE613306BB5 & "Dealing with Jehovah's Witnesses, Watchtower Society" with 22 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLCF0ADB29C0EB8C40. Seventh Day Adventists falsely and deceitfully redefine faith to mean works (see our playlist, "Dealing with Seventh-day Adventism & Their "Prophetess" with 23 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL5316CC6F66F24283). There are hundreds of millions of followers of Hinduism who deny Jesus as the Savior, the Son of God (see our playlist "Dealing with Anti Christ Cults, "New Age" & World Religions" with 42 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL69A3047B3497590A). Judaism denies that Jesus is the Messiah. The same Pharisaical Jews who crucified Jesus 2,000 years ago are crucifying Him today. The Campbellite Church of Christ deceitfully speaks of faith in Christ, but also requires water baptism and living the Christian life to be saved. That is works salvation, which is a lie of the Devil (Romans 3:20; Romans 4:5-6, see our playlist "Dealing with "Saved by Works & Baptism", "Church of Christ" with 72 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLBD55090718DA6D3D). Every Catholic claims not to worship Mary, but the second commandment (Exodus 20:3-5) forbids even bowing to Mary (which every Catholic does, for more on the Roman Catholic installation of the worship of saints, images, & polytheism in church history hear "Perseverance of the Saints & the Worship of Saints (Historical Theology Vol. 1, #17)" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=14101149112 & "The Worship of Images & Civil Authorities (Historical Theology Vol. 1, #18)" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=15101057200). There are hundreds of millions of so-called Charismatic & Pentecostal "Christians" who trade the Word of God for their own wild emotional experiences & replace the Biblical gospel for a gospel of "heath & wealth" despite 1 Timothy 6:10 saying, "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" - see our two video series on this: "Blasphemous Charismatic & Pentecostal Mayhem #1: Mad Delusional Experiences Replace Scripture Alone" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZPZaIyprrKZZqs begins one series while "AGONY OF THE PHONY WORD-FAITH TV PREACHERS #1: MIND SCIENCE ORIGINS OF KENNETH HAGIN & HIS DISCIPLES" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKi0ZnWCp753lbc begins another series. Even secular humanism, atheism & agnosticism can be considered faith based religions due to the fact that atheists & humanists have a faith that God does not exist while agnostics are willingly ignorant concerning God (see our playlist "Dealing with "God Hating" Atheists, Agnostics, Know-It-Alls" with 20 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL640E505B96CD6B39). Many animistic religions exist throughout the world as well which are described in Romans 1:18-32, see our video "FOREIGN MISSIONS FOR CHRIST: PREACHING TO CANNIBALS, WITCH DOCTORS & TRIBAL NATIVES" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3TRdX-vjcZsfpI. All of the religions I have just mentioned account for well over seven eighths of the earth's population or more. Keep in mind, besides all of this, Jesus said, "And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24). Who are considered "rich people"? It's not just millionaires & world leaders but many lesser wealthy persons who exceed the vast majority of mankind in money & possessions (Luke16:19-31 is a good example of this in the parable of the rich man & Lazarus). See the video "It is Difficult for Americans to Enter Heaven - Tim Conway" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHXaf3qOmM6BebM. Statistics provided in this video show that even the poorest Americans living in the United States have a better net income than most of the world. For instance, according to Forbes magazine, June 1, 2013, the bottom 5% of United States citizens are richer than 68% of people living throughout the rest of the world; U.S. citizens who make $50,000 a year are richer than 99.69% of the people in the rest of the world; U.S. citizens who make $20,000 a year are richer than 96% of the people in the rest of the world, U.S. citizens who make $10,000 a year are richer than 84% of the people in the rest of the world; U.S. citizens who make $100,000 a year are in a category that only 8 out of every 10,000 people achieve in the entire world. Will it be difficult for rich Americans who don't think they're rich to enter into the kingdom of heaven? Jesus already gave the answer. For more on this hear "Those Whom God Hates He Is Often Pleased To Give Plenty Of Earthly Things To, Edwards" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=427121150346 by the well known theologian Jonathan Edwards who also preached the most famous sermon on North American soil called, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=770213541. If you don't like what I am telling you then get mad at God because He wrote the Bible. If you take the Bible at FACE VALUE, you can only interpret it one way. The best way to interpret the Bible is with the Bible. God said what He meant and meant what He said. Let the Bible speak for itself. Jesus answered the question in Luke 13:24 with the following words...“...for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Most of the people in this world are going straight to Hell when they die because they have not been born again (hear "Few Saved From A Burning Hell" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=3514145121). Lies and deception are everywhere! Catholics and Jehovah Witnesses claim to be born-again but they are NOT. You can't get born-again by doing good works, confessing your sins to a priest, getting water baptized, joining a church or keeping the Sabbath Day. Salvation is NOT found in any religion; but rather, in a Person-The Lord Jesus Christ! Most people today have churchianity without Christianity, and they are all going to Hell if they don't repent toward God of their unbelief (for more on this see our video "TRUE BELIEVERS & NON BELIEVERS ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL OF THE REFORMATION: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZDHf2OleJpqiM0). The vast majority of so-called "Evangelical Christians" in the world today do not know what the Biblical gospel is or what "justification by faith alone" is (see our video "SAD STATE OF THE CHURCH: 87% OF EVANGELICAL "CHRISTIANS" DON'T KNOW WHAT GOSPEL JUSTIFICATION IS" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/n56XoK2vlKqciJY. There are only two types of religions in the world: DO and DONE. Either you believe that you have to DO something to go to Heaven; or else you believe that it is DONE, paid for by Jesus' precious blood. Jesus said in Luke 13:24 that “many” will seek to enter into Heaven but will not be able. That is quite startling. Jesus said the same thing in Matthew 7:21-23 . . . “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” The reason why these religious people were not allowed into Heaven was because they attempted to enter Heaven through their own self-righteousness. In Matthew 5:20 Jesus spake concerning the religious leaders of His time . . . “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Most of the religious churchgoers in the world today are as lost as can be, still hellbound in their wickedness. They have not done the will of God concerning salvation, which is to BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST (John 6:40; Acts 16:30-31). Jesus provides two contrasts in Luke 13:24, the contrast between seeking to enter and striving to enter and the contrast between seeking to enter through the narrow door and seeking to enter by any other means. Let’s now focus on the second contrast. Look at verses 25-27:"Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, 'Lord, open up to us!' then He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know where you are from.' 26 "Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets'; 27 and He will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you are from; DEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU EVILDOERS.' (Luke 13:25 NAU) Jesus’ statement at the end of 25 and the middle of 27 is translated well in the NIV: “I don't know you or where you come from.” In effect, He is saying, “I don’t know you at all! You may think that you are mine, but I have nothing to do with you - I don’t even know your family, your village” So what does Jesus mean by the narrow door? What is His intended contrast with other methods of entering? Again, let’s begin by considering what the narrow door is not: The narrow door is NOT being in a church, reading the Bible, listening to sermons, looking to others like a Christian. This is clear from verse 26: these evildoers looked just like believers who had been with Jesus. They had listened to His preaching. But He does not know them, and they stand condemned.The narrow door is NOT being prominent in this life. Jesus says in verse 30 that some who are presently first will be last. Prominence now is no guarantee of one’s entering through the narrow door.The narrow door is NOT being a descendant of a great believer. See verse 28. Remember, Jesus is speaking to descendants of Abraham and Jacob. I sometimes like to use the expression, “God has no grandchildren.” Each of us must come to Jesus on our own, not through our parents, our grandparents, or other ancestors. Then what does Jesus mean by the narrow door? Elsewhere, Jesus says He Himself is the door: I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. (John 10:9) In what sense is this door narrow? In two ways. First, the door is narrow in the sense that no one comes to the Father any other way (John 14:6). No religious activities - Christian or non-Christian - bring us into the Kingdom. Sincere beliefs do not bring us in. Good works do not bring us in. Good feelings about our relationship with Christ do not bring us in. Though in our pluralistic society this message is despised, we must preach, teach, and live out this truth: There is only one door, and that narrow door is Jesus. The Lake of Fire is waiting for "many" when they die. Jesus' disciple asked Him if few people are going to Heaven. Jesus replied that many people will attempt, but fail. When the floods came in Noah's day, many people tried to get on the ark, but it was too late once the door was closed. When the bridegroom came in Matthew 25:1-13, the five foolish virgins were left behind because they were gone buying oil at the last moment. Do not likewise make the mistake of delaying salvation, for you will be sorry when it is too late. Few souls are going to Heaven. Jesus said, "Only those who find that strait gate and narrow way that leadeth unto life (Matthew 7:13-15), which is the righteousness of Jesus Christ will make it to heaven. So many churchgoers have religion, but they have never truly been born of the spirit of God, which is the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9, hear "Why Are So Few People Saved?" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=111710103558). Salvation happens when a person acknowledges their guilt of sin unto God in repentance; believing on Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, to be forgiven (this is a supernatural action caused by God in the heart of a repentant sinner in 2 Timothy 2:24-26; see also "SUPERNATURAL BIBLE PROPHECY CONCERNING JESUS THE JEWISH MESSIAH (PART #1)" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoelqqShn9x2ntU). We are SINNERS and Jesus is the wonderful SAVIOR! Acts 10:43, “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.” Salvation is given to those "few" who have been ordained to eternal life by God Himself (Acts 13:48). And who are those "few"? Jesus answers that question in John chapter 6:37,39,44,63 & 65: "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." " It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." "And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." For more on this see our video "The Sovereignty of God Versus Man-Made Religions, Hollywood Movies & Petty Emotionalism" - kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4a0cnWIlJ6afas. Keep in mind that God works with relatively few numbers throughout world history (remember how Elijah thought he was the last prophet of God left in Israel in 1 Kings 19:13-18 & the Lord had to correct Elijah about the number but still the number God told Elijah was small). The God of the Bible has always had His way of operating His plan in this world & it has always been consistently with small numbers (1 Corinthians 1:26-29, "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence." For an excellent message concerning the small numbers God has historically employed please hear the outstanding theologian Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in his sermon "Sermon 113 - Three-score and Fifteen Souls" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=99217141430450. We also have a video along these lines called " Biblical Predestination #6: God Only Chooses a FEW for Salvation (Many Called/Few Chosen)" - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJamlXqwjtiWbZI. See also our video "Strive To Enter - But Many Will Not Be Able To - Greg Van Court - Dayspring Fellowship, Austin, TX" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6OVg6FjbNRniKM. 2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

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Someone asked about "Sola Scriptura" (Scripture Alone) or "the Bible Alone." See our videos "SOLA SCRIPTURA DEBATE: THE BIBLE ONLY OR MUST WE NOW ALSO HAVE ROMAN CATHOLIC TRADITIONS & RITUALS?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXzWYYSLm6-SmJo & "WITHOUT "SOLA SCRIPTURA" (THE BIBLE ALONE), WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTH?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpSwn3lsqcysl5I. Those interested in the current events going on within the Roman Catholic Church can see our video "The Homosexual Pope, Priests, Universalists, Evolutionists & Disunited Roman Catholic Apologists" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/noXLoKGtp71ph7c. To hear a former Roman Catholic priest for 22 years discuss the Roman view of the Bible & what it teaches see "Ex-Roman Catholic Priest for 22 Years Says Roman Catholicism Opposes Absolute Biblical Truth" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWGylXidbdOIrNk. To hear former nuns give their testimony see "A Nun's Story: From Convent Bondage (Sexual Desire, Dating Priests, Rituals, No Bible) to Jesus" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpmbpaOCq8qUe5Y & "FORMER ROMAN CATHOLIC "BRIDE OF CHRIST" NUN TESTIFIES OF ABNORMAL LIFE IN THE CONVENT" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHWkhZJ4nNmheMU. For those interested in early church history see our videos "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY PROVES ROMAN CATHOLICISM FALSE" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGcm5ponZiroLM, "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY #14: PRE-NICENE (325 A.D.) CHURCH WAS NOT A ROMAN CATHOLIC SYSTEM" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoqVlXeHotinkMk & "HISTORICAL SPLIT BETWEEN ROMAN CATHOLICISM & THE CHRIST OF THE SCRIPTURE: MAN'S WORD OR GOD'S WORD?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4bXaKV5a8aSadU. To see all our videos on the Roman Catholic religion click on our playlist called, "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715. Websites of interest are: www.BereanBeacon.org & www.CWCR-RZ.ORG. When it comes to Roman Catholic traditions remember Jeremiah 7:31 where God said, "which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart" & the words of Jesus in Matthew 15:1-14, "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? 13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." Is the Bible Alone Sufficient for Spiritual Truth? According to Roman Catholicism, Sacred Tradition and the Bible together provide the foundation of spiritual truth. From this combination the Catholic church has produced many doctrines which it says are true and biblical but which Protestants reject: veneration of Mary, penance, indulgence, purgatory, prayer to saints, et. al. Protestantism, however, rejects these doctrines and Roman Catholic Sacred Tradition and holds fast to the call "Sola Scriptura" or "Scripture Alone." Catholics then challenge, "Is Sola Scriptura Biblical?" The Bible does not say "Do not use tradition" or "Scripture alone is sufficient." But the Bible does not say "The Trinity is three persons in one God" either, yet it is a fundamental doctrine of Christianity. 2 Tim. 3:16 says that Scripture is inspired and profitable for correction and teaching. Scripture states that Scripture is what is good for correction and teaching--not tradition. However, in its comments on tradition, the Bible says to listen to tradition but also warns about tradition nullifying the Gospel--which we will look at below. In discussing the issue of the Bible alone being sufficient, several points should be made: 1) The method of the New Testament authors (and Jesus as well) when dealing with spiritual truth was to appeal to the Scriptures as the final rule of authority. Take the temptation of Christ in Matthew 4 as an example. The Devil tempted Jesus, yet Jesus used the authority of Scripture--not tradition and not even His own divine power as the source of authority and refutation. To Jesus, the Scriptures were enough and sufficient. If there is any place in the New Testament where the idea of extra-biblical revelation or tradition could have been used, Jesus' temptation would have been a great place to present it. But Jesus does no such thing. His practice was to appeal to Scripture. Should we do any less having seen his inspired and perfect example? The New Testament writers constantly appealed to the Scriptures as their base of authority in declaring what was and was not true Biblical teaching: Matt. 21:42; John 2:22; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; 1 Peter 1:10-12; 2:2; 2 Peter 1:17-19, etc. Of course, Acts 17:11 says, "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so." Paul commends those who examined God's Word for the test of truth. He did not commend them for appealing to tradition. Therefore, we can see that the method used by Jesus and the apostles for determining spiritual truth was to appeal to Scripture--not tradition. In fact, it is the Scriptures that refute the traditions of men in many instances. 2) It is not required of Scripture to have a statement to the effect, "The Bible alone is to be used for all spiritual truth," in order for Sola Scriptura to be true. Many doctrines in the Bible are not clearly stated, yet they are believed and taught by the church. For example, there is no statement in the Bible that says there is a Trinity or that Jesus has two natures (God and man) or that the Holy Spirit is the third person in the Godhead. Yet, each of the statements is considered true doctrine within Christianity--being derived from Biblical references. So, for the Catholic to require the Protestant to supply chapter and verse to prove Sola Scriptura is valid is not necessarily consistent with Biblical exegetical principles of which they themselves approve when examining such doctrines as the Trinity, the hypostatic union, etc. 3) In appealing to the Bible for authentication of Sacred Tradition, the Catholics have shown that the Bible is superior to Sacred Tradition--for the lesser is blessed by the greater (Heb. 7:7). You see, if the Bible said do not trust Sacred Tradition, then Roman Catholic Sacred Tradition would be instantly and obviously invalidated. If the Bible said to trust Sacred Tradition, then the Bible is authenticating it; and the Roman Catholic Church would cite the Scriptures to that effect. In either case, the Scriptures hold the place of final authority and by that position are shown to be superior to Sacred Tradition. This means that Sacred Tradition is not equal in authority to the Word of God. If Sacred Tradition were really inerrant as it is said to be, then it would be equal with the Bible. But, God's word does not say that Sacred Tradition is inerrant or inspired as it does say about itself (2 Tim. 3:16). Merely to claim that Sacred Tradition is equal and in agreement with the Bible does not make it so. Furthermore, to assert that Sacred Tradition is equal to Scripture effectively leaves the canon wide open to doctrinal addition. Since the traditions of men change, then to use tradition as a determiner of spiritual truth would mean that over time new doctrines that are not in the Bible would be added and that is exactly what has happened in Catholicism with doctrines such as purgatory, praying to Mary, indulgences, etc. Furthermore, if they can use Sacred Tradition as a source for doctrines not explicit in the Bible, then why would the Mormons then be wrong for having additional revelation as well? 4) If the Bible is not used to verify and test Sacred Tradition, then Sacred Tradition is functionally independent of the Word of God. If it is independent of Scripture, then by what right does it have to exist as an authoritative spiritual source equivalent to the Bible? How do we know what is and is not true in Sacred Tradition if there is no inspired guide by which to judge it? If the Roman Catholic says that the inspired guide is the Roman Catholic Church, then it is committing the fallacy of circular reasoning. In other words, it is saying that the Roman Catholic Church is inspired because the Roman Catholic Church is inspired. 5) Sacred Tradition is invalidated automatically if it contradicts the Bible, and it does. Of course, the Catholic will say that it does not. But, Catholic teachings such as purgatory, penance, indulgences, praying to Mary, etc., are not in the Bible. A natural reading of God's Word does not lend itself to such beliefs and practices. Instead, the Catholic Church has used Sacred Tradition to add to God's revealed word and then extracted out of the Bible whatever verses that might be construed to support their doctrines of Sacred Tradition. Nevertheless, the Catholic apologist will state that both the Bible and Sacred tradition are equal in authority and inspiration and to put one above another is a false comparison. But, by what authority does the Catholic church say this? Is it because it claims to be the true church--descended from the original apostles? So? Making such claims doesn't mean they are true. Besides, even if it were true and we do not grant that it is, there is no guarantee that the succession of church leaders is immune to error. We saw it creep in with Peter, and Paul rebuked him for it in Gal. 2. Are the Catholic church leaders better than Peter? To continue, is it from tradition that the Catholic Church authenticates its Sacred Tradition? If so, then there is no check upon it. Is it from quotes of some of the church Fathers who say to follow Tradition? If so, then the church fathers are given the place of authority comparable to Scripture. Is it from the Bible? If so, then Sacred Tradition holds a lesser position than the Bible because the Bible is used as the authority in validating Tradition. Is it because the Catholic Church claims to be the means by which God communicates His truth? Then, the Catholic Church has placed itself above the Scriptures. 6) One of the mistakes made by the Catholics is to assume that the Bible is derived from Sacred Tradition. This is false. The Church simply recognized the inspired writings of the Bible. They were in and of themselves authoritative. Various "traditions" in the Church served only to recognize what was from God. Also, to say the Bible is derived from Sacred Tradition is to make the Bible lesser than the Tradition as is stated in Heb. 7:7 that the lesser is blessed by the greater; but this cannot be since Catholicism appeals to the Bible to authenticate its tradition. Conclusion Since the Bible is the final authority, we should look to it as the final authenticating and inerrant source of all spiritual truth. If it says Sacred Tradition is valid--fine. But if it doesn't, then I will trust the Bible alone. Since the Bible does not approve of the Catholic Church's Sacred Tradition, along with its inventions of prayer to Mary, prayer to the saints, indulgences, penance, purgatory, etc., then neither should Christians. Objections Answered The Bible comes from Roman Catholic Sacred Tradition. The problem is twofold. First, tradition is generally anything the Christian church passed down and doesn't require inspiration of any sort. But Roman Catholicism claims such generic tradition under its umbrella of Sacred Tradition. This is the fallacy of equivocation. In other words, the meaning of the word "tradition" is changed between the first and second reference. There is no proof that the RCC sacred tradition is inspired. But there is evidence that it is flawed--particularly when we compare what it has revealed (purgatory, Mary-worship, penance, indulgences, etc.,) with Scripture and such doctrines are not only absent from Scripture but contradict Scripture. Second, it assumes that the Roman Catholic church produced the Bible. The RCC did not produce the Bible. God produced the Bible, and the Christian Church recognized the Word of God (John 10:27) and endorsed what God had already authored. To say that the RCC gave us the Bible is to imply that the RCC has the right to tell you what it means. This is problematic because how then do we check what the RCC says? Sacred Tradition is divine revelation and equal to Scripture. At best, this is only a claim that cannot be proven to be false by comparing the revelations supposedly given through Sacred Tradition with the Word of God. As mentioned above, there are many such doctrines devised by people that are not found in the Word of God and even contradict it. The Bible clearly tells us that God's Scripture is divinely breathed forth and that it is inspired. There is no such claim for tradition. In fact, though the Bible tells us to follow tradition, it also tells us to be wary of it. Therefore, tradition cannot be inspired if God's Word warns us against following it. The Bible is for tradition where it supports the teachings of the apostles (2 Thess. 2:15) and is consistent with Biblical revelation. Yet, it is against tradition when it "transgresses the commands of God" (Matt. 15:3). By Jesus' own words, tradition is not to transgress or contradict the commands of God. In other words, it should be in harmony with Biblical teaching and not oppose it in any way. The Bible clearly tells us that it is the standard of truth. We are not to exceed what the Scriptures say. "Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to exceed what is written, in order that no one of you might become arrogant in behalf of one against the other." (1 Cor. 4:6). Heb. 7:7 is not about scripture but about people and cannot be used to subject Sacred Tradition to the Bible It is true that Heb. 7:7 is about people and not about Scripture. But there is more in the text than just people. Heb. 7:4-10, "Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. 5 And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priests office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham. 6 But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham, and blessed the one who had the promises. 7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 And in this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him." The writer of Hebrews is mentioning different concepts as well as historical facts. He mentions tithing, descendants of Abraham, the lesser is blessed by the greater, authority, and Federal Headship.1 It is the concept of the greater in authority blessing the lesser in authority that is being examined here in this article. We know that there is a principle of the greater in authority blessing the lesser. Can we not also apply this same principle of authority to the issue of the Roman Catholic Church's claim on Sacred Tradition as being authoritative as compared to the authority of Scripture? I do not see why not. After all, the Roman Catholic Church appeals to Scripture to support its Sacred Tradition. In so doing, it is submitting itself to the authority of Scripture for validation of its principle. Early Church Fathers Quotes on Scripture Alone is final Authority Scripture Alone is final Authority Irenaeus, (130-202), “We have known the method of our salvation by no other means than those by whom the gospel came to us; which gospel they truly preached; but afterward, by the will of God, they delivered to us in the Scriptures, to be for the future the foundation and pillar of our faith,” (Adv. H. 3:1). Clement of Alexandria (150?-213?), “They that are ready to spend their time in the best things will not give over seeking for truth until they have found the demonstration from the Scriptures themselves,” (Stromata 7:16:3). Origen (185?-252), “No man ought, for the confirmation of doctrines, to use books which are not canonized Scriptures,” (Tract. 26 in Matt.). St. Cyprian of Carthage (200?-258), “Whence comes this tradition? Does it descend from the Lord’s authority, or from the commands and epistles of the apostles? For those things are to be done which are there written . . . If it be commanded in the gospels or the epistles and Acts of the Apostles, then let this holy tradition be observed,” (Cyprian of Carthage, Ep. 74 ad Pompeium). Athanasius (300?-375), “The Holy Scriptures, given by inspiration of God, are of themselves sufficient toward the discovery of truth. (Orat. adv. Gent., ad cap.) The Catholic Christians will neither speak nor endure to hear anything in religion that is a stranger to Scripture; it being an evil heart of immodesty to speak those things which are not written,” (Athanasius, Exhort. ad Monachas). "5. Again it is not tedious to speak of the [books] of the New Testament. These are, the four Gospels, according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Afterwards, the Acts of the Apostles and Epistles (called Catholic), seven, viz., of James, one; of Peter, two; of John, three; after these, one of Jude. In addition, there are fourteen Epistles of Paul, written in this order. The first, to the Romans; then two to the Corinthians; after these, to the Galatians; next, to the Ephesians; then to the Philippians; then to the Colossians; after these, two to the Thessalonians, and that to the Hebrews; and again, two to Timothy; one to Titus; and lastly, that to Philemon. And besides, the Revelation of John. 6 These are fountains of salvation, that they who thirst may be satisfied with the living words they contain. In these alone is proclaimed the doctrine of godliness. Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these. For concerning these the Lord put to shame the Sadducees, and said, 'Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures.' And He reproved the Jews, saying, 'Search the Scriptures, for these are they that testify of Me.' " (Athanasius, Festal Letter 39:5-6). "Vainly then do they run about with the pretext that they have demanded Councils for the faith's sake; for divine Scripture is sufficient above all things; but if a Council be needed on the point, there are the proceedings of the Fathers, for the Nicene Bishops did not neglect this matter, but stated the doctrine so exactly, that persons reading their words honestly, cannot but be reminded by them of the religion towards Christ announced in divine Scripture." (Athanasius, De Synodis, 6). Ambrose (340?-396), “How can we use those things which we do not find in the Holy Scriptures?” (Ambr. Offic., 1:23). Cyril of Jerusalem (315?-386), “Not even the least of the divine and holy mysteries of the faith ought to be handed down without the divine Scriptures. Do not simply give faith to me speaking these things to you except you have the proof of what I say from the divine Scriptures. For the security and preservation of our faith are not supported by ingenuity of speech, but by the proofs of the divine Scriptures,” (Cat. 4). Jerome (342?-420), “Those things which they make and find, as it were, by apostolical tradition, without the authority and testimony of Scripture, the word of God smites. (ad Aggai 1) As we deny not those things that are written, so we refuse those things that are not written. That God was born of a virgin we believe, because we read it; that Mary did marry after she was delivered we believe not, because we do not read it,” (Adv. Helvidium). 2. Scripture Alone is not final Authority Athanasius (300?-375), “But beyond these [Scriptural] sayings, let us look at the very tradition, teaching and faith of the Catholic Church from the beginning, which the Lord gave, the Apostles preached, and the Fathers kept." (Athanasius, Four Letters to Serapion of Thmuis, 1:28). Basil (330-379), "Now I accept no newer creed written for me by other men, nor do I venture to propound the outcome of my own intelligence, lest I make the words of true religion merely human words; but what I have been taught by the holy Fathers, that I announce to all who question me. In my Church the creed written by the holy Fathers in synod at Nicea is in use." (To the Church of Antioch, Epistle 140:2). Ambrose (340?-396), "Wherefore all other generations are strangers to truth; all the generations of heretics hold not the truth: the church alone, with pious affection, is in possession of the truth," (Commentary of Psalm 118,19). Cyril of Jerusalem (315?-386), "But in learning the Faith and in professing it, acquire and keep that only, which is now delivered to thee by the Church, and which has been built up strongly out of all the Scriptures . . . Take heed then, brethren, and hold fast the traditions which ye now receive, and write them and the table of your heart." Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures, 5:12 (A.D. 350). Gregory of Nyssa (330-394), “And let no one interrupt me, by saying that what we confess should also be confirmed by constructive reasoning: for it is enough for proof of our statement, that the tradition has come down to us from our Fathers, handled on, like some inheritance, by succession from the apostles and the saints who came after them," (Against Eunomius, 4:6). It is evident from the previous early church citations that anyone can quote one early writer against another early writer & in some cases quote the same early writer contradicting himself. Based on the fact that early writers have a tendency to be inconsistent in various matters this is clear proof that they are no where near as reliable as the scriptures themselves. Thus, based on this obvious fact, it is extremely dangerous to elevate church "tradition" (where is the Roman Catholic "Inspired Book of Holy Traditions" to be found?) & early writers to the same level as God's inspired Word found in the scriptures. To do this is to place oneself in extreme jeopardy as the following scriptures testify: Matthew 15:1-14, Jeremiah 7:23-31, Jeremiah 19:4, Isaiah 29:13 cf. Isaiah 28:9-17 & John 10:35, "the scripture cannot be broken." Anyone that makes the mistake of replacing clear scripture with "traditions" is described by Isaiah 8:20, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Does 1 Timothy 3:15 refute Sola Scriptura, Scripture Alone? 1 Timothy 3:15 does not refute Sola Scriptura. In fact, it supports it. Sola Scriptura is the position that the Old and New Testaments are the final authority in all the topics they address, and that councils and tradition (even the so-called Sacred Tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches) are subordinate to Scripture. Let's take a look at the verse. 1 Timothy 3:15, "but in case I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth." Paul says he is writing, so that we might know how to conduct ourselves in the church. Catholics and Orthodox will say that the church (their church) is the pillar and support of the truth. However, there is a very important truth right there in the text. Notice that Paul is appealing to his own writing as the authority. He is writing to them (Scripture), so that they would know how to behave in the household of God. In other words, his writing (which is Scripture) is the thing that is preeminent and to which the church is to subject itself. He says, " . . . I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God . . . " If a Roman Catholic or Orthodox Church member wants to appeal to this verse to refute Sola Scriptura, then he is shooting himself in the foot because Paul himself says that his writing, which is Scripture, is what the church is to submit to. Furthermore, he is behaving as a Protestant who holds to the doctrine of Sola Scriptura by appealing to the authority of Scripture. In addition, he is using the authority of Scripture, in a sense, to refute the idea that Scripture has authority over the church. But, we see from Paul's statement in the verse that his letter is there to tell the church how to behave. In other words, the church is to submit to Scripture--not Scripture to the church. It is not the tradition that informs the word of God but the word of God that informs tradition in the church. For more information see www.BereanBeacon.org & www.CWRC-RZ.org. See our playlist "Dealing with Anti Trinitarians (UPC) & Early Church History" with 45 videos & counting at kzbin.info/aero/PL9931642C7C8FFEAB. Titus 1:9-16

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For more on the Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity go to our website www.BibleQuery.org and once on our homepage scroll down to our newsletter section on the left side of the screen then click on our newsletters "The Trinity" & "Oneness Pentecostals." See also our playlist "Dealing with Anti Trinitarians (UPC) & Early Church History" on KZbin at kzbin.info/aero/PL9931642C7C8FFEAB with 43 videos. What is the Trinity? The word "trinity" is a term used to denote the Christian doctrine that God exists as a unity of three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each of the persons is distinct from the other yet identical in essence. In other words, each is fully divine in nature, but each is not the totality of the other persons of the Trinity. Each has a will, loves, and says "I" and "You" when speaking. The Father is not the same person as the Son, who is not the same person as the Holy Spirit, and who is not the same person as the Father. Each is divine, yet there are not three gods but one God. There are three individual subsistences or persons. The word "subsistence" means something that has a real existence. The word "person" denotes individuality and self-awareness. The Trinity is three of these though the latter term has become the dominant one used to describe the individual aspects of God known as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Included in the doctrine of the Trinity is a strict monotheism which is the teaching that there exists in all the universe a single being known as God who is self-existent and unchangeable (Isaiah 43:10; 44:6, 8). Therefore, it is important to note that the doctrine of the trinity is not polytheistic as some of its critics proclaim. Trinitarianism is monotheistic by definition, and those who claim it is polytheistic demonstrate a lack of understanding of what it really is. The Trinity God is three persons. Each person is divine. There is only one God. Many theologians admit that the term "person" is not a perfect word to describe the three individual aspects/foci found in God. When we normally use the word person, we understand it to mean physical individuals who exist as separate beings from other individuals. But in God there are not three entities nor three beings. God is a trinity of persons consisting of one substance and one essence. God is numerically one. Yet, within the single divine essence are three individual subsistences that we call persons. Each of the three persons is completely divine in nature though each is not the totality of the Godhead. Each of the three persons is not the other two persons. Each of the three persons is related to the other two but are distinct from them. The word "trinity" is not found in the Bible, but this does not mean that the concept is not taught there. The word "bible" is not found in the Bible either, but we use it anyway. Likewise, the words "omniscience," which means "all-knowing," "omnipotence," which means "all-powerful," and "omnipresence," which means "present everywhere" are not found in the Bible either; but we use these words to describe the attributes of God. So, to say that the Trinity isn't true because the word isn't in the Bible is an invalid argument. Is there subordination in the Trinity? There is, apparently, a subordination within the Trinity regarding order but not substance or essence. We can see that the Father is first, the Son is second, and the Holy Spirit is third. The Father is not begotten, but the Son is (John 3:16). The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father (John 15:26). The Father sent the Son (1 John 4:10). The Son and the Father send the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 15:26). The Father creates (Isaiah 44:24), the Son redeems (Gal. 3:13), and the Holy Spirit sanctifies (Rom. 15:16). This subordination of order does not mean that each of the members of the Godhead are not equal or divine. For example, we see that the Father sent the Son, but this does not mean that the Son is not equal to the Father in essence and divine nature. The Son is equal to the Father in his divinity but inferior in his humanity. A wife is to be subject to her husband; but this does not negate her humanity, essence, or equality. By further analogy, a king and his servant both share human nature. Yet, the king sends the servant to do his will. Jesus said, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me" (John 6:38). Of course Jesus already is King; but the analogy shows that because someone is sent, it doesn't mean they are different from the one who sent him. Critics of the Trinity will see this subordination as proof that the Trinity is false. They reason that if Jesus were truly God, then He would be completely equal to God the Father in all areas and would not, therefore, be subordinate to the Father in any way; but this objection is not logical. If we look at the analogy of the king and the servant, we certainly would not say that the servant was not human because he was sent. Being sent does not negate sameness in essence. Therefore, the fact that the Son is sent does not mean that He is not divine any more than when my wife sends me to get bread, I am not human. Is this confusing? Another important point about the Trinity is that it can be a difficult concept to grasp, but this does not necessitate an argument against its validity. On the contrary, the fact that it is difficult is an argument for its truth. The Bible is the self-revelation of an infinite God. Therefore, we are bound to encounter concepts which are difficult to understand--especially when dealing with an incomprehensible God who exists in all places at all times. So, when we view descriptions and attributes of God manifested in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we discover that a completely comprehensible and understandable explanation of God's essence and nature is not possible. What we have done, however, is derive from the Scripture the truths that we can grasp and combine them into the doctrine we call The Trinity. The Trinity is, to a large extent, a mystery. After all, we are dealing with God Himself. It is the way of the cults to reduce biblical truth to make God comprehensible and understandable by their minds. To this end, they subject God's word to their own reasoning and end in error. The following verses are often used to demonstrate that the doctrine of the Trinity is indeed biblical: Matt. 28:19, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." 1 Cor. 12:4-6, "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons." 2 Cor. 13:14, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all." Eph. 4:4-7, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. 7But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift." 1 Pet. 1:2, "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure." Jude 20-21, "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit; 21keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life." __________________ Sources: Baker's Dictionary of Theology, Everett Harrison, ed. Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1960. Berkhoff's Systematic Theology, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1988. Grudem, Wayne, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1994. Hodge's Systematic Theology, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1981. Seven Simple Facts About the Trinity "Trinity" was a term used by Theophilus of Antioch (168-181/8 A.D.) and Tertullian (c.207 A.D). It describes seven Biblical facts. Are there any you have not seen before in the Bible? 1. There is an Undeniable "Threeness" in Scripture Mt 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14; 1 Pet 1:2; Eph 2:18; 3:14-17; 1 Th 1:3-5; Rev 4:8; Rom 15:16; Heb 9:14; Jude 20,21; Isa 48:16; 2 Th 2:13-14; John 15:26. Is the work of our salvation at the cross a work of man or a work of God? 2. The Three Are Inseparable in Some Ways Mt 28:19; John 10:27-30; 12:44-46,49-50; 14:9-11; 15:26; 16:13-15; 17:10; Rom 8:9-11; 1 Cor 2:11-12. The Father & Jesus share at least 25 names and titles (Lord of Lords Rev 17:14; Dt 10:17, Alpha & Omega Rev 1:8;17-18). How often have you said the end of 1 Cor 12:3? 3. The Three Are Distinct in Some Ways Mt 3:16-17; Lk 3:21-22; Jn 1:1;6:38;14:31;15:26;16:28;17:5; Acts 5:31-32; Heb 5:7-8. Heaven was not empty when Jesus came to earth. The Three communicated when Jesus was baptized. 4. The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Spirit is God 1 Pt 1:2,3; Jn5:18;8:54 Heb 1:8-9; Rev 1:8; 22:12-16 Rom 8:9-16; 1 Cor 12:6,11 Ep 1:2-3,17;3:14;5:20 John 1:1,18; 20:28; Luke 1:35; 1 Cor 2:10-11 1Th1:1,3;3:11;Phm 3 Hosea 1:7, Is 7:14 1 John 4:12,13,15-16; Jn 14:16,26 2Th1:1; 2:16; Ga1:1,3 1 John 5:11,12, vs. 21 1 Cor 3:16 vs. 1 Cor 6:19 Titus 1:4; 1Cor1:3;8:6 Col 2:9 & Mt 1:23 Acts 5:3-4; Job 33:4; Ps 139:7-10 Ep3:11;Jn17:5 (eternal) Heb 7:3; 13:8 (eternal) Heb 9:14 (eternal) In some verses idols are referred to as gods, (Gen 31:30,3; 1 Cor 8:5) and in two places men are referred to as "gods" (Ps 82:6-7; Jn 10:34-36). "God" here though is defined as: 1) One whom we and all the world are created through. 2) Rightfully worshipped by angels and men. 3) Rightfully given praise and devotion by men. 4) Rightfully called our Lord and our God. By the above definitions, Christ is God according to the following scripture. 1) Jn 1:3; Col 1:16-17 (other in Jehovah's Witness New World Trans. is their own addition) 2) Heb 1:6,9 (proskuneo in Greek), Rev 5:8-9, John 9:38 3) 2 Cor 11:3 4) John 20:28-29; Heb 1:8-9; Rev 22:20; Php 2:11 (Lord). If you refuse to recognize Jesus in these four ways, there is no need to continue until you decide to repent and obey the Bible. God’s people in the Bible boast of and give glory to Jesus Christ. Do You? Gal 6:14, 1 Cor 1:23,30,31, 1 Cor 2:2, John 1:14, Php 2:10-11, 2 Peter 3:18. How many times have you boasted of what Paul boasted of in Gal 6:14? 5. There is only One God, Not Three Separate Ones Dt 4:35-9;6:4; Mk 12:29-33; Isa 43:10-2;44:6,8;45:5-6,14,21;46:9; Joe2:27;1Tm1:17;2:5;6:15-6 6. They are Co-equal in a Similar Way as a Father and Son Are Co-equal John 5:18; 5:23; Col 2:9-10; (Is 44:6; Rev 1:8 vs. Rev 1:17-18; 22:13) As John 5:18 shows, a father is equal in nature to the son he begets. Otherwise, your father must be greater than you, your grandfather greater than him, and your 100th ancestor must have been one super guy. People make things but "beget" only people. God made created things but "begets" only God, his only begotten Son. Shouldn't church worship be modeled after heavenly worship? If you have never sung or given glory to God and the Lamb, prayerfully read Rev 5:9,12-14. 7. They Differ in Role and Rank in a Similar Way as a Father and Son Differ 1 Cor 11:3; 15:25-28; Mt 12:18; Eph 1:17; John 1:33; 14:16,26,28; 20:17; Rom 8:26-27; 1 Peter 1:3-4. A Father is the head of a son, and God is the head of Christ. (1 Cor 11:3) Starting with Augustine, who did not know Greek and probably had not read Tertullian, some Christians tend to neglect the 7th fact. This tract has been endorsed by these University of Texas at Austin groups: Chinese Bible Study (CBS), Longhorn Life Campus Mission, the Navigators - UT, International Student Friendship Ministries, Baptist Student Union, and A.C.C.C.F. (1994) The Holy Spirit According to Genesis 1:1 the Holy Spirit moved over the waters. Jesus and believers are baptized with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does have the aspects of a force (like wind), or a thing (like water or oil). JW's believe that therefore, since the Holy Spirit has these aspects or a force or thing, the Spirit cannot have the aspects of a person. The last statement is merely human wisdom, not God's revealed truth. Whatever man may say or think, the Holy Spirit has the aspects of a person as shown in the following passages. A JW might argue these scriptures could mean the Holy Spirit is still a thing, but more like a radio that communicates, a robot that moves, or an artificial intelligence program that guides. However, being comforted by a comforter that is a thing is cold comfort indeed. Living by a thing, a thing being like a parent to us, being loved by a thing, and having fellowship with a thing seem rather inconsequential. To say that "the Holy Spirit is a thing, but God made it to appear like a person" sounds like calling God a trickster. Since the Holy Spirit is a force (whether personal or impersonal), either He is a Person and all the scriptures listed below are full of meaning, or else He is impersonal and I do not know what meaning these verses have for you. As a witness of Christ (Acts 1:8 Rev 20:4) as well as of Jehovah, I testify that the Holy Spirit guides me teaches me, and yes, even disciplines me in a Personal way. Better are even the discipline and rebuke from God's hand than the fairest pleasures apart from God's presence. Here are the verses: Parakletos (the comforter, the one John 14:16,26, John 15:26 along side us) Speaks to us Acts 13:2, Heb 3:7 Reminds us John 14:26 Like a parent, so we will not be John 14:18 orphans (orphanos in Greek) Guides us John 16:13 Teaches us John 14:26 1 Cor 2:13 Lives in us 1 Cor 3:16, 2 Tim 1:14, Rom 8:9,11, Eph 2:22 In our hearts 2 Cor 1:22 Gal 4:6 We live by the Spirit Gal 5:16,25 Led by the Spirit Gal 5:18 Rom 8:9 He intercedes for us Rom 8:26-27 Can be insulted Heb 10:29 Testifies of Christ John 15:26 Has a mind Rom 8:27 Can be grieved Is 63:10, Eph 4:30 Chooses who to give gifts 1 Cor 12:11 Possesses love Rom 15:30 Can think things are good Acts 15:28 Is given to us Rom 5:5, 1 John 4:13 Searches deep things of God 1 Cor 2:9-10 God in us 1 John 4:12-13,15-16, Rom 8:9-10, 1 Cor 3:16, 6:19, John 14:23, 15:4 With us always Mt 28:20 Groans (and thus cares) for us Rom 8:26-27 Gives joy 1 Thess 1:6 Does your religion ever make you feel lonely and alone? Christ promised not to leave us a orphans (orphanos in the Greek), but Christ promised to come to us. (John 14:18) That's right, Jesus Himself promised that he and the Father would actually live in us (John 14:23). Does Christ live in you? Perhaps you say he does not based on John 14:24. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit, for you can grieve Him (Ephesians 4:30). 1 Corinthians 3:16 declares that it is God's desired will that we be Temples of God, and that God's spirit dwells in us. To see how the Spirit can feel, read Romans 15:30, where Paul witnesses of the love of the Spirit. The phase "by the love of the Spirit" means a) the Spirit's love for us, b) our love for the Spirit, or c) both. If the Spirit has love for us, He is a Person. If you have (or at least you are supposed to have) a love for the Spirit like your love for Christ, then He is a Person. If c) is true, then... the case is closed. Do you love the Spirit? If not, I invite you to repent and pray the short prayer below. (A short note: Jesus in the Lord's prayer addressed the true God as "Our Father, who art (is) in heaven". Thus we can be confident that this is a proper way to address God and begin a prayer.) Our Father, who is in heaven, I want your name to be glorified upon the earth. I repent of relying on man's religious books above your Holy word. Forgive me of the false prophecies and teachings I have believed. For even the errors I believed in ignorance, I admit I did not check them against the truth of your Word. Jehovah God, I do not even think I can find the truth without your Spirit, which I have not asked to come in me. But now, Jehovah, I ask the Holy Spirit, your Spirit, to dwell in my life. You promised not to despise a contrite heart, so please teach me, and guide me out of my errors and sinful ways, that I would walk according to your Spirit and learn what is meant by the fellowship of the Spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ, whose shed blood opened up the way for me to be with you, I pray. Amen. If you have sincerely prayed this prayer then remember that God has promised the Spirit to all who earnestly seek Him. There is a very important book you just must read all the way through - the New Testament! If you cannot read ancient Greek (and most people cannot), I would suggest a translation done where all the translators knew Greek and Hebrew. Examples are the updated New American Standard, The New King James, or the New International Version. If you choose to read the Jehovah's Witnesses New World Translation, I need to tell you that one of the translators (Knorr) testified in a U.S. Court of Law that he did not even know Greek. Indwelling of the Trinity Indwelling, Not Mingling It is crucial to both understand the intimacy of the relationship between Jesus and the Father and between them and us. For each statement, there are specific meanings 4 , and limitations on meaning D . Italicized verses give examples, Tilde "~" verses indicate but do not prove, and the other verses prove the points. 1. As Jesus is In the Father, We Are In Jesus, and Jesus Is In Us ü There is a connection between these relationships: Father-Jesus, Jesus-Us, Us-Jesus. Jn14:20;17:23;6:57 D There is more to the Trinity than just this analogous relationship. Mt28:19;Jn1:1,18;Php2:6-7;Co1:15 ü 4 The Father, Jesus, and us all share some things, like eternal life.Jn16:13-15 The Father & Jesus "own" all in common. Jn16:15;17:10. The H.S. reveals this to us. Jn16:14-5 D The Father does not have some things we share with Jesus after His human birth. He1:6-10;2:14;7:3 2. As the Father and Jesus are One, We are to Be One ü We are to be one with each other in some ways similar to the Father and Jesus. Jn17:11,21-22 D They are One in some ways we cannot be one. Jn 5:23 3. The Father lives in Jesus ü On earth the Father lived in Jesus. Jn10:38;14:10-11. Jesus was filled with the Spirit. Lk4:1,18 ü If you really know Jesus, then you know the Father and have seen the Father. Jn14:7-9 D The Father did not become, progress, or turn into Jesus.He13:8;1:9;Jn14:10,24,26;15:1;16:27-8,32;17:5 4. Jesus lives in the Father ü On earth Jesus was in the Father. Jn10:38;14:11 D They are distinct; Jesus was not a ventriloquist. Mt3:16;Jn8:18. Jesus was forsaken at Calvary. Mk15:34;Mt27:46 ü No one comes to the Father except through Jesus. Jn14:6;6:45;~8:24;Ac3:12 D As close as they were on earth, Jesus still would be going to the Father. Jn14:12;Mk16:19;Jn20:11 ü Jesus is called Everlasting Father, which may refer to being the source of everlasting life. Is9:6 D Jesus did not become, progress, or turn into the Father. He13:8;~Re5:13;Jn20:17;14:10,24,26;15:1 5. God/Father/Christ/the Spirit is in Us ü People see God through us and in us. D God does not live solely in us, any more than stars exist solely in telescopes. 1Tm6:16;Jr23:24;Re19:11 ü Father/Jesus/the Spirit also actually dwells/makes their home in every believer. Jn14:17,23;17:26;Rm8:9-11;Ga3:6;1Cr6:19;1Jn4:15-16;2Tm1:14 D God/Father/Christ/Spirit did not become us, or turn into sinful man. Jas1:13;He4:15:1Pt2:22;1Jn3:5 ü God works and acts in us and through us. Php2:13;1Cr15:10;Rm15:18-19 ü God's people, the church, are together Christ's body. 1Cr6:15;10:17;12:27;Ep4:12;Co1:24. D We are not Christ's physical body. Co1:22. God is not limited to acting though us. Gen1;Ac9:1-6;Rev ü Helping/Not helping us is the same as to Jesus Christ. Mt25:35-45;Jn13:20;Ac9:4-5;22:7-8;26:14-15 D People can praise or revile God directly without doing things to believers. Rm1:18-32;Rv9:20-21 6. We Live in God/Father/Christ/the Spirit ü We are in Jesus and the Father. Jn17:21;Co2:6,12;3:3-4;1Jn4:12,15-16;5:20. ü We must remain in Jesus Christ and in His love. Jn15:1-9;1Jn2:27 D We are not fully with God now; we still need to go and be with God. 2Cr5:8;1Cr13:12;Php1:23 ü Because Jesus lives, we will live. Jn14:19;Co3:4;1Cr15:12-22;~1Th4:13-17 D We do not become, progress, evolve, or turn into God or Christ; rather we become godly and Christ-like. Is42:8;43:10;~Re7:13;Rm8:29;1Jn3:2;Php3:21 ü We're new creations in Christ. 2Cr5:17;~Rm7:1-6. We've the mind of Christ. 1Cr2:16;~Rm12:2 D We do not become zombies; we are still to have our own (renewed) minds & personalities.1Cr6:2-6;11:13;13:11+14:20;Rm14:5-6 Early Church Teaching on the Trinity The following church leaders of the early and post-Nicene church taught the doctrines of the Trinity. It is interesting to note that the Jehovah Witness Watchtower publication Can You Believe the Trinity? quotes most of these church fathers to attempt to show they did not believe in the Trinity. Leader References Statements and Beliefs Ignatius: disciple of John the Apostle died 107/116 17 places: Letter to Polycarp chapter 3 Ephesians 7 "Jesus is God" "God Incarnate" Diognetus (130) To Mathetes Christ sent as King, God, man, and savior Justin Martyr: died 110/114-165 Dialogue with Trypho ch. 55-56,59,61-64,66,74-78 "Deserving to be worshipped as God and Christ." Erred in thinking a time before Christ existed. Theophilus of Antioch (115-181) To Autolycus 2:22 what else is this voice [in the Garden of Eden] but the Word of God, who is also His Son? Tertullian died 200-220/240 Entire book Against Praxeus First to use the term Trinity. Irenaeus: disciple of John the Apos-tle. 120-202 Against Heresies 3:19:2 "Jesus is Himself in His own right, ...God, & Lord, ..." Clement of Alexan-dria 153-220 Stromata 5:14, The Instructor "the Holy Trinity" Hymn in praise of Jesus: "Lord of all time and space; Jesus Savior of our race;" Hippolytus disciple of Irenaeus 170-236 Against the Heresy of One Noetus "Son of God who, being God became man." Origen of Alexan-dria 184-254 de Principis 1.3.8 Origen was very contro-versial in his time, but his views on the Trinity were not questioned. "the power of the Trinity is one and the same." Origin erred on pre-existence of souls and eventual human universalism Novatian 210-280 Treatise on the Trinity enough said. Athanasius died 296-373 Sermon on Luke 10:22 United without confusion, distinguished without separation, Indivisible without degrees Basil of Cappadocia 329-379 Letter 8 to the Caesareans, On the Spirit The Father is God, the Son is God, the Spirit is God. Discusses Arian controversy Gregory of Nyssa 335-394 On Not Three Gods, Against Eunomius nature of the Father & Son is the same Hilary 353-368 Wrote a book on The Trinity Enough said Ambrose of Milan 340-397 On the Christian Faith Holy, Holy, Holy in Rev 4:8 referred to the Trinity. John Chrysostom 370-407 Homily 3 on John 1:1 Word’s eternity as a person; uncreated Augustine of Hippo 354-430 Book: On the Trinity Did not accept any difference in rank Nestorius: Council of Ephesus 431 Started Nestorianism His belief that Jesus was God was never criticized Cyril of Alexandria 431-444 Nestorius’ main opponent at the Council of Ephesus Started emphasis on Mary the mother of God. (unfortunately) Patrick of Ireland 389-461 did not write much famous cloverleaf analogy. The Church Fathers on the Trinity Ignatius (died 107/116) About the Lord’s second coming "Look for Him that is above the times, Him who has not times, Him who is invisible, Him who for our sakes became visible, Him who is impalpable [beyond touch], Him who is impassable [beyond passion], Him who for our sakes suffered, Him who endured everything in every for our sakes." Letter to Polycarp chapter 3. Diognetus to Mathetes (written 130) "As a king sends his son, who is also a king, so sent He Him; as God(1) He sent Him; as to men He sent Him; as a Saviour He sent Him,..." ch.7 The footnote (1) says "God" here refers to the person sent. Justin Martyr (110/114-165) "for when we give out some word, we beget the word; yet not by abcission, so as to lessen the word [which remains] in us, when we give it out; and just as we see also happening in the case of a fire, which is not lessened when it has kindled [another], but remains the same;... The Word of Wisdom, who is Himself this God begotten of the Father of all things, and Word, and Wisdom, and Power, and the Glory of the Begetter, will bear evidence to me..." Dialogue with Trypho ch. 61. Theophilus bishop of Antioch (115-181) "For the divine writing itself teaches us that Adam said that he had heard the voice. But what else is this voice but the Word of God, who is also His Son? To Autolycus 2:22 Tertullian (200-220/240) "The Word, therefore, is both always in the Father, as He says, ‘I am in the Father;’ and is always with God, according to what is written, ‘And the Word was with God;’ and never separate from the Father, or other than the Father, since ‘I and the Father are one.’" Against Praxeus chapter 8. Irenaeus (120-202) "But that He [Jesus] is Himself in His own right, beyond all men who ever lived, God, and Lord, and King Eternal, and the Incarnate Word, proclaimed by all the prophets, the apostles, and by the Spirit Himself, may be seen by all who have obtained to even a small portion of the truth." (Irenaeus Against Heresies 3:19:2). "Know thou that every man is either empty or full. For if he has not the Holy Spirit, he has no knowledge of the Creator; he has not received Jesus Christ the life; he knows not the Father who is in heaven;..." (Against Heresies 3:16) "She [the church] also believes these points [of doctrine] just as if she had but one soul.... For the churches which have been planted in Germany do not believe or hand down anything different nor do those in Spain nor those in Gaul, nor those in the East nor those in Egypt nor those in Libya, nor ..." Hippolytus (170-236) after quoting part of John 1:1 "If, then the Word was with God and was also God what follows? Would one say that he speaks of two Gods? I shall not indeed speak of two Gods but of one; of two Persons however and of a third economy (disposition), viz., the grace of the Holy Ghost. For the Father indeed is One but there are two Persons because there is also the Son; and then there is the third the Holy Spirit. The Father decrees, the Word executes and the Son is manifested, through whom the Father is believed on. The economy of the harmony is led back to one God; for God is One. It is the Father who commands and the Son who obeys and the Holy Spirit who gives understanding; the Father is above all, and the Son who is through all and the Holy Spirit who is in all. And we cannot otherwise think of one God, but by believing in truth in Father and Son and Holy Spirit." Against the Heresy of One Noetus chapter 14. Athanasius (296-373) "United without confusion, distinguished without separation. Indivisible and without degrees." Sermon on Luke 10:22 "For it is only on the cross that a man dies with his hands spread out. Whence it was fitting for the Lord to bear this also and to spread out His hands that with the one He might draw the ancient people, and with the other those from the Gentiles and unite both in Himself." Incarnation 25:3 Basil of Cappadocia (329-379) "when all the while they ought to confess that the Father is God, the Son God, and the Holy Ghost God, as they have been taught by the divine words,..." Letter 7 to Caesareans (p.116) Hilary (353-368) "The deeds of God therefore are beyond the understanding of our human nature and do not fit in with our rational process of thought because the operation of a limitless eternity demands an infinite comprehension of measuring things. So it is not a conclusion of reason but a limitation of power when God became man, when the Immortal dies, when the Eternal is buried. Again, on the other hand it does not depend on our manner of thinking but on omnipotence that He appears as God from a man, as immortal from one who is dead, and as eternal from one who is buried. Hence we are revivified by God in Christ through his death." Trinity 1:14 "Since unless things are of the same nature they are never accorded equal honor, and equality of honor does not bring about a separation in those who are being honored. But the mystery of the birth demands equality of honor." (on John 5:23) Gregory of Nyssa (335-394) "When we say that the Godhead of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is one, and yet forbid men to say ‘there are three Gods’?" On "Not Three Gods" Ambrose of Milan (340-397) "These words, then, are written with regard to God, of which Name the dignity and truth are common to [both the Father and] the Son." Of the Christian Faith 3:3:17. Summary The church did not have non-Trinitarians. Gnostics, Arians, and other heretics were excluded from the church. The doctrines of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons and others are modern inventions. Watchtower Statements on the Trinity Watchtower magazine 2/1/1977 p.95 in Rom 10:12, the identity of "Lord" cannot be established with certainty from the context. In other words JW’s cannot say who their Lord is. (See 1 Cor 12:4-6). "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Matthew 7:15

[@CAnswersTV]

Question: "Is the perpetual virginity of Mary biblical?" Answer: It is the official position of the Roman Catholic Church that Jesus' mother Mary remained a virgin for her entire life. Is this concept biblical? Before we look at specific Scriptures, it is important to understand why the Roman Catholic Church believes in the perpetual virginity of Mary. The Roman Catholic Church views Mary as "the Mother of God" and "Queen of Heaven." Catholics believe Mary to have an exalted place in Heaven, with the closest access to Jesus and God the Father. Such a concept is nowhere taught in Scripture. Further, even if Mary did occupy such an exalted position, her having sexual intercourse would not have prevented her from gaining such a position. Sex in marriage is not sinful. Mary would have in no way defiled herself by having sexual relations with Joseph her husband. The entire concept of the perpetual virginity of Mary is based on an unbiblical teaching, Mary as Queen of Heaven, and on an unbiblical understanding of sex. So, what does the Bible say about the perpetual virginity of Mary? Using the New American Bible, which is a Catholic translation, we can see that the perpetual virginity of Mary is not taught in the Bible. Matthew 1:25 NAB tells us, "He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus." He, Joseph, did not have sexual relations with her, Mary, UNTIL after she bore a son, Jesus." The meaning of this Scripture is abundantly clear. Joseph and Mary did not have sexual relations until after Jesus was born. Matthew 13:55-56 NAB declares, "Is He not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not His sisters all with us?" Catholics claim, correctly, that the Greek terms for "brothers" and "sisters" in these verses could also refer to male and female relatives, not necessarily literal brothers and sisters. However, the intended meaning is clear, they thought Jesus to be Joseph's son, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas, and the brother of the unnamed and unnumbered sisters. Father, mother, brother, sister. It is straining the meaning of the text to interpret “brothers” and “sisters” as "cousins" or "relatives" with the mentioning of Jesus' mother and father. Matthew 12:46 NAB tells us, "While He was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and His brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with Him." See also Mark 3:31-34; Luke 8:19-21; John 2:12; and Acts 1:14. All mention Jesus' mother with His brothers. If they were His cousins, or the sons of Joseph from a previous marriage, why were they mentioned with Mary so often? The idea of the perpetual virginity of Mary cannot be drawn from Scripture. It must be forced on Scripture, in contradiction to what the Scriptures clearly state. Question: "What is Mariology?" Answer: Mariology is the theological study of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Within the Roman Catholic Church, Mary is venerated over all other saints. Anglicans share some of the beliefs of Roman Catholic Mariology, but not all. The Eastern Orthodox Church calls Mary the “God-bearer,” emphasizing Mary’s status as the mother of God Incarnate, gives her the title “Ever Virgin,” and emphasizes her sublime holiness, her share in redemption, and her role as a mediator of grace. Most Protestants endorse the Apostles’ Creed, which acknowledges the virgin birth of Christ, do they not believe in most of the other tenets of Mariology. Protestants denounce the veneration of Mary as practiced by Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. The four dogmas of Roman Catholic Mariology are: 1) the title “Mother of God”; 2) the Immaculate Conception; 3) the Perpetual Virginity of Mary; and 4) the Assumption of Mary. Mother of God: In AD 431, the Council of Ephesus countered the Nestorian heresy by declaring that Mary was truly the Mother of God: “Not that the nature of the Word or his divinity received the beginning of its existence from Mary, but the holy body, animated by a rational soul, which the Word of God united to himself, was born from Mary.” One problem with this wording is that it awakened the old Arian heresy that the Logos (Jesus) was a created being. In AD 451, at the Council of Chalcedon, Leo, Bishop of Rome, ratified the decision that Mary was theotokos (“God-bearer”) only as to the humanity of Jesus. The title had nothing to do with Jesus’ divinity as the eternal Word of God. The Chalcedonian definition added the words “as to the manhood” immediately after theotokos, which should have ended erroneous thinking. But the populace took this word theotokos as an uplifting of Mary’s status and started to venerate her. The term theotokos was not incorporated into the Nicene Creed of 321 or the Constantinopolitan Creed of 381. Neither is that expression used in the Anglican Articles or in the Westminster Confession of Faith. Immaculate Conception: This tenet of Mariology holds that Mary, at her conception, was sinless (immaculate), preserved from original sin. According to the Roman Catholic Encyclopedia of Theology, no statement of Mary’s being free from original sin is found in the West before AD 1000. It was not until 1854 that faith in Mary’s Immaculate Conception was taught as an official church dogma. Perpetual Virginity: According to Roman Catholic Mariology, Mary was always a virgin before, during, and after giving birth to Jesus. The Roman Catholic Encyclopedia of Theology admits that the formula of “virginity before, in and after giving birth” did not come into use till after the 7th century. Assumption: The Assumption of Mary teaches that Mary, when she died, was taken up (assumed) body and soul into heavenly glory. It was not until 1950 that Pope Pius XII defined the doctrine of “Mary’s bodily assumption into heaven.” Mary’s role in salvation: Another element of Roman Catholic Mariology is the belief that, at the conception of Jesus, Mary entered into a spiritual union with Him. Pope John Paul II discussed Mary’s place in the plan of salvation in the encyclical Redemptoris Mater, emphasizing “the special presence of the Mother of God in the mystery of Christ and his Church. For this is a fundamental dimension emerging from the Mariology of the Council.” Pope Benedict XVI stated that “Christology and Mariology are inseparably interwoven.” The Catholic Encyclopedia states, “In [Mary’s] Fiat of faith, she received salvation for all. . . . Mary’s mediatorship is to be understood on the level of the solidarity of all mankind which is in need of redemption. . . .The function of Mary in salvation determines her relation to the Church. . . . Mary is mother of the Church under this more individualistic aspect, since she is effectively concerned for the salvation of each individual” (pages 898-901). Within Catholicism, there is a drive to define a new Marian dogma in which Catholics, as a matter of faith, would be obliged to accept these three doctrines: 1) Mary participates in redemption with Jesus Christ; 2) grace is granted by Jesus only through the intercession of Mary; and 3) all prayers from the faithful must flow through Mary, who brings them to the attention of her Son. This movement would, in practice, redefine the Trinity as a kind of Quartet. The idea that Mary is a co-redemptrix or mediatrix contradicts 1 Timothy 2:5, which says, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” Jesus is the Mediator. There is no mediator between man and Jesus. Jesus Himself dwells in believers; thus, no other mediator is required (Colossians 1:27). Nowhere in Scripture does Jesus or anyone else direct any praise, glory, or adoration toward Mary. Mary was present at the cross when Jesus died (John 19:25). Mary was also with the apostles on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:14). However, Mary is never mentioned again after Acts 1. The apostles did not give Mary a prominent role. Mary’s death is not recorded in the Bible. Nothing is said about Mary ascending to heaven or having an exalted role there. As the earthly mother of Jesus, Mary should be respected, but she is not worthy of worship or adoration. The Bible nowhere indicates that Mary can hear our prayers or that she can mediate for us with God. Mary herself sets the example for us in directing her worship, adoration, and praise to God alone: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me-holy is His name” (Luke 1:46-49). For more see our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" with 131 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715. Titus 1:9-16

[@annanimus4445]

+CAnswersTV It occurs to me that perpetual virginity and freedom from sin are mutually exclusive. As a married woman Mary would have been living in continued sin if she did NOT engage in normal relations with her husband.....and she would have been causing another to sin (Joseph.)

[@comanchetexas]

I have noted something that others might be interested in. Mary ( Jesus' mother ) is never called mother by Jesus. He always calls her woman. She is never mentioned in John's Gospel. She is never mentioned by the Apostle Paul. In the Book of Acts, she is mentioned once and that is that she was present with the group in the upper room. In the remainder of the New Testament, she is only mentioned in Matthew, Mark and Luke. The traditions of Mary are based on opinions. There is no doubt that Mary was special enough to be selected by God.

[@lolasobande8663]

@@comanchetexas The fullest portrait of Mary was given in: John 2:1-5; the wedding @Cana in Galilee; and also John 19:25-27. These scriptures in John are the go to references for much of Mariology.

[@MysteryBabylonUnveiled]

Great video. It is sad how so many people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.

[@CAnswersTV]

But "faith without works is dead ... James 2:20." If you are Roman Catholic see our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" with 123 videos & counting at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715. If you are a Seventh-day Adventist see our playlist "Dealing with Seventh-day Adventism & Their "Prophetess"" with 23 videos & counting at kzbin.info/aero/PL5316CC6F66F24283. If you are a Campbellite follower of the "Church of Christ" see our playlist "Dealing with "Saved by Works & Baptism", "Church of Christ"" with 72 videos & counting at kzbin.info/aero/PLBD55090718DA6D3D. See our video "KEEPING THE OLD TESTAMENT LAWS & COMMANDMENTS CANNOT EARN HEAVEN OR SALVATION WITH GOD!" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3rLZIdpZtqdq7c. Are We Justified by Faith (Romans) or by Works (James)? In Romans it says, "because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight . . . " (Rom. 3:20) "for we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law." (Rom. 3:28) "For what does the Scripture say? ‘And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.'" (Rom. 4:3) "Therefore, having been justified by faith . . . " (Rom. 5:1) "But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness." (Rom. 4:5). In James it says, "You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone." (James 2:24) " . . . so also faith without works is dead." (James 2:26). Which is it? Are we justified by faith or by works? Does the Bible Contradict--Itself? It is a fundamental Christian belief that we are justified by faith. Justification means that God declares a sinner to be righteous. He does this by crediting--by reckoning the righteousness of Jesus to the sinner. This is done by faith. That is, when the sinner puts his faith in the sacrifice of Jesus and trusts in Him and not himself for righteousness, then God justifies him. "And Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." (Rom. 4:3). But, if the Bible teaches that we are justified by faith, does it also teach we are justified by works as James "seems" to say? Do we have a contradiction? The answer is no. Context is Everything It is erroneous to take a verse, read it without its context, and then attempt to develop a doctrine from that verse alone. Therefore, let's take a look at the context of James 2:24 which says that a man is justified by works. James chapter 2 has 26 verses: Verses 1-7 instruct us not to show favoritism. Verses 8-13 are comments on the Law. Verses 14-26 are about the relationship between faith and works. Notice that James begins this section by using the example of someone who says he has faith--verse 14. He then immediately gives an example of what true and false faiths are. He begins with the negative and demonstrates what an empty faith is (verses 15-17). Then he gives an example of the type of faith that isn't much different from the faith of demons (verse 19). Finally, he gives examples of living faith by showing Abraham and Rahab as the type of people who demonstrated their faith by their deeds. James is examining two kinds of faith: one that leads to godly works and one that does not. One is true, and the other is false. One is dead, the other alive; hence, "Faith without works is dead." (James 2:20). This is why in the middle of his section on faith and works, he says in verse 19, "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder." James says this because the demons believe in God; that is, they have faith, but the faith they have is useless. It does not result in appropriate works. Their faith is only a mental acknowledgment of God's existence. Ascentia and Fiducia Two words are worth introducing here: ascentia and fiducia. Ascentia is the mental assent--the mental acknowledgment of something's existence. The demons acknowledge and believe that God exists. Fiducia is more than mental acknowledgment. It involves a trust in something--a giving over to it, a complete believing and acceptance of something. This is the kind of faith that a Christian has in Christ. A Christian, therefore, has fiducia; that is, he has real faith and trust in Christ and not simply an acknowledgment that He lived on earth at one time. Another way to put this is that there are many people in the world who believed that Jesus lived: ascentia. But they do not believe that He is their savior, the one to whom they should look and trust for the forgiveness of their sins. Ascentia does not lead to works. Fiducia does. Ascentia is not of the heart. Fiducia is. What is James Saying? James is simply saying that if you ‘say' you are a Christian, then there had better be some appropriate works manifested, or your faith is false. This sentiment is echoed in 1 John 2:4 which says, "If you say you have come to know Him, yet you do not keep His commandments, then the truth is not in you and you are a liar." Apparently, there were people who were saying they were Christians but were not manifesting any of the fruit of Christianity. Can this faith justify? Can the dead ‘faith' that someone has which produces no change in a person and no good works before men and God be a faith that justifies? Absolutely not. It is not merely enough to say you believe in Jesus. You must actually believe and trust in Him. If you actually do, then you will demonstrate that faith by a changed and godly life. If not, then your profession is of no more value than the same profession of demons: "We believe Jesus lived." Notice that James actually quotes the same verse that Paul uses to support the teaching of justification by faith in Rom. 4:3. James 2:23 says, "and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘and Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.'" If James was trying to teach a contradictory doctrine of faith and works than the other New Testament writers, then he would not have used Abraham as an example. Therefore, we are justified by faith. That is, we are made righteous in the eyes of God by faith as is amply demonstrated by Romans. However, that faith, if it is true, will result in deeds appropriate to salvation. After all, didn't God say in Eph. 2:8-10, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." What is the relationship between faith & works? The relationship between faith and works is that works are the result of faith. In the Bible, faith and works are very often contrasted. They are not the same thing, and the combination of faith and works does not bring salvation. Salvation is by faith alone. Rom. 3:28, “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” Rom. 4:5, “But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.” Gal. 2:16, “nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus…” False religious systems always teach that faith plus a person's works result in salvation. This is false, because our good works are filthy rags before God (Isa. 64:6). Therefore, we can’t do anything to please God by our good works. Gal. 2:21 says that if righteousness comes by the law (works), then Christ died needlessly. Faith without works is dead James 2:26 says that faith without works is dead, but what James is talking about is that dead faith produces no works. The context of the chapter begins in verse 14 where James says, “What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” Notice that James asks, “can that faith save him?" The faith he is talking about is false faith, which he further clarifies when he mentions how the devil also believes in God (v. 19). The Devil has dead faith. He only acknowledges God’s existence. So, with a real Christian, good works are the result of saving faith, not a contributing factor to salvation. Nor do our good works keep us saved. If that were the case, then salvation would be by works. Are we saved by faith alone, or do we need works, too? Roman Catholics often mention that the Bible never says we are saved by faith alone and that the phrase "faith alone" occurs only once in James where it says that we are not saved by faith alone. If this is so, then why do the Protestants say we are justified by faith alone and not by works? Because the Bible teaches that we are justified by faith alone--and not by works. The following is a list of verses about being saved by faith. Please take note that faith and works are contrasted. In other words, we are saved by faith "not by works" and "apart from works," etc. The point is that there are only two options. We are saved by faith alone, or we are not. Since we have faith and works (both conceptually and in practice), then we are either saved by faith alone or by faith and works. There is no other option. If we see that the Scriptures exclude works in any form as a means of our salvation, then logically, we are saved by faith alone. Let's take a look at what the Bible says about faith and works. Then, afterwards, we will tackle James' statement about "faith alone." Rom. 3:28-30, "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one." Rom. 4:5, "But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness," Rom. 5:1, "therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;" Rom. 9:30, "What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith;" Rom. 10:4, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." Rom. 11:6, "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace." Gal. 2:16, "nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified." Gal. 2:21, I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly. Gal. 3:5-6, "Does He then, who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 6Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." Gal. 3:24, "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith." Eph. 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. 9Not by works, lest any man should boast." Phil. 3:9, "and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith." Again, works/Law is contrasted with faith repeatedly; and we are told that we are not justified by works in any way. Therefore, we are made right with God by faith--not by faith and our works, hence, faith alone. James 2:24, not by faith alone The Scriptures clearly teach that we are saved (justified) by faith in Christ and what He has done on the cross. This faith alone saves us. However, we cannot stop here without addressing what James says in James 2:24, "You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone." There is no contradiction. All you need to do is look at the context. James chapter 2 has 26 verses: Verses 1-7 instruct us not to show favoritism. Verses 8-13 are comments on the Law. Verses 14-26 are about the relationship between faith and works. James begins this section by using the example of someone who says he has faith but has no works, "What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?" (James 2:14). In other words, James is addressing the issue of a dead faith--a faith that is nothing more than a verbal pronouncement, a public confession of the mind, and is not heart-felt. It is empty of life and action. He begins with the negative and demonstrates what an empty faith is (verses 15-17, words without actions). Then he shows that type of faith isn't any different from the faith of demons (verse 19). Finally, he gives examples of living faith that has words followed by actions. Works follow true faith and demonstrate that faith to our fellow man but not to God. James writes of Abraham and Rahab as examples of people who demonstrated their faith by their deeds. In brief, James is examining two kinds of faith: one that leads to godly works and one that does not. One is true, and the other is false. One is dead, the other alive; hence, "Faith without works is dead," (James 2:20). But, he is not contradicting the verses above that say salvation/justification is by faith alone. Also, notice that James actually quotes the same verse that Paul quotes in Rom. 4:3 amongst a host of verses dealing with justification by faith. James 2:23 says, "and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, and Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.'" If James was trying to teach a contradictory doctrine of faith and works than the other New Testament writers, then he would not have used Abraham as an example. Therefore, we can see that justification is by faith alone and that James was talking about false faith--not real faith--when he said that we are not justified by faith alone. What about Faith vs. Works? Question: What about Faith vs. Works? Answer: Faith vs Works--a quick and simple explanation James 2:22 is addressing a worldly way to show our faith to others who watch us operate as a church. We know this because he says "Pure religion is . . . to visit the fatherless and widowed" (James 1:27). The Apostle Paul is explaining faith as God sees it. "What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?* 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin," Rom 4:1-8. Now, let's see how James looks at a dead faith without works: "What doth it profit, my brethren [target audience=church], though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? [that faith is a false or a DEAD faith] 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 [true] faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only [a false faith]," James 2:14-24. James is saying that a person with dead faith will walk by the hungry because he or she is not really saved. When a Christian feeds the hungry, that is how he or she shows others that he has a real faith. On the other hand, the Apostle Paul says that Abraham was not justified by his works because his works do not justify him "before God," Romans 4:2. This is a true faith that God sees apart from works. What does Romans 4:1-4 say? “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness,” Romans 4:1-4. True faith will be enough for God. However, to the church, faith is revealed in our efforts. Thus, there is no contradiction between the book of James and the book of Romans. Galatians 1:6-9, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." For more information see our website www.BibleQuery.org.

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First of all, the book of Enoch wasn't considered scripture by the Christian Church. There was some discussion on its canonicity by a few people, but the Christian Church didn't include it in the Bible. Second, Jude only quoted something that was true in Enoch and it doesn't mean that Enoch was inspired. In fact, Paul quotes Epimenides in Titus 1:12 but that does not mean that Epimenides was inspired. Jesus implicitly rejected the Apocrypha as Scripture by referring to the accepted Jewish Canon.

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See our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" with 119 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715. "Are Catholics Christians?" By Richard Bennett (former RC priest for 22 years, www.BereanBeacon.org) The Catholic Church presupposes itself to be Christian. Nothing could be farther from the truth; yet, the Catholic Church has presented and promoted herself in that guise particularly since the close of the Second Vatican Council in 1965. A primary, non-negotiable goal of Vatican Council II was to lay the groundwork and to establish the rules and parameters for a multifaceted, ecumenical outreach. Evangelical Christians, now called "separated brethren", rather than "heretics",1 are the primary target of Catholic ecumenism. The goal is to draw them into the Roman Catholic fold.2 Thus, in the 1994 Catechism of the Catholic Church, the word "Christian" occurs more than 100 times in these official teachings. Buzzwords such as "dialogue", "ecumenism", and "social justice" are being used under the guise of promoting true Christianity while advancing the Roman Catholic agenda. Assurances to Evangelicals Negated Evangelicals are assured that Catholics who believe in the incarnation, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are true Christians, even though they misunderstand some of the "technicalities" regarding salvation. Such reasoning is negated by the fact that Catholicism differs from biblical faith-not only on minor details, but more importantly on what is essential for one’s salvation. The most dangerous aspect of Catholic Church doctrine is that it appears to be based on the great, indispensable truths of God’s revelation.3 In reality, however, the telling fact is that Catholic doctrine denies essential, biblical doctrines by that which it adds on to biblical truths. For example, while Catholic doctrine affirms the worship of the three distinct Persons of the Trinity, it adds divine adoration for the Virgin Mary by addressing her in prayer as "the All Holy One". The exact words of the official statement are, "By asking Mary to pray for us, we acknowledge ourselves to be poor sinners and we address ourselves to the ‘Mother of Mercy,’ the All Holy One".4 The Catholic Church also demands that worship, which according to Scripture is due exclusively to the one true God in three persons, is also to be given to the 1 The anathemas or curses against Evangelicals as heretics still remain in Roman Catholic law because the Council of Trent (1545 - 1563) has never been revoked. Since the demise of the Holy Roman Empire, the Papacy has had no military and civil power by which to enforce these anathemas as it had during the 605 years of the Inquisition. Thus the Papacy has recently adopted "ecumenism, "dialogue," and promoting "social justice" as ways and means of drawing Evangelical Christians into its fold. 2 Vatican Council II Documents, "Reflections and Suggestions Concerning Ecumenical Dialogue," Vol. I, Sect. II. This crucial Vatican document states, "…ecumenical dialogue is not limited to an academic or purely conceptual level, but striving for a more complete communion between the Christian communities…it serves to transform modes of thought and behavior and the daily life of those communities. [non-Catholic churches] In this way, it aims at preparing the way for their unity of faith in the bosom of a Church one and visible: thus ‘little by little’, as the obstacles to perfect ecclesial communion are overcome, all Christians will be gathered, in a common celebration of the Eucharist, into that unity of the one and only Church which Christ bestowed on his Church from the beginning. This unity, we believe, dwells in the Catholic Church as something she can never lose…" 3 For example she holds to the existence of a self-existent and eternal God, the Creator of the universe, of man, and of all things. She teaches the biblical doctrine of the Trinity. She teaches Adam’s sin resulting in the shared guilt and consequences of his sin. She accepts the doctrine of man’s redemption by Jesus Christ, teaching that He became incarnate and endured the death of the cross; that He arose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and will return again. 4 Catechism of the Catholic Church, Liguori Publications, 1994 Paragraph 2677 Hereafter referred to as Catechism. "Sacrament" or "Eucharist", the Communion element. Thus, the Church of Rome officially declares, 5 Vatican Council II Documents, Eucharisticum Mysterium," Vol. I, Para 3 (Emphasis not in original.) 6 Ephesians 2:8, 9 7 Catechism Paragraph 1129 8 John 10:35 9 John 17:17 10 Proverbs 30:6 11 II Timothy 3:16-17 "There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind ‘that all the faithful ought to show to this most holy sacrament the worship which is due to the true God, as has always been the custom of the Catholic Church. Nor is it to be adored any the less because it was instituted by Christ to be eaten’".5 These two official teachings of the Church of Rome show that the divine worship due to God alone is being given to Mary and to their communion element. In addition, the essential doctrine of man’s redemption by Jesus Christ is totally different in Papal Rome from that of the Bible. The Scripture declares that sinners, dead in trespasses and sins, are "by grace" "saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast".6 This Scripture shows that God directly saves sinners by His grace through faith. However, the Catholic Church insists on the necessity of her sacraments and consequently states, "The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation. ‘Sacramental grace’ is the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by Christ and proper to each sacrament".7 The sacraments, which are declared by the Catholic Church to be indispensable, nullify the biblical doctrine of man’s redemption. With these explicit examples of the Catholic Church’s negation of essential biblical truths, the Papacy’s official doctrine and teaching on all the major topics of biblical truth need to be carefully examined. The Basis of Truth The first topic to address is, "What is the basis of truth?" In other words, what is the norm by which we can know truth? The absolute standard set by the Lord Jesus Christ rests in the fact that "the scripture cannot be broken".8 He who identified Himself to His disciples, "I am the way, the truth and the life", also declared the truth of God’s Word by praying for them, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth".9 From these Scriptures we understand that God’s Word not only contains the truth, but is truth itself. The Holy Scripture is the source of the believer’s standard of truth. Since Scripture alone is inspired, it alone is the ultimate authority, and it alone is the final judge of all human tradition and reasoning. Accordingly, the commandment of the Lord states, "Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar".10 Thus, in His written Word, the absolute authority of the Lord God is totally sufficient for all the believer’s needs. The Apostle Paul confirmed this when he wrote, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works".11 The Lord Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they placed their human tradition on the same level as the written Word of God. Thus, the Pharisees corrupted the people’s understanding by confusing them in regards to God’s Word as the very 2 12 Mark 7:13 13 Catechism Paragraphs 80, 81 14 II Peter 1:20, 21 15 John 16:13 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth". 16 John 16:15 17 Catechism Paragraph 82 18 Catechism Paragraph 891 basis of truth. Jesus declared to them, "[You are] making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered".12 In spite of this unmistakably clear standard of truth, the Catholic Church declares her own standard of truth. She begins her reasoning with the following words, "Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture, then, are bound closely together and communicate one with the other" "And [Holy] Tradition transmits in its entirety the Word of God, which has been entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit".13 The fact is that no "tradition" transmits in its entirety the Word of God. This task is solely that of the Holy Spirit. First, in an exclusive sense, the Scriptures are the composition of the Holy Spirit; as stated by the Apostle Peter, "holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost".14 The Holy Spirit is fully fitted for this work because He is "the Spirit of truth".15 He has perfect knowledge of the truth because He is God, one with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit reveals the truth of the written Word to believers. For this reason the Lord Christ Jesus said, "He shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you".16 Thus, the Holy Spirit perfectly transmits the Word of God in its proper fullness. Having equated her "Sacred Tradition" with Sacred Scripture, and having stated that her tradition transmits the Word of God in its entirety, the Catholic Church reaches its conclusion with the following words, "As a result the [Catholic] Church, to whom the transmission and interpretation of Revelation is entrusted, ‘does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence".17 This statement is a formal denial of the sufficiency of Scripture and a repudiation of its unique authority. For a church, claiming to be Christian, to attach as much importance to tradition as she does to Scripture is to totally devalue Scripture. It is like a husband who declares that he loves his wife and at the same time states that he also loves equally the woman across the street. Such love would be adulterous; so also are Papal Rome’s "equal sentiments of devotion and reverence". Such a declaration is tantamount to a rejection of Scripture and unfaithfulness to the God of Scripture. Catholicism, however, does have a standard for truth that is taken to be absolute. It is not the unqualified authority of God in His written Word; rather, it is the authority of a man, the Pope of Rome. For Catholics, the ultimate authority lies in the decisions and decrees of the reigning Pope. This is seen in their official teaching which states, "The Supreme Pontiff, in virtue of his office, possesses infallible teaching authority when, as supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful...he proclaims with a definitive act that a doctrine of faith or morals is to be held as such".18 3 19 For example, Pope Honorius I (625-38) was posthumously condemned as a heretic and excommunicated from the Church by the Sixth Ecumenical Council (680-681 A.D.) He was also condemned as a heretic by Pope Leo II, as well as by every other pope until the eleventh century. It was not until 1870 at Vatican Council I that the Catholic Church for the first time declared that the Pope is infallible. 20 Ephesians 2:1, "and you… who were dead in trespasses and sins." 21 Ephesians 2:9 22 Catechism, Paragraph 2021 23 Romans 11:6 24 Catechism Paragraph 1129 25 Vatican Council II Documents, No. 64, "Gaudium et Spes," 1965, Vol. I, Sect. 14 Thus, in practice, the Catholic Church’s basis for doctrine is her pope and what he states to be truth. In other words, this is truth claimed by decree. The absurdity of this claim is evident when we remember that several popes were declared to be heretics and thus condemned by Church councils.19 Salvation by Grace Alone Denied by Catholic Sacramental System That salvation is by God’s grace alone must be clearly understood. Unredeemed sinners, all of whom are "dead in trespasses and sins",20 can only be saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone because salvation is "the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast".21 It is God who graciously saves by His unmerited free gift. In total contrast to this, salvation in the Catholic Church is said to come about by "grace" that is merely a "help" with the intention that people will respond. Thus, the Catholic Church officially states, "Grace is the help God gives us to respond to our vocation of becoming his adopted sons. It introduces us into the intimacy of the Trinitarian life".22 In this view, human beings are presumed to be good enough to respond to the help that God gives to them. According to the Catholic Church, grace is not a manifestation of God’s sovereign action in salvation but merely a "help" given to humans that they may respond, should they decide to believe. The Catholic teaching contradicts the very concept of grace. As the Scripture states, "and if by grace, then is it [salvation] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace".23 God’s sovereign action is what is at stake and not uncertain, human response. The Catholic concept of "grace" denies God’s sovereign grace. Therefore, the Papacy needed to construct a mechanism by which Catholics can profess that they have received grace. The primary tools of their invention are called the "Sacraments". Accordingly, the Catholic Church states, "The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation. ‘Sacramental grace’ is the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by Christ and proper to each sacrament".24 This teaching is appalling. In the Bible, salvation is given to an individual by the absolute power of God’s grace alone - because in God alone is the power to deliver a man from being spiritually "dead in trespasses and sins" to being spiritually alive in Christ. However, the Catholic Church adamantly disagrees with the Bible on this primary issue, for it officially claims, "man has only been wounded by sin".25 Thus, her Catechism describes God’s grace as a "help" accessible through her sacraments. These sacraments are in turn totally under the control of the Catholic priesthood. 4 26 Ephesians 1:6 27 Acts 16:31 28 II Peter 1:1 29 Romans 10:17 30 Catechism Paragraph 168 31 Catechism Paragraph 169 32 Catechism Paragraph 181 33 The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent, 7th Session, March, 1547 (Rockford, IL: Tan Publishers, Inc., 1978) This curse against those who believe that Christ alone is the object of their saving faith has never been lifted. For centuries, the horrendous tortures of the Papacy’s Inquisition were used throughout Europe and Britain to wipe out all believers whose faith was in Christ alone. By the end of the eighteenth century, the Papacy no longer had the We absolutely praise the Lord God that from Scripture we can be sure that His grace is totally His free gift, "wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved".26 In salvation, we are accepted not in any institution, or by partaking of any sacrament, but in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Papal Substitute for Christ Alone as Object of Faith The object of faith is clearly seen in Scripture as the person of Christ Jesus Himself. Consequently, it is stated, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house".27 This faith is God-given faith, as declared by the Apostle Peter, "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ".28 This God-given faith comes by hearing the Word of God as is stated, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God".29 The topic of faith is so clear in Scripture that one would doubt that it could be twisted by any church. Nonetheless, the Catholic Church does manage to completely change the concept of faith. Regarding faith, she doesn’t deal directly with the individual, but focuses attention on herself, "the Church", as the object of faith and commitment, and as the one that first believes. Thus she teaches, "It is the Church that believes first, and so bears, nourishes and sustains my faith".30 Then, very audaciously and misleadingly, she declares, "faith comes through the Church because the Church is our Mother". As a result she officially teaches, "Salvation comes from God alone; but because we receive the life of faith through the Church, she is our mother…"31 In the Catholic Church the result is that a person believes in "Mother Church" and not on the Lord Jesus Christ. Her official words stating this are the "‘Believing’ is an ecclesial act. The Church’s faith precedes, engenders, supports and nourishes our faith. The Church is the mother of all believers. ‘No one can have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother’".32 Therefore, Roman Catholics are compelled to submit to "holy Mother Church" and accept her teaching. Without biblical warrant, the Catholic Church seeks to replace Jesus Christ as the object of saving faith with a substitute; namely, faith in "Mother Church". The effect of this change is the enslaving of individuals to the Roman Catholic Church rather than the freedom obtained by faith in Jesus Christ alone. To maintain the Catholic Church as the object of faith, the Papacy curses all who believe on Christ by faith alone. The official words of "Mother Church" are, "If anyone says that by the sacraments of the New Law grace is not conferred ex opere operato [from the work worked], but that faith alone in the divine promise is sufficient to obtain grace, let him be anathema [cursed]".33 5 military and civil power to enforce her sinister doctrine. But by the mid-twentieth century, the Papacy’s new tools had been formed against those whose faith is in Christ alone: Ecumenism, dialogue, and "social justice" were formally unveiled at Vatican Council II. The method has changed; but the goal has not. 34 Romans 6:10 35 I Peter 3:18 36 Hebrews 9:28 37 John 19:30 38 Catechism Paragraph 1367 (Emphasis not in original) 39 Hebrews 9:22 40 Catechism Paragraph 1368 41 Hebrews 1:3 42 Romans 3:28 43 Titus 3:5 Christ’s Sufficient Once and For All Sacrifice The unique oneness of Christ’s sacrifice is the fact that it was one offering-once made. The concept "once" is deemed so important that it is asserted seven times by the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. The perfection of Christ’s sacrifice is contrasted with the repeated daily sacrifices of the Old Testament. The truth of the excellence of Christ’s sacrifice is highlighted by the word "once". For example, the Apostle Paul teaches, "for in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God".34 The Apostle Peter likewise declares, "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God".35 The same truth is taught five times in the book of Hebrews with the conclusion, "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation".36 The majestic truth is found in the Lord’s declaration from the cross, "It is finished".37 In total contrast, the Catholic Church declares that Christ’s sacrifice, which was offered on the cross, is contained and offered in her Mass. Her official words, which are in defiance of Scripture, are the following, "In this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner".38 However, the Bible teaches that "without shedding of blood is no remission".39 Quite unbelievably she reaches an even more outlandish conclusion. She declares that the sacrifice of Christ is also a sacrifice of the Church offering herself with Him. The official words are, "The Church, which is the Body of Christ, participates in the offering of her Head. With him, she herself is offered whole and entire".40 It is utterly blasphemous for a church to teach its members to offer themselves with Christ’s sacrifice. The doctrine of participating in Christ’s sacrifice is entirely perverse and immoral. This proposition is totally false as it denies the repeated statements of God’s truth in Scripture. The work of redemption is "by Himself",41 "without the deeds of the law",42 "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us".43 To teach people such a proposition is a dreadful abomination before the Lord God! The Nature of God as The Only All Holy One The Bible clearly teaches that God alone is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His Being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. Most important is the fact that He is the All Holy One. His holiness is the divine attribute that covers all attributes so that His 6 44 I Samuel 2:2 45 Revelation 15:4 46 Isaiah 6:3 47 Catechism Paragraph 2677 48 Catechism Paragraph 2030 49 Isaiah 42:8 50 Exodus 20:4-5 51 Deuteronomy 4:13, 15-16 52 Exodus 32:4-9 righteousness is holy, His truth is holy, and His justice is holy. He is each of His attributes, and the overall attribute of holiness is that which separates Him from all beings. His holiness is distinctive and matchless. This is the reason why we need to be saved by Him, the All Holy God. Thus, we read in Scripture, "there is none holy as the Lord".44 Again, the Word of the Lord proclaims, "who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorify Thy name for thou only art holy and all nations shall come and worship before thee".45 The Lord God is utterly holy in the words of Scripture, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory".46 In addition to declaring the holiness of God, the official teaching of the Catholic Church declares Mary to be "the All Holy One". The capital letters are there in print, and there is no disclaimer or footnote to explain differently what is said. The following is stated, "By asking Mary to pray for us, we acknowledge ourselves to be poor sinners and we address ourselves to the ‘Mother of Mercy,’ the All Holy One".47 Furthermore, Catholic teaching also officially states, "From the Church he [the Catholic] learns the example of holiness and recognizes its model and source in the all-holy Virgin Mary…"48 This blasphemous teaching is an attempted theft of the very essence of the divine glory reserved unto God alone. It comes as a shock to many to see that in this very doctrine the Papacy displays its total disregard for the Godhead. We know that the Sovereign Lord God alone is the All Holy One and that He is protective of His glory, opposing all that are hostile to it, "I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another".49 Idolatry The Scriptures are absolutely clear in declaring that we are neither to make a graven image nor show any veneration to such images, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything...Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them".50 Then Scripture explains how this is to be understood, "and he [God] declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even Ten Commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake...Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure...".51 Hence, there is to be no similitude (or likeness) of God made by mankind. That which is forbidden in Scripture is the making of any likeness of Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. The Catholic Church, however, rationalizes that one can indeed practice idolatry. Paragraph 2132 of the 1994 Catechism states, "The Christian veneration of images is not contrary to the first commandment which proscribes idols. Indeed, ‘the honor rendered to an image passes to its prototype,’ and ‘whoever venerates an image venerates the person portrayed in it.’" The reason given is that one venerates the person portrayed by the image and not the image itself. Yet, this is exactly what the Bible forbids and why God’s second commandment had forbidden Aaron from making the golden calf.52 7 53 Catechism Paragraph 2131 The second reason given by Papal Rome to justify the practice of idolatry, cites the ruling of an 8th century council, which states the following, "Basing itself on the mystery of the incarnate Word, the seventh ecumenical council at Nicaea (787) justified against the iconoclasts the veneration of icons - of Christ, but also of the Mother of God, the angels, and all the saints. By becoming incarnate, the Son of God introduced a new ‘economy’ of images."53 When the Seventh Ecumenical Council at Nicaea decided that the incarnation of Jesus Christ introduced a new "economy" of images, the unstated logic of their decision required them to maintain that God changed His mind regarding the Second Commandment. Such reasoning is blasphemy. God does not change His mind. Jesus Christ and the Apostles were equally forthright in condemning idolatry, just as were the commandments of the Old Testament. Nevertheless, the Catholic Church claims that a "tradition comes from the Holy Spirit" which justifies the making of graven images and these are to be publicly displayed. Thus in its Catechism, Paragraph 1161 states, "Following the divinely inspired teaching of our holy Fathers" and the tradition of the Catholic Church (for we know that this tradition comes from the Holy Spirit who dwells in her) we rightly define with full certainty and correctness that, like the figure of the precious and life-giving cross, venerable and holy images of our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, our inviolate Lady, the holy Mother of God, and the venerated angels, all the saints and the just, whether painted or made of mosaic or another suitable material, are to be exhibited in the holy churches of God, on sacred vessels and vestments, walls and panels, in houses and on streets". This is the "Mother Church’s full license for idolatry⎯plain, simple, and condemned by the Lord God. The Holy Spirit is also forthrightly blasphemed in the claim that He established tradition to justify the use of images. Rather, the Bible makes abundantly clear that God hates idolatry and forbids a representation in art of what is divine (Exodus. 20:4-6). Making images to represent God corrupts those who use them (Deuteronomy 4:13, 15-16). Images teach lies about God (Habakkuk. 2:18-20). God cannot be represented in art and all who practice such idolatry are commanded to repent (Acts 17:29-30). The Holy Spirit issues His warning in the New Testament as He did in the Old, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen" (I John. 5:21). Among the evil fruits of bringing idolatry that God hates into worship are the many pagan superstitions and traditions of Roman Catholicism. But the worst fruit of the idolatry that is rife in Roman Catholic worship under the guise of being Christian is its false gospel. The topic of idolatry is of utmost importance as many present day Bible-believing churches attempt to justify pictures and videos of Christ. They argue that both we, and those who cannot read, can come to a fuller understanding of the person of Christ from these images. Yet, the Bible clearly states that such images lie. Jesus Christ is the only one with two distinct natures - both divine and human - in one body. Therefore, to attempt to make any kind of an image of Jesus Christ, graven or two dimensional or moving, still falls under the Second Commandment. 8 54 Hebrews 1:3 55 Colossians 2:9 56 Exodus 20:4-6; Deuteronomy 4:13, 15-16; Habakkuk 2:18-20; Acts 17:29-30 Thus, the Holy Spirit commands in both Old and New Testaments, "little children, keep yourselves from idols" I John 5:21. 57 Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, Para 1367 58 Hebrews 9:25-26 59 Hebrews 7:26 60 Hebrews 9:22 No image can portray Christ’s divinity, for He "is the brightness of his [God’s] glory and the express image of his person",54 "in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily".55 If we are to be biblical, we must avoid or reject any pictorial representation or video showing the persons of Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. The punishment for idolatry is severe, as both Old and New Testament make clear.56 For any temptation to visualize Christ, the Father, or the Holy Spirit, there must be repentance; for God is Holy, and the truth of the Bible is sufficient to provide for all our knowledge of things divine. Idolatry of the Mass At the heart of Roman Catholicism is the Mass or Eucharist, described by the Second Vatican Council as "the fount and apex of the whole Christian life". Papal Rome claims that the Mass is a sacrifice and that the sacrifice of Calvary and the Mass are the same, "one single sacrifice". Thus she teaches, "The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice: ‘The victim is one and the same: the same now offers through the ministry of priests, who then offered himself on the cross; only the manner of offering is different.’ ‘In this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner.’"57 The Holy Spirit’s teaching, however, is that Christ’s sacrifice was once offered, in contrast to the daily offering of sacrifices of the Old Testament, "nor yet that he should offer himself often...for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself".58 Divine perfection is seen in the fact that it was one sacrifice, once offered. We list several grievous departures of "the Eucharistic Sacrifice" from the divine perfection of the Atonement as revealed in Scripture: Firstly, to provide a re-enactment of the one offering, once offered, is to set out to undermine the will and purpose of God. Secondly, for anyone to deem himself fit to offer the Lord Jesus Christ in His perfect sacrifice is simply arrogance of the highest order. Christ Jesus alone was qualified to offer Himself. He alone had the unique qualifications as the Holy Spirit teaches, "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens".59 Thirdly, the Catholic Church’s claim is that Christ "is offered in an unbloody manner". However Scripture equates offering and suffering. In a propitiatory sacrifice, to offer and to suffer are the same thing. This truth is so important that it is given as an absolute principle, "without shedding of blood is no remission".60 Hence, in this context, to propose a bloodless sacrifice is a contradiction in terms. A bloodless sacrifice is a senseless inconsistency that can have no purpose other than to deceive. 9 61 Exodus 20:5-6 62 Luke 22:19 63 This is the dogma in the Catholic Church that is called "transubstantiation." Thus, the official teaching is in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Para 1376 states, "The Council of Trent summarizes the Catholic faith by declaring: "Because Christ our Redeemer said that it was truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church of God, and this holy Council now declares again, that by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation." 64 Ephesians 2:1 65 Ephesians 2:8, 9 Fourthly, the Lord’s Supper is not a sacrifice; it is a memorial. The bread and wine are tokens symbolizing the body and blood of the once and for all sacrifice of Calvary. We are to eat and drink them to remember Him and His atonement with thanksgiving and praise until He returns. Today there are in the Catholic Church convents of nuns devoted to worshipping the Eucharist on a rotational system day and night. There are devout Catholics who spend hours kneeling before the "blessed sacrament" worshipping and praying to it and obtaining solace, they say, from being in the "real presence" of Christ Jesus. The horrifying fact is that such people, professing that they are worshipping Christ in a religious and holy way, are literally practising gross idolatry. Worship of the sacrament brings about the wrath of God as promised in His Word. Idolatry is spiritual adultery. The Lord God looks upon those who practice idolatry as haters of Himself, though they pretend to love Him. The Scripture plainly states that He will visit the iniquity "of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments".61 In the sixteenth century, during the reign of Mary I, or "bloody Mary", many of the martyrs who died in the fire in England chose to do so because of just four words of Scripture, "in remembrance of me".62 Had they been willing to set aside these words, or at least given them a "liberal interpretation", they could have saved themselves. Because they trusted Christ and upheld His Word they refused to do so. For them, the Word of God was truth and life. In affirming these words, the martyrs were denying the Roman Catholic Church doctrine that the communion elements of bread and wine contain the actual physical body and blood of Christ, together with His soul and divinity.63 Conclusion As we have sought to demonstrate, the Roman Catholic Church most certainly is not Christian. Rather, it is an apostate church. The Bible, God’s written word is the inerrant and infallible authority against the apostasy of the Catholic Church and against her false gospel. The Scriptures make clear that by nature, we are all born "dead in trespasses and sins",64 and in practice, we rebel against the All Holy God. Therefore, we justly fall under the curse of the Law. Yet, the love of the heavenly Father, through the Gospel of grace, rescues His own from His fiery wrath. By means of the conviction of sin, placed on the human heart by the Holy Spirit, He by His grace alone turns us to Himself in faith alone for the salvation that He alone gives. This salvation is based on Christ’s death and resurrection for His own. As a result we believe on Jesus Christ the Lord alone, "for by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast".65 Thus by the 10 66 Psalm abundant grace given by Jesus Christ we are not only redeemed from the empire of death, but we can live and reign with Him as we are sanctified daily through His Word by the Holy Spirit and by constant fellowship with Him. With Him also we shall forever live and reign, world without end. Through Christ Jesus, grace reigns with sovereign freedom, power, and bounty! "Blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen."66 ♦ Permission is given to copy and distribute this article. Our MP3s are easily downloaded and our DVDs seen on Sermon Audio at: www.sermonaudio.com/go/212 Our website is: www.bereanbeacon.org

[@tjotwo]

After minute 45, the sound went gunnysack. I have tried it on different computers and IE as well as Firefox. Is this audio available elsewhere? BTW, I came from Leander, TX (near Austin) and now live just up the road from Battle Ground, WA (La Center). God's Providence is pretty amazing.

[@Hannodb1961]

That is exactly the problem I have.In Titus 1:12, Paul explicitly states that he is quoting from *their* prophets,which means that it is not to be taken as inspired revelation.In Jude 14,the quote from Enoch is preceded with " It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying...". This seems to suggest the quote - which is from a Jewish text - presents itself as a prophecy from God, which in turn is recognized by Jude as such. How then is it not inspired?

[@CAnswersTV]

The Book of Enoch was considered as Scripture in the Epistle of Barnabas (16:4) & by many of the early Church Fathers, such as Athenagoras, Clement of Alexandria, Irenaeus and Tertullian. However, later Fathers denied the canonicity of the book. By the 4th century, the Book of Enoch was mostly excluded from Christian canons, and it is now regarded as scripture by only the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Church. I'll take the majority view on this one but Enoch can be useful.

[@CAnswersTV]

To those who wish to discuss issues brought up in our video posted here to a greater extent please know that you can email one of our ministry volunteers at [e-mail]. Also realize that we may have an entire playlist of videos on this subject on our KZbin channel at kzbin.info. Besides that know that we have three websites to answer additional questions at www.BibleQuery.org (answers over 8500 questions on the Bible & refutes critics of the Bible), www.HistoryCart.com (this website deals with an in depth analysis of early Christian church history) and www.MuslimHope.com (this website is a documented refutation of Islam, a false religious & political ideology of warlike jihad against all unbelievers invented by Muhammad while he was in Medina for the last 9 years of his life where he averaged one offensive military jihad of pillage, rape & slavery every month to six weeks against his neighbors which eventually led to conquering all of Saudi Arabia- see also www.politicalislam.com/, www.answeringmuslims.com/, answering-islam.org/, www.jihadwatch.org/ & our playlist "Dealing with Islam, Muslims: Sunni, Shi'ite, Alawites, Sufis" with 71 videos & counting at kzbin.info/aero/PL1C7F68B548009FDD). 1 Peter 3:15

ALL of Catholicism's members are antichrist....... 2nd John warns Christians that: antichrist are in the world......., Not to lose their salvation...... Anyone who rejects Jesus as the Christ/ Messiah is an antichrist..... Not to invite an antichrist into their homes ................... Not to even wish an antichrist godspeed (blessings) OR such Christians then becomes "guilty of the evil deeds of the antichrist" Muslims and Islam teaches that Jesus wasn't God's son.............. Jesus didn't die on the cross....... Jesus wasn't resurrected immortal.................. According to the Word of God, at 2 nd, John anyone who denies the Divinity of Jesus Christ ????????? Is an antichrist........and if you believe and teach that Muslims are part of God's salvation plan. You are guilty of the evil deeds of the Muslim, antichrist...... Henceforth, you have become an antichrist................. Now Google: Catholicism's Catechism 841 Stating that, "Muslims are foremost, being part of God's salvation plan" Yes, they believe that the misguided Muslims will be in God's Kingdom......... As stated in the second ecumenical Vatican Council in the mid-1960s...... Jesus said: I am the way, the truth and none come to the Father, but through me............................ Catholicism's teaches that Buddhist Hindus Jews practicing Judaism Harry Christner and anyone else who practices goodness, will get to do, an End-Run around Jesus, and get a free pass, for not recognizing and following Jesus' as the Christ/ Messiah........................ 2nd, John is only a couple of paragraphs, I challenge any Christians to read it........... Catholicism, is not Christianity..... Christianity is following Jesus...... Moreover, in the book of Revelations, God warning for Christians about the Whore of Babylon is a warning about Catholicism's Evilness.............

[@CAnswersTV]

Those interested in the current events going on within the Roman Catholic Church can see our video at The Homosexual Pope, Priests, Universalists, Evolutionists & Disunited Roman Catholic Apologists. To hear a former Roman Catholic priest for 22 years discuss the Roman view of the Bible & what it teaches see Ex-Roman Catholic Priest for 22 Years Says Roman Catholicism Opposes Absolute Biblical Truth. To hear former nuns give their testimony see A Nun's Story: From Convent Bondage (Sexual Desire, Dating Priests, Rituals, No Bible) to Jesus & FORMER ROMAN CATHOLIC "BRIDE OF CHRIST" NUN TESTIFIES OF ABNORMAL LIFE IN THE CONVENT. For those interested in early church history see our videos at EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY PROVES ROMAN CATHOLICISM FALSE, EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY #14: PRE-NICENE (325 A.D.) CHURCH WAS NOT A ROMAN CATHOLIC SYSTEM & HISTORICAL SPLIT BETWEEN ROMAN CATHOLICISM & THE CHRIST OF THE SCRIPTURE: MAN'S WORD OR GOD'S WORD?. To see all our videos on the Roman Catholic religion click on our playlist called, "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715. Websites of interest are: www.BereanBeacon.org & www.CWCR-RZ.ORG. When it comes to Roman Catholic traditions remember Jeremiah 7:31 where God said, "which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart" & the words of Jesus in Matthew 15:1-14, "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? 13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."

[@CAnswersTV]

See our videos "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY PROVES ROMAN CATHOLICISM FALSE" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGcm5ponZiroLM & "HISTORICAL SPLIT BETWEEN ROMAN CATHOLICISM & THE CHRIST OF THE SCRIPTURE: MAN'S WORD OR GOD'S WORD?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4bXaKV5a8aSadU. See our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715&feature=plcp with 126 videos & counting. So where did the Roman Catholic Church come from since you don't find it mentioned anywhere in the New Testament (see our video "THE ORIGINAL EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH WAS NOT A ROMAN CATHOLIC SYSTEM OF SALVATION" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5vFpYmjj5qqm9U by former Roman Catholic priest for 22 years Richard Bennett, website: www.BereanBeacon.org). A study of church history gives the answer. The following is a very brief review (for an indepth study of church history see Professor of Church History William Cunningham's "Historical Theology, Volumes #1 & #2" at www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?speakeronly=true&currsection=sermonsspeaker&keyword=William_Cunningham). Zenith of Roman Empire Power, [46 B.C.-A.D. 395] Extended from the Atlantic to the Euphrates, and from the North sea to the African Desert. Population 120,000,000. Julius Caesar, 46-44 B.C. Lord of the Roman World. Augustus 31 B.C.- A.D.14. In his Reign Christ was born. Tiberius A.D. 12-37. In his Reign Christ was Crucified. Nero A.D. 54-68. Persecuted Christians. Executed Paul and Peter. The Great Fire in Rome occurred A.D. 64. Nero himself burned the city. It was in order to build a new and grander Rome that Nero set fire to the city. To divert suspicion from himself he accused the Christians of burning Rome, and Ordered their punishment. In and around Rome multitudes of Christians were arrested and put to death in the cruelest ways. Crucified Or tied in skins of animals, and thrown into the arena to the wild Beasts to be eaten alive. Some tied to stakes in Nero's gardens, Pitch poured over their bodies, and their burning bodies used as torches to light Nero's gardens at night, while he drove around in his chariot, gloating over the dying agonies of his victims. It was in the wake of this persecution that Paul was re-arrested in Greece or Asia Minor, and brought back to Rome this time as a criminal. While waiting in Rome dungeon for the "time of his death," he wrote his last letter to Timothy, his friend and co-worker, begging him to be faithful, in spite of everything. Vespasian, A.D. 69-79 Destroyed the Jerusalem temple. Domitian, A.D. 81-96 Persecuted Christians. Banished John the apostle on the island of Patmos during the persecution of Domitian, and in which these visions were given to him to write it down the things must take place, the history of the True Church, and the outcome of the False Church and the end result of the Roman Empire. Hadrian A.D. 117-138 Persecuted Christians. Antoninus Pius A.D. 138-180 Persecuted Christians. Heptimius Severus A.D. 193-211 Appointed by the army during the Civil War. Maximin, A.D. 235- 238 Persecuted Christians. Philip A.D. 244-249 Favorable to Christians. Decius A.D. 249- 251 Persecuted Christians Furiously. Velarian A.D. 251- 253 Persecuted Christians. Galienus A.D. 260- 268 Favored Christians. Aurelian A.D. 270- 275 Persecuted Christians. Diocletian A.D. 284- 305 Persecuted Christians Furiously. Emperor Constantine A.D 306- 337 Became a Christian Himself. In the year A.D. 300 Constantine's father was the Emperor of all Roman Empire. He died in 306 and the Empire was divided between Constantine and his brother. But in 6 years Constantine seemed a way to get it all for himself. He could see that the population, which once had been Pagan, was turning toward Christianity, so he used this as the means of taking the whole Empire. He claimed to see a vision, a banner in the sky with words "Hoc Sigl Pince" and a Cross. He said it meant "By this sign you will conquer" and that he was to go forth with the Sword and to conquer all nations for the Cross. Constantine got All the Catholics on his side and the 90 other Christian denominations had to join with the Catholics, then they went into his brother's territory. He had it all in 12 years. In 324 he had conquered all the Roman Empire. He had conquered for himself and for the Catholic Church. So, all the denominations that existed then, had to come under the Catholic Church and under Rome. This is not the way Jesus sent the Gospel forth; this is Conquering by the Sword. Constantine really wanted it for himself, but he left something bigger than himself, he left a Religion that would Dominate the entire Western world. Christ, had design to conquer by purely Spiritual, and Moral means, Up to this time conversion was Voluntary, a Genuine Change in Heart and Life. But now the Military Spirit of Rome had entered the Catholic Church. The Church had changed it nature, had entered its Great Apostasy, had become a Political Organization in the spirit and pattern of Imperial Rome, and took its Nose-Dive into the Millennium of Papal Abominations. Constantine made the Christians' day of Assembly, Sunday, a Rest Day. The First Church Building was Errected in the reign of Alexander Serverus. A.D. 322- 325. After the Edict of Constantine Christian church buildings began to be built everywhere. Constantine added Prayers for the dead and the sign of the Cross. He died in A.D 337. Theodosius A.D. 378-395 Made Christianity the State Religion. The Empire Divided, [A.D. 395] West & East Roman Empire. Out of the ruins of the Western Empire arose the Papal Empire, and Rome still rule the World for 1500 years. The Eastern Empire brought to an end by the Turks (1453). Although the Empire had been Divided since [A.D.395], and there had been a long bitter struggle between the Popes of Rome, and the Patriarch of Constantinople for Supremacy, yet the Church had remained One. Up to [869] all Ecumenical Councils had been held in or near Constantinople, and in the Greek language. But now at last the Pope's insistent claim of being Lord of Christendom had become unbearable, and the East definitely separated itself. The council of Constantinople [869] was the last Ecumenical Council. Henceforth the Greek Church had its Councils, and the Roman Church had its Councils. And the Breach grew wider with the centuries. The creation of the dogma of Papal Infallibility in 1870 further deepens the chasm. Summary of the Catholic Church 1) Worship, at first very Simple, was developed into elaborated, stately, imposing Ceremonies having all the Outward Splendor that had belonged to Heathen Temples. 2) Ministers became Priests. The term "Priest" was not applied to Christian ministers before A.D.200. It was borrowed from "The Old Jewish System" and from the example of the Heathen Priesthood. 3) [440-61] Leo I. Prohibited priests from marrying, and Celibacy of priests became a law of the Roman church. Conversion of the Barbarians. The Goths, Vandals, and Huns who overthrew Roman Empire accepted Christianity; but to a large extent their conversion was nominal and this further filled the Church with Pagan practices. The Papacy is an Italian Institution. It arose on the ruins of the Roman Empire, in the name of Christ occupying the throne of the Caesars; a Revival of the Image of the Roman Empire inheriting the Spirit thereof; "The Ghost of the Roman Empire comes to LIFE in the Garb of Christianity." The Popes mostly have been Italians. The Papacy's Methods. It brought itself to power through the prestige of Rome, and the Name of Christ, and by shrewd political alliances, and by Deception, and by Armed Force and Bloodshed has maintained itself in Power. Papal Revenues. Through a large part of its history the Papacy, by the Sale of ecclesiastical office, and its shameless traffic in Indulgences, has received vast revenues that enabled it to maintain, the most Luxurious Court in Europe. Personal Character of the Popes, Some of the Popes has been good men; some of them unspeakably vile the most of them have absorbed in the pursuit of Secular Power. The Papacy and the Bible. * Hilderbrand Ordered Bohemians NOT to read the Bible. * Innocent III Forbade the People reading the Bible in their own language. * Gregory IX Forbade laymen possessing the Bible and suppress translations. Translations among the Albigenses and Waldenses were burned and people Burned for having them. * Paul IV Prohibited the possession of translations without permission of The Inquisition * The Jesuits induced Clement XI Condemn the Reading of the Bible by the laity. * Leo XII, Pius VIII, Gregory XVI and Pius IX all condemned Bible Societies. In Catholic countries the Bible is an unknown book for many hundred of years. [In 345 A.D.] A new addition was added. Bishop Liberious of Rome decided to Set a Date for the Birth of Jesus. (You can find this in the Catholic Encyclopedia.) The Pagan was outlawed in [330], but not destroyed. It was still in the hearts of many. They worshiped the Sun. They would go to the Catholic Church and in front of the building they would turn and bow to the Sun, before going into the building. To stop this, Bishop Liberious decided to use the "Day" the Pagans called the Birth of the Sun, and call the Birth of Christ. This was Dec.25th. They compromised by using what the Pagans believed in, for the birthday of the Sun. to call it the Birthday Of the Son of God. [In 300] Prayers for the Dead & Making the sign of the Cross. [In 366] Damesis is Pope. He ordered pictures made of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. There had not been any Pictures in the Jewish religion. This was new. All the first pictures were made in Rome, more than 300 years after the death of Jesus. The Romans painted pictures of Jesus that looked like Romans, not like Jews. (Unscriptural in appearance, long hair, attractive robe, etc). Damesis died in 384.[In 375] Veneration of angels & dead saints & Use of images in worship.[In 394] The Mass as a daily celebration. [In 431] Beginning of the exaltation of Mary the term "Mother of God " applied at Council of Ephesus. Source: "Halley's Bible Handbook" prior to 1961 (Billy Graham bought the rights to this handbook circa 1961 or so & had the Church History section concerning the Jesuits, the horrors o the Inquisition/Persecution and countless murders inflicted on Bible believing saints by the Roman Catholic Church up through the time of the Reformation removed from it; see our video "Exclusive Interview with Dave Hunt about the Gospel-less Mother Teresa & Compromiser Billy Graham" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/borXiWR6ntd3f5Y). The standard Roman Catholic argument that there are 40,000 Protestant denominations & therefore they cannot be the one & only true church is bogus on its face. This is based on the logical fallacy of "false analogy" meaning it is trying to draw a parallel when there is no true parallel. It's like saying, "If you are brave enough to take a shower you are brave enough to swim in the ocean." People mistakenly think that there is an earthly organization that is the one true church as if a collection of people, church structures, and "authority" designates that it is the "one true church" on earth. But, this is a wrong assumption. The true church is not an earthly organization. It is not a series of buildings and ceremonies rooted in ancient tradition. Instead, the church is the body of true believers. The true church consists of those who are regenerate; that is, it consists of those who are "the called," the true Christians. Rom. 1:6, "among whom you also are the called (klaytos) of Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 1:24, "but to those who are the called (klaytos), both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." Jude 1, "Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are the called (klaytos), beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ." Rev. 17:14, "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called (klaytos) and chosen (eklektos) and faithful." The greek word "klaytos" means "call, invited, divinely selected and appointed."1 The Greek word of "church" is ekklesia and is formed from a compound of the word "ek" (out of) and "kaleo" (call). Therefore, the church is the "called out ones." "Eklektos" in Rev. 17:14 above means simply means "chosen" and comes from the verb "eklegomai" which means to choose, to choose out. Therefore, the church, the ekkesia, is the "called out ones." Okay, but you might respond by saying you can't look into the hearts of people and know who is and is not truly saved. That is true. But, can we look at earthly "churches" and see if it they are biblical or not? The answer is simple once we understand what makes someone a Christian or not. Once we know what is essential, we can then look at a church and see if it is Christian or not. Primary Essential Doctrines Cannot be denied and still be Christian since the scriptures openly declare that to deny them is to bring judgment. Jesus is both God and man (John 1:1,14; 8:24; Col. 2:9; 1 John 4:1-4). Jesus rose from the dead physically (John 2:19-21; 1 Cor. 15:14). Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone and not by the efforts or "works" of man (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 3:1-2; 5:1-4). The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Gal. 1:8-9). There is only one God (Exodus 20:3; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8) People mistakenly think that there is an earthly organization that is the one true church as if a collection of people, church structures, and "authority" designates that it is the "one true church" on earth. But, this is a wrong assumption. The true church is not an earthly organization. It is not a series of buildings and ceremonies rooted in ancient tradition. Instead, the church is the body of true believers. The true church consists of those who are regenerate; that is, it consists of those who are "the called," the true Christians. Rom. 1:6, "among whom you also are the called (klaytos) of Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 1:24, "but to those who are the called (klaytos), both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." Jude 1, "Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are the called (klaytos), beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ." Rev. 17:14, "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called (klaytos) and chosen (eklektos) and faithful." The greek word "klaytos" means "call, invited, divinely selected and appointed."1 The Greek word of "church" is ekklesia and is formed from a compound of the word "ek" (out of) and "kaleo" (call). Therefore, the church is the "called out ones." "Eklektos" in Rev. 17:14 above means simply means "chosen" and comes from the verb "eklegomai" which means to choose, to choose out. Therefore, the church, the ekkesia, is the "called out ones." Okay, but you might respond by saying you can't look into the hearts of people and know who is and is not truly saved. That is true. But, can we look at earthly "churches" and see if it they are biblical or not? The answer is simple once we understand what makes someone a Christian or not. Once we know what is essential, we can then look at a church and see if it is Christian or not. Primary Essential Doctrines Cannot be denied and still be Christian since the scriptures openly declare that to deny them is to bring judgment. Jesus is both God and man (John 1:1,14; 8:24; Col. 2:9; 1 John 4:1-4). Jesus rose from the dead physically (John 2:19-21; 1 Cor. 15:14). Salvation is by grace through faith (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 3:1-2; 5:1-4). The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Gal. 1:8-9). There is only one God (Exodus 20:3; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8) People mistakenly think that there is an earthly organization that is the one true church as if a collection of people, church structures, and "authority" designates that it is the "one true church" on earth. But, this is a wrong assumption. The true church is not an earthly organization. It is not a series of buildings and ceremonies rooted in ancient tradition. Instead, the church is the body of true believers. The true church consists of those who are regenerate; that is, it consists of those who are "the called," the true Christians. Rom. 1:6, "among whom you also are the called (klaytos) of Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 1:24, "but to those who are the called (klaytos), both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." Jude 1, "Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are the called (klaytos), beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ." Rev. 17:14, "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called (klaytos) and chosen (eklektos) and faithful." The greek word "klaytos" means "call, invited, divinely selected and appointed."1 The Greek word of "church" is ekklesia and is formed from a compound of the word "ek" (out of) and "kaleo" (call). Therefore, the church is the "called out ones." "Eklektos" in Rev. 17:14 above means simply means "chosen" and comes from the verb "eklegomai" which means to choose, to choose out. Therefore, the church, the ekkesia, is the "called out ones." Okay, but you might respond by saying you can't look into the hearts of people and know who is and is not truly saved. That is true. But, can we look at earthly "churches" and see if it they are biblical or not? The answer is simple once we understand what makes someone a Christian or not. I have reproduced part of the information found at the doctrine grid which lays out the essential and non-essential doctrines. Once we know what is essential, we can then look at a church and see if it is Christian or not. Primary Essential Doctrines Cannot be denied and still be Christian since the scriptures openly declare that to deny them is to bring judgment. Jesus is both God and man (John 1:1,14; 8:24; Col. 2:9; 1 John 4:1-4). Jesus rose from the dead physically (John 2:19-21; 1 Cor. 15:14). Salvation is by grace through faith (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 3:1-2; 5:1-4). The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Gal. 1:8-9). There is only one God (Exodus 20:3; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8) God exists as a Trinity of persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19, see our playlist, "Dealing with Anti Trinitarians (UPC) & Early Church History" at kzbin.info/aero/PL9931642C7C8FFEAB with 48 videos). Non-Essential Doctrines Can be believed or not and it does not affect whether or not one is Christian. Predestination, election, limited atonement, and free will Communion every week, monthly, or quarterly, etc. Saturday or Sunday Worship Pre, mid, post tribulation rapture. Premill, Amill, post millenialism, partial preterism. Continuation or cessation of the charismatic gifts Baptism for adults or infants Therefore, we can see that if a church or denomination would deny that Jesus is God in flesh, or physically risen from the dead, then it would not be Christian. Furthermore, we could have two different churches that disagree on the non-essentials, but are still Christian since they affirm the essentials. The reason the cults are not Christian is because they deny the essential doctrines of Christianity. Mormonism, for example, denies that there is only one God in all existence and it denies that salvation is by grace through faith. The Jehovah's Witness organization denies the Trinity, the deity of Christ, salvation by grace, and Jesus' physical resurrection. Therefore, they are not Christian, either. Roman Catholicism, as the cults, denies the gospel because they teach a salvation by a system of works & sacraments putting them outside the Biblical Christian family (for proof of this see the following links: "Summary of process of salvation in Roman Catholicism" at carm.org/catholic-salvation-summary, "Attaining Salvation in Roman Catholicism" at carm.org/catholic-salvation-attain, "Maintaining Salvation in Roman Catholicism" at carm.org/catholic-salvation-maintain, "Regaining Salvation in Roman Catholicism" at carm.org/catholic-salvation-regain, "Roman Catholicism, Mary, and Idolatry" at carm.org/roman-catholicism-mary-idolatry, "Why do Roman Catholics believe what they do?" at carm.org/roman-catholics-believe, "Comparison Grid of Roman Catholicism, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Christianity" at carm.org/comparison-grid, etc.). So, if we know what the essentials are, we can then look at a church or denomination (or even a person) and ascertain if that church is Christian or not by whether or not it denies the essential doctrines that make Christianity Christian. Finally, to answer the question of which church is the true church, the true church is the cross-section of believers in all churches that adhere to the essential doctrines of Christianity & Romanism is definitely not one of them. By this same token the vast majority of the so called "40,000 Protestant denominations" would also fail the test by these same standards. 40,000 false Protestant denominations does not prove that Romanism is true. True Chrisitianity is based on individuals & local fellowships who stay as close to what the Bible actually teaches as possible without going beyond those teachings. In Roman Catholicism, because of the vast numbers of people claiming to members in that religious organization, a person could interview 40,000 Romanists about their personal beliefs and get 40,000 different answers on a wide range of subjects. Due to this fact, most of these Romanists, without even knowing it, could be cutting themselves off from their own religion by violating Roman Catholic rules & regulations because of their own personal belief systems & superstitions (see "Heresy, Schism and Apostasy" as defined by the Catechism of the Catholic Church at www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/heresy_schism_apostasy.htm). When it comes to Roman Catholic traditions remember Jeremiah 7:31 where God said, "which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart" & the words of Jesus in Matthew 15:1-14, "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? 13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." Is the Bible Alone Sufficient for Spiritual Truth? According to Roman Catholicism, Sacred Tradition and the Bible together provide the foundation of spiritual truth. From this combination the Catholic church has produced many doctrines which it says are true and biblical but which Protestants reject: veneration of Mary, penance, indulgence, purgatory, prayer to saints, et. al. Protestantism, however, rejects these doctrines and Roman Catholic Sacred Tradition and holds fast to the call "Sola Scriptura" or "Scripture Alone." Catholics then challenge, "Is Sola Scriptura Biblical?" The Bible does not say "Do not use tradition" or "Scripture alone is sufficient." But the Bible does not say "The Trinity is three persons in one God" either, yet it is a fundamental doctrine of Christianity. 2 Tim. 3:16 says that Scripture is inspired and profitable for correction and teaching. Scripture states that Scripture is what is good for correction and teaching--not tradition. However, in its comments on tradition, the Bible says to listen to tradition but also warns about tradition nullifying the Gospel--which we will look at below. In discussing the issue of the Bible alone being sufficient, several points should be made: 1) The method of the New Testament authors (and Jesus as well) when dealing with spiritual truth was to appeal to the Scriptures as the final rule of authority. Take the temptation of Christ in Matthew 4 as an example. The Devil tempted Jesus, yet Jesus used the authority of Scripture--not tradition and not even His own divine power as the source of authority and refutation. To Jesus, the Scriptures were enough and sufficient. If there is any place in the New Testament where the idea of extra-biblical revelation or tradition could have been used, Jesus' temptation would have been a great place to present it. But Jesus does no such thing. His practice was to appeal to Scripture. Should we do any less having seen his inspired and perfect example? The New Testament writers constantly appealed to the Scriptures as their base of authority in declaring what was and was not true Biblical teaching: Matt. 21:42; John 2:22; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; 1 Peter 1:10-12; 2:2; 2 Peter 1:17-19, etc. Of course, Acts 17:11 says, "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so." Paul commends those who examined God's Word for the test of truth. He did not commend them for appealing to tradition. Therefore, we can see that the method used by Jesus and the apostles for determining spiritual truth was to appeal to Scripture--not tradition. In fact, it is the Scriptures that refute the traditions of men in many instances. 2) It is not required of Scripture to have a statement to the effect, "The Bible alone is to be used for all spiritual truth," in order for Sola Scriptura to be true. Many doctrines in the Bible are not clearly stated, yet they are believed and taught by the church. For example, there is no statement in the Bible that says there is a Trinity or that Jesus has two natures (God and man) or that the Holy Spirit is the third person in the Godhead. Yet, each of the statements is considered true doctrine within Christianity--being derived from Biblical references. So, for the Catholic to require the Protestant to supply chapter and verse to prove Sola Scriptura is valid is not necessarily consistent with Biblical exegetical principles of which they themselves approve when examining such doctrines as the Trinity, the hypostatic union, etc. 3) In appealing to the Bible for authentication of Sacred Tradition, the Catholics have shown that the Bible is superior to Sacred Tradition--for the lesser is blessed by the greater (Heb. 7:7). You see, if the Bible said do not trust Sacred Tradition, then Roman Catholic Sacred Tradition would be instantly and obviously invalidated. If the Bible said to trust Sacred Tradition, then the Bible is authenticating it; and the Roman Catholic Church would cite the Scriptures to that effect. In either case, the Scriptures hold the place of final authority and by that position are shown to be superior to Sacred Tradition. This means that Sacred Tradition is not equal in authority to the Word of God. If Sacred Tradition were really inerrant as it is said to be, then it would be equal with the Bible. But, God's word does not say that Sacred Tradition is inerrant or inspired as it does say about itself (2 Tim. 3:16). Merely to claim that Sacred Tradition is equal and in agreement with the Bible does not make it so. Furthermore, to assert that Sacred Tradition is equal to Scripture effectively leaves the canon wide open to doctrinal addition. Since the traditions of men change, then to use tradition as a determiner of spiritual truth would mean that over time new doctrines that are not in the Bible would be added and that is exactly what has happened in Catholicism with doctrines such as purgatory, praying to Mary, indulgences, etc. Furthermore, if they can use Sacred Tradition as a source for doctrines not explicit in the Bible, then why would the Mormons then be wrong for having additional revelation as well? 4) If the Bible is not used to verify and test Sacred Tradition, then Sacred Tradition is functionally independent of the Word of God. If it is independent of Scripture, then by what right does it have to exist as an authoritative spiritual source equivalent to the Bible? How do we know what is and is not true in Sacred Tradition if there is no inspired guide by which to judge it? If the Roman Catholic says that the inspired guide is the Roman Catholic Church, then it is committing the fallacy of circular reasoning. In other words, it is saying that the Roman Catholic Church is inspired because the Roman Catholic Church is inspired. 5) Sacred Tradition is invalidated automatically if it contradicts the Bible, and it does. Of course, the Catholic will say that it does not. But, Catholic teachings such as purgatory, penance, indulgences, praying to Mary, etc., are not in the Bible. A natural reading of God's Word does not lend itself to such beliefs and practices. Instead, the Catholic Church has used Sacred Tradition to add to God's revealed word and then extracted out of the Bible whatever verses that might be construed to support their doctrines of Sacred Tradition. Nevertheless, the Catholic apologist will state that both the Bible and Sacred tradition are equal in authority and inspiration and to put one above another is a false comparison. But, by what authority does the Catholic church say this? Is it because it claims to be the true church--descended from the original apostles? So? Making such claims doesn't mean they are true. Besides, even if it were true and we do not grant that it is, there is no guarantee that the succession of church leaders is immune to error. We saw it creep in with Peter, and Paul rebuked him for it in Gal. 2. Are the Catholic church leaders better than Peter? To continue, is it from tradition that the Catholic Church authenticates its Sacred Tradition? If so, then there is no check upon it. Is it from quotes of some of the church Fathers who say to follow Tradition? If so, then the church fathers are given the place of authority comparable to Scripture. Is it from the Bible? If so, then Sacred Tradition holds a lesser position than the Bible because the Bible is used as the authority in validating Tradition. Is it because the Catholic Church claims to be the means by which God communicates His truth? Then, the Catholic Church has placed itself above the Scriptures. 6) One of the mistakes made by the Catholics is to assume that the Bible is derived from Sacred Tradition. This is false. The Church simply recognized the inspired writings of the Bible. They were in and of themselves authoritative. Various "traditions" in the Church served only to recognize what was from God. Also, to say the Bible is derived from Sacred Tradition is to make the Bible lesser than the Tradition as is stated in Heb. 7:7 that the lesser is blessed by the greater; but this cannot be since Catholicism appeals to the Bible to authenticate its tradition. Conclusion Since the Bible is the final authority, we should look to it as the final authenticating and inerrant source of all spiritual truth. If it says Sacred Tradition is valid--fine. But if it doesn't, then I will trust the Bible alone. Since the Bible does not approve of the Catholic Church's Sacred Tradition, along with its inventions of prayer to Mary, prayer to the saints, indulgences, penance, purgatory, etc., then neither should Christians. Objections Answered The Bible comes from Roman Catholic Sacred Tradition. The problem is twofold. First, tradition is generally anything the Christian church passed down and doesn't require inspiration of any sort. But Roman Catholicism claims such generic tradition under its umbrella of Sacred Tradition. This is the fallacy of equivocation. In other words, the meaning of the word "tradition" is changed between the first and second reference. There is no proof that the RCC sacred tradition is inspired. But there is evidence that it is flawed--particularly when we compare what it has revealed (purgatory, Mary-worship, penance, indulgences, etc.,) with Scripture and such doctrines are not only absent from Scripture but contradict Scripture. Second, it assumes that the Roman Catholic church produced the Bible. The RCC did not produce the Bible. God produced the Bible, and the Christian Church recognized the Word of God (John 10:27) and endorsed what God had already authored. To say that the RCC gave us the Bible is to imply that the RCC has the right to tell you what it means. This is problematic because how then do we check what the RCC says? Sacred Tradition is divine revelation and equal to Scripture. At best, this is only a claim that cannot be proven to be false by comparing the revelations supposedly given through Sacred Tradition with the Word of God. As mentioned above, there are many such doctrines devised by people that are not found in the Word of God and even contradict it. The Bible clearly tells us that God's Scripture is divinely breathed forth and that it is inspired. There is no such claim for tradition. In fact, though the Bible tells us to follow tradition, it also tells us to be wary of it. Therefore, tradition cannot be inspired if God's Word warns us against following it. The Bible is for tradition where it supports the teachings of the apostles (2 Thess. 2:15) and is consistent with Biblical revelation. Yet, it is against tradition when it "transgresses the commands of God" (Matt. 15:3). By Jesus' own words, tradition is not to transgress or contradict the commands of God. In other words, it should be in harmony with Biblical teaching and not oppose it in any way. The Bible clearly tells us that it is the standard of truth. We are not to exceed what the Scriptures say. "Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to exceed what is written, in order that no one of you might become arrogant in behalf of one against the other." (1 Cor. 4:6). Heb. 7:7 is not about scripture but about people and cannot be used to subject Sacred Tradition to the Bible It is true that Heb. 7:7 is about people and not about Scripture. But there is more in the text than just people. Heb. 7:4-10, "Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. 5 And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priests office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham. 6 But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham, and blessed the one who had the promises. 7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 And in this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him." The writer of Hebrews is mentioning different concepts as well as historical facts. He mentions tithing, descendants of Abraham, the lesser is blessed by the greater, authority, and Federal Headship.1 It is the concept of the greater in authority blessing the lesser in authority that is being examined here in this article. We know that there is a principle of the greater in authority blessing the lesser. Can we not also apply this same principle of authority to the issue of the Roman Catholic Church's claim on Sacred Tradition as being authoritative as compared to the authority of Scripture? I do not see why not. After all, the Roman Catholic Church appeals to Scripture to support its Sacred Tradition. In so doing, it is submitting itself to the authority of Scripture for validation of its principle. Early Church Fathers Quotes on Scripture Alone is final Authority Scripture Alone is final Authority Irenaeus, (130-202), “We have known the method of our salvation by no other means than those by whom the gospel came to us; which gospel they truly preached; but afterward, by the will of God, they delivered to us in the Scriptures, to be for the future the foundation and pillar of our faith,” (Adv. H. 3:1). Clement of Alexandria (150?-213?), “They that are ready to spend their time in the best things will not give over seeking for truth until they have found the demonstration from the Scriptures themselves,” (Stromata 7:16:3). Origen (185?-252), “No man ought, for the confirmation of doctrines, to use books which are not canonized Scriptures,” (Tract. 26 in Matt.). St. Cyprian of Carthage (200?-258), “Whence comes this tradition? Does it descend from the Lord’s authority, or from the commands and epistles of the apostles? For those things are to be done which are there written . . . If it be commanded in the gospels or the epistles and Acts of the Apostles, then let this holy tradition be observed,” (Cyprian of Carthage, Ep. 74 ad Pompeium). Athanasius (300?-375), “The Holy Scriptures, given by inspiration of God, are of themselves sufficient toward the discovery of truth. (Orat. adv. Gent., ad cap.) The Catholic Christians will neither speak nor endure to hear anything in religion that is a stranger to Scripture; it being an evil heart of immodesty to speak those things which are not written,” (Athanasius, Exhort. ad Monachas). "5. Again it is not tedious to speak of the [books] of the New Testament. These are, the four Gospels, according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Afterwards, the Acts of the Apostles and Epistles (called Catholic), seven, viz., of James, one; of Peter, two; of John, three; after these, one of Jude. In addition, there are fourteen Epistles of Paul, written in this order. The first, to the Romans; then two to the Corinthians; after these, to the Galatians; next, to the Ephesians; then to the Philippians; then to the Colossians; after these, two to the Thessalonians, and that to the Hebrews; and again, two to Timothy; one to Titus; and lastly, that to Philemon. And besides, the Revelation of John. 6 These are fountains of salvation, that they who thirst may be satisfied with the living words they contain. In these alone is proclaimed the doctrine of godliness. Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these. For concerning these the Lord put to shame the Sadducees, and said, 'Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures.' And He reproved the Jews, saying, 'Search the Scriptures, for these are they that testify of Me.' " (Athanasius, Festal Letter 39:5-6). "Vainly then do they run about with the pretext that they have demanded Councils for the faith's sake; for divine Scripture is sufficient above all things; but if a Council be needed on the point, there are the proceedings of the Fathers, for the Nicene Bishops did not neglect this matter, but stated the doctrine so exactly, that persons reading their words honestly, cannot but be reminded by them of the religion towards Christ announced in divine Scripture." (Athanasius, De Synodis, 6). Ambrose (340?-396), “How can we use those things which we do not find in the Holy Scriptures?” (Ambr. Offic., 1:23). Cyril of Jerusalem (315?-386), “Not even the least of the divine and holy mysteries of the faith ought to be handed down without the divine Scriptures. Do not simply give faith to me speaking these things to you except you have the proof of what I say from the divine Scriptures. For the security and preservation of our faith are not supported by ingenuity of speech, but by the proofs of the divine Scriptures,” (Cat. 4). Jerome (342?-420), “Those things which they make and find, as it were, by apostolical tradition, without the authority and testimony of Scripture, the word of God smites. (ad Aggai 1) As we deny not those things that are written, so we refuse those things that are not written. That God was born of a virgin we believe, because we read it; that Mary did marry after she was delivered we believe not, because we do not read it,” (Adv. Helvidium). 2. Scripture Alone is not final Authority Athanasius (300?-375), “But beyond these [Scriptural] sayings, let us look at the very tradition, teaching and faith of the Catholic Church from the beginning, which the Lord gave, the Apostles preached, and the Fathers kept." (Athanasius, Four Letters to Serapion of Thmuis, 1:28). Basil (330-379), "Now I accept no newer creed written for me by other men, nor do I venture to propound the outcome of my own intelligence, lest I make the words of true religion merely human words; but what I have been taught by the holy Fathers, that I announce to all who question me. In my Church the creed written by the holy Fathers in synod at Nicea is in use." (To the Church of Antioch, Epistle 140:2). Ambrose (340?-396), "Wherefore all other generations are strangers to truth; all the generations of heretics hold not the truth: the church alone, with pious affection, is in possession of the truth," (Commentary of Psalm 118,19). Cyril of Jerusalem (315?-386), "But in learning the Faith and in professing it, acquire and keep that only, which is now delivered to thee by the Church, and which has been built up strongly out of all the Scriptures . . . Take heed then, brethren, and hold fast the traditions which ye now receive, and write them and the table of your heart." Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures, 5:12 (A.D. 350). Gregory of Nyssa (330-394), “And let no one interrupt me, by saying that what we confess should also be confirmed by constructive reasoning: for it is enough for proof of our statement, that the tradition has come down to us from our Fathers, handled on, like some inheritance, by succession from the apostles and the saints who came after them," (Against Eunomius, 4:6). It is evident from the previous early church citations that anyone can quote one early writer against another early writer & in some cases quote the same early writer contradicting himself. Based on the fact that early writers have a tendency to be inconsistent in various matters this is clear proof that they are no where near as reliable as the scriptures themselves. Thus, based on this obvious fact, it is extremely dangerous to elevate church "tradition" (where is the Roman Catholic "Inspired Book of Holy Traditions" to be found?) & early writers to the same level as God's inspired Word found in the scriptures. To do this is to place oneself in extreme jeopardy as the following scriptures testify: Matthew 15:1-14, Jeremiah 7:23-31, Jeremiah 19:4, Isaiah 29:13 cf. Isaiah 28:9-17 & John 10:35, "the scripture cannot be broken." Anyone that makes the mistake of replacing clear scripture with "traditions" is described by Isaiah 8:20, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Does 1 Timothy 3:15 refute Sola Scriptura, Scripture Alone? 1 Timothy 3:15 does not refute Sola Scriptura. In fact, it supports it. Sola Scriptura is the position that the Old and New Testaments are the final authority in all the topics they address, and that councils and tradition (even the so-called Sacred Tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches) are subordinate to Scripture. Let's take a look at the verse. 1 Timothy 3:15, "but in case I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth." Paul says he is writing, so that we might know how to conduct ourselves in the church. Catholics and Orthodox will say that the church (their church) is the pillar and support of the truth. However, there is a very important truth right there in the text. Notice that Paul is appealing to his own writing as the authority. He is writing to them (Scripture), so that they would know how to behave in the household of God. In other words, his writing (which is Scripture) is the thing that is preeminent and to which the church is to subject itself. He says, " . . . I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God . . . " If a Roman Catholic or Orthodox Church member wants to appeal to this verse to refute Sola Scriptura, then he is shooting himself in the foot because Paul himself says that his writing, which is Scripture, is what the church is to submit to. Furthermore, he is behaving as a Protestant who holds to the doctrine of Sola Scriptura by appealing to the authority of Scripture. In addition, he is using the authority of Scripture, in a sense, to refute the idea that Scripture has authority over the church. But, we see from Paul's statement in the verse that his letter is there to tell the church how to behave. In other words, the church is to submit to Scripture--not Scripture to the church. It is not the tradition that informs the word of God but the word of God that informs tradition in the church. For more information see www.BereanBeacon.org & www.CWRC-RZ.org. Titus 1:9-16

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You bring up a good point. Secular encyclopedias, history books, news sources or media are not going to be concerned with the designation you have defined. Likewise most religious organizations, not being truly Christian themselves would not be concerned with your point. The tragedy is found in the fact that so-called Christian evangelicals are not concerned with your point either. See our video "SAD STATE OF THE CHURCH: 87% OF EVANGELICAL "CHRISTIANS" DON'T KNOW WHAT GOSPEL JUSTIFICATION IS."

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Jesus pointed the way to His saving blood sacrifice, not to Mary.

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This is in response to a "Charismatic Catholic" who attacked our video "Blasphemous Charismatic & Pentecostal Mayhem #2: A Hyped Circus, Sham Unity, Charismatic Catholics" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/e16liISbeNB5nK8 & said "I have seen miracles and healing all in Jesus name such as vision restored & legs grew and have became even with the other leg." Vision & longer leg problems are typical ploys used by so-called "healers." Why don't these charismatic "healers" raise the dead & heal everyone at the hospitals, especially in the terminally ill wards? Why don't these charismatic "healers" heal the way Jesus healed in the Bible? Charismatic "healings," especially at their money making "miracle healing crusades," have no basis in Biblical reality. Sorry but you have been deluded by either equally deluded false prophets or intentionally deceitful religious con men. To begin with Roman Catholics are not true Christians since they believe a false gospel of salvation & thus are under God's curse (Galatians 1:6-10, see an article on this by former RC priest for 22 years Richard Bennett at www.bereanbeacon.org/article/sorted/01_On_Catholicism/Are_Catholics_Christians.pdf). Two items that come in handy in knowing about when Romanists argue that anything said against the Roman "church" is not the truth is to tell them about the following two items: 1. The following website is by self proclaimed Roman Catholics following the so-called "true church" (in other words their Roman church is their true savior not the Biblical Jesus Christ) at www.mostholyfamilymonastery.com/. These Romanists destroy the new Romanists since the invention of Vatican 2 in 1965. They present great information proving modern Romanism & their popes (they call them anti-popes) to be a false & apostate religion. It doesn't get much better than this when one group of apostate Romanists attack another brand of apostate Romanists in order to prove to the world they are false! 2. Our video "The Homosexual Pope, Priests, Universalists, Evolutionists & Disunited Roman Catholic Apologists" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/noXLoKGtp71ph7c proves from Roman Catholic sources themselves that one of their popes was a practicing homosexual, that almost 50% of Roman Catholic priests are homosexuals (for more on this see our video "FORMER ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST SAYS CHURCH OF ROME HAS A FALSE GOSPEL & WIDESPREAD HOMOSEXUALITY" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqqXdGCkd7Zmo6c), that the Roman church buys the theory of evolution which denies the first eleven chapters of Genesis in the Bible (see our playlist "Dealing with Darwin's Metaphysical Evolution Religion" with 21 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL0703E78058346A52), that Pope John Paul II kissed the Muslim Qur'an & said Islam has the same god as Roman Catholics have (see the videos "Top Ten Reasons Muhammad Is Not a Prophet" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4CbpI1nf96DZ6M, "Ten MORE Reasons Muhammad Is Not a Prophet" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/imXTaHurqs15bs0, "50 Reasons Muhammad Was Not a Prophet (in Under Five Minutes)" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoKWl2Rrg72lgqs, "David Wood: Five Reasons the Quran Is Not the Word of God" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKfPq594pNtssMU, "Who Killed Muhammad?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKTXkKd8n5uiq68, "Why Did Muhammad Wear Women's Clothing?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2aTdKWXltOcipI; also see www.AnsweringMuslims.com & www.MuslimHope.com) & how Roman Catholic apologists are at each others' throats because of the vast differences within Romanism itself. Besides all that see the following websites for detailed information on Romanism & how it is a counterfeit religion at www.BereanBeacon.org, www.CWRC-RZ.org & www.mtc.org/. Our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" currently has 122 videos refuting Romanism at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715. Remember Titus 1:9-16, "9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."). Next, what you thought were "healings" were not true Biblical healings at all ("How to Fake a Healing" by Caroline Weerstra - "Pentecostals often remain in Pentecostalism despite many misgivings for one simple reason: the healings. They may admit that many of the practices and teachings are unbiblical. They may confess that there is rampant abuse and manipulation. But they shake off the doubts because they have seen so many supernatural events--people stand up out of wheelchairs, back pain healed, etc. And so they wonder, "If this is really so bad, why are so many people being healed? Isn't it all worth it if sick people are being restored to health?" However, Pentecostal church services are all about showmanship and appearance. It is surprisingly easy to fake healings, even to hold entire healing services in which people appear to be 'healed' all over the church and yet no one is really cured. How is this accomplished? The trick is usually, as Miracle Max said in the quote above, to focus on problems which can be resolved some way other than strictly supernaturally, to learn to 'heal' those who are only partly ill or can be made to seem well when they are not. Let's examine some of the most common 'healing' tricks in the Pentecostal experience: (a) Bigfoot Sightings. Perhaps the largest category of fake healings is what I call "Bigfoot Sightings", because, like the mythical Bigfoot, all that is known about these healings is that somebody else swears that they saw them and that they are real. Most often, it is the pastor or a visiting evangelist who relates stories of healings that occurred somewhere else. When these 'healings' are described in great detail to excited crowds, people tend to forget that they never actually witnessed the event and have no reason to believe that it actually occurred. In the retelling of the story, people often relate the healing as though they witnessed it themselves. It is only upon careful questioning that the truth emerges: nobody actually saw this one; it was just a story told to the group by some convincing-sounding guy with a microphone. EXAMPLE: Evangelist/ missionary David Hogan often uses this technique. Every time he speaks to groups, he claims to have raised 400+ people from the dead and performed many amazing miracles. Although he relates many incredible stories, he never actually performs miracles at his meetings . . . he just talks about all the miracles that he supposedly performed somewhere else. Hogan's fans often describe him as a great man of God who heals the sick and raises the dead. When directly asked, however, they admit that they have never actually seen Hogan do any miracles. The only reason they have to believe that Hogan has ever performed any miracles is that Hogan himself claims that he has. (b) "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!" Occasionally, 'healings' are fakes, plain and simple. Many evangelists believe that seeing people apparently get healed raises the level of faith of the parishioners and so opens the door for real healings. They use this as an excuse to orchestrate healing shows that are planned in advance simply to shock and amaze the crowd. EXAMPLE: It is difficult to say how often this technique is used, because evangelists who employ it are usually quite careful to cover their tracks. However, occasionally, scandals open up that allow a glimpse inside such misdealings. One of the best known examples of the intentional and calculated use of fake healings involved cult leader Jim Jones. Jones began his ill-fated career as a Pentecostal revivalist and healer. One of his favorite techniques involved healing people of 'cancer' by apparently removing chunks of foul-smelling material from their bodies that he claimed were the cancerous tissues. People's Temple insiders later confessed that the 'cancers' were actually rotten chicken livers, produced at the appropriate time during the church service with a little slight-of-hand. (c) MOSTLY disabled or ALL disabled? One of the most obvious and most popular techniques used by faith healers is based upon a popular misunderstanding of disabilities. When someone is in a wheelchair, people tend to assume that the person cannot walk AT ALL. This is rarely the case. Most people in wheelchairs can stand and even walk a little, just not far and not well. Likewise, when a person is said to be blind or deaf, people tend to assume that the person cannot see or hear AT ALL. Again, this is rarely the case. Most blind people can see a little, just not very well, and most people who are 'deaf' are really only partially deaf. This explains why many 'miracles' that occur in faith-healing services appear to be only partial healings. A healer may tell someone in a wheelchair to stand and walk. The person shakily stands and limps painfully across the stage. The crowd cheers, because they think that this is amazing progress and that the person is on his or her way to a full recovery. But, in fact, it may be no improvement at all. Likewise, many healers will test a healing of a blind person by holding up a handkerchief and asking the person to grab it. When the blind person is able to take hold of the handkerchief, the crowd is amazed, not realizing that there is nothing remarkable about a partly blind person being able to see a large white object held only inches from his or her face. EXAMPLE: This is one of the most common healing techniques and is used by many, many faith healers. One of the best known examples is Peter Popoff, who used a few trusted collegues to scout for healing candidates among the crowds that came to his healing services. Popoff's scouts always asked people in wheelchairs if they could walk a little or not at all. Any that could walk a little were called up to the front for 'healing' during the subsequent service. The technique was exposed by skeptic James Randi who placed actors in the audience to claim that they had disabilities. Randi's actors were interviewed by Popoff's scouts, and the information transmitted to Popoff via a radio transmitter. Randi intercepted and recorded the transmissions, which fed Popoff information on various audience members, including which of them would make good 'healing' candidates. (d) The Placebo Effect. Many so-called 'healings' are extremely subjective. People are most often 'healed' of rather vague conditions that are not visible, such as chronic back pain. A person who suffers from this condition may get caught up in the excitement of the healing service and may even experience a lesser degree of pain for a while, due to his or her earnest desire to be healed which can, for a while, lead them to believe that a healing has taken place. However, often the pain returns shortly after the healing service ends. EXAMPLE: The HBO documentary "Question of a Miracle" follows several people who were supposedly healed by Benny Hinn. (As it turned out, none of them actually were healed). One of these cases involved a man who suffered from severe pain in his hip joints and needed surgical intervention. The man claimed that during the healing service he was totally healed and freed from pain. He even demonstrated this by doing exercises on-stage at Hinn's direction--squatting, bending, etc, all while claiming to feel no pain at all. However, the pain returned shortly after the healing service ended, and the man still suffers the exact same condition and still needs surgery. (e) The Rain Dance. A surprising number of 'healings' are actually simply a matter of people taking credit for natural events, as though they were supernatural phenomena. I cannot even count the number of times I have heard people claim to be healed of the common cold. And yet, recovering from a cold is something that everyone does dozens of times in their lifetime--there is nothing supernatural about a recovery (even a speedy recovery) from such a condition. Similarly, many cancer 'healings' are actually the result of extensive medical treatment that has resulted in remission. Sometimes health situations are somewhat more complex and yet just as likely to result in spontaneous improvement or medically-assisted recovery. Some heart conditions that occur in childhood usually do spontaneously improve, some neurological or muscular conditions can make sudden and remarkable improvement, especially with medical treatment and/or physical therapy. But this is often overlooked by Pentecostal crowds eager for a good healing story. In all my years as a Pentecostal, as many healing stories as I heard, I never heard of one case of someone being healed of Down Syndrome. In fact, in my experience, Pentecostals never even pray for healing for someone with Down Syndrome, and so, by avoiding these cases, they tacitly acknowledge that they did not really think it likely that someone with a truly PERMANENT condition would be "healed". EXAMPLE: I used this technique many times myself. Specifically, I recall giving testimony (at various times in my Pentecostal life) that I had been healed of a sprained wrist, a headache, a backache, and several other mundane conditions. In retrospect, I have to admit that these were faked. Although I did not intend to fake, I wanted to see healings to badly that I started claiming that every recovery was a 'healing'. For example, when I suffered a very slight wrist sprain while roller skating, I prayed that God would heal my wrist. When, the next morning, the wrist stopped hurting, I claimed that it had been healed. We do well to look at ALL Pentecostal and Charismatic healing claims through highly skeptical eyes. Pentecostal and Charismatic leaders have a compelling reason to lie and exaggerate their 'healing' claims: miracle stories gather followers and increase financial support. Pentecostal and Charismatic churches are full of desperate people who want to see miracles and who are eager to believe every wild tale and to interpret every event supernaturally. Ask difficult questions. Demand difficult healings. If Benny Hinn, David Hogan, or any other 'faith healer' can really call down the power of God to heal a backache . . . well, they should be able to heal Down Syndrome, regrow amputated limbs, etc. And let's not take their word for it . . . let's have it on videotape so that everyone can see and marvel. If the faith healers can't do this . . . well, it's time we ask ourselves why." See also "Lying Charismatics and Healing Fraud" By David J. Stewart - I've been reading a helpful book by Pastor Hugh F. Pyle exposing the fake Charismatic healing frauds; such as Oral Roberts, Pat Robertson, Benny Hinn and thousands of others. The title of the book is: The TRUTH about TONGUES and the CHARISMATIC movement. The book is available from the Sword of the Lord. The following excerpt is taken from Chapter 15, titled, “Charismatics and Healing” . . . How genuine is the healing of the healers? I am now looking at a letter written by Oral Roberts who says: As I write these words, wave after wave of God's healing power is flooding through me. My hands feel as if there is a supernatural heat in them; my right hand is especially hot right now. Oral goes on to describe his conversation with God-actually quoting the words God says to him out loud. He declares that God told him to send each prayer partner a swatch of new cloth with the imprint of Oral's hot hand upon it, and they could place their hand on the imprint of Robert's hand and actually feel his healing touch. He then goes on to say that God told him to ask his prayer partners for more money to finish his “City of Faith.” Then he goes on to feel great sorrow for the finances of his “hurting” prayer partners who need a new miracle; so it seems God told him to have his prayer partners each send him $38 for one square foot of the project as a blessing pact covenant with God. Oral assures his partners that he is “so anointed by God, I can hardly write. Your swatch of new cloth is now ready.” I'm sure great numbers of people got together the $38 to send in to get the imprint of the hot hand of Oral Roberts. Another time Roberts got his followers to donate more than $5 million for cancer research since the evangelist told them he “had God's promise to cure the disease.” This was well over five years ago. Oral got his $5 million, but we have not seen any more evidence of his promised cure for cancer. Yet he told his gullible audience, “This is not Oral Roberts talking, but the Spirit of God through him.” One year earlier, Oral Roberts went to the Alhambra Community Hospital in California for eye surgery. After building his multi-million dollar hospital in Tulsa, one wonders why he went to California for his surgery. Also why did a healer like Roberts, who trains and associates with other healers, need surgery anyway? The Bible says there were (and are) just “twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Rev. 21:14). Yet Richard Roberts refers to his dad as an apostle, as do others of his followers. This can give rise to the divine “prophecies” he makes like the one stating that God would “call him home” if he did not raise $8 million from his subjects in 1987. Mike Randall, writing in the Baptist Bible Tribune, stated that, if he did not get the $8 million, it would be the first time ever recorded that God killed one of His servants for not raising enough money! Truly the “signs of an apostle” were done by the apostles (2nd Cor. 12:12), not by the cheap imitations of the twentieth century. Some years back “healing evangelist” A.A. Allen told his radio audience, “If you are sick, if you have a cancer, it's because there is a sin in your life. Get rid of your sin and you get rid of your cancer.” That same man died in San Francisco, having gone there to be treated for an arthritic knee. Yet the coroner reported that Allen died of acute alcoholism! ...The ecumenical Pentecostal David duPlessis, who was called “Mr. Pentecost,” died of cancer of February of 1987. If the Charismatic healers have the “hot hand” power they claim to have, why would they let “Mr. Pentecost” die of cancer? ...Healers like Kuhlman, Coe, Allen, and duPlessis sicken and die. Bakker and Roberts have to wear glasses. Tammy has her warts and hernia. Oral goes to California for surgery. It would certainly appear that the best thing to do is to obey the laws of good health, eat properly, have a check-up yearly and trust the Lord. Meanwhile, a return to Bible evangelism is in order. One day our “vile body” will experience perfect healing when it is “fashioned like unto his glorious body” for all those who are truly saved by His grace. SOURCE: The TRUTH about TONGUES and the CHARISMATIC movement, by High F. Pyle, pg. 127-130; Sword of the Lord Publishers; PO Box 1099, Murfreesboro, TN, 37133; copyright 1989; ISBN: 0-87398-846-9 I also highly recommend Dr. John R. Rice's great book, THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT. The Charismatic Movement can easily be proven fraudulent. I'm so sick of hearing Charismatic cocky ministers (many who deny being Charismatic, go figure), claim to have witnessed miraculous healings in some remote location on earth, with no video cameras recording the event, and you are expected to simply take them at their word. Well, I don't. They are liars inspired by “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). ALL faith healers get sick eventually and die (Romans 6:23). They need surgery like everybody else who needs surgery. They wear glasses and have hearing-aids like everybody else who needs them. Who's kidding who? The Bible DOES teach divine healing; but it is the exception and not the norm. Also, healing is never at the whim of some greedy televangelist who sports healing as a cheap form of entertainment. God works in a still and quiet manner, not in the spotlights by charlatans who exploit gullible people out of their money. In Pastor Max D. Younce's excellent book, I'M SO GLAD YOU ASKED!, he states: God has allowed mankind to learn much about science and medicine. He has given doctors for our benefit. God expects us to use the blessings of medical knowledge He has given us. In James 5:14-16 we find the elders anointed with oil (medicine) and prayed. That is what God wants us to do today. Use the medicine and knowledge available, and bathe it with prayer. God can and does step in, at His will; but it is not through the phony “faith-healer” procedures that are so prevalent today. When God heals, He heals completely and without charge! It is always right to appeal to the “Great Physician.” He is always in! “And the prayer of faith shall heal the sick, and THE LORD (if it is His will) shall raise him up...” SOURCE: Dr. Max D. Younce, I'M SO GLAD YOU ASKED!, Volume 2, pg. 225; ISBN-13-978-0-9815225-8-6; Morris Publishing. Sickness and physical suffering are a part of the sin-cursed world in which we live. Our flesh is frail, weak and prone to all sorts of diseases and problems as we age. Taking care of one's health is no guarantee of a long and happy life. Health-crazed people drop dead all the time at the same age as others who abuse their health with alcohol, lack of exercise and cigarettes. Everything born is born dying. Isaiah 53:5 Doesn't Guarantee Healing Some false prophets pervert the Biblical meaning of Isaiah 53:5, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Some dreamers claim that the phrase “with His stripes we are healed” is a promise of physical healing in this earthly life. However, that is NOT what this Scripture means at all. The Lord's work of redemption made reconciliation with God possible by His blood (Ephesians 2:13). We are made right with God by faith in the literal blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We are healed from the curse of sin and the Law. There is NO Biblical promise of divine physical healing while we are still in our present fleshly bodies. Death and sickness are a part of life, and there's nothing we can do about it except pray to God for healing and go to the doctor. God gave us doctors, just as He gave us dentists and firemen and automobile mechanics. The Apostle Paul Left Trophimus Sick Paul left his friend, Trophimus at Miletum... SICK!!! 2nd Timothy 4:20, “Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum SICK.” The mighty missionary, preacher, evangelist, and Christian man of God, the Apostle Paul, left Trophimus SICK!!! There was no divine healing! It wasn't God's will to heal Trophimus. Don't forget that. There has never been one Charismatic preacher, who are nearly all arrogant and highminded, that has emptied out a hospital of sick and ailing patients. The following Scriptures teach us that only Jesus can do certain miracles. John 15:24,25, “If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.” Jesus proved His deity by performing miracles, like healing amputees, that no other man could do. If anyone could heal amputees today, the world would follow that person as if God Himself. Only Jesus, Who was God in the flesh upon the earth (1st Timothy 3:16; John 1:1-3, 10-14), had the power to do such miracles; and for a short time His apostles to validate the Gospel message to the world of Jesus Christ crucified and RISEN (John 16:33). By the completion of the Word of God with the book of Revelation, all Apostolic powers had stopped. Again, Paul couldn't even heal Trophimus, nor remove his own thorn in the flesh (2nd Corinthians 12:8). In 2nd Timothy 4:11, Paul said that Luke, a medical physician, was profitable for his ministry. Thank God for honest and legitimate doctors. The one big common denominator in the modern Charismatic Movement, including TBN and The 700 Club is greed for more money. Legitimate Biblical healing NEVER, and I mean never, pressures anyone for money, nor even asks. God's power is not for sale as Simon the former Sorcerer learned the hard way. Acts 8:20, “But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.” That's exactly the wickedness that Pat Robertson, his son, Gordon and Terry Meeuwsen are committing when they ask for donations in return for promises of financial prosperity and improved health. They are selling the power of God, so-to-speak. The truth is that they have no power of God. What they are doing is of the Devil, as greedy dogs, exploiting people who are wearied, sick and emotionally hurting. 2nd Peter 2:3, “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” Their day is coming, just as everyone's day of reckoning is coming, when they shall stand before God as their Judge (Romans 12:19; Romans 14:12; 1st Thessalonians 4:6; 1st Corinthians 3:11-15; 2nd Corinthians 5:10-11; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8). Demonic entertainers today, like Criss Angel, have openly admitted that they perform certain magicians tricks in a sinful attempt to disprove and discredit the deity of Jesus Christ. Criss Angel has walked on water using gimmicks, which many unbelievers have used to claim that Jesus was a fraud. They had better hope they're correct, because life is short and Judgment Day is coming if they're wrong. Isaiah 56:11, “Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.” See our playlist "Dealing with Phony TV Preachers (TBN) & King James Onlyites" at kzbin.info/aero/PL2CDA855486B09128. Titus 1:9-16

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The older sections of the Book of Enoch (mainly in the Book of the Watchers) are estimated to date from about 300 BC, and the latest part (Book of Parables) probably was composed at the end of the 1st century BC. The Second Book of Enoch (known also as Slavonic Enoch or The Secrets of Enoch) is a pseudepigraphic (a text whose claimed authorship is unfounded) of the Old Testament. It is usually considered to be part of the Apocalyptic literature. Late 1st century CE is the dating often preferred.

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It's always exciting to see the Sovereignty of God in action during true evangelism activities. You don't need fake "sales techniques" to get "converts." Recently SermonAudio put a testimony of a French lady who came to the Lord out of Roman Catholicism through our videos on KZbin in their "Staff Picks" section. You can hear "Testimony: Camille Jolly" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonID=6414192554 (or on KZbin at kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6C7l417hZubgpY). Glory to God alone for this. Larry Wessels, Director, Christian Answers of Austin, Texas / Christian Debater KZbin Channel: kzbin.info Home Church: Dayspring Fellowship, Austin, Texas www.dsf.org/, Reformed Baptist Pastor: Greg Van Court at www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?speakeronly=true&currsection=sermonsspeaker&keyword=Greg_Van_Court 2 Timothy 4:2-5

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Hear "Why You Can Believe The Bible" by Voddie Baucham at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=91314616480 & Dr. James White concerning "Can I Trust My Bible?" at www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?seriesOnly=true&currSection=sermonstopic&sourceid=immanuelbc&keyword=Can+I+Trust+My+Bible%3F&keyworddesc=Can+I+Trust+My+Bible%3F which includes "Textual Criticism: Reliability, Answering Critics, Bible Versions & Sufficiency of Scripture." How Do We Know the Bible is True? Is it Really the Word of God? Many critics of Christianity attack the Bible’s truthfulness. Many don’t believe it because they say it was written by man. Is the Bible really God speaking to man? Is the Bible of human origin or a direct revelation from God? The Bible The word Bible is from the root word “biblios” which is Greek for “little books.“ The Bible contains 66 books and was written by 40 authors. The books you see in most Bibles have been tried and tested and were generally accepted by the early church. For centuries the Bible was not available to the general public due to their being only hand-copied ones available. The Bible has been banned from many nations, it has been burned by others, it has been declared out of date by moderns, but it has brought salvation to untold millions. It is the unbridled truth and the unchangeable Word of God that changes those who read it. When people read it, it reads them too! It comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. What follows is conclusive evidence that we can believe that the Bible is God speaking to us and not just the words of men. Thus Says the Lord or Thus Says Man? If the Bible were indeed a work of man, then we would expect some of the words to say, “thus says the prophet Jeremiah” or “thus says Peter an Apostle of God” but it doesn’t. From what I could count, “Thus says the Lord” is recorded 418 times. If it were of human origin, then we would read somewhere that the Bible or the message came from a certain author but we never see that anywhere. On the contrary, we read over 1,000 times where “Jesus said” and “Thus says the Lord” were written down. In fact, even the Book of Revelation is not called John’s Book of Revelation at all. In Revelation 1:1-2 we see where the words of this book came from: “The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John.” So John was just the recipient of the book as he just wrote down what he was told. Paul said, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16). Paul clearly said that all Scripture is God-breathed…not just the New Testament or the Old Testament, but all Scripture. Peter reiterates it by writing, “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet 1:21). Peter would tell you that “you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation” (2 Pet 1:20). God gives a very serious warning to anyone who takes away or adds to any of the words in the Bible, indicating that only He gives the words of this book and no human had better tamper with it. In Revelation 22:19 God warns that if anyone adds to or takes away any of the words of the Bible, He “…shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city (heaven or the new Jerusalem)”. This same warning is given in the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 4:2. Alleged Errors in Transcribing When the Word of God was reproduced to make another copy, well before the printing press was invented, there were 70 scribes that worked on it with expert precision second to none. Imagine that each of the scribes had the other sixty-nine scribes check their writings for error. Each of these seventy scribes reviewed each other’s work and every written copy, letter by letter, line by line, book by book were examined meticulously. If any errors were found, the started all over again on that particular book or page. Imagine you’re one of the scribes and you have just finished a section. Now the other sixty-nine scribes check your work and compare it to the original. The amazing fact is that their methods resulted in such an accurate reproduction of scripture that only one error for every fifteen hundred words occurred and these errors were so slight that they never affected the content. This copying left absolutely no room for any private interpretation or mistranslation at all. By modern standards, the accuracy rate is superior to that of Microsoft’s Spelling and Grammar Check, which by the way is not perfect. When you consider the stringent guidelines and conditions, no one can dispute that the translation differences had any negative effect on the message of the Bible or its general context. Manuscript Evidence New Testament manuscripts have been preserved by the thousands and the fact is that no other ancient works in human history have such enormous documented and recorded histories as does the Bible. There are about 6,000 complete or fragmented Greek manuscripts, 10,000 Latin manuscripts and over 9,000 manuscripts in various other ancient languages. The dates of these manuscripts range from the 2nd century up to the invention of the printing press in the 15th century. Nearly ever year there are more New Testament manuscripts discovered that were handwritten in the original Greek format which continues to add to the enormous collection already on hand. In 2008, 47 new Greek manuscripts were discovered in Albania. Of these, 17 of them were unknown to Western scholars. The fact is that the amount of manuscript evidence is astounding. There are over 25,000 New Testament manuscripts of which 5,000 of these date from the first century. What that translates into for Historians is what is called a primary source. A primary source is a source that comes from eye witnesses. The nearly 6,000 Dead Sea Scrolls are so close in agreement, contextually, that there is only 0.01% in differences and the main differences are only in the differentiation of vowels. In no way do these miniscule differences affect the text or the context. One of the greatest supportive facts is that the evidence verifies the dating of Matthew’s Gospel as far back as A.D. 60. Scholars argue that Mark wrote the first Gospel. This places the composition of Mark to within 20 years of the events that took place and were recorded in his Gospel. With the evidence that the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and Luke’s second volume, Acts, were written so close to the time of the crucifixion, the record of the events of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection makes these facts indisputable. Luke and Acts was originally one book but was later separated into two books for the reader’s convenience but the content never changed. The fact that they were written within the lifetimes of those who were eyewitnesses is evidence strong enough to hold up in a court of law. Since the Old and New Testament manuscripts have been preserved by the thousands and there are no other ancient works in human history to compare to it, what we have today in the Bible is as a reliable source as any current historical account or newspaper printed today. The Bible is the Word of God, as men were moved by the Holy Spirit to write it. It is God speaking to us and it is without error and full of truth. If God has revealed Himself in propositional form, that revelation would have certain properties due to His infinite knowledge and moral perfection: It would be entirely true - His infinite knowledge would prevent errors and His truthfulness would keep Him from deception. It would be a coherent unity, therefore not self- contradictory. It would contain God's will for man, and provide the motivation to live according to that will (1). God has revealed Himself in the Bible without error. The Bible itself claims this inerrancy (2 Timothy 3:16-17 (2); Matthew 5:18 (3); etc.). Let's look at some of the proofs for the Bible's claim to be the infallible word of God. Archaeological evidence The first proof we have testifying to the reliability of the Bible is the archaeological evidence. Nelson Glueck, a respected Jewish archaeologist claims: "It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever contradicted a biblical reference." (4) The liberals made wild claims against the Bible a hundred years ago but now they are silent. This is not true of other religions. The Mormon claim for inspiration of the Book of Mormon has been categorically condemned by the Smithsonian Institute because of the fallacies shown by archaeology; this is not so with the Bible. A.N. Sherwin-White, a respected classical historian at Oxford says, "For Acts the confirmation of historicity is overwhelming...", although, not being a Christian, he still regarded it as being "propaganda."(5) Historicity of Jesus A case in point is the historicity of Jesus. Although many atheists state that Jesus never lived, He is mentioned by many contemporary, non-Christian historians. Let us look at the evidence. Flavius Josephus, a first century Jewish historian wrote of Jesus and the Christians: "so he [Ananus, son of Ananus the high priest] assembled the sanhedrin of judges, and brought before him the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others (or some of his companions) and when he had formed an accusation against them, he delivered them to be stoned." (6) Other Jewish rabbinical writings, including Rabbi Eliezer and writers of the Talmud, talk about Jesus and his miracles. Surprisingly to many atheists, they never denied that miracles took place, but attempted to explain them as a result of evil (7). More information about Jesus in the Talmud can be found at Jesus Christ In The Talmud. Cornelius Tacitus wrote about Jesus and the first century Christians in his Annals (a history of the Roman empire): "Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus." (8) Thallus, a Samaritan historian, wrote ca. 52 A.D. attempting to give a natural explanation for the earthquake and darkness which occurred at the crucifixion of Jesus. Mara Bar-Seraphon wrote a letter to his son in 73 A.D. which tells of the deaths of Socrates, Pythagoras, and of Jesus, "What advantage did the Jews gain from executing their wise king?...Nor did the wise king die for good; he lived on in the teaching which he had given." Jesus is also mentioned by Phlegon, a first-century historian, Lucian of Samosata (in The Passing Peregrinus), and Plinius Secundus, (Pliny the Younger). Scholars have made statements such as, "no serious scholar has ventured to postulate the non-historicity of Jesus ." (9) The latest version of Encyclopedia Britannica says in its discussion of the multiple extra-biblical witnesses: "These independent accounts prove that in ancient times even the opponents of Christianity never doubted the historicity of Jesus, which was disputed for the first time and on inadequate grounds by several authors at the end of the 18th, during the 19th, and at the beginning of the 20th centuries." (10) Even the atheist H. G. Wells spoke of Jesus, "...one is obliged to say, "Here was a man. This part of the tale could not have been invented." (11) Scientific evidence Recent scientific evidence is adding to the evidence supporting the reliability of biblical chronology from the scriptures. This study demonstrated the reliability of the Biblical record regarding the Egyptian plagues and demise of Jericho. Drs. Hendrik J. Bruins and Johannes van der Plicht reported in the prestigious British journal, Nature (12), that the destruction of Jericho was dated to 1580 (+/- 13 years) B.C. (using 14C dating). This date is significant, since several archeologists have insisted that Jericho was destroyed by the Egyptians between 1550 and 1300 B.C. The recent study discredits the Egyptian theory, since the date is much too old. What is even more exciting is that scientists, using 14C dating and tree rings, have found evidence of a volcanic eruption from the Aegean island of Thera, which recently has been dated to 1628 B.C. (13). This would place the eruption at 45 years prior to the destruction of Jericho, at a time which coincidentally corresponds to the time of the plagues the Lord unleashed upon Egypt. Check out Exodus 10: Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be felt." So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. (Exodus 10:21-22) Even the researchers commented that the 45 years difference in events was "rather striking." The Bible's Uniqueness and Unity The next proof is the Bible's uniqueness and unity. The Bible was written by over 40 authors who came from just about every walk of life conceivable, including fisherman, kings, a butler, priests, and a tax collector. The 66 books of the Bible were written over a 1,500 year span in three languages on three continents with one theme and no contradictions. C.J. Sharp captures this miracle well: "If a fragment of stone were found in Italy, another in Asia Minor, another in Greece, another in Egypt, and on and on until sixty-six fragments had been found, and if when put together they fitted perfectly together, making a perfect statue of Venus de Milo, there is not an artist or scientist but would arrive immediately at the conclusion that there was originally a sculptor who conceived and carved the statue. The very lines and perfections would probably determine which of the great ancient artists carved the statue. Not only the unity of the Scriptures, but their lines of perfection, suggest One far above any human as the real author. That could be no one but God (14)." Prophetic evidence Yet another reason Christians believe God is the ultimate author of the Bible is the predictive prophecies in the Bible. This aspect is unique to the world's religions because if one predicts something will happen and it does not, they are proven to be phony. The Bible is literally filled with detailed prophecies that have been fulfilled with 100% accuracy. Here is a list of 85 Messianic prophecies along with their fulfillment through the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus: Prophecies of Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah #Prophetic ScriptureSubjectFulfilled 1 Genesis 3:15 seed of a woman Galatians 4:4 2 Genesis 12:3, Genesis 22:18 descendant of Abraham Matthew 1:1, Acts 3:25 3 Genesis 17:19, Genesis 21:12 descendant of Isaac Luke 3:34, Luke 3:23-24 4 Genesis 28:14, Numbers 24:17 descendant of Jacob Matthew 1:2, Luke 3:23-24 5 Genesis 49:10 from the tribe of Judah Luke 3:23-24, Luke 3:33 6 Isaiah 9:6, 11:1-5, Jeremiah 23:5-6 descendant of David Matthew 1:1, Luke 3:23-24 7 Isaiah 11:1 descendant of Jesse Luke 3:23-24 8 Ezekiel 37:24 will shepherd His people Matthew 2:6 9 Isaiah 9:7 heir to the throne of David Luke 1:32-33 10 Micah 5:2 His pre-existence Colossians 1:17 11 Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:1 eternal existence John 8:58, 11, 14, Ephesians 1:3-14, Colossians 1:15-19 12 Psalm 45:6-7, Psalm 102:25-27 anointed and eternal Hebrews 1:8-12 13 Psalm 110:1 called Lord Matthew 22:43-45 14 Isaiah 33:22 judge John 5:30 15 Psalm 2:6 king Matthew 27:37 16 Micah 5:2 born in Bethlehem Matthew 2:1, Luke 2:4-5, 7 17 Daniel 9:25 time for His birth Matthew 2:1, 16, 19, Luke 2:1-2 18 Isaiah 7:14 to be born of a virgin Matthew 1:18, 24, 25, Luke 1:26-27, 30-31 19 Psalm 72:9 worshipped by shepherds Luke 2:8-15 20 Psalm 72:10 honored by great kings Matthew 2:1-11 21 Jeremiah 31:15 slaughter of children Matthew 2:16-18 22 Hosea 11:1 flight to Egypt Matthew 2:14-15 23 Isaiah 40:3-5 the way prepared Matthew 3:1,2, Luke 3:3-6 24 Malachi 3:1 preceded by a forerunner Luke 7:24, 27 25 Malachi 4:5-6 preceded by Elijah Matthew 11:13-14 26 Psalm 2:7, Proverbs 30:4 declared the Son of God Matthew 3:17, Luke 1:32 27 Isaiah 9:5-6, Jeremiah 23:5-6 God's name applied to Him Romans 10:9, Philippians 2:9-11 28 Isaiah 11:2, 61:1, Psalm 45:8 anointment of Holy Spirit Matthew 3:16, 17, John 3:34, Acts 10:38 29 Isaiah 9:1-2 Galilean ministry Matthew 4:13-16 30 Psalm 78:2-4 speaks in parables Matthew 13:34-35 31 Isaiah 56:7, Jeremiah 7:11 temple becomes a house of merchandise instead of prayer Matthew 21:13 32 Psalm 69:9 zeal of Jews for the temple instead of God John 2:17 33 Deuteronomy 18:15, 18 a prophet Matthew 21:11, Acts 3:20, 22 34 Isaiah 29:18, Isaiah 35:5-6 blind, deaf, and lame are healed by the Messiah Luke 7:22, Matthew 9:35, 11:3-5 35 Isaiah 40:11, 42:2-3, Isaiah 53:7 Messiah will be meek and mild Matthew 12:18-20, Matthew 11:29, Hebrews 4:15 36 Isaiah 53:9 Be sinless and without guile 1 Peter 2:22 37 Isaiah 42:1, Isaiah 49:1 will minister to Gentiles Matthew 12:18-21Luke 2:32 38 Isaiah 61:1-2 to bind up the brokenhearted Luke 4:18-19 39 Isaiah 53:12, Isaiah 59:16 to intercede for the people Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25 40 Isaiah 53:3, 8:14, 28:16, 63:3, Psalms 69:6, 118:22 rejected by His own people, the Jews John 1:11, 7:5,48, Luke 23:18, Acts 4:11, 1 Peter 2:6-8 41 Psalm 118:22 Be rejected by the Jewish leadership Matthew 21:42, John 7:48 42 Psalm 2:1-2 plotted against by Jews and Gentiles alike Acts 4:27 43 Psalm 110:4 priest after the order of Melchizedek Hebrews 5:5-6 44 Zechariah 9:9 enter Jerusalem on donkey Mark 11:7, 9, 11, Luke 19:35-37 45 Haggai 2:7-9, Malachi 3:1 entered the temple with authority Matthew 21:12, Luke 2:27-38 46 Psalm 8:2 adored by infants Matthew 21:15-16 47 Isaiah 53:1 not believed John 12:37-38 48 Zechariah 13:7 sheep of the Shepherd scattered Matthew 26:31, Mark 14:50 49 Psalm 41:9, 55:13-15 betrayed by a close friend Matthew 10:4, Luke 22:47-48 50 Zechariah 11:12 betrayed for thirty pieces of silver Matthew 26:14-15 51 Zechariah 11:13 betrayal money used to buy Potter's field Matthew 27:6-7 52 Psalm 35:11 accused by false witnesses Mark 14:57-58 53 Isaiah 53:7 silent to accusations Matthew 27:12, Mark 15:4-5 54 Isaiah 50:6 spat on Matthew 26:67, 27:30 55 Isaiah 50:6 beaten Matthew 26:67, 27:26, 30 56 Micah 4:14 struck on cheek Matthew 27:30 57 Isaiah 49:7, Psalm 35:19, Psalm 69:4 hated without reason John 7:48, 15:24-25 58 Isaiah 53:5 wounded and bruised Matthew 27:26 59 Isaiah 53:5 vicarious sacrifice John 1:29, , 3:16, Romans 5:6, 8 60 Daniel 9:24-26 cut off, but not for Himself Matthew 2:1, Luke 3:1, 23 61 Isaiah 53:12 crucified with malefactors Matthew 27:38, Mark 15:27-28 62 Zechariah 12:10, Psalm 22:16 pierced through hands and feet Luke 23:33, John 20:25-27 63 Psalm 22:7-8 sneered and mocked Matthew 27:31, Luke 23:35 64 Psalm 109:24, 25 fell under the cross Luke 23:26 65 Psalm 69:9 was reproached Romans 15:3 66 Psalm 38:11 friends stood afar off Luke 23:49 67 Psalm 109:25 people shook their heads Matthew 27:39 68 Psalm 22:17 stared upon Luke 23:35 69 Psalm 22:16, 69:21 given vinegar for His thirst Matthew 27:34, John 19:28-29 70 Psalm 109:4, Isaiah 53:12 prayer for His enemies Luke 23:34 71 Psalm 22:17-18 soldiers gambled for His clothing Matthew 27:35-36, John 19:23, 24 72 Psalm 22:1 forsaken by God Matthew 27:46 73 Psalm 31:5 committed Himself to God Luke 23:46 74 Exodus 12:46, Psalm 34:20 no bones broken John 19:32, 33, 36 75 Psalm 22:14 heart broken John 19:34 76 Zechariah 12:10 His side pierced John 19:34 77 Amos 8:9 darkness over the land Matthew 27:45 78 Isaiah 53:9 buried with the rich Matthew 27:57-60 79 Psalm 3:5, 16:10, 49:15 to be resurrected Mark 16:6-7, Acts 2:31 80 Isaiah 44:3, Joel 2:28 sent the Holy Spirit John 20:22, Acts 2:16-17 81 Isaiah 55:3-4, Jeremiah 31:31 establishes a new covenant Matthew 26:28, Luke 22:20, Hebrews 8:6-10 82 Psalm 68:18, Psalm 110:1 His ascension to God's right hand Mark 16:19, Acts 1:9, 1 Corinthians 15:4, Ephesians 4:8, Hebrews 1:3 83 Psalm 29:11, Micah 4:3 peace proclaimed by disciples Luke 2:14, John 14:27, Acts 10:36 84 Isaiah 60:3 "Light" to Gentiles Acts 13:47,48 85 Isaiah 11:10, 42:1, 49:1-12 the Gentiles will seek the Messiah Romans 11:25, 15:10 Although some of these prophecies are vague and could have been deliberately fulfilled, many are very specific: 16. Place of birth (Micah 5:2). 17. Date of birth (Daniel 9:25). 18. Manner of birth (Isaiah 7:14). 62. Manner of death (Zechariah 12:10; Psalm 22:16 prophesied before the invention of crucifixion). 76. Piercing in side (Zechariah 12:10). 78. Burial (Isaiah 53:9). The Bible made several prophecies of the complete destruction of cities. Many of the cities it said would be rebuilt and several it claimed would never be rebuilt - The Bible is 100% accurate in both categories as archeology shows. One amazing example is the city of Tyre. Ezekiel 26:3-5,7,12,14 and (15) predict: Nebuchadnezzar will take the city. Other nations will participate in the fulfillment. The city is to be made flat like the top of a rock. It is to become a place for spreading nets. Its stones and timber are to be laid in the sea. The old city of Tyre will never be rebuilt. History records that Nebuchadnezzar took the adjacent mainland settlement of Ushu ("Old Tyre"), but the people escaped out to the island city. Later, Alexander the Great took the island off the coast by taking the old city's rubble and throwing it into the sea making a land-bridge (this caused the old city to look flat like a rock due to the scraping of the material). The old city is now a place for fisherman but no city has been planted there even though there is an excellent water supply to support a major city. Shelly, Rubel. 1990. Prepare To Answer. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, p 92. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16) "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished." (Matthew 5:18) Nelson Glueck, Rivers in the Desert, Farrar, Strauss and Cudahy, New York, 1959, p. 31. "For Acts the confirmation of historicity is overwhelming. Yet Acts is, in simple terms and judged externally, no less a propaganda document than the Gospels, liable to similar distortion. But any attempt to reject its basic historicity even in matters of detail must now appear absurd." A. N. Sherwin-White. 1978. Roman Society and Roman Law in the New Testament. Baker, Grand Rapids, p. 189. Flavius Josephus The Antiquities of the Jews 20.9.1 Matthew 12:24, Mark 3:22, Luke 11:15, Flavius Josephus The Antiquities of the Jews 18:63, Talmud P. Ta'an. 65b, and the Sanhedrin 3a Cornelius Tacitus Annals 15.44 from The Tech Classics Archive translated by Alfred John Church and William Jackson Brodribb Otto Betz. 1968. What do We Know about Jesus?, SCM Press, page 9. Encyclopedia Britannica (Article on "Jesus") H. G. Wells, Outline Of History. Bruins, H.J. and J. van der Plicht. 1996. The Exodus enigma. Nature 382: 213-214. Friedrich, W.L., P. Wagner, and H. Tauber. 1990. Thera and the Aegean World III Thera Foundation, London, UK. Kuniholm, P.I., B. Kromer, S.W. Manning, M. Newton, C.E. Latini, and M.J. Bruce. 1996. Anatolian tree rings and the absolute chronology of the eastern Mediterranean, 2220-718 BC. Nature 381: 780-783. Renfrew, C. 1996. Kings, tree rings and the old world. Nature 381: 733-734. Shelly, Rubel. 1990. Prepare To Answer. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, p 114. therefore, thus says the Lord God,` Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and I will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves. And they will destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers; and I will scrape her debris from her and make her a bare rock. She will be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea, for I have spoken,' declares the Lord God, `and she will become spoil for the nations.'... For thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I will bring upon Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses, chariots, cavalry, and a great army.... Also they will make a spoil of your riches and a prey of your merchandise, break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses, and throw your stones and your timbers and your debris into the water.... And I will make you a bare rock; you will be a place for the spreading of nets. You will be built no more, for I the Lord have spoken," declares the Lord God.... "Then all the princes of the sea will go down from their thrones, remove their robes, and strip off their embroidered garments. They will clothe themselves with trembling; they will sit on the ground, tremble every moment, and be appalled at you." (Ezekiel 26:3-5,7,12,14,16) Is the Bible inspired? The doctrine of the inspiration of the Bible means that the Bible in the original documents is God-breathed, and that it is a divine product; and because it is divine, the original documents are inerrant. The copies of those documents are not inspired. We have copies of inspired documents. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." Paul who wrote this epistle was obviously referring to the entirety of the Old Testament as being inspired. The word "inspired" is literally "God-breathed." This is an interesting phrase since it implies that the Scriptures are from the mouth of God. Likewise, Peter says in 2 Pet. 1:21, "for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." Notice that Peter is stating that prophecy is not the product of human will. Instead, prophecy occurs by those moved by the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, we can easily see that the Old Testament Scriptures are full of statements and phrases claiming to be the Word of God. "Thus says the Lord" occurs 418 times in the NASB, 413 in the KJV Exodus 4:22, "Then you shall say to Pharaoh, Thus says the Lord, 'Israel is My son, My first-born.'" 1 Kings 11:31, "And he said to Jeroboam, 'Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes.'" Isaiah 7:7, "thus says the Lord God, 'It shall not stand nor shall it come to pass.'" "God said" occurs 46 times in both the NASB and the KJV Genesis 1:3, "Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light." Exodus 3:14, "And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM'; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you." Exodus 6:2-3, "God spoke further to Moses and said to him, 'I am the Lord; and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, Lord, I did not make Myself known to them.'" God spoke through prophets 1 Kings 14:18, "And all Israel buried him and mourned for him, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke through His servant Ahijah the prophet." 2 Sam. 24:11-12, "When David arose in the morning, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, 12 'Go and speak to David, Thus the Lord says, "I am offering you three things; choose for yourself one of them, which I may do to you."'" Zech. 7:7, "Are not these the words which the Lord proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous with its cities around it, and the Negev and the foothills were inhabited?" The Spirit of the Lord spoke through people 2 Sam. 23:2, "The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue." 1 Kings 22:24, "Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, 'How did the Spirit of the Lord pass from me to speak to you?'" 2 Chron. 20:14-15, "Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph; 15 and he said, 'Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's.'" As you can see, the Old Testament Scriptures are clearly full of statements showing the inspiration of God through the writers. The Old Testament assumes and speaks from the perspective of divine inspiration. Should we do any less? What about the New Testament? We see that the Old Testament is repeatedly spoken of as being inspired via the numerous references cited above but what about the New Testament? Are the New Testament books inspired as well? The Christian church has always considered the New Testament documents to be inspired. Though in the early church there were some debates on which New Testament books to include in the Bible, God worked through the Christian church to recognize those inspired works. Therefore we now have 27 inspired books for the New Testament. In 1 Cor. 14:37 Paul said, "If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment." In 2 Pet. 3:16 Peter said, "as also in all [Paul's] letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction." Also, Jesus said in John 14:26, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." This means that the Lord has commissioned the apostles to accurately record what Jesus had said because the Holy Spirit would be working in them. So, we can see that Jesus promised direction from the Holy Spirit, that Paul considered what he wrote to be the commands of God, and that Peter recognized Paul's writings as Scripture. In addition, since the Christian Church recognizes the 27 books of the New Testament are inspired and since we see internal claims of inspiration in the New Testament, we conclude that inspiration applies to the New Testament documents as well. Objections Inspiration violates free will. A. Inspiration does not violate free will. What if the person through whom God is working has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and desires to have the Lord speak through him? Would this negate the ability of God to inerrantly speak through such a person? Would it also mean that the person has no free will if he has voluntarily subjected his will to the will of God? B. Certainly, God has the ability to work through individuals to bring them to a place where they can record inerrant statements. Cannot God manifest himself to someone, deliver to him a verbal message, and have that person record it? Would that statement not be inspired of God? C. Proverbs. 21:1,"The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever He wishes." This verse clearly states that God is able to work through an individual's "free will" to bring about what God desires. 2. What about the numerous contradictions in the Bible? A. It is true that there are difficulties with in the Word of God. But these are due to copying errors through the centuries. As more and more historical, archaeological, and manuscript evidence is uncovered, the fewer Bible difficulties there are. Nevertheless, for an examination of answers to the alleged Bible contradictions, please see www.BibleQuery.org. 3. The manuscript evidence doesn't support inerrancy of the originals. A. This is a subjective conclusion. The more I have studied about the ancient manuscripts, the more I have concluded that the original documents were indeed inspired and inerrant. B. The logical implication of the statements within the Bible is that they are inerrant since they claim to be offered from God. They either are or are not inspired of God. If they are not, then their claims of speaking for God are lies. 4. Inspiration applies to scripture--not people. A. God works sovereignly through people to inspire his documents. It is the people whom God indwells with his spirit and the people who are inspired by God to write his word. If inspiration only refers to Scripture, and somehow means that people are not themselves inspired, the Scriptures are still God-breathed and necessarily inerrant. For more see our website www.BibleQuery.org.

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See our video "Are Catholics Christian?" Answered by Priest for 22 Years Richard Bennett & the Catholic Catechism" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6aXl52JibeaiKs. See this former Dominican priest's article on the same subject at www.bereanbeacon.org/article/sorted/01_On_Catholicism/Are_Catholics_Christians.pdf. See our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" with 125 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715. The following is the article by former Roman Catholic priest for 22 years Richard Bennett (his website is www.BereanBeacon.org) called, "Are Catholics Christians?" The Catholic Church presupposes itself to be Christian. Nothing could be farther from the truth; yet, the Catholic Church has presented and promoted herself in that guise particularly since the close of the Second Vatican Council in 1965. A primary, non-negotiable goal of Vatican Council II was to lay the groundwork and to establish the rules and parameters for a multifaceted, ecumenical outreach. Evangelical Christians, now called "separated brethren", rather than "heretics",1 are the primary target of Catholic ecumenism. The goal is to draw them into the Roman Catholic fold.2 Thus, in the 1994 Catechism of the Catholic Church, the word "Christian" occurs more than 100 times in these official teachings. Buzzwords such as "dialogue", "ecumenism", and "social justice" are being used under the guise of promoting true Christianity while advancing the Roman Catholic agenda. Assurances to Evangelicals Negated Evangelicals are assured that Catholics who believe in the incarnation, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are true Christians, even though they misunderstand some of the "technicalities" regarding salvation. Such reasoning is negated by the fact that Catholicism differs from biblical faith-not only on minor details, but more importantly on what is essential for one’s salvation. The most dangerous aspect of Catholic Church doctrine is that it appears to be based on the great, indispensable truths of God’s revelation.3 In reality, however, the telling fact is that Catholic doctrine denies essential, biblical doctrines by that which it adds on to biblical truths. For example, while Catholic doctrine affirms the worship of the three distinct Persons of the Trinity, it adds divine adoration for the Virgin Mary by addressing her in prayer as "the All Holy One". The exact words of the official statement are, "By asking Mary to pray for us, we acknowledge ourselves to be poor sinners and we address ourselves to the ‘Mother of Mercy,’ the All Holy One".4 The Catholic Church also demands that worship, which according to Scripture is due exclusively to the one true God in three persons, is also to be given to the 1 The anathemas or curses against Evangelicals as heretics still remain in Roman Catholic law because the Council of Trent (1545 - 1563) has never been revoked. Since the demise of the Holy Roman Empire, the Papacy has had no military and civil power by which to enforce these anathemas as it had during the 605 years of the Inquisition. Thus the Papacy has recently adopted "ecumenism, "dialogue," and promoting "social justice" as ways and means of drawing Evangelical Christians into its fold. 2 Vatican Council II Documents, "Reflections and Suggestions Concerning Ecumenical Dialogue," Vol. I, Sect. II. This crucial Vatican document states, "…ecumenical dialogue is not limited to an academic or purely conceptual level, but striving for a more complete communion between the Christian communities…it serves to transform modes of thought and behavior and the daily life of those communities. [non-Catholic churches] In this way, it aims at preparing the way for their unity of faith in the bosom of a Church one and visible: thus ‘little by little’, as the obstacles to perfect ecclesial communion are overcome, all Christians will be gathered, in a common celebration of the Eucharist, into that unity of the one and only Church which Christ bestowed on his Church from the beginning. This unity, we believe, dwells in the Catholic Church as something she can never lose…" 3 For example she holds to the existence of a self-existent and eternal God, the Creator of the universe, of man, and of all things. She teaches the biblical doctrine of the Trinity. She teaches Adam’s sin resulting in the shared guilt and consequences of his sin. She accepts the doctrine of man’s redemption by Jesus Christ, teaching that He became incarnate and endured the death of the cross; that He arose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and will return again. 4 Catechism of the Catholic Church, Liguori Publications, 1994 Paragraph 2677 Hereafter referred to as Catechism. "Sacrament" or "Eucharist", the Communion element. Thus, the Church of Rome officially declares, 5 Vatican Council II Documents, Eucharisticum Mysterium," Vol. I, Para 3 (Emphasis not in original.) 6 Ephesians 2:8, 9 7 Catechism Paragraph 1129 8 John 10:35 9 John 17:17 10 Proverbs 30:6 11 II Timothy 3:16-17 "There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind ‘that all the faithful ought to show to this most holy sacrament the worship which is due to the true God, as has always been the custom of the Catholic Church. Nor is it to be adored any the less because it was instituted by Christ to be eaten’".5 These two official teachings of the Church of Rome show that the divine worship due to God alone is being given to Mary and to their communion element. In addition, the essential doctrine of man’s redemption by Jesus Christ is totally different in Papal Rome from that of the Bible. The Scripture declares that sinners, dead in trespasses and sins, are "by grace" "saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast".6 This Scripture shows that God directly saves sinners by His grace through faith. However, the Catholic Church insists on the necessity of her sacraments and consequently states, "The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation. ‘Sacramental grace’ is the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by Christ and proper to each sacrament".7 The sacraments, which are declared by the Catholic Church to be indispensable, nullify the biblical doctrine of man’s redemption. With these explicit examples of the Catholic Church’s negation of essential biblical truths, the Papacy’s official doctrine and teaching on all the major topics of biblical truth need to be carefully examined. The Basis of Truth The first topic to address is, "What is the basis of truth?" In other words, what is the norm by which we can know truth? The absolute standard set by the Lord Jesus Christ rests in the fact that "the scripture cannot be broken".8 He who identified Himself to His disciples, "I am the way, the truth and the life", also declared the truth of God’s Word by praying for them, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth".9 From these Scriptures we understand that God’s Word not only contains the truth, but is truth itself. The Holy Scripture is the source of the believer’s standard of truth. Since Scripture alone is inspired, it alone is the ultimate authority, and it alone is the final judge of all human tradition and reasoning. Accordingly, the commandment of the Lord states, "Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar".10 Thus, in His written Word, the absolute authority of the Lord God is totally sufficient for all the believer’s needs. The Apostle Paul confirmed this when he wrote, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works".11 The Lord Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they placed their human tradition on the same level as the written Word of God. Thus, the Pharisees corrupted the people’s understanding by confusing them in regards to God’s Word as the very 2 12 Mark 7:13 13 Catechism Paragraphs 80, 81 14 II Peter 1:20, 21 15 John 16:13 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth". 16 John 16:15 17 Catechism Paragraph 82 18 Catechism Paragraph 891 basis of truth. Jesus declared to them, "[You are] making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered".12 In spite of this unmistakably clear standard of truth, the Catholic Church declares her own standard of truth. She begins her reasoning with the following words, "Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture, then, are bound closely together and communicate one with the other" "And [Holy] Tradition transmits in its entirety the Word of God, which has been entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit".13 The fact is that no "tradition" transmits in its entirety the Word of God. This task is solely that of the Holy Spirit. First, in an exclusive sense, the Scriptures are the composition of the Holy Spirit; as stated by the Apostle Peter, "holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost".14 The Holy Spirit is fully fitted for this work because He is "the Spirit of truth".15 He has perfect knowledge of the truth because He is God, one with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit reveals the truth of the written Word to believers. For this reason the Lord Christ Jesus said, "He shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you".16 Thus, the Holy Spirit perfectly transmits the Word of God in its proper fullness. Having equated her "Sacred Tradition" with Sacred Scripture, and having stated that her tradition transmits the Word of God in its entirety, the Catholic Church reaches its conclusion with the following words, "As a result the [Catholic] Church, to whom the transmission and interpretation of Revelation is entrusted, ‘does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence".17 This statement is a formal denial of the sufficiency of Scripture and a repudiation of its unique authority. For a church, claiming to be Christian, to attach as much importance to tradition as she does to Scripture is to totally devalue Scripture. It is like a husband who declares that he loves his wife and at the same time states that he also loves equally the woman across the street. Such love would be adulterous; so also are Papal Rome’s "equal sentiments of devotion and reverence". Such a declaration is tantamount to a rejection of Scripture and unfaithfulness to the God of Scripture. Catholicism, however, does have a standard for truth that is taken to be absolute. It is not the unqualified authority of God in His written Word; rather, it is the authority of a man, the Pope of Rome. For Catholics, the ultimate authority lies in the decisions and decrees of the reigning Pope. This is seen in their official teaching which states, "The Supreme Pontiff, in virtue of his office, possesses infallible teaching authority when, as supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful...he proclaims with a definitive act that a doctrine of faith or morals is to be held as such".18 3 19 For example, Pope Honorius I (625-38) was posthumously condemned as a heretic and excommunicated from the Church by the Sixth Ecumenical Council (680-681 A.D.) He was also condemned as a heretic by Pope Leo II, as well as by every other pope until the eleventh century. It was not until 1870 at Vatican Council I that the Catholic Church for the first time declared that the Pope is infallible. 20 Ephesians 2:1, "and you… who were dead in trespasses and sins." 21 Ephesians 2:9 22 Catechism, Paragraph 2021 23 Romans 11:6 24 Catechism Paragraph 1129 25 Vatican Council II Documents, No. 64, "Gaudium et Spes," 1965, Vol. I, Sect. 14 Thus, in practice, the Catholic Church’s basis for doctrine is her pope and what he states to be truth. In other words, this is truth claimed by decree. The absurdity of this claim is evident when we remember that several popes were declared to be heretics and thus condemned by Church councils.19 Salvation by Grace Alone Denied by Catholic Sacramental System That salvation is by God’s grace alone must be clearly understood. Unredeemed sinners, all of whom are "dead in trespasses and sins",20 can only be saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone because salvation is "the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast".21 It is God who graciously saves by His unmerited free gift. In total contrast to this, salvation in the Catholic Church is said to come about by "grace" that is merely a "help" with the intention that people will respond. Thus, the Catholic Church officially states, "Grace is the help God gives us to respond to our vocation of becoming his adopted sons. It introduces us into the intimacy of the Trinitarian life".22 In this view, human beings are presumed to be good enough to respond to the help that God gives to them. According to the Catholic Church, grace is not a manifestation of God’s sovereign action in salvation but merely a "help" given to humans that they may respond, should they decide to believe. The Catholic teaching contradicts the very concept of grace. As the Scripture states, "and if by grace, then is it [salvation] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace".23 God’s sovereign action is what is at stake and not uncertain, human response. The Catholic concept of "grace" denies God’s sovereign grace. Therefore, the Papacy needed to construct a mechanism by which Catholics can profess that they have received grace. The primary tools of their invention are called the "Sacraments". Accordingly, the Catholic Church states, "The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation. ‘Sacramental grace’ is the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by Christ and proper to each sacrament".24 This teaching is appalling. In the Bible, salvation is given to an individual by the absolute power of God’s grace alone - because in God alone is the power to deliver a man from being spiritually "dead in trespasses and sins" to being spiritually alive in Christ. However, the Catholic Church adamantly disagrees with the Bible on this primary issue, for it officially claims, "man has only been wounded by sin".25 Thus, her Catechism describes God’s grace as a "help" accessible through her sacraments. These sacraments are in turn totally under the control of the Catholic priesthood. 4 26 Ephesians 1:6 27 Acts 16:31 28 II Peter 1:1 29 Romans 10:17 30 Catechism Paragraph 168 31 Catechism Paragraph 169 32 Catechism Paragraph 181 33 The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent, 7th Session, March, 1547 (Rockford, IL: Tan Publishers, Inc., 1978) This curse against those who believe that Christ alone is the object of their saving faith has never been lifted. For centuries, the horrendous tortures of the Papacy’s Inquisition were used throughout Europe and Britain to wipe out all believers whose faith was in Christ alone. By the end of the eighteenth century, the Papacy no longer had the We absolutely praise the Lord God that from Scripture we can be sure that His grace is totally His free gift, "wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved".26 In salvation, we are accepted not in any institution, or by partaking of any sacrament, but in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Papal Substitute for Christ Alone as Object of Faith The object of faith is clearly seen in Scripture as the person of Christ Jesus Himself. Consequently, it is stated, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house".27 This faith is God-given faith, as declared by the Apostle Peter, "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ".28 This God-given faith comes by hearing the Word of God as is stated, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God".29 The topic of faith is so clear in Scripture that one would doubt that it could be twisted by any church. Nonetheless, the Catholic Church does manage to completely change the concept of faith. Regarding faith, she doesn’t deal directly with the individual, but focuses attention on herself, "the Church", as the object of faith and commitment, and as the one that first believes. Thus she teaches, "It is the Church that believes first, and so bears, nourishes and sustains my faith".30 Then, very audaciously and misleadingly, she declares, "faith comes through the Church because the Church is our Mother". As a result she officially teaches, "Salvation comes from God alone; but because we receive the life of faith through the Church, she is our mother…"31 In the Catholic Church the result is that a person believes in "Mother Church" and not on the Lord Jesus Christ. Her official words stating this are the "‘Believing’ is an ecclesial act. The Church’s faith precedes, engenders, supports and nourishes our faith. The Church is the mother of all believers. ‘No one can have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother’".32 Therefore, Roman Catholics are compelled to submit to "holy Mother Church" and accept her teaching. Without biblical warrant, the Catholic Church seeks to replace Jesus Christ as the object of saving faith with a substitute; namely, faith in "Mother Church". The effect of this change is the enslaving of individuals to the Roman Catholic Church rather than the freedom obtained by faith in Jesus Christ alone. To maintain the Catholic Church as the object of faith, the Papacy curses all who believe on Christ by faith alone. The official words of "Mother Church" are, "If anyone says that by the sacraments of the New Law grace is not conferred ex opere operato [from the work worked], but that faith alone in the divine promise is sufficient to obtain grace, let him be anathema [cursed]".33 5 military and civil power to enforce her sinister doctrine. But by the mid-twentieth century, the Papacy’s new tools had been formed against those whose faith is in Christ alone: Ecumenism, dialogue, and "social justice" were formally unveiled at Vatican Council II. The method has changed; but the goal has not. 34 Romans 6:10 35 I Peter 3:18 36 Hebrews 9:28 37 John 19:30 38 Catechism Paragraph 1367 (Emphasis not in original) 39 Hebrews 9:22 40 Catechism Paragraph 1368 41 Hebrews 1:3 42 Romans 3:28 43 Titus 3:5 Christ’s Sufficient Once and For All Sacrifice The unique oneness of Christ’s sacrifice is the fact that it was one offering-once made. The concept "once" is deemed so important that it is asserted seven times by the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. The perfection of Christ’s sacrifice is contrasted with the repeated daily sacrifices of the Old Testament. The truth of the excellence of Christ’s sacrifice is highlighted by the word "once". For example, the Apostle Paul teaches, "for in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God".34 The Apostle Peter likewise declares, "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God".35 The same truth is taught five times in the book of Hebrews with the conclusion, "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation".36 The majestic truth is found in the Lord’s declaration from the cross, "It is finished".37 In total contrast, the Catholic Church declares that Christ’s sacrifice, which was offered on the cross, is contained and offered in her Mass. Her official words, which are in defiance of Scripture, are the following, "In this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner".38 However, the Bible teaches that "without shedding of blood is no remission".39 Quite unbelievably she reaches an even more outlandish conclusion. She declares that the sacrifice of Christ is also a sacrifice of the Church offering herself with Him. The official words are, "The Church, which is the Body of Christ, participates in the offering of her Head. With him, she herself is offered whole and entire".40 It is utterly blasphemous for a church to teach its members to offer themselves with Christ’s sacrifice. The doctrine of participating in Christ’s sacrifice is entirely perverse and immoral. This proposition is totally false as it denies the repeated statements of God’s truth in Scripture. The work of redemption is "by Himself",41 "without the deeds of the law",42 "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us".43 To teach people such a proposition is a dreadful abomination before the Lord God! The Nature of God as The Only All Holy One The Bible clearly teaches that God alone is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His Being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. Most important is the fact that He is the All Holy One. His holiness is the divine attribute that covers all attributes so that His 6 44 I Samuel 2:2 45 Revelation 15:4 46 Isaiah 6:3 47 Catechism Paragraph 2677 48 Catechism Paragraph 2030 49 Isaiah 42:8 50 Exodus 20:4-5 51 Deuteronomy 4:13, 15-16 52 Exodus 32:4-9 righteousness is holy, His truth is holy, and His justice is holy. He is each of His attributes, and the overall attribute of holiness is that which separates Him from all beings. His holiness is distinctive and matchless. This is the reason why we need to be saved by Him, the All Holy God. Thus, we read in Scripture, "there is none holy as the Lord".44 Again, the Word of the Lord proclaims, "who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorify Thy name for thou only art holy and all nations shall come and worship before thee".45 The Lord God is utterly holy in the words of Scripture, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory".46 In addition to declaring the holiness of God, the official teaching of the Catholic Church declares Mary to be "the All Holy One". The capital letters are there in print, and there is no disclaimer or footnote to explain differently what is said. The following is stated, "By asking Mary to pray for us, we acknowledge ourselves to be poor sinners and we address ourselves to the ‘Mother of Mercy,’ the All Holy One".47 Furthermore, Catholic teaching also officially states, "From the Church he [the Catholic] learns the example of holiness and recognizes its model and source in the all-holy Virgin Mary…"48 This blasphemous teaching is an attempted theft of the very essence of the divine glory reserved unto God alone. It comes as a shock to many to see that in this very doctrine the Papacy displays its total disregard for the Godhead. We know that the Sovereign Lord God alone is the All Holy One and that He is protective of His glory, opposing all that are hostile to it, "I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another".49 Idolatry The Scriptures are absolutely clear in declaring that we are neither to make a graven image nor show any veneration to such images, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything...Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them".50 Then Scripture explains how this is to be understood, "and he [God] declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even Ten Commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake...Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure...".51 Hence, there is to be no similitude (or likeness) of God made by mankind. That which is forbidden in Scripture is the making of any likeness of Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. The Catholic Church, however, rationalizes that one can indeed practice idolatry. Paragraph 2132 of the 1994 Catechism states, "The Christian veneration of images is not contrary to the first commandment which proscribes idols. Indeed, ‘the honor rendered to an image passes to its prototype,’ and ‘whoever venerates an image venerates the person portrayed in it.’" The reason given is that one venerates the person portrayed by the image and not the image itself. Yet, this is exactly what the Bible forbids and why God’s second commandment had forbidden Aaron from making the golden calf.52 7 53 Catechism Paragraph 2131 The second reason given by Papal Rome to justify the practice of idolatry, cites the ruling of an 8th century council, which states the following, "Basing itself on the mystery of the incarnate Word, the seventh ecumenical council at Nicaea (787) justified against the iconoclasts the veneration of icons - of Christ, but also of the Mother of God, the angels, and all the saints. By becoming incarnate, the Son of God introduced a new ‘economy’ of images."53 When the Seventh Ecumenical Council at Nicaea decided that the incarnation of Jesus Christ introduced a new "economy" of images, the unstated logic of their decision required them to maintain that God changed His mind regarding the Second Commandment. Such reasoning is blasphemy. God does not change His mind. Jesus Christ and the Apostles were equally forthright in condemning idolatry, just as were the commandments of the Old Testament. Nevertheless, the Catholic Church claims that a "tradition comes from the Holy Spirit" which justifies the making of graven images and these are to be publicly displayed. Thus in its Catechism, Paragraph 1161 states, "Following the divinely inspired teaching of our holy Fathers" and the tradition of the Catholic Church (for we know that this tradition comes from the Holy Spirit who dwells in her) we rightly define with full certainty and correctness that, like the figure of the precious and life-giving cross, venerable and holy images of our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, our inviolate Lady, the holy Mother of God, and the venerated angels, all the saints and the just, whether painted or made of mosaic or another suitable material, are to be exhibited in the holy churches of God, on sacred vessels and vestments, walls and panels, in houses and on streets". This is the "Mother Church’s full license for idolatry⎯plain, simple, and condemned by the Lord God. The Holy Spirit is also forthrightly blasphemed in the claim that He established tradition to justify the use of images. Rather, the Bible makes abundantly clear that God hates idolatry and forbids a representation in art of what is divine (Exodus. 20:4-6). Making images to represent God corrupts those who use them (Deuteronomy 4:13, 15-16). Images teach lies about God (Habakkuk. 2:18-20). God cannot be represented in art and all who practice such idolatry are commanded to repent (Acts 17:29-30). The Holy Spirit issues His warning in the New Testament as He did in the Old, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen" (I John. 5:21). Among the evil fruits of bringing idolatry that God hates into worship are the many pagan superstitions and traditions of Roman Catholicism. But the worst fruit of the idolatry that is rife in Roman Catholic worship under the guise of being Christian is its false gospel. The topic of idolatry is of utmost importance as many present day Bible-believing churches attempt to justify pictures and videos of Christ. They argue that both we, and those who cannot read, can come to a fuller understanding of the person of Christ from these images. Yet, the Bible clearly states that such images lie. Jesus Christ is the only one with two distinct natures - both divine and human - in one body. Therefore, to attempt to make any kind of an image of Jesus Christ, graven or two dimensional or moving, still falls under the Second Commandment. 8 54 Hebrews 1:3 55 Colossians 2:9 56 Exodus 20:4-6; Deuteronomy 4:13, 15-16; Habakkuk 2:18-20; Acts 17:29-30 Thus, the Holy Spirit commands in both Old and New Testaments, "little children, keep yourselves from idols" I John 5:21. 57 Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, Para 1367 58 Hebrews 9:25-26 59 Hebrews 7:26 60 Hebrews 9:22 No image can portray Christ’s divinity, for He "is the brightness of his [God’s] glory and the express image of his person",54 "in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily".55 If we are to be biblical, we must avoid or reject any pictorial representation or video showing the persons of Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. The punishment for idolatry is severe, as both Old and New Testament make clear.56 For any temptation to visualize Christ, the Father, or the Holy Spirit, there must be repentance; for God is Holy, and the truth of the Bible is sufficient to provide for all our knowledge of things divine. Idolatry of the Mass At the heart of Roman Catholicism is the Mass or Eucharist, described by the Second Vatican Council as "the fount and apex of the whole Christian life". Papal Rome claims that the Mass is a sacrifice and that the sacrifice of Calvary and the Mass are the same, "one single sacrifice". Thus she teaches, "The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice: ‘The victim is one and the same: the same now offers through the ministry of priests, who then offered himself on the cross; only the manner of offering is different.’ ‘In this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner.’"57 The Holy Spirit’s teaching, however, is that Christ’s sacrifice was once offered, in contrast to the daily offering of sacrifices of the Old Testament, "nor yet that he should offer himself often...for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself".58 Divine perfection is seen in the fact that it was one sacrifice, once offered. We list several grievous departures of "the Eucharistic Sacrifice" from the divine perfection of the Atonement as revealed in Scripture: Firstly, to provide a re-enactment of the one offering, once offered, is to set out to undermine the will and purpose of God. Secondly, for anyone to deem himself fit to offer the Lord Jesus Christ in His perfect sacrifice is simply arrogance of the highest order. Christ Jesus alone was qualified to offer Himself. He alone had the unique qualifications as the Holy Spirit teaches, "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens".59 Thirdly, the Catholic Church’s claim is that Christ "is offered in an unbloody manner". However Scripture equates offering and suffering. In a propitiatory sacrifice, to offer and to suffer are the same thing. This truth is so important that it is given as an absolute principle, "without shedding of blood is no remission".60 Hence, in this context, to propose a bloodless sacrifice is a contradiction in terms. A bloodless sacrifice is a senseless inconsistency that can have no purpose other than to deceive. 9 61 Exodus 20:5-6 62 Luke 22:19 63 This is the dogma in the Catholic Church that is called "transubstantiation." Thus, the official teaching is in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Para 1376 states, "The Council of Trent summarizes the Catholic faith by declaring: "Because Christ our Redeemer said that it was truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church of God, and this holy Council now declares again, that by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation." 64 Ephesians 2:1 65 Ephesians 2:8, 9 Fourthly, the Lord’s Supper is not a sacrifice; it is a memorial. The bread and wine are tokens symbolizing the body and blood of the once and for all sacrifice of Calvary. We are to eat and drink them to remember Him and His atonement with thanksgiving and praise until He returns. Today there are in the Catholic Church convents of nuns devoted to worshipping the Eucharist on a rotational system day and night. There are devout Catholics who spend hours kneeling before the "blessed sacrament" worshipping and praying to it and obtaining solace, they say, from being in the "real presence" of Christ Jesus. The horrifying fact is that such people, professing that they are worshipping Christ in a religious and holy way, are literally practising gross idolatry. Worship of the sacrament brings about the wrath of God as promised in His Word. Idolatry is spiritual adultery. The Lord God looks upon those who practice idolatry as haters of Himself, though they pretend to love Him. The Scripture plainly states that He will visit the iniquity "of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments".61 In the sixteenth century, during the reign of Mary I, or "bloody Mary", many of the martyrs who died in the fire in England chose to do so because of just four words of Scripture, "in remembrance of me".62 Had they been willing to set aside these words, or at least given them a "liberal interpretation", they could have saved themselves. Because they trusted Christ and upheld His Word they refused to do so. For them, the Word of God was truth and life. In affirming these words, the martyrs were denying the Roman Catholic Church doctrine that the communion elements of bread and wine contain the actual physical body and blood of Christ, together with His soul and divinity.63 Conclusion As we have sought to demonstrate, the Roman Catholic Church most certainly is not Christian. Rather, it is an apostate church. The Bible, God’s written word is the inerrant and infallible authority against the apostasy of the Catholic Church and against her false gospel. The Scriptures make clear that by nature, we are all born "dead in trespasses and sins",64 and in practice, we rebel against the All Holy God. Therefore, we justly fall under the curse of the Law. Yet, the love of the heavenly Father, through the Gospel of grace, rescues His own from His fiery wrath. By means of the conviction of sin, placed on the human heart by the Holy Spirit, He by His grace alone turns us to Himself in faith alone for the salvation that He alone gives. This salvation is based on Christ’s death and resurrection for His own. As a result we believe on Jesus Christ the Lord alone, "for by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast".65 Thus by the 10 66 Psalm abundant grace given by Jesus Christ we are not only redeemed from the empire of death, but we can live and reign with Him as we are sanctified daily through His Word by the Holy Spirit and by constant fellowship with Him. With Him also we shall forever live and reign, world without end. Through Christ Jesus, grace reigns with sovereign freedom, power, and bounty! "Blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen."66 ♦ Permission is given to copy and distribute this article. Our MP3s are easily downloaded and our DVDs seen on Sermon Audio at: www.sermonaudio.com/go/212 Our website is: www.bereanbeacon.org

[@CAnswersTV]

Roman Catholicism is the most powerful, widespread and subtle of all un-Biblical religious movements. It claims to be the only "true" church, and everything outside of it is labelled false and branded as heresy. All Protestants are "heretics" according to Romanism (see our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" with 132 videos & counting at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715; particularly see "The Pope in Rome Denounces True Christians & True Christian Churches to Justify His Own Religion" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/pX7WYp1pidh8pKs & "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY PROVES ROMAN CATHOLICISM FALSE" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGcm5ponZiroLM; see too: www.christiantruth.com/ (particularly on historical matters concerning Roman Catholicism), www.BereanBeacon.org & www.CWRC-RZ.org). In reality the Roman Catholic hierarchy is not a church at all, but a gigantic religious, political organization. Because the average Protestant and multitudes of true believers are almost completely ignorant of the facts about Roman Catholicism, it is necessary to expose at the outset some of the most blatant of these. First it must be recognized that the Church of Rome has unscripturally appropriated the name "Catholic" (signifying 'worldwide') to mean only its own church. The true name for the miscalled Catholic Church should be the Roman Church. In the past it was called the Roman Catholic Church. Today, however, particularly in the USA, but also in some other non-Roman-Catholic lands, the name "Roman" has been cunningly dropped and it wishes to be known only as the Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church claims to be the one true Church, dating back to the beginning, organized by Jesus Christ Himself, with the disciple Peter as the first Pope and Vicar of Christ of earth (see our video "The Pope: False Gospel of Roman Catholicism (Part #2 in Romanist Apostasy Series)" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIOlhYSZhqmkoKM). However, while the true "Catholic" Church (the Body of Christ scattered across the earth) was born in eternity in the Mind of God (Ephesians 1:1-11), the Roman Catholic Church was not organized until about 313 AD with the advent of the Roman emperor Constantine. There was a local fellowship of true Christians located in and around Rome at the time but they had no more power than any other local congregation of believers found anywhere else in the world (think of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation chapters 1-3).This was the beginning of the union of Church and State. Constantine, however, did not oppose the old pagan worship of Rome; rather, he superimposed Christianity upon these pagan religions, adopting elements in both; and thus, by allowing the pagans to continue their heathen customs, he made it easy for them to adopt Christianity. The result was the Roman Catholic Church, which is a mixture of about one-third Christianity, one-third Judaism, and one-third paganism. The Roman Catholic Church thus pretends to accept most of the cardinal doctrines of Christendom, plus the holy days and priesthood copied from Judaism, and the superstitions and fetishes of paganism with its charms such as holy water, candles, and images. This only makes sense because Constantine was more of a politician than a real Christian. In fact Constantine did not even bother to get baptized until he was on his deathbed and that by the Arian heretic Eusebius of Nicomedia. Eusebius was a bishop of Berytus (modern-day Beirut) in Phoenicia, then of the See of Nicomedia, where the imperial court resided, and finally of Constantinople from 338 up to his death in 441. If Constantine would have really understood Biblical Christianity he would not have allowed heretics like Eusebius and others to flourish throughout his empire.Question: "What is Arianism?" Answer: Arianism is named for Arius, a teacher in the early 4th century A.D. One of the earliest and probably the most important item of debate among early Christians was the subject of Christ’s deity. Was Jesus truly God in the flesh or was Jesus a created being? Was Jesus God or just like God? Arius held that Jesus was created by God as the first act of creation, that Jesus was the crowning glory of all creation. Arianism, then, is the view that Jesus was a created being with divine attributes, but was not divine in and of Himself. Arianism misunderstands references to Jesus’ being tired (John 4:6) and not knowing the date of His return (Matthew 24:36). Yes, it is difficult to understand how God could be tired and/or not know something, but relegating Jesus to a created being is not the answer. Jesus was fully God, but He was also fully human. Jesus did not become a human being until the incarnation. Therefore, Jesus’ limitations as a human being have no impact on His divine nature or eternality. A second major misinterpretation in Arianism is the meaning of “firstborn” (Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15-20). Arians understand “firstborn” in these verses to mean that Jesus was “born” or “created” as the first act of creation. This is not the case. Jesus Himself proclaimed His self-existence and eternality (John 8:58; 10:30). John 1:1-2 tells us that Jesus was “in the beginning with God.” In Bible times, the firstborn son of a family was held in great honor (Genesis 49:3; Exodus 11:5; 34:19; Numbers 3:40; Psalm 89:27; Jeremiah 31:9). It is in this sense that Jesus is God’s firstborn. Jesus is the preeminent member of God’s family. Jesus is the anointed one, the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). After nearly a century of debate at various early church councils, the Christian church officially denounced Arianism as a false doctrine. Since that time, Arianism has never been accepted as a viable doctrine of the Christian faith. Arianism has not died, however. Arianism has continued throughout the centuries in varying forms. The Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons of today hold a very Arian-like position on Christ’s nature. Just as the early church did, we must denounce any and all attacks on the deity of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (see our playlist "Dealing with Jehovah's Witnesses, Watchtower Society" with 22 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLCF0ADB29C0EB8C40).While the pretended adoption of Christianity was hailed as a great victory for the Church, it was also, ironically, the beginning of her ruin. From this date we can trace all the innumerable errors of the Roman Church - Mariolatry, the mass, purgatory, limbo, the celibacy of priesthood, adoration and worship of images, indulgences, the infallibility of the Pope, the immaculate conception of Mary, and all the other unscriptural errors. Instead of a blessing it became the downfall of the organized church. Yet all the time during those dark ages which followed there was as always the body of true believers, members of the true Church, within the framework of the rapidly corrupting hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. Before Constantine the true Church was persecuted and threatened with extermination; after Constantine there emerged the Roman Church, patronized by the State and subsequently seeking temporal powers to rule and govern the State. This was the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church which has lasted until today.From the Day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 and throughout the next three centuries, the Church remained comparatively free from the serious errors which have characterized it since the beginning of the fourth century. Error was present even in the days of the Apostles, but the Church, suffering indescribable persecution, remained relatively pure in doctrine. After the wedding of Church and State by Constantine, however, the 'coming out' of the true believers from the apostate system became necessary. During the centuries from Constantine until the days of Luther there were groups which either separated themselves from the political and religious system, or else remained as a violent reaction against the increasing corruption. All of these were persecuted and many were martyred for their faith (see our video, "MARTYRS FOR CHRIST: THE MURDEROUS ROMAN CATHOLIC INQUISITION" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6qcZppri82Ebdk). The Roman Catholic Church at that time was not only recognized by the Roman Empire, but the State was ultimately compelled to bow to the edicts of the Church.For much more on the first three centuries of Christianity before Constantine listen to the excellent church history review of "Historical Theology" by church historian and scholar William Cunningham at www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?speakeronly=true&currsection=sermonsspeaker&keyword=William_Cunningham; particularly note the first 9 lectures in "Historical Theology Volume #1".2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

[@jonathannixon8652]

The Iglasia Ni Cristo also says they are "The one true church" This church came out of the Philippines. Look it up. Their founders name is Felix Y. Manalo.

[@CAnswersTV]

Death can come suddenly & unexpectedly. Hear deathbed testimonies of the damned during their last days, hours & moments before going into eternity: "Horrifying & Terrifying Death Bed Scenes Of Atheists, Apostates & Reprobates (1/3)" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sid=731131047310, "Horrifying & Terrifying Death Bed Scenes Of Atheists, Apostates & Reprobates (2/3)" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sid=731131111372, "Horrifying & Terrifying Death Bed Scenes Of Atheists, Apostates & Reprobates (3/3)" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sid=731131132150, "Death-Bed of a Free-Thinker, Exemplified in the Last Hours of Hon. Francis Newport" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sid=72913130359, "Death-Bed Scenes, Death-Bed Repentance Rarely Occurs, As Men Live, So Do Men Die #1" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sid=927131122460, "Death-Bed Scenes, Death-Bed Repentance Rarely Occurs, As Men Live, So Do Men Die #2" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sid=927131158132; "Dying Testimonies Of The Unsaved, The Awful Death Of An Infidel Son Who Hated Jesus" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sid=104131120148, & although this next recording is not an actual deathbed testimonial it is highly informative concerning Judas & other reprobates, "The Repentance of Judas, or, the Lamentable Effects of a Startled Conscience" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sid=310141542316. Listeners will notice numerous similar patterns among the final words & actions of the damned. Many seem to sense the flames of hell & the presence of demonic entities before death overtakes them. An excellent Biblical analysis of eternal punishment in hell & the lake of fire is given by the outstanding theologian A.W. Pink - "Eternal Punishment, part 1" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=12607145320 & "Eternal Punishment, part 2" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sid=12607143539 where he at the same time refutes the arguments of universalists, annihilationists & heretics who say God is "all loving" & would not torment the wicked forever while they ignore the fact that God hates the wicked (Psalm 5:4-6, 11:5, Hosea 9:15, etc.; see our video "The God of the Bible Does Not Love Everybody But Actually Hates Many Instead (Romans 9:22)" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zqurdn15fcyEjMk). Hear also Charles Haddon Spurgeon on this subject in his sermon "The Sinner's End, Hell Opens Wide Her Jaws, the Sinner Falls To Destruction" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1014131452290 & Jonathan Edward's famous sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=113003134610. Besides all this readers can click on our playlist "Dealing with Hell, Lake of Fire, Unpopular Bible Doctrines" with 30 videos & 31 hours of teaching material at kzbin.info/aero/PLE04A1D0DFE95B95E. Don't depend on a last second deathbed conversion to save you from the wrath of a holy God. Come to the Biblical Jesus Christ today for salvation in repentance & faith (2 Corinthians 6:2, "behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation; Acts 16:31, "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved;" Mark 1:15, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel;" 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you-unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures," Revelation 1:8, Jesus is the "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.", Revelation 1:18, Jesus says "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." Becoming a true Christian is not easy therefore count the cost. Becoming a true Christian is not saying a quick prayer & thinking you're okay. Becoming a true Christian is not getting water baptized as a baby or as an adult (see our video "IS WATER BAPTISM NECESSARY TO ESCAPE HELL & BE SAVED & ARE YOU "BORN AGAIN" (JOHN 3:3-8) BY IT?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYqtpYCMbtaljck. You must be supernaturally "born again" by a sovereign act of God through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 1:12-13, 3:3-8; Titus 3:5-7; John 6:37, 39, 44, 63, 65; Ephesians 3:16-21; Romans 8:1-17; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16; Luke 14:26-35, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it- 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.34 “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Luke 6:46, Jesus said, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Becoming a true Christian will change your life forever in this life & the next (2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."). Beg God to save you since you cannot get into heaven by your own righteousness & good works (Ephesians 2:8-10, "8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."). Keep begging God for salvation through Jesus Christ until the day comes that He grants your request (Acts 13:48, "Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed." & 2 Timothy 2:25-26, "24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."). When you are supernaturally regenerated by the Holy Spirit you will know it & suddenly have the power to repent of your evil ways & for the first time you will actually love God more than your own life knowing that nothing in creation is more important than God alone. You will then spend the rest of eternity loving, serving & praising God for He is worthy. John 14:6, "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." See our video "IS JESUS GOD ALMIGHTY IN THE FLESH MEANING THE SECOND PERSON OF THE TRINITY OR IS HE SOMETHING ELSE?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXPPgaBtgpyorJo.

[@iramaloneofficial]

Because some of that stuff is NOT in the scriptures and is unbiblical. Roman Catholicism is a mixture of Christian teaching with Roman paganism. Do some study in history of the church. Look up the video "Lamp In The Dark Untold Story of the Bible" It explains everything.

[@CAnswersTV]

The Only True Church - Hear the following: "Is the Pope in the True Church?" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=820752920, "The One True Church" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=81212170178, "Papacy's Claim to have the Authority of the Apostle Peter, Roman Catholicism, Pope" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=121312161512, "Institutes of the Christian Religion #42 The Ancient Form of Goverment Utterly Corrupted by the Tyranny of the Papacy/Antichrist" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=21308121690 & see our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715. Just about everyone who has started a movement has declared themselves the only true church on earth. In this they claim one must join their exclusive group or organization to be saved and to be a Christian. Many believe there has been a complete apostasy already, so there is need of a full restoration. While God does have a true Church on earth, he has already stated how one enters to be part of this Church. First lets go through the many familiar and some not so familiar groups that claim to be the ONE TRUE CHURCH. Then we will look at how one enters the true church. Mormonism LDS- 13th LDS President Ezra Taft Benson, “This is not just another Church. This is not just one of a family of Christian churches. This is the Church and kingdom of God, the only true Church upon the face of the earth...” (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.164-165). This church is the only true and living church on the face of the whole earth (D and C 1:30) “There is no salvation outside the church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints (Mormon Doctrine, p.670) “Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the Church of the Lamb of God and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore who so belongeth not to the church of the lamb of God belongeth to that great church; which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth.” (The Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 14:10) on April 8, 1973, LDS Apostle Mark E. Petersen proclaimed that salvation “comes only through the Church itself as the Lord established it... Therefore it was made clearly manifest that salvation is in the Church, and of the Church, and is obtained only through the Church.” “The Roman Catholic, Greek, and Protestant church, is the great corrupt, ecclesiastical power, represented by great Babylon....” (Orson Pratt, Writings of an Apostle, “Divine Authenticity,” no.6, p.84). the LDS church is, “the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased ...” Brigham Young (Mormonism's Second President) “Our message is so imperative, when you stop to think that the salvation, the eternal salvation of the world, rests upon the shoulders of this Church. When all is said and done, if the world is going to be saved, we have to do it “ (“Church Is Really Doing Well,” Church News (a bi-weekly publication by the Mormon church), July 3 1999, 3) Jehovah’s Witnesses- The Gospel of the Kingdom ceased to be proclaimed shortly after the death of the apostles. It was not preached again until after 1918.(WT, 12/1/1928, pp. 363-64) We acknowledge as the visible organization of Jehovah on earth the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, and recognize the Society as the Channel or instrument through which Jehovah and Christ Jesus give instruction and meat in due season to the household of faith. (Watchtower, April 15, 1939 p. 125) “ The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society the one and only channel which the Lord has used in dispensing his truth continually since the beginning of the harvest period?” (WT 4/1/1919, p. 6414) “The world is full of Bibles…why then do the people not know which was to go? Because, they do not also have the teaching or law of the mother, which is light.”(WT 5/1/1957, p.274) “Outside the true Christian congregation what alternative organization is there? Only Satan’s organization…”(Watchtower 3/1/1979 p.24) “Consider too, the fact that Jehovah's organization alone in all the earth is directed by God's holy spirit or active force.” (Watchtower, July 1, 1973, page 402) Iglesia ni Cristo- “the complete disappearance of the first-century Church of Christ and the emergence of the Catholic Church” (Pasugo, July-Aug. 1979, p. 8). Thus, outside the Church of Christ no one can be considered a true believer.'' (PASUGO, September/October 1981, p.9) “Each member ... should submit himself to the Administration of the Church in order to be saved.”(PASUGO, January 1976, p. 9) ''People who embraced the true church will be saved not because of the good deeds they have done, but through God's merciful act of commissioning messengers entrusted with words of reconciliation.'' (PASUGO September/October 1986, p. 20) International Church of Christ - “There is one church! There is one God. There is one kingdom of God and this is it! (The Great Commission, audio tape, Weger/Rock, Hodge/Hamann/Fulcher/Fields) “you are in the only family that exists on the face of the earth.”( Phil Lamb, We Are Family, audio tape 1990 West Coast Conf.) “We're the last hope the world has. Nobody else is going to do what we're doing. Nobody else has the right message. Nobody else has the right commitment.”( Gordon Ferguson, Radical Men, Radical Times Hosea Radical Love of God, Manila World Leadership Conf., Aug. 1994 ) “your salvation is hanging in the balance. .... When you walk away from the movement of God, there is no where to walk. Walking out of the light into the darkness. There is nobody else There is nobody else in this country that That has the true gospel -- that is, trying to make disciples of Jesus. There is nobody else in this entire world. This is the movement of God! There is no place to go.” (Nick Young. Tulsa Reconstruction meeting, August, 1992, audio one, side two) “When you preached who is really saved: that you gotta have faith, you gotta repent, you gotta become a true disciple of Jesus, and then you gotta be water immersed for the forgiveness of sins received through the Holy Spirit, that excludes all other denominations…everybody else out there.”( Kip McKean. “Preach the Word.” Johannesburg World Missions Leadership Conference. Aug. 1995, audiotape #10091, side 2) True Jesus Church- On 5. on the web they emphatically state “The True Jesus Church is the true church restored by God through the Holy Spirit of the latter rain. She is the revival of the apostolic church in the end times.” on the web “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). Therefore, one can receive eternal life only through the true church.” The Philadelphia church- Mr. Flurry “The “household” is God's Family or true church. It's the family that God rules. This is God's inner circle--His very elect. One servant, one leader or one man is made ruler over God's church. Only this church (The PCG) gives meat in due season. Only this church is doing God's work!” (The Philadelphia Trumpet, p.1 May 1995) “Some in the world try to label the PCG a cult. Actually, we are God's only true representative on this earth!...”( The Philadelphia Trumpet, p. 19 March, 1994) “...that truth is in only one church today, God's church. Only God's Philadelphia Church has retained God's Law in this end time” (The Philadelphia Trumpet , p.5 March 1994). Roman Catholic Church-”But by divine institution it is the exclusive task of these pastors alone, the successors of Peter and the other Apostles, to teach the faithful authentically, that is with the authority of Christ ....” (Vatican Council II Vol. 2, p. 430, 1984) “If anyone says that in the Roman Church, which is the mother and mistress of all churches, there is not the true doctrine concerning the sacrament of baptism, let him be anathema.” (The Canons And Decrees Of The Council Of Trent, p. 53 -- Seventh Session, Sacrament Of Baptism, Canon 3) “This loyal submission of the will and intellect must be given, in a special way, to the authentic teaching authority of the Roman Pontiff, even when he does not speak ex cathedra in such wise, indeed, that his supreme teaching authority be acknowledged with respect, and that one sincerely adhere to decisions made by him, conformably with his manifest mind and intention ....” (Vatican Council II ,Vol. 1, p. 379) The Second Vatican Council’s Decree on Ecumenism explains: “For it is through Christ’s Catholic Church ALONE, which is the universal help toward salvation, that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained.” Pope Boniface VIII declared: “There is one holy Catholic and apostolic church, outside of which there Is NO SALVATION ... it is altogether NECESSARY FOR SALVATION for every creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.' (“infallible papal bull, Unam Sanctam) Vatican II declared: ... this holy Council teaches ... that the church .. Is NECESSARY FOR SALVATION.” (VATICAN COUNCIL II, Costello Publishing, Austin Flannery, O.P., General Editor, Vol 1, pp. 364-365) All Christians will be gathered in a common celebration of the Eucharist, into the unity of the one and only Church, ... The unity, we believe subsists in the Catholic Church as something she can never lose. (Vatican II, Decree on Ecumenism, chap. 1, 4, p. 416). The local Church (Witness Lee)- When we were in the denominations, we were blind. I do not believe that any dear Christians who have really received sight from the Lord could still remain in the denominations. Everyone who sees must leave the fold and enter the pasture, under the sunshine, in the fresh air, in liberty. Where are you now? Are you in the fold, or are you now in the pasture? Allow me to say this: if anyone is still in the fold, he is blind. Of course, a blind person requires the fold to keep him. But when he receives his sight, he will swiftly leave the fold for the pasture, for the sunshine, for the fresh air.” (Witness Lee, Christ Versus Religion LSM, 197,1 p.109-110) The only way to follow the Lord absolutely is to go the way of the local church. (Witness Lee, The Practical Expression...p.94) If you leave the church (the Local Church), you miss the mark of the Lord's testimony. You must be in the testimony of Jesus. Only the golden lampstands, the local churches, are the testimony of Jesus....if you are not in the local churches you are not the testimony of Jesus.”( Witness Lee, The Stream magazine Nov. 1976, p.7) House of Yahweh-”With all the Churches and Religious Organizations in these Last Days preaching what they call Salvation, why would Yahweh need to establish another organization in order to get his way--the True Way of Salvation--taught? “The One Body of Messiah IS The House of Yahweh! “...IF we 'separate' from the One Body of Messiah: The House of Yahweh, then we succumb to Satan, then at that very moment we become worshipers of Satan...of if one LEAVES The Body - The only Prophesied, Established Work that Yahweh Himself has chosen, then that one does NOT partake, or is NO LONGER a partaker, with the rest of The body of Messiah - The House of Yahweh” (What Yahweh's Feasts Mean to You, pp. 78, 87). “ The churches in the world today do not even pretend to keep Yahweh’s Laws. How could they pretend such a thing anyway, they all blatantly rebel against every one of them.... It should be very obvious why Yahweh had to establish His House in these Last Days--the Christian Churches are not The House of Yahweh. They do not stand in Yahweh’s counsel. They are not the Pillar and Ground of the Truth. They do not teach Yahweh’s Laws, therefore, they do not turn the people away from sin--breaking Yahweh’s Laws.” “I urge you to obtain the books … and start learning the true way to Salvation. This way is not taught in the world by any organization, other than the one established by Yahweh--The House of Yahweh.” Hawaii fellowship of the Universal World Church “a voice thundered and uttered these words “This is my daughter in whom I am well pleased. As Jesus, my son, paid the price through his faithfulness upon the cross.. my anointed daughter, Miss Velma, has paid the price through her faithfulness at the golden altar. Therefore, all who will believe in her, will receive my gift of eternal youth which is new revelation Mamre.” (The mighty Miracle of the new Revelation of Mamre p.49-50) The new Revelation of Mamre is the greatest gift ever given to a people by almighty God. “(The mighty Miracle of the new Revelation of Mamre p.7) “Miss Velma has paid the price! She has become the sacrificial offering required by God that all of mankind may reap one of god's greatest rewards, new revelation Mamre”( ibid.p.51) 7th day Adventists-”I saw that God has honest children among the nominal Adventists and the fallen churches, and before the plagues shall be poured out, MINISTERS AND PEOPLE WILL BE CALLED OUT FROM THESE CHURCHES and will gladly receive the truth....But the light will shine, and ALL WHO ARE HONEST WILL LEAVE THE FALLEN CHURCHES, and take their stand with the remnant” (Early Writings, p. 261 ) We can see the common thread of these churches. They are separatists and deny anyone else can have the right message. That one must come to their CHURCH to be saved. That is the common deviation from Scripture and what makes them a cult. 1 Jn.2:19 “they went out from us but they were not of us, if they had been of us , they would have continued with us, but they went out that they might be made known that none of them were of us.” This was already occurring in the early church. Now that we have read through just a few churches that claim exclusivity to being the only representatives of Christ and God on earth. We need to go to the Bible to see what it states on this matter. It is possible that one of these groups that claim this can be right. But it is impossible for all of them to be right since they all claim exclusivity. Who would know? Jesus who is the head of the Church would know, and the Apostles he appointed to write down his teachings are the ones we need to go to, to find the truth. What is the Church? The first time we find the word Church is in Mt.16:18 where Jesus said he will build his church upon the revelation the Father gave Peter when he openly confessed that Christ is “ the Son of the living God.” “Upon this rock I will build my church.” So this must be the Churches confession of faith, if not, then it is not the Church. What this meant in the Judaic culture is that Christ is equal to God, having the same nature as his Father. The Scripture is clear only God is to be worshipped Ex.34:14: “For thou shall worship no other God for the Lord (Yahweh), whose name is jealous, is a jealous God.” The Church worships God and also worships Christ. The Father in Heb.1:6 tells all the angels to worship the Son. Both the Father and the Son are worshipped in heaven (Rev.4-5) and on earth. The Bible teaches that Jesus is not only worshipped, but also called God by Thomas in Jn.20:28 “My Lord, my God.” (Greek- The Lord of me, the God of me). We find the wise men worshipped Jesus as a child. Mt.2:11.The leper worshipped Jesus Mt.8. The ruler bowed and worshipped Mt.9:18 .The believer who was blind worshipped him Jn.9:38. The women worshipped him Mt. 15:25, Mary Magdalene worshipped him Mt.28:9, the disciples worshipped him Mt.28:17.Jesus was worshipped just as the Father was worshipped. It is called the Church of God which he had purchased with his own blood (Acts 20:28). After Christ raised from the dead and ascended he sent the Holy Spirit to birth a new entity, the church. The Greek word is ekklesia (which is used 114 times in the New Testament) which means a called out assembly (Ek = out of, Kaleo= to call). It is never used of a building or of the kingdom of God. The Church is not the kingdom, but included in it. The Church is a invisible living spiritual organism, composed of all the believers world wide, from the time of its inception on Pentecost, until the taking away of the Church at the rapture. Its origin is found in God as the Holy Spirit gave it its birth in Acts 2:1-4 with the disciples and the Jews at Pentecost in v.33. And we become part of this same Church today the same way they did, by spirit baptism, being born again of the Spirit. No one joins the Church unless they are first joined to Christ. This is why Jesus said you must be born again, (by the Spirit Jn.3:5) not join the Church! The Church began in Jerusalem, not Rome. Any Church that does not trace its start to Jerusalem on Pentecost is not His church. Those who claim the Church needed to be restored from an apostasy are not part of the original Church. Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church, she would never be overcome, no matter how many were killed, it would never result in a complete apostasy. So any church claiming theirs as a restoration can't be traced back to the original. Jesus told Peter: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18). Meaning it would not remove it nor hinder it's growth, work or people. If his Church had apostatized then the gates of hell would have prevailed against it, which makes Christ a liar, that is uncomfortable even for the cult's to say. Christ will not abandon his bride, he said he would always be with. How could Christ be with his Church always if his Church ceased to exist for over 1800 years? The Church is already made and continues to grow through history. No devil or man can stop or hinder it because Jesus is the architect, not man. While it is valid to claim that there needs to be repentance or reformation throughout the church's history, to get back to the bible when we drift. To restore a church from apostasy has quite a different meaning. The true Church is built upon what Peter said Christ is- The Son of the living God- the eternal one. We can only have this by revelation the same way Peter did, from heaven. It is not man revealing this truth but God himself. Christ teaches In Matthew 28:20 he said, “I am with you always even until the end of the world.” And in John 14:16, 18 he said, “And I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you forever. . . . I will not leave you desolate.” Christ promised that nothing would prevail against his Church, that he would be with it always, that the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the third person of the Holy Trinity would be with her always. Christ will not abandon his bride. How could Christ be with his Church always if his Church ceased to exist for 1800 years? We are the Church We (the people) are the Church, which is likened to the temple 1 Pet. 2:5 “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” We are bricks cemented together our spiritual sacrifice is ourselves, our lives. As Rom.12:2 tells to present ourselves as living sacrifices. We no longer sacrifice animals for a sin offering but present ourselves, our lives to God continually each day to be used by Him. 1 Cor.3:16 teaches that each of us as individuals are the temple of God because “the Spirit of God dwells in you.” You are not Christ's possession or part of his Church unless you have the proof by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. (by the way this does not mean one must speak in tongues or have another spiritual manifestation). We are called Col. 1:24: “His body, which is the church” 2 Cor. 6:16 that “we are the temple of the living God.” As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” 2 Cor.3:7 The church will be God's dwelling place. together we are the temple (the church) the dwelling of God. Christ “In You” is the hope of glory. Eph. 2:20-22: “Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Jesus is the cornerstone and the apostles the foundation stones. Paul explains further in Eph. 4:15-16: “but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-- Christ-- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” The Church is a living temple made up of bricks whom are the people. We are all interdependent on one another. Just as a house is not made with one brick but all are cemented together. Each brick has a different gifting and talents and all are to be used so that the body can be healthy. Just as Paul's example of the outside of the body we are all different and the least is to be honored as much as the greatest. Certainly the pancreas adrenal glands on the inside of the body if they were not functioning would affect the rest of its health. Heb 3:1-6: “For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.” How Does one Join the Church? 1 Cor. 12:27: “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” Notice collectively and individually. This means one does not have to belong to a certain denomination or group but to Christ. No one is told to join the Church by the apostles because it is an automatic placing of one in the body of which Christ is the head. 2 Cor.5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” We are put in Christ to become a new creature, not in a Church. Becoming part of a Church is the natural outcome of the new birth. Jn.1:12-13 “ But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” To be born of God is to have the Holy Spirit regenerate the dead spirit in man back to a relationship with God. This comes through Christ alone, no Church or minister can give you this. 1 Cor.12:12-13 “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free-- and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” This is how one enters the Church by the Spirit who comes inside us and unites us with the rest of the body which is invisible and visible. Paul writes in Rom.3:24: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” This is one of Paul's favorite technical terms. Paul points to our spiritual life coming from being connected to the Son. It is Christ that uses examples to show us that He is the gate, the door, the way. We enter the Church (become part of the church) by a person and his work for us. As we come to Christ He puts each one in his spiritual body the Church. You don’t join a church but are born into a family that is the Church. And it is not limited to a local body but a worldwide family of faith. When Paul was persecuting the church, Jesus said he was persecuting him, because he was the owner of it, we are his body and his Spirit indwells those who he killed. By killing Christians he was fighting against Christ himself. The Church is Christ's invisible body on earth. The Church is called “the Church of God” Eph.5:23-24: “also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.” 24... “the Church is subject to Christ.” The Church is ruled by God, just as our body takes instructions from its head. Col.1:18: “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” If we want to obey the truth we receive our sustenance and instructions from Christ alone, collectively and individually! Jesus referred to those who were part of his body/ Church as “my sheep”. In John 10:16, Jesus spoke of other sheep which were not of this fold, them also I must bring and they will hear my voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. What he meant is that the Gentiles outside the nation of Israel were to be grafted into the covenant and have him as their shepherd. You are the branches “I am the vine.” All these relate to our connection to the Son who brings us to the Father, and is the source of our eternal life. We cannot produce fruit apart from him Jn.17. Mark 6:34 “So He began to teach them many things.” Listening to Christ is the first step to having him be your shepherd, you then become a disciple by following his teachings. The leaders or shepherds are to train the sheep to hear the chief shepherds voice. The word “Church of Christ” is not singular but plural in the Scriptures, which is a problem for those that call themselves the exclusive Church of Christ.1 Cor.1:2, 1 Cor.10:32, also Rom.16:16 calls them the Churches of Christ. Rev.1:20 says Christ holds the seven golden lamp stand's, the seven stars and the messengers (angels) of the seven churches in his hand showing his control. This becomes a problem for numerous groups that claim the name “Church of Christ”, since it is plural not single. Likewise for the Jehovah’s Witnesses, since they are Jehovah’s “organization” and not a Church nor Christ’s. Not because of name only, but because they do not look to Christ as the head. Actually if one asks the question to these groups who is the head of your Church? You can various answers from a prophet, apostle, a revelator, to a Pope. Even those who claim Christ can have a different Jesus from the Scriptures. (2 Cor.11:4) So we must examine who Jesus is to them and their relationship to him. Rev 2:23 “and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.” Only God is able to search the heart and give rewards. The Church's Purpose The true Church teaches the bible alone, and promotes evangelism to fulfill the commission Christ gave in Mt.28:18-19. Our purpose Eph. 3:9-10: “... 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 the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.” This is done by teaching the Scriptures equipping the body for our growth first then for the work of ministry Eph.4. So the message can go out to there communities. We are to gather to be taught, equipped for ministry so we can evangelize to bring others to the Lord. The church is a spiritual hospital for sinners so they can be healed from sin. The church is not a building to meet in to come to the Church, instead we should be going out being the church. We have a mission. To make disciples and grow in their relationship with God. We have them join in the body, whether its our particular local body or another that is part of the church universal. Everyone needs to be involved in a local body of believers, an assembly to help bring health to themselves and the body. Different churches have different focuses and different ways of doing ministry. Within the main framework of evangelism there is other ministries, this does not mean any one way is the only way as a long as it is all biblical. Each church may have a specific way to minister to its own communities needs and essentially have different focuses. It is from this variety God is able to meet the needs of individuals and their personalities. The One TRUE Church The true Church holds to the core beliefs of Christianity without subtracting or adding to them. Christ is the eternal God come in the flesh, there is one God and 3 distinct identities (persons) who exist simultaneously as the One God. The virgin conception, the sinfulness of man and the need of a savior, the new birth, the Gospel which is the death burial and physical resurrection, the 2nd coming, baptism, eternal mediator and priesthood of Christ, the priesthood of all believers, the infallibility and inerrancy of Scripture, judgment and rewards to the believers. These are the essentials that are clarified in the Scriptures. If the Church one attends does not hold to these essential beliefs, they are not Christ's Church no matter what name they have on their outside or on paper. This is not my opinion, but the Bibles explanation what the apostles taught through the Gospels, the book of Acts, and in the Epistles. In conclusion there is one true Church, but it is not found in a certain denomination or group by itself. Those who claim you must join their group or Church to be right with God, only prove they do not understand what the word Church or body of Christ means. It is not exclusive but inclusive, as it is found in the heart of all those who have accepted the true Jesus, and have come to God the way He has provided (through His son on the cross), and hold to the essentials of the faith. Whether one is Lutheran, Anglican, Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Charismatic, or Pentecostal, etc. The Church transcends denominational barriers, it exists within denominations, as well as outside of them. This is the Universal Church that has continued from the beginning of Pentecost. While denominations may have differences on peripheral issues, they do hold to the core beliefs that make them all part of the body of Christ, the Church. Two items that come in handy in knowing about when Romanists argue that anything said against the Roman "church" is not the truth is to tell them about the following two items: 1. The following website is by self proclaimed Roman Catholics following the so-called "true church" (in other words their Roman church is their true savior not the Biblical Jesus Christ) at www.mostholyfamilymonastery.com/. These Romanists destroy the new Romanists since the invention of Vatican 2 in 1965. They present great information proving modern Romanism & their popes (they call them anti-popes) to be a false & apostate religion. It doesn't get much better than this when one group of apostate Romanists attack another brand of apostate Romanists in order to prove to the world they are false! 2. Our video "The Homosexual Pope, Priests, Universalists, Evolutionists & Disunited Roman Catholic Apologists" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/noXLoKGtp71ph7c proves from Roman Catholic sources themselves that one of their popes was a practicing homosexual, that almost 50% of Roman Catholic priests are homosexuals (for more on this see our video "FORMER ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST SAYS CHURCH OF ROME HAS A FALSE GOSPEL & WIDESPREAD HOMOSEXUALITY" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqqXdGCkd7Zmo6c), that the Roman church buys the theory of evolution which denies the first eleven chapters of Genesis in the Bible, that Pope John Paul II kissed the Muslim Qur'an & said Islam has the same god as Roman Catholics have (see the videos "Top Ten Reasons Muhammad Is Not a Prophet" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4CbpI1nf96DZ6M, "Ten MORE Reasons Muhammad Is Not a Prophet" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/imXTaHurqs15bs0, "50 Reasons Muhammad Was Not a Prophet (in Under Five Minutes)" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoKWl2Rrg72lgqs, "David Wood: Five Reasons the Quran Is Not the Word of God" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKfPq594pNtssMU, "Who Killed Muhammad?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKTXkKd8n5uiq68, "Why Did Muhammad Wear Women's Clothing?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2aTdKWXltOcipI; also see www.AnsweringMuslims.com & www.MuslimHope.com) & how Roman Catholic apologists are at each others' throats because of the vast differences within Romanism itself. Besides all that see the following websites for detailed information on Romanism & how it is a counterfeit religion at www.BereanBeacon.org, www.CWRC-RZ.org & www.mtc.org/. Remember Titus 1:9-16, "9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." www.BibleQuery.org www.historycart.com/ www.muslimhope.com/ John 14:6

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The Catholic church teaches apostolic succession, meaning each Pope is an apostle the same as the twelve apostles and therefore has authority to supersede the Bible or add to it.

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UGH

[@CAnswersTV]

Our KZbin channel CAnswersTV (which stands for Christian Answers Television) features over 639 videos from a Biblical worldview organized according to topics. Our main channel can be accessed at kzbin.info where all our videos & playlists are on display. Here are our available playlists: 1. "Popular Uploads" at kzbin.info/videos?shelf_id=2&view=0&sort=p 2. "Dealing with Jehovah's Witnesses, Watchtower Society" with 25 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLCF0ADB29C0EB8C40. 3. "Dealing with Islam, Muslims: Sunni, Shi'ite, Alawites, Sufis" with 73 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL1C7F68B548009FDD. 4. "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" with 140 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715. 5. "Dealing with Darwin's Metaphysical Evolution Religion" with 21 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL0703E78058346A52. 6. "Dealing with Seventh-day Adventism & Their "Prophetess" with 26 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL5316CC6F66F24283. 7. "Dealing with Anti Trinitarians (UPC) & Early Church History" with 53 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL9931642C7C8FFEAB. 8. "Dealing with "God Hating" Atheists, Agnostics, Know-It-Alls" with 21 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL640E505B96CD6B39. 9. "Dealing with Phony TV Preachers (TBN) & King James Onlyites" with 30 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL2CDA855486B09128. 10. "Dealing with UFOs, Ghosts, Magic, Spiritual Warfare, Satan" with 19 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL2CF1129D311BF9A6. 11. "Radio Shows with National Christian Authors & Music Vids" with 52 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLF01B4264276D2990. 12. "Dealing with Black Muslims, Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam" with 25 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLD3B79AA00CCF21B7. 13. "Dealing with Mormonism, The Con Man Religion of Joseph Smith, Jr." with 23 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL11CD0EE613306BB5. 14. "Dealing with Hell, Lake of Fire, Unpopular Bible Doctrines" with 33 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLE04A1D0DFE95B95E. 15. "Dealing with AntiChrist Cults, "New Age" & World Religions" with 45 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL69A3047B3497590A. 16. "Dealing with "Saved by Works & Baptism", "Church of Christ" with 75 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLBD55090718DA6D3D. 17. "Charles H. Spurgeon, Jonathan Edwards, Our Spanish Videos" with 26 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLE91032ED05E42487. 18. "End Times, Supernatural Prophecies, Tough Bible Questions" with 49 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL141F261EEFCFD536. 19. "Dealing with Predestination, Arminianism & Calvinism" with 82 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLA932903698A56780. We also have channels on Sermon Audio at www.sermonaudio.com/source_detail.asp?sourceid=christiananswers & www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?speakeronly=true&currsection=sermonsspeaker&keyword=Larry_Wessels. Although the 30 plus videos we have posted on www.SermonAudio.com are also on KZbin the thing that makes these particular videos of interest is that we have produced written transcripts of many of them which has helped quite a few people. Once you click on one of the transcribed videos scroll down to "Sermon Transcription" & choose your options: "View Transcript!," "Download PDF," or "Send to Kindle." Viewers also have the option of over 20 different languages to get the transcription in by going to the "Google Translation" option. Everything is free with nothing to buy. Here are just a few examples of some of our videos that have free transcriptions available: "Early Christian Church History Proves Roman Catholicism False" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=113161415591, "Divine Curse of the Hebrew Roots Movement - Replacing Jesus with the Old Testament" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=108151527437, "Debate: Larry Wessels Versus Two Jehovah's Witnesses at a University Study Center" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=108141526191, "Spiritual Counterfeit: ONENESS PENTECOSTALISM DENIES THE BIBLICAL DOCTRINE OF TRINITY" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=52015115043, "Unpopular Bible Doctrines #1: The God No One Wants To Know" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=311141259524, "Islam's 1400 Year History of Violent Jihad For Sex Slaves, Money & Jew Hatred" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=324161224286, "The Sovereignty of God Versus Man-Made Religions, Petty Emotionalism" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=52015125752, "The Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity- Part 3 (Answering Common Attacks Against the Trinity)" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=32416129330. There are many more but this is just a small sampling of what is available at no charge. Blessings to all. 2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

[@CAnswersTV]

@2groomers Someone only becomes a true Christian by a sovereign, supernatural act of God (Romans 9: 11-23, John 1:12-13, Acts 13:48, 2 Tim. 2:24-26, etc) & the number chosen by God is few (Matthew 7:13-29). Thus just as Jesus could not convince the scribes & Pharisees (Matthew 15:1-14), how will I be able to "prove the Bible" to a lost man who is without the Spirit (1 Cor 2:14)? Type "WHAT IS YOUR FINAL AUTHORITY - THE ROMAN CHURCH OR THE WORD OF GOD? LARRY WESSELS" in the KZbin search box.

[@righteouslamb5756]

Amen Larry Wessels. What that ,man sais is true!

[@CAnswersTV]

"Evangelical" Christianity (see our video "ECUMENICAL CHAOS: Going to Bed With Roman Catholic False Prophets & Idolaters" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWiZf6mfa9Vjotk) is awash in bad theology (via Wesley & Finney), bad leadership (like Billy Graham & TBN), & Biblical ignorance (87% don't know the Gospel or what justificaton is) thus it seems to accept anyone who claims to be a Christian (like Romanists, Mormons, Seventh-day Adventists or whoever). For proof of this see the following: "Methodist Founder & Self Proclaimed Heathen John Wesley Said He Never Believed In or Loved God" (short version) at kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpDFq2WIrribfKs & "JOHN WESLEY, FOUNDER OF METHODISM & AN ARMINIAN, SAID HE DID NOT LOVE GOD & WAS "AN HONEST HEATHEN" (long version) at kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIfSZJ-gp5yWmdU; BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS: CHARLES GRANDISON FINNEY - PHONY REVIVALIST & ARCH-HERETIC at kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqO4k5xudq-FrZY, "Exclusive Interview with Dave Hunt about the Gospel-less Mother Teresa & Compromiser Billy Graham" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/borXiWR6ntd3f5Y, Our playlist "Dealing with Phony TV Preachers (TBN) & King James Onlyites" at kzbin.info/aero/PL2CDA855486B09128 & "SAD STATE OF THE CHURCH: 87% OF EVANGELICAL "CHRISTIANS" DON'T KNOW WHAT GOSPEL JUSTIFICATION IS" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/n56XoK2vlKqciJY. See our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" with 119 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715, our playlist "Dealing with Mormonism, the Religion of Mitt Romney & Utah" with 20 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL11CD0EE613306BB5 & our playlist "Dealing with Seventh-day Adventism & Their "Prophetess" at kzbin.info/aero/PL5316CC6F66F24283 with 23 videos. Billy Graham's false views on universal salvation & hell distort the Gospel message & is another reason he is so popular with the world (Galatians 1:6-10, see our playlist "Dealing with Hell, Lake of Fire, Unpopular Bible Doctrines" with 30 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLE04A1D0DFE95B95E). Please reference the websites: www.BereanBeacon.org & www.CWRC-RZ.org. The simple Biblical fact is that few are going to be saved from the wrath of God & hell (Luke 13:23-30, Matthew 7:13-29, etc.); see our video on this: "Unpopular Bible Doctrines #2: Many "Christians" Are Not Real; God Loves Judgment; No Forgiveness" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3usnYWbhZ6GfNk. All the ecumenical "love" & "harmony" in the world is not going to change the fact that God still hates false religions (Deuteronomy 28:64, 32:17, 21, Leviticus 17:7, Psalm 106:37, Jeremiah 44:3, 1 Corinthians 10:20, see also biblehub.com/deuteronomy/32-17.htm) & false doctrine (Revelation 2:6,14-15, 2 Peter 2:15, etc.). Thus following the Bible alone is the only safe path to travel (2 Timothy 3:15-17, 4:2-5, 1 Timothy 1:3-11, 6:3-5, etc.; see our video "WITHOUT "SOLA SCRIPTURA" (THE BIBLE ALONE), WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTH?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpSwn3lsqcysl5I). 2 Timothy 2:15

[@CAnswersTV]

Unfortunately real Christianity seems to be disappearing in Europe. Another problem is the weakness of so-called "Evangelical Christianity." Much of "Evangelical Christianity" is not real Christianity either. Please see our video "SAD STATE OF THE CHURCH: 87% OF EVANGELICAL "CHRISTIANS" DON'T KNOW WHAT GOSPEL JUSTIFICATION IS" for more on this situation.

[@ConnerMcDonald1]

Dear Michael: You and I agree on calling the RCC what it truly is--A CULT! I have been doing this for some time now and try to encourage others to do the same.

[@CAnswersTV]

Two items that come in handy in knowing about when Romanists argue that anything said against the Roman "church" is not the truth is to tell them about the following two items: 1. The following website is by self proclaimed Roman Catholics following the so-called "true church" (in other words their Roman church is their true savior not the Biblical Jesus Christ) at www.mostholyfamilymonastery.com/. These Romanists destroy the new Romanists since the invention of Vatican 2 in 1965. They present great information proving modern Romanism & their popes (they call them anti-popes) to be a false & apostate religion. It doesn't get much better than this when one group of apostate Romanists attack another brand of apostate Romanists in order to prove to the world they are false! 2. Our video "The Homosexual Pope, Priests, Universalists, Evolutionists & Disunited Roman Catholic Apologists" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/noXLoKGtp71ph7c proves from Roman Catholic sources themselves that one of their popes was a practicing homosexual, that almost 50% of Roman Catholic priests are homosexuals (for more on this see our video "FORMER ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST SAYS CHURCH OF ROME HAS A FALSE GOSPEL & WIDESPREAD HOMOSEXUALITY" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqqXdGCkd7Zmo6c), that the Roman church buys the theory of evolution which denies the first eleven chapters of Genesis in the Bible, that Pope John Paul II kissed the Muslim Qur'an & says Islam has the same god as Roman Catholics have (see the videos "Top Ten Reasons Muhammad Is Not a Prophet" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4CbpI1nf96DZ6M, "Ten MORE Reasons Muhammad Is Not a Prophet" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/imXTaHurqs15bs0, "50 Reasons Muhammad Was Not a Prophet (in Under Five Minutes)" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoKWl2Rrg72lgqs, "David Wood: Five Reasons the Quran Is Not the Word of God" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKfPq594pNtssMU, "Who Killed Muhammad?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKTXkKd8n5uiq68, "Why Did Muhammad Wear Women's Clothing?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2aTdKWXltOcipI; also see www.AnsweringMuslims.com & www.MuslimHope.com) & how Roman Catholic apologists are at each others' throats because of the vast differences within Romanism itself. Besides all that see the following websites for detailed information on Romanism & how it is a counterfeit religion at www.BereanBeacon.org, www.CWRC-RZ.org & www.mtc.org/. Our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" currently has 117 videos refuting Romanism at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715. Remember Titus 1:9-16, "9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."

[@ladydon50]

The truth is really right there in the bible people have to take off their blinders and ask for the holy spirit in prayer and like Jesus said ask and it would be giving you.It's really that simple were it get hard is when you allow people to take what God has given you in his word

[@mihaeltomasovic]

i thought Enoch was penned far after most of the Old Testament? or was there another book of Enoch that maybe was kind of like the "infancy 'gospel' of thomas" compared to "the 'gospel' of thomas" and other gnostic texts which were all written pretty long after the Inspired Books of the New Testament...

[@CAnswersTV]

Water Baptism is not a savior (Christ alone is) or is it the true gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). Water Baptism - Is it Necessary for Salvation? Definitely NOT! See our video "IS WATER BAPTISM NECESSARY TO ESCAPE HELL & BE SAVED & ARE YOU "BORN AGAIN" (JOHN 3:3-8) BY IT?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYqtpYCMbtaljck. Let’s show how Scripture differentiates between the baptism of John and the baptism of Jesus. We’ll look at Acts 19:3-5. Here are these verses: And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 19:3-5 (NKJ) If John’s baptism was the same as Jesus’ baptism, then why did these people need to be re-baptized? The answer is obvious. John’s baptism was not the same as Jesus’ baptism. Now, let’s talk about some Scriptures that people might use to defend their position that water baptism is indeed necessary for salvation and respond to those verses. Let’s look at Mark 1:4. It says: John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Mark 1:4 (NKJ) This verse seems to say that the baptism of repentance was for the remission of sins. Who am I to argue with Scripture? But as we’ve discussed already, John’s baptism IS NOT THE SAME as the baptism of Jesus. So we can discount the baptism of John for our purposes, because we are baptized in the name of Jesus, not in the name of John. It is Jesus’ baptism that is for us today, not John’s. If we’re supposed to be baptized into John’s baptism, then why were the people in Acts 19:3-5 re-baptized? The answer is plain. Because once Jesus had come on the scene, it was HIS baptism that is relevant. So for us to decide what we need to do, in this present age, we need to focus on the baptism of Jesus. Here’s a set of verses that people use to defend the idea that water baptism is necessary for salvation. They are John 3:1-8. Let’s look at these verses. 1)There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2)This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3)Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4)Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5)Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6)That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7)Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.’ 8)The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:1-8 (NKJ) People taking the stance that baptism is necessary for salvation will say, “See, look here! This verse says that ‘unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.'” And I must agree that is does say that. But what does “born of water” mean? It this phrase referring to water baptism? Upon first glance, it may seem so, but let’s take a closer look at the surrounding context. Read the entire passage again, starting from verse 1. Nicodemus is asking Jesus how he can possibly enter his mother’s womb again and be re-born. So he’s talking about physical birth. He can’t understand the concept of physically being re-born. Obviously that’s an impossibility. But Jesus isn’t talking about physical rebirth, He’s talking about spiritual rebirth. Look at what He says in verses 5 and 6. I’ll repeat it. “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:5,6 (NKJ) You see? So “born of water” in this context looks to mean “physically born” not “baptized.” Let me re-phrase it. “I’m telling you that unless you’re physically born and then spiritually reborn, you can’t enter into heaven. If you’re physically born, you’re just a lost human. If you’re spiritually reborn, you’ve entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ.” (Eric’s version) Let’s look at yet another common verse used to defend the idea that the salvation of our souls requires water baptism. Here it is: Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 (NKJ) Obviously, the controversial phrase here is after the word “repent.” We all agree that repentance is necessary for salvation. Let’s look at the Greek word εις translated “for.” In the original Greek, in the New Testament, this word has several different meanings. One is “aim or purpose.” An example of εις being used in this manner is I Corinthians 2:7, which says No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for (the aim or purpose of) our glory before time began. I Corinthians 2:7 (NKJ) In another usage, the Greek word εις means “at,” or “because of” as in Matthew 12:41. Let’s look at it: The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. Matthew 12:41 (NKJ) Both of these uses are good Greek, and so the next logical question would be “what drives your choice of translation?” For me, it is the larger context of Scripture. For instance, in Acts 10, we see that people had already been saved before being baptized. Let’s look: 46)For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47)”Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48)And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. Acts 10:46-48 (NKJ) These people were speaking in tongues and had received the Holy Spirit yet they had not been baptized. Another example is the thief on the cross who went to Paradise without baptism. Let’s read about that. 39)Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” 40)But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41)And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42)Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 43)And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:39-42 (NKJ) Clearly this man was never baptized. Yet he was saved because he believed. What did Paul tell the Philippian jailor? Let’s find out. 25)But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26)Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27)And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28)But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” 29)Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30)And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31)So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:25-31 (NKJ) Although the jailor’s family was baptized, they were saved when they believed. Paul plainly set forth only belief as a prerequisite for salvation.Further, in establishing the greater context of Scripture, we can look at numerous other passages where belief is the only requirement for salvation. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. Luke 8:12 (NKJ) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. John 1:12 (NKJ) 15). . .that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16)For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17)For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18)”He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:15-18 (NKJ) He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36 (NKJ) “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” John 5:24 (NKJ) And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” John 6:35 (NKJ) . . . “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40 (NKJ) ”Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.” John 6:47 (NKJ) ”Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” John 8:24 (NKJ) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25,26 (NKJ) Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” John 11:40 (NKJ) . . . but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:31 (NKJ) ”To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” Acts 10:43 (NKJ) This is Peter speaking. After he spoke these words, many people believed and they were baptized with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in tongues. After that, they were then baptized. This shows that the belief saved the people (would unsaved people have the Holy Spirit and be speaking in tongues?) and then afterward, they were baptized. . . .and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:39 (NKJ) Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. Acts 13:48 (NKJ) ”But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” Acts 15:11 (NKJ) So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31 (NKJ) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 1:16 (NKJ) 9) . . .that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10)For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11)For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12)For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13)For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Romans 10:9-13 (NKJ) For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. I Corinthians 1:21 (NKJ) . . . knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. Galatians 2:16 (NKJ) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 (NKJ) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. I Thessalonians 4:14 (NKJ) . . . that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. II Thessalonians 2:12 (NKJ) However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. I Timothy 1:16 (NKJ) For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, “They shall not enter My rest,”‘ although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. Hebrews 4:3 (NKJ) But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. Hebrews 10:39 (NKJ) Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” I Peter 2:6 (NKJ) Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. I John 5:1 (NKJ) These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. I John 5:13 (NKJ) These verses would be grossly misleading if baptism were a prerequisite for salvation! I’ve just listed a plethora of verses that tell us that we are saved if we believe, and are condemned if we don’t. This should help the questioner get a better idea of the context of Scripture regarding baptism, and, for that matter, what one needs to do for salvation (hint: believe). For more on this subject, check out I Corinithians 15:1-11, and read the whole book of John. So, if you remember, we were discussing Acts 2:38, and I think the better translation of the Greek word εις is “because of” in this verse due to the greater context of Scripture. Scripture teaches baptism on the basis of repentance, and belief as the requirement for salvation.In addition, this verse presents us with a logic problem. Let me explain. If I were to say, “Eat and put gold under your bed, and you can live,” that would be a true statement. But the part that really allows you to live is the “eat” part. Putting gold under your bed may help you in your finances, but it doesn’t actually cause you to continue living. Eating does! The same logical argument can be used for this verse. Peter says, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Now, we know that if we repent and are baptized, we will be saved, according to this verse. But it doesn’t logically follow that both repentance and baptism are requirements for salvation, following the logic outlined above. And in the larger context of Scripture, we see that baptism is NOT a prerequisite for eternal life. Another verse used to defend the position that water baptism is necessary for salvation is I Peter 3:21. Here is the verse (in its context). 18)For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19)by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20)who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21)There is also an antitype which now saves us-baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22)who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. I Peter 3:18-22 (NKJ) Granted, this is a very difficult passage, and I make no claim to thoroughly understand it. However, I want to focus in on verses 20 and 21. We see here that Peter is comparing baptism to the time when Noah and his family were saved on the ark. And then Peter tells us that baptism saves us. But he’s quick to point out, in the very next phrase, that this baptism saves us symbolically, not actually. He’s saying that baptism doesn’t cleanse us physically in a literal sense, or if you want to take it metaphorically, it doesn’t cleanse our souls in a literal sense. But what saves us is the “answer (or inquiry) of a good conscience toward God.” This is the baptism which saves us. Peter tells us that baptism saves us, and then he goes on to define baptism as an inquiry of a good conscience toward God, or in other words, an open, honest inquiry and trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It’s not the act of immersion which saves our souls, it’s our trust in Jesus. Yet another verse that often seems to promote baptism as a requirement for salvation is Mark 16:16. Here it is: He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16 (NKJ) This verse also presents a logical question. It’s the same logic problem discussed above for Acts 2:38. Simply put, this verse in no way says that both belief and baptism are requirements for salvation. In addition, the second portion of this verse makes this quite clear without any external argument. It says, “he who does not believe will be condemned.” It does NOT say, “he who does not believe and is not baptized will be condemned.” It plainly sets forth the “believing” aspect of the statement as the requirement for avoiding condemnation. In summation, I’d like to make some additional points. First, baptism is never given in Scripture as a COMMAND to Christians except in Acts 2:38 when Peter tells the Jews to “repent and be baptized.” This is the ONLY place where we are commanded to be baptized. So since we are told to, we should be. Yet this should never be construed as a command to all new Christians as a requirement for salvation. The New Testament makes this blatantly clear. What would happen if I were on the battlefield and I accepted Jesus and then was shot through the heart before I was baptized? As Scripture so plainly states, I would be saved, just as the people were in Acts 10 who received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues before they were baptized, and just as the thief on the cross was before he died (he was never baptized). In addition, why did Paul tell his readers in such certain terms that he wasn’t called to baptize, but to preach? Look at this verse: I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anone should say that I had baptized in my own name. Yes I also baptized the household of Stephanus. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom and words, lest the cross of Christ be made of no effect. I Corinthians 1:13-17 Paul tells us that Jesus didn’t call him to baptize (is Paul negating the Great Commission here? I think not!) but to preach. And Paul says he only baptized a few people. And thank goodness for that, he says, because otherwise people might be saying they were baptized in the name of Paul. The Great Commission is in Matthew 28:19,20 records Jesus’ words to his disciples to “go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit . . .” This certainly doesn’t say we need to be baptized to be saved. And why did Paul say he wasn’t called to baptize? It must be because the church as a whole is called to baptize, not us as individuals. How could a wheelchair-bound person baptize someone? Yet we have many Christians who are in wheelchairs. And we have many Christians who are invalids as well. Are they disobeying Jesus’ command to baptize? I don’t think so. Jesus Himself baptized none. And then the kicker . . . why would Paul leave 99% of his converts half-saved, or, according to some, not saved at all? If baptism were a requirement for salvation, then the majority of people Paul preached to never entered the kingdom of heaven, because, as Paul says himself, he only baptized Crispus, Gaius, and the household of Stephanus. Paul, in his zealousnous for preaching the gospel, and in his obsession for detail, would not leave so many people unsaved. My hope is that this study has given you a glimpse of the truth of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He lives today. Believe in Him, and in His words, and you will receive eternal life. That’s a promise we can all bank on. John 14:6 (it's Jesus, not water baptism)!

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For more on the unbelieving & lack of faith in God Mother Teresa (her case is very similar to John Wesley, see our videos: "JOHN WESLEY, FOUNDER OF METHODISM & AN ARMINIAN, SAID HE DID NOT LOVE GOD & WAS "AN HONEST HEATHEN" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIfSZJ-gp5yWmdU & "Methodist Founder & Self Proclaimed Heathen John Wesley Said He Never Believed In or Loved God" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpDFq2WIrribfKs) hear the following - "Mother Teresa - A Miserable Tragedy!" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=940716541910. See also the following links: ""Mother Teresa - A Lost Soul?" by Former Roman Catholic priest for 22 years Richard Bennett (www.BereanBeacon.org)" at www.bereanbeacon.org/article/sorted/01_On_Catholicism/Mother_Teresa_a_lost_soul.pdf & "Wolves in Costume: Mother Teresa" at www.creationliberty.com/articles/teresa.php. Matthew 7:15, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

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Now why on this earth would a faithful Catholic abounded the truth and follow a lie?

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See our video "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY PROVES ROMAN CATHOLICISM FALSE" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGcm5ponZiroLM. Also see the anti Vatican 2 Romanist website www.mostholyfamilymonastery.com/. Has a Roman Catholic Pope made a wrong statement when speaking "ex-Cathedra and infallible" thereby destroying the Romanist claim that the pope is infallible? Today's post Vatican 2 Romanists being led by the likes of John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Francis & others might claim that Pope Eugene IV blew it by agreeing with the Council of Florence held in 1438-1439 A.D. What did Pope Eugene say that today's ecumenical & all inclusive Romanists would not like? Here's what he declared in approval of the Council of Florence - "Pope Eugene IV, Council of Florence (ex-Cathedra and infallible): “The Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that all those who are outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans but also Jews or heretics and schismatics, cannot share in eternal life and will go into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless they are joined to the Church before the end of their lives; that the unity of this ecclesiastical body is of such importance that only for those who abide in it do the Church’s sacraments contribute to salvation and do fasts, almsgiving and other works of piety and practices of the Christian militia produce eternal rewards; and that nobody can be saved, no matter how much he has given away in alms and even if he has shed blood in the name of Christ, unless he has persevered in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church” (“Cantate Domino,” 1441, ex cathedra)." If Eugene was wrong in what he said according to today's Romanists then papal infallibility is a lie & a sham. If today's popes are wrong on this issue in regard to popes of the past then their infallibility is a lie & a sham. The Roman Catholic church did not teach universal salvation of all religious beliefs like it does now (see our videos: "Roman Catholicism Series #16: Old Romanism Contradicts Vatican 2 New Romanism - Shifting Doctrines" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmqYZKaQfaigd80 & "Roman Catholicism Series #15: Rome Says Even Atheists Will Be Saved Because of Their Sincerity!" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYrEaZpje7GYp7M). The Roman Catholic inquisition proved Roman Catholicism throughout the centuries did not hold to a Vatican 2 type of universal salvation as it does now (see "MARTYRS FOR CHRIST: THE MURDEROUS ROMAN CATHOLIC INQUISITION" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6qcZppri82Ebdk). Pope Honorius I (died 12 October 638) reigned from 27 October 625 to his death in 638[1] proves that the infallibility of the pope is a sham because he can be totally wrong whether he speaks "from the chair" or not & only someone willingly blind cannot see it for what it is. Honorius, according to the Liber Pontificalis, came from Campania and was the son of the consul Petronius. He became pope two days after the death of his predecessor, Boniface V. The festival of the Elevation of the Cross is said to have been instituted during the pontificate of Honorius, which was marked also by considerable missionary enterprise. Much of this was centered on England, especially Wessex. He also succeeded in bringing the Irish Easter celebrations in line with the rest of the Catholic Church.Although Honorius never issued a dogmatic (ex cathedra) decree in regard to the controversy of Christ's wills,[1] he favoured Monothelitism. He supported a formula proposed by the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius with the design of bringing about a reconciliation between Monothelites and the rest of the Catholic Church. Monothelitism is the teaching that Christ has only one will, the divine will, in contrast with the teaching that He has both a divine will and a human will. To this end, Honorius "sent his deacon Gaios" to a synod in Cyprus in 634 hosted by Archbishop Arkadios II with additional representatives from Patriarch Sergius I of Constantinople. The anti-Monothelite side in Jerusalem, championed by Maximus the Confessor and Sophronius of Jerusalem, sent to this synod Anastasius (a pupil of Maximus), George of Reshaina (a pupil of Sophronius), two of George of Raishana's own pupils, and eight bishops from Palestine. When the two sides were presented to the Emperor, the Emperor persisted with Monothelitism and so did Honorius. (George of Reshaina, "An Early Life of Maximus the Confessor", 316-7)He was apparently aware of the rise of Islam.[2]AnathematizationMore than forty years after his death, Honorius was anathematized by name along with the Monothelites by the Third Council of Constantinople (First Trullan) in 680. The anathema read, after mentioning the chief Monothelites, "and with them Honorius, who was Prelate of Rome, as having followed them in all things".Furthermore, the Acts of the Thirteenth Session of the Council state, "And with these we define that there shall be expelled from the holy Church of God and anathematized Honorius who was some time Pope of Old Rome, because of what we found written by him to [Patriarch] Sergius, that in all respects he followed his view and confirmed his impious doctrines." The Sixteenth Session adds: "To Theodore of Pharan, the heretic, anathema! To Sergius, the heretic, anathema! To Cyrus, the heretic, anathema! To Honorius, the heretic, anathema! To Pyrrhus, the heretic, anathema!"This condemnation was subsequently confirmed by Leo II (a fact disputed by such persons as Cesare Baronio and Bellarmine,[3] but which has since become commonly accepted) in the form, "and also Honorius, who did not attempt to sanctify this Apostolic Church with the teaching of Apostolic tradition, but by profane treachery permitted its purity to be polluted". The New Catholic Encyclopedia notes: "It is in this sense of guilty negligence that the papacy ratified the condemnation of Honorius." That is, the papacy condemned Honorius not for teaching a heresy ex cathedra, but for negligently permitting heretical positions to stand alongside orthodox ones.This anathema against Honorius was later one of the main arguments against Papal infallibility in the discussions surrounding the First Vatican Council of 1870, where the episode was not ultimately regarded as contrary to the proposed dogma. This was because Honorius was not considered by the supporters of infallibility to be speaking ex cathedra in the letters in question (although the Roman historian Hefele and opponents of the definition believed that Honorius had spoken ex cathedra),[1] and he was alleged to have never been condemned as a Monothelite, nor, asserted the proponents of infallibility, was he condemned for teaching heresy, but rather for gross negligence and a lax leadership at a time when his letters and guidance were in a position to quash the heresy at its roots.Historian Jaroslav Pelikan notes: "It is evident, as Maximus noted in exoneration of Honorius, that his opposition to the idea of 'two wills' was based on the interpretation of 'two wills' as 'two contrary wills.' He did not mean that Christ was an incomplete human being, devoid of a human will, but that as a human being he did not have any action in his body nor any will in his soul that could be contrary to the action and will of God, that is, to the action and will of his own divine nature." References: 1. Chapman, John (1910). "Pope Honorius I". Catholic Encyclopedia 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 2. Muhammad Ata Ur-Rahim; Ahmad Thomson (2003). Jesus: Prophet of Islam. TTQ, INC. p. 148. ISBN 9781879402737. 3. Perlant, M. Jean-Andre (June 1994). "The Sullied Reputation of a Holy Pope". The Francinta Messenger. 4. Pelikan, Jaroslav. "The Spirit of Eastern Christendom (600-1700)". The Christian Tradition 2. University of Chicago Press. p. 151. ISBN 0-226-65373-0. The Roman Catholic Council of Vatican I in 1870 is renowned for its dogmatic teaching that the Bishops of Rome, when teaching ex cathedra, are infallible. This teaching was stated to be consistent with the belief and practice the Church from its inception and throughout its long history. In other words it taught that this doctrine was not a doctrine that developed over time. The Council declared this teaching to be a dogma necessary to be believed for salvation and it anathematizes all who dare to disagree with or who oppose these assertions. The official teaching of Vatican I is as follows:Therefore faithfully adhering to the tradition received from the beginning of the Christian faith, for the glory of God our Saviour, the exaltation of the Christian religion, and the salvation of Christian people, the sacred Council approving, we teach and define that it is a dogma divinely revealed: that the Roman Pontiff, when he speaks ex cathedra, that is, when in discharge of the office of pastor and doctor of all Christians, by virtue of his supreme Apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine regarding faith and morals to be held by the universal Church, by the divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, is possessed of that infallibility with which the divine redeemer willed that his Church should be endowed for defining doctrine regarding faith or morals; and that therefore such definitions of the Roman Pontiff are irreformable of themselves, and not from the consent of the Church. But if anyone-which may God avert-presume to contradict this our definition: let him be anathema...This is the teaching of Catholic truth, from which no one can deviate without loss of faith and salvation...The first condition of salvation is to keep the rule of the true faith (Philip Schaff, The Creeds of Christendom (New York: Harper, 1877), Dogmatic Decrees of the Vatican Council, Chp. 4, pp. 266-71).Though Vatican I appeals to history as a valdation for its claims, it is the very facts of history which prove them to be spurious. Historically, papal infallibility was never part of the teaching or practice of the early Church, nor was it ever part of the doctrinal content of saving faith as taught by it. This is well illustrated by the actions of the 6th Ecumenical Council (III Constantinople) held in 680-681 A.D. This Council is well known in Church history for its official condemnation of a number of leading Eastern Bishops as well as a Bishop of Rome for embracing and promoting heretical teachings. The particular Pope who was posthumously excommunicated from the Church and forever branded a heretic was Pope Honorius, who reigned as bishop of Rome from 625 to 638 A.D. In a number of letters written to Sergius I, patriarch of Constantinople, and several other individuals, Honorius officially embraced the heresy of montheletism, which teaches that Christ had only one will, the divine. The orthodox position is that Christ, though one person, possesses two wills because he is divine and human. There is absolutely no doubt that he held to the teaching of one will in Christ. Jaroslav Pelikan makes these comments:In the controversy between East and West...the case of Honorius served as proof to Photius that the popes not only lacked authority over church councils, but were fallible in matters of dogma; for Honorius had embraced the heresy of the Monotheletes. The proponents of that heresy likewise cited the case of Honorius, not in opposition to the authority of the pope but in support of their own doctrine, urging that all teachers of the true faith had confessed it, including Sergius, the bishop of New Rome, and Honorius, the bishop of Old Rome (Jaroslav Pelikan, The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine (Chicago: University of Chicago, 1974), Volume Two, pp. 150-151).There are many past and present Roman apologists who downplay the importance of Pope Honorius. It is typical in Roman Catholic writings to find the issue of Honorius dealt with in a very superficial way. For example the following comments by Karl Keating are representative:Actually, Honorius elected to teach nothing at all. Ronald Knox, in a letter to Arnold Lunn reprinted in their book Difficulties, put the matter like this: And Honorius, so far from pronouncing an infallible opinion in the Monothelite controversy, was quite extraordinarily not (as Gore used to say) pronouncing a decision at all. To the best of his human wisdom, he thought the controversy ought to be left unsettled, for the greater peace of the Church. In fact, he was an opportunist. We, wise after the event, say that he was wrong. But nobody, I think, has ever claimed that the Pope is infallible in not defining a doctrine (Karl Keating, Catholicism and Fundamentalism (San Francisco: Ignatius, 1988), p. 229).In one paragraph Keating dismisses this whole issue as trivial and Protestant objections as nothing more than a misrepresentation of the true facts. But one thing Mr. Keating does not do is to give the judgment of the Council itself in its own words. He simply states that Honorius did not teach anything and is therefore not guilty of heresy. Is this how the Council understood the situation? Absolutely not! To allow the Council to speak for itself is enough to dispel Keating and Knox's assertions. The facts speak for themselves. Honorius was personally condemned as a heretic by the Sixth Ecumenical Council. This was ratified by two succeeding Ecumenical Councils. He was also condemned by name by Pope Leo II, and by every pope up through the eleventh century who took the oath of papal office. In his classic and authoritative series on the history of the Councils, Roman Catholic historian Charles Joseph Hefele affirms this verdict in relating the following irrefutable facts regarding Honorius and the Sixth Ecumenical Council:It is in the highest degree startling, even scarcely credible, that an Ecumenical Council should punish with anathema a Pope as a heretic!...That, however, the sixth Ecumenical Synod actually condemned Honorius on account of heresy, is clear beyond all doubt, when we consider the following collection of the sentences of the Synod against him: At the entrance of the thirteenth session, on March 28, 681, the Synod says: "After reading the doctrinal letter of Sergius of Constantinople to Cyrus of Phasis (afterwards of Alexandria) and to Pope Honorius, and also the letter of the latter to Sergius, we found that these documents were quite foreign...to the apostolic doctrines, and to the declarations of the holy Councils and all the Fathers of note, and follow the false doctrines of heretics. Therefore we reject them completely, and abhor...them as hurtful to the soul. But also the names of these men must be thrust out of the Church, namely, that of Sergius, the first who wrote on this impious doctrine. Further, that of Cyrus of Alexandria, of Pyrrhus, Paul, and Peter of Constantinople, and of Theodore of Pharan, all of whom also Pope Agatho rejected in his letter to the Emperor. We punish them all with anathema. But along with them, it is our universal decision that there shall also be shut out from the Church and anathematized the former Pope Honorius of Old Rome, because we found in his letter to Sergius, that in everything he followed his view and confirmed his impious doctrine." Towards the end of the same session the second letter of Pope Honorius to Sergius was presented for examination, and it was ordered that all the documents brought by George, the keeper of the archives in Constantinople, and among them the two letters of Honorius, should immediately be burnt, as hurtful to the soul. Again, the sixth Ecumenical Council referred to Honorius in the sixteenth session, on August 9, 681, at the acclamations and exclamations with which the transactions of this day were closed. The bishops exclaimed: "Anathema to the heretic Sergius, to the heretic Cyrus, to the heretic Honorius, to the heretic Pyrrhus" Still more important is that which took place at the eighteenth and last session, on September 16, 681. In the decree of the faith which was now published, and forms the principal document of the Synod, we read: "The creeds (of the earlier Ecumenical Synods) would have sufficed for knowledge and confirmation of the orthodox faith. Because, however, the originator of all evil still always finds a helping serpent, by which he may diffuse his poison, and therewith finds fit tools for his will, we mean Theodore of Pharan, Sergius, Pyrrhus, Paul, Peter, former bishops of Constantinople, also Honorius, Pope of Old Rome, Cyrus of Alexandria, etc., so he failed not, by them, to cause trouble in the Church by the scattering of the heretical doctrine of one will and one energy of the two natures of the one Christ. After the papal legates, all the bishops, and the Emperor had received and subscribed this decree of the faith, the Synod published the usual (logos prosphoneticos), which, addressed to the Emperor, says, among other things: "Therefore we punish with exclusion and anathema, Theodore of Pharan, Sergius, Paul, Pyrrhus, and Peter; also Cyrus, and with them Honorius, formerly bishop of Rome, as he followed them." In the same session the Synod also put forth a letter to Pope Agatho, and says therein: \'91We have destroyed the effort of the heretics, and slain them with anathema, in accordance with the sentence spoken before in your holy letter, namely, Theodore of Pharan, Sergius, Honorius. In closest connection with the Acts of the sixth Ecumenical Council stands the imperial decree confirming their resolutions. The Emperor writes: "With this sickness (as it came out from Apollinaris, Eutyches, Themistius, etc.) did those unholy priests afterwards again infect the Church, who before our times falsely governed several churches. These are Theodore of Pharan, Sergius the former bishop of this chief city; also Honorius, the Pope of old Rome...the strengthener (confirmer) of the heresy who contradicted himself...We anathematise all heresy from Simon (Magus) to this present...besides, we anathematise and reject the originators and patrons of the false and new doctrines, namely, Theodore of Pharan, Sergius...also Honorius, who was Pope of Old Rome, who in everything agreed with them, went with them, and strengthened the heresy." It is clear that Pope Leo II also anathematized Honorius...in a letter to the Emperor, confirming the decrees of the sixth Ecumenical Council...in his letter to the Spanish bishops...and in his letter to the Spanish King Ervig. Of the fact that Pope Honorius had been anathematized by the sixth Ecumenical Synod, mention is made by...the Trullan Synod, which was held only twelve years after...Like testimony is also given repeatedly by the seventh Ecumenical Synod; especially does it declare, in its principal document, the decree of the faith: "We declare at once two wills and energies according to the natures in Christ, just as the sixth Synod in Constantinople taught, condemning...Sergius, Honorius, Cyrus, etc." The like is asserted by the Synod or its members in several other places...To the same effect the eighth Ecumenical Synod expresses itself. In the Liber Diurnus the Formulary of the Roman Chancery (from the fifth to the eleventh century), there is found the old formula for the papal oath...according to which every new Pope, on entering upon his office, had to swear that "he recognised the sixth Ecumenical Council, which smote with eternal anathema the originators of the heresy (Monotheletism), Sergius, Pyrrhus, etc., together with Honorius" (Charles Joseph Hefele, A History of the Councils of the Church (Edinburgh: Clark, 1896), Volume V, pp. 181-187).These facts are highly significant. Von Dollinger was the leading Roman Catholic historian of the last century who taught Church history for 47 years. He makes these comments:This one fact, that a Great Council, universally received afterwards without hesitation throughout the Church, and presided over by Papal legates, pronounced the dogmatic decision of a Pope heretical, and anathematized him by name as a heretic is a proof, clear as the sun at noonday, that the notion of any peculiar enlightenment or in errancy of the Popes was then utterly unknown to the whole Church (Janus (Johann Joseph Ignaz von Dollinger), The Pope and the Council (Boston: Roberts, 1870), p. 61).Roman Catholic apologists generally attempt to salvage the dogma of papal infallibility from the case with Honorius by saying that he was not giving an ex cathedra statement but merely his opinion as a private theologian. Therefore he was not condemned in his official capacity as the pope. According to the Roman Catholic Church there are certain conditions which must be met for the teaching of the pope to fall within the overall guidelines of that which is considered to be. He must be teaching in his official capacity as the pope and he must be defining doctrine for the entire Church. The claim is made that Honorius did not meet these conditions. However, a careful reading of the official acts of the Council prove that it thought otherwise. The reader can judge for himself from the Council's own statements how the situation with Honorius was viewed and whether it would have agreed with the assertions of Keating and Knox that Honorius did not actively teach anything. The Council makes the following statements:Session XIII: The holy council said: After we had reconsidered, according to the promise which we had made to your highness, the doctrinal letters of Sergius, at one time patriarch of this royal God protected city to Cyrus, who was then bishop of Phasius and to Honorius some time Pope of Old Rome, as well as the letter of the latter to the same Sergius, we find that these documents are quite foreign to the apostolic dogmas, to the declarations of the holy Councils, and to all the accepted Fathers, and that they follow the false teachings of the heretics; therefore we entirely reject them, and execrate them as hurtful to the soul. But the names of those men whose doctrines we execrate must also be thrust forth from the holy Church of God, namely, that of Sergius some time bishop of this God-preserved royal city who was the first to write on this impious doctrine; also that of Cyrus of Alexandria, of Pyrrhus, Paul, and Peter, who died bishops of this God preserved city, and were like minded with them; and that of Theodore sometime bishop of Pharan, all of whom the most holy and thrice blessed Agatho, Pope of Old Rome, in his suggestion to our most pious and God preserved lord and mighty Emperor, rejected, because they were minded contrary to our orthodox faith, all of whom we define are to be subject to anathema. And with these we define that there shall be expelled from the holy Church of God and anathematized Honorius who was some time Pope of Old Rome, because of what we found written by him to Sergius, that in all respects he followed his view and confirmed his impious doctrines. Session XVI: To Theodore of Pharan, the heretic, anathema! To Sergius, the heretic, anathema! To Cyrus, the heretic, anathema! To Honorius, the heretic, anathema! To Pyrrhus, the heretic, anathema! To Paul, the heretic, anathema!... Session XVIII: But as the author of evil, who, in the beginning, availed himself of the aid of the serpent, and by it brought the poison of death upon the human race, has not desisted, but in like manner now, having found suitable instruments for working out his will we mean Theodorus, who was bishop of Pharan, Sergius, Pyrrhus...and moreover, Honorius, who was Pope of the elder Rome...), has actively employed them in raising up for the whole Church the stumbling blocks of one will and one operation in the two natures of Christ our true God, one of the Holy Trinity; thus disseminating, in novel terms, amongst the orthodox people, an heresy similar to the mad and wicked doctrine of the impious Apollinaris (Philip Schaff and Henry Wace, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1956), Volume XIV, The Seven Ecumenical Councils, pp. 342-344).The above statements prove that the condemnation of Honorius meets the basic criteria for ex cathedra statements. The following points show this to be the case:The Council condemns him specifically as a heretic and anathematized him in his official capacity as pope and not as a private theologian. He is condemned for following after and confirming the heresy of montheletism. He is condemned for actively disseminating and propagating heretical teachings in his official capacity as pope which affected the whole Church.To suggest that the Sixth Ecumenical Council does not invalidate the teaching of papal infallibility because Honorius did not make an ex cathedra statement is historically absurd. This is to erect arbitrary conditions which were not existent at the time to save oneself the embarrassment of a historical fact which undermines one's position. The issue is not what do individual Roman Catholic apologists say, but what did the Sixth Ecumenical Council say. On what basis did it condemn Pope Honorius? By its own words it condemned him in his official capacity as the bishop of Rome, not as a private theologian, for advancing heretical teachings which it says were Satanically inspired and would affect the entire Church. It specifically states that Honorius advanced these teachings, approved of them, and in a positive sense was responsible for disseminating them. And it condemns him by name as a heretic, anathematizing him as such. According to both Roman Catholic and Orthodox theology an Ecumenical Council is infallible so all the arguments which attempt to dismiss the judgment of this Council saying that it was mistaken or that it rushed to judgment or whatever, are simply erroneous and empty, on the basis of their own theology. So an infallible Ecumenical Council (from a Roman Catholic perspective) has condemned as a heretic a bishop of Rome for teaching heresy. It is quite obvious that these Eastern fathers did not view the bishops of Rome as infallible.John Meyendorff states that, contrary to the assertions of many Roman Catholics that Honorius did in fact teach the doctrine of monotheletism in a positive sense and helped confirm Sergius in the heresy. Meyendorff gives this summary:This step into Monotheletism, which he was first to make, is the famous fall of Honorius, for which the Sixth ecumenical council condemned him (681) a condemnation which, until the early Middle Ages, would be repeated by all popes at their installation, since on such occasions they had to confess the faith of the ecumenmical councils. It is understandable, therefore, that all the critics of the doctrine of papal infallibility in later centuries. Protestants, Orthodox and antiinfallibilists at Vatican I in 1870 would refer to this case. Some Roman Catholic apologists try to show that the expressions used by Honorius could be understood in an orthodox way, and that there is no evidence that he deliberately wished to proclaim anything else than the traditional faith of the Church. They also point out quite anachronistically that the letter to Sergius was not a formal statement, issued by the pope ex cathedra, using his charisma of infallibility, as if such a concept existed in the seventh century. Without denying the pope's good intentions which can be claimed in favor of any heresiarch of history, it is quite obvious that his confession of one will, at a crucial moment and as Sergius himself was somewhat backing out before the objections of Sophronius, not only condoned the mistakes of others, but actually coined a heretical formula, the beginning of a tragedy from which the Church (including the orthodox successors of Honorius on the papal throne) would suffer greatly (John Meyendorff, Imperial Unity and Christian Division (Crestwood:St. Vladimir's, 1989), p. 353).Jaroslav Pelikan affirms the same thing in these comments:In the controversy between East and West...the case of Honorius served as proof to Photius that the popes not only lacked authority over church councils, but were fallible in matters of dogma; for Honorius had embraced the heresy of the Monotheletes. The proponents of that heresy likewise cited the case of Honorius, not in opposition to the authority of the pope but in support of their own doctrine, urging that all teachers of the true faith had confessed it, including Sergius, the bishop of New Rome, and Honorius, the bishop of Old Rome (Jaroslav Pelikan, The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine (Chicago: University of Chicago, 1974), Volume Two, pp. 150-151)Charles Hefele affirms the fact that Leo II also condemned Honorius as a heretic and confirmed the decrees of the Council:It is clear that Pope Leo II also anathematized Honorius...in a letter to the Emperor, confirming the decrees of the sixth Ecumenical Council...in his letter to the Spanish bishops...and in his letter to the Spanish King Ervig (Charles Joseph Hefele, A History of the Councils of the Church (Edinburgh: Clark, 1896), Volume V, pp. 181-187).The condemnation by Pope Leo II is significant. He affirmed the condemnation of Honorius as a heretic, confirming by this that Honorius had actively undermined the orthodox faith. W.J. Sparrow Simpson summarizes Leo's viewpoint in these comments:Leo accepted the decisions of Constantinople. He has carefully examined the Acts of the Council and found them in harmony with the declarations of faith of his predecessor, Agatho, and of the Synod of the Lateran. He anathematized all the heretics, including his predecessor, Honorius, who so far from aiding the Apostolic See with the doctrine of the Apostolic Tradition, attempted to subvert the faith by a profane betrayal (W.J. Sparrow Simpson, Roman Catholic Opposition to Papal Infallibility (London: John Murray, 1909), p. 35).It is significant that the letter of Honorius to Sergius was used in the East by the proponents of the Monothelite heresy as justification for their position. As Sparrow Simpson observes: "This letter of Honorius was utilised in the East to justify the Monothelite heresy the existence of one will in Christ (W.J. Sparrow Simpson, Roman Catholic Opposition to Papal Infallibility (London: John Murray, 1909), p. 33). The definition of what the Roman Catholic Church refers to as ex cathedra teaching was not enunciated and defined until 1870. One needs to keep this in mind when applying this test to the case of Honorius and the judgment of the Sixth Ecumenical Council. In the mind of this "infallible" Council the pope was a heretic. In its official condemnation of him, he is judged on the basis of the criteria for ex cathedra statements which was defined some 1200 years later. One simply cannot avoid the historical facts. An "infallible" Ecumenical Council has condemned an "infallible" pope, in his official capacity, for heresy. No redefining of terms can erase the simple facts of history or the implications of those facts for the dogma of papal infallibility. This has direct bearing upon the issue of authority and jurisdiction. If an Ecumenical Council can excommunicate a bishop of Rome then the ultimate authority in the early Church was not the bishop of Rome but the Council. The fact of this condemnation clearly demonstrates that contrary to the claims of Vatican I, the early Church never viewed the bishops of Rome to be infallible. No Church father has ever taught such a doctrine and it is contradicted by the practice of the early Church fathers and Councils, III Constantinople being but one example. See also our video "The Homosexual Pope, Priests, Universalists, Evolutionists & Disunited Roman Catholic Apologists" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/noXLoKGtp71ph7c. See our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" with 131 videos & counting at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715.

[@CAnswersTV]

+Renz Rivers See our early Christian church website www.HistoryCart.com & our video "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY #14: PRE-NICENE (325 A.D.) CHURCH WAS NOT A ROMAN CATHOLIC SYSTEM" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoqVlXeHotinkMk.“Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” -Luke 13:23-24 Do you understand the question in the above Scripture? “Lord, are there few that be saved?” Someone came to Jesus and wanted to know if “few” people were saved. It's interesting that the person didn't ask if “many” people were saved. Evidently the person had been listening to Jesus' preaching and became convinced that few people were really saved. When the Bible speaks of being “saved,” it means saved from God's wrath upon Christ-rejecting sinners in Hell (for more on hell see our playlist "Dealing with Hell, Lake of Fire, Unpopular Bible Doctrines" with 30 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLE04A1D0DFE95B95E & "Eternal Punishment, Part 1" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=12607145320 & "Eternal Punishment, Part 2" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=12607143539). Romans 5:9, “Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” All Christ-rejecters go to Hell if they die in their sins. If a person is “saved,” then they are going to Heaven when they die. Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” We are saved from the eternal consequences of sin, which is punishment in hellfire. To be saved is synonymous with being “born again.” When a person becomes a born-again child of God, they are saved eternally. EVERY human being MUST to be saved (i.e., born again) to enter into Heaven. John 3:3, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” If a person dies in their sins without believing on Jesus as the Savior, the Son of God, they will burn in Hell forever (Revelation 20:11-15).Just as the disciple who asked Jesus the question in Luke 13:23, I myself often wonder how few are truly born again believers. I dare say not many. Let's consider the question again...“Lord, are there few that be saved?” There are over one billion Catholics in the world who errantly believe that the Catholic Church is going to save them. Roman Catholics do not trust Jesus Christ alone; but rather, rely upon manmade traditions and self-righteous works to save them. According to the Word of God, genuine Catholics are hellbound in their sins because they are trusting in self-righteousness (Romans 3:20; 10:3-4; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5, see our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" with 129 videos & counting at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715). There are over one billion Islamic Muslims in the world who deny that Jesus Christ ever died upon a cross for our sins (see our playlist "Dealing with Islam, Muslims: Sunni, Shi'ite, Alawites, Sufis" with 67 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL1C7F68B548009FDD). According to the Bible, they are antichrists and liars on their way to Hell (1st John 2:22-23). There are over 183,000 cults in Japan alone that deny Jesus Christ as the only Savior of the world. Other false religions include Scientology, Hinduism, Wicca, Buddhism, Seventh Day Adventism, Zoroastrianism, Greek Orthodox, Judaism, Jehovah Witness, Mormonism, Freemasonry, and many more (see our KZbin channel CAnswersTV at kzbin.info with over 615 videos covering most of these anti Christian religions in detail). Why do I call them “false religions”? It's simply because they all corrupt the Biblical teaching of salvation, i.e., the gospel (see our playlist "Dealing with Anti Trinitarians (UPC) & Early Church History" with 48 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL9931642C7C8FFEAB). Most false religions ADD works to faith. Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses DENY the deity of Jesus Christ (i.e., that He is Almighty God) - see our playlists "Dealing with Mormonism, the Religion of Mitt Romney & Utah" with 20 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL11CD0EE613306BB5 & "Dealing with Jehovah's Witnesses, Watchtower Society" with 22 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLCF0ADB29C0EB8C40. Seventh Day Adventists falsely and deceitfully redefine faith to mean works (see our playlist, "Dealing with Seventh-day Adventism & Their "Prophetess" with 23 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL5316CC6F66F24283). There are hundreds of millions of followers of Hinduism who deny Jesus as the Savior, the Son of God (see our playlist "Dealing with Anti Christ Cults, "New Age" & World Religions" with 42 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL69A3047B3497590A). Judaism denies that Jesus is the Messiah. The same Pharisaical Jews who crucified Jesus 2,000 years ago are crucifying Him today. The Campbellite Church of Christ deceitfully speaks of faith in Christ, but also requires water baptism and living the Christian life to be saved. That is works salvation, which is a lie of the Devil (Romans 3:20; Romans 4:5-6, see our playlist "Dealing with "Saved by Works & Baptism", "Church of Christ" with 72 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLBD55090718DA6D3D). Every Catholic claims not to worship Mary, but the second commandment (Exodus 20:3-5) forbids even bowing to Mary (which every Catholic does, for more on the Roman Catholic installation of the worship of saints, images, & polytheism in church history hear "Perseverance of the Saints & the Worship of Saints (Historical Theology Vol. 1, #17)" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=14101149112 & "The Worship of Images & Civil Authorities (Historical Theology Vol. 1, #18)" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=15101057200). There are hundreds of millions of so-called Charismatic & Pentecostal "Christians" who trade the Word of God for their own wild emotional experiences & replace the Biblical gospel for a gospel of "heath & wealth" despite 1 Timothy 6:10 saying, "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" - see our two video series on this: "Blasphemous Charismatic & Pentecostal Mayhem #1: Mad Delusional Experiences Replace Scripture Alone" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZPZaIyprrKZZqs begins one series while "AGONY OF THE PHONY WORD-FAITH TV PREACHERS #1: MIND SCIENCE ORIGINS OF KENNETH HAGIN & HIS DISCIPLES" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKi0ZnWCp753lbc begins another series. Even secular humanism, atheism & agnosticism can be considered faith based religions due to the fact that atheists & humanists have a faith that God does not exist while agnostics are willingly ignorant concerning God (see our playlist "Dealing with "God Hating" Atheists, Agnostics, Know-It-Alls" with 20 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PL640E505B96CD6B39). Many animistic religions exist throughout the world as well which are described in Romans 1:18-32, see our video "FOREIGN MISSIONS FOR CHRIST: PREACHING TO CANNIBALS, WITCH DOCTORS & TRIBAL NATIVES" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3TRdX-vjcZsfpI. All of the religions I have just mentioned account for well over seven eighths of the earth's population or more. Keep in mind, besides all of this, Jesus said, "And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24). Who are considered "rich people"? It's not just millionaires & world leaders but many lesser wealthy persons who exceed the vast majority of mankind in money & possessions (Luke16:19-31 is a good example of this in the parable of the rich man & Lazarus). See the video "It is Difficult for Americans to Enter Heaven - Tim Conway" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHXaf3qOmM6BebM. Statistics provided in this video show that even the poorest Americans living in the United States have a better net income than most of the world. For instance, according to Forbes magazine, June 1, 2013, the bottom 5% of United States citizens are richer than 68% of people living throughout the rest of the world; U.S. citizens who make $50,000 a year are richer than 99.69% of the people in the rest of the world; U.S. citizens who make $20,000 a year are richer than 96% of the people in the rest of the world, U.S. citizens who make $10,000 a year are richer than 84% of the people in the rest of the world; U.S. citizens who make $100,000 a year are in a category that only 8 out of every 10,000 people achieve in the entire world. Will it be difficult for rich Americans who don't think they're rich to enter into the kingdom of heaven? Jesus already gave the answer. For more on this hear "Those Whom God Hates He Is Often Pleased To Give Plenty Of Earthly Things To, Edwards" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=427121150346 by the well known theologian Jonathan Edwards who also preached the most famous sermon on North American soil called, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=770213541. If you don't like what I am telling you then get mad at God because He wrote the Bible. If you take the Bible at FACE VALUE, you can only interpret it one way. The best way to interpret the Bible is with the Bible. God said what He meant and meant what He said. Let the Bible speak for itself. Jesus answered the question in Luke 13:24 with the following words...“...for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Most of the people in this world are going straight to Hell when they die because they have not been born again (hear "Few Saved From A Burning Hell" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=3514145121). Lies and deception are everywhere! Catholics and Jehovah Witnesses claim to be born-again but they are NOT. You can't get born-again by doing good works, confessing your sins to a priest, getting water baptized, joining a church or keeping the Sabbath Day. Salvation is NOT found in any religion; but rather, in a Person-The Lord Jesus Christ! Most people today have churchianity without Christianity, and they are all going to Hell if they don't repent toward God of their unbelief (for more on this see our video "TRUE BELIEVERS & NON BELIEVERS ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL OF THE REFORMATION: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZDHf2OleJpqiM0). The vast majority of so-called "Evangelical Christians" in the world today do not know what the Biblical gospel is or what "justification by faith alone" is (see our video "SAD STATE OF THE CHURCH: 87% OF EVANGELICAL "CHRISTIANS" DON'T KNOW WHAT GOSPEL JUSTIFICATION IS" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/n56XoK2vlKqciJY. There are only two types of religions in the world: DO and DONE. Either you believe that you have to DO something to go to Heaven; or else you believe that it is DONE, paid for by Jesus' precious blood. Jesus said in Luke 13:24 that “many” will seek to enter into Heaven but will not be able. That is quite startling. Jesus said the same thing in Matthew 7:21-23 . . . “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” The reason why these religious people were not allowed into Heaven was because they attempted to enter Heaven through their own self-righteousness. In Matthew 5:20 Jesus spake concerning the religious leaders of His time . . . “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Most of the religious churchgoers in the world today are as lost as can be, still hellbound in their wickedness. They have not done the will of God concerning salvation, which is to BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST (John 6:40; Acts 16:30-31). Jesus provides two contrasts in Luke 13:24, the contrast between seeking to enter and striving to enter and the contrast between seeking to enter through the narrow door and seeking to enter by any other means. Let’s now focus on the second contrast. Look at verses 25-27:"Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, 'Lord, open up to us!' then He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know where you are from.' 26 "Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets'; 27 and He will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you are from; DEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU EVILDOERS.' (Luke 13:25 NAU) Jesus’ statement at the end of 25 and the middle of 27 is translated well in the NIV: “I don't know you or where you come from.” In effect, He is saying, “I don’t know you at all! You may think that you are mine, but I have nothing to do with you - I don’t even know your family, your village” So what does Jesus mean by the narrow door? What is His intended contrast with other methods of entering? Again, let’s begin by considering what the narrow door is not: The narrow door is NOT being in a church, reading the Bible, listening to sermons, looking to others like a Christian. This is clear from verse 26: these evildoers looked just like believers who had been with Jesus. They had listened to His preaching. But He does not know them, and they stand condemned.The narrow door is NOT being prominent in this life. Jesus says in verse 30 that some who are presently first will be last. Prominence now is no guarantee of one’s entering through the narrow door.The narrow door is NOT being a descendant of a great believer. See verse 28. Remember, Jesus is speaking to descendants of Abraham and Jacob. I sometimes like to use the expression, “God has no grandchildren.” Each of us must come to Jesus on our own, not through our parents, our grandparents, or other ancestors. Then what does Jesus mean by the narrow door? Elsewhere, Jesus says He Himself is the door: I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. (John 10:9) In what sense is this door narrow? In two ways. First, the door is narrow in the sense that no one comes to the Father any other way (John 14:6). No religious activities - Christian or non-Christian - bring us into the Kingdom. Sincere beliefs do not bring us in. Good works do not bring us in. Good feelings about our relationship with Christ do not bring us in. Though in our pluralistic society this message is despised, we must preach, teach, and live out this truth: There is only one door, and that narrow door is Jesus. The Lake of Fire is waiting for "many" when they die. Jesus' disciple asked Him if few people are going to Heaven. Jesus replied that many people will attempt, but fail. When the floods came in Noah's day, many people tried to get on the ark, but it was too late once the door was closed. When the bridegroom came in Matthew 25:1-13, the five foolish virgins were left behind because they were gone buying oil at the last moment. Do not likewise make the mistake of delaying salvation, for you will be sorry when it is too late. Few souls are going to Heaven. Jesus said, "Only those who find that strait gate and narrow way that leadeth unto life (Matthew 7:13-15), which is the righteousness of Jesus Christ will make it to heaven. So many churchgoers have religion, but they have never truly been born of the spirit of God, which is the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9, hear "Why Are So Few People Saved?" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=111710103558). Salvation happens when a person acknowledges their guilt of sin unto God in repentance; believing on Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, to be forgiven (this is a supernatural action caused by God in the heart of a repentant sinner in 2 Timothy 2:24-26; see also "SUPERNATURAL BIBLE PROPHECY CONCERNING JESUS THE JEWISH MESSIAH (PART #1)" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoelqqShn9x2ntU). We are SINNERS and Jesus is the wonderful SAVIOR! Acts 10:43, “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.” Salvation is given to those "few" who have been ordained to eternal life by God Himself (Acts 13:48). And who are those "few"? Jesus answers that question in John chapter 6:37,39,44,63 & 65: "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." " It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." "And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." For more on this see our video "The Sovereignty of God Versus Man-Made Religions, Hollywood Movies & Petty Emotionalism" - kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4a0cnWIlJ6afas. Keep in mind that God works with relatively few numbers throughout world history (remember how Elijah thought he was the last prophet of God left in Israel in 1 Kings 19:13-18 & the Lord had to correct Elijah about the number but still the number God told Elijah was small). The God of the Bible has always had His way of operating His plan in this world & it has always been consistently with small numbers (1 Corinthians 1:26-29, "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence." For an excellent message concerning the small numbers God has historically employed please hear the outstanding theologian Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in his sermon "Sermon 113 - Three-score and Fifteen Souls" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=99217141430450. We also have a video along these lines called " Biblical Predestination #6: God Only Chooses a FEW for Salvation (Many Called/Few Chosen)" - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJamlXqwjtiWbZI. See also our video "Strive To Enter - But Many Will Not Be Able To - Greg Van Court - Dayspring Fellowship, Austin, TX" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6OVg6FjbNRniKM. 2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Corinthians 13:5, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"

[@CHRISTIANFINNE]

+Renz Rivers Only a Catholic can ask such a stupid question!

[@Sifgrida]

Love your stuff!

[@michaelsibinil3188]

I must ask the SAME questions thus: "WHY??? WHY???WHY??? WHY???" And the "WHYs" shall NEVER end till the Lord Yahushuah HaMashiach comes at RAPTURE. Alelujah. Maranatha. Agape Love.

[@CAnswersTV]

The Bible & church history refute Roman Catholicism (see our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" with 116 videos & counting at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715). Today's Romanism exists in two parts, namely new Romanism which began when Vatican II was completed in 1965 & the old Romanism before Vatican II. For a good description of the two Romanist religions see the Roman Catholic website of "The Most Holy Family Monastery" at www.mostholyfamilymonastery.com/. Our video "The Homosexual Pope, Priests, Universalists, Evolutionists & Disunited Roman Catholic Apologists" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/noXLoKGtp71ph7c describes these two opposing Romanist religions as well. When it comes to early Christian church history we find that church history itself testifies against this apostate counterfeit Christianity known as Roman Catholicism. For proof of this see our early Christian church history website www.HistoryCart.com. For commentary about early Christian church history relating to our website see our 18 part series on early Christian church history on our playlist "Dealing with Anti Trinitarians (UPC) & Early Church History" with 43 videos but just look for the ones on early church history at kzbin.info/aero/PL9931642C7C8FFEAB. Particularly notice the following videos: "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY PROVES ROMAN CATHOLICISM FALSE" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGcm5ponZiroLM; "THE ORIGINAL EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH WAS NOT A ROMAN CATHOLIC SYSTEM OF SALVATION" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5vFpYmjj5qqm9U; "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY #3: EARLY CHRISTIANS QUOTED SCRIPTURE WITHOUT A ROMANIST OR KJV BIBLE" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4engKyloJuhgtE; EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY #11: BIBLE IS HISTORICALLY RELIABLE BUT NOT ROMAN CATHOLIC TRADITIONS" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/gobZeoGnpJKhrJo; "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY #14: PRE-NICENE (325 A.D.) CHURCH WAS NOT A ROMAN CATHOLIC SYSTEM" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoqVlXeHotinkMk; "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY #15: THERE WAS NO POPE OR CARDINALS; DID HAVE SEX & MONEY RULES" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppLamKlspsqEbrc; " EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY #16: GOVERNMENT & RULERS; ROMAN CATHOLICISM VEILS TRUE GOSPEL" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2a8fJawpdRlh5o & "HISTORICAL SPLIT BETWEEN ROMAN CATHOLICISM & THE CHRIST OF THE SCRIPTURE: MAN'S WORD OR GOD'S WORD?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4bXaKV5a8aSadU. Titus 1:9-16.

[@2agbh72]

Read the book " The Gospel According To Rome" to understand catholic teaching in contrast to The Bible.

[@crucifiedwithchrist9367]

Valuable information here. Thanks

[@CAnswersTV]

@cburton103 You're completely wrong on this point & that's why you're not a saved person (you gave yourself away)but rather a religionist (see Matt 7:13-29, 1 Cor. 2:14) simply doing religious duties thinking you're alright with God. This is one of the main reasons the Romanist cult & for example the "Church of Christ" preach a false gospel, namely they replace supernatural Holy Spirit conversion with water baptism by perverting John 3:3-8. Type "LARRY WESSELS CAMPBELLISM" in the YT search box.

[@CAnswersTV]

@rugbycampo Before we get into all of this in more detail, did you listen to this entire radio broadcast? Or did you just start writing your comment here without reviewing this video from beginning to end?. I already know the answer so try to tell the truth; I know that may be difficult for you. We aren't sold out Roman Catholics like you are. We're not interested in what the Pope has to say about how you should pray to the Virgin Mary or how membership in Romanism can get you to Purgatory.

[@inatorquoisemood93]

Excellent 👏

[@CAnswersTV]

A free transcript of this video "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY PROVES ROMAN CATHOLICISM FALSE" is available at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=113161415591. Click on this link & once there scroll down until you see "Sermon Transcription" & then click on the "View Transcript" which is available in multiple languages. William Webster's outstanding book "The Church of Rome at the Bar of History" is available at www.CHRISTIANTRUTH.COM or at www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_30/190-7574406-7898107?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+church+of+rome+at+the+bar+of+history&sprefix=the+church+of+rome+at+the+bar+%2Caps%2C177. More of William Webster's lectures on Roman Catholic history & tradition can be found at www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?sortby=added&sourceonly=true&currSection=sermonssource&keyword=gracebiblebg&subsetcat=series&subsetitem=Roman+Catholic+Tradition. See also our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" with 137 videos & counting at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715. 2 Timothy 2:15.

[@CAnswersTV]

To see our entire series entitled "The Counterfeit Christianity of Roman Catholicism" (12 videos) click on: Part 1 - "Exclusive Interview: "Grace to You" John MacArthur Answers Common Questions About Roman Catholicism" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJOnfaV7ish5jpo, Part 2 - "Exclusive Interview with John Ankerberg of the "John Ankerberg Show" Concerning Roman Catholicism" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/rn2WaJeKo9WKhdk, Part 3 - "Former Roman Catholic Priest for 22 Years Richard Bennett Answers Questions About Roman Catholicism" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZyQm6mNmM2Ujqc, Part 4 - "Exclusive Interview with Dave Hunt about the Gospel-less Mother Teresa & Compromiser Billy Graham" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/borXiWR6ntd3f5Y, Part 5 - "Is Roman Catholicism Cultic or Christian? by Cecil Andrews of Take Heed Ministries - #5 of Series" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/oonIZKidr8t8grs, Part 6 - "Former Catholic Mike Gendron Explains How to Help Roman Catholics Escape the False Gospel of Rome" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4LPo4Rvr8ihr5I, Part 7 - "Former Roman Catholic James G. McCarthy Answers Questions about Roman Catholicism & Why it is False" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIjNdmiDYrieb80, Part 8 - "Counterfeit Christianity of Roman Catholicism #8: Philip De Courey from Northern Ireland Speaks" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHnImauQiL6MrNU, Part 9 - "Counterfeit Christianity of Roman Catholicism #9: Former Catholic Ed Lacy Exposes False Roman Gospel" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXqVqpZ_r5maZqM, Part 10 - "Counterfeit Christianity of Roman Catholicism #10: Former Catholic Neil Curran Answers Questions" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5C0lJ6Nia6rnpI, Part 11 - "Counterfeit Christianity of Roman Catholicism #11: Dave Hunt Proves Romanism to be Damnable Lies" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6upiJmOaNCJgdk, Part 12 - "Irish Ex Priest Richard Bennett On Fake Catholic Religion: Mass, Praying to Dead, Mary, Baptisms" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/haesqauvrrWNqbc. To see all our videos on Roman Catholicism from a Biblical perspective see our playlist called "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" with 168 videos at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715. "The Bible tells us to expose error (Ephesians 5:11, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."). And to expose error we must make righteous judgments. Christians must judge in order to: 1. Try the spirits to see if they are from God, for many false prophets are in the world. (1 John 4:1). 2. Mark & avoid false teachers, slaves of their own bellies, deceiving many with their smooth & flattering speech (Romans 16:17-18). 3. Rebuke false teachers, rebellious men, & deceivers who subvert whole families with their false doctrine. (Titus 1:9-16) 4. Have no fellowship with immoral, impure, or covetous men. (Ephesians 5:5-7) 5. Receive not deceivers who do not abide in the teaching of Christ into our homes, nor giving them any greeting. (2 John 7-11) 6. Be wary of those who preach another gospel. (2 Corinthians 11:4, Galatians 1:6-9).

[@bryanpratt5850]

Thank you!

[@CAnswersTV]

You obviously didn't watch this video. Before making a ridiculous comment like you have just done why don't you try to cast off your years of Roman Catholic brainwashing & propaganda & actually consider views that can be substantiated with facts. Better than that, why don't you attempt to read the Bible for yourself & see how different it is from the man-made Romanist dogmas & traditions you probably grew up with? Check out our main KZbin channel CANSWERSTV & click on our playlist on Romanism.

[@kassimees]

I must get that book. Tell me how

[@CAnswersTV]

+Tommy D You should be able to get William Webster's book "The Church of Rome at the Bar of History" at William Webster's website www.CHRISTIANTRUTH.COM or via Amazon at www.amazon.com/gp/product/0851517102?keywords=the%20church%20of%20rome%20at%20the%20bar%20of%20history&qid=1445704620&ref_=sr_1_1&s=books&sr=1-1.

[@kassimees]

Ty

[@CAnswersTV]

@cburton103 Please direct your questions about early church history to our webmaster for our website HISTORYCART COM, the e-mail address is on the website or go to our CANSWERSTV channel page to get it. He will provide you with the detailed information you're looking for (complete quotations & the church fathers who said it); space is limited here. See also BEREANBEACON ORG run by a former Romanist priest for 25 years named RICHARD BENNETT (also check out his many KZbin videos on Romanism).

[@CAnswersTV]

See our video "The Homosexual Pope, Priests, Universalists, Evolutionists & Disunited Roman Catholic Apologists" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/noXLoKGtp71ph7c which shows from Roman Catholic sources themselves that one of their popes was a practicing homosexual, that almost 50% of Roman Catholic priests are homosexuals (for more on this see our video "FORMER ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST SAYS CHURCH OF ROME HAS A FALSE GOSPEL & WIDESPREAD HOMOSEXUALITY" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqqXdGCkd7Zmo6c), that the Roman church buys the theory of evolution which denies the first eleven chapters of Genesis in the Bible, that Pope John Paul II kissed the Muslim Qur'an & said Islam has the same god as Roman Catholics have (see the videos "Top Ten Reasons Muhammad Is Not a Prophet" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4CbpI1nf96DZ6M, "Ten MORE Reasons Muhammad Is Not a Prophet" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/imXTaHurqs15bs0, "50 Reasons Muhammad Was Not a Prophet (in Under Five Minutes)" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoKWl2Rrg72lgqs, "David Wood: Five Reasons the Quran Is Not the Word of God" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKfPq594pNtssMU, "Who Killed Muhammad?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKTXkKd8n5uiq68, "Why Did Muhammad Wear Women's Clothing?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2aTdKWXltOcipI; also see www.AnsweringMuslims.com & www.MuslimHope.com) & how Roman Catholic apologists are at each others' throats because of the vast differences within Romanism itself. There are a wide variety of different types of religionists who still refer to themselves as Roman Catholics. There are types of Romanists who do not accept Vatican II Romanists or their popes since the time of Vatican II (called sedevacantists - for more on this brand of Romanists see the website www.mostholyfamilymonastery.com/). To learn more about particular brands of Romanism & which group of Romanists you might belong to if you are Roman Catholic please see our video called The Homosexual Pope, Priests, Universalists, Evolutionists & Disunited Roman Catholic Apologists at kzbin.info/www/bejne/noXLoKGtp71ph7c & our video "Theological Debate with a Roman Catholic Monsignor/Review #2: Idolatry Okay?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqjOo6eIidl0bck. For others wanting to learn about the entire spectrum of Romanist heretical theology please see our playlist, "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" with 139 videos & counting at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715. See Rob Zins' website also at www.CWRC-RZ.ORG. Also see www.BereanBeacon.org. Titus 1: 14-16, "Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."

[@HectorMartinez-gy8kp]

its the pachamama staues any saint venerating that keep me away from it

[@CAnswersTV]

To see all our videos which come with free written transcripts please click on www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?currpage=1&keyword=christiananswers&SourceOnly=true&mediatype=PDF&AudioOnly=false&sortby= which add up to 80 videos & counting at this time. Keep in mind that these free written transcripts are also available in 20 different languages by going to any of the individual videos and locating the "View Transcript" area. For example, say you want a foreign language transcript from our video "Biblical Canon of Scripture is the Basis for Authentic Christian Belief & Doctrine" at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=21519512147884 & you want the transcript in Chinese just follow these basic steps: 1. Click on "select translation" next to the "Google Translate" indicator 2. Click on the type of Chinese you want to use, you have two choices either "Simplified" Chinese or "Traditional" Chinese 3. Let's say you click on "Traditional Chinese" 4.Then you click on "Translate" which brings up another screen which has the entire video translated into traditional Chinese 5. From there you have additional options to share this Chinese translation with others as indicated 6. This is very cool & is an just another opportunity for evangelism around the world in this digital age! Jude 3, "Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints."

[@CAnswersTV]

His comment is just as ridiculous as yours. You need to pray for yourself. Wake up from your theological stupor on the false religion of Roman Catholicism. We wouldn't have 93 videos on our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" found on our KZbin channel CANSWERSTV, many done by former Romanist priests, nuns & former papists, if we didn't know what we're talking about. Was Jesus interested in "bringing to His side" the Scribes & Pharisees in Matthew chapter 23?

[@CAnswersTV]

Talk about a nonsense statement for all to see! Wow, you don't like that fact that someone would quote the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17) to verify that the scripture is worthy to be trusted & then you ASSUME we don't "understand" the Bible because we quote it!? You're a classic 2 Peter 3:16 case! It's obvious that you're a waste of time (Titus 3:10) but for others reading this see our KZbin channel page CANSWERSTV & see our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary."

[@CAnswersTV]

@anissueofursincerity We have a video that deals with Eastern Orthodoxy as you mention (see our KZbin video - "EASTERN ORTHODOXY: SALVATION BY EARNED WORKS, ICONS, TRADITION, DEIFICATION & THE VIRGIN MARY" for a detailed anaysis of this man-made religion). Both Romanism & Greek Orthodoxy are false cultic structures counterfeiting true Biblical Christianity (see our 16 hour series entitled, "ROMAN CATHOLICISM SERIES" with Rob Zins, Th.M. Dallas Theological Seminary (former Catholic) for more.

[@CAnswersTV]

@cburton103 Richard Bennett has so many videos (many with other ex-priests & nuns) that I haven't seen them all. I would recommend that you go to his website BEREANBEACON ORG (check out one of his latest articles posted there entitled, "Are Catholics Christians?") & send him an e-mail & ask him which one he would recommend. I can tell you the real reason he got out of Romanism (like anyone who truly becomes a genuine Christian), he had a supernatural "born again" experience with the Holy Ghost.

[@RSCL_BEATZ]

amen

[@CAnswersTV]

A free transcript of this video "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY PROVES ROMAN CATHOLICISM FALSE" is available at www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=113161415591. Click on this link & once there scroll down until you see "Sermon Transcription" & then click on the "View Transcript" which is available in multiple languages. William Webster's outstanding book "The Church of Rome at the Bar of History" is available at www.CHRISTIANTRUTH.COM or at www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_30/190-7574406-7898107?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+church+of+rome+at+the+bar+of+history&sprefix=the+church+of+rome+at+the+bar+%2Caps%2C177. More of William Webster's lectures on Roman Catholic history & tradition can be found at www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?sortby=added&sourceonly=true&currSection=sermonssource&keyword=gracebiblebg&subsetcat=series&subsetitem=Roman+Catholic+Tradition. See also our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" with 137 videos & counting at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715. 2 Timothy 2:15.

[@CAnswersTV]

The Bible & church history refute Roman Catholicism (see our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" with 117 videos & counting at kzbin.info/aero/PLFFA8D69D1B914715). Today's Romanism exists in two parts, namely new Romanism which began when Vatican II was completed in 1965 & the old Romanism before Vatican II. For a good description of the two Romanist religions see the Roman Catholic website of "The Most Holy Family Monastery" at www.mostholyfamilymonastery.com/. Our video "The Homosexual Pope, Priests, Universalists, Evolutionists & Disunited Roman Catholic Apologists" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/noXLoKGtp71ph7c describes these two opposing Romanist religions as well. When it comes to early Christian church history we find that church history itself testifies against this apostate counterfeit Christianity known as Roman Catholicism. For proof of this see our early Christian church history website www.HistoryCart.com. For commentary about early Christian church history relating to our website see our 18 part series on early Christian church history on our playlist "Dealing with Anti Trinitarians (UPC) & Early Church History" with 43 videos but just look for the ones on early church history at kzbin.info/aero/PL9931642C7C8FFEAB. Particularly notice the following videos: "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY PROVES ROMAN CATHOLICISM FALSE" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGcm5ponZiroLM; "THE ORIGINAL EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH WAS NOT A ROMAN CATHOLIC SYSTEM OF SALVATION" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5vFpYmjj5qqm9U; "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY #3: EARLY CHRISTIANS QUOTED SCRIPTURE WITHOUT A ROMANIST OR KJV BIBLE" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4engKyloJuhgtE; EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY #11: BIBLE IS HISTORICALLY RELIABLE BUT NOT ROMAN CATHOLIC TRADITIONS" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/gobZeoGnpJKhrJo; "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY #14: PRE-NICENE (325 A.D.) CHURCH WAS NOT A ROMAN CATHOLIC SYSTEM" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoqVlXeHotinkMk; "EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY #15: THERE WAS NO POPE OR CARDINALS; DID HAVE SEX & MONEY RULES" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppLamKlspsqEbrc; " EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH HISTORY #16: GOVERNMENT & RULERS; ROMAN CATHOLICISM VEILS TRUE GOSPEL" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2a8fJawpdRlh5o & "HISTORICAL SPLIT BETWEEN ROMAN CATHOLICISM & THE CHRIST OF THE SCRIPTURE: MAN'S WORD OR GOD'S WORD?" at kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4bXaKV5a8aSadU. Titus 1:9-16.