Seeking Divine Mercy
He came once for the salvation of all man…
There Is One Jesus Christ. One Head,
One Body,
One Church
Brothers and sisters:
“As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him and built
upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in
thanksgiving. See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive
philosophy according to the tradition of men, according to the elemental powers
of the world and not according to Christ. For in him dwells the whole fullness
of the deity bodily, and you share in this fullness in him, who is the head of
every principality and power. In him you were also circumcised with a
circumcision not administered by hand, by stripping off the carnal body, with
the circumcision of Christ. You were buried with him in baptism, in which you
were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him
from the dead. And even when you were dead in transgressions and the
uncircumcision of your flesh, he brought you to life along with him, having
forgiven us all our transgressions; obliterating the bond against us, with its
legal claims, which was opposed to us, he also removed it from our midst,
nailing it to the cross; despoiling the principalities and the powers, he made
a public spectacle of them, leading them away in triumph by it.” (Colossians CH2; 6-15)
“For
it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened and tasted
the heavenly gift and shared in the holy
Spirit and tasted the good word of God
and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to bring them to
repentance again, since they are recrucifying the Son of God for themselves and
holding him up to contempt. Ground that has absorbed the rain falling upon it
repeatedly and brings forth crops useful to those for whom it is cultivated
receives a blessing from God. But if it
produces thorns and thistles, it is rejected; it will soon be cursed and
finally burned. But we are sure in your regard, beloved, of better things
related to salvation, even though we speak in this way. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work
and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having served and continuing
to serve the holy ones.”
(Hebrews CH6; 4-10)
“Children,
it is the last hour; and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming, so
now many antichrists have appeared. Thus we know this is the last hour. They
went out from us, but they were not really of our number; if they had been,
they would have remained with us. Their desertion shows that none of them was
of our number.” (1 John CH2; 18-19)
Previously, the question had been raised; if the Catholic Church is the
one true Church founded by Jesus, why did He not refer to it by name in
scripture and how did the Catholic Church come to be known by the name
“Catholic” . In other words, how can one know the Catholic Church is truly the
church Jesus founded. The fact is, history itself validates the lineage of the
Catholic Church back to Christ and Jesus would not name His own teachings, He
was the teacher through the life He lived and the Word of God Himself. He was God in human form offering the
opportunity of salvation through His own instruction. The initial question
actually becomes invalid for the reason, Jesus did not record His teachings in
written form at all, nor did He suggest or instruct anyone of His disciples to
do so. He instructed His chosen apostles specifically to preach, which is to
say deliver verbally or tell personally. But to answer the question simply; in
ancient society, those who were followers of a particular teaching or teacher
were usually labeled by those outside the membership in a manner reflective to
their teacher or teaching. This is also common practice in societies throughout
history. Based on recorded history it is evident that in the beginning of the
establishment of the Christian Faith, the apostles referred to the teachings of
Christ (the Gospel) and their “faith” as “the way”. Originally, it was not the
apostles who referred to themselves or the followers of Christ as “Christians”,
but during the period Paul served in his ministry with others in
There should be absolutely no division among Christians regarding faith, none. When it comes to being Christian, Jesus is “The Truth” and that is what this web site is about. We invite everyone to consider just how did it come to pass that there are so many denominations of us that are of Christian faith when there was and always will be only one church instituted by our Lord? And can it really be that difficult to determine His Church? Too many have been misled or deceived for too long.
The following three conversion stories are a mere example of many. These presented are Biblical Scholars to list but a few.
|
Listen to the
conversion of Jeff Cavins, Protestant minister of twelve
years, returned to the Catholic Faith Courtesy EWTN Journey Home |
For audio interviews of numerous conversion stories, follow this link or visit “The Journey Home” program on ETWN.
Recorded history proves the origin and lineage of the
Catholic Church from the establishment laid by Jesus through His apostles and
their successors. The Apostles continued the growth and establishment of the
Church through the assignment of their successors and the formation of the
hierarchy. These are the very same Faithful followers who came to be know as
“Christians” in
Latin Vulgate (The first Holy Bible compiled,
translated to Latin and canonized by the Catholic Church)
Jesus established
and protects His Church;
Jesus said,
Mat. Ch16; 15-19 "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living
God." Jesus answered, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and
blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to
you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of
the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the
kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and
whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Jesus promises to
be with His Church always;
Matthew
CH28; 19 Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 20 Teaching them
to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with
you all days, even to the consummation of the world.
The Holy Spirit
guides the Church into all truth;
John
CH16; 12 I have yet many things to say to you: but you cannot bear
them now. 13 But when he, the
Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth. For he shall not speak
of himself; but what things soever he shall hear, he shall speak; and the
things that are to come, he shall shew you. 14 He shall
glorify me; because he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it to you. 15 All things
whatsoever the Father hath, are mine. Therefore I said, that he shall receive
of mine, and shew it to you.
The Church is the
pillar and foundation of truth;
1 Timothy
CH3; 13 For they that have ministered well, shall purchase to
themselves a good degree, and much confidence in the faith which is in Christ
Jesus. 14 These things I
write to thee, hoping that I shall come to 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.
He who rejects
the Church rejects Christ;
Luke CH10;
16 He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you,
despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me.
Jesus prayed that
we would be one;
John CH17; 18 As thou hast
sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for them do
I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. 20 And not for
them only do I pray, but for them also who through their word shall believe in
me; 21 That they all
may be one, as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in
us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
There must be no
divisions among us;
1 Corinthians CH1; 6 As the
testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 So that nothing
is wanting to you in any grace, waiting for the manifestation of our Lord Jesus
Christ. 8 Who also will
confirm you unto the end without crime, in the day of the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ. 9 God is
faithful: by whom you are called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ
our Lord. 10 Now I
beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak
the same thing, and that there be no schisms among you; but that you be perfect
in the same mind, and in the same judgment.
Jesus warns Simon
Peter of the intent of satan to attack and separate the faithful within His
Church;
Luke CH22; 31 “And the Lord said: Simon, Simon, behold Satan
hath desired to have you, that he may sift you all as wheat: 32 But I have
prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and thou, being once converted,
confirm thy brethren.”
Jesus speaks of
the unification through His Church of all those who will accept His word and
come together in Him;
Jesus said:
“…I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father
knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I
have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and
they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (Jn
10:14-16)
Jesus
warns of the things to come, both in and of His Church and the world in
general, and attests to our salvation through perseverance in Faith;
Matthew CH24; 4 “And Jesus answering, said to them: Take
heed that no man seduce you: 5 For many will come in my name saying, I am
Christ: and they will seduce many. 6 And you shall hear of wars and rumors of
wars. See that ye be not troubled. For these things must come to pass, but the
end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, 
and kingdom
against kingdom; and there shall be pestilences, and famines, and earthquakes
in places: 8 Now all these are the beginnings of sorrows. 9 Then shall they
deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall put you to death: and you shall be
hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be scandalized:
and shall betray one another: and shall hate one another. 11 And many false
prophets shall rise, and shall seduce many. 12 And because iniquity hath
abounded, the charity of many shall grow cold. 13 But he that shall persevere
to the end, he shall be saved.”
Again we are warned
of deceit and corruption of His word both from within and outside of His
Church;
Acts Ch20; 28 “Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock,
wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the church of God,
which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 I know that, after my departure,
ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30And of your
own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples
after them.”
1 John CH2; 18 Children, it is the last
hour; and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming, so now many
antichrists have appeared. Thus we know this is the last hour. 19 They went out
from us, but they were not really of our number; if they had been, they would
have remained with us. Their desertion shows that none of them was of our
number. 20 But you have the anointing that comes from the holy one, and you all
have knowledge.
There is but one
Body, the Church, guided by the One Spirit, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism;
Ephesians CH4; 1 “I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord,
beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called, 2
With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in
charity. 3 Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 One
body (the Church) and one Spirit (Holy Spirit); as you are called in one hope
of your calling. 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
1
Corinthians CH12; “12 For as the
body is one, and hath many members; and all the members of the body, whereas
they are many, yet are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For in one
Spirit (The Holy Spirit) were we all baptized into one body (Church), whether
Jews or Gentiles, whether bond or free; and in one Spirit we have all been made
to drink. 14 For the body also is not one member,
but many (the established church including the faithful). 15 If the foot
should say, because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore
not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, because I am
not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole
body were the eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where
would be the smelling? 18 But now God
hath set the members every one of them in the body as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they all
were one member, where would be the body? 20 But now there
are many members indeed, yet one body.
21 And the eye
cannot say to the hand: I need not thy help; nor again the head to the feet: I
have no need of you. 22 Yea, much more those
that seem to be the more feeble members of the body, are more necessary. 23 And such as we
think to be the less honourable members of the body, about these we put more
abundant honour; and those that are our uncomely parts, have more abundant
comeliness. 24 But our comely parts have no need: but
God hath tempered the body together, giving to that which wanted the more
abundant honour, 25 That there might be no schism in the
body; but the members might be mutually careful one for another.
26 If (one) part suffers, all the parts suffer
with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy. 27 Now you are
Christ's body, and individually parts of it. 28 Some people God has designated
in the church to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then,
mighty deeds; then, gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties
of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all
work mighty deeds? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do
all interpret? 31 Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. But I shall
show you a still more excellent way. ”
Colossians
CH1; 18 “And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the
beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he may hold the
primacy: 19 Because in him, it hath well pleased
the Father, that all fullness should dwell; 20 And through him
to reconcile all things unto himself, making peace through the blood of his
cross, both as to the things that are on earth, and the things that are in
heaven.
21 And you,
whereas you were some time alienated and enemies in mind in evil works: 22 Yet now he hath
reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and
unspotted, and blameless before him: 23 If so ye
continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and immoveable from the hope of
the gospel which you have heard, which is preached in all the creation that is
under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister. 24 Who now rejoice
in my sufferings for you, and fill up those things that are wanting of the
sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for his body, which is the church.”
Who so questions
the commitment and ability of our Lord to oversee His Church and so love her in
her devotion and purge her of her corruption as and when He determines
appropriate to Him? Does man know better than God and isn’t the existence of so
many “Christian” faiths a testament to just that? No where in Scripture does it
say the Church Jesus founded would end, become corrupt and fail or be reestablished
at any time or by any man before His return. Just the opposite is the truth.
God proclaims through scripture everything but these things will occur. Yet
many have been mislead into accepting the personal beliefs and disbeliefs of
individual men and women who did not have the faith or knowledge to accept the
complete teachings of our Lord, establishing their own distorted faith through
individual interpretations. For those
with doubts, If in fact the Catholic Church was not the true Church as some
other “Christian” faiths were led to believe, one would have to know which
Faith was the True Faith. After all, there must be one (and only one) because
the Bible testifies to it and to the fact it must be visible, obvious, and is
of only "one God, one Faith, one body and one Baptism"... So
which one has been established by Jesus through the Apostles and their
successors and has maintained consistency since His crucifixion without
interruption as Jesus proclaimed AND has all the Characteristics to identify it
Biblically?
Only the Catholic Church.
History also provides the proof of origin of The Holy Bible but we will discuss that elsewhere.
