The churches of men

1. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• In our previous studies, we noted that in Matt
16:18-19 Jesus said he would build His
church/kingdom. His church/kingdom is not of
this world per John 18:36. It is spiritual in
nature. He built only one per Eph 1:22-23 & 4:4.
• In Acts 2:47 we noted that on Pentecost in about
AD33, the Lord added to the church He built,
those who were being saved, who had repented
and were baptized according to the gospel
preached by Peter on that day.
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2. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• We also noted that those Colossians who had
been baptized (immersed in water – Acts 8:36),
were buried and then rose with Him in baptism.
They were dead in trespasses, had been
quickened or made alive with him and were
forgiven of their sins by the Lord per Col 2:11-13.
• We noted that upon their obedience to the
gospel, the Colossians were translated into the
kingdom of His dear Son per Col 1:13
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3. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• The Lord built His church/kingdom in the first
century exactly the way He wanted it.
• According to Luke 1:33 there shall be no end
to the Lord’s church/kingdom.
• We noted that in the first century there were
local churches of Christ per Rom 16:16 and
that the same pattern of teaching was taught
in every local church (1 Cor 4:17; 2 Tim 1:13)
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4. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• Since the first century, uninspired men have
sought to build their own churches and have
regulated them according to their own
doctrine and commandments. See Matt 15:9
• John wrote in 2 John 9 that those who do not
abide in the doctrine of Christ do not have
God.
• In John 6:46, the Lord asks why those who
call Him Lord don’t do what He says.
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5. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• This will be another study examining one of the
man-made churches. In this case, the Roman
Catholic Church. This will take 2 lessons.
• We will note how it was established, who
established it and some of its doctrine that
contradicts the truth as written by the inspired
apostles in the New Testament. This church is
not the Lord’s.
• Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house,
they labour in vain that build it: ……
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6. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• Paul said the following to the elders of the
church in Ephesus (verse 17) per Acts 20:29-30
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall
grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing
the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men
arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away
disciples after them.
• No doubt the development of the Catholic
Church began among those Paul warned about
in these passages. We do not know of a specific
person who established the Catholic Church.
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7. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• Peter says in 1 Peter 5:1-3 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:
• 2 Feed (pastor) the flock of God which is among
you, taking the oversight (bishoping) thereof,
not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy
lucre, but of a ready mind;
• 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but
being ensamples to the flock. KJV
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8. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• So, according to the NT pattern, a plurality of
elders/bishops were ordained in every church.
• Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them
elders in every church, ….
• Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that
thou shouldest set in order the things that are
wanting, and ordain elders in every city, ..the
husband of one wife,…7 For a bishop must be
blameless …. KJV
• Note that the elder/bishop must be married.
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9. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• History records that after the death of the apostles, men
began to exalt one elder above the rest and identifying
him with the exclusive title of “Bishop”. See Schaff’s
History
• By the third century formal meetings were taking place by
these Bishops in a centralized Roman Province.
• Finally, bishops in Rome (West) and in Constantinople
(East) claimed authority over congregations in their
respective sections of the world.
• In 607AD Boniface III was elected Bishop of Rome and
Emperor Phocas declared that the title of “universal
bishop” was to be given only to the Pope of Rome.
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10. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• It is easily seen that the Roman Catholic Church
as we know it did not exist in the first century.
• Its name does not appear in the Word of God
• Its practices do not appear in the word of God
• The name of its adherents, “Catholics” does not
appear in the Word of God.
• In Rev 22:18-19 we are warned not to add to or
take away from the words of the book…
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11. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• As has already been stated, the name “Catholic Church”
or “Roman Catholic Church” does not appear in the
inspired New Testament/the doctrine of Christ.
• Paul wrote per 1 Cor 4:6 I have applied all these things to
myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you
may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that
none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against
another. ESV
• 2 John 9 Whosoever revolteth, and continueth not in the
doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that continueth in the
doctrine, the same hath both the Father and the Son.
• Douay-Rheims - Catholic Translation
• Rev 22:18-19 says not to add or take away from it.
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12. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• All quotations from Catholic sources will be from those containing the
nihil obstat and imprimatur.
• Q. 1. What does Nihil Obstat mean? A. 1. When an author wants to
publish a religious book, he/she presents it to the local Bishop to be
reviewed. The Bishop then gives it to a knowledgeable priest to have it
read and corrected if necessary. If corrections are required, it is returned
to the author to be corrected. When the priest who reviewed the
manuscript (book) is satisfied with the corrections, he writes "Nihil
Obstat" on the manuscript. "Nihil Obstat" means "no problem.“
• Q. 3. Why does one require an Imprimatur? A. 3. An Imprimatur is an
official declaration that the material to be printed is free of doctrinal or
moral error. The Imprimatur or Nihil Obstat does not mean that those
who reviewed it, agrees with the content, opinions or statements
expressed by the author.
• http://www.catholicdoors.com/faq/qu89.htm
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13. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• In The Question Box by Rev. Bertrand L. Conway
of the Paulist Fathers states on page 132, “The
name Catholic as a name is not applied to the
Catholic Church in the Bible…”
• “St Ignatius of Antioch writing to the Christians
of Smyrna about the year 110 is the first to use
the name”. (“Catholic” fg) Ibid. same page
• Consequently, since the name “Catholic” is not
applied to the Catholic Church in the bible, the
church in the Bible is not the Catholic Church.
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14. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• Similarly, the name Catholic is not applied to
individuals in the Bible. The name simply
does not appear in its inspired words.
• In the Bible, the disciples were called
Christians first at Antioch according to Acts
11:26 after Cornelius, a Gentile, obeyed the
gospel.
• This is the new name referred to in Is 62:1-2
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15. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• On page 146 of the Question Box, Conway writes,
“Christ the Rock, the Chief Corner Stone of the Church
(Eph 2:20; Matt 21:42) promises to make Peter the
rock on which His Church (1 Cor 3:9) is to be built”.
• In Matt 16:18, the “rock” referred to is “petra” a
feminine noun meaning a (mass of) rock. Peter’s
name is “Petros” a masculine noun meaning a (piece
of) rock.
• Note Jesus says in John 1:42 …Thou art Simon the son
of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by
interpretation, A stone.
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16. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• Isa 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD,
Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a
tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure
foundation: he that believeth shall not make
haste. KJV
• 1 Cor 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay
than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. KJV
• Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of
the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself
being the chief corner stone; KJV
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17. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• The Catholic Church identifies Peter as the chief
apostle and first Pope.
• In the Question Box, Conway states on pg 145,
“The Catholic Church believes that St. Peter was
the chief Apostle, exercising by Christ’s
appointment the supreme power of governing
His Church.”
• Conway states what the Catholic Church
believes, not what the NT says. The NT never
says that Peter was the chief Apostle.
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18. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• On pg 7 of The Roman Catholic Church, McKenzie
states, “One needs little acquaintance with the New
Testament and the practice of contemporary
Catholicism to recognize that there are notable
differences between the position of Peter in the
apostolic group and the position of the Roman Pontiff
in the Roman Church”.
• Thus, Conway and McKenzie are at odds on the
position of Peter. McKenzie is honest enough to admit
the difference between the NT and Catholic practice ,
an admission that the Catholic Church has gone
beyond what is written (1 Cor 4:6 & 2 John 9).
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19. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• McKenzie continues on pg 10, “How does
Roman Catholicism bridge the gap between
the NT and the First Vatican Council.
Pontifical authority as defined in 1870 has a
precision and an extension which are not
found in the NT. Basically, the Roman claim is
that the pontifical office is a legitimate
development of the powers granted to Peter.
It is not a claim that one can find in the NT…”
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20. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• So, these Catholic scholars place Peter in a position
not found in the NT.
• McKenzie admits that there are notable differences in
the position of Peter among the apostles and that of
the Roman Pontiff in the Catholic Church.
• Finally, McKenzie admits that the authority given to
the Pope by the First Vatican Council in 1870 and the
claim of the pontifical office are not found in the NT.
• By their own admission, The Catholic Church is not
Apostolic, and not found in the NT. It is not the Lord’s
Church. It is a church built by men.
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21. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• Acts 2:41 & 47 – The Lord added to His church
on Pentecost - note verse 1
• Col 1:13 – They were translated into the
kingdom of His dear Son – note verse 18
• Rev 1:9 – John was in the kingdom
• So, the Bible teaches that the Lord built His
church/kingdom on Pentecost about AD 33.
• Eph 4:4 – There is one body...
• Eph 1:22-23 - ..He is head over all things to the
church which is His body…
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22. THE CHURCHES/KINGDOMS OF MEN
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
• Matt 16:18 The Lord has all authority to
specify what an individual must do to be
saved and added to His church/kingdom.
• John 8:24 Must believe
• Luke 13:3 Must repent
• Luke 12:8-9 Must confess
• Mark 16:16 Must be baptized
• Rev 2:10 Must remain faithful
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