Mt 16;18
CHURCH
...the CHURCH of the living God is the PILLAR and the FOUNDATION of the TRUTH (1Tm 3:15).
The ‘Bible only’ believers approach Catholics with a strange comment about the Church, for example they say: ‘Church can’t help you to go to heaven’ (Sios i no inap long heipim yu long go long heven). Because there is no such Bible verse in the entire Scripture, it should be enough to disprove such a statement.
Another comment used quite often by the Bible only believers is a similar one: ‘All churches are equal, all of them worship the same God (Olgeta lotu I wankain, mipela I lotu long wanpela God tasol). In response to it, the Bible only believers should be asked to show from the Bible alone a single verse which says: ‘All churches are equal’. Such statement is unbiblical. It can’t be found in the Scriptures. The teaching of the Scriptures is completly different :
Jesus spoke about His Church founded on Peter the Rock: and I say to you, you are Peter and upon this rock I will build My Church (He didn’t say my churches), and the gates of Hades will never prevail against it… (Mt 16:18-19).
There is only one God and there is only one Church, the Church founded by Christ Himself - the Catholic Church. Christ is the Head and the Church is His Body (Ep1:23). Being the Truth Himself (Jn 14:6) Christ is free from any error. In the same way the Church which is His Body can never proclaim diffeerent teachings, which would make her go astray. Paul says that the CHURCH (not the Bible) is the pillar and foundation of the truth (1Tim3:15).
The unity of the Church
Christ has foreseen may attacks launched by satan on the Catholic Church in the future, that is why He prayed for her unity : That they may be one…(Jn 17:20). The unity consists in following the same teachings proclaimed by the first leaders (the Apostles). John the Apostle wrote about themselves in his First Letter: “We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error “ (1Jn 4:6).
Christ Himself cannot be changed ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led asray by all sorts of strange doctrines‘ (He 13:8-9). The conclusion of these words is obvious, the teaching of Christ cannot be changed either. They hav to remain the same for ever. By following the teachings of the Apstles, we are follwing the teachings of CHRIST HIMSELF. "Whoever listens to you listens to Me, and whoever rejects you rejects Me, and whoever rejects Me, rejects the one who sent Me (Lu 10:6). Christs words are very clear.
Jesus has appointed His Apostles to be the teachers of truth. With the similar words spoken to the Apostles He has confirmed the appointment: Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven (Mt 18:18). To follow the leaders of the Church – the Catholic Church established by Christ, is the ONLY guarantee of the true unity.
Divisions in the Church never come from God and must be strictly avoided. Saint Paul says: Now I appeal to you brothers in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of you be in agreement and that there is no divisions among you but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose (1Cor 1,10). I urge you, brothers to keep an eye on those who cause dissensions and offenses, in oppositions to the teaching that you have learned. Avoid them… (Rom 16:17-18). Titus wrote: After the first and second warning, avoid a man of heresy, knowing that such a man has been perverted, and sins, being self- condemned (Ti 3:10).
On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit has been given precisely to the Catholic Church (Acts 2:1- 4) in order to guide and protect her.
Many of the protestant denominations claim to be the ones, who have received the Holy Spirit. Let us have a look whether protestant denominations follow the whole Christ’s teaching ? God spoke about the necessity of following the Tradition of the Apostles (2Tes 2:15), protestants reject the Traditions. Christ spoke about the sacrament of confession (Jn 20:23). None of the protestants follow this particular words of Christ.
Christ has said His first Mass (Mt 26:26-28). He took bread and wine (not cordial) and changed them into His Body and Blood. The protestant denominations don’t say they change bread into Christ’s Body and wine (cordial) into Christ’s Blood. During their ‘lotu’ bread remains bread, cordial remains cordial. For them it is only a commemoration . It remains only a symbol of Christs Body and Blood .
After presentation of a few examples, the conclusion is obvious, all protestant denominations do not follow the whole of Christ’s teaching. If the Holy Spirit had been the One who was leading them, definitely they would not omit any of Christ’s teachings.
The whole Christ’s teaching is kept by one Church ONLY – THE CATCHOLC CHURCH. That is why Saint Paul says: ‘the Church is the pillar and foundation of the truth’ (1Tim 3:15).
Jesus have said to the Saint Sister Faustina very stong words regarding all so called 'churches': Today bring Me the souls of the heretics and schismatics, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart; that is My Church. As they return to the unity with the Church, My wounds heal, and in this way they alleviate My Passion (Diary 1218).
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