If you had read your Bible more thoroughly you would have known that the Lord Jesus forbids making sin based judgments, He in no way forbids us from making judgments on truth and error, authentic Gospel and false gospel, holiness and sinfulness. These judgments are essential. These judgments are both commanded and exemplified by the Lord Jesus, the Apostles, the Prophets of old, etc. Notice the full teaching of Matt. 7:1-5 (especially verse 5) and the immediate judgment the Lord makes and exhorts us to make in the following verses.
Matt 7:1-5 "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! FIRST REMOVE THE PLANK FROM YOUR OWN EYE, AND THEN YOU WILL SEE CLEARLY TO REMOVE THE SPECK FROM YOUR BROTHER'S EYE.
I assure you that I read my Bible. As a rule I read the whole chapter when I quote a verse or two from it. For instance, the often ecumenically abused prayerful admonition for unity found in John 17:20-26 is preceded by:
John 17:17-19 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
The Lord Jesus was in no way praying for a unity in verses 20-26 that supersedes His prayer for His followers to be sanctified by the truth of the Word of God in verses 17-19. In fact, the Lord expressly forbids unity with error, false gospels, heresy, etc. (See 2 Cor. 6:12-7:1; Gal. 1:6-9; 2 John 9-11)
You have provided another example of misinterpreting Scripture in your use of Luke 6:32. The first rule of interpretation is CONTEXT, you ignored that rule in your use of John 17:20-26. The second rule of interpretation is THE ANALOGY OF THE FAITH, interpreting Scripture with Scripture by comparing Scripture with Scripture when and where it speaks to the same subject. Luke 6:32 is an abbreviated form of the same teaching found in Matt. 7:1-5.
Why do you quote from Scripture to defend your arguments if you do not believe in the authority of scripture alone? Should you not be supplying reasons from your source of authority? Also, you quote from James to support justification by works, yet you fail to see that the purpose of James' argument is to define genuine faith as that which has works as its consequence not its substance. The question also arises whose works are they, because Paul says "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God which worketh in you to will and do of his good pleasure". The question thus implied is do good works naturally arise in those without genuine faith, therefore, in this we find that works must be a consequence of faith and not the faith itself.
Jesus prayed that all His Followers would be ONE, So that the World, would know and see HIM. John 17, 20-26,
He said a Tree would be known, by it's Fruits, Luke 6, 43-45
It seems Jesus Christ, was Preached as Lord & Savior, a personal Savior, Food was Raised and given to Salvation Army, and Food Shelters to Feed the Poor and Homeless. People came together to walk in Love, and accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord.
However, right now, So-called Catholics and Evangelicals, and the World, are allowing Unborn Babies, No Rights, just Legally Aborting them. We need to pray for the Mercy of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, to have Mercy on us!!
He also said not to Judge, so you won't be Judged. Luke 6, 32-41
Your commitment to sacramental salvation is commendable from the standpoint that you actually believe what you say you believe and thus strive to convince others of their error. I pray many of my fellow “evangelical” pastors, missionaries, and evangelists will one day fight for the true Gospel of Jesus Christ as faithfully as you fight for the demonic doctrines of Rome. MAY GOD OPEN YOUR EYES AND THEIRS TO THE SIMPLICITY AND GLORY OF THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST!
John 15:4 & Matt. 28:20 do not negate the Lord Jesus’ bodily presence at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. It is through the Holy Spirit that He abides with us and is in us abundantly. Christ is not literally inside of us bodily in John 15:4. Nor is the Lord Jesus in our bellies being digested after we eat a bit of bread and drink a swallow of wine “IN REMEMBRANCE” of Him (Luke 22:19).
John 6:27-40 27 DO NOT LABOR FOR THE FOOD WHICH PERISHES… 28 Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you BELIEVE IN HIM whom He sent."… 35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. HE WHO COMES TO ME shall never hunger, and HE WHO BELIEVES IN ME shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not BELIEVE… 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that EVERYONE WHO SEES THE SON AND BELIEVES IN HIM MAY HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE; AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY."
Eph 2:8-9 For BY GRACE you HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 NOT OF WORKS, lest anyone should boast.
Dear Chuck, Thank you, but all praise goes to God who alone is "creative" with His "physics." I'm certain that as a man of God you don't really believe that His Word is limited by the "laws" of physics. Jesus tells us, "Abide in me, and I in you." (John 15:4) He also tells us how this is accomplished, "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him." (John 6:56). The Bible tells us that many of the disciples said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" (John 6:60) We can only believe it and come to a personal relationship with Jesus by faith through the grace of our Father.
You and Rome are very creative in your physics and your theology. You have Christ seated at the right hand of the Father and bodily present in the host in every place a priest prays over the elements. That is indeed a miracle of physics. You have Christ accomplishing eternal redemption 2,000 years ago, and you have Him doing it again and again when invoked in every Mass. This is paramount to black being white and up being down and here being there. It is Roman Catholic confusion, not the clear teaching of Scripture. May God grant you eyes to see the glory of Christ's accomplished redemption.
Dear Chuck, In regards to transubstantiation, Catholics believe that God is eternal, therefore He can act not only inside, but also outside of time. In the Eucharist Jesus Christ is re-presented to us, in that His once and only sacrifice is brought into the present. His sacrifice is not limited by history, it is "ever-present."
Dear Steve S, Please explain how Acts 17:11 supports your statements. If an analogy can be made, the Bereans had a "Catholic" understanding of Scripture, while the Thessalonians approached Scripture from a "Sola Scriptura" view point. Thank you.
You well know that the "Word became flesh and dwelt among us," but that's not your point is it. Here's my point:
Heb 1:3 when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high
Heb 8:1-2 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.
Heb 10:12-14 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
Heb 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Peter 3:22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
Chuck, " . . .all material things which are worshiped, are so much filth upon the face of the earth."
So, are you saying that Jesus Christ only becomes incarnate through the "false miracle of transubstantiation" and that he wasn't a "material thing" before He instituted the Eucharist (Matthew 26:26)? Thank you for taking the time to clarify your statement.
Dear Carl, You may think you know Luis' heart for missions, but we implore you to search the scriptures and compare it to documented evidence of a false gospel coming from the Palau Association. Having a heart for missions and for "Christ" does not guarantee that you have a correct gospel, or that your "converts" will be saved in the biblical sense. How can partnership with the current anti-Christ church of Rome demonstrate a heart for the true gospel of Christ? Friendship alliance with a false gospel is a very dangerous place to be indeed - and we exhort you to diligence as a good Berean Acts 17:11.
NOTE TO READERS... For those who do not know, edl is a faithful apologist for the false gospel of Rome.
Dear EDL,
Only when you form a false christ in the wafer and the cup through the false miracle of transubstantiation through the empty incantations of the false priests' of the Roman Catholic Church. The false christ that your anti-christ (the Pope) and his priests invoke, is indeed "so much filth" as you say. Forsake your wafer and turn unto the Lord Jesus Christ who was the final Priest with the final sacrifice of Himself.
*Heb 10:11-14 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
When it comes to the Gospel, you don’t beat them by joining them and their heresy. The Scriptures refer to this ecumenical evangelistic philosophy as APOSTASY.
*Gal 1:6-9 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
*Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
*Charles Spurgeon "False gods, attempts to represent the true God, and indeed, all material things which are worshipped, are so much filth upon the face of the earth, whether they be crosses, crucifixes, virgins, wafers, relics, or even the Pope himself. We are by far too mealy mouthed about these infamous abominations: God abhors them, and so should we. To renounce the glory of spiritual worship for outward pomp and show is the height of folly, and deserves to be treated as such." (Spurgeon, The Treasury of David Psalm 106:20)
A little further research will reveal to you that Mr. Palau has had priests and bishops visibly involved in various festivals/crusades throughout many of the 35 years you have known him, and has turned response cards over to the Catholic church on many occasions. Mr. Palau and his Association have failed to obey the clear teaching of Scripture and are thus yoked to and promoting the many Gospel denying heresies of the Roman Catholic Church.
*2 Cor 6:11-17 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return for the same(I speak as to children), you also be open. 14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers (ROMAN CATHOLIC). For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
"I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."
Did you note that Luis Palau allowed the “sacrament” of penance to be performed by priests during his Omaha festival? Did you read “Father” Ryan Lewis’s words, “With Palau expected to tell people that they could have forgiveness for their sins by asking God for it, Catholic leaders wanted to make sure their church members could go to a priest to seek God's forgiveness." The “sacrament” of penance blasphemes the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial communion. It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification.” CCC Para 1446
“One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience.” CCC Para 1493
Did you call the Archdiocese of Omaha and ask where they stand on the following statements of the currently binding Catholic Catechism. Our Evangelism Coordinator did call and ask. The Archdiocese stood unequivocally upon every Gospel denying statement.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994) states:
“The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation. 'Sacramental grace' is the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by Christ and proper to each sacrament.” CCC Para 1129
“Baptism,…erases original sin…” CCC Para 405
“Justification is conferred in Baptism, the sacrament of faith.” CCC Para 1992
“In this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner.” CCC Para 1367
“Taken up to heaven she (Mary) did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation.... Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the [Roman Catholic] Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.” CCC Para 969
I appreciate your personal knowledge of Mr. Palau’s life and service. Being his pastor for so many years has no doubt provided a good vantage point from which to gain that personal knowledge. However, the emotional ties born out of close personal relationships can also serve to diminish our objectivity when assessing the theological soundness of an individual’s message and ministry.
Did you read the articles written by the Catholic and Secular news agencies of Omaha? Did you watch the video footage from KETV channel 7 Omaha news? Here are a few of those links again.
9/3/08 3:33 AM
