The Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter’s successor, “is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful.” “For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has FULL, SUPREME and UNIVERSAL POWER over the whole Church, a power which he can ALWAYS exercise UNHINDERED.” (Page 254)(882)
This is a bold claim to make. From where and from whom did he get this authority and power? From God? How do you know that? Do you know what is in a man’s heart? I don’t think so. Are you willing to trust what this man says, or any other man, or me for that matter? You had better check these things out for yourself. Go to the source of truth, God’s Word. This man, like all men, are wicked sinners, yet, he claims to be the Vicar of Christ. In other words the substitute of Christ. The Elementary Edition, Webster’s New World Dictionary defines Vicar like this: “Vicar - a person who acts in place of another; substitute”. That, my friend, is blasphemous, to make the claim that he is the substitute for Christ. Not a single one of us deserves the grace of God, nor do we deserve the pre-eminence. Only Christ has that right. All the righteousness that man can muster up is nothing but filthy, putrid rags.
Colossians 1:18 And he (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in ALL things he might have the PREEMINENCE.
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately WICKED: who can know it?
1 John 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, WE DECEIVE OURSELVES, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins (to Jesus), he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Isaiah 64:6 But we are ALL as an unclean thing, and ALL our righteousnesses are as FILTHY RAGS; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
What is in view here is a leprous man who scrapes the puss from his sores, and wraps them with rags. Those are the filthy rags that God compares our righteousness with.
Romans 3:10-12 As it is written, There is NONE righteous, no, NOT ONE: There is NONE that understandeth, there is NONE that seeketh after God. They are ALL gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is NONE that doeth good, no, NOT ONE.
Romans 3:23 For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Peter, the supposedly first Pope, was fallible; he was sinful. He denied the Lord. He was rebuked by Jesus, and Paul withstood him to his face. He was an imperfect man.
Matthew 26:72-74 And again HE (Peter) DENIED with an oath, I do not know the man (speaking of Jesus). And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to CURSE and to SWEAR, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
Matthew 16:23 But he (Jesus) turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: THOU art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Galatians 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I (Paul) withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
(891) The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops, enjoys this INFALLIBILITY in virtue of his office, when, as supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful--who confirms his brethren in the faith--he proclaims by a definitive act a doctrine pertaining to faith or morals. . . . The INFALLIBILITY promised to the Church is also present in the body of bishops when, together with Peter’s successor, they exercise the supreme Magisterium,” above all in an Ecumenical Council. When the Church through its supreme Magistrium proposes a doctrine “for belief as being divinely revealed,” and as the teaching of Christ, the definitions “must be adhered to with the obedience of faith.” This INFALLIBILITY extends as far as the deposit of divine Revelation itself. (Page 256)
Here again, the claim is that the Pope is infallible, sinless. This is not what the Bible teaches. We are told to try the spirits, and see whether they be of God or not. You had better see what God’s Word says.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
All true believers have equal access to God through Jesus Christ our mediator. Believers can come to God with boldness, because Christ has made each believer a priest of God. We do not need to go to another man. Jesus is our High Priest. You do not need the Pope to mediate for you.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore COME BOLDLY unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Revelation 1:5-6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and PRIESTS unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
There are many false teachings about Peter. The Catholic Church teaches that he was the first Pope, and that the Pope and Bishops must remain celibate. Celibacy is not commanded for anyone. This doctrine is designed to separate the clergy from the laity. You see, they are “Holy men,” pure, virgin, untarnished. It is true that a man can devote more of his time to the work of God if he is not married, but celibacy is not commanded. Peter was not the first Pope, in fact, Peter was even married. This is very unbecoming of a Pope. When Jesus told Peter, “...thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Jesus was using a play on words, “thou art Peter (Petros = little stone), and upon this rock (petra = large rock) I will build my church...” Jesus referred to Peter as a little stone, and to Himself as a large stone. Jesus is the chief corner stone, He was referring to Himself, the large stone, in which the church would be built upon, not Peter. It is Jesus Christ that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against, not sinful, weak, mortal man.
Matthew 8:14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw HIS WIFE'S mother laid, and sick of a fever.
1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then MUST BE blameless, the HUSBAND of one WIFE, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1 Timothy 3:12 Let the deacons be the HUSBANDS of one WIFE, ruling their children and their own houses well.
There it is! It is not an option. The Bishop/Pastors/Elders, as they are called in the Bible, and the deacons, are to be HUSBANDS.
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