Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

God's decisions were made Millennia ago. He wrote it in His Holy Word Millennia ago.

No one can change it.

No institution can add to it, nor can they subtract from it.

It is Written.

Revelation 22:18-19

"I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.
And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book."

From the Revelation of Jesus to the Apostle John in 96 A.D., 1,922 years ago.

Question: Does Jesus approve of calling the leaders of the church, "Father"?

Answer: Matthew 23:9 NO

"Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Matthew 23:9

Question: Did Jesus forbid repetitive prayer using Rosary Beads?

Answer: Matthew 6:7 YES

"And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. Matthew 6:7

Question: Did Jesus have brothers and sisters from the womb of Mary?

Answer: Matthew 13:55-56 YES

"Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? "And His sisters, are they not all with us?" Matthew 13:55-56

Question: Did Joseph begin normal sexual relations with his wife after Jesus was born?

Answer: Matthew 1:24-25 YES

"And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus." Matthew 1:24-25

Question: The Bible says there is only one mediator between God and man. Is Mary that one mediator?

Answer: 1st Timothy 2:5 NO

"For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." 1st Timothy 2:5

Question: Catholics engage in endless praise of Mary. When a woman praised Jesus' mother to his face, did Jesus commend or encourage this woman to continue praising Mary?

Answer: Luke 11:27-28 NO

"While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed." But He said, "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it."" Luke 11:27-28

Every Christian drinks of the communion cup.

HISTORICAL FACT: From 1200-1970 AD, Roman Catholics laity were forbidden to drink the from the cup. This is known as communion under one kind, or communion of one species. During this time, Roman Catholics were permitted to eat the bread of the Lord's Supper, they were generally not allowed to drink the wine of the Lord's Supper, as any Catholic knows from his own experience from attending Mass during those years. (Except on rare special occasions.) The laity (the people in the pews) were withheld the cup of the Lord and it was usually reserved for church leaders only. Yes there are denominations within the Roman Catholic "communion" where some RC sects actually offered the juice, but most Mass attending Catholics know they rarely drank the cup of wine.

Historical note: Two early popes condemned withholding the cup, (Pope Leo I [died 461 AD] and Pope Gelasius [died 496 Ad]; but in the 12th century the practice was begun, and formally approved by the Catholic Council of Constance in 1415 AD. So for the first 1000 years, the Catholics in the Pews drank the cup, then the Pope changed this apostolic tradition. Under the reforms of Vatican II, the laity were once again permitted to have "communion under both kinds/species." For almost 900 years, the average members were forbidden to drink the cup. While Catholics have restored their practices back to the original first century tradition which they call, "communion under both kinds", it illustrates the capricious ever shifting and changing doctrinal evolution that is present in the Roman Catholic church.

Question: Did Christ and the apostle Paul command that every Christian should drink of the communion cup?

Answer: Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28 YES

To the disciples: "Drink from it, all of you" Matthew 26:27

To the whole church in Corinth: "in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup." 1 Corinthians 11:28

All Christians are saints.

FACT: The Pope says only very special dead Catholic people qualify to be called "saints". For example, Pope John Paul II could not "make Mother Teresa a saint" (official canonization) until after she was dead. The average Catholic in the pew is never called a "saint" dead or alive! In fact if a pew dwelling Roman Catholic started calling himself a "saint", he would be rebuked by the parish priest!

Question: Was every living Christian in the church in Corinth called a saint?

Answer: 1 Corinthians 1:2 YES

"To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours" 1 Corinthians 1:2

Question: Did Paul write the book of Ephesians to dead saints?

Answer: Ephesians 1:1 NO

"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus" Ephesians 1:1

Question: Was the average Christian in the church at Philippi called a saint, as well as the bishops and deacons?

Answer: Philippians 1:1 YES

"Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons" Philippians 1:1

Question: Was every Christian living in Rome a saint?

Answer: Romans 1:7 YES

"to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 1:7

6. All Christians are priests

FACT: The Pope decided to reserve the title of "priest" to only his church leaders. The average pew dwelling Catholics were no longer allowed to refer to themselves as "priests".

Question: Did Jesus make all Christians to be priests, including the average member in the pew?

Answer: 1st Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 1:6; 5:10 YES

"You (all Christians) also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. " 1st Peter 2:5

"But you (all Christians) are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; " 1st Peter 2:9

"Jesus has made us (all Christians) to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father - to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." Revelation 1:6

"You have made them (all Christians) to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." Revelation 5:10

Under the Gospel, all the saints are now priests unto God, and are all appointed and directed to offer up themselves, body and soul, as a holy, living and acceptable spiritual sacrifice; their prayers and praises, and all good works done in faith, and from love, to the glory of God; particularly acts of kindness and beneficence toward poor saints; these are called spiritual sacrifices to distinguish them from formerly required legal sacrifices. By the assistance of the Spirit of God, so are they spiritual sacrifices, as distinct from material ones, for there is no further material or blood sacrifice. Jesus paid it all.

Bishops must be Married.

FACT: In 1079 AD celibacy was first enforced for priests and bishops by Pope Gregory VII. Before this time, they were permitted to marry.

Question: Does the Bible teach that a bishop (overseer) must be married AND ALSO have children as one of the conditions of being qualified to be a bishop?

Answer: 1st Timothy 3:2-5 YES

"A bishop, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?)" 1st Timothy 3:2-5

Question: In the very next chapter of the Bible after bishops are told they must be married with children, does the Holy Spirit warn that "forbidding to marry" is a "doctrine of demons"?

Answer: 1st Timothy 4:1-3 YES

"But the Holy Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth." 1st Timothy 4:1-3

8. Peter was married.

FACT: Most Catholics believe that Apostle Peter was the first Pope and was not married. As one Roman Catholic leader said, "if Peter had a wife when he first met Jesus, he got rid of her quick!" This is not true.

Question: Did Peter have a wife?

Answer: Mark 1:30 YES

"Now Simon's mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they spoke to Jesus about her." Mark 1:30

Question: Did Paul say all the apostles including Peter had a right to be married?

Answer: 1 Corinthians 9:5 YES

"Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?" 1 Corinthians 9:5

9. Latin Mass forbidden

FACT: For over 1000 years, the Roman Catholic church often conducted their mass services entirely in the Latin language, although no one sitting in the pews understood the Latin language. Most Roman Catholics who sat through such a Latin Mass service had to wonder what was being said. It was not until 1965 AD that the Pope finally understood 1st Corinthians 14:19, and allowed the masses to be conducted in the same vernacular language used by the local people. (English in North America)

Question: Is Latin Mass forbidden in the Bible when no one in the pews understands Latin?

Answer: 1st Corinthians 14:19 YES

"in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue." 1st Corinthians 14:19

Observance of special days condemned.

Historical note: No one prior to 335 AD celebrated the birthday of Jesus. The word "Christmas" (Christ + Mass) was first used in 1038 AD. Before 335 AD, the pagan cult of Mithra, the Persian/Iranian "god of light", had long celebrated December 25 as Mithra's birthday. December 21, being the winter solace, marked the beginning of days with increasing amount of light, hence December 25 celebrated Mithra's triumph over darkness. Because the pagan festival that celebrated Mithra's birthday was so popular, the Roman Catholic church adopted the day, but changed the meaning from the birthday of Mithra, the "god of light", to Christ's birthday, God the son, "light of the world". The old meaning of December 25 was connected with Mithra's triumph over physical darkness. The new meaning celebrated Jesus triumph over spiritual darkness. Eventually Christmas became dominant, the Mithra cult became extinct and today this origin is not widely known among Roman Catholics. None of the apostles or the early church celebrated the birthday of Jesus.

Question: Did the early Christians celebrate Christmas, Lent and Easter?

Answer: Galatians 4:10-11 NO

"You observe days and months and seasons and years. I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain." Galatians 4:10-11

Worshipping idols, icons and images violates the 2nd commandment.

FACT: Catholics regularly bow down to idols, icons and images of Jesus, Mary and the apostles, kissing the feet of the statues and praying to them. The Bible teaches that WE ONLY PRAY TO DEITY and it is paganism and polytheism to pray to anyone else.

To illustrate the point, Muslim deny they are worshipping the moon god as their "Allah," as moon worship is even condemned in the Qur'an. The fact of history, however, is that Muhammad rid the Ka'aba in Mecca of the 365 gods inside the cubical building, but retained the one on the roof known as the moon god "Hubal." Muhammad simply took the moon god from the roof, denied it was the moon god and called Hubal "Allah". The historical vestage of this origin is confirmed in that every mosque in the world today has a crescent moon on the roof, just like the original Hubal moon god on the roof of the ancient Ka'aba.

Muslims become angry when you point out that Allah is really the moon god and Roman Catholics become angry if it is pointed out that they are worshiping Mary and their saints by praying to them. When a child stands in the middle of a room and puts his hand over his eyes and says, "you can't see me", that doesn't mean they are invisible, except in the mind of the child. Roman Catholics put their hands over their eyes and say, "We do not worship idols and we do not consider praying to Mary an act of worship". Saying so doesn't make it so. A bit of self-reflection and a good history lesson is required.

Historical note: The Pope deleted the 2nd of the 10 commandments so they could use statues & images in worship. They split the 10th commandment on coveting into two commandments so they could still claim to have 10 in number. Look at the list of 10 commandments published by the Roman Catholic church in any Roman Catholic Bible! Their published lists of the 10 commandments do not include the original Words of God, "you shall not make for yourself an idol."

Question: Does the 2nd commandment approve of bowing down and kissing idols?

Answer: Exodus 20:4 NO

"You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them." Exodus 20:4-5

Is the Roman Catholic church the church you read about in the Bible?

NO

bahmer

Excellent post as always thank you very much.

Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

Thank you for your comment, bahmer.

I hope you have someone left in your basketball brackets to cheer on this weekend.
The few teams I care about have all been defeated... Perhaps next year.

bahmer

I'm not into basketball sorry I like golf and football at present.

Radiance3

==================

The Death and Resurrection of Christ are equally IMPORTANT IN THE UNIVERSE!

John 12:24
Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.

First, the resurrection is one of the major evidences that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Paul affirmed that Christ is “declared to be the Son of God with power . . . by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4).

Second, Jesus’ resurrection represents an assurance that we can have forgiveness from our sins. Paul contended: “[I]f Christ hath not been raised, our faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). The reverse of the apostle’s affirmation would be this: if Jesus was raised, sins will be forgiven when we obey the gospel (Acts 2:38; 22:16).

Third, the resurrection tells the world that the kingdom of God is ruled by a living sovereign. The founder of Islam is dead and his bones lie dormant in the earth. But the founder of Christianity—sixty years after his death—appeared to John on the island of Patmos and said: “I am the first and the last, and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore” (Revelation 1:17-18).

Fourth, Jesus’ resurrection proves that physical death is not the termination of human existence. God, who is the giver of life (1 Timothy 6:13), has the power to reanimate the human body. Christ’s triumph over the grave is Heaven’s pledge to us that we too shall be raised. This is why Jesus is referred to as the “firstfruits of them that are asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20,23).

Fifth, the Lord’s resurrection previewed the ultimate victory of Christianity over all its enemies. In the book of Revelation, Jesus is depicted as a lamb that had been slain, but was standing again (5:6). This same Lord was “the lion of the tribe of Judah” that had overcome his foes (5:5). Christians too will overcome as a result of the Lamb’s sacrifice and victory over death (cf. Revelation 12:11).

Christ brought us light into the world! Christ is about LOVE!

Without Christ, we are all in darkness. Islam the evil and darkness, will destroy all and put you in darkness. Check the lives of people in the Middle East. They are killing each other filled with violence. Check the lives of Africa, now mostly taken by Islam. Most Christians and other faith have been killed. Christians were the prior owners of those lands that Islam took over by killing all the Christians and other religious faith.

Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

Romans 3:10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;"

For that reason, Jesus Christ came into the world with a mission to save All lost sinners willing to believe on Him and accept that totally free salvation.

Our salvation is not the result of any of our own efforts, hard work, diligent study, acquired college degrees, innate abilities, intelligent choices, personal characteristics, accumulated worldly wealth, or in the acts of charity and service we may perform.

As believers, we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works” — to help and serve others. While there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation, God’s intention is that our salvation will result in acts of service. We are saved not merely for our own benefit but to serve Christ and build up the universal Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

This reconciles the seeming conflict between faith and works. Our righteous acts do not produce salvation but are, in fact, evidence of our salvation (James 1:22; 2:14–26).


[quote=Radiance3]==================

The Death and Resurrection of Christ are equally IMPORTANT IN THE UNIVERSE!

John 12:24
Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.

First, the resurrection is one of the major evidences that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Paul affirmed that Christ is “declared to be the Son of God with power . . . by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4).

Second, Jesus’ resurrection represents an assurance that we can have forgiveness from our sins. Paul contended: “[I]f Christ hath not been raised, our faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). The reverse of the apostle’s affirmation would be this: if Jesus was raised, sins will be forgiven when we obey the gospel (Acts 2:38; 22:16).

Third, the resurrection tells the world that the kingdom of God is ruled by a living sovereign. The founder of Islam is dead and his bones lie dormant in the earth. But the founder of Christianity—sixty years after his death—appeared to John on the island of Patmos and said: “I am the first and the last, and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore” (Revelation 1:17-18).

Fourth, Jesus’ resurrection proves that physical death is not the termination of human existence. God, who is the giver of life (1 Timothy 6:13), has the power to reanimate the human body. Christ’s triumph over the grave is Heaven’s pledge to us that we too shall be raised. This is why Jesus is referred to as the “firstfruits of them that are asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20,23).

Fifth, the Lord’s resurrection previewed the ultimate victory of Christianity over all its enemies. In the book of Revelation, Jesus is depicted as a lamb that had been slain, but was standing again (5:6). This same Lord was “the lion of the tribe of Judah” that had overcome his foes (5:5). Christians too will overcome as a result of the Lamb’s sacrifice and victory over death (cf. Revelation 12:11).

Christ brought us light into the world! Christ is about LOVE!

Without Christ, we are all in darkness. Islam the evil and darkness, will destroy all and put you in darkness. Check the lives of people in the Middle East. They are killing each other filled with violence. Check the lives of Africa, now mostly taken by Islam. Most Christians and other faith have been killed. Christians were the prior owners of those lands that Islam took over by killing all the Christians and other religious faith.[/quote]

bahmer

Amen and Amen

Radiance3

------------------------
Do and believe whatever you want Zimera. No one stops you. That is the beauty here in America. It is not Islamic. Given the opportunity, Obama want to make the US for Islam, his religion of peace!

Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

Freedom of religion is still our constitutional right in our beautiful country at this time, but as the young people grow to adulthood without any belief in or knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that freedom will be lost to us.

It is the lack of knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ as it is revealed in God's Word that is allowing Islam and other alternate religions to flourish and increase numerically as they are, across the United States, and throughout Western civilization wherever it exists across the globe.

Islam is flourishing only because there is an increasing famine in our land, a famine of the Word of God, as was predicted by the prophet, Amos, during the 8th century before Christ.

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I will send a famine on the land — not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. (Amos 8:11)

bahmer

Amen and Amen say have you seen our Catholic defender I believe that his name was doc110. I haven't seen him post as of late and was wondering what his take will be on the popes statement about there not being any hell.

Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

Hi bahmer,

Happy Resurrection Day Eve,

I have not seen any recent writings posted by the good Doc110 - Defender of all things pertaining to Roman Catholicism. Perhaps there is on the OPP stage, a "good cop, bad cop" dynamic at play... including more appealing apologist(s) in defense of Catholicism, and the "bad cop" is off stage at present?

Papal infallibility is a dogma of the Catholic Church that states that, in virtue of the promise of Jesus to Peter, the Pope is preserved from the possibility of error "when, in the exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, in virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole Church."

Also considered infallible are the teachings of the whole body of bishops of the Church, especially but not only in an ecumenical council.

This doctrine was defined dogmatically at the First Ecumenical Council of the Vatican of 1869–1870 A.D.

In Catholic theology, papal infallibility is one of the channels of their claimed infallibility of the Church. The use of this power is referred to as speaking "ex cathedra."

"Cathedra" and "sedes" are Latin words for a chair, the symbol of the teacher in the ancient world; The pope is said to occupy the "chair of Peter" or the "Holy See." The Pope, therefore, is said to be infallible only when he is "sitting on the chair of St. Peter."

As for Pope Francis' eradication of Hell, I have not heard "crickets" in defense of his pronouncement.

His announcement would turn 2,000 plus years of New Testament Bible Scripture teaching on its ear, IF anyone actually believed him.

It will surely take those who would defend the pope a while to regroup, in order to come up with an intelligible explanation to everyone who refuses to accept his statement as true, especially our Lord God in heaven.

bahmer, I do believe the good Pope had sat down on the wrong chair the day he decided hell didn't exist.

Perhaps he was playing the childhood game of Musical Chairs, and was unable to find the ornate, hand carved wooden chair the Vatican claims once belonged to the Apostle Peter.

bahmer

Could be.

bahmer

If you get a chance go to "how whitey hijacked Jesus" post as there a person by the name of susanblange I believe that has some real strange beliefs. See what you think oh and Happy Resurrection Day to you as well.

Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

Two words, bahmer,

from past observations of the aforesaid person:

d e m o n i c - o p p r e s s i o n

As for what color the skin of Jesus Christ was, i.e., how much pigment his skin contained,

It is truly the most unimportant thing in the world.

Jesus was, and is, very God of very God.

His physical features were inherited from Mary, a Mediterranean Jewish maiden who probably had black or reddish black hair, dark eyes and olive skin.

He was and is our eternal saviour, and He is risen!

bahmer

I concur with your findings but when she first came on I was taken aback a little.