FOR HONEST CATHOLICS

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VSPACE="0"></U></A>                                                                                                                                   </div> <div> It is argued by Catholics that Peter is the acknowledged leader of the infant Church.  By contrast, the Bible presents an entirely different picture in regards to who had the ultimate responsibility of deciding the course in which the Church was to go (understanding that the Supreme guide is always The Holy Spirit).  In Gal. 2:9 we find 3 prominent figures portrayed as "pillars," or rather leaders if you will, of the Church ("James, Cephas, and John"). In Acts 12:17 we read:  "But he [Peter], beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison.  And he said, Go <I><B>shew these things unto James</B></I>, and to the brethren."  It is interesting to note that Peter specifically emphasized to them that <I><B>they should tell James</B></I>.  We learn why he singled out James from Acts 15:13, where James is the spokesman for the Church and clearly the leader from what he says in verse 19:  "Wherefore my sentence is..."  This is judgement language which places <I><B>James</B></I> as the acknowledged leader of the fledgling Church.  Acts 21:18 is another indication that <I><B>James</B></I> is still in charge and understood as the main leader in the Church:  "And the day following Paul went in with us <I><B>unto James</B></I>;  and all the elders were present."  Note that "all the elders were present" but <I><B>James</B></I> is the one singled out once again.  Paul never lost sight of the fact that as far as he was concerned;  <I><B>James</B></I> was clearly the leader of the Church.  For he states it again in 1Co. 15:7:  "After that, he was seen of <I><B>James</B></I>;  then of all the apostles."  Notice how he again singles out <I><B>James</B></I>.  Now if we continue the narrative in Galatians Chapter 2, we find in verse 12 that it is <I><B>James</B></I> that has the authority to tell Peter where to go and not the other way around:  "For before that certain <I><B>came from James</B></I>…"  The narrative is clear that "that certain" is referring to Peter.</div> <bR> <div>             <A HREF="mailto: heislord@teacher.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: heislord@teacher.com"><U><IMG SRC="05743320.gif" border=0 width="67" height="50" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div>                </div> <div> Two other texts need to be considered in the Bible, <B>Matthew 16:18 & 19</B>.  Let's look at <B>Matthew 16:18</B> first.  "<I>And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church;  and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.</I>"</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mailto: heislord@teacher.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: heislord@teacher.com"><U><IMG SRC="27364280.gif" border=0 width="100" height="40" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> The first "and" that we come to, in the original Greek is "Kai," and should be translated "<B>but</B>."  Now let's see how the text reads in the original and compare its meaning with the rest of scripture to make sure we are not creating a new thought contrary to the rest of god's Word.  "<I>And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, </I><I><B>BUT</B></I><I> upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it</I>."  Peter himself presents the clearest evidence of all and points us to the true Rock, Christ Jesus.  He <B>SPEAKS</B> of Christ as the foundational Rock in Acts 4:10-12 where we read:  "<I>Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.  This is the Stone</I> [certainly no one will say that Peter here refers to the "lame man," Acts 3:2,11, yet they must, if the same reasoning is to apply when trying to assert the assumption that Peter is the rock] <I>which was set at nought of you builders which is become the head of the corner.  Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name</I><I><B> </B></I><I>under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved</I>."  And he <B>WRITES</B> of this in 1 Pet. 2:6-8,21:  "<I>Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner Stone</I> [Peter is not here directing his readers to himself, but to Christ as our Saviour], <I>elect, precious;  and he that believeth on Him [Jesus, not Peter] shall not be confounded.  Unto you therefore which believe He is precious:  but unto them which be disobedient, the Stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient:  whereunto were ye called </I>[Why?]<I>:  because Christ also suffered for us</I> [Here Peter clearly identifies Who the Stone is], <I>leaving us and example, that ye should follow His</I> [<B>not</B> Peter's] <I>steps</I>."</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mailto: heislord@teacher.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: heislord@teacher.com"><U><IMG SRC="274563a0.gif" border=0 width="86" height="58" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> Immediately after Peter's great confession of Christ as the Son of God, Jesus spoke the words of this text, "Thou art Peter" and Jesus used the same Greek word that is used 161 times in the New Testament for Simon Peter - "Petros."  In fact, the word "Petros" is never used for any other purpose in the New Testament than to designate Peter.  The name means "pebble" or "rolling stone."  But then after Jesus called Peter by his name "Petros," He said, "upon <B>this Rock</B> I will build My church."  And Christ used the word "petra" for the word translated "rock."  The word "petra" denotes a very large, unmoving boulder, a veritable Gibraltar!  This word is only used to describe <B>Jesus Christ</B> (see 1Co. 10:4 and 3:11).  That this "Rock" is refering only to God, let's look at 1Sa. 2:2:  "There is none holy as the LORD:  for there is none beside Thee:  <B>neither is there any Rock like our God</B>."  In Isaiah 28:16, the same reference is made:  "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion, for a foundation, <B>a Stone, a tried Stone, a precious corner Stone</B>, a sure foundation."  It is the same Stone to which reference is made in Luke 20:17-18:  "And He beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, <B>The Stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner</B>?"  Now who was rejected, Peter or Christ?  Continuing:  "Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken;  but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."  This is the work of Christ.  Also in Mark 12:10-11:  "And have ye not read this scripture, The Stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner [a clearer reference to Christ].  This was the Lord's doing [Who's doing? Peter's], and it is marvelous in our eyes?"  These texts prove conclusively that <B>Christ is the Rock</B> upon which the church is built and in His address to Peter He referred to Himself as the Rock that is the foundation of the Church.  In other words, the church was not built upon the unstable "Petros" (Peter), or any other human of fallibility.  Even a few verses later (23) we find Peter being rebuked for his unstableness.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mailto: heislord@teacher.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: heislord@teacher.com"><U><IMG SRC="275443c0.gif" border=0 width="68" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> In considering Christ's statement in Mat. 23:8, we can be assured that Peter (nor any man) was never to incur headship, for:  "Jesus addressed these words to the twelve, in the hearing of the multitude.  And while they were also designed to impress the disciples with the great truth, that should be felt in all coming time, that Christ is the only head of the church."  PY:400 & PY:464 (James White).  "This principle bears with equal weight upon a question that has long agitated the Christian world,-- the question of apostolic succession.  Descent from Abraham was proved, not by name and lineage, but by likeness of character [John 8:39].  So the apostolic succession rests not upon the transmission of ecclesiastical authority, but upon spiritual relationship  A life actuated by the apostles' spirit, the belief and teaching of the truth they taught, this is the true evidence of apostolic succession.  This is what constitutes men the successors of the first teachers of the gospel.."  DA:467.  "Had Jesus delegated any special authority to one of them, we would not find them so frequently contending among themselves as to who should be greatest."  2SP:273-274.</div> <bR> <div>   <A HREF="mailto: heislord@teacher.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: heislord@teacher.com"><U><IMG SRC="05843320.gif" border=0 width="67" height="50" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> The second Bible text to consider is <B>Matthew 16:19</B>:  "<I>And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven</I>."  Christ only has the authority to give the keys, because they were given to Him (see Isa. 22:22; Rev. 3:7).  He gives to <B>all</B>, <B>not just Peter</B>, the keys "of knowledge" of what is required for salvation.  Luke 11:52 states:  "<I>Woe unto you, lawyers!  For ye have taken away the key of knowledge:  ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered</I>."  As the apostles went forth to proclaim the gospel, according to the commission entrusted to them (see Mat. 28:19-20), they were to teach converts "to observe all things whatsoever" Christ had commanded them, no more and no less!  So remember that Christ is here speaking of the "key" as the "key of knowledge" (Luke 11:52), in how to enter into the kingdom of heaven of which the "key" is to be given to <B>every believer, not just Peter</B>.  "The words of Christ... were not just addressed to Peter alone, but to the disciples, including those who compose the Christian church in all ages."  2SP:273; 3ST:495.</div> <bR> <div> As with all scripture we must compare "line upon line;  here a little, and there a little" (Isa. 28:10), and understand God's Word by "Comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1Co. 2:13).  Therefore, any similar texts must be considered when evaluating this one, such as <B>Mat. 18:18</B> and <B>John 20:23</B>.  <B>Mat. 18:18</B> states:  "<I>Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;  and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loose in heaven</I>."  Before this the Lord had said, "<I>Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone;  if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained they brother,</I>" <B>Mat. 18:15-17</B>.  From the context it is indisputable from any standpoint that this scripture applies to any individual Christian against whom a brother may trespass.  Then follows this conclusion, addressed to the Christian, whoever he may be,  to whom the foregoing admonition may apply:  "Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven."  <B>BOUND TO WHAT</B>?  - Why, you have bound your brother to you in Christian love, by the power of the Holy Spirit through obedience to the Word.  Therefore you have bound him to Christ!  "And whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."  <B>LOOSED FROM WHAT</B>? - Loosed from the sin of trespassing against a brother, which means a trespass against Christ, Mat. 25:34-46.  It is the privilege of every Christian to be instrumental in loosing souls from the thralldom of sin, and in binding them to Jesus.  So in John 20:23 the matter of sins being remitted or retained must be decided by the action of those who hear the Gospel, whether they believe or reject the calling of the Holy Spirit.  This is all that the Christian can do, even though he be an apostle or "an angel from heaven," Gal. 1:8.  This verse (Mat. 16:19) may now be more clear as read in the original Greek:  "<I>whatever things ye bind on the earth shall be, </I><I><B>having been bound</B></I><I> in heaven, and whatever things ye loose on the earth shall be, </I><I><B>having been loosed</B></I><I> in heaven</I>."  In other words you are only, and should only be doing the will of God.  That is, whatsoever He has approved of in heaven.</div> <bR> <div> Check this out!  The Douay Version, translation of the Latin Vulgate Bible by Roman Catholic scholars into English, lists God's Ten Commandment law correctly and in order.  Yet the Catholic Catechism causes a cataclysm by canceling the second commandment and splitting the tenth in order to keep the number at 10.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mailto: heislord@teacher.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: heislord@teacher.com"><U><IMG SRC="05635330.gif" border=0 width="53" height="51" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>