Jesus Christ declared in Matthew 16:18, that He will build His Church on solid
rock, the rock of Simon-Peter. It is generally recognized that the point of
actual founding of the Catholic Church is at the
cross in John 19:34, "...but one of the soldiers opened His side with a lance,
and immediately there came out blood and water." At Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4, the Apostles were given the
authority, and the power, by the Holy Spirit with which to commence the building
of the Church. Notice in
Acts 2:14-36 that Peter, the same Peter who denied Christ three times and ran
off and wept (Matt 26:69-75), is immediately emboldened and gives his first
discourse.
The blueprint for the birth and growth of the Catholic Church was drawn by Jesus
Christ Himself. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which
a man took and sowed in his field. This indeed is the smallest of all the seeds;
but when it grows up it is larger than any herb and becomes a tree, so that the
birds of the air come and dwell in its branches." Matthew 13:31-32
Jesus
Christ planted that tiny seed, and He has tended it, and watered it, and loved
it, and nourished it, and protected it, and watched it grow and expand for
almost 2000 years. He will continue to watch over His Church until the end of time. That is
His promise.
The word 'Catholic' is taken from the Greek
'Katholicos', which
translated, means 'Universal'. The Greek word was Latinized into 'Catholicus'. Taking the true meaning of
the word, we find that the 'Catholic
Church' is mentioned in Scripture in Matt 28:19-20,
"Go, therefore, and make disciples of 'ALL' nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to
observe 'ALL' that I have
commanded you; and behold, I am with you 'ALL' days, even unto the consummation
of the world." The three 'ALLS' are ALL people, ALL truth, for ALL time, truly 'Universal', truly 'Catholic'. Throughout the Old Testament GOD dealt with His chosen people, His
'firstborn' (Ex 4:22) the Hebrews, the Israelites, and the Jews. His first
covenant was with Adam and Eve, a small group. As the Old Testament progressed,
GOD's covenants encompassed a larger and larger group of people, Noah and his
family, then Abraham and his tribe, then Moses with many tribes, then David with
his Kingdom. Now in the New Testament, Jesus Christ fulfilled the promise of the
Old Testament and invoked a New Covenant, a worldwide covenant, encompassing not
only the Jews, but all people everywhere, every country, every tongue, every
race, universal, Catholic. Jesus
Christ gave a specific command to his Apostles for them to do this... Acts
1:8, "...but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and
you shall be witnesses for me in Jerusalem (local) and in all Judea and Samaria
(spreading out) and even to the very ends of the earth (worldwide - universal -
all encompassing - CATHOLIC)."
The Catholic Church, the only Church which Jesus Christ founded, was persecuted by both
the Jews and the Romans from the very beginning. The Jews wanted to stamp out
this new Christianity because Christ called Himself GOD. The Romans wanted to
destroy this new Christianity because Christ called Himself a King. The infant
Church had to practice in hiding or fade into
oblivion. But fade it would not because its founder was GOD Himself who promised
the Gates of Hell would not prevail against His Church. Matt 16:18 The very first Church gatherings were not in
churches (buildings) at all but in the homes of loyal
Christians. These gatherings were done in great secrecy in order to avoid
persecution. The faithful had to use code words to communicate, such as Babylon
for Rome, and the fish symbol. The word 'fish' is Icthus in Greek, the dominant
language of the time. Icthus is the first letters of 'Jesus Christ Son of GOD
Savior'. Fish are used as a symbol of the faithful, referring to the miraculous
catch (Luke 5:1-7), and that some of the Apostles were fishermen.
"And continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and
breaking bread in their houses..." Acts
2:46
"Greet Prisca and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus, who for my
life have risked their own necks. To them not only I give thanks but also the
Churches of the Gentiles. Greet
also the Church that is in
their house. Greet my beloved Ephaenetus, who is the first fruits of
Asia to Christ."
Romans 16:3-5.
"The Churches of Asia
greet you. Aquila and Priscilla with the Church
at their house (Corinth) greet you heartily in the
Lord." 1Cor 16:19
"Greetings to the brethren who are at Laodicea and to Nymphas and the
Church that is in his
house." Col 4:15-16
"And to Appia, the sister, and to Archippus,
our fellow soldier, and to the Church that is in thy
house:" Philemon 1:2
Notice in Romans and Corinthians above, that the
Church had already spread to
Asia. It was prophesied by Caiphas, the high priest, that Jesus would gather all
of His Children into ONE. "This, however, he said not of himself; but being high priest
that year, he prophesied that Jesus was to die for the nation; and not only for
the nation, but that He might gather into ONE the
Children of GOD who were scattered abroad." John
11:51-52 The beginning of the fulfillment of this prophecy is in the book of
Acts.
The new Church expanded rapidly. This rapid expansion was due in part to the fact
that the Romans had built excellent roads connecting the various cities. The
Apostles used these roads to advantage.
"Now they who received his word
were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls." Acts
2:41
"And the multitude of men and women who believed in the Lord
increased still more..." Acts 5:14
"Now in those days, as the number of
the disciples was increasing..." Acts 6:1
"So the Churches grew stronger and stronger in
the faith and increased in numbers daily." Acts 16:5
"And the Word of
the Lord continued to spread, and the number of the disciples increased rapidly
in Jerusalem; a large
number also of the priests accepted the faith." Acts 6:7
"Now throughout
all Judea and Galilee and Samaria the Church was in peace and was being built
up, walking in fear of the Lord, and it was filled with the consolation of the
Holy Spirit." Acts 9:31
"And news concerning them came to the ears of the
Church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas as
far as Antioch. Acts
11:22
"But the Word of the Lord continued to grow and spread." Acts
12:24
Starting in Acts 13:1, the worldwide, universal, Catholic Church began to expand to
eventually include all of humanity...
"Now in the Church at Antioch there were prophets and
teachers, among whom were Barnabas and Simon, called Niger, and Lucius of
Cyrene, and Manahen the fostering brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul." Acts
13:1
"On arriving at Jerusalem they were welcomed by the Church
and the Apostles and Presbyters (priests), and they
proclaimed all that GOD had done with them." Acts 15:4
"Then the Apostles
and the Presbyters (priests) with the whole Church
decided to select representatives and to send them to
Antioch with Paul and
Barnabas. Acts 15:22
"But I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is in
the ministry of the Church at Cenchrea..." Rom 16:1
"..to the Church of GOD at Corinth." 1Cor 1:2, 2Cor
1:1
"Paul and Sylvanus and Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians." 1Thess 1:1, 2Thess
1:1
"The Church which is at Babylon (Rome),
chosen together with you, greets you, and so does my son Mark." 1Pet
5:13
"To the angel (Bishop) of the Church
at Ephesus write..." Rev 2:1
"And to the angel of the Church at Smyrna write..." Rev 2:8
"And to
the angel of the Church at
Pergamum write..." Rev
2:12
"And to the angel of the Church
at Thyratira write..." Rev 2:18
"And to the angel of the Church at Sardis write..." Rev 3:1
"And to
the angel of the Church at
Philadelphia write..." Rev
3:7
"And to the angel of the Church at Laodicea write..." Rev
3:14
"For from you the Word of the Lord has been
spread Abroad, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in Every Place Your Faith In GOD Has Gone Forth, so that we need say nothing further." 1Thess
1:8
"Amen I say to you, wherever in the Whole
World this Gospel is preached, this also that she has
done shall be told in memory of her." Matt 26:13
"But I say; Have they
not heard? Yes, indeed, Their voice has gone forth into All the Earth, and their words
Unto the ends of the World." Rom 10:18
"And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be
preached in the Whole World, for a witness to All
Nations; and then will come the end." Matt
24:14
"Go, therefore and make disciples of All
Nations..." Matt 28:19
And He said to them,
"Go into the Whole World and preach the Gospel to every creature." Mark
16:15
"But they went forth and preached
everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the preaching by the
signs that followed." Mark 16:20
The Liturgy of the Mass began to
develop...
"And they continued steadfastly in the teaching of the Apostles and in the Communion of the Breaking of the
Bread and in Prayers." Acts 2:42
"I
will declare thy name to my
brethren; in the midst of the Church I will praise thee." Heb 2:12
Incense is used at
Mass...
"According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to
burn incense when he went
into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying
outside at the hour of incense." Luke 1:9-10
"And another angel came and stood at the
altar, having a golden censer; and there
was given to him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon
the golden altar which is before the throne. And with the prayers of the saints
there went up before GOD from the angel's hand the smoke of the incense." Rev 8:3-4
The
Catholic Church uses
incense today, and offers
it up with the prayers of the saints. Does your church do these things?
The Apostles preached to the Jews in the synagogues on Saturday because that was their 'Sabbath' and the Apostles knew that was the time to preach
to the greatest number of Jews gathered together. Then on the next day, Sunday, they preached the new Christianity to the Jewish
converts, and to the Gentiles.
"And the next Sabbath
almost the whole city gathered to hear the Word of
the Lord." Acts 13:44
"And he would preach in the synagogue every
Sabbath, and try to
convince the Jews and Greeks." Acts 18:4
"And on the first day
of the week (Sunday), when we had met for the Breaking of the Bread (the Holy Eucharist of the Mass), Paul addressed them, as he was
to leave the next morning, and he prolonged his address until midnight." Acts
20:7
As the number of Churches increased at a rapid pace, it soon became
obvious that there had to be a centralized seat of authority with which to
oversee them all, and to insure that they all spoke with the same one voice of
truth. This central seat of authority became Rome, and the Papacy, and the
Magisterium. The story of how this all came about is well documented by the
Church Fathers.
The
Catholic Church has
Apostolic Succession... Didache, 15:1. J9 *Clement of Rome, Letter to the
Corinthians 42:1, 44:3. J20 *Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3:3:1, 3:3:4,
4:26:2, 4:33:8, 5:20:1, J209-257 *Tertullian, Demurrer Against Heretics 32:1.
*J296 *Clement of Alexandria, Who is the Rich Man That is Saved 42:2
J438 Firmilian, Letter to Cyprian 75:16. J602,602a Council of Laodicea,
Canon 12. J745g Poem against the Marcionites 3:276. J897 Epiphanius of
Salamis, Against All Heresies 27:6. J1092
The Catholic Church has the
Authority... *Ignatius, Letter Ephesians 5:3. J38a,b,43,44,47,48,49,58a
*Ignatius, Letter to the Smyrneans 8:1. J65 Tertullian, Against Marcion
4:5:1. J341 **Augustine, Against the Letter of Mani 5:6. J1581
Augustine, Against Faustus 33:6+. J1607, *J1631
Catholic Church, in which all references mention the Catholic Church by
name... *Ignatius, Letter to the Smyrneans 8:1-2. J65 106AD Martyrdom of
St. Polycarp 16:2. J77,79,80a,81a, 155AD *Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis
7:17:107:3. J435 202AD Cyprian, Unity of the Catholic Church 4-6. J555-557 251AD
Cyprian, Letter to Florentius 66:69:8. J587 254AD *Lactantius, Divine
Institutions 4:30:1. *J637 304AD Alexander of Alexandria, Letters 12. J680
324AD Athanasius, Letter on Council of Nicea 27. J757 350AD *Athanasius,
Letter to Serapion 1:28. J782 359AD Athanasius, Letter to Council of Rimini
5. J785 361AD *Cyril of Jerusalem, Catachetical Lectures 18:1. J836-*839
Damasus, Decree of Damasus 3. J910u 382AD Serapion, The Sacramentary
13:1. J1239a 350AD *Pacian of Barcelona, Letter to Sympronian 1:4 J1243
375AD *Augustine, Letter to Vincent the Rogatist 93:7:23. J1422
Augustine, Letter to Vitalis 217:5:16. J1456 427AD *Augustine, Psalms
88:2:14, 90:2:1. J1478-1479 418AD *Augustine, Sermons 2, 267:4. *J1492,
*J1523 430AD *Augustine, Sermon to Catechumens on the Creed 6:14. J1535
*Augustine, The True Religion 7:12+. *J1548, *J1562, J1564 **Augustine,
Against the Letter of Mani 4:5. *J1580-1581 *Augustine, Christian
Instruction 2:8:12+. *J1584, J1617 Augustine, Baptism 4:21:28+. J1629,
J1714, J1860a, J1882 *Augustine, Against the Pelagians 2:3:5+. *J1892,
*J1898 Innocent I, Letter to Probus 36. J2017 *Fulgence of Ruspe,
Forgiveness of Sins 1:19:2, J2251-2252 *Damasus, Decree of Damasus 1. J910s
Catholic Church, Antiquity of... Hermas, The Shepherd Vis 2:4:1. J82
Anonymous 2nd Letter of Clement to Corinthians 14:2. J105 Clement of
Alexandria, Stromateis 7:17:107:3. J435 Augustine, Letter to Deogratias
102:15. J1428 *Augustine, Psalms 90:2:1. J1479 Augustine, Predestination
of Saints 9:18. J1985 Gregory I, Letter to John 5:44:18. J2295 595AD
Catholic Church will last Forever... Clement, Letter to Corinthians 42:1,64.
J20,29a 80AD *Anonymous, 2nd letter of Clement to Rome 14:2. J105
*Cyprian, Unity of the Catholic
Church 4. J555-556 Cyprian, Letter to the Lapsed
33:27:1. J571 *Hilary, The Trinity 7:4. J865 Augustine, Psalms 90:2:1. J1479
*Augustine, Sermon to Catechumens 6:14. J1535
Catholic Church Founded... Clement, Letter to Corinthians 42:1. J20
*Hermas, The Shepherd Vis 2:4:1-3:5:1. J82-84 140AD Anonymous, Letter of
Clement 14:2. J105 Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3:16:6. J217a Tertullian,
Demurrer Against Heretics 9:3. J289 *Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis
7:17:107:3. J435 202AD Cyprian, Unity of the Catholic Church 4. J555-556
*Cyprian, Letter to the Lapsed 33:27:1. J571 *Hilary of Poitiers, The
Trinity 7:4. J865 *Augustine, Homilies on John 9:10. J1814
Catholic Church in Rome
Founded... *Clement, Letter to the Corinthians, Address. J10a 80AD
Ignatius, Letter to the Romans, J52 *Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3:3:3.
J210-211 Cyprian, Letter to Cornelius 59:55:14. J580 *Council of
Constantinople, Canon3. J910d *Damasus, Decree of Damasus 3. J910u
*Optatus of Melvis, Schism of Donatists 2:2. J1242
Catholic Church Unity... Didache 4:3. J1b Ignatius, Letter to the
Philadelphians 3:2. J56 Tertullian, Demurrer Against Heretics 20:4. J292
*Cyprian, Unity of the Catholic
Church 4. J555-556
Catholic Church is Universal... Didache, 9:1,10:1. J6,7 Clement, Letter to
Corinthians 5:1. J11 Ignatius, Letter to the Ephesians 3:2. J38
Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, Address. J77,79,81a Hermas, The Shepherd Par
9:17:4. J93 Anonymous, Letter to Diogenetus 6:1. J97a Aristides of
Athens, Apology 15. J112 Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 110. J144
*Irenaeus, Against Heresies 1:10:1. J191,192,215,257 *The Muratorian
Fragment. J268 *Tertullian, Against the Jews 7:4. J320a Clement of
Alexandria, Exhortation Greeks 10:110:1. J405 *Cyril of Jerusalem,
Catechetical Lectures 18:23. J838 *Damasus, Decree of Damasus 3. J910u
Catholic Church is an Infallible Church... Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3:4:1. *J213 Tertullian,
Demurrer Against Heretics 28:1. J295 Augustine, Against Letter of Mani 5:6.
J1581
Catholic Church has an Infallible Pope... Tertullian, Demurrer Against Heretics
23:10. J294, 200AD Cyprian, Letter to Cornelius 59:55:14. J580, 252AD
*Augustin, Sermons 131:10+. *J1507, *J1892 *Peter Chrysologus, Letter to
Eutyches 25:2. J2178
Papal succession... *Cyprian,
Unity of the Catholic Church 4. J555-556 Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3:3:3, 4:26:2.
J211,237 Firmilian, Letter to Cyprian 75:17. J602a Athanasius, Letter to
Julius I 22:35. J806a *Optatus of Milevis, Schism of Donatists 2:2. J1242
*Augustine, Letter to Generosus 53:1:2. J1418
Peter was indeed in Rome... Dionysius, Letter to Soter
of Rome 2:25:8. J106a,b
198AD *Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3:1:1. J208, 3:3:3 *J211 180AD
Tertullian, Demurrer Against Heretics 32:1,36:1. J296-297 Tertullian,
Antidote Against the Scorpion 15:3. J368a Clement, Fragment in Eusebius,
History 6:14:1. J439-440 Peter of Alexandria, Penance Canon 9. J611gg 306AD
*Lactantius, Deaths of the Persecutors 2:5. J647a *Eusebius, The
Chronicle *J651aa 42AD, *J651cc,dd 320AD Eusebius, History of the
Church 3:1:1. J652a
*Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 6:14. J822c *Damasus I,
Decree of Damasus 3. J910u 382AD Epiphanius of Salamis, Against All Heresies
27:6. J1092 Optatus of Milevis, Schism of Donatists 2:2. J1242
The Papacy... *Cyprian of
Carthage, Letters 8:2:1. J568a,570b 250AD Arius, Letter to Alexander of
Alexandria, J651 320AD Rufinus, The Apostles Creed 1. J1343a Peter
Chrysologus, Letter to Eutyches 25:2. J2178
The Primacy of Peter... Cyprian,
Unity of the Catholic Church 4. J555-556 Origen, Commentaries on John 5:3 J479a
Cornelius I, Letter to Cyprian Epist 49. J546-546a Cyprian, Letter to
Quintas 71:1. J592a Firmilian, Letter to Cyprian 75:17 J602a Eusebius,
History of the Church
2:14:6. J651dd Aphraates, Treatises 21:13 J693a *Council of Sardica,
Canons, Canon3,*4. J702a,b Julius I, Letter to Bishops of Antioch 22:35.
J806a *Council of Constantinople, Canon3. J910d Damasus, Decree of
Damasus 3. J910u *Ambrose, On Twelve Psalms 40:30+. J1252a,1261 Jerome,
Letter to Damasus 15:2, J1346,1346a *Augustine, Letter to Generosus 53:1:2.
J1418 *Augustine, Sermons 131:10,295:2+. J1507,1526,1892 Innocent I,
Letter to Council of Carthage 29:1. J2015f Peter Chrysologus, Letter to
Eutyches 25:2. J2178 *Leo I, Letters 14:11+. J2178a,2179a,2184a,*J2191, 449
AD
The Vatican... Eusebius, History
of the Church fragment
2:25:5. J106a
***Note: The Jxxx references are for "The Faith of
the Early Fathers", by William A. Jurgens The writings of the Church Fathers are readily available on the internet, free
of charge.
The Catholic Church has
Deacons now, just as it had then. The Deaconate was started...
"So the
Twelve called together the multitude of the disciples and said, 'It is not
desirable that we should forsake the Word of GOD and serve at tables. Therefore,
brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of Spirit and
of wisdom, that we may put them in charge of this work. But we will devote
ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word'." Acts 6:1-6 Stephen was
chosen as the first Deacon (Acts 6:5) and he also became the first Martyr, Acts
7:54-60.
The Catholic Church has
priests (presbyters) now, just as it had then...
"And when they had
appointed presbyters for them in each Church, with prayer and fasting, they
commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed." Acts 14:22
"Is
anyone among you sick? Let him bring in the presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him,
anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord." James 5:14
The Catholic Church has
Bishops now, just as it had then...
"Take heed to yourselves and to the
whole flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as Bishops, to rule the
Church of GOD, which He
has purchased with His own blood." Acts 20:28
"Paul and Timothy, servants
of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with
the Bishops and Deacons." Philippians 1:1
Before the Apostles passed on, they started a system, commanded by Jesus Christ,
to pass the baton to successors. This was to insure the perpetuality of the
Catholic Church which
Jesus Christ founded. That system is called 'Apostolic Succession'.
Every
Catholic Bishop can show his line of spiritual descent, that is, who consecrated
him, who consecrated his consecrator, and so on, all the way back to the
Apostles. Jesus Christ vested in the Apostles special authority. This special
Apostolic authority has been passed down in unbroken succession through the
Bishops of the Church for almost two thousand years, so that the present Bishops
of the Church truly teach with the voice of Jesus Christ through the Apostles.
For you can do nothing without Me...
Jn 15:5, "For without Me, you can do nothing."
Jn
5:19, "...the Son can do nothing of Himself, but only what He sees the Father
doing..."
Lk 24:48, "...and you yourselves are witnesses to these
things."
Mk 2:10, "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on
earth to forgive sins..."
Jn 7:16, "My teaching is not My own, but His
who sent Me."
Jn 5:30, "Of Myself I can do nothing. As I hear, I judge
and My judgment is just because I seek not My own will, but the will of Him who
sent Me."
Jn 8:28-29, "...when you have lifted up the Son of Man, then
you will know that I am He, and that of Myself I do nothing: but that I preach
only what the Father has taught Me. And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not
left Me alone, because I do always the things that are pleasing to Him."
Authority...
Jn
12:49, "For I have not spoken on My own authority, but He who sent Me, the
Father, has commanded Me what I should say, and what I should
declare."
Mt 28:18, "...All power in Heaven and on earth has been given
to Me."
Jn 15:15, "But I have called you friends, because all things that
I have heard from My Father I have made known to you."
Jn 16:11, "...and
of judgment, because the prince of this world has already been
judged."
Lk 24:49, "And I send forth upon you the promise of My Father.
But wait here in the city, until you are clothed with power from on
high."
Mt 28:19-20, "Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am
with you all days, even unto the consummation of the world."
Jn 20:21,
"As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
Jn 17:18, "Even as thou
hast sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world."
Jn
17:22-23, "And the glory that thou hast given Me, I have given to them, that
they might be one, even as We are One; I in them and Thou in Me; that they may
be perfected in unity, and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and
Thou hast loved them even as Thou hast loved Me."
Jn 20:22-23, "...He
breathed upon them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you
shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are
retained.'"
Jn 21:15-17, "Simon, son of John, dost thou love me?.....Feed
My sheep." Note! Jesus did not say feed YOUR sheep. He said Feed MY
sheep.
Acts 15:7, "And after a long debate, Peter got up and said to them,
'Brethren, you know that in early days GOD made
choice among us, that through my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the
Gospel and believe."
Acts 16:4, "And as they
passed through the cities, they delivered to the brethren for their observance
the decisions arrived at by the Apostles and presbyters in
Jerusalem."
1Thess 2:4, "But as approved by
GOD to be entrusted with the Gospel, so we speak not as pleasing men, but GOD, who proves our
hearts."
Heb 3:1, "Therefore, holy brethren,
partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our
confession, Jesus, who is faithful to Him who made him..."
Jn 20:29,
"Because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed. Blessed are they who have not
seen, and yet have believed."
The Calling...
Gen
3:9, "But the Lord GOD called the man and said to him, 'Where are you'?"
1Sam 3:4, "And the Lord
called Samuel. And he
answered; 'Here I am'."
Acts 9:10, "...the Lord said to him in a vision,
"Ananias." And he said, "Here I am Lord."
Lk 6:13, "And when day broke,
He summoned His disciples; and from those He chose
twelve, whom He also named Apostles."
Mk
3:13-14, And going up a mountain, He called to Him
men of His own choosing, and they came to Him. And He
appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that He might send them
forth to preach."
Jn 15:16, "You have not chosen Me, but I have
chosen you, and have appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that
your fruit should remain;
that whatever you ask the Father in My Name he may give you."
Jn 15:19,
"If you were of the world, the world would love what is its own. But because you
are not of this world, but I have chosen you out of
the world, therefore the world hates you."
Mt
10:1, "Then having summoned His twelve disciples, He gave them power over
unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every kind of disease and
infirmity."
Acts 13:2, "...the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for Me Saul
and Barnabas unto the work to which I have called them."
Acts 9:15, "But
the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is a chosen
vessel for Me, to carry My Name among nations and kings and the children of
Israel."
Eph 4:11, "And He Himself gave some
men as Apostles, and some as Prophets, others again as Evangelists, and others
as Pastors and teachers."
Acts 26:17-18, "...to whom I am now sending thee, to
open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion
of satan to GOD; that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by
faith in Me."
Acts 20:28, "Take heed to yourselves and to the whole flock
in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as Bishops, to
rule the Church of GOD, which He has purchased with
His own blood."
Gal 1:1, "Paul, an Apostle, sent not from men nor by man,
but by Jesus Christ and GOD the Father who raised Him from the
dead."
Acts 14:22, "And when they had appointed presbyters for them in
each church, with prayer and fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom
they had believed."
Tit 2:15, "Thus speak, and exhort, and rebuke, with
all authority. Let no one despise thee."
1Cor 12:28, "And GOD indeed has
placed some in the Church, first Apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers;
after that miracles, then gifts of healing, services of help, power of
administration, and the speaking of various tongues."
Lk 22:29-30, "And I
appoint to you a kingdom, even as My Father has appointed to Me, that you may
eat and drink at My table in My kingdom; and you shall sit upon thrones, judging
the twelve tribes of Israel."
Lk 10:16, "He who hears you, hears Me; and
he who rejects you, rejects Me; and he who rejects Me, rejects Him who sent
Me."
1Thes 2:7, "Although as the apostles of Christ we could have claimed
a position of honor among you, still while in your midst we were as children: as
if a nurse were cherishing her own children..."
1Thes 3:2-3, "...and we
sent Timothy, our brother and a servant of GOD in the Gospel of Christ, to
strengthen and comfort you in your faith, lest any should be shaken by these
tribulations. For yourselves know that we are appointed thereto."
1Thes
2:11, "Inasmuch as you are aware of how we entreated and comforted each one of
you, acting towards you as a father towards his children."
1Thes 5:12-13,
"Now we beseech you, brethren, to appreciate those who labor among you, and who
are over you in the Lord and admonish you. Esteem them with a more abundant love
on account of their work. Be at peace with them."
Passing the Baton...
Psa 109:8, "...May another take up his duties."
Acts 1:20,
"...And his ministry let another take."
Acts 20:32, "And now I commend
you to GOD and to the Word of His grace, who is able to build up and to
give the inheritance among all the
sanctified.
1Chron 24:5, "And he divided both
the families one with the other by lot; for there were princes of the sanctuary,
and princes of GOD..."
1Chron 25:8, "And they cast lots by their courses,
the elder equally with the younger..."
1Chron 24:31, "And they also cast
lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron before David the king, and
Sadoc, and Ahimelech, and the princes of the priestly and Levitical families,
both the elder and the younger. The lot divided all equally."
Lk 1:8-9,
"Now it came to pass, while he was officiating in the order of his course as a
priest before GOD, according to the customs of the priest's office, that he was
chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord to burn incense."
Acts
1:15-26, "In those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren, now in the
number of persons met together was about a hundred and twenty,....And they drew
lots between them, and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the
eleven apostles."
1Cor 3:10, "According to the grace of GOD which has
been given to me, as a wise builder, I laid the foundation, and another builds thereon."
The
'Laying on of Hands' to
convey authority and leadership is prefigured in the Old Testament.
Num
27:15-23, Then Moses said to the Lord, "May the Lord,
the GOD of the spirits of all mankind, set over the community a man who shall act as their leader in all
things, to guide them in all their actions; that the Lord's community may not be
like sheep without a shepherd." And the Lord
replied to Moses, "Take Joshua, son of Nun, a man of spirit, and lay your hands upon him. Have him
stand in the presence of the priest Eleazar and of the whole community, and
commission him before
their eyes. Invest him with some of your own dignity, that the whole Israelite community may obey him. He shall present himself to the priest Eleazar, to have him seek
out for him the decisions of the Urim in the Lord's presence; and as He directs,
Joshua, all the Israelites with him, and the community as a whole shall perform
all their actions." Moses did as the Lord had
commanded him. Taking Joshua and having him stand in the presence of the priest
Eleazar and of the whole community, he laid his hands
on him and gave him his commission, as the Lord had directed through
Moses."
Deut 34:9, "And Joshua, the son of Nun
was full of the Spirit of Wisdom; for Moses had laid
his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and he did as
the Lord commanded Moses."
This same rite was
practiced in the early Church and continues to this day. The Bishop, by the
'laying on of hands' ,
conveys a succession of Priests and Bishops with a commission, giving them the
authority and the leadership needed to perpetuate the Church which Jesus Christ
founded.
Acts 6:6, "These they set before the apostles, and after they
had prayed they laid their hands upon them."
Acts 9:17, "...and
laying his hands upon him, he said, "Brother Saul,
the Lord has sent me, Jesus, who appeared to thee on thy journey, that thou
mayest recover thy sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." A 'laying on of
hands' is a filling of the Holy Spirit.
Acts
8:17, "Then they laid their hands on them and they
received the Holy Spirit."
Acts 19:6, " and
when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit
came upon them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy."
Acts 13:3, "Then having fasted and prayed and
laid their hands upon
them, they let them go."
2Tim 1:6, "For this reason I admonish thee to
stir up the grace of GOD which is in thee by the laying on of my hands."
1Tim
4:14, "Do not neglect the grace that is in thee, granted to thee by reason of
prophecy with the laying on of hands of the presbyterate."
Acts 9:15-17, "But the Lord said to
him, 'Go for this man is a chosen vessel to me, to carry My Name among nations
and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must
suffer for My Name'. So Ananias departed and entered the house, and laying his hands upon him, he said,
'Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me, Jesus, who appeared to thee on thy journey,
that thou mayest recover thy sight and be filled with the Holy
Spirit'."
Heb 6:1-3, "Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching
concerning Christ, let us pass onto things more
perfect, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of
faith towards GOD, of the doctrine of Baptism and the laying on of hands, of the resurrection
of the dead and of eternal judgment. AND THIS WE WILL DO IF GOD
PERMITS."
Col 1:24-26, "I rejoice now in the
sufferings I bear for your sake; and what is lacking of the sufferings of Christ
I fill up in my flesh for His body which is the Church; whose minister I have
become in virtue of the office that GOD has given to me in your regard. For I am
to preach the Word of GOD fully, the mystery which has been hidden for ages and
generations, but now is clearly shown to His Saints."
Eph 2:20, "You are
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets with Jesus Christ Himself
as the chief cornerstone."
Tit 1:5, "For this reason I left thee in
Crete, that thou shouldst set right anything that is defective and shouldst
appoint presbyters in every city, as I myself directed thee to do."
Jn
15:20,"Remember the Word I have spoken to
you..."
2Tim 2:2, "...and the things that thou
hast heard from me through many witnesses, commend to trustworthy men who shall
be competent in turn to teach others."
2Tim 3:14, "But do thou continue
in the things that thou hast learned and that have been entrusted to thee,
knowing of whom thou hast learned them."
2Thess 2:15, "So then, brethren,
stand firm, and hold the teachings that you have
learned, whether by word or by letter of ours."
2Tim 1:13, "Hold to the form
of sound teaching which thou hast heard from me, in
the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus."
1Cor 11:2, "Now I praise
you, brethren, because in all things you are mindful of me and hold fast my precepts as I gave them to you."
1Thes 2:2, "But although we had previously experienced
suffering and shameful treatment at Philippi, as you know, we had confidence in
our GOD to preach to you the Gospel of GOD amid much anxiety."
Rom
10:14-15, "How then are they to call upon Him in whom they have not believed?
But how are they to believe Him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear if no one preaches? And how are men to
preach unless they be sent?"
1Thes 3:10,
"Night and day we pray more and more that we may see you again, and may supply those things that are lacking to your
faith."
1Thes 5:14, "And we exhort you,
brethren, reprove the irregular, comfort the
fainthearted, support the weak, be patient towards all men."
1Pet 5:1-4, "Now I exhort the presbyters among you, I
your fellow presbyter and witness of the sufferings of Christ, the partaker also
of the glory that is to be revealed in time to come, tend the flock of GOD which is among you, governing not under
constraint, but willingly, according to GOD; not yet for the sake of base gain,
but eagerly; nor yet as lording it over your charges, but becoming from the
heart a pattern to the flock. And when the Prince of
the Shepherds appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory."
Heb
13:7, "Remember your superiors, who spoke to you the Word of GOD. Consider how
they ended their lives, and imitate their
faith."
Heb 13:17, "Obey your superiors and be
subject to them, for they keep watch as having to
render an account of your souls; so that they may do this with joy, and not with
grief, for that would not be expedient for
you."
1Thess 5:12, "Now we beseech you, brethren, to appreciate those who
labor among you, and who are over you."
Mt 16:15-19, "...'But who do you
say that I am'? Simon Peter answered and said, 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of
the living GOD'. Then Jesus answered and said, 'Blessed art thou, Simon
Bar-Jona, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to thee, but My Father in
Heaven. And I say to thee, thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My
Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give thee
the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever thou shalt bind on earth shall
be bound in heaven, and whatever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in
heaven.'"
Mt 18:17-18, "And if he refuse to hear them, appeal to the
Church, but if he refuse to hear even the Church, let him be to thee as the
heathen and the publican. Amen I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be
bound also in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed also in
heaven."
Jn 14:15-17, "If you love Me, keep My commandments, and I will
ask the Father and He will give you another Advocate to dwell with you forever,
the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him
nor knows Him."
Jn 16:23, "And in that day you shall ask Me nothing.
Amen, amen, I say to you, if you ask the Father anything in My Name, He will
give it to you."
Eph 3:21, "To Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus down through all the ages of time
without end. Amen."
What the Apostles had to say regarding Apostolic
Succession...
Didache 15:1, "Elect for
yourselves, therefore, Bishops and Deacons worthy of the Lord..." What an Apostolic Father of the Catholic
Church had to say about Apostolic Succession...
ST.
CLEMENT OF ROME, BISHOP AND APOSTOLIC FATHER OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. FIRST
LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS 80 A.D. CHAP. XLIV.--THE ORDINANCES OF THE
APOSTLES, THAT THERE MIGHT BE NO CONTENTION RESPECTING THE PRIESTLY OFFICE.
"Our apostles also knew, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and there would
be strife on account of the office of the episcopate. For this reason,
therefore, inasmuch as they had obtained a perfect fore-knowledge of this, they
appointed those [ministers] already mentioned, and afterwards gave instructions,
that when these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed them in
their ministry. We are of opinion, therefore, that those appointed by them, or
afterwards by other eminent men, with the consent of the whole Church, and who
have blame-lessly served the flock of Christ in a humble, peaceable, and
disinterested spirit, and have for a long time possessed the good opinion of
all, cannot be justly dismissed from the ministry. For our sin will not be
small, if we eject from the episcopate those who have blamelessly and holily
fulfilled its duties. Blessed are those presbyters who, having finished their
course before now, have obtained a fruitful and perfect departure [from this
world]; for they have no fear lest any one deprive them of the place now
appointed them. But we see that ye have removed some men of excellent behaviour
from the ministry, which they fulfilled blamelessly and with honour."
What Church Fathers, Church Councils, and early writers had to say about
Apostolic Succession...
IRENAEUS, AGAINST HERESIES 4,33,8, 180 A.D. "The
true gnosis is the doctrine of the Apostles, and the
ancient organization of the Church throughout the whole world, and the
manifestation of the Body of Christ according to the successions of Bishops, by
which successions the Bishops have handed down the Church which is found
everywhere."
IRENAEUS, AGAINST HERESIES
5,20,1, 180 A.D. "For all these [heretics] are of a much later date
than are the Bishops to whom the Apostles handed over
the Churches."
CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA, WHO IS
THE RICH MAN THAT IS SAVED 42,2, 200 A.D. "After the death of the tyrant, the
[Apostle John] came back to Ephesus from the island of Patmos; and upon being
invited, he went even to the neighboring cities of the pagans, here to appoint Bishops, there to set in order whole Churches, and
there to ordain to the clerical estate such as were designated by the
Spirit."
FIRMILIAN BISHOP OF CAESAREA, LETTER
TO CYPRIAN 75,16, 255 A.D. "Therefore the power of forgiving sins was given
to the Apostles and to the Churches which these men,
sent by Christ, established; and to the Bishops who succeeded them by BEING
ORDAINED IN THEIR PLACE."
TERTULLIAN, THE
DEMURRER AGAINST HERETICS 32,2-3, 200 A.D. "For this is the way in which the
apostolic Churches transmit their lists: like the Church of the Smyrneans, which
records that Polycarp was placed there by John; like the Church of the Romans
where Clement was ordained by Peter. In just this
same way the other Churches display those whom they have as sprouts from the
Apostolic seed, having been established in the episcopate by the
Apostles."
COUNCIL OF LAODICEA, CANON 12, 343
A.D. "That Bishops are to be appointed to ecclesiastical leadership by the
judgment of the metropolitans and their surrounding Bishops, after they have
been examined at length as to their knowledge of the faith and quite frankly as
to their deportment."
This is only a small sampling of the early writings
in support of Apostolic Succession. There are many more.
The Catholic Church has seven Sacraments now, just as it had
then...
Baptism: Matt 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, John 3:1-5, Acts 8:26-39, Rom 6:3-4,
Eph 4:4-7. Reconciliation: Matt 16:19, Luke 5:17-26, 7:36-50, 13:1-5, John 8:3-11,
20:23. Confirmation: Acts 1:8, 2:1-4, 8:14-20, 19:1-7, 2Cor 1:21-22, Eph
1:13. Holy Eucharist: Malachi 1:11, Matt 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-27, Luke 22:19-20, John
6:All, 1Cor 11:17-29, Heb 7,8,9. Matrimony: Gen 2:18-24, 1Cor 7:2-8, Eph
5:21-33 Holy Orders: Luke 5:1-11, John 1:35-39, 15:15-16, 20:19-23, Acts 6:3-6, 13:3,
1Cor 11:19-27, 2Tim 1:6, Heb 5:1-5, 1Pet 2:5-11. Anointing of the Sick: Mark 6:13,
16:18, James 5:14-15.
The Bishops of the Catholic Church of today vote amongst
themselves just as the Apostles did in the ancient Church.
"And they drew lots
between them, and the lot fell upon Matthias: and he was numbered with the
eleven Apostles." Acts 1:26
The Catholic Church has a
visible head on earth today (the Pope) just as it did in its infancy, one who
will shepherd the flock and who will represent the invisible head Jesus
Christ...
"And after a long debate, Peter got up and said to them,
"Brethren, you know that in early days GOD made choice among us, that through
MY mouth the Gentiles
should hear the Word of the Gospel and believe." Acts 15:7-11
Right
after Peter's discourse in Acts 15:7-11, which was during the first Church council, the Council of
Jerusalem, the dissension
within the council was abated. "Then the whole meeting quieted down and
listened..." Acts 15:12
This is a prefigurement of the authority of the
Pope, "Rome has spoken,
the issue is settled."
Some in the Church will be
given a specific gift...
"Now you are the body of Christ member for
member. And GOD indeed has placed some in the Church, first Apostles, secondly
prophets, thirdly teachers; after that miracles, then gifts of healing, services
of help, , and the speaking of various
tongues." 1Cor 12:27-28
The Catholic Church has as
its 'Power of Administration' a system
of government known as a 'Hierarchy'.
Eph 4:11-16: "And his gifts were that some should be
apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip
the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until
we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; so
that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with
every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful
wiles. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into
him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit
together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working
properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love."
There is a
correspondence between the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and
teachers, and the vital organs of the Body of Christ. Every body has vital
organs, without which it cannot function. The lesser members are essential, to
be sure, but if they were cut off, the body would merely be inconvenienced, not
destroyed. As the body matures, the cells of the vital organs reproduce their
own cells; the heart, heart cells; the liver, liver cells, the brain, brain
cells, and so forth. They do so with the material from other living cells:
blood, genes, etc. So, as long as the body lives, its hierarchial composition will continue.
Without this hierarchial
order there is disorder. Lacking unity with the Body of Christ, "children" (used
here of the carnal) are out of control, not in its place and therefore not
functioning properly, remains immature. What member is connected directly to the
head? The body "builds itself up in love" while the members are members of one
another, Rom 12:5, Eph 4:25. So, there must always be a hierarchy in the Body of Christ, the
Church. If the members are members of one another, Rom 12:5, Eph 4:25, and the
body "builds itself up in love" and the body "fills the universe in all its
parts", then there is an intimate bond between all the members that is for their
upbuilding. This is the communion/intercession of saints.
Many thanks to
Paul Kamalsky for this contribution of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church.
Through the Catholic Church there shall be made known the wisdom of GOD...
"Yes, to me,
the very least of all saints, there was given this grace, to announce among the
Gentiles the good tidings of the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to enlighten
all men as to what is the dispensation of the mystery which has been hidden from
eternity in GOD, who created all things; in order that through the Church there be made known to the
Principalities and the Powers in the heavens the manifold wisdom of GOD
according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our
Lord." Eph 3:8-10
It is not the Bible, but the Catholic Church
that is the foundation and the pillar of
truth...
"I write these things to thee hoping to come to thee shortly,
but in order that thou mayest know, if I am delayed, how to conduct thyself in
the house of GOD, which is the Church of the Living
GOD, the pillar and mainstay of the truth." 1Tim
3:14-15
If a dispute arises, first begin at the lowest level to resolve it, a one on one
discussion. If that fails, then take one or two witnesses with you to confirm
the wording of the dispute. If that fails then appeal to the Church, the final
authority...
"And if he refuse to hear them, appeal to the Church, but if he refuse to hear even
the Church, let him be to
thee as the heathen and the publican." Matt 18:15-18.
Jesus Christ is the head of the Catholic
Church... We are the body...
"And all
things He made subject under His feet, and Him He gave as head over all the
Church, which indeed is
His body, the completion of Him who fills all with all." Eph
1:22
"...just as Christ is head of the Church, being Himself savior of the
body." Eph 5:23
"But just as the Church
is subject to Christ, so also let wives be to their
husbands in all things." Eph 5:24
"Again, He is the head of His body,
the Church." Col
1:18
"I fill up in my flesh for His body, which is the Church." Col 1:24 Jesus Christ loves the Catholic
Church, and it is holy and spotless...
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the
Church, and delivered Himself up
for her, that He might sanctify her, cleansing her in the bath of water by means
of the Word; in order that He might present to Himself the Church in all her glory, not having
spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she might be Holy and without
blemish." Eph 5:25-27
Jesus Christ nourishes His Church and cherishes it...
"He who loves his own wife loves
himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh; on the contrary he nourishes and
cherishes it, as Christ also does the Church." Eph 5:29
We are warned to not persecute the Church
which Jesus Christ founded...
"Do not be a
stumbling block to Jews and Greeks and to the Church
of GOD." 1Cor 10:32
"Have you not houses for
your eating and drinking? Or do you despise the Church of GOD and put to shame the
needy?" What am I to say to you? Am I to commend you? In this I do not commend
you." 1Cor 11:22
"For I am the least of the Apostles, and am not worthy
to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of GOD." 1Cor 15:9
"For
you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism; how beyond all measure I
persecuted the Church of GOD and ravaged it." Gal 1:13
"...as regards zeal, a persecutor
of the Church of GOD."
Philip 3:6
"Now I exhort you, brethren, that you watch those who cause
dissensions and scandals contrary to the doctrine that you have learned, and
avoid them." Rom 16:17
The Catholic Church WILL increase in wisdom over time as
the Holy Spirit reveals a deeper understanding of divine public revelation as
presented to her in Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition...
"But
there is nothing concealed that WILL not be
disclosed, and nothing hidden that WILL not be made known. For what you have
said in darkness WILL be said in the light; and what you have whispered in the
inner chambers WILL BE PREACHED ON THE HOUSETOPS."
Luke 12:2-3
"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send
in My Name, He WILL TEACH you all things, and bring to your mind whatever I have said to
you." John 14:26
"MANY THINGS YET I HAVE TO SAY TO YOU, BUT YOU
CANNOT BEAR THEM NOW. But when He, the Spirit of
Truth, has come, He WILL
TEACH you all the truth.
For He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He will hear, He
WILL SPEAK, and the THINGS THAT ARE TO COME HE WILL DECLARE TO YOU." John 16:12-13
"And He Himself gave some men as Apostles,
and some as Prophets, and others again as Evangelists, and others as Pastors and
Teachers, IN ORDER TO PERFECT THE SAINTS FOR A WORK
OF MINISTRY, FOR THE BUILDING UP OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, UNTIL WE ALL ATTAIN TO
THE UNITY OF THE FAITH AND OF THE DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD, TO PERFECT
MANHOOD, TO THE MATURE MEASURE OF THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST. AND THIS HE HAS DONE
THAT WE MAY BE NOW NO LONGER CHILDREN, TOSSED TO AND FRO AND CARRIED ABOUT BY
EVERY WIND OF DOCTRINE DEVISED IN THE WICKEDNESS OF MEN, IN CRAFTINESS,
ACCORDING TO THE WILES OF ERROR. RATHER ARE WE TO PRACTICE THE TRUTH IN LOVE,
AND GROW UP IN ALL THINGS IN HIM WHO IS THE HEAD, CHRIST. FOR FROM HIM THE WHOLE
BODY (BEING CLOSELY JOINED AND KNIT TOGETHER THROUGH EVERY JOINT OF THE SYSTEM
ACCORDING TO THE FUNCTIONING IN DUE MEASURE OF EACH SINGLE PART) DERIVES ITS
INCREASE TO THE BUILDING UP OF ITSELF IN LOVE." Eph
4:11-16
"This grace has abounded beyond measure in us in all wisdom and
prudence, so that HE MAY MAKE KNOWN TO US THE MYSTERY
OF HIS WILL ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD PLEASURE HE PURPOSED IN HIM TO BE DISPENSED IN
THE FULLNESS OF THE TIMES; TO RE-ESTABLISH ALL THINGS IN CHRIST, BOTH THOSE IN
THE HEAVENS AND THOSE ON EARTH." Eph 1:8-10
"I fed you with
milk, not with solid food, FOR YOU WERE NOT YET READY
FOR IT. NOR ARE YOU NOW READY FOR IT, FOR YOU ARE STILL CARNAL." 1Cor 3:2
"For whereas by this time you ought to be
masters, YOU NEED TO BE TAUGHT AGAIN THE RUDIMENTS OF
THE WORDS OF GOD; AND YOU HAVE BECOME SUCH AS HAVE NEED OF MILK AND NOT OF SOLID
FOOD. FOR EVERYONE WHO IS FED ON MILK IS UNSKILLED IN THE WORD OF JUSTICE; HE IS
BUT A CHILD. BUT SOLID FOOD IS FOR THE MATURE, FOR THOSE WHO BY PRACTICE HAVE
THEIR FACULTIES TRAINED TO DISCERN GOOD AND EVIL."
Heb 5:12-14
"So then, every Scribe instructed in the Kingdom of Heaven is
like a householder WHO BRINGS FORTH FROM HIS
STOREROOM THINGS NEW AND OLD." Matt 13:52
"Now
I exhort the presbyters among you - I, your fellow presbyter and witness of the
sufferings of Christ, THE PARTAKER ALSO OF THE GLORY
THAT IS TO BE REVEALED IN TIME TO COME..." 1Pet
5:1-2
"Another parable He set before them saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven
is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed into his field. This
indeed is the smallest of all seeds; but when it grows up it is larger than any
herb and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and dwell in its
branches." Matt 13:31-32
The Catholic Church which
Jesus Christ founded will last for all eternity...
"No weapon that is
formed against thee shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against thee
in judgment, thou shalt condemn. This is the inheritance of the servants of the
Lord, and their justice with Me, said the Lord." Isa 54:17
"And I say to
thee, thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it." Matt 16:18
"And behold, I am with you all days, even
unto the consummation of the world." Matt 28:20
"And I will ask the
Father and He will give you another Advocate to dwell with you forever, the
Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor
knows Him. But you shall know Him, because He will dwell with you, and be in
you." John 14:16-17
"Now, to him who is able to accomplish all things in
a measure far beyond what we ask or conceive, in keeping with the power that is
at work in us, to Him be glory in the Church
and in Christ Jesus down through all the ages of time
without end. Amen." Eph 3:21
"And he said to them, 'Men of Israel, take care of what
you are about to do to these men. For some time ago there rose up Theodas,
claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him;
but he was slain, and all his followers were dispersed and he was brought to
nothing. After him rose up Judas the Galilean in the days of the census and drew
some people after him; he too perished, and all of his followers were scattered
abroad. So now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone. For if
this plan or work is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of GOD, you will not be able to overthrow
it. Else perhaps you may find yourselves fighting
even against GOD'." Acts 5:35-39
Well,
clearly, the Catholic Church is still here after almost 2000 years. It has certainly been tried
by many to overthrow it from without and from within, almost without reprieve
for the entire two millennium. Jews, Romans, Vandals, Heretics, Islam,
Protestants, the French Revolution, Modernists, Hitler, Communists, and many
others, one group after another, have tried and failed, and yet the Church still
stands. It is the oldest, and the largest, and the longest lasting institution
on earth. Having said that, aren't you compelled to agree that the Catholic Church is of the work of
GOD and not of men?
Despite all of this constant attack, the Catholic
Church has grown to well over one billion
(1,045,000,000*) members, or one sixth of the population of the entire earth, as
of January 2000. (*official Church figure)
The early Church can be compared to the planting of a
seed, an acorn. Over the past almost 2000 years the acorn has grown into a large
and beautiful oak tree.
From this tiny
acorn.. to this magnificent oak tree.
The oak tree has all of the qualities of
the acorn, but the acorn does not have all of the qualities of the oak tree.
The Catholic Church is the only
Church which fits perfectly with the pattern of the Early Church as portrayed by
Holy Scripture. There is no other Church which even comes close to matching
it.
"Only you must remain firmly founded in the faith and steadfast and not
withdrawing from the hope of the Gospel which you have heard. IT HAS BEEN
PREACHED TO EVERY CREATURE UNDER HEAVEN...." Col 1:23. Truly Universal,
truly CATHOLIC.
Written by Bob Stanley, April
10, 1999 Updated February 10, 2000 Back to
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