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Importance of Apologetics and Evangelization
1 Tim 2:4 – God desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Peter 3:15 – Always be prepared to make a defense (Gk: Apologia) to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence…
James 5:19-20 -He must know that he who causes a sinner to be converted from the error of his way will save his own soul from death and shall cover a multitude of sins.
2 Cor 9:6-8 – Brothers and sisters, consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have abundance for every good work.
2 Cor 10:3-5 – For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war, for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…
***2 Cor 11:3-4 – But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and preaches another Jesus that the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the you accepted, you submit to it readily enough. (It is necessary to preach the real Christ. This can only be done through a correct understanding of Christ’s teachings.)
St. John Chrysostom, (347-407), the Bishop of Constantinople, and Doctor of the Church, tells us: "Zeal for the salvation of souls is of so great a merit before God, that to give up all our goods to the poor, or to spend our whole life in the exercises of all sorts of austerities cannot equal the merit of it. There is no service more agreeable to God than this one. To employ one's life in this blessed labor is more pleasing to the Divine Majesty than to suffer martyrdom. Would you not feel happy if you could spend large sums of money in corporal works of mercy? But know that he who labors for the salvation of souls does far more; nay, the zeal of souls is of far greater merit before God . . . than the working of miracles."
Luke 17:10 – Verse to keep us humble. “So also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants, we have only done what was our duty.’”
CHURCH AND AUTHORITY
Catholic Verses
In the Old Testament, eleven of the Twelve Tribes of Israel turned away from God. Through the redemptive work of Christ and his command to “go into the world,” the lost tribes and many gentiles were brought and are being brought to God. This group of believers was known as the Church. From history, we know this Church to be Catholic. For no other existed. Did Christ go through persecution and ultimately death on a cross only to have his bride break into contradiction and chaos? Did he bring the Twelve Tribes back together only to have them fall apart again? Jesus said, “A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.” The Church is the Kingdom of God on earth. It, therefore, cannot teach anything that contradicts truth. It cannot be divided against itself!
Eve was created from Adam’s side and was his spouse. Eve was tempted by Satan and persuaded Adam to sin; which became known as Original Sin. Christ came without sin in order to undo what Adam had done. The Church was created from Christ’s side and is his spouse (Rev 21:9, Eph 5:25-27, Rev 19:7-9). By virtue of being created from the side of the sinless God-Man, it is impossible for the Church to lead others to sin through its teachings. Otherwise, the Church would be no different than Eve.
At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles and they taught the 3000. The Holy Spirit did not descend on the 3000 and teach them directly. The hierarchy is Christ, Holy Spirit, Apostles, and laity. Christ, fully God and fully man, built the foundation of the Church. He was crucified and rose from the dead as God and man. He said he would send the Holy Spirit to lead the Church. On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit taught through the Apostles. The Church is led by the Holy Spirit and governed by man; not by one or the other alone.
In Acts 2, we see the Holy Spirit descending upon the Apostles and they taught and baptized the first 3000 converts. In Chapter 3, they taught in Solomon’s Portico and at least 2000 more were converted. Acts 4:32 says, “Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul… Acts 9:28 says Paul went in and out among them (Apostles) at Jerusalem shortly after his conversion. There is no doubt that Paul was taught by the Apostles. Therefore, one teaching went out to the Jews and Gentiles after Pentecost, because the Apostles, including Paul, preached the word. The bible says nothing about the teachings devolving into contradiction. When, then, did the church that taught one teaching apostatize? A Protestant might respond by saying Paul was not chosen by the Apostles but by Christ himself (Galatians 1:1); therefore, others could be chosen by Christ directly and not by the Church. It is true that Christ chose Paul as an Apostle, but he did so in a very visible and unique way. He also chose Peter and the others. Further, the Bible does not talk about anyone else being chosen in the way Paul was chosen. Therefore, the sola scriptura Christian must go outside the Bible when claiming that someone in the post-apostolic era was chosen by God to establish a church. It should also be kept in mind that after prompting by the Holy Spirit, the Church in Antioch commissioned Paul and Barnabas for the work for which they had been called (Acts 13:1-3). They did not function independent of the Church. Also, Paul went to Jerusalem specifically to see Peter for 15 days at the beginning of his ministry (Gal 1:18), and was commissioned by Peter, James and John (Gal 2:9) to preach to the Gentiles. This is a far cry from reading the Bible and declaring yourself a preacher, teacher, prophet or otherwise.)
A Teaching and Authoritative Church
Without Apostolic succession, Christianity would have been corrupted from the beginning. Imagine if Protestantism occurred immediately after Christ’s death and resurrection. Immediate disagreements on a range of teachings would have ensued. They would not have been able to agree on things as fundamental as baptism, the Eucharist, how we are saved, the role of works, end times, the books that belong in the Bible, and many others. Christianity would have fallen into utter chaos and contradiction and would most likely not be around today. Apostolic succession ensures that Christ’s teachings are maintained throughout the centuries. This is why St. Paul said, “The Church is the pillar and bulwark of truth.” Christ did not die on the cross thinking – “These guys are going to mess things up from the beginning and I will have to wait 1500 years for Luther, Calvin and King Henry the VIII to get it right.” Let’s get real. The Catholic Church was founded by Christ 2000 years ago and is led “into all truths” by the Holy Spirit. Protestantism is corruption Christianity.
Mat 28:18-20 – And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (1st – Jesus has all authority. “Go therefore…” It is because Jesus has all authority that he tells the apostles to go. It is in this authority that they go. They could not go unless Jesus authorized them. 2nd – He commands his Apostles make disciples of all nations. 3rd – He commands them to teach others everything he has commanded them. You cannot teach someone and tell them to obey unless you have authority. 4th – Christ gave his Apostles authority to teach all nations. Since the Apostles would not be able to go to, much less teach all nations during their lifetime, Christ’s authority extended to those they selected to succeed them. If they did not select men to succeed them, no one would have had authority to teach.
Think about a man walking into a high school classroom (without first being hired and without permission from the school) and teaching class. What would happen? He would be removed, because he never received authority to teach. This would happen in any institution in which a man began teaching without authority. Christ gave authority to the Apostles to teach and to ordain successors who were to teach after them. When the Protestant reformers broke away from the Catholic Church, they lost authority to teach and to appoint successors. This is one reason for the perpetual contradiction in Protestantism.)
Mat 16:18 – You are Kepha (rock in Aramaic), and upon this Kepha I will build my church and the gates of the netherworld will not prevail against it. (Christ gave his church perpetuity and protects it from false teachings.)
Mat 18:15-18 (paraphrase) – If your brother sins against you, confront him. If he does not listen, bring two or three witnesses. If he does not listen to them, take it to the church. If he does not listen even to the church, let him be to you as a gentile and tax collector. (The Church on Earth must be physical, authoritative and united according to these verses. Otherwise, to which church would we take our disagreements regarding sin?)
Acts 15:4 – When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the Church and the apostles and elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. (1st – Where in scripture does it say that this Church split into organizations that contradict one another? Also, notice that the primitive church had structure. 2nd – Acts 15:5-7 – 1st Council of Jerusalem – Pharisees wanted the Gentile believers to become circumcised and adhere to all Jewish laws. “The apostles and elders were gathered together to consider this matter. After there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them…” The apostles and elders gather to discuss a dispute. Peter, head of the apostles, arose and gave his decision. James subsequently arose and confirmed what had already been stated by Peter. This is a perfect example of church and Papal authority.)
***Acts 15:22-29 - Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to choose men from among their membersand to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers, with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the believers of Gentile origin in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and have unsettled your minds,we have decided unanimously to choose representativesand send them to you, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangledand from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.” (1st – “the whole church” – There is no indication that the church is fragmented. Nor does the bible indicate that the church was ever fragmented. 2nd – “persons gone out from us” – Some from the church, without instructions from the church, went to gentile towns and gave false teachings. 3rd – An authoritative letter from the authoritative leaders was sent to correct this error. 4th – “good to the Holy Spirit and to us” – Authoritative teaching flows from the Holy Spirit through the leaders of the church to the laity. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that individuals prayed to the Holy Spirit and created their own teachings. 5th – The question that must be answered is…which church is this that started at the beginning with authority? Only one has been around for 2000 years and has this authority.)
2 Cor 11:3-4 – But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and preaches another Jesus that the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the you accepted, you submit to it readily enough. (It is necessary to preach the real Christ. This can only be done through a correct understanding of Christ’s teachings.)
1 Tim 1:3 – No false doctrines. (Church must ensure this.)
1 Tim 3:15 – Church is pillar and foundation of truth (not the Bible and not men outside the Church).
1 Tim 4:1 – Some will turn away from the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and demonic instructions. (“the faith” – There is only one faith. Only one church can ensure people have true doctrines.)
Rom 16:17-18 –I [Paul] appeal to you, brethren, to take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their won appetites, and by fair and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the simple minded. (There are some in the Church at Rome who have created dissensions and have deceived others through their opposition to doctrine.)
A Hierarchical Church
Titus 1:5-9 – Paul instructs Titus to appoint presbyters (means elders; old Englsh “preost;” current English “priest.”) in every town and then says, “A bishop as God’s steward…must hold fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents. For there are many insubordinate men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially the circumcision party;they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for base gain what they have no right to teach. (1st – How is one taught the “true message” unless by one who is taught before him? 2nd – How does one refute an opponent unless he receives the infallible teachings passed down to him from the Church? It can’t be by using the Bible alone. Too many have taken passages out of context, yet claim they have the correct teachings. 3rd – Notice also that Paul warns about false teachings by certain members of the Church. The “circumcisers” were early Jewish members of the Church who wanted gentiles to become Jews through circumcision before continuing in Christianity. This problem was resolved in Acts 15 at the Council of Jerusalem when St. Peter condemned it. 4th – “no right to teach” – Why do they have no right to teach? They had no right, because they did not receive authority to do so. This is a great example of the passing down of authority to priests and the need for an infallible church. Note: The terms “bishop” and “elder” were used interchangeably in the apostolic era. After the death of the last Apostle, however, bishops rose to higher positions of authority.)
Heb 13:17 – Obey your (spiritual) leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. (Which leaders if no physical church with authority was created? cf. 13-7 and 24 for context on “leaders.”)
2 Tim 2:2 – And what you have heard from me (Paul) through many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will have the ability to teach others as well. (Notice Paul taught Timothy, who taught witnesses, and instructed them to entrust his teaching to faithful people who will, in turn, teach others. This is a handing down of Church teachings.)