Pope and Christianity
By Nick Bibile
“Test all things;
hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
Pope John Paul II died on April 2, 2005 the world began to mourn and began to praise his life. The following were some headlines of the new media.
ABC News in
CBS - World Mourns
Pontiff's Passing
Fox News - John Paul was God's gift to a church in need of leadership
NBC – “A towering figure in the history of the church and the world”
President George W. Bush - "The Catholic Church has lost its shepherd. The world has lost a champion of human freedom, and a good and faithful servant of God has been called home,"
President Bill Clinton - "In speaking powerfully and eloquently for mercy and reconciliation to people divided by old hatreds and persecuted by abuse of power, the Holy Father was a beacon of light not just for Catholics, but for all people."
Billy Graham - "Pope John Paul II was unquestionably the most influential voice for morality and peace in the world during the last 100 years."
Pat Robertson – “The Most Beloved
Religious Leader of our Age.”
Now Pope Benedict XVI visited the
When the world is praising a religious
leader, don’t you think there is something is wrong? Read the words of our Lord.
Joh
I am not against Roman Catholics and I
love them as I want them to know the truth. They have been blinded by the
traditions of men and many are ignorant of the word of God. The word of God is
above traditions.
I challenge them to search the Scriptures in order to know what is true. The Scriptures are not merely the writings of men but of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said:
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35).
Also Jesus said:
Mr 7:9 And he said unto
them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own
tradition.
Peter said:
"But holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (II Peter 1:21).
Paul said:
"All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproving, for correcting, for instructing in justice; that the man of God may be perfect, equipped for every good work: (II Timothy 3:16-17).
Constantine the Roman emperor (A.D 313)
granted liberty to all Christians as before Christians were persecuted and
killed but now Constantine gave religious freedom to the people. He exempted
Christian ministers from taxes and encourage to build
churches. He moved his capitol to Byzantium and he called Constantinople, “New
Rome.” Of the Empire.
Then Emperor Theodosius (A.S 378-398)
made Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire and made church
membership compulsory. All unconverted people attended church. We see the great
apostasy of the church as the Roman Empire had conquered the church. The church
became a political organization. Ministers became priests.
The following is from CNN, biography on Pope John Paul II
“Before he became the Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Christ, Successor of St. Peter, Prince of Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Patriarch of the West, Primate of Italy, Sovereign of Vatican City and the only pope featured in a comic book -- Marvel doing the honor in 1983 -- Pope John Paul II was Karol Jozef Wojtyla.”
Many are praising the Pope for all the
good work he has done. He was against abortion, homosexuality, he even visited
the person who tried to assassin him in prison. He visited Israel, the Muslim
Mosques and met with world religious leaders, he set high moral values. This is
the great deception as people look to the man instead his doctrine/teachings.
There were Pharisees and Jewish
religious leaders who had a great outward passion for God, they had all the
rituals, the traditions and looked very holy outside but Jesus rebuked them for
their error in doctrine. Jesus called
them wolves in sheep clothing. There are
many holy people looks like sheep but when you check their doctrine we see a
wolf.
What
is the meaning of Pope?
The word pope means Papa, Father. Many
are calling him Holy Father. This is an
abomination to God. Jesus said, "Call no man your father upon the
earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven" (Matt. 23:9)
Here Jesus is
not talking of our physical fathers but referring to a spiritual father, the
only spiritual Father we have is God not the Pope.
The word was first applied about 500 A.D
to all Bishops and then it became restricted to the Bishop of Rome. Roman
Catholic Church will list Peter as the first Pope but in truth for 500 years
there were no Popes. It was first given to Gregory I by the wicked
emperor Phocas, in the year 604. Gregory, however,
refused the title, but his second successor, Boniface III (607) assumed the
title, and it has been the designation of the bishops of Rome ever since.
Was
Peter the first Pope in Rome?
Pope is falsely called the successor of Apostle Peter, historically; no one can prove Peter was the first bishop of Rome. Acts 28:30 it says that Paul spent two entire years at Rome in his own quarters, welcoming everyone who came to him. Now if Peter were in Rome being the first pope why didn’t Apostle Paul mention that he visited Peter even once.
If Peter was the first Pope
why didn’t the rest of the apostles recognize his divine appointment? They gave
more supremacy to Apostle James.
In Acts 15 we find
the great Jerusalem Council. Again, if anywhere Peter’s papacy should be
recognized, here is the first counsel and we see Peter does not act like a pope
but makes his defense but it is not Peter who has the last word, it is James.
It was James who concludes the matter and then the vote is taken. James had
more supremacy over Peter.
Ac
Ga 2:9 And when James, Cephas,
and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me,
they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go
unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
If Peter was the first Pope
then why Apostle Paul rebuke him?
According to the Roman Catholic Church the Pope is infallible, means he
never makes mistakes. No one can rebuke the pope. However Apostle Paul rebuked
Peter.
Ga 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face,
because he was to be blamed.
Did Peter ever claim to be
the Pope?
There is not one verse in the Bible where Apostle Peter claimed to be
the first Pope. Peter said he was apostle and elder but not a pope.
1Pe 5:1 The elders which
are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings
of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.
Pope had stolen the titles that belong to the
Lord Jesus Christ and by committing blasphemy against God.
Universal Bishop
Pope is called the Universal Bishop. This is again blasphemy again the God as this title belongs not to the pope but to the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Pe
Our Most Holy Lord
Pope is called, 'Our Most Holy Lord' - Council of Trent, 1545. Here again the glory that belongs to God is being stolen by the pope. Read Isaiah 6:3
Isa 6:3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
God’s holiness is repeated not to the second degree but to the third degree, which means he is infinitely holy. On the other hand the Antichrist is called with the number 666, repeated to the third degree of evil
Head of the
Church
The pope is called
the head of the church. Again this title does not belong to the pope but to
Christ Jesus.
The Chief Shepherd.
Pope is not the
Chief Shepherd but Christ is the Chief Shepherd.
1Pe
5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but
being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when
the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Is the Church built on
Peter or Jesus?
Roman Catholics go to the Bible to say that Peter was the first Pope.
Let us see the scripture.
Mt 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye
that I am?
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.
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.
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.
In Verse 17, Jesus calls Peter Simon Barjona. He does not call him Peter but calls his real
name, Simon Barjona, Barjona
means son of Jonah. He calls him blessed are you Simon, son of Jonah.
Then in verse 18
Jesus said, thou art Peter. It is very
interesting a verse later he doesn’t call him Simon son of Barjona
but address him, thou art Peter. Simon Barjona was
also called Peter.
Mt 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw
two brethren, Simon called Peter, and
Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
What is the
meaning of Peter? Peter in Greek is Petros it means a
small rock or a stone. Jesus in Matthew
16:18 said, Thou art Peter, meaning a small rock/stone.
Then Jesus said upon this rock. Rock here in Greek is not Petros
but Petra meaning a large rock and on that large rock he will build his church
not on a stone.
He did not say
upon you Peter the small rock/stone I am going to build by church. But Jesus
said upon this rock referring to him as the large rock. If Jesus appointed
Peter to be the first Pope then a few verses later Jesus called the First Pope
Satan get thee behind. Infallibility of the pope is vanished in few seconds!
Mt
Also the rest of
the scriptures in the Bible the rock is referred not
to Peter but to Jesus.
1Co 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 is the
rock not Peter or the Popes. They all
died but Jesus lives. If the church is built on a man’s foundation we are in
trouble. But the true church is built on Jesus the rock and it cannot be
destroyed.
Mt 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:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods
came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was
founded upon a rock.
In the Old
Testament the Rock was referred to the LORD.
Ps 94:22 But the LORD is my defense; and my God is the rock of
my refuge.
Peter himself said in his epistle that we are all living stones built
up a spiritual house and Christ is the Chief Cornerstone.
1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built
up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained
in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, and
precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
Apostle Paul said the chief cornerstone is Jesus not Peter.
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief
corner stone;
21 In whom all the building
fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in
the Lord:
Foundation of the Church is not Peter but Christ as per Apostle Paul.
1 Cor 3: 11 For other foundation can no man lay than
that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Isa 28:16 Therefore
thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold; I lay in
Did Jesus give authority to
Peter only?
What about Jesus telling Peter: “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.” (Matt 16: 19)
The word keys are used as metaphorically as a key has to do with a
door. Keys of the kingdom of heaven has to do with
door of faith, the door for the gospel. It was first given to Peter and we see
at the Pentecost how the Lord used Peter opening this door to the Jews in
preaching the gospel (Acts 2:1) and then to the Gentiles (Acts 10:1) But it was
not only given to Peter but to the rest of the apostles, a commission to preach
the gospel to all nations, then to all the believers. It was not given to one
man but to the church in unity.
Only Jesus has the keys to hell and death.
Re 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead;
and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Only Jesus has the authority to shut and open doors
Re 3:7 And to the angel of the
church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he
that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and
shutteth, and no man openeth;
What about when Jesus said, “whatsoever
thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven:
and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven.”
Here we see Jesus gave the church to exercise authority in reference to
church discipline, this authority was not only to Peter but to the church.
Mt
16 But if he will not hear thee,
then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three
witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to
hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect
to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.
Mt
19 Again I say unto you, that if
two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it
shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Then who is the Pope?
Pope is the substitute of Christ Jesus, very
clearly an anti Christ.
The New York
Catechism says, "The Pope takes the
place of Jesus Christ on earth. By divine right, the Pope has supreme and full
power in faith and morals over each and every pastor and his flock. He is the
true Vicar of Christ, the Head of the entire Church, the father and teacher of
all Christians. He is the infallible ruler, the founder of dogmas, the author
of and the judge of councils, the universal ruler of truth, the arbiter of the
world, the supreme judge of heaven and earth, the judge of all, being judged by
no one, God Himself on earth."
The Greek word [anti] in scripture most nearly
denotes something that is "in place of" another thing. The root
meaning is, "instead of" or "in place of". It is not the
original but a substitution, not Christ but a substitute for Christ. Instead of Christ a false
Christ an Antichrist.
Mt 24:4 And
Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceives you.
5 For many shall come in my
name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Conclusion.
Now let’s see the greatest preacher of all
time next to Jesus and the apostles, Charles Spurgeon what he had to say of the
Pope.
“Of all the dreams that ever deluded men, and probably of
all blasphemies that ever were uttered, there has never been one which is more
absurd, and which is more fruitful in all manner of mischief, than the idea
that the Bishop of Rome can be the head of the
“Christ did not redeem his church
with his blood that the pope might come in and steal away the glory. He never
came from heaven to earth, and poured out his very heart that he might purchase
his people, that a poor sinner, a mere man, should be set upon high to be
admired by all the nations, and to call himself God's representative on earth.
Christ has always been the Head of the church.” - MTP Vol
60 pg. 592
Roman
Catholicism is not telling the truth but the word of God the Bible is telling
the truth. The Roman church is not infallible but the word of God is
infallible.
The
pope is not infallible but the Lord Jesus is the same yesterday, today and
forever.
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
He
is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
The teachings of Rome is full of error as it denies the original sin,
justification by faith alone, salvation by grace alone.
The
Church of Rome takes great pains in not telling the truth and wants people to
stay in ignorance of the word of God.