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WE WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THIS TRUTH WITH THOSE HELD IN BONDAGE TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND HER TRADITIONS AND DOCTRINES FROM ROME:
(CATHOLIC TEACHING ON FORGIVENESS): We are taught to confess our sins to priests. In John 20:23 Christ gave his apostles the power to forgive sins in his name. The priest acts in 'persona Christi', or in the person of Christ when giving absolution. The forgiveness comes from Christ. The authority Christ gave to his apostles is passed down to the priests of today through apostolic succession. The priest acts with Christ's authority at Christ's command. It would be disobedient to God not to take advantage of his wonderful gift of forgiveness).
First of all folks, you need to understand that, the above "IS NOT," a Bible teaching, but the teaching of men.
This passage of scripture in John 20: 21-23, first of all, was "NEVER" intended by Christ to give mortal men the empowerment to forgive what "ONLY CHRIST DIED FOR." i.e. "sin itself." I can forgive you for the sin of anger towards me, or the sin of gossip toward me or another, etc. But, "NO MAN," can forgive you of "sin" that is, in the heart. This is "only" what Christ can do. And He ( Jesus ), never would empower a mortal man, to be one to "decide" whether my sin was "serious enough to forgive or not." As we will see in a moment. Already this pokes serious holes in this sort of theology... "WHY,?" Because "ALL" sin, is VERY SERIOUS, not just "some sins".
Now let's look at all this: First of all in this passage ( JN 20: 21-23 ).. the Lord is giving a "greeting" by saying 'peace unto you" it is a salutation, and also a comfort as well of His presence, and the power of His spirit he was about to bestow upon all , "not just the 12..." in fact there were more than just the twelve present, if you study the gospel account in Luke 24 you will see this.. in fact we must begin there, for this gives us the "KEY," to the statement "WHOEVER YOU FORGIVE...." ETC.. FOUND IN (JN 20: 23 ).
LK 24: 45-49, says this.. Then he (Jesus ), opened their minds so they ( the disciples could "UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES.... ( this is VERY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER HERE ).. V46.. Then He, (JESUS), told them, "This is what is written:" The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, v47.. AND REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS WILL BE "PREACHED" ( remember preached ), (QUOTATIONS MINE ), IN HIS NAME TO ALL NATIONS, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM v48.. You are witnesses of these things, v49.. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; (speaking here of the Holy Spirit, to come in, and upon them in Acts ch: 2: 1-4, 17-21 , also the passage in John 20: 21-23.. ) where we now go back... Jn: 20: 21-23. In any literal and authoritative sense this power( to forgive sins ), was never exercised by any of the apostles, and "PLAINLY" through the rest of the word of God, was something they understood, very clearly, was "NEVER POSSESSED OF THEM, OR CONVEYED BY THEM." I.E. this power to forgive men's sins, and make distinction between, well do I forgive this sin... let me see now, or yes, I will forgive this one etc. etc. God forgives "all sin." He does not pick and choose! The only sin, ( sin unto death ) that God will not forgive, is the "sin unto death", in ( I John 5: 16 ).E.G. Refusing the gospel, not coming to Christ as savior. (OR) Mark 3: 29, Jesus said.. BUT WHOSOEVER BLASPHEMES AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL NEVER BE FORGIVEN; HE IS GUILTY OF AN ETERNAL SIN."
So, all those who "make fun," mock, scoff, joke, or bring slurs, etc.. on the things of God, and the true servants of God, "BE VERY CAREFUL," also, this means to "FOREVER REJECT THE TRUTH OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST, AND HIS FORGIVENESS BY HIS BLOOD... THEREFORE DAMNING THE SOUL TO ETERNAL HELL. So, The power to "intrude upon," the relation between men and God cannot have been given by Christ to His ministers in any way.
But, as a "ministerial," or "declarative " sense, as the authorized interpreters of His word, while in the acting's of His ministers, the "REAL NATURE OF THE POWER," committed to them, is seen in the Word, in the exercise of "CHURCH DISCIPLINE." They, were to declare sins remitted, "UPON GOSPEL TERMS," that is to say, they went and "preached the good news," forgiveness of sins, to those who would believe in and on the Lord Jesus Christ, in other words, as those sent to proclaim the gospel, they were to judge, "ON THE BASIS OF THE WORD OF GOD", ( that had been given to the prophets, and the disciples and the apostles by Christ), whether those who claimed to Know Him, had their foundation in the "GOSPEL THAT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO THEM, (the apostles), OR, WHETHER IT WAS "A DIFFERENT GOSPEL" AS PAUL WRITES IN ( II COR: 11: 1-4). WHETHER THE ONE WHO HAD TRULY REPENTED OF SIN/S,HAD DONE SO ON GOSPEL TERMS, ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL THEY PREACHED. BUT OTHER THAN THIS, AND THE EXERCISE OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE, AGAIN, USING THE WORD OF GOD TO JUDGE THE FRUIT, AND ACTIONS AND LIFE AND WALK, NOT ACTING AS MEDIATORS BETWEEN GOD AND MEN.
LETS LOOK AT IT SOME MORE: SO, IF WHAT WAS BEING CLAIMED AS SALVATION, AND THE NEW BIRTH, WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS IN LINE WITH THE TEACHING OF THE APOSTLES, THEY "DECLARED" IN THAT SINCE, THE ONE FORGIVEN, OR IF SOMEONE IN THE CHURCH HAD SINNED, AND REPENTED, ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL THEY HAD PREACHED, THEY COULD DECLARE THAT ONE FORGIVEN, OR NOT FORGIVEN, ACCORDING IF THEY HAD FOUND ANY PLACE FOR REPENTANCE, OR REJECTED THE WORD OF GOD AS PREACHED BY THE APOSTLES.
BUT, NEVER DID THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD THE POWER TO DO WHAT ONLY GOD CAN DO, AND DIED FOR! AND AGAIN, NEVER WAS THIS EXCERCISED, EXCEPT FOR CHURCH DISCIPLINE AS WE MENTIONED ABOVE.
THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THIS: IF THOSE WHO HAD THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM BY THE APOSTLES,ACCEPTED THAT GOSPEL AS TRUE, AND HAD COME TO CHRIST AS LORD, THEY COULD BE SIMPLY DECLARED FORGIVEN, (BY GOD), THEY HAD RECEIVED THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. THOSE WHO REJECTED THE TEACHINGS OF THE APOSTLES AND THE TRUTH OF THE WORD OF GOD, WERE OBVIOUSLY STILL IN THEIR SIN, AND COULD BE DECLARED AS UNFORGIVEN, (BY GOD), AND STILL IN THEIR PAGAN STATE. THE FORGIVENESS, OR ABSENCE OF IT, "CAME ON "GOSPEL TERMS PREACHED, AND ACCEPTED, OR REJECTED!" 1I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that. 2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
Many false prophets had gone out , as there are today, and proclaimed a gospel, that was really "NO GOSPEL AT ALL." For the establishing of the early church, and, in our teaching today as well, these men of God had to lay the proper foundation, and there is no other foundation, ( as the bible tells us), other than Christ.. I cor 3:11.
CATHOLIC BELIEF: How Confession is to be conducted. "Christ's representative, the priest, must decide whether to forgive or retain. Therefore, the penitent must confess each and every serious sin, that is anything which separates him from Christ. If the priest judges he is truly sorry, He must absolve since Christ's Passion merited forgiveness for every repentant sinner. Only if the person shows no willingness to give up sin does the priest retain, that is withhold absolution, as we "do not give what is holy to dogs"
THE WORD OF GOD: In (Matthew 6: 5-15), the Lord Jesus, tells us some very interesting things here.. how to pray! He says to the disciples in vs. 6. When you pray, go into your room, (this speaks of being by ones self), close the door and pray, to your Father who is unseen. Then your Father who sees what is done in "secret" will reward you and when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do no be like them, " (get this )", for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ( even what sins are in your heart ).
AND NO MAN KNOWS THIS. ( unless the sins are manifest, then we can do what the apostles were told to do, judge that sin, only on the grounds , and by the word of God). The word of God being the "Only rule" for our conduct and behavior... "THE MEASURING ROD" . BUT, I CAN ONLY "JUDGE," THAT PERSONS SIN, AS SIN, AND THAT, ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD. THEN THE MAN OF GOD, WOULD DIRECT THAT PERSON TO REPENT TO GOD, AND ASK FOR FORGIVENESS. THE PERSON IN SIN, MUST REPENT OF HIS/HER, SIN, AND SEEK FORGIVENESS FROM GOD ALONE, (UNLESS ANOTHER WAS INVOLVED), THEN, IN A MINISTERIAL OR DECLARATIVE SENSE, THE MAN OF GOD CAN "DECLARE THAT SIN IS FORGIVEN"...(BECAUSE IT WAS REPENTED OF), BUT HE CANNOT DIRECTLY FORGIVE THE SIN IN THE HEART OF ANOTHER HIMSELF. THIS IS GOD'S WORK, NOT MAN'S. AND THE PERSON/S IN QUESTION, ARE NOWHERE IN THE WORD OF GOD, DIRECTED TO GO AND CONFESS TO A "PRIEST," OR AN APOSTLE ETC.. WE ARE CLEARLY TOLD IN HEBREWS 4:14-16 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 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. FOLKS, OUR PRIEST IS JESUS CHRIST!
Lets keep going here..MATTHEW 6: vs. 9-15 This is how you should pray (remember, this is Jesus talking to His disciples then, and now ), "our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, ( holy, honored ), your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, (here we go now ), and forgive us our debts,( here is a confession of guilt and sin ), as we have forgiven our debtors. and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. for if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.
The word here for debtor/s...in greek, is,( ophelletes ),this word does mean what it says.. "debtor" one who owes a debt. In Jewish language, it also means in this form, someone who is guilty of a fault! ( sound like all of us? ) AGAIN, USING THE WORD OF GOD AS THE MEASURING STICK FOR ALL OUR LIFE AND CONDUCT." So, it is really clear here, as well as in dozens of other scriptures, that.."THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE THERE TO HEAR MY CONFESSION, OR MY REPENTANCE, OR MY ASKING FORGIVENESS OF ANOTHER TOWARDS ME, OR, MY OFFENCE TOWARDS EVEN GOD." IT WAS JUST ME AND GOD.. In vs. 1, of this same ch: Jesus says.." BE CAREFUL, (this is a warning he gives here, you don't give a warning, unless something might not be right ), NOT TO DO YOUR ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE MEN, TO BE SEEN BY THEM, IF YOU DO, YOU WILL HAVE NO REWARD FROM YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN...
You see, the Lord was clearly teaching even here, that we are to deal "DIRECTLY WITH THE FATHER, GOD, NOT MEN." And this was in our praying, confessing, giving, etc..SEEN IN MATTHEW 6:5-19, it was to be something between the individual and God! Because when Christ died on the cross, the wall between God and man was removed.. there was no longer any need of a "EARTHLY MEDIATOR." We see this in (I john 1:8,-2:6).. it reads.. "IF WE CLAIM TO BE WITHOUT SIN, WE DECEIVE OURSELVES, ( think there might be some of that going on? ), AND THE TRUTH, (Gods spirit and word ), IS NOT IN US. IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, (we will see that in a moment ), HE (JESUS, NOT A MAN ), IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US, (ONLY CHRIST CAN FORGIVE US THE SINS OF THE HEART ), AND PURIFY US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. (that which is 'not right ,' in Gods eyes ). IF WE CLAIM WE HAVE NOT SINNED, WE MAKE HIM A LIAR, (because the Bible, "our measuring stick," says "we have all sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God". romans 3:23 ), AND HIS WORD HAS 'NO PLACE' IN OUR LIVES. (we are not living by the truth ).
CHAPTER 2: 1.. (WATCH THIS NOW.. ). MY DEAR CHILDREN, I WRITE THIS TO YOU SO THAT YOU WILL NOT SIN ( that's plain for us isn't it?). BUT, "IF" ANYBODY DOES SIN, (here we go ), WE HAVE ONE WHO 'SPEAKS TO THE FATHER IN OUR DEFENSE,' JESUS CHRIST, THE RIGHTEOUS ONE. (color and emphasis mine). (Not a man, not a Protestant, not a catholic, not Billy Graham, ) "ONLY JESUS! Lets go on.. vs. 2.."HE (Jesus ), IS THE ATONING SACRIFICE, (atoning.. "to make one with", sacrifice, He did the dying for and with Our sin, not a man in a church house, or anywhere else, ONLY CHRIST CAN MAKE US RECONCILED TO GOD, OR SPEAK TO GOD ON OUR BEHALF FOR FORGIVENESS OF SINS." ).....
continue on...vs2... HE IS THE ATONING SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS, AND NOT ONLY FOR OURS, (the born again children of God ), BUT ALSO FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD. ( to those who will come to Christ as Lord and repent).
VS3.. 'WE KNOW' WE HAVE COME TO KNOW HIM (be saved truly born again), "IF," WE OBEY HIS COMMANDS. THE MAN WHO SAYS 'I KNOW HIM,' BUT DOES NOT DO WHAT HE COMMANDS IS A LIAR AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN HIM. (is deceived, remember from ch:1:8)... VS5..BUT IF ANYONE OBEYS HIS WORD, GOD'S LOVE IS TRULY MADE COMPLETE IN HIM. THIS IS HOW"WE KNOW," WE ARE IN HIM; WHOEVER 'CLAIMS' TO LIVE IN HIM MUST WALK AS JESUS DID."
This not only shows very clearly, that "only Christ can forgive sin/s" but, that He also takes "ALL SIN VERY SERIOUSLY....LIFE AND DEATH!" (Romans 6: 23 ), "THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD."
OH how many times my kids have come to me and said, "I AM TRULY SORRY!" I had a choice to believe them or not... sometimes I believed them, and they "DID IT AGAIN!" Sometimes I did not believe them, "AND THEY NEVER 'DID IT AGAIN" Thank God, as we have been reading all over the place, and will see again in a second, that "ONLY JESUS," knows whether I "mean it or not." Not a man!
( I Corinthians 2: 10-16 ) says.... "....THE SPIRIT (Holy Spirit ), SEARCHES ALL THINGS, EVEN THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD. VS11.. FOR WHO AMONG MEN KNOWS THE THOUGHTS OF A MAN EXCEPT THE MAN'S SPIRIT WITHIN HIM? IN THE SAME WAY "NO ONE KNOWS THE THOUGHTS OF GOD EXCEPT THE SPIRIT OF GOD. VS12..WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD BUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THAT WE MAY UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD HAS FREELY GIVEN US. VS13... THIS IS WHAT WE SPEAK, NOT IN WORDS TAUGHT US BY 'HUMAN WISDOM,' ( or the traditions of men), BUT IN WORDS TAUGHT BY THE SPIRIT, (HOLY SPIRIT ), EXPRESSING SPIRITUAL TRUTHS IN SPIRITUAL WORDS, (not human reason, or logic, or ungodly philosophy), vs.14... THE MAN WITHOUT THE SPIRIT, (holy spirit), DOES NOT ACCEPT, (won't believe, or receive), THE THINGS THAT COME FROM THE SPIRIT OF GOD, FOR THEY ARE FOOLISHNESS TO HIM, (that explains itself, to mock, make fun of, ridicule, etc. ), AND HE 'CANNOT' UNDERSTAND THEM, BECAUSE "THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED." VS15...THE SPIRITUAL MAN MAKES JUDGEMENTS ABOUT ALL THINGS, (this is according to the "standard", the word of God." ), BUT HE HIMSELF, "IS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY MAN'S JUDGEMENT: FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD THAT 'HE MAY INSTRUCT HIM?" ( like tell God what sins he will forgive, and what sins he won't, who means it, and who does not).
THE CATHOLIC TEACHING: "However, that serious sin is a horrendous offense against God that ought to be rare among the baptized but frequently is not. In the second and third century theological battles were fought over whether Penance could be received more than once after Baptism. The rigorists, like Tertullian, left the Church and their movements passed into history. Even the practice of the sacrament today is no encouragement to sin, as they thought. On the contrary it requires humility to confess your sins. It also gives great peace to hear the priest say in Jesus' name "I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." It is Christ's will that we hear those words. Although God CAN forgive sin directly it requires a perfect motive: love of Him and sorrow over having offended such a good Lord. An imperfect motive would mean we have not fully turned from our sin back to God. Not every one can rise to the occasion, so rather than excluding the marginal person struggling with sins, perhaps even over a lifetime, Christ has given us the Sacrament in which He raises us up, even when our sorrow is weak and imperfect. This shows the dependence of the sacrament on grace and mercy. As Jesus himself said, He came not to save the self-righteous but the sinner..... ROME ALSO TEACHES: Regarding the forgiveness of sins, two critical doctrines must be examined. First, all sins must be confessed to a priest: "One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience." Pg. 374, #1493 "Confession to a priest is an essential part of the sacrament of Penance:" Pg. 365, #1456 "It is called the sacrament of confession, since the disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this sacrament. Pg. 357, #1424 (See also Pg. 374, #1493).
Catholicism orders members to confess their sins to a man, but the Bible reveals that those who have been born into God's family can go straight to God's throne to receive forgiveness for their sins: HEBREWS 10: 19-23: "THE WORD OF GOD" "SINCE THEREFORE BRETHREN, WE HAVE CONFIDENCE TO ENTER THE HOLY PLACE (GOD'S PRESENCE), BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, BY A NEW AND LIVING WAY WHICH HE INAUGURATED FOR US THROUGH THE VEIL, THAT IS HIS FLESH, AND SINCE WE HAVE A GREAT PRIEST OVER THE HOUSE OF GOD, LET US DRAW NEAR WITH A SINCERE HEART IN FULL ASSURANCE ( COME BELIEVING BY FAITH), OF FAITH, HAVING OUR HEARTS SPRINKLED CLEAN FROM AN EVIL CONSCIENCE AND OUR BODIES WASHED WITH PURE WATER. LET US HOLD FAST THE CONFESSION OF OUR HOPE WITHOUT WAVERING, FOR HE WHO PROMISED IS FAITHFUL;THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WOULD HAVE ITS MEMBERS TO BELIEVE THE UNSCRIPTURAL DOCTRINE, THAT, "An imperfect motive would mean we have not fully turned from our sin back to God. Not every one can rise to the occasion, so rather than excluding the marginal person struggling with sins, perhaps even over a lifetime, Christ has given us the Sacrament in which He raises us up, even when our sorrow is weak and imperfect. This shows the dependence of the sacrament on grace and mercy. As Jesus himself said, He came not to save the self-righteous but the sinner..... Dear catholic friend, I ask you, does this truly make sense to you?
The Bible says plainly in: 1 Corinthians 11: 17-34. The Apostle Paul speaking: 17In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval. 20When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, 21for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. 22Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not! 23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 27.Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28.A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29.For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. 33.So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 34.If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions. Notice verse, 27 & 28 once again.. 27.Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
The Catholic teaching tells you: "An imperfect motive would mean we have not fully turned from our sin back to God." (this is a 'partial' truth).SO, FROM THE "WORD OF GOD," IN THIS SCRIPTURE FROM PAUL, IN 1 CORINTHIANS 11. WE CLEARLY SEE, NOT TO TAKE THE BREAD, OR THE WINE, IN A "UNWORTHY MANNER,"..... "SIN NOT DEALT WITH." "WRONG MOTIVES," "UNREPENTED SIN."
Yet, the Catholic Church teaches it's members: "Not every one can rise to the occasion, so, rather than excluding the marginal person, struggling with sins, perhaps even over a lifetime, Christ has given us the Sacrament in which He raises us up, even when our sorrow is weak and imperfect. This shows the dependence of the sacrament on grace and mercy. As Jesus himself said, He came not to save the self-righteous but the sinner....." FOLKS, Here the "MARGINAL PERSON," should actually say... the person with the unrepentant heart, the one who does not want to deal with their sin/s. The phrase,"NOT EVERYONE CAN RISE TO THE OCCASION," what is this telling us again? That not everyone wants to deal with his sin in a serious manner? That are are those who do not want to be truly right with God? That some who go to the confessional booth, are not going in with pure motives? What a doctrine! You can sin, love it, keep it, practice it over a life time, and then, not truly confess, and repent of it, but instead, just take in the sacrament, and Jesus will over look it, or blot it out, or put it aside......... "FOLKS, THIS DOES GREAT INJUSTICE TO THE BLOOD AND THE CROSS OF CHRIST!" Also, please notice, while we are at it, that in the passage of scripture in 1Corinthians 11:17-34... vs. 23-25 23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."Do you see clearly here, that" Jesus Christ Himself, is partaking of the bread and the wine, the loaf and the cup?"How then, can one believe the Catholic teaching that the one who takes these elements, are actually "TAKING IN THE LITERAL BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD?" HOW COULD JESUS BE TAKING IN HIS OWN BODY AND BLOOD?
FRIEND, DO NOT BE DECEIVED ANY LONGER BY THE TEACHINGS OF ROME! So, it is obvious to us from the "WORD OF GOD," the Church in Rome, has given Her leadership the teaching, that, the one with 'wrong motives,' or that will not repent, or will not deal with their sin/s, can just"TAKE THE SACRAMENTS, AND EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE." All the while in the "WORD OF GOD," we are clearly told to ,"NOT TAKE THE BREAD OR THE WINE IN A "UNWORTHY MANNER." THAT THIS WOULD BRING JUDGEMENT UPON THOSE WHO DO.
THE WORD OF GOD: "I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. " Psalm 32:5 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 David confessed his sins to God when he prayed: "Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me." Psalm 51:2-3 Here is why true Christians have access to God' s throne: "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus..." Hebrews 10:19 . Because of the sinless blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross, we have the authority to go straight to the throne of God for forgiveness. The "alleged first pope's" example:In the book of Acts, a man named Simon came to ('the alleged first pope, Peter'), wanting to buy the power of the Holy Spirit. How did Peter respond to this sin? Did he suggest that Simon make a confession to him right there? No, Peter told him to repent and confess his sin to God and ask God to forgive him. (See Acts 8:18-22). Can priests forgive sins?The second part of this doctrine suggests that Catholic priests have the power to forgive sins: "Only priests who have received the faculty of absolving from the authority of the Church can forgive sins in the name of Christ." Pg. 374, #1495 (See also Pg. 364 #1448). Here, too, Catholic doctrine opposes God's Word: THE WORD OF GOD: "Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?" Mark 2:7 . Catechism teaches that the priest is a mediator between God and man. (See Pg. 365, #1456). But the Bible recognizes only one mediator:THE WORD OF GOD: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" 1 Timothy 2:5.
Once again, the Catechism admits that these are not instructions from God, but traditions of men:"The Fathers of the Church present this sacrament as the second plank [of salvation]..." Pg. 363 #1446
More bondage: CATECHISM:"According to the Church's command, 'after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year.'" Pg. 365, #1457 (Emphasis author's).SERIOUS SIN? ALL SIN IS SERIOUS!
AGAIN, THE WORD OF GOD, TEACHES:I JOHN 3: 4-10 4Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. 7Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 9No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.LETS LOOK AGAIN..... CATECHISM:"According to the Church's command, 'after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year.'" Pg. 365, #1457 (Emphasis author's)There is that word "bound" again. The Church Fathers created another tradition which keeps people in bondage to the Catholic church.
What a powerful weapon to use against Catholics around the world. In essence, this doctrine says that if you leave the Catholic church, you will not be able to obtain forgiveness for your sins, which means you won't go to heaven. Please remember, none of this came from God! These are all man-made threats. May God open your spiritual eyes and give you understanding, so that you may see the depth of the bondage this religion holds you in. May God show you that you don't have to be held captive to this religion any longer. Jesus Christ wants to set you free. Conclusion : Millions of faithful Catholics blindly file into confessional booths, believing that the priest has the power to forgive their sins. They go off believing that the ingestion of the wafer, and the cup, the Sacraments, are going to make them "SAFE,"...That Christ is "IN," them now. What about you? Where will you go to have your sins forgiven? To a sinful priest, as the man-made traditions of the Catholic church demand? How will you be absolutely certain, that Christ is in you? Will you listen to the Confusing teachings of the Catholic Church, (and some of these have their own,"local set of doctrines," added to, or taken from, what Rome has handed down!). Instead of being consistent to all the false teaching of Rome, they blend in their own, to suit their flesh. Or will you go straight to God Almighty, as the Bible teaches? I JOHN 2:1-2MY DEAR CHILDREN, I WRITE THIS TO YOU SO THAT YOU WILL NOT SIN. BUT IF ANYBODY DOES SIN, WE HAVE ONE WHO 'SPEAKS TO THE FATHER IN OUR DEFENSE,' JESUS CHRIST, THE RIGHTEOUS ONE. ( NOT A PRIEST, NOT A SINFUL MAN, NOT A BISHOP, CARDINAL OR POPE............ "ONLY JESUS! ).
"Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared." Psalm 130:1-4 . WE LEAVE YOU WITH THE MESSAGE BELOW, THAT WILL HELP YOU TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR, AND DELIVER YOU FROM ALL BONDAGE, AND FREE YOU TO WALK WITH JESUS CHRIST AS TRUE LORD OF YOUR LIFE. NO MATTER WHAT RELIGION, OR CULT YOU ARE IN, OR HAVE BEEN IN. NO MATTER WHAT SITUATION OF LIFE YOU ARE NOW IN, OR HAVE BEEN IN, THIS WILL HELP YOU TO COME TRULY, TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, OR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. HERE IS A MESSAGE THAT WILL, IF YOU RECEIVE IT, DELIVER YOU FROM THE BONDAGE OF, THE FLESH, THE WORLD, AND THE DEVIL. IT WILL, IF YOU RECEIVE THE TRUTH, DELIVER YOU FROM THE LIES OF SATAN, AND BRING YOU INTO THE GLORIOUS LIGHT OF JESUS CHRIST, GODS' ONLY SON! "PLESE READ THE LINK BELOW" http://www.bibleword.com/salvatn.htm
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