former Roman Catholic Rob Zins, Th.M, Dallas Theological Seminary (website: http://www.CWRC-RZ.ORG). Rob Zins has authored the books, "On the Edge of Apostasy," "Romanism: The Relentless Roman Catholic Assault on the Gospel of Jesus Christ" & others.
The Vatican officially teaches that the Pope is the substitute for Christ Jesus; the words of the official pronouncement are, "The Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter's successor, 'is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful.' 'For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise." -
Catechism of the Catholic Church Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Ed. (Washington, DC: US Catholic Conf., 1994, 1997) #882.
As the world has a man in position of "Vicar of Christ" so it is the biblical imperative to see the true office of the Vicar of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ entrusted the universal care of souls into the safekeeping of the Divine Person of the Holy Spirit. Concerning this Third Person of the Trinity who was to be His substitute, the Lord promised that, "when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment"(John 16:8). The Holy Spirit convicts of sin as He makes the sinner realize his lost condition and convicts him of his need of Christ's righteousness. He it is who brings a soul dead in sin to life. This miracle of grace is spoken of in Scripture as, "the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His might. |
