What can wash away our sins? What about Apostolic Authority?

August 7, 2014 by  
Filed under Dialogues

 

Gareth Northam‎New Apologetics
December 22, 2012 · 

What can wash away our sins?

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  • Cris Laurence Ocampo Abayata likes this.
  • New Apologetics Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
    December 22, 2012 at 7:18pm · Like · 10
  • Amanda DeAnne How very Protestant of you.
    December 22, 2012 at 11:11pm · Like
  • Paul Cameron u may be steppin on toes callin catholics protestant!
    December 23, 2012 at 12:24am · Like
  • Gareth Northam For a protestant you sure aint doing much protesting.
    December 23, 2012 at 4:45am · Like · 1
  • New Apologetics Amanda DeLassus Paul Cameron Nathaniel Ellis Gareth Northam Does anyone here believe that we have denied the official teaching of the Catholic Church and asserted a principle of Protestantism by the statement above? If so, you have been misled.
    December 23, 2012 at 4:05pm · Like · 2
  • Drake Seidl now we shall dance to the music of angels
    December 23, 2012 at 7:06pm · Like
  • Drake Seidl but only if you want to join the club XD
    December 23, 2012 at 7:07pm · Like
  • New Apologetics Draconiuss Seidl We take it that you have some objections to certain aspects of the Catholic faith. We’d be interested in answering your questions.
    December 23, 2012 at 7:31pm · Like
  • Gareth Northam The principles of the Catholic faith and protestant thingy doesn’t matter. What matters is that salvation is from the Lord. 
    The Bible say’s there is neither Greek nor Jew, slave nor free, circumcised or uncircumcised, male nor female (ie there is neither protestant or catholic, black or white, rich or poor) (Col3:11. Gal3:28). In Christ there is no division. Division came with the fall of man in Genesis3. The man blamed the woman (division) (and the womam blamed the snake and the snake didn’t have a leg to stand on. Lol) 
    When asked the greatest commandment Jesus, spoke about healing the rift that sin and the enemy had caused and breaching the division. 1 Love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind (bringing reconciliation between God and man. 2 Love your fellow man as you love yourself. (Reconciliation between brothers).After all ours is a ministry of reconciliation (Rom5:18)
    December 23, 2012 at 8:17pm · Like · 1
  • New Apologetics Gareth Northam You wrote: “The principles of the Catholic faith and protestant thingy doesn’t matter. What matters is that salvation is from the Lord.”

    We reply: Could you clarify what you are responding to exactly? You seem to be arguing against something that is not being defended by us.
    December 23, 2012 at 8:27pm · Like · 1
  • Gareth Northam You asked “Does anyone here believe that we have denied the official teaching of the Catholic Church and asserted a principle of Protestantism by the statement above? If so, you have been misled.”. I think that it was in response to Paul and Amanda’s catholic/protestant remarks. 
    I am not arguing any point here. I am just stating what the Bible say’s – that there is no division in Christ. We can be in a Catholic, Baptist, or Pentecostal, or Evangelical church; so long as we confess Christ as our Lord and saviour then there is no division. Blessings and love to you.
    December 23, 2012 at 8:36pm · Like
  • Gary Howard Christ Himself established One True Church. Peter was appointed by Him as head of that Church and we have apostolic succession down through the ages to our current Pope Benedict.
    December 24, 2012 at 4:59am · Like
  • Gareth Northam Gary, where in scripture does it say that Christ established a church with Peter as head? 
    I know that in Matthew16:15-19, Jesus asked His disciples who said He was . Peter confessed “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”. This was revealed t…See More
    December 24, 2012 at 5:10am · Like
  • Ciel Diaz funny, a modern interpretation in a modern world? without the catholic church, there will be no bible to read now a days. the catholic church owns the bible and the catholic church gave the bible into this world before the 1st protestant came into exis…See More
    December 24, 2012 at 11:27am · Like · 3
  • Tony Costa Jr. Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!
    December 24, 2012 at 11:45am · Like · 1
  • Gareth Northam We owe the Bible, and our faith to the Catholic Church. And we trace our spiritual inheritance through the Catholic Church. And we share the same heritage. And of that all the Christian world is thankful. But no-one owns the Bible. It is God’s word. And Jesus had quite a bit to say about putting the traditions of man above the word of God.
    December 24, 2012 at 12:11pm · Like · 1
  • Paul Chapman I’m trying lager today. What are my chances? X
    December 25, 2012 at 4:06am · Like
  • Gareth Northam Well . . . . it always helped me when my conscience played up. Though I found whiskey a lot better! 
    Merry Christmas Paul. Hope you and the family have a great day!
    December 25, 2012 at 4:16am · Like · 1
  • Paul Chapman Thanks Gareth. Have a great day mate.
    December 25, 2012 at 4:26am · Like
  • Gareth Northam What to watch on the new blu ray? Will it be ‘Life of Brian’ or ‘The Borgias’?
    December 25, 2012 at 4:45am · Like · 1
  • Gareth Northam He is the messiah. I should know I’ve followed enough of them.
    December 25, 2012 at 5:49am · Like · 1
  • Abet Layug Gareth Northam why you did not mention Mat 16:19 stating And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Can you give the hermeneutical interpretation of that verse?
    December 26, 2012 at 10:44am · Like
  • Gareth Northam I’m afraid, Albert that I don’t know what an hermeneutical interpretation means. But I can give you a Spirit one instead. In the first century the Jewish scholars would have a box containing the scrolls of Holy Scripture. The head of the synagogue would have the key to this box. When the scrolls of scripture were removed, the cord on them were undone before reading (loosed) and after reading or studing they were bound back up. 
    Similarly a rabbi had the authority to bind and loose, ie to forbid and to permit and to interpret scripture. They could also bind a day by calling it a fast day. The power they had came from the celestial. Jesus gave us that authority. He gave us the keys to the scriptures. We can now interpret as we are led by the Spirit. After all God’s word is not bound (2Tim2:9)
    December 26, 2012 at 11:39am · Like
  • Gareth Northam We also have authority to bind spirits and demons and to loose God’s power into situation. God has given us through the Spirit discernment (1Cor12:10; 1Jn4:1) so we can recognise certain spirits and forces at work. Binding them and loosing the captive that they are oppressing is an essential part of a Spirit filled believers ministry.
    December 26, 2012 at 11:40am · Like
  • Abet Layug Gareth following your statements the keys here referring to authority given to Peter…Actually it is only for Peter. If we are going to study the verse it is in the future tense ( I will give you the keys……) when it is, before resurrection or after resurrection?
    December 26, 2012 at 12:25pm · Like
  • New Apologetics Gareth Northam 

    We offer the following not as an attempt to put you in the wrong, but for your prayerful consideration:

    The Apostles had the right to teach with a particular authority:

    Acts 2:42 reported that the people “devoted themselves to the teaching of the Apostles.”

    Acts 5:13: “No one of the rest dared to join himself to them [the Apostles] but the people magnified them.”

    Peter himself warns against the private interpretation of scripture without the guidance of Church authority to tell us what it means. Referring to St. Paul’s Epistles: “there are many things hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.” (2 Peter 3:15-16)

    Are we each placing our hope in our our own “stability” and “non-ignorance” in interpreting the scripture? Are not many asking the Holy Spirit for guidance and yet disagreeing on the meaning of scripture? What then is the criterion for correct interpretation? Is it our own ability to hear God because of our personal holiness? But what is holiness apart from the Holy Spirit who grants each the very righteousness of God?

    Concerning the fact that God has bestowed his authority upon mere men:

    “The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (Jesus) said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.'” (John 20: 21-23)

    Who has this power to forgive sins on earth today? Who has the power to *retain* them, though a person may (wrongly) believe himself forgiven? 

    And as the definitive demonstration of the authority to bind and loose:

    This is the letter delivered by them: “The apostles and the presbyters, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings. Since we have heard that some of our number (who went out) without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind, we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we are sending Judas and Silas who will also convey this same message by word of mouth: ‘It is the decision of the holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities, namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.'” And so they were sent on their journey. Upon their arrival in Antioch they called the assembly together and delivered the letter. When the people read it, they were delighted with the exhortation.” (Acts 15: 23-31)

    Concerning whether the Apostles had the power to appoint successors:

    “So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles. (Acts: 23-26)

    We Catholics believe that the Apostles appointed successors, and that their authority to do all of the things described above will persist in the world until the end.
    December 26, 2012 at 1:15pm · Like
  • Gareth Northam Albert, following Peter’s confession of faith, the keys to the kingdom are given to him. So upon this unshakable rock, that is our confession of faith, the keys to the kingdom are given. 
    Thank you for you answer NA.
    December 26, 2012 at 2:05pm · Like
  • Abet Layug Gareth study the grammar and the syntax of the verse…..why it is still in the future tense… It means that the giving of the keys is not done immediately after the confession… there is an element of time. How about John 21:15-17? Is it related to the authority given to Peter? what does it mean feed my lamb, tend my sheep and feed my sheep?
    December 26, 2012 at 2:37pm · Like
  • Gareth Northam Thank you Albert. You have been most helpful. But I’ll continue to allow the Spirit to teach me. God bless YOU.
    December 26, 2012 at 2:52pm · Like
  • Abet Layug Thank you Gareth… be strong in faith. God bless you also.
    December 26, 2012 at 2:58pm · Like
  • Janet Hanson Dimitroff It amazes me how we all read the same words in scripture, but refuse to actually “see” what is written there. Jesus did not need to set up a “spiritual church” we are already one in Spirit. But he did give us his “Church” where he said that if you bring something (an offense) to your brother and he does not accept it, than bring 2 or 3 witnesses with you and if your brother still will not see reason than to bring your brother and the problem to the “Church”. He did not say bring it to your “spiritual self-appointed guided by the Holy Spirit interpretation Church”. The “Church” that Jesus instituted would than sit in authority and it’s decision would be final. His “Church” was started with his 12 Apostles and they did indeed appoint the successors as quoted above from Acts.
    December 29, 2012 at 11:20pm · Like
  • Gareth Northam It doesn’t amaze me. People just refuse to see the truth because the god of this world has blinded their eyes. Most people close down their interpretation of the Bible to suite their dogma and doctrine, such as the church is only through the apostles. This is the teachings of man which is flawed!
    December 30, 2012 at 3:47am · Like
  • New Apologetics Gareth Northam You wrote: People just refuse to see the truth because the god of this world has blinded their eyes. 

    We reply: We agree that this is so. However, please consider that it is through our disordered attachments that we become vulnerable to this power of Satan to blind us. We are unwilling to see what is before us for fear that *if* we see, then we will have to let go of something we consider to be *indispensable* to our identity and dignity. For example, consider a person who is sincerely seeking God, and has therefore eagerly sought out purported spiritual “authorities” to teach him. After encountering deep and degrading injury at the hands of these gurus, he makes a kind of half-conscious private vow of “never again.” Because he still seeks God, he continues to pray, hope and believe, but has rejected all potential authentic authority. Even if God has, in fact, appointed that authority this person wouldn’t know it because the possibility has been ruled out by this “vow”. The purpose of his “never again” was to avoid pain and degradation, but now he has become blind for the sake of his own protection, and has even made his “never again” bigger than what God is allowed to do.
    Evidence of any God-appointed authority would be seen not as itself, but as evidence of his personal *worthlessness* and as an affirmation of those powers which molested him.

    At this point, by trying to be safe from the evil he rightly hates, he has become the image of what he hates. In rejecting the possibility of there being any authentic authority outside himself, he now occupies the position of being the *only* authority. But even this is too painful to see because to consciously agree to take such a role is contrary to what he knows to be right and just. Only by God’s grace can he come to renounce the “never again” vow in order to be open to reality again. This renunciation would not entail clutching in with any known authority, but would simply be a return to innocent vulnerability where (in the same way that he knows God to be his *only* salvation from the evil within himself) he knows that God is his only real defense against the evil outside of himself.
    December 30, 2012 at 8:32pm · Like
  • Abet Layug Subjective interpretation of the scriptures is dangerous…. We have to consider what we have now (if you don’t study Hebrew – TaNaKh and Koine Greek- New Testament ) is just translations and secondary sources… It is a fact that translation is considered interpretation… Biblical Scholars agree with this.
    December 31, 2012 at 5:50am · Like
  • Gareth Northam what you’re saying is that we have to interpret scripture how we’ve been taught? That’s just religion. Dead meaningless and cold religion.
    December 31, 2012 at 6:09am · Like
  • Barbara Radmilovic nothing but the blood of JESUS!!
    December 31, 2012 at 6:23am · Like · 1
  • Abet Layug You have a wrong concept of religion… according to James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. It is very clear that there is a Pure and faultless religion…
    January 2, 2013 at 2:17pm · Like
  • Gareth Northam I love that verse. James is talking about his religion, his good deeds, his works being and outworking, an overflow of his faith. After all we know that it’s grace that we’re saved by, through faith. When I mentioned religion, I didn’t mean the works of love and charity that naturally follow the outworking of our faith. I meant dead works or religious observances that try to make us right with God. Because we are only made right with God by Christ’s sacrifice, by the blood, by the washing away of our sins. So I praise God that I haven’t got a religion. I praise Him that I haven’t got rituals. I praise Him because I have a relationship with Him. 
    Albert, thank you for all your comments, sir. And thank you for you’re genuineness and sincerity in seeking and proclaiming the truth. The Lord is very pleased with you. And it has been a honour to share thoughts with you.
    January 3, 2013 at 4:17am · Like
  • Cris Laurence Ocampo Abayata to confess.
    January 28, 2013 at 3:07am · Like
  • Gareth Northam If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1Jn1:9)
    January 28, 2013 at 3:16am · Like