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The Bible and the Church of Rome Two Simple Questions That Will Shape Your Eternity
1. WHO IS THE ROCK? 2. WHO HOLDS THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM? The Church of Rome has long asserted that Peter is the Rock that the Catholic Church is built upon. Peter is described as the first Pope, from whom all later popes inherit their “sin forgiving” power. Each Pope is said to be Christ’s singular representative (Vicar) to each successive generation. The Church of Rome also asserts that Peter received the “Keys to the Kingdom”. Consequently, Peter passes his unique power from one Pope to the next.
Are these assertions true? If they are true, then only those that are included in the Roman Church are promised salvation. However, if the assertions are not true then the Roman Church is giving millions of people false hope and the Pope has made himself a “great deceiver.”
The following scriptures explore these eternal issues. Wonderfully, scriptures gives God’s answer to “Who is the Rock?” and “Who holds the Keys to the Kingdom?”. We will observe that Scripture shows that man’s hope does not lie in Rome...
THE “PROOF TEXT” OF THE ROMAN CHURCH Mat 16: 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? THE REVELATION 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. THE ROCK 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. THE KEYS 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
THE FIRST QUESTION · WHO IS THE ROCK? (Peter? A Church? or Jesus?) PETER (the supposed rock) HIMSELF SAID THAT JESUS IS THE ROCK! PETER ALSO SAID THAT ONLY THE DISOBEDIENT HOLD ANOTHER VIEW! 1 Pet 2:6-8 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
PAUL LIKEWISE DESCRIBED JESUS AS THE ROCK; JESUS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FAITH. Rom 9:31-33 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
JESUS WAS THE ROCK OF EXODUS 1 Cor 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
JESUS SAID THAT YOU BUILT UPON THE ROCK WHEN YOU HAVE HEARD AND OBEYED MY WORD Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
It is also noteworthy that the Psalmist David speaks of the “ROCK” that is our salvation. David shows who the true rock is. See the “APPENDIX” at the end of this paper to read the Psalms on this subject.
THE SECOND QUESTION · WHO HOLDS THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM? Everyone understand that “the keys of the kingdom” represent the forgiveness of sin and opening of salvation. The area of debate centers on weather or not Peter was UNIQUELY given the keys of salvation or were these keys shared with ALL BELIEVERS?
NOT ONLY PETER BUT THE DISCIPLES WERE PRESENT WHEN JESUS APPEARED AND ACTUALLY IMPARTED THIS SIN REMITTING POWER: John 20:21-23 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
The Bible defines the boundaries of God’s “sin remitting” power. We learn that Faith must be present if forgiveness is to take effect. Otherwise, a simple prayer could wipe away all of humanities sin.
THE DISCIPLES WERE AGAIN PRESENT IN MARK’S GOSPEL: Mark 16:15-18 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that BELIEVETH and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. This “GREAT COMMISSION” was a call for all believers to share and the Gospel message was meant to be effective for all that would hear and believe.
FAITH OPENS FORGIVENESS OF SIN AND HEALING OF THE BODY Luke 5:20-24 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
AGAIN FAITH IN GOD RENDERS HEALING AND FORGIVENESS James 5:15-16 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
PERSONAL REPENTANCE IS NECESSARY FOR FORGIVENESS. Acts 8:22-24 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. 24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
JOINING INTO CHRIST BRINGS FORGIVENESS Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
ALL BELIEVERS ARE PART OF GOD’S SALVATION PLAN AND TRUE BELIEVERS BUILD ONLY UPON JESUS!!! 1 Cor 3:9-11 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
APPENDIX: THE LORD AND NOT PETER IS THE ROCK Psa 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Psa 18:31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
Psa 18:46 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
Psa 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
Psa 28:1 A Psalm of David. Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.
Psa 31:2-3 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. 3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
Psa 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Psa 42:9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Psa 61:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psa 62:2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
Psa 62:6-7 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. 7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Psa 71:3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
Psa 78:16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
Psa 78:35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
Psa 89:26 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
Psa 92:15 To show that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Psa 94:22 But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
Psa 95:1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Psa 105:41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.
Psa 114:8 Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.
Psa 78:20 Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?
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