“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” - Hebrews 10:23-25
Let me stress the words, the "assembling of ourselves together". To assemble is to put together many parts into one. An example is a machine or a car, all parts are assembled together into one working and running machine or car with different parts but function as one. Comparing this to a individual believers of the Lord who come from different nations and races but is assembled together by the Lord as one community and corporate body, the church. Its no longer an individual believer of Jesus but a single body of believers that works like a separate entity to fulfill the mission and purpose of the Lord for its founding.
To say like the fundamentalist Protestants say that "I am the church" is wrong because the individual does not make the church but the assembling together of all believers. This is the essence of the Hebrews 10:23-25. Let us further discuss this knowledge of the assembling together that is called the church.
The word church can't be found in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, its found only in the Gospel of Matthew separating the Gospel with the other synoptic gospels of Mark and Luke. However, the word is very much used in the rest of the New Testament books - Acts, Letters and Epistles of Paul, James, Jude, Peter, and John as well as in the book of Revelation. It is mentioned over 114 times in the original Greek version of the New Testament. It is, therefore, a mystery that is only revealed during the public ministry of Jesus Christ and the works of the Apostles. In fact, the establishment and organization of the church happened only after Jesus ascended to heaven and on the date of the coming of the Holy Spirit to the "assembly" of Apostles and Disciples who met on Pentecost Sunday in anticipation of the promised advocate or Paraclete.
In the original Greek gospels, the church is written as "ekklesia" which comes from two Greek root words from which the word is formed. The word "Ek" which means "out" and "kalesantos" which means "called". The Greek grammar would put them together to form a new word "ekklesia" which means literally "called out". So ekklesia in the Greek original gospel means the calling out and gathering or assembly of those people who are called out together. When the word is translated in English, instead of assembly or gathering of the people called out to assemble or gather, it simply translated as "church" or congregation.
Who are those called out people by the Lord to the gathering of the assembly that is the church? It appears that from the beginning God may have chosen Israel as a holy and priestly nation to serve as light for all nations and peoples so they too will know God and turned away from their pagan beliefs and be saved but Israel failed to live up to the expectation of God and instead of serving as light to the nations it followed the darkness of that is the world. And God took away the kingdom and the tabernacle from them as punishment but God's plan can't be set aside and his covenant lives on. He really planned for the salvation of as many people as can be saved not limited to the Jews alone. Not in the way the Jews expected God will do but in the way only God knew until they are revealed in the fullness of time.
God said his ways are not our ways, His thoughts not our thoughts. When Jesus was asked on the prophecy that Elijah will come again as a sign that the Messiah coming is imminent, Jesus told them that Elijah has indeed come, and he is John the Baptist. This is an example of the types in the Bible where characters and events in the Old Testament prefigured the characters and events that will come later in the New Testament. It's like an old movie is being played in the new but completely different time, different persons, different situation. This gives us idea that the proper interpretation of the Bible is to look at the entire Salvation Plan of God which was revealed not exactly in the way they are prophesied and taught in the old but in the types of characters and events in the old to the new. This study is called typology. Failure of the student of the bible to appreciate this truth will result in the wrong interpretations of the biblical verses. Such is the danger of personal interpretation of individual in the bible without reference to the teaching authority which is the role of the Church, the Catholic Church of Christians.
THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
The church according to Matthew is one that is first revealed by Jesus Christ to the Apostles after the confession of Simon who was called Peter by the Lord after his confession. According to the Lord, Peter's confession was not known by him until the knowledge is given to him by his Father. That prompted him to call him Peter which means the rock.
Let's us read again what happened when Jesus and his close-in disciples who are the Apostles came to the region of Caesaria Philippines where he turned to them and asked:
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus
replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not
revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I
will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on
earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be
loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. (Matt. 16:13-20)
This is the first time that Jesus is officially revealed and he confirmed that he is indeed the Messiah who is to come, the Savior of the world. Upon the confession of Peter, Jesus for the first time revealed that he will build his church upon the rock. This is one of the longest debate between the Catholic Church and the Protestants, for the Catholic Church, Peter is that rock while for the Protestants Jesus was referring to himself such claim is not supported by the grammatical construction. But that is not our discussion here, you can check on my other post on the subject of Peter the rock on which the church of Jesus Christ was built.
Jesus said he will build his church, giving emphasis to "My Church". He owns it, he founded it. It is his church no other and it is just one church. St. Paul has taught that there is only one church as it is only one body of which Jesus Christ is the head. Ephesian 4:4-6
Being the church of Jesus Christ it is given authority over the members who may actually commit faults against their fellow members of the church as we can read again in Matthew:
“If
your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between
the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But
if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every the matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If
they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse
to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax
collector.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matt. 18:15-20)
THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO JAMES
The James that became the Bishop of Jerusalem after Peter gave it up to go underground after his escape from prison with the help of an angel is not James the Apostle but James who is the brother of Jesus. But he is not a brother in the flesh but either cousin of or half brother only because he is not the son of the Mother of Jesus but of another Mary . This, however, is not our object of discussion. We just want to establish who is the James we are talking about because there were two James. This James called the Just is one of the Pillars of the church that St. Paul mentioned in the acts. and in his epistles.
Clement in the sixth book of his Hypotyposes writes thus: "For they say that Peter and James and John after the ascension of our Savior, as if also preferred by our Lord, strove not after honor, but chose James the Just bishop of Jerusalem." But the same writer, in the seventh book of the same work, relates also the following things concerning him: "The Lord after his resurrection imparted knowledge to James the Just and to John and Peter, and they imparted it to the rest of the apostles, and the rest of the apostles to the Seventy, of whom Barnabas was one. - Church History II.1.3-5
But Hegesippus, who lived immediately after the apostles, gives the most accurate account in the fifth book of his Memoirs. He writes as follows: "James, the brother of the Lord, succeeded to the government of the Church in conjunction with the apostles. He has been called the Just by all from the time of our Savior to the present day...He was holy from his mother's womb, and he drank no wine nor strong drink, nor did he eat flesh. No razor came upon his head; he did not anoint himself with oil, and he did not use the bath. He alone was permitted to enter into the holy place; for he wore not woolen but linen garments. And he was in the habit of entering alone into the temple, and was frequently found upon his knees begging forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard like those of a camel.- Church History II.23.5-6
This indicates the need of the second-century fathers to understand and explain how James could have had such a leadership position since he certainly did not have a prominent role in the Acts account until late in chapter 15. Yet it is clear that James held a place of authority. Paul refers to James as a leader (Gal. 1:19; 2:9) and indicates that he had been the recipient of a post-resurrection vision:
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. - 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
The reason for this discussion on James, Paul, and the Jerusalem Council is to understand the struggle of the early church with respect to the issue of the Gentile believers. The first Christians, and the initial leadership, was Jewish. By the late 50's Paul's evangelistic reach into the Gentile world had grown to such an extent that Christianity was becoming more Gentile than Jewish. It was Paul's custom to appoint leadership in each church when he left for his next destination. As Paul's Gentile churches grew in number, the leadership base grew and the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem probably felt their influence diminishing. To settle the dispute between the Jews converts and the Gentile converts whether the latter must follow the Laws of Moses which many Jews converts continue to observe, the Council of Jerusalem was called which was hosted by James the Just as the Bishop of Jerusalem yet with deference to the leadership of Peter who apparently made a strong pitch for the mission of Paul to Gentile.
“Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, ‘Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: “After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up; so that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD. Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the LORD who does all these things.”
Clement in the sixth book of his Hypotyposes writes thus: "For they say that Peter and James and John after the ascension of our Savior, as if also preferred by our Lord, strove not after honor, but chose James the Just bishop of Jerusalem." But the same writer, in the seventh book of the same work, relates also the following things concerning him: "The Lord after his resurrection imparted knowledge to James the Just and to John and Peter, and they imparted it to the rest of the apostles, and the rest of the apostles to the Seventy, of whom Barnabas was one. - Church History II.1.3-5
But Hegesippus, who lived immediately after the apostles, gives the most accurate account in the fifth book of his Memoirs. He writes as follows: "James, the brother of the Lord, succeeded to the government of the Church in conjunction with the apostles. He has been called the Just by all from the time of our Savior to the present day...He was holy from his mother's womb, and he drank no wine nor strong drink, nor did he eat flesh. No razor came upon his head; he did not anoint himself with oil, and he did not use the bath. He alone was permitted to enter into the holy place; for he wore not woolen but linen garments. And he was in the habit of entering alone into the temple, and was frequently found upon his knees begging forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard like those of a camel.- Church History II.23.5-6
This indicates the need of the second-century fathers to understand and explain how James could have had such a leadership position since he certainly did not have a prominent role in the Acts account until late in chapter 15. Yet it is clear that James held a place of authority. Paul refers to James as a leader (Gal. 1:19; 2:9) and indicates that he had been the recipient of a post-resurrection vision:
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. - 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
The reason for this discussion on James, Paul, and the Jerusalem Council is to understand the struggle of the early church with respect to the issue of the Gentile believers. The first Christians, and the initial leadership, was Jewish. By the late 50's Paul's evangelistic reach into the Gentile world had grown to such an extent that Christianity was becoming more Gentile than Jewish. It was Paul's custom to appoint leadership in each church when he left for his next destination. As Paul's Gentile churches grew in number, the leadership base grew and the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem probably felt their influence diminishing. To settle the dispute between the Jews converts and the Gentile converts whether the latter must follow the Laws of Moses which many Jews converts continue to observe, the Council of Jerusalem was called which was hosted by James the Just as the Bishop of Jerusalem yet with deference to the leadership of Peter who apparently made a strong pitch for the mission of Paul to Gentile.
“Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, ‘Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: “After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up; so that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD. Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the LORD who does all these things.”
THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO PETER
In 1 Peter 2:9 they are described as "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of the darkness into his Marvelous light" This is the best definition of the Church in the bible by the "visible" head of the church chosen by the Father to lead the Church of Jesus Christ, Simon Peter.
By getting the nuances of the word used in their original Greek version, we get a better understanding of the verse. This is one way of determining the true meaning of the verse and its context not just to rely on the translated text since in every type of language there are nuances of the word that may not exactly be what the original author meant. A picture is emerging on what the church of Jesus Christ is. The church is:
1. It is an assembly of people called out by the Lord
2. It is a chosen race
3. It is a royal priesthood
4. It is a holy nation
5. It is a People of God
THE 5 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO ST. PETER ARE:
1. IT IS AN ASSEMBLY OF PEOPLE CALLED OUT BY THE LORD
The church is an assembly of people called out by the Lord out of the darkness into his Marvelous light to be God's possession that they may proclaim the excellencies of the Lord our God. St. Peter continues in 1 Peter 2:10 "...for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." As a result of God's mercy, grace, and love church members are rightly called the People of God.
If we look back at how the people were called we know that Jesus started calling out the Jews and his public ministry first chose from among his small number of disciples 12 Apostles whom he personally called to be with him from the very start. They left family and livelihood to be fully committed to the ministry of the Lord. He taught them everything even those secrets that only available to the Apostles. And how did Jesus "call out" his would-be followers and disciples? He called them out with the following:
“The time is fulfilled,
and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”1
Jesus is here calling the people for the kingdom of God which is the gospel he preached from the start of his earthly ministry up to the end. The fact is those he has called understood that they are called for the kingdom of Israel that will be restored by the Lord. Up to the point when Jesus was to ascend to heaven, his disciples asked in Acts 1:6), ”’Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ This was because they still could not totally comprehend the truth about the kingdom of God that Jesus taught until as the Lord promised, the coming of the Holy Spirit which will guide them to all the truth which shows that the Church Jesus founded prefigures the kingdom that will be visible to all when the Lord finally comes again.
In the same manner that the church is the assembly of the people called out by the Lord, the kingdom is composed of those called out and chosen by the Lord. Therefore in this manner, the kingdom that Jesus preached and not visible in the eyes of even of the disciples is the church that Jesus founded and built upon the Apostles. We can say that if you are called out in the church as its literal meaning, you are called out in the kingdom in its mystical meaning.
The church is a collective noun and therefore can't be likened to an individual believer who thinks of himself as the church. Its a heretical belief and is not supported by the spirit of the scriptures. Other examples of a collective noun are flocks, applicable to the same types of birds that assemble themselves together naturally and herds of sheep, cattle, or goats which are also used in the bible. No individual Christian is a church.
The Lord calls out people. He said I am the good shepherd, my sheep knows my voice.
Romans 1- 1-8 states 1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
Here St. Paul made a prophecy of the conversion of Rome from a pagan nation into a Godly nation of holy people. Rome is called to be his Holy People. Sorry Protestants but in the very greetings of Paul to the Romans he greets them prophetically that in Rome the Christian faith will be reported all over the world. (all over is once more referring to mean Catholic or universal) The Universal Church or Catholic Church faith will be reported to the world from Rome which at the time Paul wrote the Epistle to Romans was a pagan nation persecuting the Christians.
Here St. Paul made a prophecy of the conversion of Rome from a pagan nation into a Godly nation of holy people. Rome is called to be his Holy People. Sorry Protestants but in the very greetings of Paul to the Romans he greets them prophetically that in Rome the Christian faith will be reported all over the world. (all over is once more referring to mean Catholic or universal) The Universal Church or Catholic Church faith will be reported to the world from Rome which at the time Paul wrote the Epistle to Romans was a pagan nation persecuting the Christians.
To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
When Israel was a youth, I loved him, out of Egypt I called him. Hosea 11:1
Like Israel, the church is called by him. The church and Israel is both called by the Lord God. The church in this type is the new Israel of God. It is to be a nation.
The Lord spoke to His people through the apostle Peter and used several terms in order to help them appreciate their spiritual position in Christ. He referred to them as a "chosen" or elect" race.
The church first call out the people to be member of its body but it will choose by the natural process of elimination those that don't deserve the kingdom Those that will come out of the church eliminate themselves and those that remain in the church but continue to live in sinfulness not breaking the commandments of the Lord present in the sacraments instituted in the church for the care of the members are in effect disqualifying themselves from the Chosen race by their own free will. This is in fulfillment of the scripture: "For many are called but few are chosen" says the Lord.
Many are called in the church but few persevere in faith and they are the chosen race that will inherit the kingdom which is the New Israel. One would remember that Israel is called the Chosen people of God because they were the people who by the acts of their forefathers Abraham, Jacob, and Isaac have faithfully turn always to the true God. It is by the covenant with Abraham that they were chosen by God and in the new Israel, the church which prefigures the kingdom of God, its the new covenant of God and Jesus Christ that the Church members will inherit the kingdom of God became the Chosen Race.
In this regard the kingdom and the church founded by Jesus Christ are the same. Just as the old Israel is called the chosen race, the new Israel, the kingdom of God prefigures by the church today is also called the Chosen race. The church has the same status as Israel as a chosen people or race because the church is the assembly of the called out people chosen for the purpose of God. "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.- Deuteronomy 14:2
"Behold, days are coming says the LORD, when I will effect a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the House of Judah. (Notice that Israel and Judah are two kingdoms so that the use of the house is another name for a kingdom and the church), Not like the covenant which I made with their Fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, for they did not continue in my covenant, and I did not care for them, says the Lord.
"For this covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after these days say the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen, and everyone his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord.' For all will know me from the least to the greatest of them. "For I will be merciful to their iniquities and I will remember their sins no more." Hebrews 8:8-13
3. IT'S A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
The church indeed is a Royal Priesthood because it is the rebuilt Tabernacle of David which fell and was promised to be rebuilt in the kingdom of God. Only the priest authorized by God can serve in the Tabernacle which is the house of prayer of God. Just as God himself who ordered Moses to build the first Tabernacle in Sinai giving minute instruction to Moses exactly as it should be including the rites and worship that will be performed by the Priests appointed and ordained by God the same is true with the church today.
Jesus said to Peter representing the 12 Apostles, "I will confer to you a kingdom just as the Father has conferred one to me" not only did Jesus confer a kingdom which we know is prefigured by the church, he made the church monarchical and sacerdotal. Not just an ordinary priesthood but a Royal Priesthood starting from the head of the church who is Christ the King now sitting at the right hand of the Father.
The Royal Priesthood of the church emanates from the kingship of the head of the church who is Jesus Christ as the Davidic king of the restored new kingdom to the new Israel. Again in this regard just as the kingdom has the king as its head, the church has Jesus as its head who is king. The church and kingdom are one.
4. IT'S A HOLY NATION
Israel is a nation with the kingdom ruled by David as king and its people are the People of God and therefore its also called Holy Nation. The same way the church which has the kingdom of God. It is an assembly of people with kingdom and qualifies for a nation. A holy nation.
Indeed today the church is literally a nation, a city-state called Vatican City. A former pagan city like Israel but made holy by God when it became the seat of the kingdom of God. In fact this definition of St. Peter is a prophetic definition for the church truly became Holy Nation called the Vatican City, home and headquarters of the Catholic church. A nation can't be called one unless it has territorial sovereignty and citizens. It must be ruled by a kingdom or government headed by a king or head of the state or nation. The only church today that qualifies this description of the church of the bible is the Catholic Church no other.
It is a holy nation because it's headed by Christ who is the Holy One. as a "holy nation" and as a "people for God's own possession." By God's grace, we occupy a very favored position in His universe.
5. IT'S A PEOPLE OF GOD
Coming from St. Peter who was called personally by Jesus to lead the church, the way he describes the church and characterizes it gives us a
deeper understanding of the truth of what the church is. The church is
very much identical to Israel. In the same way that the church is called out, Israel was also called out from among the people of old.
But notice something about "the people of God." A very great deal could be said about each of these designations, but I wish to note the phrase in verse 9: "...Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
First, it ought to be obvious that it is a very, very important matter to be a part of this "holy nation" of "people for God's own possession" who are "the people of God" and have now "received mercy" when once we were "without mercy." There ought to be no argument there by any believer in God. God has issued the call. Have you answered to become one of those "called out?"
ONLY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS THE DEFINITION OF PETER
If we take all the 5 characteristics that define the church of Jesus Christ, we can see that there is only one church today that fits exactly as it is defined, the Catholic Church of Christians. Not only that it is the oldest church in existence even if others claimed that it only started after the early Christians has disappeared and the church apostatized which is never been proven with facts of history but that there is no other church has all the characteristics given by St. Peter in his first Epistle.
The clear origin and history of the church as described in the Acts of the Apostles by St. Luke leaves no doubt that it is the Catholic Church. No amount of black propaganda, persecution, revision of the church history by the enemies of the Catholic church can destroy the church. They are those who were once members of the church but rebelled against the Catholic church and went out to establish their own false churches and religions that have deceive many souls for generations and who have become hell-bound for their obstinacy and hardness of hearts in their rebellious man-made beliefs and traditions.
Those who are called out by God have to follow Jesus Christ not on their own but in the assembly, in the gathering of others. In the communion of the others who were called out to form one body of Christ, the church. There is no other way of following Jesus but through the church that he founded and built up through the Apostles. The church is the body of Christ, and He is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:21-23). Christ is the head of those who are in His body or church (see also 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 26-27).
To insists on following Jesus in your own way, by your own condition, by your own standards of following him is suicide. You are in effect killing your own souls for there is no other means of salvation but by believing in Jesus Christ and following his commandments in union with his church. It is not your church but is the church of Christ what know from the beginning as the Catholic Church of Christians. Can one be saved without the Church from whom the grace of God is dispensed of and lived in his sacraments that make us holy people of God?
The faith itself is lived not individually but in union with the Catholic Church.
The church is the temple of God, meaning that God dwells in His people. We are warned not to destroy the temple by harming or discouraging its people (1 Corinthians 3:16,17).
The church is the kingdom of Christ, meaning that Christ rules over His people as their spiritual king (John 19:36; Matthew 16:16-18; Colossians 1:13)
By Bro. Manny OTFS Chief Apologist
But notice something about "the people of God." A very great deal could be said about each of these designations, but I wish to note the phrase in verse 9: "...Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
First, it ought to be obvious that it is a very, very important matter to be a part of this "holy nation" of "people for God's own possession" who are "the people of God" and have now "received mercy" when once we were "without mercy." There ought to be no argument there by any believer in God. God has issued the call. Have you answered to become one of those "called out?"
ONLY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS THE DEFINITION OF PETER
If we take all the 5 characteristics that define the church of Jesus Christ, we can see that there is only one church today that fits exactly as it is defined, the Catholic Church of Christians. Not only that it is the oldest church in existence even if others claimed that it only started after the early Christians has disappeared and the church apostatized which is never been proven with facts of history but that there is no other church has all the characteristics given by St. Peter in his first Epistle.
The clear origin and history of the church as described in the Acts of the Apostles by St. Luke leaves no doubt that it is the Catholic Church. No amount of black propaganda, persecution, revision of the church history by the enemies of the Catholic church can destroy the church. They are those who were once members of the church but rebelled against the Catholic church and went out to establish their own false churches and religions that have deceive many souls for generations and who have become hell-bound for their obstinacy and hardness of hearts in their rebellious man-made beliefs and traditions.
Those who are called out by God have to follow Jesus Christ not on their own but in the assembly, in the gathering of others. In the communion of the others who were called out to form one body of Christ, the church. There is no other way of following Jesus but through the church that he founded and built up through the Apostles. The church is the body of Christ, and He is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:21-23). Christ is the head of those who are in His body or church (see also 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 26-27).
To insists on following Jesus in your own way, by your own condition, by your own standards of following him is suicide. You are in effect killing your own souls for there is no other means of salvation but by believing in Jesus Christ and following his commandments in union with his church. It is not your church but is the church of Christ what know from the beginning as the Catholic Church of Christians. Can one be saved without the Church from whom the grace of God is dispensed of and lived in his sacraments that make us holy people of God?
The faith itself is lived not individually but in union with the Catholic Church.
The church is the temple of God, meaning that God dwells in His people. We are warned not to destroy the temple by harming or discouraging its people (1 Corinthians 3:16,17).
The church is the kingdom of Christ, meaning that Christ rules over His people as their spiritual king (John 19:36; Matthew 16:16-18; Colossians 1:13)
By Bro. Manny OTFS Chief Apologist
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