Matthew 16:18-19: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death (gates of hell) shall not prevail against it. I will give you (Peter) the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Peter is the ROCK of the Church precisely because Jesus is the FOUNDATION STONE. Our Lord extends his own authority.
Later Our Lord made Simon-Peter pastor of both the lambs and the sheep, which is His whole flock.
John 21: 15-17: When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
Our Lord promised that Peter would confirm the faith of the other Apostles:
Luke 22:32: ” . . . but I have prayed for you [Peter] that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren.”
Changing Simon’s name to Peter, our Lord established his Church with Peter at its head. Any Church separated from the See of Peter is not the true Church of Christ.
For more such reading, contact me about getting my book, DEFENDING THE CATHOLIC FAITH.
Filed under: Anti-Catholicism, Apologetics, Bible, Catholic, Church, Evangelization, Faith, Magisterium, Pope |
Blogger Priest 
Dear Fr Joe,
Prince Charles (our future King apparently) claims to be able to trace his heritage back through the Tudors, it seems even unto Adam himself, and we, too, can no doubt trace the lineage of Benedict back, through the various traitors and deceivers, the pretenders at Avignon as well as Rome, the three at a time events and even the ‘woman’ Pope. And, in a way, Luther had reason to take issue with some of the practices of ‘popery’ at the time. So notwithstanding the awfulness of some of our history, it seems that Roman Catholicism has the best claim on the truth that Jesus gave us, and for that I’m willing to call myself a Catholic and accept the teachings of the Church. But it is with an enlightened understanding and a better knowledge of some of the truth of our past journey than just indoctrination into The Truth as taught by the Church.
Pax Vobiscum, Paul