Your comment: “If God is not within you as Paul taught to the church, you do not belong to Jesus...”
Perhaps you do not accept that Jesus was a great leader and formed His Church through the Apostles and their successors.
Didn’t Jesus command his Apostles and their successors to go teach and Baptize all?
You may feel the opportunity to reach Jesus on your own, but you shouldn’t discount Catholic priests that are following the path of Jesus and the apostles.
Jesus did NOT form his church thru the initial apostles or their successors...The church Jesus was working on was an all Jewish church...The church that we have now is the church that Jesus layed out for Paul to reveal to us...The church that allows Catholics to join...
Jesus was teaching Jews...No Gentiles...
Mat 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
Mat 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Do you believe ANY THING the bible says...Why do you suppose Jesus had the disciples and apostles write this stuff???
Didn’t Jesus command his Apostles and their successors to go teach and Baptize all?
Context, Context, Context...
The apostles knew nothing of the (future) Gentile church...Jesus was teaching that he would go away and return the 2nd time...To rule as their King...They knew nothing of a 2000 wait for Jesus to return...
Jesus told the apostles to go to Jerusalem and WAIT...That when he returned the apostles would go into the world and baptize people...
The apostles went to Jerusalem and waited...For years...they didn't go anywhere let alone go into the world...They were waiting for their King...He didn't show up...
You may feel the opportunity to reach Jesus on your own, but you shouldn’t discount Catholic priests that are following the path of Jesus and the apostles.
I feel the opportunity to believe what Jesus told us in the scriptures...Jesus rejected the priesthood...Jesus nor the apostles wasted their time with any priests...Jesus said:
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Jesus nor the apostles ever told anyone to go to a priest...
Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
We go right to Jesus...
What an absurd assumption, not supported by any facts in evidence.
Therefore a straw man comment which is seemingly posted to cause dissension.
...and formed His Church through the Apostles and their successors.
That too.
But His church, not his (Catholic) Church, which is usually what "His Church" denotes.
The body of Christ (his church) is made up of course the apostles, disciples, followers and every born again follower/believer in Jesus.
Didn’t Jesus command his Apostles and their successors to go teach and Baptize all?
But isn't that what every Christian should do in part? Seems like all scripture is the Holy Spirit speaking to all true born again Christians.
If you wish to not do that because you think Jesus left you out of that commission, fine no problem.
You may feel the opportunity to reach Jesus on your own...
Sure, why not? That is what the Bible teaches. Go to the one mediator and High Priest Jesus, no middleman necessary.
If you, because of your particular belief system, want to use a middle man, this Christian has no problem with that. It's your call.
you shouldn’t discount Catholic priests that are following the path of Jesus and the apostles.
Sure, why not? The ones that are doing that, cool. If they are following the path of Jesus they are born again followers/believers of/in Jesus.
The message of salvation taught by the Word of God (Jesus is the scriptures) is simple, straightforward, and easy to understand.