The Bible is the Word of God declaring his essence, his son, and his plan for humanity. The KJV Bible has withstood the test of time. It is the most authoritative book ever published. It is the plumb-line of God’s message and values to man.
Jesus is the most prominent person to walk the face of the earth. Man’s history is divided as BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini), after the birth of Christ. Man’s time started with Adam’s appearance on earth. After the birth of Christ (second Adam), man restarted the counting of time.
The law was fulfilled by Jesus, and the dispensation of faith and grace was established by him. There were approximately 4000 years from Adam to Jesus and approximately 2000 years since the birth of Jesus (2007).
The main thread through the Bible is God, his creation, the Christ, and God’s dealings with his creation. The Emphasis of the Old Testament is history of the Israelites, chosen to birth the promised Messiah, Jesus. There are approximately 100 prophesies in the OT regarding the first coming of Jesus, the Son of God. All 100 prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus.
Emphasis of the New Testament is the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and the application of this event to God’s creation. Protestants base our teachings on the concept of the written Word of the Bible and the Living Word, Jesus.
We believe the Bible teaches Jesus as the only mediator between man and God. Jesus is the center piece of the Christian faith. Any attempt to minimize his glory by focusing on Priests, Fathers, Saints, Mary, Pope, images, etal, is taking away from the praise and glory of the Son of God.
Protestant preachers are not revered by members of their churches. They are mere brothers in Christ who study the Bible fervently, and they are expected to teach the Word of God to us, our children, and the lost. We encourage all members to study the Bible, and question our preachers when they stray from the truths of the Bible.
When a preacher, in a protestant church, strays from the truths in the Bible, the church summons him before the membership, and holds him accountable for his erring ways. It is foolish to think one man can preach to a congregation, who also studies their Bible fervently, without being called into accountability for teachings contrary to God’s Word.
The Protestant preacher is not the sole authority for the interpretation of the scriptures. Each person is urged to study his Bible fervently. The Bible says, “Study to show thy-self approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
In the Catholic Church, the Pope has assumed the authority to interpret the scriptures and teach doctrine as he wishes. He is not accountable to the masses. The Pope does not want the masses to read the scripture, nor question his interpretations. The Pope and Catholic Church are perfectly happy the masses do not question their rules and doctrines. To the Protestants, the Catholic hierarchy represents the Scribes and Pharisees of the scriptures.
The Pope, Saints, Cardinals, Mary, nor protestant preachers have no more significance than a Christian who is an adopted Son of God through the redemptive atonement of Jesus.
There are Christian men and women in the Catholic Church who trust in Jesus as their Savior and Lord. However, many are misled by the Catholic hierarchy into performing rituals, having nothing to do with Jesus or salvation.
Jesus is the God-man, Son of God, and God incarnate, who came into the world as a sacrifice for our condemned state and provide a way back to God. The Bible states, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”.
John 14:6 Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. “How shall ye escape if ye neglect so great a salvation?”
Personal beliefs amount to zero, if not backed by scripture. All truth comes from God, not man. In the beginning God appeared to man personally (Adam and those of the garden). He communicated with man through angels and his Spirit. God later communicated to us through his appointed prophets, Moses and the law, the incarnate God in Jesus, and finally through the written Word.
On the cross Jesus said, “It is finished”. Jesus fulfilled all requirements of the law as the Lamb of God paying the sin debt of Adam. Man was freed from bondage to Adam’s curse and can be resurrected into eternal life by accepting Christ as Savior and God through faith. The history of God, angels, law and prophets, and gospel of Christ have now been recorded in the Bible.
Jesus said the Comforter would come to help us understand his Word. Through reading of the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and preaching of the gospel of Christ, we have all the knowledge we need for the finished work of God. All that is needed to attain eternal life in Christ is saving faith in the promises of God and his Son. This faith in Jesus will give us access to the saving grace of God.
Few lost people read the Bible because they are not seeking God. God sends preachers to preach the gospel of Christ to the world. “How can they hear without a preacher?” The Holy Ghost is in the world and is active in wooing the lost to Christ.
The Holy Ghost provides light in a lost person’s darkness so he can have the opportunity to accept or reject the person of Christ. Once a man commits himself to Christ by receiving the Word of God through faith, he begins to learn more about Christ through the written Word of God with the guidance of the Holy Ghost dwelling in him.
The sin separating man from God is pride. We Christians accept the Word of God eagerly, our lives are changed, and we begin to study God’s written word to become better disciples. We bury our own ego and allow Christ to guide our lives.
Pride separates man from God. The prideful say, “I won’t accept God and his way, I will do things my way, I will find a religion that suits my way of life”. Man does not accept Christ as God and Savior, unless he rejects his own pride and accepts God as master.
Lucifer was prideful and wanted to be as God. He said, “I will ascend above the most-high God and become God myself, then I can do things my way”. Satan was expelled from his lofty position with a third of the angels who allied themselves with him. Angels do not have freewill or redemption.
Adam was created perfect, but with freewill, to choose between God’s way and his own. Adam was given only one choice to make his freewill simple. He was warned not eat from the forbidden tree. He could obey God or disobey and thus become his own master.
Satan said to Adam, “If you eat of the tree, you will be like God and know the difference between good and evil”. This appealed to Adam to be his own god and have control of his own life. Adam decided to be his own master instead of accepting God as master, so he chose his wisdom over God’s. God provided interim atonement plans until Jesus eventually came to give his life for the redemption of mans fallen nature. Jesus is the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world to atone for the Adamic sin.
God told this plan to Adam and his heirs after the fall. Temporary appeasement would be a blood sacrifice of an unblemished lamb of the flock. Everyone was required to make this sacrifice by faith until the Messiah came as the atonement for Adam’s condemnation. This yearly sacrifice was a reminder of the prophecy of the Messiah to come as the Lamb of God.
Cain was a tiller of the soil and Abel a shepherd. Cain did not want to sacrifice a lamb even though it was commanded by God. Cain did not like God’s method of sacrifice and provided a sacrifice of his own works. He offered a sacrifice to God of his own crops and God did not accept it. Cain grew angry and killed Abel, because of his jealousy. God said to Cain, “if thou doest well, will thou not be accepted?” “If thou art not accepted, sin lies at the door.”
Salvation must be of a Holy God and not works of a sinful man. The lamb represented a perfect Christ from God without sin as the atonement for the Adamic sin. Cain was trying to substitute his works to attain salvation instead of following the command of the creator God. Salvation must be totally from a Holy God with no input from sinful man. Man can only accept God’s free gift of salvation by faith; there is no other way.
Cain wanted to be his own God and do things his way. It must be God’s way or the highway. Man’s is not holy and cannot provide his own salvation.
Preachers are constantly proclaiming the gospel of salvation to man. Yes, preachers often preach “hell fire and damnation” along with the gospel of Christ, but hell-fire and damnation are to be taught as a warning from God to the wicked. God proclaims the end results of those that would reject his salvation and follow their own paths to destruction.
Those rejecting God must eventually be separated from those who accept God and his Son. God is not willing that any should perish, but God can not force man to accept Jesus, and still retain his freedom of choice.
God is a loving God and wants all to accept him, so he slew his only begotten Son to give man a way of escape from eternal destruction. God has prepared only two places of final destination, heaven for those who accept Jesus as their salvation. The Lake of Fire is prepared for Satan and his angels to separate all righteousness from unrighteousness. God has no choice except to cast the wicked into the Lake of Fire along with Satan if they do not accept the free gift of righteousness provided by Christ. There is no other place for the wicked.
God cannot allow evil to live with and taint the good. The evil are those who reject God and his way of life. Those following Satan to the lake of fire do so of their own choice. There is no other alternative.
Man often looks for a “religion” to satisfy his own desires and make him feel comfortable, while ignoring the teachings of God from scripture. This is a serious matter and must be considered by everyone. No “religion” can save or protect anyone. No man, Pope or Priest, can absolve any man’s transgressions. It must be between each man and God with Jesus as the only intercessor to the Father.
The Catholic Church errs greatly regarding the popes ability to forgive sins or be the supreme authority of the church. Jesus is the only person who can pardon sins and the only intercessor between man and God. Jesus is the Bridegroom and the Church is the Bride. There are no in-between mediators.
Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am”, and Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”. The Catholic Church greatly erred on Jesus next statement.
Matthew 16:17-19 has been misinterpreted by the Catholic Church. Jesus declared that Peter’s statement, “Jesus was the Son of God”, was a statement confirming Christ as the Rock. Peter was not the rock.
Peter’s confession, “Jesus was the Son of God”, is the rock on which salvation is based. It was this faith and confession of Peter or any believer that Jesus was describing. Jesus is the rock and our faith in this statement gives us access to saving grace.
Jesus changed Peter’s name to Cephas (stone) to signify Peter’s confession was in regard to the stone or rock of salvation (Jesus). Jesus further stated his church would be built on the faith of belief and confession that Jesus was the Son of God. Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against salvation by this method. Jesus is our rock and salvation.
Jesus stated to Peter, “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
The gospel of Jesus preached by Peter, or any Christian, either looses a man from sin and destruction, or binds a man in his sins and destruction. It is the preaching of God’s word by Peter, or any Christian, that is the key to salvation. Neither Peter, nor any other man has the authority to forgive sins. That is reserved for God only. It is the Word of God that looses and binds.
Jesus is the rock or corner stone of salvation, not a man, not Peter, not the Pope, not a saint, not Mary, not a protestant preacher, etc. All references to rock, stone, etc., in the Bible are “always” in regard to God or Jesus. All references to rock, stone, etc., will be in Caps in the scriptures below.
1 Corinthian 3:10-11 10According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the FOUNDATION, and another built thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon. 11For other FOUNDATION can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:20 and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief CORNER STONE.
Hebrews 6:20 whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Hebrews 7:24 But this man, because he continues ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. (Jesus is the only intercessor, not the pope).
1 Peter 2:6-7 6Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief CORNER STONE, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the STONE which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner.
Acts 4:11-12 11This is the STONE (Jesus) set at naught of you builders, and he has become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Deuteronomy 32:3-4, 15, 18, 31 3Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. 4He is the ROCK. 15 Then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the ROCK of his salvation. 18Of the ROCK that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee. 30How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their ROCK had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up? 31For their rock is not as our ROCK, even our enemies themselves being judges.
1 Samuel 2:2 There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any ROCK like our God.
2 Samuel 22:2-3 2And he said, The LORD is my ROCK, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3The God of my ROCK; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; thou save me from violence.
2 Samuel 23:3 The God of Israel said, the ROCK of Israel spoke to me, he that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
Job 38:6 Whereupon are the FOUNDATIONS thereof fastened? Or who laid the CORNER STONE thereof.
Psalms 18:2, 31, 46 2The LORD is my ROCK, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. 31For who is God save the LORD? Or who is a ROCK save our God? 46The LORD lives; and blessed be my ROCK; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
Psalms 28:1 Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my ROCK; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.
Psalms 31:2-3 2Be my strong ROCK, for a house of defense to save me. 3For thou art my ROCK and my fortress.
Psalms 40:2 He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a ROCK.
Psalms 42:9 I will say unto God my ROCK, Why hast thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Psalms 61:2 From the end of the earth I will cry unto thee and when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the ROCK that is higher than I.
Psalms 62:2, 5-6 2He only is my ROCK and my salvation. 6He only is my ROCK and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved.
Psalms 71:3 Thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my ROCK and my fortress.
Psalms 78:35 And they remembered that God was their ROCK.
Psalms 89:26 Thou art my father, my God, and the ROCK of my salvation.
Psalms 92:15 To show that the LORD is upright: he is my ROCK.
Psalms 94:22 But the LORD is my defense; and my God is the ROCK of my refuge.
Psalms 95:1 O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the ROCK of our salvation.
Psalms 118:22 The STONE which the builders refused is become the HEAD STONE of the CORNER.
Isaiah 8:13-14 13Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a STONE of stumbling and for a ROCK of offence to both the houses of Israel.
Isaiah 17:10 Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the ROCK of thy strength, therefore shall thou plant pleasant plants.
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, Behold; I lay in Zion for a FOUNDATION, a tried STONE, a precious CORNER STONE, and a sure FOUNDATION.
Matthew 21:42 The STONE which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner. Mark 12:10 The STONE which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner. Luke 20:17 The STONE which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner.
Acts 4:10-12 10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11This is the STONE which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Romans 9:33 as it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a STUMBING and ROCK of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
1 Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual ROCK that followed them: and that ROCK was Christ.
Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief CORNER STONE.
1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief CORNER STONE, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
TRANSUBSTANTIATION
It is amazing how some take one or two verses and slant them in opposition to the entire theme of the Bible.
The protestant faith feels the Catholic Church has made transubstantiation another part of salvation rather than a “remembrance” of the sacrifice of Jesus. If the Catholic Church can persuade members to believe Transubstantiation is true and feel like they are really becoming a part of Christ by eating the bread and drinking the wine, they have power over their members and can manipulate them.
Power in the Catholic Church is reserved for few, while protestant churches believe all power is in the Word of God and available to all men equally according to the person’s devotion and closeness to God.
The Bible forbids man to drink blood of any life. It is a Biblical taboo for mankind. It is wrong to drink the blood of life. Why would God’s word tell us “not to murder man”, much less drink his blood. It is an unconscionable act.
Jesus and the apostles met to observe Passover, which is a remembrance of God’s sparing of the firstborn of Israel when blood of a lamb was placed on the door post and lintel which is a type of cross. Inside, Israelites ate unleavened bread.
The Passover was a picture of Jesus, the firstborn of God, who would become the atonement for the sins of the world. Israelites observed this Passover feast once a year to remember their deliverance from bondage of death and enslavement. Jesus commanded the apostles to make ready the Passover feast.
During the Passover feast, Jesus took bread, blessed it, and gave it to his disciples. He gave wine to His Disciples. He told them to do this in “remembrance” of him. Jesus said he would not partake of the fruit of the vine until he drank it again in his kingdom. The key word is “remembrance”.
The bread represented the flesh of Jesus on the cross as atonement for our sins. The blood represented the blood of Jesus shed for the remission of sins. The “Word of God” had been made flesh in Jesus. The “Word of God” is the bread from heaven. The blood represents the blood atonement and it was shed on the ground at Golgotha.
Jesus stated he was the Word of God (bread from heaven). We hide the Word of God in our heart that we might not sin against him. Flesh was not from the beginning, the Word of God in Jesus was in the beginning. The blood atonement was literal blood shed on the cross. The shedding of the blood of Jesus covers the sin of the world.
We cannot work our way into heaven; salvation is a gift of God to those who believe. Partaking of bread and wine is not a requirement of attaining or keeping salvation.
Communion is taken only in “remembrance” of the sacrifice of Jesus for our sin. Nothing is magical about the bread and wine. It does not change into the blood and body of Jesus as a person partakes of communion.
Jesus stated it was wine and continued calling it wine after they drank it. Jesus said he would not drink of the fruit of the vine again until he came into his kingdom. He did not infer it had changed its qualities to his blood after they drank it.
Judas drank of the wine and then betrayed Jesus. It did nothing for Judas and will do nothing for us. The ritual is one of worship to remember the sacrifice made by Jesus.
Immediately after they drank wine and ate unleavened bread, soldiers came and arrested Jesus. The disciples tucked their tails and ran and Peter denied he knew Jesus three times before the **** crowed. It is evident, the bread and wine did nothing to help Judas, the disciples who fled, nor Peter who denied Jesus.
The only part of Jesus to be ingested into the hearts of man is God’s word, which is the bread of life. His blood was shed on the cross and remains effective for ever.
At that time, Jesus had not been sacrificed on the cross, nor his blood shed prior to the Passover supper. The bread and wine served by Jesus to the disciples could not have been transformed into his body and blood as he had not yet made the sacrifice.
Jesus merely wanted them to take unleavened bread and wine in remembrance of his sacrifice as an act of faith and not for any mystical changes in the bread and wine.
We worship God in spirit and truth only. “The just shall live by faith”. Nothing else suffices. After his death on the cross, the apostles understood the full meaning of the toast to his sacrifice.
Flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God, only souls with glorified bodies of the born again. Since our flesh and blood shall not enter the kingdom of God, having Jesus flesh and blood in our body would be of none-effect.
We live by faith, not any magical transubstantiation dreamed up by the popes. Those who worship God must do so in spirit and truth not gimmicks of a denomination.
We have the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts and minds, and he seals us unto eternal life. We are transformed spiritually into God’s kingdom. The communion of bread and wine only brings to our “remembrance” the sacrifice made by God’s Son and his love toward us.
When Jesus died on the cross, his last words were, “it is finished”. After the resurrection there was nothing left to do for the plan of salvation was complete. There was no need for works, mystical rituals, or requirement for transubstantiation. The finished work of Christ was complete and the rest was up to us by accepting this free gift of salvation or rejecting it. Salvation is attained through faith and God’s grace and nothing else.
The major verses which confuse the Catholic masses are found in John 6:32-63 below. I have omitted some non-essential verses. You may want to read the entire chapter from the Bible.
After many of the verses describe the “bread and blood”, verse 63 states, “It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Verse 63 makes it clear the flesh profits nothing, and that it is the Word of God that gives eternal life to our lives.
Other verses below illustrate the absurdity of the wine being turned into Jesus blood in our bodies. John, chapter six, never stated the bread and wine would be changed once it entered our bodies. Its only point was the strong assertion that Jesus would indeed give his Body and Blood on the cross, and spiritually his word would affect our lives according to whether we accept saving grace or we reject this free offer of saving grace.
If you get confused by the main body of John, chapter 6, scan down to verse 63 and read it again to see where Jesus explains that he was referring to the bread and flesh as the Word of God.
Deuteronomy 12:16 16Ye shall not eat the blood. (Eating/drinking of blood is forbidden by God)
1 Samuel 14:32-33 32And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood. 33Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood.
Deuteronomy 15:23 23Only thou shall not eat the blood thereof; thou shall pour it upon the ground as water.
Luke 22:15 15And he said unto them, with desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: 16For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19And he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave unto them, saying, this is my body which is given for you: this do in “remembrance” of me.
20Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, and this cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you. 21But, behold, the hand of him that betrays me is with me on the table. 22And truly the Son of man goes, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! 34And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the **** shall not crow this day, before that thou shall thrice deny that you know me.
In the passage above, note carefully, Jesus says to do in remembrance of Him.
I Corinthians 5:23-26 23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in “remembrance” of me. 25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the New Testament in my blood: do this, as oft as ye drink it, in “remembrance” of me. 26As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, you show the Lord’s death till he comes. (Again, in remembrance only, and he said eat of this “bread” and drink of this “cup”)
John 6:32-40, 47-58, 62-63 32but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and gives life unto the world. 34Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36But I said unto you, that ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37All that the Father gives me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which sees the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
47Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48I am that bread of life. 49Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eats of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, how can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54Whoso eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, dwells in me, and I in him. 57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats me, even he shall live by me. 58This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eats of this bread shall live for ever. Doth this offend you?
62What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Again, in the passage above, read verse 63 for an explanation by Jesus. He made it clear, the Israelites ate the physical bread he gave them in the wilderness, yet they are dead. He then notes a Christian’s life is alive in the spiritual bread that came from Heaven, The Word of God. Jesus says the criteria for receiving saving grace is that a person believe (have faith) to receive eternal life.
The protestant view of the Lord’s Supper is to keep us focused on the atonement of Jesus as our redeemer. We partake of the bread and wine in remembrance of this. We do not believe there is any magical change of the material bread and material wine into the blood of Jesus. We believe the blood of Jesus was shed, it covers our sins. We believe the Word of God is the bread we ingest into our hearts to live by those words.
Matthew 26:27-28 27And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Again, Jesus has not shed his blood at that time, he is foretelling them of his forthcoming sacrifice. They will remember this at a later date after his death and resurrection).
John 1:14 14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (The pure Word of God is the bread from Heaven, not the flesh).
1 Corinthians 15:50 50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Present day Catholics are giving deity to a common person. They say Mary is the mother of God. God does not have a mother. God is the Eternal Creator and has existed forever. Mary gained favor the same as anyone else that worships God and remains faithful to him.
She was chosen by God to birth the only begotten Son of God. Jesus was both God and man. Mary birthed the man child Jesus of the Holy Ghost. She did not birth God. The Catholics also give much glory to the Saints and pray through both Mary and the Saints. Mary, nor any Saint, can intercede to God for man.
Since Catholics pray through the Saints, Mary, and the Pope, this is a form of antichrist giving Jesus less and less glory among their leaders. It is to the benefit of many of the good Catholic people, they are not listening to their leaders on many issues.
The Pope has no more authority than any other man in this world. All who would reach God must go through the same High Priest, Jesus, Who is the door to God. No one else holds that authority.
The Saints, Peter, Pope, Mary, Cardinal, etc., must go through Jesus for their intercession to God in exactly the same manner as every Christian. God is not a respecter of persons. The Tabernacle of the Old Testament is gone. Jesus is the Tabernacle of God.
No man has the power to forgive sins. This is the sole authority of God. Jesus said to the cripple, “thy sins are forgiven”. Peter, the Pope, Mary, nor any Saint has power to remit or forgive sins.
A confession of sins to a priest is worthless. Only a confession to God through Jesus has any validity. Why should one sinful man confess to another sinful man?
God sent the apostles and early disciples out on the Great Commission. He empowered them to do this job. It has been accomplished and all the apostles are dead.
We now have the Bible and the Holy Spirit within each Christian to share the Scriptures with the world.
Flesh and blood shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. The flesh and blood body of Jesus died. Mary’s son died at the cross. The Word of God did not die at the cross. The man Jesus laid down the physical, fleshly body birthed by Mary, and the Son of God (Word of God) raised it up again into a glorified body.
God will be with us in heaven in the glorified body of Jesus. Jesus and his glorified body will be the Tabernacle of God in heaven in which God will dwell. Mary will not be the mother of Jesus in heaven.
In heaven there will be no mothers, no dads, no kids, no young, no old, no feeble, no blind, no lame, etc. In heaven, we will all have new sexless, spiritual, glorified bodies. There will be no procreation in heaven and no sexes.
Your mother and dad on earth will not be your mother and dad in heaven. Your wife or husband on earth will not be your wife or husband in heaven. Mary will not be a female in heaven, nor have a throne to sit on as the mother of Jesus.
Did Mary Remain A Perpetual Virgin?
Did Mary remain a virgin all her life? No. Matthew 1:24-25 said that Joseph knew Mary in the sexual sense after the birth of Jesus. The other passages below also indicate Jesus had brothers and a sister via Mary.
Anyone stating Mary remained a virgin after the birth of Jesus is ignoring scripture. There is no evidence to indicate she remained a virgin, but plenty to indicate Mary had other children after the birth of Jesus.
Matthew 1:24-25 24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus. (The word “knew” denotes a sexual act) (Joseph knew Mary sexually after the birth of Jesus, and Jesus was the firstborn son. This implies there were other sons.)
Matthew 12:46 46While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. (Brothers noted)
Matthew 13:55-56 55Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56And his sisters, are they not all with us? (Brothers named)
Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (Brothers noted)
Galatians 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother. (Brother named)
Luke 11: 27-28 27And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28But he said, yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Jesus did not acknowledge the statement above regarding, “blessed” is the womb that bare thee.
Was Mary A Virgin?
Mary was a virgin and remained a virgin until Joseph knew her sometime after the birth of Jesus. She had no sex with the Holy Spirit or God. In the Bible it is written, “Behold! A virgin shall conceive, and bear a son”.
Yes, several different verses said she was a virgin. It was prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. In Luke 1:34, Mary, herself, stated she had not known man. It is important that Mary was referred to as a Virgin when she birthed Jesus, which means she had never know a man when Jesus was born.
Matthew 1:20, 22-23, 25 20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.
Luke 1:26-27, 30-31, 34 26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. 31And, behold, thou shall conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus. 34Then said Mary unto the angel, how shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Simeon and Anna the prophetess also proves Mary was a virgin. Both came into the Temple to see the seven day old child, Jesus, to hold him and to bless him.
Any male child who opens the womb of his mother is dedicated in the Temple after seven days. Jesus opened the womb of Mary and thus was dedicated in the Temple. This means there were no children prior to Jesus.
Simeon was promised he would not see death until he saw the Christ. He was led by the spirit of God into the Temple to bless Jesus. Anna also blessed Jesus and prophesied that he was the promised Messiah.
It was prophesied that a virgin shall be with child of the Messiah (Emmanuel). These two verified Jesus as the Messiah and that Mary was a virgin.
The Magi also verified Jesus was the Messiah and brought Him royal gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and myrrh. They also verified Mary was a virgin by identifying Jesus as the Messiah and the fulfillment of prophecy that the Messiah would be born of a virgin.
The Magi, Simeon, Anna the prophetess, nor Jesus proclaimed any praise to Mary as Deity, or to be worshipped.
The only reason it was important for her to be a virgin before the birth of Jesus was to authenticate that Jesus was the Messiah produced by God alone.
Is Mary To Be Revered?
No! She is a mere sinful human as everyone else. She was chosen by God to be the vessel to birth the Son of Man, because her heart was right with God the same as many men and women.
In Luke 1:28, she was highly favored and was blessed among women. 28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
The only thing meant by the above was that Mary was chosen and favored among women to birth Jesus. There was no other insinuation. Gabriel did not say she was “blessed” above other women, nor blessed among mankind. She was blessed in that she was chosen to birth God’s son, nothing else.
Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s mother, said, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb”. Again, the blessing came from a human and it was only because Mary was chosen among women to birth Jesus.
Mary made the following statement: 48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Mary came from a low estate and was nothing special other than she had a good heart and God proclaimed favor upon her to birth the Christ child. She realized this was a special honor and Christians would honor her as the mother of Christ. Neither, God nor the angel placed any kind of blessing on Mary of deity, or being special above any other person in the earth, other than to be chosen to birth Jesus.
Jesus called all of the following people “blessed” in the scriptures below:
Matthew 5:3-11 3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mary had a special part in the history of man, but so have many others as shown in the verses above. Mary had to accept her own son in faith; the same as you and I. Mary was born in sin, and had no spiritual soul, the same as all men or women. Mary gained entrance to the kingdom of heaven the same as you and I, through the blood of Jesus and his salvation for all men.
Jesus is the High priest, no man can pray to God, unless he prays with intercession of the Holy Spirit of Jesus. Jesus says, “I am the way, no man cometh unto the Father except by me”. Praying to Mary carries no special privileges. She cannot do one thing for any man who prays to her. It is the same with the pope or any “so called” Saint. All prayers through any medium other than Jesus and the Holy Spirit are idol worship.
Luke 11: 27-28 27And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28But he said, yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. (Jesus did not acknowledge the statement regarding, “blessed is the womb that bare thee)
How did Jesus react to his Mother? Did he treat her like she was above other humans? Below are the only three passages where Jesus is shown dealing with his mother.
Luke 2:48-49 48And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49And he said unto them how is it that ye sought me? Don’t you understand that I must be about my Father’s business?
John 2:3-4 3And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus said unto him, they have no wine. 4Jesus said unto her, “woman”, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come.
John 19:26-27 26When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said unto his mother, “Woman”, behold thy son! 27Then said he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. Note in the latter two verses, he called her woman, instead of mother.
Notice, the Magi knelt down and worshipped Jesus and gave no homage to Mary: Matthew 2:10-11 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother and fell down, and worshipped “him”: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto “him” gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 11:11 Verily, I say unto you, among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (John the Baptist is greater than Mary and the least person entering the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist)
Father Time
