Difference between revisions of "Debate: Have the gates of hell prevailed against the church Jesus founded on a rock, when He Himself said it could never happen? Did Christ who cannot lie fail to fulfill his promise?"

Latest revision as of 12:45, September 22, 2020

Texts:

• Matthew 16:13-19
  13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
  14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias or one of the prophets.
  15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
  16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
  17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
  18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter ["a rock"]. and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
  19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
• John 14:16-17
  16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
  17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
• John 16:12-15
  12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
  13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
  14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
  15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
• Ephesians 2:18-22
  18 For through him [Jesus] we both [the Uncircumcision and the Circumcision] have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
  19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
  20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.
  21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
  22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
• 1 Timothy 3:14-15
  14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
  15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
• 1 Timothy 4:1-2
  1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
  2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
• Hebrews 13:7
  7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
• Hebrews 13:17
  17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
• 2 Peter 3:17
  17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
• 1 John 2:18-19
  18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
  19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Rules

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• Spamming, defined for purposes of this Debate, means providing citations to scripture without providing the actual scripture and/or its relevant context to this Debate, or providing scriptures in full with no relevant context or explanation of its relevancy to the Debate question. Such designated spam postings may be removed by a Debate Sysop/Moderator. Editors may freely inquire of any Debate Sysop/Moderator, along with a brief explanation of cause, for removing such spam postings.

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Note: The original stated titles of the "Yes" and "No" sides of the debate have been revised.^[1]

Protagonist: The church headed by the bishop of Rome is an apostate church

• Isaiah 28:16 - Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
• Matthew 16:18 - That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church
• 1 Corinthians 14:33 - God is not the author of confusion^[2]

Christ is the foundation stone or rock that the Christian church is built upon, not Peter. This confusion, authored by the author of confusion and father of lies,^[3] is the source of all the confusion regarding the claims to "authority" by Roman Catholic doctrine.

One mediator

The Catechism of the Catholic Church in sum essentially reads,

• We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves

False. Not cited in any paragraph of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 08:03, 29 August 2020 (EDT)

Learn to read. The claim is not made that this bible text in the catechism. The text captures the spirit of the catechism. It is the spirit that gives life. You are just trolling now. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 09:40, 29 August 2020 (EDT)

• 2 Corinthians 13:1 - This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
• 1 Timothy 2:5 - there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus

Official Roman Catholic teaching supplants the bible in authority (Catholic teaching believes God's word is "evolving"), says

• CCC 1456 - "When Christ's faithful strive to confess all the sins that they can remember, they undoubtedly place all of them before the divine mercy for pardon. But those who fail to do so and knowingly withhold some, place nothing before the divine goodness for remission through the mediation of the priest".^[4]

Jesus says in the resurrection we are sexless:

• Matthew 22:30 - For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

Yet the Roman Catholic church teaches

• CCC 969 - "the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix."^[5]
• Isaiah 28:14 - we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves

The law is laid down not for the innocent but for the lawless

• 1 Timothy 1:6-7 - Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions. Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately. This means understanding that the law is laid down not for the innocent but for the lawless and disobedient (NRSV)
• Romans 8:1 - There is therefore no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus

Note: "disobedient" in Timothy refers to those who do not trust God (without faith), and not to naughty children, outlaws, and gangsters who deserve a spanking or jail time. To be without condemnation is to be innocent. Christians are not under law but under grace. The law cannot make a person just, righteous, and acceptable to God. Only humbling our pride - the thinking that we can make ourselves pleasing to God, and turning to the finished work of Christ, makes us acceptable.

• desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.

Bingo. This is the flaw of those who preach catechism and Roman church "authority". RobS^{Free Kyle!} 08:05, 22 September 2020 (EDT)

Salvation by grace

God says,

• Ephesians 2:8 - by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God
• Acts 19:2 - “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

However Roman Catholic catechism teaches that grace and salvation is earned, and that the Holy spirit is given through water baptism.

• CCC 2010 - “Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification, for the increase of grace and charity, and for the attainment of eternal life.^[6]

To restate, "we can then merit for ourselves...the graces needed...for the attainment of eternal life." This is a denial of salvation by grace (grace is not grace) and a doctrine, or another gospel of salvation by works.^[7]

False. CCC 2010: "no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification, at the beginning of conversion." (CCC 1996-2011)
Your "water baptism" comment is a misrepresentation, by carefully omitting an important teaching of the Bible. In Acts 19:1-6 Paul explained why John's water baptism was insufficient (vv.4-5). John's baptism, though it required repentance, yet looked forward to the coming of the One for whom John was a forerunner (Jesus). Jesus had not yet died when John baptized people. His was a baptism of preparation looking forward to Jesus' death. "Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." This shows that John's water baptism unto repentance cannot be the water baptism which Jesus commanded people to receive under the gospel (Matthew 28:19). Christians are baptized into his death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12) "by the washing of water by the word" (Ephesians 5:26). John's disciples were not. So then they were baptized by Paul.^[8] --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 06:36, 30 August 2020 (EDT)

We've been over this a dozen times. The gospel was preached to Israel in the wilderness. King David had the Holy Spirit. Job was "perfect and upright." Zacharias and Elisabeth were both "righteous before God", as was Abel. Simeon (Luke 2:25) was "just and devout". In all these cases Jesus had not yet died either. There is only one way a sinner can be declared righteous before God.^[9] The Law cannot make righteous.^[10] You apparently do not understand what the gospel is. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 08:43, 30 August 2020 (EDT)

Independent Skeptic says, "This shows that John's water baptism unto repentance cannot be the water baptism which Jesus commanded people to receive" Bingo! Now reconcile what you just posted with Roman Catholic doctrine and all the drivel in the Infant baptism page. Hint: Jesus didn't command "water baptism". RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 09:07, 30 August 2020 (EDT)

Yes He did! John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born [regenerated] of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
"Regenerate" in John 3:3-5 is the Greek γεννηθή gennethe.
The words γεννηθή gennethe and γεννηθήναι gennethenai in the Greek New Testament text of John 3:3-5 mean to procreate, regenerate, bear, beget, be born, conceive, a variation of γένος genos, meaning born, offspring, generation, stock.^[11] This "born" (as being literally "generated/regenerated") is the ordinary word "born" also used in

"Regenerated" is also found as "born again" άναγεγεννηθήναι anagegennethenai in 1 Peter 1:23, "Being born again (regenerated), not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." ^[12]
Compare the interlinear text of John 1:13, multiple versions of John 1:13, and multiple commentaries on John 1:13.
This "word" of God in 1 Peter 1:23 is a direct reference to the doctrine of Ephesians 5:25-26, where Paul says,

"Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word."
See also interlinear text of Titus 3:5 multiple versions of Titus 3:5 and multiple commentaries on Titus 3:5.

"he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior". The Greek word for "washing" in this text means "water-washing"—"he saved us...by the water-washing of regeneration".
The word of God is the word spoken simultaneously with the action of pouring, immersing or sprinkling of water in the sacrament of baptism to wash away all sins,^[13] "I baptize you in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16.) This is "baptismal regeneration".
Not one of those who claim to have been baptized in the Spirit by faith alone has ever been told at the decisive moment they accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" before they were plunged into water as their testimony of salvation (especially at the moment when they accepted Him sitting in the pew or decided to accept him by faith when they were alone).
So from the whole context of the scriptures we can know that Jesus commanded water baptism. The Catholic doctrine of water baptism is biblical. It's the doctrine of the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth, led into all the truth for ever by the Spirit of truth with us for ever. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 13:07, 30 August 2020 (EDT)

On a side point, you appear to be misreading Acts 19:2 with this statement, "Christians are baptized into his death, burial, and resurrection...John's disciples were not." No, John's baptism is with water, Jesus' baptism is with the Holy Spirit. John says, "I baptize with water, but he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit." All of this runs contrary to Roman Catholic doctrine on water baptism, salvation, and receiving the Holy Spirit. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 09:16, 30 August 2020 (EDT)

You are trolling again. Below you state salvation is earned or merited, which is exactly what catechism teaches. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 09:42, 29 August 2020 (EDT)

The Roman Catholic catechism teaches that the Holy Spirit is given through water baptism.

• CCC 1999 - “infused by the Holy Spirit into our soul to heal it of sin and to sanctify it. It is the sanctifying or deifying grace received in Baptism.”
• Isaiah 28:14 - we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves

The Christian is not under law

God says,

• Romans 6:14 - ye are not under law but under grace
• Galatians 3:10 - all who rely on works of the law are under a curse

The Apostle Peter rebukes the Roman Church's claim to "authority":

• 1 Peter 5:2-3 - Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.^[14]

The Apostle Peter also commanded the flock of Christ to honor the pagan emperor (Nero at the time of writing).

• 1 Peter 2:17 - Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.^[15]

1 Peter 5:2-3 (quoted above) is pastoral counsel to those who have the oversight of the flock of God. He did not contradict the fact that they do have the oversight as elders and leaders and shepherds that we are bound to obey.

• Hebrews 13:17 - Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you.^[16]

There is no denying that elders and leaders and shepherds of the flock of God (but not all) have abused their office just as Nero abused the office of emperor, and they will all be called to account for it. We are still commanded to honor all men, to love the brotherhood of the church, and to honor even wicked leaders like Nero, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way, and we too will be called to account for our behavior. "For he will render to every man according to his works" (Romans 2:6; Revelation 22:12)

• 1 Timothy 2:1-3 - First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.^[17]

This is the ultimate fulfillment of God's commandment to honor our fathers and mothers, even if they are wicked, and to obey the judges of the people, even if they are wicked. "You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people." (Exodus 20:12; 22:28; Deuteronomy 17:9-13; Matthew 23:2-3; John 19:10-11)

• 1 Peter 2:18 - Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward ["but also to the overbearing" RSVCE]

--IndependentSkeptic (talk) 08:16, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

Yes, for the carnally minded and those walking in the flesh that's good advice, too. You just can't seem to wrap your head around the word "obey". To the spiritual believer, to "obey" means to trust and believe God. To the natural man and carnal mind, "obey" means to follow orders to avoid a spanking. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 09:16, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

And throughout all your spam postings, your point comes through clearly - you claim the Roman Church is God. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 09:24, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

God is not a tyrant who rules by threats and intimidation. But you make him out to be such and claim the Roman Church is here to enforce his diktats. This is the opposite of grace. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 09:27, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

I cited the scriptures (I had help.) "The law" in all of Paul's letters refers to "the law of Moses".^[18] The Bible commands obedience to authority—especially to the higher authorities. Even the congregation of the people of the Lord under the authority of the elders and leaders and shepherds of the flock of the Lord charged as guardians to feed them. Both Old Testament and New Testament, so that it is the will of God to obey those in authority, especially the higher authorities and leaders in the church, even if they are sinful men. This doctrine in the Bible is not the will of sinful men speaking according to their own corrupt and prideful fleshly carnal opinion, but the infallible word and will of God Himself. And the wrath of God is against the disobedient. On those who obey, grace is poured. On those who do not obey, who are factious and do not obey the truth but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury (Romans 2:8). This finally convinced me that the Reformers who disobeyed their leaders and went out from the church and taught a different doctrine were wrong, "not having the Spirit". Jude 19 "It is these who set up divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit." And as proof that it's talking about them and all like them, to this very day Reformation principles embraced by many independent-minded Christians have generated divisions for five hundred years on the ground that leaders can be disrespected and disobeyed and rebelled against, like in the example of Korah's rebellion against the priests of God who had the rule over them as Moses and Aaron. And the same thing was done by Jeroboam in 1 Kings 12:25-33 (esp. verse 31), and in 2 Chronicles 13:6-12, when he appointed priests of his own making who were not according to the will of the Lord, but apart from and in disobedient defiance of the scripture regarding the established authority of the priesthood of Aaron valid up to the time of the apostles whom Jesus Himself ordained ("I have chosen you and ordained you" Luke 22:29-30).
You, and all others of a mind like you, who reject the authority of the church to bind and to loose and to forgive or retain anyone's sins as they judge to be right according to the will of God as seen in the Bible, it is you who willfully set aside the word of God to set yourself above and apart as not obligated to obey Him, and as not obligated to obey the authority He has appointed, in what the Bible commands all men everywhere to do to fulfill His sovereign will, by submitting to the leaders who watch over your souls. You misapply the scriptures to justify yourselves, and it is they that speak against doing that. "Therefore, let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12. St. Peter said that it is the ignorant and unstable who twist the scriptures to their own destruction. 2 Peter 3:16-17. Those who will to not do the Father's will as not obligated in any way to obey it are deprived of grace, and lose what they thought they had. "Be careful how you hear. To him who has will more be given and he shall have abundance. But to him who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away." (Luke 8:18; Matthew 25:29)—unless you repent and confess that you have been determined according to your own opinion of private interpretation of the scriptures to justify yourselves as free to not obey the word of the Lord and as not being condemned for your self-willed rejection of what he has ordained and established so you can pick and choose what you like from the word of God and discard the rest you don't like, as Martin Luther did in judging the scriptures and rejecting four New Testament books (Hebrews, James, Jude, and Revelation) because they condemned disobedience and said that faith without works is dead and brings condemnation for being unfruitful. We can't earn salvation, but of those who are saved good works are required according to each one's ability, or they are worthless servants producing no fruit and they forfeit what they have through Christ alone, and are taken away and burned (John 15:1-8). --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 12:01, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

ye are not under law but under grace. Go ahead, keep making the case that the Roman Catholic Church denies the Bible. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 12:12, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

The Roman Catholic Church teaches sacraments are works^[19]

God says,

• Galatians 3:10 - all who rely on works of the law are under a curse^[20]

Yes. The works of the law of Moses. Not the works of righteous obedience in holiness, including respect for authority, as the Bible says, and the work that Christ Jesus Himself does in the sacraments ordained by Christ in the church as fountains of his grace flowing from his righteous sacrifice of his blood in the Holy Spirit on the cross, works He Himself does through the ministry of the church He built, led into all the truth forever by the Spirit of truth.

CCC 1076 In this age of the Church Christ now lives and acts in and with his Church, in a new way appropriate to this new age. He acts through the sacraments in what the common Tradition of the East and the West calls "the sacramental economy"; this is the communication (or "dispensation") of the fruits of Christ's Paschal mystery in the celebration of the Church's "sacramental" liturgy.
— http://scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s1.htm (boldface added)

--IndependentSkeptic (talk) 12:20, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

• CCC 2068 - "The Council of Trent teaches that the Ten Commandments are obligatory for Christians and that the justified man is still bound to keep them; the Second Vatican Council confirms: "The bishops, successors of the apostles, receive from the Lord . . . the mission of teaching all peoples, and of preaching the Gospel to every creature, so that all men may attain salvation through faith, Baptism and the observance of the Commandments."^[21]

Hence, per the Bible, adherents and practitioners of the Roman Catholic faith are under a curse and not redeemed by the blood of Jesus.^[22] RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 12:33, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

• Isaiah 28:14 - we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves

Isaiah is speaking of the disobedient Israelites who refused to respect and reverently obey the Covenant of the Lord. His word cannot be applied to the church Jesus built, against which the gates of hell shall never prevail and in which Jesus Himself and the Holy Spirit dwell together leading into all the truth.

CCC 1088 "To accomplish so great a work" ... "Christ is always present in his Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He is present in the Sacrifice of the Mass not only in the person of his minister, 'the same now offering, through the ministry of priests, who formerly offered himself on the cross,' but especially in the Eucharistic species. By his power he is present in the sacraments so that when anybody baptizes, it is really Christ himself who baptizes. He is present in his word since it is he himself who speaks when the holy Scriptures are read in the Church. Lastly, he is present when the Church prays and sings, for he has promised 'where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them."'

CCC 1089 "Christ, indeed, always associates the Church with himself in this great work in which God is perfectly glorified and men are sanctified. The Church is his beloved Bride who calls to her Lord and through him offers worship to the eternal Father."

CCC 1076 In this age of the Church Christ now lives and acts in and with his Church, in a new way appropriate to this new age. He acts through the sacraments in what the common Tradition of the East and the West calls "the sacramental economy"; this is the communication (or "dispensation") of the fruits of Christ's Paschal mystery in the celebration of the Church's "sacramental" liturgy.
— http://scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s1.htm (boldface added)

"for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." Philippians 2:13.

"in hope of eternal life which God, who never lies, promised ages ago, and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior." Titus 1:2-3

--IndependentSkeptic (talk) 12:45, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

The parallels between apostate Israel and the apostate Roman church are unmistakable.

• Matthew 15:8-9 - This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.
• Mark 7:13 - making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by RobSmith (talk)

Context: Jesus is speaking of the Jews, and in particular of the Pharisees. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 08:03, 29 August 2020 (EDT)

There is a straight line of continuity from Moses at Mt. Sinai to the Council of Trent as a doctrine of law, hence Isaiah 28:14 and the two scriptures cited above do apply. You have rejected grace, as Israel in the wilderness did. Ye are under a curse. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 14:08, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

The law of Moses is one particular expression of the revealed will of God: justice and mercy and faith—keeping faith with God by eagerly doing what the Lord requires in being just, merciful, and humbly reverent in worship of Him. Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42.
Micah 6:8 "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"
Matthew 23:37-40 "37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandmensts hang all the law and the prophets."
The Council of Trent and the Roman Catechism (the Catechism of the Council of Trent), the Baltimore Catechism, and the Second Vatican Council and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, all say the same, explaining the meaning of the will of God in practical detail, just as the New Testament does. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 08:03, 29 August 2020 (EDT)

We've already proven at least 5 times your catechism is a fraud. You're just digging your hole deeper in rebellion against God and God's word. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 12:55, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

• Hebrews 3:19 - So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.^[23]

Unbelief in God's word. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 12:59, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

Unbelief is a lack of faith.

• Hebrews 4:2 - but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

Unbelief, or a lack of faith, is disobedience.^[24] —The preceding unsigned comment was added by RobSmith (talk)

Fine. "Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain." 2 Corinthians 6:1. Believe what God has said, and with confidence full of hope in him obey the authority of the church He built on a rock as His Own Body and Temple, the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth, led into all truth for ever by the Spirit of truth. Jesus cannot lie. And the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, in this world or the next. The weeds will grow together until the time of harvest, and then they will be gathered and burned in the fire. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 13:05, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

I/S says, "obey the authority of the church He built on a rock as His Own Body and Temple, the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth, led into all truth for ever by the Spirit of truth. Jesus cannot lie. And the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven..."

You obviously have the church (men) confused with the Holy Spirit (God). You and Dataclarifier restate this erroneous teaching over and over again. This misconception lies at the heart of your faulty and erroneous understanding and teaching of the gospel. RobS^{Free Kyle!} 16:21, 15 September 2020 (EDT)

"obey" means have faith. Why would anyone have faith in lies? And the Christian believer is not under law anyway. Does God command us to bow the knee to Satan? Satan is the god of this world.^[25] RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 13:06, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

It only seems like lies to you. The Christian believer is not under the authority of the law of Moses, but under the authority of Christ in the church rightly interpreting and rightly dividing the word (2 Timothy 2:15) and applying it according to the law of righteousness in the Holy Spirit. God does not command us to bow the knee to Satan, but to bow to the will of Christ the Lord who established his church which He built on a rock so that it cannot fall, for "Every knee shall bow and every tongue proclaim to the glory of God the Father: Jesus Christ is Lord" That is the Catholic Church, the Body of Christ, in which He dwells as Lord and Savior, and the Holy Spirit leading into all the truth forever, just as Jesus promised. And God cannot lie. Jesus did not fail to keep his promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church he built on a rock. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 13:25, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

"To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure: their very minds and consciences are corrupted. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their deeds; they are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good deed" Titus 1:15-16. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is pure and rich in holy scripture supporting her authority and the truth of her doctrine. You say it is Satanic (the scribes and Pharisees said the same about Jesus). You seem unable to see its purity and holiness (Ephesians 5:25-27). You have been deceived and blinded by the God of this world. And the promise of Christ is fulfilled in her, as the promise of Him Who Cannot Lie. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 13:29, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

You either can't read or are just playing stupid now. I just cited above CCC 2068 "the Ten Commandments are obligatory". Get thee behind me, Satan. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 13:44, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

In saying that, you are asserting that we are freed from the law forbidding worship of other gods, that we don't have to worship God at all, that we are free to make idols of other (pagan) gods, free to blaspheme the name of God, free to work every single day so as not to attend to worship of God at any time or regard any day as holy to the Lord and not rest or allow anyone else to rest from crushing compulsive labor, free to dishonor our fathers and mothers and do nothing good to them or for them or help them in any way, free to kill as we please and maim and murder anyone, free to commit adultery and sexual perversions of any kind, free to steal anything from anyone at any time anywhere, free to commit perjury in court when summoned to testify in order to destroy the innocent by supporting a false conviction leading to a sentence of wrongful imprisonment or execution, free to covet what others have by hating their benefits and advantages that belong only to them as their rightful possession and dignity and to no one else, free to try to deprive them of their spouse, their employees and servants, their livestock, and anything that is theirs.
You are saying no Christian is under any obligation to avoid these sins because the Christian is not under the law of condemnation for sins committed and therefore is free to do as he pleases. That's the evil counsel of Antinomianism and immorally corrupt Licentiousness. I've already shown that Paul himself condemns this whole idea. We are not to yield ourselves to wickedness. He made this clear in Romans 8: "To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." (verse 6). John says the same thing:

"Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does right is righteous, as he is righteous. He who commits sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning."

To rebel against the law of God is Satanic. Peter also says about all disobedient and licentious libertines who obey no law and acknowledge no authority outside themselves,

"the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and wilful, they are not afraid to revile the glorious ones [saints and angels], whereas angels, though greater in might and power [than they], do not pronounce a reviling judgment upon them before the Lord. But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and killed, reviling in matters of which they are ignorant, will be destroyed in the same destruction with them, suffering wrong for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their dissipation, carousing with you. They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! Forsaking the right way they have gone astray; they have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a dumb ass spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness. These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm; for them the nether gloom of darkness has been reserved. For, uttering loud boasts of folly, they entice with licentious passions of the flesh men who have barely escaped from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for whatever overcomes a man, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, The dog turns back to his own vomit, and the sow is washed only to wallow in the mire (sewage).

You condemn the Ten Commandments as a curse. That's wrong. We are not free to sin. We must obey righteousness, as expressed in the law of God about righteousness and the doctrine of the church—justice, mercy, and humility before God. Your "gospel of grace" as you define it gives liberty to sin without fear of judgment or condemnation. But the "yoke" of Christ sets free from the bondage of sin, and purifies us from all unrighteousness by the power of the grace of his sacraments administered by Him through his body the church, the pillar and foundation of the truth, against which the gates of hell shall not prevail. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 14:51, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

I never said or implied anything of the sort. God is not a slave driver. God want's the Christian believer to serve him out of a clean and willing heart, not under compunction and fear. That's all the gospel of grace is about. God is not trying to coerce anyone with threats of damnation. God desires sincerity.

• Psalm 51:6 - Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

If licentiousness is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear ye are not under law but under grace, you probably don't have that truth in the inward parts. Salvation and grace cannot be merited or earned. You need to repent, accept God's grace, and begin living life in the spirit. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 15:15, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

The Roman church's rejection of grace and reversion back under law is not just serious error, it is a rejection of the New Covenant entirely. Hence, you are under a curse, as God says. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 13:59, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

Yes! Salvation and grace and justification cannot be earned by us by ourselves alone! Jesus saves, and gives us the power to become sons of God (John 1:12-13). That is the doctrine of the Magisterium in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1965–2029). --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 08:03, 29 August 2020 (EDT)

Both sides of the Debate on this page and the Talk page have made abundantly clear the irreconcilable differences in the doctrines of grace, and in the doctrines of the authority of the church.
I have said all that is necessary to help expose the nature of both.
Christians are not under the law of Moses, but are under what Paul calls the law of Christ as realized in the authority of the Catholic Church to preach and teach the law of righteousness in the doing of good works as the law of God, and the dire consequences of refusal to act righteously, justly, mercifully and godly in all humility of heart, in opposition to the love of God. (Micah 6:8).
At the heart of the debate is the issue of Free will. The real threat of actual judgment is in reality a mercy from God who is not willing that any should perish. (A godly fear and terror of judgment, by the grace of God.) It can actually help bring the non-Christian sinner to repentance and salvation through Christ Jesus alone, and bring back the Christian sinner from the error of his way and save him from death (James 5:19-20).
We can obey for the love of God, joyfully and wholeheartedly because it is right and just to do so, and knowing the Lord is truly worthy of all our love;
or we can obey because it is right to do so, out of fear of the righteous judgment of God, maybe reluctantly, or even compulsorily for the sake of survival, feeling that there really is no alternative or acceptable choice, because we do fear the loss of heaven and the everlasting pains of hell, knowing that God who is merciful and just and righteous and holy commands doing what is right, so we firmly resolve not to do anything evil or sinful as far as possible;
or we can refuse to obey the will of God, and "break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us" (Psalm 2:3), because "now there is no condemnation", and suffer the consequences for our boldness in the face of God's sovereign Lordship as if rebelling against a tyrant. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 15:20, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

Well, that's interesting, cause that now puts you at odds with the official doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 15:31, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

Not at all. The law of Christ as I have relatively expressed it is a brief summary of the official doctrine of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, beginning with Part Three, Section One, Chaper Three, Article 1: The Moral Law
I have nothing else to add to this Debate. Peace be with you. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 16:05, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

Go ahead, be in denial. For the third time in this section CCC 2068 "the Ten Commandments are obligatory". The law was only our schoolmaster.

• Galatians 3:24-25 - the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.^[26]

If you choose to continue under a schoolmaster and a curse, good luck. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 16:17, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

The sacraments cannot save

The sacraments of the Roman Catholic church are works of the law. God says,

• Galatians 3:10 - all who rely on works of the law are under a curse^[27]
• Ephesians 2:8-9a - by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works

The Roman Catholic church teaches of a false gospel of salvation by works. Paul says,

• Galatians 1:6-9 - I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.^[28]
• Galatians 2:16 - by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.

Whereas the Roman Catholic church teaches, among other strange and non-biblical doctrines,

• CCC 1471 - "The doctrine and practice of indulgences in the Church are closely linked to the effects of the sacrament of Penance. What is an indulgence? 'An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.' 'An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin.' The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead." [boldface emphasis added]
• CCC 1478 - "An indulgence is obtained through the Church who, by virtue of the power of binding and loosing granted her by Christ Jesus, intervenes in favor of individual Christians and opens for them the treasury of the merits of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of mercies the remission of the temporal punishments due for their sins. Thus the Church does not want simply to come to the aid of these Christians, but also to spur them to works of devotion, penance, and charity.
• CCC 1498 - "Through indulgences the faithful can obtain the remission of temporal punishment resulting from sin for themselves and also for the souls in Purgatory."
• CCC 1472 - "...On the other hand every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory. This purification frees one from what is called the "temporal punishment" of sin..."

See the article Great Apostasy. The Protestant Reformers disobeyed, went out, and preached another gospel than the one they had received in the church, perverting the gospel of Christ. They proclaimed that the gates of hell had long prevailed against the Church and that the Holy Spirit had utterly departed from the Church, and that the Beast Antichrist and Satan together ruled as the spirit of the Church turning the Church into the Whore of Babylon. The very desire to live a good life by humbly receiving the sacraments of grace in worship and doing good works pleasing to God—justice, mercy—was condemned as blasphemous impiety and bondage to the law, meriting only the curse of God, and more dangerous than sin. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 17:49, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

Martin Luther wrote this about a good life manifested by good works:

There is no more dangerous, more pernicious scandal than a good life exteriorly manifested by good works. Those pious souls who do good to gain the Kingdom of Heaven not only will never succeed, but they must even be reckoned among the impious; and it is more important to guard them against good works than against sin.
—Works of Luther, Wittenberg, Vol. VI, 160 ^[29]

No sin can separate us from Him, even if we were to kill or commit adultery thousands of times each day. - Martin Luther Letter to Melancthon, 13.^[30]

--IndependentSkeptic (talk) 18:00, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

What does that have to do with receiving the sacraments? RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 18:16, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

It has to do with the biblical and Catholic doctrine of the necessity of good works to bear fruit to eternal life by those who have already first been saved and justified by unmerited grace (CCC 1996-2011), dismissed by Martin Luther as an evil doctrine worse than sin. And by you as being under "the curse of the law". --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 23:26, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

Bull. It's a whataboutism that has nothing to do with the alleged "authority" of the Roman Catholic church and/or the fact salvation through sacraments is unbiblical. Please stick to the topic. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 23:42, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

If you want to debate Martin Luther, create a page, Debate: Are the teachings of Martin Luther biblical, or some such. He doesn't bolster any of your arguments in the least. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 23:49, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

I have no intention of debating Martin Luther, only defending the promise of Christ that the gates of hell never will prevail against the doctrine of the church he built and have never prevailed in spite of the scandal of those whose lives have clearly violated the doctrine and holiness of the Church. I've done that here. I don't need to add to it, you would only try to provoke more debate, and it's not necessary. You've presented your case. I'm not convinced that Jesus failed to fulfill his promise. Jesus didn't lie. He cannot lie. And that's where it sits. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 08:03, 29 August 2020 (EDT)

The problem you have is in claiming the validity of your interpretation of Matthew 16:18, on which the entire monstrosity of Roman Catholic doctrine is built. All the other scriptural evidence, that the foundation stone laid in Zion is Christ, not Peter, weighs against your claims that the catechism, encyclicals, traditions, etc have nullified biblical teaching. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 09:59, 29 August 2020 (EDT)

CCC 460

When did the Gates of Hell prevail against the Roman Catholic Church? Certainly sometime before the Roman church openly and officially declared so with the adoption of Paragraph 460 to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Official church doctrine teaches that man is equal to or becoming God.

• CCC 460 - "The Word became flesh to make us "partakers of the divine nature":78 "For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God."79 "For the Son of God became man so that we might become God."80^[31]

Confirmed March 25, 2020

The Gates of Hell were confirmed to have prevailed against the church Jesus allegedly founded on a rock, when He Himself said it could never happen on March 25, 2020 with the publication of the 2020 Pontifical Yearbook. In the book, Pope Francis I dropped the title, "Vicar of Christ", [1] although the actual date that the gates of hell prevailed against the church Jesus allegedly founded on a rock, when He Himself said it could never happen was likely much earlier.

Given the pace of change, this movement toward the truth of God and away from pride, rebellion, and the sin of man will likely take several more generations for it to become known and recognized by Roman Catholic clerics and laity, assuming a future pope doesn't reverse Francis' innovation.

Antagonist: No, the gates of hell have never prevailed against the church Jesus built on a rock so that it never committed apostasy from the faith, because Jesus remains with the church always to the end of the world, and the Spirit of truth is with the church for ever leading into all the truth as Jesus promised, and Jesus is God Who cannot lie.

User: IndependentSkeptic

• According to the above argument, the gates of hell have prevailed against the church Jesus founded on a rock, and therefore it cannot be the pillar and ground of the truth as Paul testified it is. Your position is that Jesus failed to fulfill his promise. You make Jesus out to be a liar.
• Jesus said by his own divine authority that the gates of hell shall never prevail against the church he built.
• But you say it happened.
• Jesus said by his own divine authority that he is with us (addressed to the apostles) always, to the end of the world.
• But you say he did not remain always with their appointed apostolic successors in the church he founded, the church that still exists to this day.
• Jesus said another Counsellor, the Spirit of truth given by the Father would be with us for ever, and that the Spirit of truth would guide us into all the truth.
• But you say he did not remain with the church for ever, and did not continuously guide the church into all the truth for ever, from the time of the apostles to this present day.
• Paul said the church is the household of God, the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom we also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
• But you say the church is no longer the pillar of the truth and a holy temple in the Lord and a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. And you say that the same church as identified by an unbroken continuous line of apostolic succession is built on the lies and blasphemies of Satan, and not the truth.
• Paul said in the church God has appointed apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, healers, helpers, administrators, and speakers in various languages; and that in the church are bishops, presbyteroi (priests/elders), and deacons.
• But you say these are done away by the Bible as the sole rule of faith and authority.
• Paul said that all authority is established by God, and whoever resists authority resists what God has established, and that those who resist what God has established will be condemned.
• But you say that true Christians are duty-bound to resist the established authority of the church when they personally judge that it is wrong, and not to listen.
• Peter said to submit to the elders and be clothed with humility, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, and therefore to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God that in due time he may exalt you.
• But you say we are not obligated to submit to others' authority.
• The Letter to the Hebrews says to obey our leaders who spoke the word of God to us, in the historical context, those leaders of the existing church in the first century established since the time of the apostles.
• But you say we should disobey the leaders of the church who have preserved the Bible and draw doctrine directly from it as the word of God that they speak in every celebration of the Catholic Mass.
• Jesus said that anyone who will not listen to the church is to be rejected as the Jews rejected tax collectors and pagans, and said that whoever has an ear is to listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
• But you praise those who did not and do not listen to the church Jesus built on a rock and who did not and do not listen to the churches that have continually existed since the first century, both at the time John wrote the book of Revelation and since that time to the present day.
• Jesus said that unless a man is regenerated by water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Paul washed away his sins by being baptized, and Peter said that baptism saves now; and Paul, again, that God saves us in virtue of his own mercy by the water-washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, and that God loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
• But you say that baptism does not save and does not regenerate and does not cleanse away sin or wash away sin by water and the word.
• James says that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
• But you say that faith alone justifies, not works.
• Jesus and Paul both say that all will be judged according to their works.
• But you say no believer saved by faith alone will be judged.
• Jesus said to the apostles, "Whosesoever sins you forgive are forgiven, and whosesoever sins you retain are retained." The entire context of the New Testament warns that we can fall away and forfeit eternal life by mortal sins "unto death", but that we can be brought back by confession to those entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation and absolution as ambassadors of God, God speaking by them, for if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. It was not to them alone that it was said, but to us on whom the end of the ages has come.
• But you say that this is idolatry and a demonic doctrine, that no one has been given the power of God to forgive sins.
• Jesus said that his flesh and blood are real food and drink, and that unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood you do not have life in you, and that whoever eats his flesh and drinks his blood has eternal life. (the word for "eat" trogŏn τρώώγων in John 6:27-58 is not figurative or metaphorical in the Greek text, but only literal and physical in meaning^[32])
• But you say this is only a metaphor and does not and never did literally mean eating and drinking his flesh and blood, and that communion does not give eternal life.

Catholics believe the word of Christ and what he promised forever.

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why we utter the Amen through him, to the glory of God. But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has commissioned us; he has put his seal upon us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
—2 Corinthians 1:20-22

From the first century to the present day there have been those who disobeyed their leaders who spoke the word of God, rejected the traditions of the apostles, and insisted on private interpretation of the scriptures, who went out and taught a different gospel than the one delivered to them by their teachers, and who by this visible pattern of behavior showed that they were antichrists.
According to history the Catholic Church dominated and led by its leaders as shepherds of the flock having established authority to make disciples of all nations, was not founded by those who disobeyed, went out, and taught a different gospel from the one they had been taught. The question of who has the true doctrine of Christ is settled by scripture, as outlined above. Ask this question about those who founded your church, and about those who do not profess any particular church but claim the authority of the Bible alone as interpreted by themselves: did they and do they disbelieve and disobey Hebrews 13:7,17; Galatians 1:6-9; 1 John 2:18-19; John 14:16; 16:13 and 15:1-6. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 08:00, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

You've insisted over and over again that the Catholic Church is an institution of sinful men led by sinful men. OK, Peter says to "obey every human institution' RSV "submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake" KJV - part of the whole passage in the Bible of 1 Peter 2:13-17. So where do you get off saying it's right to not submit and not obey sinful men leading the Catholic Church? As Dataclarifier pointed out, the Catholic Church wasn't founded by anybody disobeying and refusing to submit to the leaders of their church and went out and taught a different doctrine than what they'd been taught and established a different church. It's the Church, so obey. You say it's a human institution, so obey. You're stuck in the fact you disobey even the Bible here. It doesn't matter if there are weeds among the wheat. They both are to grow together until the harvest. Obey the Bible and obey the Church. Not those who left. It's had authority for a long time. And every authority is established by God, and whoever resists the authority resists God. Romans 13. Those who left are antichrist. 1 John 2:18-19. So whichever way you turn, the Bible says to obey, but you don't want to. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 09:43, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

Your whole argument appears to put words in one's mouth. Another deceptive lie. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 09:57, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

Let's isolate this question I/S asks:

• So where do you get off saying it's right to not submit and not obey sinful men leading the Catholic Church?

I'm sure we'll have more to say about it later. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 10:42, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

You use the Bible to contradict the Church and condemn it and its teaching which is from the Bible. Well, I've known a lot people who cited the Bible so that it even contradicts itself and say, "There! You see? It contradicts itself and even praises murderers and liars and adulterers. So the Bible can't be true! And you're an idiot if you think it is!" They abuse the Bible so they don't have to accept it. You do the same thing. You use the Bible against the Church. Well, the Bible can be used against you. And it can be used to support the Catholic Church. And it has and it does. I read it. When I found out what the Catholic Church actually teaches I was convicted of error and could see for myself from the Bible itself that it is the one true Church. Jesus is no liar. Who are you to say He did not fulfill his promise? I have an idea who you are, and it ain't good. Why should we listen to you when you won't even listen to the Bible? I think what Gamaliel said to the Sanhedrin applies to you, "IF it is of God, you cannot defeat it. You may even find yourself fighting against God." Acts 5:33-39. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 10:12, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

You use the Bible to twist God's word into lies. The Roman Catholic church rejects the authority of the Bible in favor of sinful men, i.e. the Magisterium. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 10:26, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

The Roman Catholic Church acknowledges entirely the authority of the Bible in support of the authority of the Catholic Church led by sinners redeemed and forgiven through Our Lord Jesus Christ and his blood shed for the sins of the whole world just as the Magisterium teaches and has always taught. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 11:28, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

That's specious reasoning; The Roman Church claims God's word is evolving and is overridden by the Magisterium. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 11:32, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

You yourself claim God allows sinful men to dictate what is now considered to be the Word of God. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 11:35, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

Discussion

"There shall be one flock and one shepherd" John 10:16. And yet the Bible also says there are many elders as guardians whom God has appointed as shepherds to feed the flock, Peter himself being an elder among them, whom Jesus himself first appointed to feed his sheep and ewes and lambs. Acts 20:28 and 1 Peter 5:1-6 and John 21:15-17. The Letter to the Hebrews commands us to obey the leaders who spoke the word of God and watch over our souls. Hebrews 13:7,17. Paul insisted on being of "one mind" in the faith "striving side by side for the faith of the gospel". Philippians 1:27; 4:2. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 11:40, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

One flock and one shepherd = Jew + Gentile = Catholic. This isn't rocket science. ye are not under law but under grace, but the Judaizers kept preaching law.^[33] RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 11:51, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

"Ye are not under the law of Moses". Paul's every reference to the law is to the law of Moses. Christians are not under the law of Moses, but the law of Christ, which includes being subject to men in the church. Jesus and Paul and Peter preached obedience to the authority of God in the church he built on a rock, and against it the gates of hell shall not prevail. Paul commanded Timothy and Titus to correct and rebuke "with all authority" in guarding the faith. 1 Timothy 4:11-12; 2 Timothy 1:14; Titus 2:15. And he condemned those who would not accept his authority; as did John those who would not accept his authority. 2 Corinthians 10:1-8; 11:12-15; 3 John 9-11. The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, not on lies. And it is led into all truth forever by the saving grace of God through Christ alone in the Church he built on a rock, and he is with us always to the end of the world aeonos. The authority of the church is not a lie but truth. And we are commanded to obey that authority, not the law of Moses, but the authority established by God, not to abolish the law and the prophets but to rightly fulfill them in Christ Jesus (Matthew 5:17). Jesus who cannot lie did not fail to fulfill his promise that Satan, the power behind the gates of hell, shall not prevail against the church he built. Jesus cannot lie. So it has never been ruled by Satan. And its doctrine of unmerited grace according to the Catechism (Grace and Justification) is the truth of God straight from the Bible. For, "if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." Acts 5:38b-39.
The Reformation taught for centuries that Catholicism and the Catholic Church would come to naught and be destroyed by God. It has never happened, and history is witness. Ye are not under the law of Moses, but are commanded to submit to the authority of the elders and leaders of the Church and their teaching. Because it is the pillar and ground of the truth, and the gates of hell shall never prevail against it. Even when there are weeds among the wheat that will have to be gathered out of the kingdom at harvest time and burned. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 12:31, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

ye are not under law but under grace. Right there, you just dispensed with grace once again. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 12:49, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

Law of Moses = law of God. The Christian is not under the law of God, which can only condemn and not save. The Christian believer is under the grace of God, which the Catechism of the Catholic Church denies.^[34] The grace of God, i.e. God not holding the sinner to account for his sins, is the Gospel. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 12:53, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

• all who rely on works of the law are under a curse;^[35]

RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 13:38, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

You have speciously redefined the law of God as limited strictly to the law of Moses. The law of God is obedience to his will. That is what the Bible commands and teaches. If the Christian is not under even the law (authority) of God the Christian is not obligated to obey even the will of God. Antinomianism and Licentiousness. Paul denounced that monstrous lie.

Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. Romans 3:31

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Romans 6:1-2

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. Do not yield your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but yield yourselves to God as men who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness. Romans 6:12-13

What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness. But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed. Romans 6:15-18

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

So obedience leads to righteousness.

For he will render to every man according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Gentile, but glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Gentile. For God shows no partiality. Romans 2:6-11

If as you say the Christian is not under even the law (authority) of God, then the Christian is not obligated to obey even God and is not obligated to obey the Bible the word of God, and we can freely do anything we please, even every kind of wickedness, because we are not under law and "there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus". But that is not the whole truth. For "in him is no sin". Paul said "every man" and that includes every Christian. Those who obey wickedness are not "in Christ"—"for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury." And those who disobey are severed from him and are not in Him. The Bible commands obedience for the sake of the Lord. 1 Peter 2:13.
You reject the obedience of righteousness unto life, the obedience of righteousness in seeking for glory and honor and immortality by works of doing good. Rejecting the grace of God to do good works is death. For the wages of sin is death. Christians are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10. Therefore, what you propose is death. Not even obeying God. Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments" John 14:15; 15:10. When one came to him and asked what must he do to have eternal life, Jesus said, "If you would enter life, keep the commandments." Matthew 19:17b. John said, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." 1 John 5:3.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, with doctrine directly from the Bible, explains the keeping of the commandments (Part Three: Life in Christ - CCC 1691–2557)—love, mercy, humility, justice, respect for parents and those in authority, obedience to the will of God. Jesus did not fail to keep his promise to lead us into all the truth for ever by the Holy Spirit of truth, and remain always to the end of the world. And the Bible tells us to obey the leaders of the church.
You say to disobey the Catholic Church. You say that obedience is against the gospel of grace. The doctrine of disobedience and rebellion against the authority of the church Jesus built on a rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, is a doctrine not of God. You reject the grace bestowed on the Church, reject the grace of salvation through the Church, reject the grace of the sacraments He ordained to bestow grace unto salvation and for the upbuilding of the church, reject the grace of the established authority of the most senior-ranking leading elders and shepherds of the Church led into all the truth by the Spirit of truth, and reject the grace of being united to the Body and Blood of Christ in the Church he built on the rock of Peter and continued with, always, to the end of the world. Your "gospel of grace" is a false gospel of libertinism and licentiousness and antinomianism, opposed to the word of Christ Jesus in his promise regarding the church he built, a false gospel rooted in disobedience and contempt for authority established by God. Your "gospel of grace" is the rebellion of Korah, Numbers 16 (see Jude 8-11), and is the rebellion rooted in the first rebel who would not obey the authority of God, and fell, being cast out (Revelation 12:7-10).
I will have nothing more to do with you (Titus 3:10-11) --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 14:29, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

Korah preached grace? Not hardly. And there is no rebellion against idolatry. RobS^{Free Kyle!} 10:02, 4 September 2020 (EDT)

You can spam all you want. The bottomline is we have already proved both the Magisterium and Catechism contradict the Bible. The only question is, Why? Answer: Pride. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 14:34, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

• all who rely on works of the law are under a curse;
• Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law

"us", maybe not you. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 14:41, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

Obedience = faith. Disobedience = lack of faith, not believing God, doubting what God says is true or calling God a liar, leaning on your own understanding.

by grace are ye saved, through faith...not of works

if it be by works, grace is no longer grace

all who rely on works of the law are under a curse

Disobedience - rejecting what God says here, and you reject the Gospel. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 15:00, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

Adam and Eve, for example, their real disobedience was in not believing what God said, moreso than in the act of partaking of the forbidden fruit. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 18:10, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

You keep spamming the same lie! Practical (actual) Spiritual Disobedience, Rebellion, Licentiousness, Libertinism, Antinomianism, Anarchism, Amorality, Individualism. Your real disobedience is in not believing Jesus, in not believing what God Himself said, in not believing the Bible! --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 19:57, 27 August 2020 (EDT)
The spiritual definition of obedience is actively choosing and doing what is right, not solely believing alone, but actually doing what God commands, the will of the Father.
The spiritual definition of disobedience is not choosing to do what is right in deeds of wickedness and unrighteousness, by relying solely on believing alone, and not striving with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength to do what God commands, and not acting according to the will of the Father.
See Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21; James 1:22 and James 4:17; 1 John 3:18
Faith that bears fruit in deeds of love and mercy fulfills the law of God, "the doers of the law". Romans 2:13 and James 2:24 and John 15:2. See Corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
If you don't do good works as he commands and bear fruit in righteousness, you reject the Gospel; and the Son of man on his glorious throne, and all the angels with him, will say to you, "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" Matthew 25:41 (context Matthew 25:31-46); Romans 2:9. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 01:49, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

Maybe we're making progress here. The spiritual definition of disobedience is not believing God. It appears you just acknowledged that. Disobedience is not necessarily breaking a line item of the 613 commandments or decalogue. Praise God! We may have a spiritual breakthrough! RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 22:49, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

Why do Christians not use their liberty as a cloak for unrighteousness? Because of law? No. Because they believe (i.e. have faith in) God. They believe unhesitatingly what God says is true. And by this faith (belief in God's word) they obtain grace and are freed from the curse of the law. If any man sin, we an Advocate with the Father. Next time your mediator other than Christ sentences you to three Hail Mary's and two Our Fathers, remember before you do your penance, all who rely on works of the law are under a curse. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 23:21, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

all who rely on works of the law of Moses are under a curse. All who act and do works according to the law of righteousness are justified. "The doers of the law are justified." Romans 2:13. "Do we nullify the law by faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law." Romans 3:31. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 2–3. Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls. Hebrews 13:7,17. There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore anyone who resists the authority resists what God has appointed, and those that resist will incur judgment. Romans 13:1-2. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 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. Matthew 16:18-19. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them. Whose sins you retain and do not remove are retained and not removed. John 20:23. God has entrusted to them the ministry of reconciliation as the ambassadors of God who speak for God. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20. If anyone will not listen to the church, let him be to you as a sinful publican and an unbelieving pagan. Matthew 18:17. Why do you call Me Lord, and not do what I say? Luke 6:46-49; Matthew 7:21-27. "He who is of God hears the words of God; the reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God." John 8:47. --IndependentSkeptic (talk) 03:21, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

Nice try, but you can't get around ye are under grace and not under law. I guess you're just not among the ye. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 03:32, 28 August 2020 (EDT)

I/S says, "obedience leads to righteousness"; that's close, but no cigar. Once you realize obedience = faith, i.e. believing what God says in his Bible, and not just avoiding a spanking, you can resolve all your contradictions regarding being under the curse of the law. Faith leads to righteousness.

Ye [meaning Christian believers] are not under law. The Roman Catholic Church not only does not teach the Word of God, it contradicts and denies the Word of God. Whenever that catechism was formulated by men and said to supplement or replace scripture, is when the Gates of Hell prevailed. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. RobS^{Free Kyle!} 04:32, 4 September 2020 (EDT)

Specific points

IndependentSkeptic says,

• "Paul said the church is the household of God, the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone..."

yet the argument of Roman church authority is built upon denying that Christ is the Rock of salvation upon which the church is built, but rather Peter, from whom the Roman church supposedly has sole "authority" to interpret scripture. You can't have it both ways. You can't say Christ is the Rock of salvation upon which the church is built and Peter is the rock upon which the church is built. God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33), Satan is.

Furthermore, your intellectualizing to explain this confusion likewise is unbiblical, if not anti-biblical. You are being wise in your own conceits (Romans 12:16), puffed up in your own pride, refusing to humble yourself before God, and repent (I use the "you" in a rhetorical sense, speaking to the promulgators and adherents of Roman Catholic doctrine, both living and past, and not to any specific individual.) RobS^{Free Kyle!} 09:59, 11 September 2020 (EDT)

User: NishantXavier

No, the gates of hell have not prevailed against the Church built on the earthly Rock of St. Peter, with the heavenly Rock remaining Jesus Christ Our Lord. 2000 years of Church History bear witness to the Truth of Our Lord's Promise. God's Word attests it, history confirms it, and it's the Truth. The Church of Christ is the Catholic Church. God desires all Christians to be One in Full Communion with the Church and with each other. That's why He appointed St. Peter as the Head Bishop or First Pope of the Church, named him the visible Rock of the Church (Himself being the invisible Rock), and desired that all Christians look to the Pope as to the Chief Shepherd of Christ's Flock on Earth. If we all did that, all Christians would be One. NishantXavier^{For Christ the King} 11:14, 27 August 2020 (EDT)

Angry observer

Un-ask the debate question/category error

This doesn't belong to either side of the debate, but it has to go somewhere.

You don't even understand the expression "gates of hell". Jesus said what he meant in an unusual way, probably to make it lively to the imagination.

He meant he had the devil on the run and in stronghold after stronghold (of the devil's) and in city after city (of the devil's), he and his disciples were breaking through, besieging the gates of hell to rescue the sinners inside, so "the gates of hell" were taking a beating, being broken, knocked over, bent and dented all over the place, passed through and its city's inhabitants rescued!

You're not in a position to know; you could mount an attack against a devil's stronghold anytime you want, but you try to abuse Conservapedia instead, and then because your attitude is so passive, you don't see that knowledge of anyone being rescued from Satan counts as his gates not prevailing and instead feel the need for us! to tell you what amounts to, in your ignorance, asking if it's even still happening or not! Newsflash!: Wherever those gates are being smashed into by groups of Christians of every stripe, the gates of hell are already failing to prevail!

The "Church" is not an "institution"; look what happens to people like you who think it is! Once again, you are completely wrong!

VargasMilan (talk) Wednesday, 22:16, 26 August 2020 (EDT)

Extended debate

I will delete all content from [my talk] page 2 PM CDT Thursday, 3 September 2020, as I already said. If anyone wants to keep what's been posted, then you'd better make a copy for your own page—or consult [View history] [my talk] page to read previous versions.

I check our own emails almost daily and delete all junk mail. I'll check [my talk] page same time and immediately purge all content. Dataclarifier (Michael Paul Heart) and I (Delwayne Royd Mullin) refuse to participate any more in Conservapedia. We both regard the contentious issue over content of Debate: Have the gates of hell... as irrelevant, redundant, useless and futile. I've said all I intend to say. Immediately after checking our email, I'll check [my talk] Talk page.

RobSmith's postings on [my talk] page will be nuked on sight without reading. He and VargasMilan and Shobson20. Other users posting on [my talk] page will be immediately considered, read, and then deleted, once a day, or whenever we get around to it. Don't expect a response.

reliably identified by continuous and unbroken Apostolic succession as the original Church Jesus built on a rock, against which the gates of hell shall not prevail, the household of God, the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth, the temple and dwelling place of God in the Spirit of truth with us for ever leading into all the truth, built upon the apostles and prophets of God, whose appointed elders and shepherds as guardians and leaders watching over our souls having authority established by God, whom the Bible commands us to obey as the ambassadors of Christ, to whom God has entrusted the message of reconciliation, God Himself speaking by them, and antichrists disobeyed, ignorant and unstable, twisting the scriptures to their own destruction, by private interpretation, deceitfully handling the word of God, and went out, and drew disciples after them, leading them astray from the truth with specious arguments, peddlers of the word of God, preaching another gospel and another Jesus not preached by the apostles, a Jesus who either lied or was unable to keep his word.

• Gal. 3:10 - All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. Repent! RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 15:06, 2 September 2020 (EDT

• Prov. 28:9 - He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law [the word of the Lord], even his prayer shall be abomination.
• John 12:48 - He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
• John 14:21,24 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. Repent! --User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk) 16:13, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

The Law and the Word are two different things; faith cometh by hearing; ye are under grace and not under law. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 16:21, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

• 1 John 5:2-3 - 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. --User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic]] (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk]]) 16:30, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

• Romans 3:21 - now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law
• John 1:14 - The Word was made flesh
• John 6:63 - These words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.

RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q}

• Romans 8:3 - what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did

Nobody disputes the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good (Romans 7:12); the bottomline is, the law is not your ticket to salvation. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 16:38, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

Works can't get you there. God can't be bribed. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 16:42, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

• Matthew 7:21-23 - 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
• Romans 2:6-12 - 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law. --User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic]] ([User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk]]) 16:49, 2 September 2020 (EDT)
• John 8:43,47 - 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. --User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic]] (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk]]) 16:54, 2 September 2020 (EDT)
• Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Not bribery. Obedience to the will of God, by doing the will of God by good works. Faith without works is dead. Ye see then how that by works a man is Justified, and not by faith only. James 2:24. --User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic]] (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk]]) 17:03, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

• as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law.
• ye are not under law but under grace

This is the meaning of salvation.

• Romans 5:9 - we shall be saved from wrath through him.

The Christian is saved from judgement. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 17:06, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

Obedience is believing what God says, not doing good works. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 17:08, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

• 1 Peter 4:17 - For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at US, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
  So you better practice obedience and believe what God says in the Bible, that every Christian will be judged according to their deeds.
• Revelation 22:12 - And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
  See again Romans 2:6-11. The Word of the Lord. --User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic]] (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk]]) 17:24, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

what the law was unable to do, God did

• Gen. 22:8 - God will provide himself a lamb

RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 17:14, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

the vessel was marred in the potter's hands; so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it

Ye must be born from above

he is a new creature in Christ

You can't make your self righteous (your works are filthy rags). Adam and Eve tried to clothe themselves with fig leaves, but God had to clothe them.

RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 17:20, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

He created us in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God ordained before that we should walk in them—only those who do the will of his Father shall enter the kingdom of God --User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic]] (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk]]) 17:30, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

• Philippians 2:13 - For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
  So we are not making ourselves righteous, but God in us doing his work through us is He Himself making us righteous, because we obey his will and do what he commands in us—justice, mercy, love, keeping faith with him who calls us to the obedience of righteousness. You blasphemously say that the righteous works of God done by Him in and through the willing cooperation of his people doing His good pleasure—His works (not their own)—are filthy rags!!. Paul was talking about Pharisees, not Christians. The Holy Spirit is not unclean. That blasphemy is never forgiven. Matthew 12:30-34. --User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic]] (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk]]) 17:36, 2 September 2020 (EDT)
• John 15:1-2 - 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away...
• John 15:4-6 - 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. --User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic]] (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk]]) 18:04, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

  CCC 1076 In this age of the Church Christ now lives and acts in and with his Church, in a new way appropriate to this new age. He acts through the sacraments in what the common Tradition of the East and the West calls "the sacramental economy"; this is the communication (or "dispensation") of the fruits of Christ's Paschal mystery in the celebration of the Church's "sacramental" liturgy.
  — http://scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s1.htm (boldface added)

  --User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic]] (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk]]) 18:12, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

• Isaiah 64:6 - we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;
• ye must be born again.

RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 18:13, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

The works of God are not filthy rags. --User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic]] (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk]]) 18:18, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

Ahh, here you are liftitng yourself up in pride against God. Neither you, nor the Roman church, are God. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 18:23, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

"Practicing obedience" is faith in God, trusting God or believing what he says. You just tossed out what God says, ye are under grace and not law; all who rely on law are under a curse. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 18:21, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

So why don't you believe what God says, instead of using the Bible to contradict what God says? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by User:IndependnetSkeptic (talk)

Who's contradicting the Bible, me or the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church?

• Galatians 3:10 - all who rely on works of the law are under a curse^[36]
• CCC 2068 - "The Council of Trent teaches that the Ten Commandments are obligatory
• 1 Timothy 1:9 - the law is not made for a righteous man

It's actually not a contradiction. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that anyone who adheres to Catholic catechism is not righteous or saved. Salvation is now:

• whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has [present tense] eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:4)

does not come into judgement. Why don't you believe what God says, instead of using the Bible to contradict what God says in this very thread? RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 06:45, 3 September 2020 (EDT)

P.S. You just violated the Debate Rules we negotiated. Such underhanded and deceitful tactics to pervert God's word and impugn a preacher of the gospel is not surprising for someone whom God has not declared righteous. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 06:32, 3 September 2020 (EDT)

• Isaiah 5:20-21 - 20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 20 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

You don't believe what God says about bearing fruit, and the necessity of His deeds done by Him through us who believe him and seek to do His Will. All the scriptures I cited above. You don't believe the Bible. You are disobedient to the word of the Lord. --User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic]] (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk]]) 18:26, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

You sound like a Cafeteria Christian, tossing out ye are not under law but under grace. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 18:39, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

I/S says, "You blasphemously say that the righteous works of God done by Him in and through the willing cooperation of his people doing His good pleasure—His works (not their own)—are filthy rags!!"

CCC 1076 says, "Christ now lives and acts in and with his Church...He acts through the sacraments ..."

• Isiah 29:15 - You have turned things upside down, as if the potter were regarded as clay.

RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 18:33, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

• Philippians 2:13 - For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
  The works of God are not filthy rags. --User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic]] (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk]]) 18:39, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

That still doesn't make you God; it is fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy, and greater works than these the fact that God saved another sinner. It is God's doing, not yours or the church's. Give glory to God.

I can of my own self do nothing.

for by grace are ye saved through faith....not of works.

Wherein is boasting? RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 18:44, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

Your glorying is not good. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 18:48, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

• 1 Corinthians 12:6,27 - 6 and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
  You are deaf to the word of God. You do not hear it. How often do you have to hear Philippians 2:13 before you understand what He is saying: "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." And "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." --User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic]] (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk]]) 19:04, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

How long are you going to reject the grace of God and bring yourself under bondage again to law, judgement, and wrath?

Gal. 5:4 - whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace

all under law are under a curse

by grace are ye saved

Fine <shakes dust from his shoes>. You have chosen law over grace, a curse over salvation. Nuff said. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 19:19, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

Being under grace imposes the obligation to do good. See an excellent analysis of RobSmith's fundamental error in this page from the Forerunner Commentary, John W. Ritenbaugh together with other contributors, Bible Tools: Topical: What The Bible Says About Obligation https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/126/Obligation.htm
Both Dataclarifier and I were absolutely delighted with it. The Forerunner Commentary exists online (exclusively) at BibleTools.org. The Forerunner Commentary is comprised of material taken from articles, Bible studies, booklets, and sermons produced by the Church of the Great God (C.G.G.) since 1992. It's not Catholic, but the biblical doctrine of the Forerunner Commentary bears a strong likeness to the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1950-1986 The Moral Law. They are not far from the kingdom of God. Compare also Catechism of the Catholic Church 2030-2051 The Church, Mother and Teacher. God forbid that we should not tell you the truth of the Gospel.
--User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic]] (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk]]) 19:44, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

• 1 Timothy 1:9 - the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners

If you are under law, you are without Christ. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 20:32, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

You obviously didn't read the above commentary, "What the Bible says about Obligation". The avoidance that is Denial: Confirmation bias and Fallacy of invincible ignorance, especially Damning the Alternatives. It only proves that you are not interested in the truth. Whassamatter? Afraid of being convicted of error? 'S'Too much! --User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic]] (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk]]) 20:42, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

I have a message from God for both you and Dataclarifier:

• 2 Timothy 3:7 - Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 20:51, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

Non sequitur The whole context of 2 Timothy 3:1-9 shows that verse 7 is about "silly women" loaded with a burden of sins, led by various lusts of bodily passions and emotions, who will listen to anybody, disciples of men who oppose the truth, disobedient to parents, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, like the Egyptian sorcerers Jannes and Jambres who opposed Moses, not the leaders we are commanded to obey.
We both—"both you and Dataclarifier"—we both came to the knowledge of the truth by seeing clearly what the Bible teaches about the Catholic Church. It's because we studied the Bible and read actual Catholic doctrine for comparison that we know Catholicism is the fullness of the truth of the Christian Gospel of Salvation in Christ alone through his body the Church and that it is the most biblical Church on the face of the earth. Our search is ended. Now we live it. Our souls have found rest. And we shall never cease proclaiming the truth of God. We've done that here. Others will too. So we will not have to any more on Conservapedia. We're getting off. We totally entrust you to God. He'll deal with you. In surprising ways. Better believe it! God bless. --User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic]] (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk]]) 21:06, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

You have some serious problematic reading comprehension skills. The passage says you are the type who creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins away. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 07:31, 3 September 2020 (EDT)

We've been over this. Salvation is in Christ, not in a church or church membership. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 21:35, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

God lives and dwells and works in and through the Catholic Church. Yes there are weeds among the wheat. But God remains holy, and he has sanctified his church, cleansing her by the washing of water with the word, making her holy and without blemish, and those who are united to him by his grace he makes partakers of his own divine nature, making them holy. Those who fall back into sin have forgotten their cleansing and have fallen away from grace. Ephesians 5:21-27; 2 Peter 1:3-11. --User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic]] (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk]]) 21:49, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

If you're declared righteous, you're without sin. If you're under law, you're without Christ. Again, not rocket science. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 22:14, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

It's possible after being declared righteous by faith to fall away from being declared righteous.
See 2 Peter 3:17 and parallel passages of similar scripture., including 2 Peter 2:20 and Revelation 2:5 "Remember then from what you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first."
Or maybe you choose not to read these parts of the Bible. --User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic]] (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk]]) 23:05, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

Did Solomon fall away and be damned? RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 23:18, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

What does the scripture say? How do you read it?
I believe 1 Kings 11:9-11 "Torn away". --User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic]] (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk]]) 23:27, 2 September 2020 (EDT)

Must be a typo. It says turn away. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 07:37, 3 September 2020 (EDT)

<-----

It's a very interesting question, we could probably do a whole page on it. And I believe God wants the serious Bible student to study this question, comparing scripture with scripture. There are numerous scriptures to consider. [2] Let's take for a moment all of 1 Kings chapter 11 and all of 1 Corinthians chapter 3; (for this, you'd have to lay aside your thinking on 1 Corinthians 3:15). Solomon built the temple. Now consider this excerpt from 1 Corinthians 3:

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 21 Therefore let no man glory in men.

Vanity of vanities. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. I boldened a few sections here, but there's much more. And we also have to consider I will remember their sins no more (Hebrews 8:12, 10:17), yet like Manasseh, Solomon's sins are embalmed into the bible.

Now, I'm not ready to offer a definitive conclusion yet as to whether Solomon was saved. But in studying this brief excerpt I superficially find two weaknesses in Roman Catholic doctrine: (1) a misunderstanding of 1 Corinthians 3:15 which we've addressed in debates elsewhere, and (2) verse 21 above. There seems to be a whole lot of glorying in men in Roman Catholic doctrine, beginning with the claim that Mary is a "Mediatrix" given the fact that we are sexless in the resurrection, and much of the glorying in men you posted right here in this discussion thread.

But let's not get sidetracked from the main question. I'm saying you might have reconsider what he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire means using the internal consistencies of the bible without any external sources, such as catechism. (At the same time, any scripture may have more than one application, so this does not dismiss your understanding of Purgatory completely, but it should open your eyes to the fact that there are other internal applications of he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire and your understanding is of 1 Cor. 3:15 is not definitive.)

We're only scratching the surface here of an important question that I believe God wants any serious bible student to study. RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 04:52, 3 September 2020 (EDT)

And a brief after thought about glorying in men: In every house there are two kinds of vessels, vessels of honor and vessels of dishonor. Translation: Two kinds of vessels, dinner plates and piss pots. Maybe that's all Solomon was, a piss pot. The more important question is, What do you want to be in the Lord's House, a vessel of honor or vessel of dishoner? It's a choice each individual believer has to make., RobS^{Trump 2Q2Q} 05:09, 3 September 2020 (EDT)

Quote: "Such underhanded and deceitful tactics to pervert God's word and impugn a preacher of the gospel". Apparently from the context, you claim or imply that you are "a preacher of the gospel", a title applied by you to yourself without having explicitly cited any recognized credentials on any page of Conservapedia (as far as I know; I haven't seen any, nor has Dataclarifier—I asked). For example, NishantXavier has said that he has seminary training. Dataclarifier has explicitly stated that he is not a Catholic apologist, only a "Bible apologist", as an informed and believing Bible Christian ,"who happens to be Catholic".
So we ask you RobSmith: Have you graduated from a seminary? Have you been ordained? Have you submitted yourself to the laying on of a bishop's hands or the hands of the presbytery or the hands of accredited apostles? (I'm looking at 2 Timothy 1:6; Acts 13:1-3; Acts 14:23; 1 Corinthians 9:14.) Even Paul, as Saul of Tarsus, was already an ordained and accredited rabbi with authority to preach in the synagogues of the Jews, even Paul himself, who was appointed an apostle by Christ Himself on the road to Damascus, was formally ordained by the laying on of the hands of the prophets and teachers when they were worshiping the Lord and fasting before he was "sent forth" with Barnabas. That tradition of worship and fasting and laying on of hands to ordain priests as acknowledged "preachers of the gospel" has continued from the time of the apostles to the present day by churches claiming apostolic succession.

So we ask:

• Are you acknowledged by formally ordained and accredited preachers of the gospel as an officially accredited and acknowledged preacher of the gospel in any Christian church or sect or denomination?
• Are you salaried by any congregation of the people of God as an acknowledged preacher of the gospel?

Or are you self-appointed without "the laying on of the hands of the elders"?
You have never directly said one way or the other, at least not on any of the Debate pages or Debate Talk pages. Declare yourself. What are your credentials? It's enough to say "yes" I was formally and officially ordained a preacher of the gospel, or "no" I haven't been ordained a preacher of the gospel.
--User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk) 10:16, 3 September 2020 (EDT)

Mark 16:15 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

User:RobSmith|RobS^{User talk:RobSmith|Trump 2Q2Q} 11:56, 3 September 2020 (EDT)

Evasive refusal to answer the question "Are you an authentically accredited ordained preacher of the gospel?" Apparently not. His postings are only his own private interpretations of scripture, putting his own spin on passages of the Bible as "proofs" of Confirmation bias, just to make the Bible support his points by ignoring the context of the whole of the Bible evidence. Witnessing to the gospel of Christ is the duty of every Christian according to their ability. A preacher of the gospel is an accredited ordained evangelist or pastor of a church.
--User:IndependentSkeptic|IndependentSkeptic (User talk:IndependentSkeptic|talk) 12:16, 3 September 2020 (EDT)

• Muzzle not the ox. RobS^{Free Kyle!} 03:44, 4 September 2020 (EDT)

See also

• Debate:Does the Catholic Church have the biblical authority of Christ Himself to preach and to teach the truth forever?
• Debate: Is the Roman Catholic doctrine of grace biblical?
• Debate: Is the Magisterium infallible?
• Debate: Is Roman Catholic teaching on the Holy Spirit biblical?
• Debate: Infant baptism
• Debate: Is there a Purgatory before Judgment Day
• Debate:Is Holy Communion the True Body and Precious Blood of Jesus Christ
• Salvation: declarational salvation and ontological salvation
• Ex opere operato and ex opere operantis
• Eternal security (salvation)
• Antinomianism

References