First of all, I should note that the Roman Catholic Church does not need any Bible verses for any doctrines. She can declare them as valid doctrines by virtue of tradition. Meanwhile:
18 I also tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock[b] I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades[c] will not prevail against it.
19 I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.”
--Matthew 16:18-19
Notice the two footnotes:
[a]Matthew 16:18 Peter’s name, Petros in Greek, is the word for a specific rock or stone.
[b]Matthew 16:18 Greek, petra, a rock mass or bedrock.
31 The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat, 32 but I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn’t fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers.”
--Luke 22:31-32
In John 15:21 Jesus tells Peter to feed my sheep and lambs.
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Was Peter The First Pope?
From the Bible we really do not have good evidence that Peter was ever in Rome:
In Romans 16, from the year 56 A.D, Paul greets a list of people, but Peter was not one of them.
These four letters were written while Paul was in Rome under house arrest (Acts 27:1-28:31):
Ephesians 3:1; 4:1; 6:18-20;
Philippians 1:12, 13; 4:22;
Colossians 4:2-4;
Philemon 1, 10, 22, 23
In none of these letters, do we see Peter mentioned.
2 Tim 4:6 starts a list of people who were with Paul at the end; Peter was not one of them.
Peter was not called to minister among the gentiles:
for he who appointed Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision appointed me also to the Gentiles
--Gal 2:8
This verse shows that Peter had not laid a foundation in Rome in Paul's time.
20 yes, making it my aim to preach the Good News, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build on another’s foundation.
--Romans 15:20
Gal 2:7-8 Peter stood condemned
From the Bible we do not see that Peter is in a special position of authority:
Peter last appears in scripture in Acts 15, where we see James as the head of the Jerusalem Church.
1 Peter 1:1 Peter calls himself an apostle.
The following verse gives us the universal priesthood of believers:
5 You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
--1 Peter 2:5
1 Peter 5:1 Peter is an Elder:
1 I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder,
--1 Peter 5:1
Paul condemns in the church at Corinth "these slogans you have, like 'I am for Paul,' 'I am for Apollos,' 'I am for Cephas' (1 Cor 1:12).
In the end, he does not in any way give Peter a special status.
In Acts 1, at the end of the chapter, it was the other disciples who chose who would replace Judas.
In Romans 16, from the year 56 A.D, Paul greets a list of people, but Peter was not one of them.
These four letters were written while Paul was in Rome under house arrest (Acts 27:1-28:31):
Ephesians 3:1; 4:1; 6:18-20;
Philippians 1:12, 13; 4:22;
Colossians 4:2-4;
Philemon 1, 10, 22, 23
In none of these letters, do we see Peter mentioned.
2 Tim 4:6 starts a list of people who were with Paul at the end; Peter was not one of them.
Peter was not called to minister among the gentiles:
for he who appointed Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision appointed me also to the Gentiles
--Gal 2:8
This verse shows that Peter had not laid a foundation in Rome in Paul's time.
20 yes, making it my aim to preach the Good News, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build on another’s foundation.
--Romans 15:20
Gal 2:7-8 Peter stood condemned
From the Bible we do not see that Peter is in a special position of authority:
Peter last appears in scripture in Acts 15, where we see James as the head of the Jerusalem Church.
1 Peter 1:1 Peter calls himself an apostle.
The following verse gives us the universal priesthood of believers:
5 You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
--1 Peter 2:5
1 Peter 5:1 Peter is an Elder:
1 I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder,
--1 Peter 5:1
Paul condemns in the church at Corinth "these slogans you have, like 'I am for Paul,' 'I am for Apollos,' 'I am for Cephas' (1 Cor 1:12).
In the end, he does not in any way give Peter a special status.
In Acts 1, at the end of the chapter, it was the other disciples who chose who would replace Judas.
Bible Verses for Grace, Not Works
All these verses contradict the Roman Catholic doctrine of salvation by works of merit:
repent ye, and believe the gospel.
--Mark 1:15
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
--Romans 1:16
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
--Romans 3:20
For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
--Romans 3:28
3 what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
4 Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed.
5 But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
--Romans 4:3-6
“For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”
--Romans 5:17
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who didn’t follow after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith;
31 but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn’t arrive at the law of righteousness.
32 Why? Because they didn’t seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law.
--Romans 9:30
4 For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.”
6 But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’(that is, to bring Christ down);
7 or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)”
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart”; that is, the word of faith, which we preach:
9 that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”
--Romans 10:4
16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.
--Gal 2:16
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.”
--Gal 3:10
8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, that no one would boast.
--Eph 2:8-9
21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
--2 Cor 5:21
2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision.
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh;
--Phil 3
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared,
5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior;
7 that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
--Titus 3:4-7
all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;
--Isaiah 64:6
30 Then he escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
--Acts 16:30-31
29 Jesus replied, “This is the work of God—that you believe in the One He has sent.”
--John 6:29
If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:
5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
--Phil 3:4-6
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
--Phil 3:7-9
repent ye, and believe the gospel.
--Mark 1:15
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
--Romans 1:16
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
--Romans 3:20
For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
--Romans 3:28
3 what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
4 Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed.
5 But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
--Romans 4:3-6
“For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”
--Romans 5:17
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who didn’t follow after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith;
31 but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn’t arrive at the law of righteousness.
32 Why? Because they didn’t seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law.
--Romans 9:30
4 For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.”
6 But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’(that is, to bring Christ down);
7 or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)”
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart”; that is, the word of faith, which we preach:
9 that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”
--Romans 10:4
16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.
--Gal 2:16
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.”
--Gal 3:10
8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, that no one would boast.
--Eph 2:8-9
21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
--2 Cor 5:21
2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision.
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh;
--Phil 3
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared,
5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior;
7 that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
--Titus 3:4-7
all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;
--Isaiah 64:6
30 Then he escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
--Acts 16:30-31
29 Jesus replied, “This is the work of God—that you believe in the One He has sent.”
--John 6:29
If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:
5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
--Phil 3:4-6
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
--Phil 3:7-9
Monday, February 2, 2015
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Repentance and the Gospel
It is interesting to observe that both times when the gospel is first mentioned in Mark's gospel, it is preceded with repentance.
First are John the Baptist's words:
John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
--Mark 1:4
Then the first preaching of Jesus:
14 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.
--Mark 1:14-15
21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
--2 Cor 5:21
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
--1 Cor 1:18
18 If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own.
--John 15:18
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
--Mat 10:34
4 ...Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
--James 4:4
First are John the Baptist's words:
John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
--Mark 1:4
Then the first preaching of Jesus:
14 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.
--Mark 1:14-15
21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
--2 Cor 5:21
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
--1 Cor 1:18
18 If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own.
--John 15:18
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
--Mat 10:34
4 ...Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
--James 4:4
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Faith Without Works is Dead
What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him? And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, and one of you tells them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled”; and yet you didn't give them the things the body needs, what good is it? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself. Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
--James 2:14
--James 2:14
Monday, December 22, 2014
John The Baptist: "Brood of Vipers" to crowd wanting to be Baptized
7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
--Luke 3
8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
--Luke 3
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