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FOUR MARKS OF THE TRUE CHURCH
http://www.catholic.com ^ | Catholic Answers Staff

Posted on 03/02/2013 9:41:30 AM PST by NKP_Vet

If we wish to locate the Church founded by Jesus, we need to locate the one that has the four chief marks or qualities of his Church. The Church we seek must be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.

The Church Is One (Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 10:17, 12:13, CCC 813–822) Jesus established only one Church, not a collection of differing churches (Lutheran, Baptist, Anglican, and so on). The Bible says the Church is the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:23–32). Jesus can have but one spouse, and his spouse is the Catholic Church.

His Church also teaches just one set of doctrines, which must be the same as those taught by the apostles (Jude 3). This is the unity of belief to which Scripture calls us (Phil. 1:27, 2:2).

Although some Catholics dissent from officially-taught doctrines, the Church’s official teachers—the pope and the bishops united with him—have never changed any doctrine. Over the centuries, as doctrines are examined more fully, the Church comes to understand them more deeply (John 16:12–13), but it never understands them to mean the opposite of what they once meant.

The Church Is Holy (Eph. 5:25–27, Rev. 19:7–8, CCC 823–829) By his grace Jesus makes the Church holy, just as he is holy. This doesn’t mean that each member is always holy. Jesus said there would be both good and bad members in the Church (John 6:70), and not all the members would go to heaven (Matt. 7:21–23).

(Excerpt) Read more at catholic.com ...


TOPICS: Apologetics; History; Religion & Culture; Theology
KEYWORDS: catholic
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To: Iscool

You know the Truth, and you’ve turned your back on God’s One, True, Holy Church. God established ONE CHURCH. Not 35,000.
Your blasphamy against God and his Holy Church means forever damnation and separation from God. It’s your choice. God gives us free will. The hour is at hand, repent now before it’s too late.


81 posted on 03/04/2013 4:24:19 PM PST by NKP_Vet
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To: NKP_Vet
You know the Truth, and you’ve turned your back on God’s One, True, Holy Church. God established ONE CHURCH. Not 35,000. Your blasphamy against God and his Holy Church means forever damnation and separation from God. It’s your choice. God gives us free will. The hour is at hand, repent now before it’s too late.

Yes I do know the truth...And the real truth is God established over 300,000 churches in the United States alone...And most of them don't bow down to a pope...

And do you know what most of these churches that refuse to bow down to your pope have in common??? Their Christianity is based on God's word, the bible, alone...

We have the words of God that God said he would preserve forever and those words say to get away from your religion...Now why would I or anyone in these 300,000 churches who freely chose to follow God go against what God has told us???

82 posted on 03/05/2013 6:25:33 AM PST by Iscool (I love animals...barbequed, fried, grilled, stewed,,,,)
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To: Iscool; NKP_Vet
Yes I do know the truth...And the real truth is God established over 300,000 churches in the United States alone...And most of them don't bow down to a pope...

Aww, c'mon! All we would have to do is bow down before the golden image, and then there would be peace and unity [there's your 'catholic' for ya, man!]! Wouldn't that be just spiffy?

It occurs to me that an article that is concerned with 'marks' might go into the mark of YHWH vs. the mark of the beast - And it is interesting to me that the op creates an ordering of falsities in order to distract from exactly that... Very telling.

Iscool, Your arguments herein have been very good, very pointed, and remain unanswered. Don't think that hasn't been noticed! Good job!

83 posted on 03/05/2013 7:16:43 AM PST by roamer_1 (Globalism is just socialism in a business suit.)
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To: Iscool

The mission of all Catholics is to promote the faith given to humanity by Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God and the Messiah. This faith is the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church led by the heir of Saint Peter, the Pope.


84 posted on 03/05/2013 2:43:04 PM PST by NKP_Vet
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To: roamer_1
Iscool, Your arguments herein have been very good, very pointed, and remain unanswered. Don't think that hasn't been noticed! Good job!

Well thank you...I get a mental picture of people with hands over their ears screaming, 'I can't hear you'...

85 posted on 03/05/2013 4:38:38 PM PST by Iscool (I love animals...barbequed, fried, grilled, stewed,,,,)
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To: MeOnTheBeach

Thanks for your posts.

Nice to see your reasonable and accurate replies concerning many aspects of Catholicism.


86 posted on 03/08/2013 9:01:18 PM PST by Syncro ("So?" - Andrew Breitbart The King of All Media (RIP Feb 1, 1969 – Mar 1, 2012)
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To: MeOnTheBeach; Salvation
"Sexual abuse is higher in Protestant Churches, homes, schools."

So your point is that the Catholic Church is the true Church of God because it has less sex abuse?

I would expect the real church of God to purge anyone that commits such acts immediately. Not hush it up and move the perp to another place so they can prey on new victims.
On point, thanks MeOnTheBeach.
87 posted on 03/08/2013 9:05:08 PM PST by Syncro ("So?" - Andrew Breitbart The King of All Media (RIP Feb 1, 1969 – Mar 1, 2012)
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To: NKP_Vet; Iscool
The mission of all Catholics is to promote the faith given to humanity by Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God and the Messiah. This faith is the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church led by the heir of Saint Peter, the Pope.
Not according to the Bible.

The Catholic church does not come in between "the faith given to humanity by Jesus Christ." It goes directly to those that believe in Jesus and are born again into a personal saved relationship with God through Jesus Christ delivered by the Holy Spirit.

88 posted on 03/09/2013 7:32:00 AM PST by Syncro ("So?" - Andrew Breitbart The King of All Media (RIP Feb 1, 1969 – Mar 1, 2012)
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To: Syncro; NKP_Vet
The Catholic church does not come in between "the faith given to humanity by Jesus Christ." It goes directly to those that believe in Jesus and are born again into a personal saved relationship with God through Jesus Christ delivered by the Holy Spirit.

Exactly...And they use the word faith to take the place of denomination...

89 posted on 03/09/2013 9:51:13 AM PST by Iscool (I love animals...barbequed, fried, grilled, stewed,,,,)
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To: Syncro

“It goes directly to those that believe in Jesus and are born again”

You’re exactly right and I am born again every time I am in the presence of the Lord at Holy Communion. This happens at every Mass, something protestants deny. They think Jesus was lying when he said “this is my body, this is my blood”.


90 posted on 03/09/2013 11:00:03 PM PST by NKP_Vet
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To: NKP_Vet

“It goes directly to those that believe in Jesus and are born again”

You're exactly right

Thank you, that is true.

It goes directly to those that believe in Jesus...and to use the rest of the quote..."The Catholic church does not come in between "the faith given to humanity by Jesus Christ"... and "(It goes directly to those that believe in Jesus and are born again) into a personal saved relationship with God through Jesus Christ delivered by the Holy Spirit.

Christians are permanently born again and do not have to be born again again and again (kinda impossible actually) which is the Biblical position. For Catholics maybe it is different.

4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’"

 

Notice how Jesus describes born of water and spirit as of the same type of occurrence.

You can only be born of water (physical birth) once, and also born of the Spirit once.

The reason I mentioned the personal relationship with Jesus is because with that kind of Christian relationship with Jesus, He is always right there with us. He promises He will be within us, and we are within Him. Always.

Now if you care to only be "in the presence of the Lord at Holy Communion" that is your choice and maybe God will honor it.

...I am born again every time I am in the presence of the Lord at Holy Communion. This happens at every Mass, something protestants deny. They think Jesus was lying when he said “this is my body, this is my blood”.
I notice quite often that Catholics seem to have a real animus towards Protestants, even to the point of stating all encompassing broad brush comments about them.

I don't know why Protestants would deny that, perhaps because they are always in the presence of the Lord (if they are Christians.) I don't know as I am neither a Protestant or a Catholic.

Could you show me a post where Protestants say that Jesus was lying when he said "this is my body, this is my blood?"

Thanks.

91 posted on 03/10/2013 1:08:28 PM PDT by Syncro ("So?" - Andrew Breitbart The King of All Media (RIP Feb 1, 1969 – Mar 1, 2012)
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To: Syncro

“I notice quite often that Catholics seem to have a real animus towards Protestants, even to the point of stating all encompassing broad brush comments about them”

Catholics don’t put down protestants, it’s the other way around. I was baptist for the majority of my life. When I became catholic I heard nothing but putdowns. When I was a baptist I never heard a catholic putting down other religions, only pitting them for not having the fullness of the faith, mostly notably the Eucharist.


92 posted on 03/10/2013 4:06:36 PM PDT by NKP_Vet
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To: NKP_Vet
Catholics don’t put down protestants, it’s the other way around.

Do you read your posts after hitting send?

This is a putdown of protestants by a catholic:

****They think Jesus was lying when he said "this is my body, this is my blood".****

A broadbrush statement that includes all Protestants, posted as if it is a fact

You posted that and now deny anyone ever puts down Protestants when YOU just did.

And it is not true unless it can be proved, I asked you for a link but got none.

So we can put that down as not true.

When I became catholic I heard nothing but putdowns.

Probably your friends trying to get you to keep your close personal relationship with God. (That is if you were a Christian)

"When I was a baptist I never heard a catholic putting down other religions, only pitting (sic) them for not having the fullness of the faith, mostly notably the Eucharist."
Fullness of faith used by Catholics means faith in Catholiscism, not faith in God.

If a Christian used that phrase it would mean faith in God and much more.

Christians take communion, and it IS the body and blood of Jesus.

They just don't have a priest, who becomes "another" Jesus and then changes the cracker and wine into Jesus.

Christians don't need the Catholic eucharist.

The pastor, when administering communion, simply says "this IS the body of Christ" and "this IS the blood of Christ" and Jesus takes care of the rest.

Simple like in the first century.

BTW, non Catholics are put down on a daily basis hear at FR by Catholics, and sometimes with threads with articles that diss OTC's...Other Than Catholics.

93 posted on 03/10/2013 5:55:14 PM PDT by Syncro ("So?" - Andrew Breitbart The King of All Media (RIP Feb 1, 1969 – Mar 1, 2012)
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To: Syncro

“Fullness of faith used by Catholics means faith in Catholiscism, not faith in God”.

Your anti-Catholicism is alive and well. Study the early Church fathers, starting with the Apostle Paul, who were all Catholics, and educate yourself. Anyone that has a knowledge of Christianity knows the truth. The Gospels came from the Catholic Church, not the Church from the Gospels. Jesus started one Church, the Catholic Church, not some 35,000 protestant churches, all of which were started by a mortal man. Most protestants believe the Last Supper and breaking bread and drinking wine is symbolic and nothing more and certainly don’t do this at each service. As a baptist I can never remember a time that the preacher had any type of communion after services. The center of each Catholic Mass is the Holy Eucharist, not a preacher hollering at you and saying you’re going to hell if you don’t change your ways.


94 posted on 03/10/2013 7:37:55 PM PDT by NKP_Vet
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To: NKP_Vet

Man, I really hate papists, who deny the efficacy of Jesus.

May Christ incease and Rome decrease.


95 posted on 03/10/2013 7:44:45 PM PDT by Theo (May Christ be exalted above all.)
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To: NKP_Vet

You wrote, “Catholics don’t put down protestants, it’s the other way around.”

Man, you’re absolutely deceived. All you are doing is damning those who trust in Jesus, who happen not to have “gone home to Rome.” You defame Jesus by saying that only those who have “gone home to Rome” are members of Christ’s church.


96 posted on 03/10/2013 7:55:46 PM PDT by Theo (May Christ be exalted above all.)
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To: NKP_Vet
Wow, you sure seem to have a lot of hate for common Christians!

Your anti-Catholicism is alive and well

Yes it is, thanks to your strange posts spewing hate for all that are not Catholic.

Not to mention your skewed view of Christianity.

Study the early Church fathers, starting with the Apostle Paul, who were all Catholics

There were no Catholics in the first century, just Christians.

I have studied Paul extensively, unfortunately the Catholic church doesn't seem to think much of him

Anyone that has a knowledge of Christianity knows the truth.

Very true, that is why those that do reject the Catholic view of their tradition being EQUAL with scripture and all the extra-Biblical rituals. Such as I mentioned a priest being "another Jesus" in order to serve communion.

Jesus started one Church, the Catholic Church

Still stuck on that, huh?

Jesus did start one church. It is comprised of all born again saved Christians who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is NOT an organization called Catholicism.

Oh and that 35,000 talking point is like poking holes in a fish. It's been discredited as just a dig at OTC (Other Than Catholic) Christians.

Most protestants believe the Last Supper and breaking bread and drinking wine is symbolic and nothing more

You could be right, I don't keep that close tabs on Protestants.

Most Christians take communion as commanded by Jesus back when He walked the earth.

And they DON'T have a priest change into "another Jesus" as the Catholics do. Quite un-Biblical not to mention un-Christian.

As a baptist I can never remember a time that the preacher had any type of communion after services

Perhaps you got there too late. I once attended a Church that served Communion every morning. And it was before the regular services on Sunday. They also served it periodically during the services also.

The center of each Catholic Mass is the Holy Eucharist, not a preacher hollering at you and saying you’re going to hell if you don’t change your ways.

Well I am certainly sorry that your one bad experience with a Baptist church drove you to the Catholic church instead of into the arms of Jesus.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.--Revelation 3:20
Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart, will you open it and let Him in?
97 posted on 03/10/2013 9:45:21 PM PDT by Syncro ("So?" - Andrew Breitbart The King of All Media (RIP Feb 1, 1969 – Mar 1, 2012)
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To: Syncro

“O My children, I will not go into a long discourse now with you about charity and love for your neighbor, but you must understand: you cannot judge your neighbor. You must pray for them. However, you cannot become weak and permissive. You must stand forth as bearers of the light, carriers of the truth. You have been given by your baptism entrance into the only true religion upon earth, the Roman Catholic Church under My Son, Jesus. Though man in his arrogance and pride has forgotten His role and His rule, you must carry it forward. Retain the Faith and the truth in the hearts of mankind.” - Our Lady of the Roses, September 7, 1978


98 posted on 03/10/2013 10:40:50 PM PDT by NKP_Vet
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To: NKP_Vet
Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.--Ezekiel 12:2

Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not?--Mark 8:18

Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not--Jeremiah 5:21

..so that “they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven."--Mark 4:12

as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day."--Romans 11:8

Go to this people, and say, You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.--Acts 28:26-27

You post to me from an apprarition of Mary which tells you that " you cannot judge your neighbor" yet you have judged all Protestants as unworthy.

And with this quote "the only true religion upon earth, the Roman Catholic Church" all OTC's are condemned to life without God.

If you like that so much, here is more from your source:

"I have warned you that there are three popes now in the city of Rome [Villot, Casaroli, and Benelli]. They have, I repeat, brought forth an impostor, while they have laid low Pope Paul VI, your true Father. It is the deception of
the century!" - Our Lady of the Roses, October 2, 1975

"How I warned and warned that satan would enter into the highest realms of the hierarchy in Rome. The Third Secret, My child, is that satan would enter into My Son's Church." - Our Lady of the Roses, May 13, 1978 

"Satan, Lucifer in human form, entered into Rome in the year 1972. He cut off the rule, the role of the Holy Father, Pope Paul VI."
- Our Lady of the Roses, September 7, 1978

The impostor pope: "Common knowledge in
Rome"

"It is common knowledge now in the city of Rome that there is one who has been impersonating your Vicar, an actor of great talent; one who through surgery has gained the countenance of your Vicar. It is now common knowledge, My children, and now there shall be a game of chess played. There will be bishop against bishop and cardinal against cardinal, for satan has set himself in their midst." (Our Lady,
August 14, 1976)

 

This is your authority, Tradition of the Catholic system which is considered EQUAL with scripture

We Christians prefer scripture.

But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.--Deuteronomy 29:4
You cannot quench the Spirit, the Holy Spirt of God. He lives on in Christians OUTSIDE of the Catholic system. Come to Jesus, he is knocking.
99 posted on 03/10/2013 11:19:27 PM PDT by Syncro ("So?" - Andrew Breitbart The King of All Media (RIP Feb 1, 1969 – Mar 1, 2012)
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To: Syncro

“This is your authority, Tradition of the Catholic system which is considered EQUAL with scripture”

The Catholics Church determined what you read in the Bible and the Catholic Church CAME BEFORE THE BIBLE.

“But there are also many other things which Jesus did; which, if they were written every one, the world itself, I think, would not be able to contain the books that should be written”

John 21:25


100 posted on 03/11/2013 9:04:13 AM PDT by NKP_Vet
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