Two weeks ago we studied Acts chapter 15. As part of the study we read about the first church council in history, The Council of Jerusalem, and saw how it is essentially the same as church councils have been throughout history, the most recent being The Second Vatican Council, which lasted from 1962 – 1965. Along with church councils, we looked at three biblical elements essential to them: The Holy Spirit, The Pope, & The Church. These three elements help us to know and answer, "what is the truth?". Though so much can be said about this topic, and so many important details should be added, this is simply an outline and logical structure to follow. Below are notes we discussed in our scripture study.
Why?
Why is this worth thinking about? It's worth thinking about because we are made to know the truth. We hunger for it. St. Paul says that God desires all men to come to the knowledge of the truth. But with so many differences within Christianity, and many different denominations all claiming to be right, which one can you really get the truth from? Hopefully this brief exploration will provide some guidance.
The central issue we explored is the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the authority of the Church as portrayed in Acts 15:
"It is the decision of the holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities...If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right." – Acts 15:28–29. The Holy Spirit and "us" (here referring to Peter and the leaders of the Church) come to a decision which ensures those who obey "will be doing what is right". So let's see how it all comes together.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit, whom Christ the head pours out on his members, builds, animates, and sanctifies the Church. She is the sacrament of the Holy Trinity's communion with men. – CCC 747
+ "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth." – John 14: 15–17
+ "I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name - he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you." – John 14: 25–26
+ "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth." – John 16: 12–14
These three scripture quotations clearly state that there is truth, and that the Holy Spirit will reveal it.
The Church
All salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his body. – CCC 846. The sole Church of Christ which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic,...subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him. – CCC 870.
+ "You should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth. – 1 Tim 3: 15
+ "If your brother sins (against you), go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that 'every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. – Matthew 18: 15–18
+ "Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." – Luke 10: 16
From these three scripture quotations we see that the Church is the foundation of truth, the Church has the final say, and that God has given the Church His voice.
Peter / The Pope
Simon Peter holds the first place among the twelve Apostles. Jesus entrusted a unique mission to him. Because of the faith he confessed Peter will remain the unshakeable rock of the Church. – CCC 552. The office which the Lord confided to Peter alone, as first of the apostles, is permanent and enduring as it is transmitted to his successors (popes). – CCC 862.
+ "And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." – Matthew 16: 18–19
+ "Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers." – Luke 22: 31–32
+ "May another take his office." – Acts 1:20
These three scripture quotations clarify that God has established Peter as the authoritative head of his Church on earth (aka, "Vicar of Christ"), that Peter's faith will not fail and that the Church will not be overcome by evil, and that Peter's authoritative position, or office, will be passed down to successors (and
here's the historical list).
Summary
The Holy Spirit leads to all truth, and He guides the Church, which is the pillar and foundation of truth. And because the person who occupies Peter's office (the Pope) is the authoritative head of the Church on earth as establish by Jesus, the only guarantee to have the fullness of truth is to be in union with the successor of Peter (the Pope), because he has been established by God as the head of the Church, which is infallibly guaranteed to be guided by the Holy Spirit into all truth. If you want the fullness of truth and you want to be in the one true Church established by Jesus, you must be Catholic, because Peter's successor is its leader and has been since Jesus established it about 2000 years ago and fulfilled the Old Testament.
Two weeks ago we studied Acts chapter 15. As part of the study we read about the first church council in history, The Council of Jerusalem, and saw how it is essentially the same as church councils have been throughout history, the most recent being The Second Vatican Council, which lasted from 1962 – 1965. Along with church councils, we looked at three biblical elements essential to them: The Holy Spirit, The Pope, & The Church. These three elements help us to know and answer, "what is the truth?". Though so much can be said about this topic, and so many important details should be added, this is simply an outline and logical structure to follow. Below are notes we discussed in our scripture study.
Why?
Why is this worth thinking about? It's worth thinking about because we are made to know the truth. We hunger for it. St. Paul says that God desires all men to come to the knowledge of the truth. But with so many differences within Christianity, and many different denominations all claiming to be right, which one can you really get the truth from? Hopefully this brief exploration will provide some guidance.
The central issue we explored is the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the authority of the Church as portrayed in Acts 15: "It is the decision of the holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities...If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right." – Acts 15:28–29. The Holy Spirit and "us" (here referring to Peter and the leaders of the Church) come to a decision which ensures those who obey "will be doing what is right". So let's see how it all comes together.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit, whom Christ the head pours out on his members, builds, animates, and sanctifies the Church. She is the sacrament of the Holy Trinity's communion with men. – CCC 747
+ "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth." – John 14: 15–17
+ "I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name - he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you." – John 14: 25–26
+ "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth." – John 16: 12–14
These three scripture quotations clearly state that there is truth, and that the Holy Spirit will reveal it.
The Church
All salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his body. – CCC 846. The sole Church of Christ which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic,...subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him. – CCC 870.
+ "You should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth. – 1 Tim 3: 15
+ "If your brother sins (against you), go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that 'every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. – Matthew 18: 15–18
+ "Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." – Luke 10: 16
From these three scripture quotations we see that the Church is the foundation of truth, the Church has the final say, and that God has given the Church His voice.
Peter / The Pope
Simon Peter holds the first place among the twelve Apostles. Jesus entrusted a unique mission to him. Because of the faith he confessed Peter will remain the unshakeable rock of the Church. – CCC 552. The office which the Lord confided to Peter alone, as first of the apostles, is permanent and enduring as it is transmitted to his successors (popes). – CCC 862.
+ "And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." – Matthew 16: 18–19
+ "Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers." – Luke 22: 31–32
+ "May another take his office." – Acts 1:20
These three scripture quotations clarify that God has established Peter as the authoritative head of his Church on earth (aka, "Vicar of Christ"), that Peter's faith will not fail and that the Church will not be overcome by evil, and that Peter's authoritative position, or office, will be passed down to successors (and here's the historical list).
Summary
The Holy Spirit leads to all truth, and He guides the Church, which is the pillar and foundation of truth. And because the person who occupies Peter's office (the Pope) is the authoritative head of the Church on earth as establish by Jesus, the only guarantee to have the fullness of truth is to be in union with the successor of Peter (the Pope), because he has been established by God as the head of the Church, which is infallibly guaranteed to be guided by the Holy Spirit into all truth. If you want the fullness of truth and you want to be in the one true Church established by Jesus, you must be Catholic, because Peter's successor is its leader and has been since Jesus established it about 2000 years ago and fulfilled the Old Testament.
