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NASB | Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 3:28 For we maintain that an individual is justified by faith distinctly apart from works of the Law [the observance of which has nothing to do with justification, that is, being declared free of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]. |
Bible Question: Brian.g, this is not a post inviting a debate with you regarding the Roman Catholic faith. I won't do that. It is rather about a few questions concerning it on which I invite your answers. (1) Since the verses in Matthew 16:18,19 seem to keep popping up in relation to the papacy, are these the key verses, the proof text if you will, on which you and your fellow Catholics base your belief that Jesus appointed Peter the first pope of the Roman Catholic church?...... (2) If Jesus did appoint Peter the first Pope, where does the Bible say this plainly? (I can't see it as saying this in these two verses of Matthew 16) If the doctrine is derived from these two verses, can you shed more light on how it came to be so interpreted from them?...... (3) Whence comes the idea that Jesus made Peter the first in line of the popes; how is this seen as the intention of Jesus?...... (4) Since Peter was an Apostle of our Lord, were the "keys of the kingdom of heaven" not meant for Peter? How can it be inferred that the keys were to be passed down through the ages by a succession of popes? (5) How does the Catholic Church explain the doctrine of the infallibility of the pope? Isn't he a man and therefore fallible?...... (6) On what grounds do they justify the praying to various canonized saints instead of to the Father in Jesus' name?....... I recognize that there are six questions, and you might wish to address each one as a separate post. In any event, I think that your answers, on which I believe you will make every effort to be clear, objective, and complete, will be an instructive addition to the other resources available on the forum, and I thank you in advance. --Hank |
Bible Answer: Number 6 We have a tendency to think that service to God ends at our physical death. Heaven, while being our reward, I believe enables us to continue to serve God. How we serve God in heaven will be an extension of how we served God on earth. With our belief in God and obedience to God's law, each man tries to earn the trust and confidence of God - but only few men and women reach a higher level of trust with God, which is truly special. This level of trust, this special status to which God has elevated these people, enables these people to speak with God at a level the rest of us may never reach. In Genesis 18, when God appeared before Abraham with two men on their way to Sodom, God asked '"Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Would God even consider sharing this information with someone like me, probably not. But, Abraham had earned that special trust of God's. When God decided he could trust Abraham, God then conveyed his intentions, Abraham then interceded with God on behalf of the good and just of Sodom. Numerous times during the conversation, God agreed not to destroy the city based upon the situations posed by Abraham. In numerous places throughout the Bible, we see cases of people interceding with God on our behalf: 1 Samuel 7: Then Samuel said, "Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the LORD for you." 1 Samuel 2:25 If a man sins against another man, God may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?" 1 Kings 13:6 Then the king said to the man of God, "Intercede with the LORD your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored." So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king's hand was restored and became as it was before In Luke 10, Jesus named an additional 72 disciples to go out and speak the gospel to the people. As with the original 12 Apostles, these 72 were empowered to perform miracles through their faith. When they came back, The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name" These people, and many more throughout history have served God to a higher level than the average person. Of these, some have reached levels of greatness in heaven, which most of us will never achieve. These are the men and women who have dedicated their entire lives to serving God,and in many cases, have died for God. We must and we do hold these men and women in a high esteem, because God himself does. These people, continue to serve God, in heaven as they did on earth. And, many have earned the right, from God himself - as Abraham did, to intervene with God our our behalf. When praying, we do not and must not pray to the saints as if they are God. But, just as the people who asked for miracles or special intervention with God through Jesus, the Apostles and the Disciples, we now do the same through prayer to these special servants of God. |