I was reading again through John MacArthur’s excellent book, Slave
MacArthur points out that no pope, no man, no woman, no flesh is lord over the Church. Only Jesus is the Head of the Church. The Church is not based in Rome nor is it based out of Geneva nor is it based out of Jackson, Mississippi. The Church is composed of those whom God has called through the gospel of His Son (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14) and those who have repented of their sins (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Jesus is Lord over those who are His own (Luke 6:46-49; Romans 10:9-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 5:2-3). Jesus is even called the Chief Pastor in 1 Peter 5:4.
I rejoice in the simple truth that Jesus is Lord and Head over His Church. The Church submits to Christ and His authority (Matthew 28:18) and not the other way around. Jesus leads His Church through His Word so how important it is to teach disciples the Word of God so that they might know Him and His ways. The One who leads us is not a man nor a group of men but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. What a wonderful reality.
© 2011 – 2020, Matt. All rights reserved.
Matthew, I’ve been reading about Roman Catholicism, and how The Pope (at the Council of Trent) has declared protestants an, “enethma,” or bound for the fires of hell, forever. (reference the CCC, or Catechism of the Catholic Church, published in 1994, in English, specifically Canon 9, Canon 19, Canon 24, Canon 27, Canon 30, and Canon 33). The aforementioned state that Jesus’ sacrifice was not enough for our salvation, and that one MUST do confessions and penance to regain grace, each time one sins…and that ALL those who believe that faith in Jesus Christ alone is enough for salvation, “let him be anathema.”
I don’t understand something. I have friends who I KNOW are Christians…and Catholic. They have accepted Jesus into their hearts, read the Bible, go to mass, and think I’m lying (or misinformed) when I say what the Catholic Church’s stand on protestants are.
Does the Catholic Church lie about what they really believe, so don’t teach their congregations how the Magisterium of the Church (the Pope and his counsil) believes that all those outside of the “catholic church” are apostate, heathens and bound for hell?
I’m still confused as to why the Pope hates us so much, when we BOTH believe in: the nature of God, the person and work of Jesus Christ, and the nature of man. Where we differ is of course: the source of authority and the means of salvation.
Maybe is all boils down to control. I don’t know. It makes no sense to me.