If you research the church back 2000 years you will find the little ‘c’ catholic church. In the Greek the word is ‘ekkelsia.’ It means a calling out i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):—assembly, church.
The believers had the Old Testament which was used heavily in the early church. They also had the letters sent to the churches, so they didn’t have the Bible like we do today, but the early disciples had enough to spread the true gospel of Christ.
The early church looked nothing like the Catholic Church of today and in the past.
You are correct we worship God the way He wants us to, which is totally different than what the Catholic Church teaches. True believers are saved by grace (a free gift of God) through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-10). God didn’t give us a book, and then not expect us to understand it or interpret it for ourselves. God gave us brains, not to check them at the door of some religious institution, but to use and be able to explain God’s plan of salvation from beginning to end.
The true church is founded on Jesus Christ, not man. The apostles were just faithful to spread the gospel of Christ.
Peter was given the authority to spread the gospel as were the other disciples. Peter was never given a position of a ‘Pope.” In fact, Peter denied Jesus three times. He was just an ordinary human like all of us sinners in need of a Savior.
Yes, they had church elders and in some cases bishops, but these men were not to ‘Lord’ it over the people. They were to shepherd their flock just like Christ instructed them to.
Jesus gave the keys to Peter to tend to the flock til he returns. The Catholic Church is Apostolic because it was founded on the Apostles, the witnesses chosen & sent on mission by Christ himself. With the help of the Spirit dwelling in her, the church keeps and hands on the teachings, the salutary words she heard from the apostles. The Church continues to be taught, sanctified & guided by the apostles until Christ returns, through the succession in pastoral office: the college of bishops, assisted by priest, in union with the successor of Peter, the Church’s Supreme pastor.
Jesus chose appointed 12 to be sent out to preach. From then on, they would also be his emissaries. In them Christ continues his own mission: "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."
The apostles' ministry is a continuation of His mission.
If you research the church history back 2000 years you find the Catholic Church. All others are man made because people think they can interpret the Bible for themselves. Protestant has only been around 500 years. There was no Bible in the beginning until the Catholics put it together in the 300's.
Back in the day of Moses God told the Israeli people how he wanted to be worshipped. When Jesus came that way was done away with the he taught his Apostles how to worship. We are to worship God they way he wants us to not how we interpret we should do it. We don't make the rules, God does, and we are to follow what he taught.
What does the Bible tell us what a Christian is? That should be our go to. Look at the person of Jesus Christ. He is our Teacher. He is God incarnate. What does He say? Being a Christian isn’t following a religion. It is believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and following Him. It isn’t keeping a set of rules laid down by some ‘Church.’ It is being filled with the Holy Spirit and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit on a moment by moment basis. No one does this perfectly this side of heaven. We are in a constant battle with our old, fleshy nature. It is living out a Biblical Worldview in our day to day lives. One can’t do that if they don’t know what God’s Word says. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Being a Christian isn’t hard to define (read the book of John, an intimate walk with God Himself) and you will know what it means. You will also know what it entails. Measure everything that man says against the Word of God. If what man says is contrary to what God says then don’t do it. God’s Word is the standard, not man’s!
Are we to follow a ‘Church?’ There are many different ‘churches’ out there. Which one is teaching correct doctrine? What does that ‘church’ look like according to the Scripture? Was Jesus saying that He would build His church on a small stone (Peter, ‘petros’) or a large rock (petra) which is Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ is referred to several times throughout the Old and New Testament as the rock. In first Peter Jesus is referred to as the chief cornerstone. Jesus is referred to as the ‘foundation’ in 1Corinthians 3:11, “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
If you research the church back 2000 years you will find the little ‘c’ catholic church. In the Greek the word is ‘ekkelsia.’ It means a calling out i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):—assembly, church.
The believers had the Old Testament which was used heavily in the early church. They also had the letters sent to the churches, so they didn’t have the Bible like we do today, but the early disciples had enough to spread the true gospel of Christ.
The early church looked nothing like the Catholic Church of today and in the past.
You are correct we worship God the way He wants us to, which is totally different than what the Catholic Church teaches. True believers are saved by grace (a free gift of God) through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-10). God didn’t give us a book, and then not expect us to understand it or interpret it for ourselves. God gave us brains, not to check them at the door of some religious institution, but to use and be able to explain God’s plan of salvation from beginning to end.
The true church is founded on Jesus Christ, not man. The apostles were just faithful to spread the gospel of Christ.
Peter was given the authority to spread the gospel as were the other disciples. Peter was never given a position of a ‘Pope.” In fact, Peter denied Jesus three times. He was just an ordinary human like all of us sinners in need of a Savior.
Yes, they had church elders and in some cases bishops, but these men were not to ‘Lord’ it over the people. They were to shepherd their flock just like Christ instructed them to.
Jesus gave the keys to Peter to tend to the flock til he returns. The Catholic Church is Apostolic because it was founded on the Apostles, the witnesses chosen & sent on mission by Christ himself. With the help of the Spirit dwelling in her, the church keeps and hands on the teachings, the salutary words she heard from the apostles. The Church continues to be taught, sanctified & guided by the apostles until Christ returns, through the succession in pastoral office: the college of bishops, assisted by priest, in union with the successor of Peter, the Church’s Supreme pastor.
Jesus chose appointed 12 to be sent out to preach. From then on, they would also be his emissaries. In them Christ continues his own mission: "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."
The apostles' ministry is a continuation of His mission.
If you research the church history back 2000 years you find the Catholic Church. All others are man made because people think they can interpret the Bible for themselves. Protestant has only been around 500 years. There was no Bible in the beginning until the Catholics put it together in the 300's.
Back in the day of Moses God told the Israeli people how he wanted to be worshipped. When Jesus came that way was done away with the he taught his Apostles how to worship. We are to worship God they way he wants us to not how we interpret we should do it. We don't make the rules, God does, and we are to follow what he taught.
What does the Bible tell us what a Christian is? That should be our go to. Look at the person of Jesus Christ. He is our Teacher. He is God incarnate. What does He say? Being a Christian isn’t following a religion. It is believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and following Him. It isn’t keeping a set of rules laid down by some ‘Church.’ It is being filled with the Holy Spirit and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit on a moment by moment basis. No one does this perfectly this side of heaven. We are in a constant battle with our old, fleshy nature. It is living out a Biblical Worldview in our day to day lives. One can’t do that if they don’t know what God’s Word says. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Being a Christian isn’t hard to define (read the book of John, an intimate walk with God Himself) and you will know what it means. You will also know what it entails. Measure everything that man says against the Word of God. If what man says is contrary to what God says then don’t do it. God’s Word is the standard, not man’s!
Jesus said in
Matthew 16:18
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.
Jesus founded a Church for us to follow
Are we to follow a ‘Church?’ There are many different ‘churches’ out there. Which one is teaching correct doctrine? What does that ‘church’ look like according to the Scripture? Was Jesus saying that He would build His church on a small stone (Peter, ‘petros’) or a large rock (petra) which is Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ is referred to several times throughout the Old and New Testament as the rock. In first Peter Jesus is referred to as the chief cornerstone. Jesus is referred to as the ‘foundation’ in 1Corinthians 3:11, “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”