Featured The Mark is coming

The beginnings existed, 1 Corinthians 1:12-13, ". . . Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? . . ."

 

We disagree. But Paul was shutting it down, we agreed on that. And the fact is, the New Testament documents remain the sole Apostolic authority.

 

Acts of the Apostles 20:29-30. 'For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also, from among yourselves, men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.' See also 2 Timothy 4:3. The apostasy set in before the passing of the apostles but accelerated afterwards. I don't consider 1 Clement in any sense to be an inspired document, but it does indicate that Paul was not able to "shut the stupidity down," or if he did, a different stupidity soon emerged.

I deny absolutely the idea of a 'oral tradition.' If it was oral, how on earth do we know what it was? I'd sooner believe in the angel Moroni bringing the book of Mormon to Joseph Smith!! At least that is written down so we know what it is, even if it's rubbish.

 

Be honest. You personally don't know much, if anything, about Luther or Calvin and what they observed in scripture as compared to the RCC. You have blindly accepted the word of the RCC, without ever questioning it. In fact, the RCC has you so petrified of their hand of rebuke that you will not even consider coloring outside the lines they prescribe. Whether the RCC is true or false, you would never know, because you live your life in fear of their institution rather than in fear of God most high and Jesus, the King of Kings.

 

The Apostolic succession are solely the teachings as found in the New Testament documents.

 

You regurgitate what the not original church tells you, but you have no scripture that says the apostolic tradition runs through Rome. Your church is literally making things up and calling them "oral tradition."
If God's word does not proclaim Rome as the only church ordained by God, then any claim by Rome is purely unsupported and false.
My disappointment with you is that you take God's direct word and make it less than your churches word. That's a dangerous thing to do when you won't go to God for an answer, but you will go to fallible men for an answer.

 

There are divisions within the spectrum of the RCC. Had the RCC actually reformed itself, the divisions would be less, but, alas the godless political power brokers in Rome refused to go back to God's word and reform. Instead, they pushed forward, becoming the Scribes and Pharisees of Christianity that God calls a brood of vipers.

 

The churches are God's making, even as the Holy Scriptures are God's making. The word of mouth traditions were with the then Apostles. The last living Apostle was John through whom Jesus gave the book Revelation, the close of the given Apostolic authority given the churches.

 

I can only speak for myself and say that I observe God's word, I ask God questions about what he means. I interpret what I observe. I check my interpretation against the great legacy of saints (see Hebrews 11 and Hebrews 12). I apply God's word to my life. It's a full process that never ends.

Anytime someone dismisses studying and checking in order to let someone else just tell them what to believe, I recognize that they have not actually read what God tells them in His word.

*2 Timothy 2:8-26*
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

 

The written word of God is the sole final authority in all matters of the faith and it's practice. The divisions are do to not truely following it. Prove otherwise.