I was challenged this week by Pat in my views on the Catholic Eucharist. Let me explain.
The Bible says Jesus is the «rock». That does not mean He is a stone. The scripture also says Jesus is the «gate», but still not a physical door at any entrance. When the Messiah spoke about people «living in darkness», it was not their failure to collect fire wood he was trying to explain. When Jesus says he is the bread that came down from Heaven, He did not ask us to replace the bakers products with his physical body.
When He said that we have to eat His «flesh», He did not promote some strange kind of cannibalism. He underlined that we were going to share the bread at the Last Supper, in remembrance of Him. He is the Word, and He obviously meant we were going to have suppers together to share His teachings. The bread we share is the symbol of communion in the body of Christ, that are we, if we are a fellowship of Bible believers.
In the gospel of John we can see that the disciples misunderstood this message, just like the Roman Catholic priesthood.
John 6: 52
Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
John 6:63
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
The other outraged blasphemy in regards to the Eucharist is the teaching that the bread we share is a sacrifice to God the almighty. Since Jesus is told by Catholic priests to be physically present inside the bread, we actually join a sacrifice of the risen Lord.
The Catechism of The Roman Catholic Church says:
Verse 1367:
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.” “And since 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. this sacrifice is truly propitiatory.”
About this kind of Roman Catholic teaching, there is only one thing to be said: «If the victim on the alter is the same, than the butchers are also the same».
The Catholic Eucharistic ritual is a blunt contradiction of the Word of God, found in the Bible. And surely not the will of our Father in Heaven.
Hebrews 10:10
And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrew 10:11
Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
When the Roman Catholics takes the Eucharist, they accuses God of the Bible of being a liar. The «Jesus» they are told is in the bread is a false god. They eat an idol. And what they do is a sin, that will be punished if not repented for.
ivarfjeld.com 
The list of false doctrines of the Catholic Church is long.It always amazes me that intelligent people accept these false religions. I know Satan blinds their eyes but it still hard to understand. Dick Weatherly
You’re not kidding! I couldn’t agree with you more. I’m totally flabbergasted at how many Catholics think they are practicing Christians. Discernment is an amazing blessing. I thank God almost every night for allowing me to see what I see for what it truly is, that so many others are absolutely blind to.
I was raised in the Catholic church. Baptized as an infant, confirmation, etc. I thank God He brought me out of that place.
The reason they believe these things is because from childhood they are taught them. A child will just believe.
I prayed to Mary and the saints because that is what I was taught. I believed they could hear me and get answers for me. I also believed that the wafer was actually Jesus Himself because that is what I was taught.
Children are just naturally trusting to those they are close to. Those same children that pray to Mary will grow into adults that pray to Mary. Most of them don’t question what they are told. They hold on to it because they are told they have to believe it.
Also, most Catholics don’t just decide to be Catholics. Most of them are just babies that had some water poured on their foreheads and got caught up in their religion. So, while it may seem strange to an outsider how they believe what they do, for someone who was there, it isn’t hard to understand.
Why they cling to it is another matter.
John 6:52
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?”
53
Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.
54
Whoever eats 19 my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.
[19 [54-58] Eats: the verb used in these verses is not the classical Greek verb used of human eating, but that of animal eating: “munch,” “gnaw.” This may be part of John’s emphasis on the reality of the flesh and blood of Jesus (cf John 6:55), but the same verb eventually became the ordinary verb in Greek meaning “eat.”]
55
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
56
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.
When Nicodemus talked with Jesus in John Chapter 3:4-5, “Nicodemus said to him, “How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” Nicodemus was taking Jesus’ words about being born again, literally, and Jesus corrected his misunderstanding. When the Jews were taking Jesus literally about the Eucharist, he did not correct them but confirmed the truth about what they thought.
For an interesting Scriptural Analysis of the Passion of Christ, read the following argument for the “fourth cup”
http://webpages.marshall.edu/~trimbol3/4thcup4.htm
Dear Larry.
Shalom, and welcome to this site.
I guess you are a Catholic priest.
I am always fascinated when people quote a verse from the Bible, and overlook the next verse. Even Satan is a master in quoting the Bible out of context.
To the rather opposite of what you claim, Jesus did rebuke his disciples:
John 6:63
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
When Jesus says «my blood is the true drink», He do not want catholic priests to compete with the vampire Drakula. The Messiah explains that the blood He will share for our sins at Calvary in Jerusalem is the true drink.
Bible believers will also have to share in His cup of death, and renounce this World as evil. Thats why all the Apostles died in the Spiritual battlefield, less than John who might have died a natural death.
Jesus then tells the disciples that the “Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing”. In other words, stop worrying about food for your flesh and start worrying about food for your Spirit (notice that he talks about “the flesh” and not “My flesh”; He is talking about the flesh of John 3:6). Then many of His disciples left Him-the only place in Holy Scripture where people cease to follow Him for a reason of doctrine-they have understood Him literally and He, who understands perfectly, does not seek to change or modify their understanding; because there is no misunderstanding. Jesus then asks His apostles if they wish to leave too but Peter, speaking for the rest, tells Him that although they don’t understand, they will continue to follow Him because they know that He has been sent by God for their salvation. It is interesting to note that this is the first time in the Bible where it is noted that Judas Iscariot will later leave to betray Him (Judas didn’t believe that Jesus could give His Flesh to eat and His Blood to drink and so left at the Last Supper when the Eucharist was instituted).
Click to access glad.pdf
Dear Larry.
Shalom, and thanks for this comment:
Genesis 29:14
Then Laban said to him, You are my own flesh and blood.
Laban did not speak about his children becoming food, Earthly needs and wine. What you would like to believe Jesus speaks about in John 6. The Children of Laban is his blood relatives. So are we also the spiritual blood relatives of Jesus, when we are washed by the blood He shed at Calvary. Not a physical washing in blood, but the very moment in time when we understands that the Passover Lamb has been slaughtered for my sins, and His blood used for my redemption.
Leviticus 3:17
” ‘This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.’
God turned water into blood in Egypt. But not for drinking. Its a sin for Jews to drink blood.
John 6: 52
Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
The Disciples of Jesus, as Catholic priest took the words of Jesus as an order to change the law, become sinners, and act in some kind of funny Cannibalism.
John 6:55:
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.
And If that was what Jesus meant, this is the instruction.
John 6: 58
This is the bread that came down from heaven.
And If we are going to read these verses like Catholic priests, a physical bread did come down from Heaven. And was now standing in front of them.
But Jesus was not a physical bread. He is the WORDS that became flesh, (a man) and His WORDS are the bread that gives life. And when we gather for a supper, (a meal), we will break a physical bread together, and remember His teaching and the last supper He had with His students.
For the first 300 years of Messianic revival among the Jewish people, this was their understanding. The pope in Rome and his priesthood has made this teaching into a perversion of the truth, expressed in every Catholic mass around the World every day. Their priest tell the Catholics to sin and literally drink blood. In many Catholic Churches only the priest drinks the blood. That is an extremely wicked message to the World.
Dear Lary, and my readers.
Shalom.
John 18:11
Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
Mark 10:39
“We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.
Most of claimed to be Christians, do neither drink the cup of death that Jesus speaks about (not a cup of Coca Cola), nor are they baptized with the same Baptism as Jesus.
There are many ways of corrupting your self, not being willing to obey the Master. Many man made excuses are invented. But non are valid, if you want to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
It is interesting that you mention the first 300 years of the (Catholic) Church. St. John the Evangelist taught St. Polycarp. St. Polycarp taught St. Ignatius of Antioch. St Ignatius had this to say about the Eucharist around the year 115 A.D. about 85 years after the Last Supper:
They [the heretics] have no concern for love, none for the widow, the orphan, the afflicted, the prisoner, the hungry, the thirsty. They stay away from Eucharist and prayer, because they do not admit that the Eucharist is the flesh of Our Savior, Jesus Christ which suffered for our sins, which the Father raised up by His goodness. Shun divisions, as the beginning of evils. All of you follow the bishop, as Jesus Christ followed the Father, and the presbytery as the Apostles; respect the deacons as the ordinance of God. Let no one do anything that pertains to the Church apart from the bishop. Let that be considered a valid Eucharist which is under the bishop or one whom he has delegated. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the people be; just as wherever Christ Jesus may be, there is the Catholic Church. It is not permitted to hold an agape [Eucharist] independently of the bishop. (Letter to the Smynaeans)
I suggest you read
Four Witnesses: The Early Church in Her Own Words: Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus of Lyon
http://books.google.com/books?id=82KFXzEDAe4C&dq=Four+Witnesses&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=_GaRS7DZH8uMlAf1gOn6AQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CBoQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=&f=false
This is a wonderful book written by a Protestant who became Catholic and answers many of your questions regarding the Catholic Church.
Before you start on Sola Scriptura, let me ask you where is that found in the Bible? Where in the Bible does it say that the Bible is the ONLY authority. Second Timothy 3:16 says that “all Scripture is useful” it does not say “scripture alone.” In 2 Thessalonians 2:15 Paul tells the church of the Thessalonians “So, then brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you whether by word or mouth or by letter.” For a further discussion of the problem of Scripture alone see : http://firstcomeslove.wordpress.com/my-story/my-story-part-iv/
What is the “Pillar and the Foundation of the Truth” according to the Bible? First Timothy 3:15 says that the Pillar and Foundation of the Truth is the Church.
Dear Larry
Shalom, and welcome with this comment:
Both the Old covenant and the New covenant is very clear about the final authority of the scripture. Man made traditions and cannon law than contradict the scriptures are corrupt and useless.
2 Samuel 22:31
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
Deuteronomy 30:10
If you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Proverbs 30:5
“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Psalm 119:43
Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.
Psalm 119:51
The arrogant mock me without restraint, but I do not turn from your law.
Lets move to the teaching in the New Covenant:
James 2:8
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
Now, which scriptures are James talking about? There was no New Testament at this time. Only the Hebrew Bible, that our Jewish Master Jesus was quoting from in the Jewish synagogues.
Mark 7:9
And he said to them: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!
Matthew 15:5-8
Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: ” ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Revelation 22:7
[ Jesus Is Coming ] “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.”
Which book is this? The Law of Moses, the words of the Jewish Prophets, the Hebrew Bible i presume? John had no other books in His hand.
Revelation 22:9
But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
The pagans in Rome, started to corrupt the scripture, by adding a lot of paganism to the Church. Like the worship of the Queen of Heaven. That is a fatal mistake, that will lead the Catholics to the eternal fire of Hell.
Revelation 22:18
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.
Here are some more scriptures I think you will like, if you don’t mind my posting:
In Luke 1:1-4, we see how important that the accounts are of the things that have been fulfilled among them (the eye witnesses). We also see that Luke is going to “write” an orderly account.
Luke 1:1-4 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Here John tells us that Jesus made everything known to them.
John 15:15 … for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 8:28 I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.
Read here from Romans 16:25-27,”according to the revelation…now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God…”
Romans 16:25-27
Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him–to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Our Lord says in Mark 7:7, “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men”.
As the apostle Peter told the Jewish council in Acts 5:29, “We ought to obey God rather than men”.
Scripture is the ultimate authority.
Psalms 138:2 “… for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”
Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:5-6 and Revelation 22:18-19 warn against adding to or detracting from Scripture.
We are exhorted to check out teaching against Scripture (Isaiah 8:20; Acts 17:11.)
The Bereans of Acts 17:11, “examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.”
Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to the word, they have no light of dawn.
Mark 7:8-9, 13 “For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men … and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition….Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”
Ivarjfeld, you see, I love God’s truth too. =)
Hello Ivarjfeld. Here is something else I think you might like.
The New Testament books were accepted as scripture immediately. In 1 Timothy 5:18 Paul joins a New Testament scripture (Luke 10:7)to an Old Testament scripture (Deuteronomy 25:4)and calls them both scripture.
Dear Victoria
Shalom, and welcome back to this site.
The question was the authority of the scripture. We seems to agree. Man shall live by faith alone, saved by grace alone, and shall have the scripture alone as the final authority about who God is, and what He expect from man.
While though scriptures references teach us that we should listen to the Bible, and that the Bible is the Holy Word of God. I still want to know where in the Bible does it say the Bible ALONE is the only conduit of revelation.
You quote:
“Deuteronomy 30:10
If you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
If this is your justification for following the Bible alone, why do you not have yourself circumcised? Who gave you the authority to dispense with the law of circumcision?
See Acts 15:
7 After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them, “My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.
8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the holy Spirit just as he did us.
9 He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts.
10 Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?
It was Peter along with the other members of the Church who dispensed the Gentiles from the law of circumcision? Why if the Bible alone is to be followed, can Peter and the Church dispense with this command of Sacred Scripture.
Why?? Matthew 16: 18And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Jesus entrusted His power of binding and losing to Peter and his successors.
What does Scripture (1st Timothy 3:15) say is the PILAR AND FOUNDATION OF TRUTH — THE CHURCH!!
The (Catholic – i.e. Universal) Church is the one who decided which books should be in the Canon of the New Testament and which books should be left out.
Second Peter 1:20 Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation.
If there is no personal interpretation, how can we know the true meaning of the Scriptures? What is the Pillar and Foundation of Truth? THE CHURCH (1 Timothy 3:15)
Second Thessalonians 3:6 We instruct you, brothers, in the name of (our) Lord Jesus Christ, to shun any brother who conducts himself in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us.
Victoria:
John 21:25 There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.
Furthermore, if you read the original Greek of the Scriptures you will find that we are saved by faith. Martin Lather added the word “alone” in his own personal interpretation.
Dear Larry.
Shalom, and again, welcome to this site.
That you have not gone through a circumcision, is the proof that you are not among the chosen people of God, the Jews. You are a pagan. You might one day become a gentile grafted into the wine, and a part taker of the blessings that the Bible have given to the Jewish people.
Jesus did not come to change a single letter of the Law. The Pope has, and his Cardinals and his Bishops.
Did Peter change the law?
He did not. The eternal Law of Moses is still followed by religious Jews up to this day.
What changed?
In the New Covenant, cowboys and vikings were included in the Kingdom of Heaven by the atoning blood of the Messiah Jesus. They were grafted into the faith of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, King David and all the Jewish prophets, who were already saved by God of Israel. Saved by grace alone. (grace is undeserved kindness).
The blood of Jesus saves by grace. We are released from the law of Moses, who demand blood sacrifices. Since we are not Jewish, we do not have to be circumcised, an everlasting order for the Jewish people to follow. And they do, regardless of what the Cannon Law in Rome have ordained, claiming to be THE CHURCH that has replaced the Jewish people as God`s chosen people.
Romans 4:16
Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all
It was not Martin Luther who first said man shall live by faith alone. Abraham lived before the Law of Moses was given, and could not boast about any work. Abraham lived by faith alone. In the similar way gentiles grafted into the wine shall also live by Faith alone. The Jews has to follow a totally different working instruction. They disobey God of Israel if they do not look after Zion and the state of Israel, God`s promised land and His city Jerusalem.
Fr. Larry,
Thank you for considering the scriptures I quoted. You quote John 21:25, but that does not mean to add to the Bible. John 21:25 only means Jesus did more then what not written down. All those other things that were not written down that Jesus did, those things would not contradict what we do have in the Bible. The Bible is all sufficient. Anything man adds to it is man’s word. Jesus and the Apostles (the eye witnesses and servants of the word) laid the foundation of the church. The foundation is already laid. Now we are to work out our salvation on the words of God.
Ephesians 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
See, the word of God was being written for us as revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God (See Romans 16:25-27.) The New Testament books were accepted as scripture immediately. You can even see this in 1 Timothy 5:18 Paul joins a New Testament scripture (Luke 10:7) to an Old Testament scripture (Deuteronomy 25:4) and calls them both scripture.
If you let other people, even Catholic Popes add to the Bible, then you see that it is adding to the Bible. That is wrong to do, according to God’s word.
Also you brought up in your latest comment to Ivarjfeld about 1 Timothy 3:15, I hope you don’t mind if I comment on this to you too. Please read 1 Timothy 3:14-15, Paul says, “Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
People are the church. And when people get together because of Jesus to worship…then this is God’s household. Jesus is the Truth. So the pillar and foundation of the truth is Jesus, not a religion or denomination.
Dear Larry.
Shalom, and let me comment on your use of scripture.
Matthew 16: 18
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
This is the truth. As long as there is baptist Christians and Messianic Jews who rejects the authority of the Pope in Rome, the gates of Hell has not prevailed against the Church.
From 325 A.D onwards, re-baptizers of Catholics were persecuted and killed by the papal soldiers. The Popes are eternally responsible for the blood of saints they slaughtered. The Eastern Church refused to accept the Pope of Rome as their leader. From Jerusalem eastwards down to the costs of India.
John 21:25
There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.
The book of Acts is an ongoing book. The work of the saints of Jesus have never ended, and goes on up to this day. But all we do in according to the scriptures. We have not made any Church Law or started any tradition that contradict the scripture, found in the Bible.
And in regards to the cannon of the Bible. The Pope had no power over the Hebrew Bible. This book was already there when Jesus walked on earth. The New Testament is just a confirmation of the Hebrew Bible. Jesus is the Hebrew Bible that became a man, walked in flesh on Earth, as promised by the Jewish prophetic word.
Neither Jesus nor Paul quoted from anything but the Hebrew Scriptures. The books that Jesus never quoted from were not included in the Cannon of 400 A.D. Only around 1540 A.D the Pope of Rome included pagan books into today`s`Catholic Bibles, making them corrupt and useless. The Catholic Bible was corrupted to include verses that could confirm not-Biblical Catholic doctrines. This was done to counter men like Martin Luther, who exposed the falsehood of the Papal system.
If as you say the Catholic Church was not founded until 325 A.D. then Ignatius of Antioch’s comment to the Church at Smyrna (c. 115 A.D.) and Justin Martyr’s apology (165 A.D.) to the Roman Emperor regarding The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist must be a early Christian doctrine rather than an exclusively Catholic Doctrine.
Ignatius of Antioch (c. 115 A.D.) They [the heretics] have no concern for love, none for the widow, the orphan, the afflicted, the prisoner, the hungry, the thirsty. They stay away from Eucharist and prayer, because they do not admit that the Eucharist is the flesh of Our Savior, Jesus Christ which suffered for our sins, which the Father raised up by His goodness. Shun divisions, as the beginning of evils. All of you follow the bishop, as Jesus Christ followed the Father, and the presbytery as the Apostles; respect the deacons as the ordinance of God. Let no one do anything that pertains to the Church apart from the bishop. Let that be considered a valid Eucharist which is under the bishop or one whom he has delegated. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the people be; just as wherever Christ Jesus may be, there is the Catholic Church. It is not permitted to hold an agape [Eucharist] independently of the bishop.
Justin Martyr (c. 165 A.D.) And this food is called among us Eukaristia [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the one who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ, our Savior, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have, thus, delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks said, “This do ye in remembrance of Me, this is My body;” and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, “This is My blood;” and gave it to them alone.
I am still not clear why if Jesus came to fulfill the law and not abolish it (Matthew 5:17); and the law according to Deuteronomy says that believers need to be circumcised and follow kosher laws; How can Peter and the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) say that Jewish converts need not be circumcised or follow kosher laws?
Can you give me a Scripture reference either from the Old or the New Testament that uses the words “SCRIPTURE ALONE,” or “FAITH ALONE”?
Septuagint (a Greek translation of Hebrew Scriptures completed around 132 B.C.) was the version of the Bible that Paul and the other Apostles would have used in spreading the Gospel. This Septuagint, used by Paul and others contained the books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1 Maccabees, and 2 Maccabees. When Martin Luther translated the Bible into German, it was the entire Catholic Bible that he translated. In fact, the composer Brahms set some of Luther’s deuterocanonical texts to music in his “Vier Ernste Gesange.” Some folks are aware that Luther placed the deuterocanonical books at the end of his Bible, with comments. Luther, however, only later removed the deuterocanonicals from the Old Testament, and put them in an appendix without page numbers – along with Hebrews, James, Jude and Revelation. Initially, he simply transcribed what was accepted by all Christians of the time as the entire Bible. Later, he acted on his own initiative to remove books he felt were “improper”. ..Today, many Protestants have the completely mistaken impression that Catholics added books to the Bible, when you can see, it was the other way around, Protestants removed them!
http://www.users.interport.net/l/a/lanat/biblehistory.htm
Who gave Martin Luther the authority to change Sacred Scripture?
How come the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Judas are not included in the canon of Scripture? Who made the decision not to include them? How was this decision communicated to the Church? Or was the Bible simply handed to St. Paul like the Book of Mormon was handed to Joseph Smith by an angel?
Dear Larry.
Shalom, and welcome with this comment:
The Septuagint is the Koine Greek version of the Hebrew Bible, translated in stages between the 3rd and 2nd Centuries BCE in Alexandria. It was begun by the third century BCE and completed before 132 BCE.
The Septuagint includes some books not found in the Hebrew Bible. Many Protestant Bibles follow the Jewish canon and exclude the additional books, called the Apocrypha.
Roman Catholics, however, include some of these books in their canon while Eastern Orthodox Churches use all the books of the Septuagint.
Let me add the reason why the Septuagint has been rejected by both religious and messianic Jews, and Reformed Evangelical Christians:
1. Jesus never quotes from Apocrypha. Thats why these books were rejected in the Biblical Canon of 400 A.D. Jesus (and Paul) quoted from all the Hebrew Old Testament books.
2. The Apocrypha is written in Greek. The pagan influence on the Hebrew Jewish family started before Jesus walked in flesh on Earth. Only in the New Testament period, Latin and Rome started to corrupt the true Jewish faith in Jesus the Messiah.
Let me also underline that Martin Luther was a Roman Catholic priest. He surely committed mistakes during the Reformation. This is not so strange, since he lived with the threat of being arrested and burnt at stake by Papal Bishops.
The mistakes that Luther committed, has been corrected by Baptist and Pentecostal reformers. Like omission of the Apocrypha from the Bible, and a complete separation of the true Church from the Pope in Rome. The Apocrypha has even been removed from the Lutheran Bibles.
Thank you for you answers. Perhaps in the midst of all my other questions you missed this one.
Can you give me a Scripture reference either from the Old or the New Testament that uses the words “SCRIPTURE ALONE,” or “FAITH ALONE”? I am not talking about a parallel or interpretation of the concept. I would like a Scriptural reference for the words “Scripture Alone” and “Faith Alone.”
Dear Larry.
Shalom, and welcome with more questions.
I give you a verse, that prove you are right….!!!!
James 2:22-24
You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
Larry, people can not live by faith alone. The Bible can not be used to promote laziness. There is a need to have faith in Jesus. Obviously alone. You have to be a -doer- of the Gospel. Jesus is the Way. He is the Truth. He is Life. Many people have faith in Jesus, and something else…
Followers of Jesus do not do good works to get saved. We do good works because we are saved. It comes naturally, lead by the Holy Spirit.
All other authorities that contradict the scriptures, will confuse you and lead you astray from the will of our Father in Heaven. Sola scripture.
I was with you all the way. We are saved by “Grace alone” because even our faith is a gift from God. Jesus said if you love Me you will keep my commandments. I was with you all the way even and thought maybe we had come to some agreement, until you threw in Sola Scriptura? Where is that found in the Bible? If you are to trust in the Bible alone, where does the Bible tell us that. In so many other places which I have demonstrated above. There is more that Jesus did and taught than is recorded in these pages (John 21:25) and there is no personal interpretation interpretation of Scripture (2 Peter 1:20). The Bible did not just magically appear. Somebody had to decide that John and Matthew were in and Judas and Thomas were out. Who did the deciding and what was their standard of judgement before the establishment of the Canon.
Fr. Larry,
The Bible tells us the foundation has been layed by Jesus and the Apostles. No one can now add to it the foundation, it would be adding to God’s word, the foundation is already layed. We build our salvation on this foundation, and not with man’s word, but with the Word of God. The Bible says if we obey man’s word, then we worship God in vain, and we make God’s word of none effect.
Read in Galatians 2:1-21, there you will see that Paul is the one sent to preach to the Gentiles, and Peter was sent to the Jews.
Peter was being led astray by the circumcision group because of fear. Paul opposed Peter. This is all recorded for our benefit, but this does not prove Popes can add to the Bible. Anyhow, Catholic Popes are not successors of Peter, for Peter was not even the Apostles to the Gentiles, it was Paul. And Popes are not infallible. We see from the scriptures that even Peter needed to be opposed at that time by Paul.
Have you ever read the testimony of the former Roman Catholic Priest by Richard Bennett? Here is a link to his article. Maybe you will be interested in reading this powerful testimony.
Click to access Richard_Bennett.pdf
Dear Larry.
Shalom, and thanks again for your comment`s.
Yes, man is saved by grace alone. It was like this from the beginning. The Law of Moses was given for a particular purpose. First and most important. To raise 12 Jewish tribes into a nation, the nation of Israel. Next, to explain what sin is, and the consequences of sin. The most used moral code on planet Earth is the 10 commandments of Moses.
Man shall live by faith alone. Faith in Him, alone. Martin Luther was not of the opinion that Christians should not do good works. But He rebuked the Pope, who translated good works to be penance for the Church of Rome. Thats how the Worldly Church became rich, and built an Earthly Kingdom. Luther explained that good works is to lead people to faith in Jesus alone, and to live by faith in Him alone. And to do that, man shall use the scripture alone. Because the Word is sharper than a double edged sword, and cuts through the soul and bones. Man made rules and traditions that weaken, contradict or nullify the Word of God, are all acts of Satan.
The Bible did not just magically appear. Somebody had to decide that The Gospels of John and Matthew were in and the Gospels of Judas and Thomas were out. Who did the deciding and what was their standard of judgement before the establishment of the Canon.
The New Testament was determined by the authoritative use of the books from the start, by the growing Church. The canonization of the New Testament came about to keep out certain heresies starting in the med second centurary. This was to keep out completely new Gospel accounts altogether. And, in example, Marcion created his own religion by using only from ten of Paul’s letters and parts of Luke. And Gnostic’s from Alexandria were introducing the new “secrets” to the Christian doctrine.
Again, the New Testament books were accepted as scripture immediately. Did you check out the scripture in 1 Timothy 5:18? In that scripture we see Paul joins a New Testament scripture (Luke 10:7) to an Old Testament scripture (Deuteronomy 25:4) and calls them both scripture. I think that is amazing fact, and worth repeating again, and again.
Dear Larry.
Please do not rule out the Holy Spirit. The Cannon of the Bible was closed by God him self. The Bible became like He wanted. Spirit filled Christians have no issue with the Cannon. That the Bishop`s disagreed, and certain book was voted into the Bible by a small majority, just makes Christian life more exited.
To translate the Word of God from Hebrew into all languages on planet Earth, was and is a huge challenge. The first Church Councils lasted for years.
The Word of God has been tampered with by many Worldly Powers. I have nothing less that eight Bible translation I cross check, if there is a need to go deep into what God is trying to tell us.
PS. I also have a couple of Catholic Bibles.
So it seems that you agree agree that the Church was the one who decided which books made it into the Canon and which books did not. Therefore, as First Timothy 3:15 says “the Pillar and Foundation of the Truth is the Church” because the Church, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, decided which books should be deemed “Sacred Scripture.”
Can you show me one place in the Bible where the words “SCRIPTURE ALONE” are used? If you go to John 6: 56 we read Jesus saying, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in Me and I in him.” How can you accept a principle, sola scriptura, that is not in the Bible but disregard very clear and SCRIPTURAL words of Jesus to “eat His Body”?
Dear Larry.
Shalom, and welcome with fresh comments.
What you write is taken totally out of context. The doctrine of scripture alone, is to counter Catholic`s who say «scripture and traditions». Christians do not only read the Bible, but needs to listen to the Holy Spirit when challenged to turn to right or left in the next road crossing.
There is nothing wrong in traditions. The problem with the Roman Catholic Religion, is that plenty of papal doctrines contradict the scriptures. That`s why the Vatican is not included in the body of Christ, but deserves to be called the biggest cult on Planet Earth.
Christians are the body of Christ on Earth. So the Catholic`s should eat us, rather than claim that Jesus is physically present in the bread at the alter in every Roman Catholic mas.
By George, I think you’ve got it! Jesus said “whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39) and “I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:23) And in St. Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy 4:6, St Paul writes, “For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand.” A libation was a sacred drink offering which St. Paul is comparing the sacrifice he made for the Gospel. St. Paul is modeling his life on Christ. As he says to the Galatians (2:20-21), “For through the law I died to the law, that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ; but yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me.” Or again in Romans 6:5 “For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.” We are called to lay down our life like Christ did for us. Just as we consume Christ, who is the head of the Body, the Church, (Colossians 1:18) and so become like him, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” (John 6:56). Just as we receive Jesus in Holy Communion and he gave His life for us, so too we must become like Christ and give our lives for (i.e. be consumed by) one another. This is truly to become “one with Christ” when we have loved like He has loved us. “Jesus said “You call Me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.” ( John 13:13-17).
Dear Larry.
Shalom.
You wrote:
Just as we receive Jesus in Holy Communion and he gave His life for us, so too we must become like Christ and give our lives for (i.e. be consumed by) one another. This is truly to become “one with Christ” when we have loved like He has loved us.
My comment:
We receive Jesus when we surrender to the resurrected Messiah, and get the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our salvation by obeying His Words. We do not get saved by eating a round piece of bread. We are saved by the blood He shed for us at Calvary in Jerusalem 2000 years ago. Not by our participation in a religious ritual, the Catholics call the «Holy communion».
And we are surely not going to consume each other. But work together in teams, and do the will of our Father in Heaven.
Dear ivarfjeld,
Glory be to Jesus Christ! I have enjoyed our dialogue. I found it quite interesting and have learned a few things. In looking over our recent posts, I was surprised to notice that you use the secular “BCE” (before the common era) rather than the Christian version, “BC,” (before Christ). Of course, as someone once said, perhaps “BCE” means ‘before the Christian era” but that is not the generally accepted meaning for the the abbreviation. Again thank you for a most interesting dialogue. A priest once told me that our job as Christians is proclamation, conversion is the job of the Holy Spirit. I will pray for you. I leave you with one last quotation from St. Paul letter’s to the Philippians 3:8-14, regarding the concept of once saved, always saved. I pray with St Paul that I may I “may continue my pursuit in hope that I will possess it.” May God bless you.
Brothers and sisters:
I consider everything as a loss
because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things
and I consider them so much rubbish,
that I may gain Christ and be found in him,
not having any righteousness of my own based on the law
but that which comes through faith in Christ,
the righteousness from God,
depending on faith to know him and the power of his resurrection
and the sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death,
if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
It is not that I have already taken hold of it
or have already attained perfect maturity,
but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it,
since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ Jesus.
Brothers and sisters, I for my part
do not consider myself to have taken possession.
Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind
but straining forward to what lies ahead,
I continue my pursuit toward the goal,
the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.
Dear Larry.
Shalom. You are welcome back at any time.
I use A.D and B.C in my comments. But as you have noticed, I quotes a lot of sources. They might use BCE.
Its correct that its the Holy Spirit who convince us about sins, and turns us towards the truth in Jesus the Messiah.
But God also uses His spirit to do the opposite, with people that refuse to listen, in particular with priests who make up stories, teach and promote falsehood:
2 Thessalonians 2:11
For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie
This is the sad and tragic situation within the Roman Catholic religion. Since you call your self a Roman Catholic priest, you will most likely be fried in the eternal flames of Hell for eternity. Please repent, leave the Vatican priesthood, or you will perish.
Dear ivarfjeld,
Glory be to Jesus Christ! It has been my habit to choose someone each week and to remember them in a special ways in my prayers for the week. Since I said I would pray for you, last week (15-21 March), I chose you. I asked God to bless you, take care of you, and show you His love. I asked God to bless you in your life, your health, your family, your job, and your vocation. I asked Jesus to wrap His loving arms around you so that you would never feel lost, alone, abandoned, afraid, or unloved. I asked to Holy Spirit to fill the hearts of the faithful and to kindle in your heart the firs of His love and to help you deal with whatever you are dealing with right now. I asked God, our Father, to grant you many years in health and happiness as a faithful child of Holy Mother Church. May God bless you always.
Dear Larry.
Shalom.
Thanks a lot for praying for me. I feel that your sincerely wants to bless me. Do not worry. I am blessed. I will also pray a short prayer for you.
«Dear Lord Jesus. Save Larry. Use Him as your light among Catholics, so they will not perish. Bring Larry to your saving grace. Teach Him to submit to the authority of the Bible. Make Him fear You, not men. Guide us both by your laws, and set us free from the bondage of man made rules and regulations. Amen».
Catholics like to always quote the writings they claim are the BIBLICAL CHURCH fathers….
Justin martyr and these so called fathers were nothing but Roman tic frauds, who was ignorant, unconcerned with the facts & truth of reality.
Justin martyr also believed & taught that , Jesus Christ Was Born inside of a Cave
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOTH St. Justin martyr & the Catholic Father, St. Irenaeus. BOTH believed & taught that
Satan Did Not ever Blaspheme God or Know of His Fate Until Christ Came to Earth?
Irenaeus. Adversus Haereses, V, XXVI, 2. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Justin martyr also believed & taught that
The Comandments of Circumcision, Sabbaths, and Feasts Were given to Jews because of the Hardness of their Heart
(Dialogue. Chapter XVIII).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Romes … St. Jerome says, “Eusebius is the most open champion of the Arian heresy,” which denies the Trinity…… (Jerome, Epist. 84, 2; N&PNF. vi, 176.)
The Catholic saint, fraud & reprobate ( Father “Eusebius ……was condemned by the Catholic St. Jerome…
St. Jerome translated the bible for the POPE…….
These people ( FATHERS OF CATHOLICSIM) are all over the map….
They disagree, contradict, clash, conflict, disaccord, discord, one another in every way possible…
Catholicim is a religion whose origionaters contradict themselves & MORE IMPORTANTLY / THE BIBLE
St. John Chrysostom DECLARED CLEARLY that the ROCK was peters confession OF WHO JESUS CHRIST WAS…and not PETER ……..
…………………………………………………
Many of these so called CHURCH FATHERS completly denied that PETER was the ROCK on which the church was built….
yet catholics ignore this truth….
The Nazi Martyers in Nuremberg Trials
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/nuremberg/meetthedefendants.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Donation of Constantine was a document supposedly written by emperor Constantine (285-337 A.D.) granting the Catholic Church ownership of vast territories within the western Roman Empire.
The Donation was not revealed to be a forgery until 1440.
The Catholic Church suppressed Valla’s work for years.
Centuries later, it publicly conceded that the Donation was a fake.
The catholic church admits IT WAS A COMPLETE FAKE……..invented by their OWN CHURCH….
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05118a.htm
http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/essays/comp/cw05forgeries.htm
These so called Catholic fathers & Saints were all FAKE, FORGERERS…inventing their stories, doctrines & teachings from their own fantasy & self made ambition..
1941 Hitler told one of his generals: “I am now, as before, a Catholic and will always remain so.”
was baptized a Roman Catholic as an infant and was a communicant and altar boy in his youth.
“As for the Jews, I am just carrying on with the same policy which the Catholic church has adopted for fifteen hundred years, when it has regarded the Jews as dangerous and pushed them into ghettos etc., because it knew what the Jews were like. I don’t put race above religion, but I do see the danger in the representatives of this race for Church and State, and perhaps I am doing Christianity a great service.”
“The Nazi Persecution of the Churches” by J.S. Conway, Pgs. 25, 26 & 162.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
St. Jerome says, “Eusebius is the most open champion of the Arian heresy,” which denies the Trinity. (Jerome, Epist. 84, 2; N&PNF. vi, 176.)
Rom. 16: 1-15 In the above passage, we can see that Paul WAS GREETING the saints in Rome & recording names. Paul NOR the entire
BIBLE doesn’t EVER mention Peter IN ROME. BEC..- Peter was not in Rome
2 Tim 4:9-12 -PAUL DECLARED. Only Luke is with me. {[ IN ROME ]
EARLER WRITERS, RECORDERS OF HISTORY WROTE OF the 1 st. bishopS of Rome. & THEY ALL AGREE.. Peter was NEVER BISHOP OF
ROME..
Iraeneus: SOURCE: Iraeneus Against Heresies, Volume I, Book III, Para 3) LISTS THE Bishops of Rome:
1. Linus
2. Anacletus
3. Clement
4. Evaristus
5. Alexander
6. Sixtus
7. Ignatius (Telephorus)
8. Huginus
9. Pius
10. Anicetus
11. Sorer
12. Eleutherius
BUT~Peter’s name AGAIN is not found in the list. Notice also ~~it was Paul, not Peter, who appointed Linus the first bishop of Rome.
So much for early papal authority.
HISTORIAN ~ Hyppolytus – Book XLIV; The Twelve Apostles (names the bishops)
1. James /{ Lord Jesus } brother, bishop of Jerusalem~
2. Cleopas, bishop /Jerusalem~
3. Matthias,/ mentioned
4. Thaddeus, / ” ”
5. Ananias,/bishop /Damascus~
6. Stephen, / bishop
7. Philip, bishop ~~ & ON * ON TO ~to …#~40. Caius,/ bishop/ Ephesus. & 41. Philologus,/ bishop/Sinope.
According to HISTORIAN Hyppolytus, the first bishop of Rome was Linus, not Peter. How can Rome claim Peter as first Bishop of Rome, & an ‘infallible’ pope, when THEIR VERY OWN FATHERS OF THEIR church TELL THE OPPOSITE..
HISTORY BOOK.~ Anti Nicene Fathers, Vol. VII, Book VI, Sec. IV, XLVI) & Vol. VII:
“Now concerning those bishops – Of the church of Rome, Linus the son of Claudia was first, ordained BISHOP by Paul; & Clemens, after Linus’ death,
According to Roman Catholicism trustworthy HISTORIANS we have THEM citing LINUS as the FIRST bishop of Rome.
(St. Clement, LETTER Addressed to Bishop Gaudentis, Vol. III) DECLARED LINUS TO BE BISHOP OF ROME
So, how could Linus be bishop of Rome while Peter was still alive / if Peter was the first bishop of Rome.
Gods word RECORDS ST. PETER HAVING { at LEAST } 1. WIFE…………………….
~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paul declared.,…. 1 Cor. 9:5~ “Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife
Like the other apostles HAVE WIFES and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas Peter..
………………………………………………………………………….
The bible does not need to define & DIFFERENTIATE the difference between the metaphors, symbolics & parables bec THE ENTIRE bible is SYMBOLIC…
The whole MESSAGE . GOSPEL & comunication FROM God to man is all one completly SYMBOLIC relationship//
The Church is a Woman ( A BRIDE) who are washed & clean as snow in the BLOOD of the lamb…
Rev 7:14 The Saints HAVE ” ( washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. }
its symbolic,
Jesus declard He would VOMIT Literally VOMIT . THROW UP…people after EATING them,,,,
its symbolic
Jesus was the ROCK that followed the HEBREWS….they DRANK of this ROCK……
its symbolic
Jesus even described HIMSELF eating a perverted people ( A CHURCH ) & VOMITING THEM OUT OF HIS MOUTH,,,,WHY ?….U have no answer…
.Bec Catholicism is a limited…cherry picked mesh of paganism that takes what it wants from the bible….& flushes the rest down the toilet..
The Jews thinking Jesus was was speaking literally.
Was not because that thought He was GONNA be feeding them literal BLOOD….
BUT THEY DID NOT BELIEVE……IN HIM…..
Just like you do not…….
end~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
it was obvious
THAT THEY DID NOT THINK THAT Jesus would GIVE OUT HIS LITERAL FLESH.. to eat…
& consume,,..
Had HE given out his skin & meat from off his very BONES
( CUTTING OFF PEICES OF HIS BODY ) & feeding it to them ( DRAINING HIS BLOOD IN A VAT )
& feeding it to them …
what would be the use, ?
JESUS SAID
THIS ” FLESH */BLOOD / MEAT profited nothing:
BUT the words that HE speaks unto MAN.~~~ IS THE spirit, & life. THEY …..
Catholics really DONT TAKE Jesus literally OR seriously…
NO THEY DONT ..
They like to pervert the SIMPLE plain Gospel of Christ,,,
& make it an UNHOLY sick filthy perverse & twisted lie,,,
THATS Y they have kissed the QURAN
CLAIMING that Allah is Jesus Christ….
Lift us up to thy standard, how is it that you think Catholics don’t take Jesus seriously? Can you name one passage from the bible that the Catholic Church does not agree with Catholic teaching and practice? or vice versa? And where does this Allah is Jesus come from? Talk about perverting the truth.
Dear G.W.
Shalom, and thanks for making this blog an interesting arena of comments.
You asked:
Where does this Allah of Jesus come from?
My reply.
Satan is not dangerous, for people who do not acknowledge his existence. When you know for sure that He is real, you will flee to the One who can save you from his powers.
Satan is dangerous when He appears as an angel of light. When he appears as a copy of Jesus the Messiah, He can do maximum harm to people who seek salvation. The Allah of Jesus is the Jesus found in the Koran, «Isa». In Islam he is told to be just a mortal prophet. He did not die on the cross, and his blood has no power to cleanse us from our sins. He did not resurrect from the dead, and we can not walk in the Power of His resurrection.
I believe Islam tells lies about Jesus, and the Bible tells the truth.
Kudos to Fr. Larry!
Father Larry,
Regarding your post on march 4th. You are incorrect when you state that:
“Nicodemus was taking Jesus’ words about being born again, literally, and Jesus corrected his misunderstanding. When the Jews were taking Jesus literally about the Eucharist, he did not correct them but confirmed the truth about what they thought.”
If you continue reading Jesus does in fact correct them 7 verses later in John 6:63 “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. ”
He was speaking of spritual food, he makes that very clear. “The flesh counts for nothing”…
Do you not see that?
All of you must remember, that unfortunately, human nature seeks to control. The RCC is absolutely brilliant in marketing….I really must hand it to them! But then again, they have had thousands of years to sharpen their strategy and re-tweak it.
The Eucharist is a very clever marketing strategy to keep people co-dependent upon the RCC. They are the only ones who have, “the real – presence” in the Eucharist. It is also an oxymoron that these so called priests are the only ones who have the power to create this semi-deity. The reason I say it is a oxymoron is that RCC priests are not REAL priests. How could they be? Are they Jewish? (born from a Jewish mother). Are they from the tribe of Levi? No, they are most certainly not. I think all of these priests need to go take a class in Torah from some real Orthodox Jews and find out the truth!!!
I am tired of this multi-billion dollar business capitalizing on naïve people. They also are very clever to make sure that their followers are always diverted, worshiping everything and everyone else but G-d. They worship this cookie- Eucharist which is always wrapped up in gold and gems. They worship Mary – a dead human. Every day is a new feast day for some dead person ( a saint ) who you need to evoke to get special power for your prayers. Don’t you know….you are not good enough to go to G-d on your own. You need these priests, Pope, Mary, Saints, over glorified cookie (Eucharist) to go to G-d. Wake up!!!!! It is called control, control, control. You don’t need people or some institution to get you to heaven or get a relationship with your creator.
The RCC tried to put a copy-mark on G-d….they used Jesus as the catalyst, and they want everyone to think that they have exclusive rights on G-d. They don’t….no one does!! Not even the Jews.
I am well aware that most Catholics really believe that they are worshiping Jesus, and maybe they are, part of the time. I know that they are very devoted and really do mean well. Unfortunately they must worship their Jesus through the RCC…they really worship and have a co-dependent reliance on the Church.
I wish everyone blessings and peace and hope that you find your truth and freedom in G-d alone! אלוקים יברך
Dear Kathleen
Shalom, and love in Yeshua.
When you turn away from the truth, it always starts with the first step. 1.500 years later, you will be so disconnected, that it will be impossible to get back to the starting point of errors, and revoke all the false doctrines.
Where did the RCC go wrong?
It started by an acceptance of an alliance with the Emperor of Rome. For the first Messianic Jews in Israel, it was unthinkable to have anything to do with the oppressors, and followers of Baal. Even if some silver coins were put on the table, and the Emperor promised to give the Church some exclusive favors.
Jesus the Messiah did not embrace Pontus Pilate, or side with the Jewish religious authority that had established alliances with the Romans. The Messiah represented a different Kingdom, a kingdom from above. The Kingdom of Heaven.
Rome has always been occupied with the Kingdoms on the Earth. Tried to be in control of them all, and desired to make people live in submission. It was like this in 325 A.D, and it is like this in 2013. A.D.
Yes, I agree with you.
Unfortunately many Catholics do not see this. Catholicism has changed quite a bit since Vatican II. They had to water it down and make it palatable for the Americans, whom are predominately Protestant. Have you noticed how many Protestants have become Catholics? Some are now theologians running around evangelizing why the Catholic Church is the true Church? They have subtly changed things to suit the audience they want to capture. Make no mistake, the REAL Church resides in Rome and has a very different theology and agenda. They are masters at manipulating words and meanings. I have seen this done especially with the Ecumenical dialogue they are promoting with the Jews, Muslims, Anglicans, etc. Basically they are watering down their true beliefs to embrace and capture everyone else. The RCC is political chameleon, who will say or become whatever they need to be, to obtain who and what they want.
They are able to give you reasons which sound very good as to why they worship the Eucharist, why they go to Mary and the saints, etc. The real problem that I have with this is that it is a very subtle diversion from giving G-d the praise and devotion that He alone is to have. We should be focused, adoring and praising Him alone!!! I don’t care if you feel Mary has a special relationship or the saints or more holy then you. You are to adore and worship and be focused on G-d alone…..NOT HUMANS!!! The Torah is very, very clear about this. You are not to consult or have any contact with the dead…..read the Old Testament!
The RCC took and manipulated something that was not theirs to take. Jesus did not come to start a new religion, he came to fulfill something which already existed. The Jews were given the Torah for a reason and they are the chosen people for a reason. That reason is that they are the only people strong enough and righteous enough to protect the word of G-d. Only the strong and righteous can worship a G-d that they do not need to see, or not have a bunch of statues or human demi-deities to keep them comforted. Humans are weak and it is our nature to want other humans or idols to help us along this journey called life -Especially the uncertainty of the after-life. It is no wonder that millions of people are following the RCC….it is for the masses and the weak. Think about it. Jesus only had 12 disciple’s, not masses following him. The Pope has the masses because he gives them what they want, not the truth.