Jesus Founded a Visible Church on Earth 

Christians are not to have anything to do with an apostate church (Rev. 3:14–22).

"...[L]et’s examine the Roman Catholic claim that it is the “first church.” Nowhere in the New Testament will you find the “one true church” doing any of the following: praying to Mary, praying to the saints, venerating Mary, submitting to a pope, having a select priesthood, baptizing an infant, observing the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper as sacraments, or passing on apostolic authority to successors of the apostles. All of these are core elements of the Roman Catholic faith. If most of the core elements of the Roman Catholic Church were not practiced by the New Testament Church (the first church and one true church), how then can the Roman Catholic Church be the first church?" Full text: What was the first / original church? Is the original / first church the true church?

[Does The Christian Church Need To Be Evangelized? Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries ] "The visible Christian church is no longer a sanctuary for the people of God. Instead, it has become a huge mission field that needs to be evangelized. Churches are now filled with professing Christians who say they have faith but have never been born of God. This should not surprise us because of the parable Jesus gave describing the last days in Matthew 13:25-43. He spoke of a landowner who sowed good seed [sons of the kingdom] in his field, but while his men were sleeping, the enemy came and sowed tares [sons of the devil]. Jesus said the landowner is the Son of Man and the enemy is the devil.

Today we have many tares in our churches because church leaders are not protecting the fields. Many have been growing their churches man's way instead of God's way. This self-serving strategy has produced some tragic consequences - the most serious of which is the false hope it gives to the unconverted tares. Some of the tares are victims of unbiblical methods of evangelism; others are victims of counterfeit gospels. These victims cannot tell you the essential elements of the Gospel or what God requires for entrance into heaven. Some know their eternal sin debt must be forgiven, but very few know they also need the righteousness of Jesus and to be born again of the Spirit." Does The Christian Church Need To Be Evangelized?

Response to comment [from a Christian]: [Cruciform quote: Already answered ] "Let's make this simple. In your next post, provide any authoritative teaching of your Church. I'll then provide an interpretation of that teaching. In the following post, you can tell me if my interpretation is correct or incorrect and then cite your interpretive authority for arriving at such a judgment that would make your judgment correct and infallible."

"Ouch." ~ E.T.

Isa 11:2; 40:13,14

Response to comment [from a Catholic]: [To a Christian] "...[Y]ou merely parrot what your preferred anti-Catholic tradition has taught you..."

Christians are not anti-Catholic. They are against false teaching (Ga 1:6-8). No cult or 'ism saves. Jesus saves (Isa 45:21,22; 59:16; Ac 4:12).

[The Necessity of the New Birth Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries] "Jesus told Nicodemus "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Only the triune God can bring forth life. Jesus said: "just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes" (John 5:21). "It is the Spirit that gives life" (John 6:63). God calls the spiritually dead to life through His Word. "In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth" (James 1:18). God's children are "born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God" (1 Pet. 1:23).

Saving faith comes from hearing the word of Christ. From it we learn the essential doctrines of salvation: the attributes of God, the Gospel of grace and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. When people hear the Word of God, enabled by the Spirit of God, to trust the Son of God, they become a child of God, all for the glory of God.

Just as man could not initiate his physical birth, he is unable to cause his spiritual birth. Before any of us were born, we could not have pleaded with our parents to conceive us. We did not exist! The same is true in the spiritual realm (John 1:12-13). Children of God are not born of blood (spiritual life is not inherited genetically), nor of the will of the flesh (physical life cannot produce spiritual life; flesh can only produce flesh), nor of the will of man (spiritual life cannot be initiated by the desires of men).

So, how do we help the unconverted tares see they have been misled or deceived? As believers, we should encourage everyone to test their faith for their own good as well as for the glory of Christ. Paul wrote: "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test" (2 Cor 13:5). Peter exhorted us: "Be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure" (2 Pet. 1:10)..." Full text: The Necessity of the New Birth

[No cult or 'ism saves. Jesus saves.] "Straw Man and False Dilemma Fallacies. Try again."

You removed the scripture from my quote. It is what you do (Eph 4:14). No cult or 'ism saves. Jesus saves (Isa 45:21,22; 59:16; Ac 4:12).

[Many Believe A Counterfeit Gospel Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries] "What about those who say they have faith in Jesus but show no evidence of a changed life. All of them may believe in the historical Jesus who lived 2000 years ago, but few believe what He taught, what he promises, what He commands, what He accomplished and what He is doing now. They may be victims of a counterfeit gospel, a watered down version that is offered by a generic god of love. This gospel offers "fire insurance" with no call to repentance (Luke 24:47). It is a gospel of cheap grace which fails to instruct people to say "no" to ungodliness and worldly passions (Titus 2:12).

The other counterfeit gospel which deceives people is the grace-killing gospel of works. First introduced by the Judaizers, this gospel nullifies God's grace by adding requirements for salvation such as circumcision, baptism, sacraments, good works, law keeping, penance or indulgences (Gal. 1:6-9).

If we do not lovingly confront victims of unbiblical evangelism and counterfeit gospels, they may one day hear the most terrifying words anyone could ever hear when Jesus says: "I never knew you; depart from Me." These horrifying words will be heard by many professing Christians on the last day (Mat. 7:22-23)." Full text: Many Believe A Counterfeit Gospel

"...[I]t's really hard to take anything HS [HisServant] has to say seriously because it's hard to hear anything over the deafening roar of his hypocrisy..."

What does God's word have to say?

[Two Ways To Test Faith Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries] "Those who want to test their faith now, before it is too late, can do it two ways - objectively and subjectively. The objective test is this: Have you believed the objective truths of God’s word? Paul wrote: "after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit" (Eph. 1:13). The word of God is our supreme authority for knowing objective truth. We must believe the eternal Gospel as it is revealed in Scripture. It is the same Gospel today as it was 6000 years ago.

The subjective test asks the question: Is there evidence of saving faith? Genuine faith results in good works but a faith without works is dead (Eph. 2:10; James 2:17). This second test is subjective because there are different levels of maturity and growth as believers walk with Christ. New babes in Christ may not show as much evidence as those who have walked with Him for many years. When we are first born into God's family we look nothing like His Son. But as we grow in the grace and knowledge of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are conformed into the image of Christ. We see this in the physical realm also. When a baby is born, he may look nothing like his parents. But as he grows, he begins to take on the physical characteristics of his parents.

The Apostle John gives us a portrait of what God's children look like in his first epistle. They who are born of God are adopted into His eternal family to walk in the light (1:6-7); keep His commandments (2:3-5); love not the world system (2:15); yearn for the return of Christ so they can be like Him (3:2-3); live to please Him and avoid sin (3:7-8); love His other children (3:14) and use apostolic doctrine for discernment (4:6). Each of us must determine if this is a picture of how we look." Full text: Two Ways To Test Faith

Believe the Bible (Phil 2:16, 2 Tim. 2:15; Jas. 1:18).

[Two Kinds of Faith Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries] "The test of one's faith is vital because the Bible speaks of two kinds of faith - a "Godgiven, supernatural, saving faith" and a "dead" faith that is found in the unconverted natural man. Paul wrote of people who believed in vain because they did not hold to apostolic teaching (1 Cor. 15:2). Jesus spoke of others who believed for the wrong reasons (John 2:23).

Dead faith is limited to what the natural man can comprehend without divine help because he has been blinded by Satan and cannot see the light of the Gospel (2 Cor. 4:4). That is why Paul wrote: "your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God" (1 Cor. 2:5).

God-given faith is initiated in the will of God and is a gift granted from the Father above (Phil. 1:29; James 1:17). It will be perfected by the Son of God as the recipient conforms it to the Word of God. Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of this faith which is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen (Heb. 11:1; 12:2).

Those with God-given faith enter the narrow gate bringing nothing but their sins to the cross (Mat. 7:13). Those with dead faith enter through the wide gate bringing their filthy rags of righteousness (Mat. 7:14).

Those with God-given faith prove it by bearing much fruit to the glory of God (John 15:8). Those with dead faith prove it by bearing bad fruit for the glory of self (Mat. 7:15-17).

Those with God-given faith desire to test and prove their faith with Scripture alone (2 Cor. 13:5). Those with dead faith prove their faith by denominational teachings and man’s traditions (John 12:42-43; Acts 15:5-10).

Those with God-given faith will not habitually hear or follow a false teacher (John 10:5,8). Those with dead faith will not habitually follow a true teacher (John 10:19).

Those with God-given faith trust God’s power to protect and keep them (1 Peter 1:5). Those with dead faith trust their own power to keep them from falling away.

Dead faith touches only the intellect. Godgiven faith involves the whole person. The mind understands, the heart desires and the will acts upon the Word of God.

In closing, there are several probing questions we can ask those who desire to test their faith. Have you renounced every false way that opposes the Gospel of grace? Do you live in thanksgiving and praise for being chosen and adopted into God’s eternal family? Do you prove to be Christ’s disciple by abiding in His word? Do you discipline yourself for godliness? Do your friends, neighbors and co-workers know that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior? Do you have a desire to share Jesus Christ with others or are you ashamed of His Gospel?
God's children will know they belong to Him because "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God"(Rom. 8:16). The Spirit does this through the Scriptures that He inspired. All of God's children take Him at his Word!" Full text: Two Kinds of Faith

"...[N]o one really cares about serpent's preferred interpretations..."

"Every verse of the Bible means exactly what the author intended it to mean..." Full text: How to Interpret the Bible by Darrell Ferguson

See:

Hermeneutics

[No cult or 'ism saves. Jesus saves (Isa 45:21,22; 59:16; Ac 4:12).] "Already answered..."

Easy believeism will not save you. Jesus saves (Isa 63:9; Eph 5:23). Jesus alone saves (Isa 45:21,22; 59:16; Ac 4:12).

[All Christians Are Called To Proclaim the Gospel Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries] "How many of you would respond to this recruiting ad? Men and women wanted for the difficult task of building Christ's Church. You will face constant attacks from an invisible enemy who will try to distract you from your objective and destroy your effectiveness. You will be persecuted, mocked and ridiculed by his ministers of unrighteousness. You will often be discouraged and misunderstood by apathetic and lazy people working with you. Whenever you are persecuted for the sake of your king, you will be asked to leap for joy. The results of your labor and your full reward will not come until after all your work is completed. You will not be able to boast or take pride in what you do and it may cost you your life. However, you will enjoy compelling advantages over all competition by tapping unlimited resources from your headquarters' support team. The fruit of your labor will last for all eternity. And most importantly, the incomparable retirement program is out of this world.

This recruiting ad is an accurate description of what every Christian experiences when they devote their lives to the Savior and His great commission. Tragically, many who are called by Him have not reported for active duty but have gone AWOL. Oh, they will gather in holy huddles on Sunday morning, but when the play is called, they go sit on the bench to watch others run the offense. They say they are too busy or not equipped or fearful. What they really need is some divinely inspired motivation to get them actively involved in building Christ's church..." Full text: All Christians Are Called To Proclaim the Gospel  

[Believe the Bible (Phil 2:16, 2 Tim. 2:15; Jas. 1:18). :Poly:] "Yes---as authoritatively interpreted within the teachings of Christ's historic Church..."

The Roman Catholic Church is an apostate church (Ga 1:6-8, Mt 15:9, 1 Tim. 6:3–5). They are in their final stages of apostasy (Tit 1:16, Rev. 3:14–22).

Jesus loves you (Jn 3:16). Jesus is willing to save you (2 Pe 3:9). Repent (Eze 18:30-32; Ac 17:30). Believe (Mk 9:23).

[Witnessing Glorifies Our Great God Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries] "Each time we proclaim the Gospel we proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:9). Even if we do not see many conversions,...we are still glorifying our great God and Savior every time we proclaim His Gospel.

Of course we must also live our lives in a way that reflects the matchless love and heartfelt gratitude we have for our Savior. Our actions provide another notable testimony to unbelievers. When they see our good works, our heavenly Father is glorified (Mat. 5:16). For this reason, Paul exhorts us: "you have been bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body" (1 Cor. 6:20). Jesus said the mark of a true disciple is one who glorifies God by proclaiming the fruit-bearing Gospel. "By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples" (Mat. 4:19)." Witnessing Glorifies Our Great God

"...the entirely irrelevant theological preferences and opinions of serpent..."

Truth is truth independent from me (Ac 5:29, Mt 15:9).

"Omega's preferences and opinions are entirely irrelevant..."

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means, what you think it means." ~ Inigo Montoya

Scripture should be compared with scripture (not man's opinion ). 1 Co 2:13.

[Witnessing is a Divine Command Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries] "The Lord Jesus gives a command for every Christian to obey. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." The Greek word for "go" is "poreuomai" which means "on your way" Christians are to make disciples (not decisions) as they go from place to place. Jesus has given us this great responsibility of making His last command our first concern. When you break up the word "responsibility", we see it is our "response" to His "ability."" Witnessing is a Divine Command

Response to comment [from a Christian]: "...Cruciform, do you approve of what your Priests do..."

"...[W]e can simply dismiss your personal theological preferences and opinions..."

Isn't that what you do every time a Christian tries to share the truth with you? 1 Sam. 15:23, 26. Incidentally, the more you reject the Lord, the harder it is to find him (Jn 3:20). One day will be the last day that the Lord calls you (Jn 12:48).

See:

Why We Believe While Others Reject by John MacArthur 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16

"Problem solved..."

[Witnessing is a Royal Privilege Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries] "All Christians are given the awesome privilege of being ambassadors for the King of Kings. One of the highest honors for an American is to represent our country as an ambassador. In the same way, the highest honor for a Christian is to represent King Jesus and to take His message of reconciliation to a lost and dying world. Every man in Christ is a new creature who has been given the ministry of reconciliation. God has recreated them for the privilege of reconciling the world to Him through Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-20)." Witnessing is a Royal Privilege

"Already answered..."

Non causae ut causae (claiming victory despite defeat)

God's word is the final word (Is. 55:11).

[Witnessing is a Great Act of Love by Mike Gendron Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries] "I believe the primary reason many Christians do not faithfully proclaim the Gospel is because they do not grasp the sheer horror of hell. If we fully understood the reality of the everlasting torment and suffering that awaits those who die without Christ, we would do everything in our power to reach our loved ones before it is too late. Jesus lamented over Jerusalem because He knew the dreadful terror the Jews would endure for rejecting their Messiah. Jesus said those who reject Him will be eternally punished in an everlasting fire (Mat. 25:41, 46). Paul, the compassionate evangelist of the first century warned unbelievers when he wrote: "Those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus...will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord" (2 Thes. 1:8-9). It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31).

Giving the good news of Christ's substitutionary atonement is indeed the greatest act of love we could ever do for those who are perishing. We have all heard of other great acts of love, such as when people donate one of their organs to another. As great as this sacrifice is, it only takes care of their temporal problem. When we share the Gospel with them we are giving them a cure their eternal sin disease.

Our love for the lost is often coupled with our deep compassion for them. The word "compassion" is not a passive word but a word of action. It means "sorrow for the [pending] sufferings of another accompanied by an urge to help."

Witnessing is also a compelling demonstration of our love for Jesus. Our love for God should reflect His merciful love for us. God demonstrated His love for His children by sending His only Son to die in their place (Rom. 5:8). "He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf" (2 Cor. 5:15). One of the most consistent ways we can show our love for God is live for Him in obedience to His word by proclaiming His Gospel (1 John 2:5)." Witnessing is a Great Act of Love

[Rejecting God's word] "Isn't that what you do every time a Catholic Christian tries to share the truth with you?"

The Roman Catholic Church teaches error. Your church affiliation cannot save you. We are saved by grace alone (Eph 2:8-9) through faith alone (Eph 1:13; 2 Ti 1:10) in Christ alone (Isa 45:21,22; 59:16; Ac 4:12). Roman Catholics deny this (Jude 1:11).

See:

False Catholic Traditions

Is A Roman Catholic Christian An Oxymoron?

Vid. Catholicism vs Christianity by Mike Gendron

[We Have the Only Message of Hope Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries] "Peter proclaimed, "there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). There is no other Savior, no other mediator and no other Gospel (John 14:6; Gal. 1:6; 1 Tim. 2:5). If there were many ways to paradise then the Gospel message would not be that important. However the Gospel of Jesus Christ becomes the most important message anyone could ever hear because it communicates how sinners can receive the greatest gift ever offered-- everlasting life in the presence of our gracious Creator and merciful Savior. Those who do not share the Gospel are only helping the devil's cause. Satan uses everything in his power to thwart access to Scripture because he knows that the living and abiding word of God is the imperishable seed that brings forth eternal life to those he is holding captive with his lies (1 Pet. 1:23)." We Have the Only Message of Hope

"...[A]nother false statement on serpent's part..."

Proof please.

"We have different authorities, we believe different gospels, we worship different Christs, we are led by different spirits and we are on different paths to eternity. Compare this with the unity the apostle Paul described with those who are in one body and one...Spirit, with one hope; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, on God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all (Eph 4:4-6)..." Full text: No Idolatry & False Teaching

"God's word, not serpent's interpretations of God's word..."

Truth is truth independent from me (Ac 5:29, Mt 15:9).

Your church does not have some special knowledge that others cannot attain. Gnostics believed this (Lk 16:29,31, Pr 6:23; 2 Pe 1:19, 2 Ti 3:15). Any person who trusts in the Lord can be saved (Eph 3:12).

"You nullify the Word of God by your traditions that you have handed down." Mk 7:13

[Witnessing is Evidence of a New Life by Mike Gendron Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries] "Christians are born again to reproduce! Whenever I see repented sinners respond to the Gospel in genuine saving faith, the very first thing they want to do is share the good news with all their loved ones. One dear lady in particular, who exchanged her Catholic religion for a relationship with Jesus, put together 17 three-ring binders with all the Scriptures that we shared to set her free. She immediately sent them to all her family members in the hopes they too would follow Jesus in the newness of eternal life.

Another friend, who left the Catholic Church after trusting Christ as her all-sufficient Savior, asked if we would start teaching her son and his fiancee all the Scriptures we shared with her. This new life, that is given by God as a gift, will indeed be evidenced by a desire to see others come alive in Christ. Paul wrote, "Every Christian has been created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10). A most important work God has prepared for us to do is to build His church by making disciples of Jesus Christ." Witnessing is Evidence of a New Life

Follow Jesus :Poly: not plans and programs (Jn 8:12). :olinger:

[Followers of Jesus Will Fish for Men Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries] "Jesus said, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Mat. 4:19). Jesus gave this command to those who were professional fishermen. They had been successful in catching fish that were alive, now they were being asked to catch men who were dead.  The only way to catch men who are dead in their sin is with the life-giving power of the Gospel (Rom. 1:16). A disciple of Jesus will follow Him and to follow Jesus is to be a fisher of men.

May Christians everywhere develop a greater desire to glorify God through the proclamation of His Gospel. As our love for our Savior grows, might His wondrous mercy, sovereign grace and unfailing love flow from our hearts to our lips. And may we never refrain from proclaiming our Lord's sin-repelling holiness, His inescapable justice and His perfect righteousness that is required for entrance into paradise. In the power of the Holy Spirit, motivated by our matchless love for Jesus and to honor and glorify His holy name, let us all emulate the early church: "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ" (Acts 5:42)..." Full text: Followers of Jesus Will Fish for Men

"Truth is truth independent from me."

You removed the scripture from my quote. It is what you do (Eph 4:14). Truth is truth independent from me (Ac 5:29, Mt 15:9).

Response to comment [from other]:  "I don't think the RCC should be allowed to sell its assets.  Others should be selling it on behalf to raise funds for compensation for the people left in the wake of its rape, torture, killing, and thieving."

God can't use their money (1 Ti 6:10, Isa 64:6). They have their reward (Mt 6:16).

Response to comment [from a Catholic]: "[A]nyone?"

“Housekeeping? Housekeeping.” ~ Peter Griffin

Let the reader decide.

"You are not brought upon this world to get it!" ~ Lo Pan, Big Trouble in Little China

You'll get it when you become a believer (1 Co 8:1).

Jesus Founded a Visible Church on Earth