El Purgatorio

El que planta y el que riega son iguales, cada uno recibirá su recompensa conforme a su trabajo. Porque nosotros sólo somos cooperadores de Dios, y vosotros sois arada de Dios, edificación de Dios.

Según la gracia de Dios que me fue dada, yo, como sabio arquitecto, puse los cimientos, otro edifica encima. Cada uno mire cómo edifica,que cuanto al fundamento, nadie puede poner otro sino el que está puesto, que es Jesucristo.

Si sobre este fundamento uno edifica con oro, plata, piedras preciosas o maderas, heno, paja, su obra quedará de manifiesto; el día, efectivamente, la manifestará, ya que ha de manifestarse en el fuego, y es este fuego el que probará cuál fue la obra de cada uno.’

Aquel cuya obra subsista recibirá el premio, y aquel cuya obra sea abrasada sufrirá el daño; él, sin embargo, se salvará, pero como quien pasa por el fuego.’

¿No sabéis que sois templo de Dios y que el Espíritu de Dios habita en vosotros? Si alguno destruye el templo de Dios, Dios le destruirá a él. Porque el templo de Dios es santo, y ese templo sois vosotros.

1 Corintios 3,8-17

Propiedades de Dios

• Dios no necesita nuestro bien.  Job 35:5-8 Dios Habla Hoy (DHH)

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Vida eterna

Dios hizo el hombre para la inmortalidad

Sabiduría 2, 22-24

En verdad, Dios creó al hombre para que no muriera,
y lo hizo a imagen de su propio ser;
sin embargo, por la envidia del diablo
entró la muerte en el mundo,
y la sufren los que del diablo son.

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Sabiduría 2, 22-24

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La Tradición

El que a ustedes escucha, a mí me escucha» (Lc.10, 16)

«Manténganse firmes guardando fielmente las tradiciones que les enseñamos de palabra y por carta» (2 Tes. 2,15).

«Todo lo que han aprendido, recibido y oído de mí, todo lo que me han visto hacer, háganlo» (Fil.4,9).

«Lo que aprendiste de mí, confirmado por muchos testigos, confíalo a hombres que merezcan confianza, capaces de instruir después a otros» (2. Tim. 2,2).

«Y hay también otras muchas cosas que hizo Jesús, que si se escribieran cada una por sí, pienso que ni aun el mundo podrá contener los libros que se habrían de escribir» Juan 21:25

Los malvados

Si no hay Dios, carpe diem

Sabiduría 2, 1-9

Les fastidia el justo porque les recuerda su propia maldad

Sabiduría 2, 10-20

 

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La preferencia por los propios

El Buen Samaritano se encontró con el judío, convirtiéndose en su próximo (neighbor). Aún así, su ayuda fue puntual, no lo llevó a su casa.

Proverbios 5, 9-10.

para que no pierdas la riqueza de tus años
en manos de gente extraña y cruel;
para que ningún extraño se llene
con el fruto de tu esfuerzo y tu trabajo.

Marcos 7, 27

Y El le decía: Deja que primero los hijos se sacien, pues no está bien tomar el pan de los hijos y echarlo a los perrillos.

2 Tesalonicenses 3:10

Cuando estuvimos con ustedes, les dimos esta regla: El que no quiera trabajar, que tampoco coma.

1 Timoteo 5:8

Pero si alguno no provee para los suyos, y especialmente para los de su casa, ha negado la fe y es peor que un incrédulo.

 

Bible Cheat Sheet

THE CHURCH
Mt 16:18-19 – upon this rock I will build my Church
Mt 18:17 – if he refuses to listen even to the Church…
Mt 28:18-20 – go baptize and teach all nations
Mk 16:15-16 – go to whole world and proclaim gospel
Lk 10:16 – whoever hears you, hears me; rejects you, rejects me.
Jn 14:16, 26 – Holy Spirit with you always, teach/remind you of everything
Jn 16:13 – Spirit of truth will guide you to all truth.
1Tim 3:15 – Church is the pillar and foundation of truth.

The Church is the body of Christ
Col 1:18 – He is the head of the body, the church.
1 Cor 12:20-27 – you are Christ’s body, individually parts of it.
Eph 5:30 – we are members of His body.
Rom 12:4-5 – though many, we are one body in Christ
1 Cor 6:15 – Don’t you know your bodies are members of Christ?

The Church must be one
Jn 10:16 – there will be one fold and one shepherd.
Eph 4:3-6 – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father
Rom 16:17 – I urge that there be no divisions among you
1Cor 1:10 – I urge that there be no divisions among you
Phil 2:2 – be of same mind, united in heart thinking one thing
Rom 15:5 – God grant you to think in harmony with one another
Jn 17:17-23 – I pray that they may be one, as we are one
Jn 17:23 – that they may be brought to perfection as one
1Cor 12:13 – in one spirit we are baptized into one body
Rom 12:5 – we, though many, are one body in Christ
Eph 4:4 – one body, one Spirit, called to be one hope
Col 3:15 – the peace into which you were called in one body
Mt 16:18-19 – upon this rock I will build my Church (singular)
Mt 18:17 – tell it to THE Church; if he refuses to listen even to THE Church…
(must be visible)

Apostolic Church
Jn 15:16 – Jesus chose special men to be his Apostles
Jn 20:21 – Jesus gave the Apostles his own mission
Lk 22:29-3 – Jesus gave them a kingdom
Mt 16:18 – Jesus built Church on Peter, the rock
Jn 10:16 – one shepherd to shepherd Christ’s sheep
Lk 22:32, Jn 21:17 – Peter appointed to be chief shepherd
Eph 4:11 – church leaders are hierarchical
1Tim 3:1, 8; 5:17 – identifies roles of bishops, priests, deacons
Tit 1:5 – commission for bishops to ordain priests

Authoritative Church
Mt 28:18-20 – Jesus delegates all power to Apostles
Jn 20:23 – power to forgive sin
1Cor 11:23-24 – power to offer sacrifice (Eucharist)
Lk 10:16 – power to speak with Christ’s voice
Mt 18:18 – power to legislate
Mt 18:17 – power to discipline

Infallible Church
Jn 16:13 – guided by Holy Spirit into all truth
Jn 14:26 – Holy Spirit to teach & remind them of everything
Lk 10:16 – speak with Christ’s own voice
1Tim 3:15 – Church called «pillar and foundation of truth»
1Jn 2:27 – anointing of Holy Spirit remains in you
Acts 15:28 – Apostles speak with voice of Holy Spirit
Mt 28:20 – I am with you

Perpetual Church
Is 9:6-7 – of Christ’s government there will be no end
Dan 2:44 – God’s kingdom shall stand forever
Dan 7:14 – His kingdom shall not be destroyed
Eph 3:21 – to him be glory in the church to all generations for ever and ever.
Lk 1:32, 33 – no end to Christ’s kingdom
Mt 7:24 – Jesus is like a wise man who built his house on a rock
Mt 13:24-30 – let wheat & weeds grow together until harvest
Mt 16:18 – gates of hell will never prevail against Christ’s church
Jn 14:16 – Holy Spirit will be with you always
Mt 28:19-20 – I am with you all days

PAPACY & APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION
Primacy of Peter
Mt 16:18 – upon this rock (Peter) I will build my church
Mt 16:19 – give you keys of the kingdom; power to bind & loose
Lk 22:32 – Peter’s faith will strengthen his brethren
Jn 21:17 – given Christ’s flock as chief shepherd
Mk 16:7 – angel sent to announce Resurrection to Peter
Lk 24:34 – risen Jesus first appeared to Peter
Acts 1:13-26 – headed meeting which elected Matthias
Acts 2:14 – led Apostles in preaching on Pentecost
Acts 2:41 – received first converts
Acts 3:6-7 – performed first miracle after Pentecost
Acts 5:1-11 – inflicted first punishment: Ananias & Saphira
Acts 8:21 – excommunicated first heretic, Simon Magnus
Acts 10:44-46 – received revelation to admit Gentiles into Church
Acts 15:7 – led first council in Jerusalem
Acts 15:19 – pronounces first dogmatic decision
Gal 1:18 – after conversion, Paul visits chief Apostle
*Gal 2:11-14 – I opposed Cephas to his face for his hypocrisy
Peter’s name always heads list of Apostles: Mt 10:14; Mk 3:16-19;
Lk 6:14-16; Acts 1:13
«Peter and his companions» Lk 9:32; Mk 16:7
Spoke for Apostles – Mt 18:21; Mk 8:29; Lk 8:45; 12:41; Jn 6:69
Peter’s name occurs 195 times, more than all the rest put together

Apostolic Succession
2 Chr 19:11 – high priest is over you in everything of Lord’s
Mal 2:7 – seek instruction from priest, he is God’s messenger
Eph 2:20 – Church built upon foundation of apostles & prophets
Eph 4:11 – God gave some as apostles, others as prophets…
1 Cor 12:28-29 – God designated in church: apostles, …
Acts 1:20 – let another take his office
Acts 1:25-26 – Matthias takes Judas’ apostolic ministry
1 Tim 3:1, 8; 5:17 – qualifications for: bishops, priests, & deacons
1Tim 4:14 – gift conferred with the laying on of hands
1Tim 5:22 – do not lay hands too readily on anyone
Acts 14:23 – they appointed presbyters in each church
2Tim 2:2 – what you heard from me entrust to faithful teachers
Titus 1:5 – appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed

SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION
Bible Alone or Bible Plus Tradition?
1Cor 11:2 – hold fast to traditions I handed on to you
2Thess 2:15 – hold fast to traditions, whether oral or by letter
2Thess 3:6 – shun those acting not according to tradition
Jn 21:25 – not everything Jesus said recorded in Scripture
Mk 13:31 – heaven & earth shall pass away, but my word won’t
Acts 20:35 – Paul records a saying of Jesus not found in gospels
2Tim 1:13 – follow my sound words; guard the truth
2Tim2:2 – what you heard entrust to faithful men
2Pet 1:20 – no prophecy is a matter of private interpretation
2Pet 3:15-16 – Paul’s letters can be difficult to grasp & interpret
1Pet 1:25 – God’s eternal word = word preached to you
Rom 10:17 – faith come from what is heard
1Cor 15:1-2 – being saved if you hold fast to the word I preached
Mk 16:15 – go to the whole world, proclaim gospel to every creature
Mt 23:2-3 – chair of Moses; observe whatever they tell you

Tradition Condemned?
*Mt 15:3 – break commandment of God for your tradition
*Mk 7:9 – set aside God’s commandment to uphold tradition
*Col 2:8 – seductive philosophy according to human tradition
1Cor 11:2 – commends them for following Apostolic tradition
2Thess 2:15 – commands them to keep traditions
2Thess 3:6 – shun those acting not according to tradition

Deuterocanonicals
Heb 11:35 – ‘Women received their dead by resurrection.
Some were tortured, refusing to accept release,
that they might rise again to a better life’ refers only to 2nd Macc 7

SALVATION, FAITH AND WORKS
Faith Alone or Faith plus Works?
Jam 2:24 – a man is justified by works and not by faith alone
Jam 2:26 – faith without works is dead
Gal 5:6 – only thing that counts is faith working in love
1 Cor 13:2 – faith without love is nothing
Jn 14:15 – if you love me, keep my commandments
Mt 19:16-17 – if you wish to enter into life, keep commandments
1Tim 5:8 he who doesn’t provide for family worse than unbeliever.

Have You Been Saved?

Past Event (I have been saved)
Rom 8:24 – for in hope we were saved
Eph 2:5, 8 – by grace you have been saved through faith
2Tim 1:9 – He saved us, called us according to his grace
Tit 3:5 – He saved us through bath of rebirth, renewal by Holy Spirit

Present Process (I am being saved)
Phil 2:12 – work out your salvation with fear and trembling
1Pet 1:9 – as you attain the goal of your faith, salvation

Future Event (I will be saved)
Mt 10:22 – he who endures to the end will be saved
Mt 24:1 – he who perseveres to the end will be saved
Mk 8:35 – whoever loses his life for my sake will save it
Acts 15:11 – we shall be saved through the grace of Jesus
Rom 5:9-10 – since we are justified, we shall be saved
Rom 13:11 – salvation is nearer now than first believed
Cor 3:15 – he shall be saved, but only as through fire
1Cor 5:5 – deliver man to Satan so his spirit may be saved
Heb 9:28 – Jesus will appear second time, to bring salvation

Good Works
Mt 7:21 – not Lord, Lord but he who does the will of father
Mt 19:16-17 – to have life, keep my commandments
Jn 14:21 – he who keeps my commandments loves me
Rom 2:2-8 – eternal life by perseverance in good works
Gal 5:4-6 – nothing counts but faith working through love
Eph 2:8-10 – we are created in Christ Jesus for good works
Phil 2:12-13 – work out salvation with fear and trembling
Jam 2:14-24 – a man is justified by works & not faith alone

Judged According to Deeds
Rom 2:2-8 – eternal life by perseverance in good works
2Cor 5:10 – recompense accord to what did in body
2Cor 11:15 – their end will correspond to their deeds
1Pet 1:17 – God judges impartially according to one’s works
Rev 20:12-13 – dead judged according to their deeds
Col 3:24-25 – will receive due payment for whatever you do

Assurance of Salvation?
Mt 7:21 – not everyone saying «Lord, Lord» will inherit
Mt 24:13 – those who persevere to the end will be saved
Rom 11:22 – remain in his kindness or you will be cut off
Phil 2:12 – work out your salvation in fear and trembling
1Cor 9:27 – drive body for fear of being disqualified
1Cor 10:11-12 – those thinking they are secure may fall
Gal 5:4 – separated from Christ, you’ve fallen from grace
2Tim 2:11-13 – must hold out to the end to reign with Christ
Hb 6:4-6 – describes sharers in Holy Spirit who then fall away
Heb 10:26-27 – if sin after receiving truth, judgment remains

Regenerative Baptism
Jn 3:5, 22 – born of water & Spirit; Apostles begin baptizing
Tit 3:5 – saved us through bath of rebirth & renewal by Holy Spirit
Acts 2:37-38 – repent, be baptized, receive gift of Holy Spirit
Acts 22:16 – get selves baptized and sins washed away
1Cor 6:11 – you were washed, sanctified, justified
Rom 6:4 – baptized into death; live in newness of life
1Pet 3:21 – baptism…now saves you
Heb 10:22 – heart sprinkled, bodies washed in pure water
(also see The Sacraments)

Health and Wealth Gospel
Mk 10:28 – no «take cross and follow me» = not worthy of me
Rom 8:16-17 – heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him
Rom 8:18 – present suffering nothing compared w/future glory
Phil 1:28-29 – granted to believe, also to suffer for him
Col 1:24 – filling up what is lacking in Christ sufferings
Heb 12:5-7 – whom God loves, he disciplines as sons
Heb 12:11 discipline seems painful, but brings righteousness
1Pet 1:6 – for a while you must suffer various trials
1Pet 2:19-21 – suffering = grace; Jesus suffered as our example

BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Mary
Lk 1:28, 30 – angel: «full of grace, found favor with God
Lk 1:42 – Elizabeth: «most blessed among women»
Lk 1:48 – Mary: «all generations will call me blessed»

Mother of God
Lk 1:43 – Elizabeth calls her «mother of my Lord» = God
Mt 1:23 – virgin bear a son, Emmanuel = «God is with us»
Lk 1:35 – child born will be called holy, the Son of God
Gal 4:4 – God sent his Son, born of a woman

The Assumption
Gn 5:24 (Hb 11:5) – Enoch taken to heaven without dying
2Kg 2:11 – Elijah assumed into heaven in fiery chariot
Mt 27:52 – many saints who had fallen asleep were raised
1Thess 4:17 – caught up to meet the Lord in the air
1Cor 15:52 – we shall be instantly changed at the last trumpet
Rom 6:23 – for the wages of sin is death
Rev 11:19-21 – ark in heaven = woman clothed in sun
Ps 132:8 – Arise, O Lord & go to thy resting place,
thou & the ark of thy might.

The Immaculate Conception
Lk 1:28 – hail full of grace[highly favored] Lord is with you
Lk 1:30 – you have found favor with God
Lk 1:37 – for with God nothing shall be impossible
Gn 3:15 – complete enmity between woman & Satan, sin
Ex 25:11-21 – ark made of purest gold for God’s word
*Rom 3:23 – all have sinned & are deprived of God’s glory
*Lk 1:47 – my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

Perpetual Virginity
Lk 1:34 – how can this be, since I do not know man
Lk 2:41-51 – age 12, Jesus evidently only son of Mary
Mk 6:3 – «the son of Mary» not «a son of Mary»
*Mt 13:55-56 – brothers James, Joseph, Simon & Jude
Mt 27:56 – Mary the mother of James & Joseph also
Jn 19:25 – Mary the wife of Clopas
Jn 19:26 – entrusted Mary to John, not a younger sibling
Jn 7:3-4 – brothers advise like elders: «go to Judea, manifest self»
unthinkable for younger siblings (see next verse)
Mk 3:21 – set out to seize him, «he is out of his mind»
*Mt 1:25 – Joseph knew her not until she bore first-born
Mt 28:20 – I am with you always, UNTIL the end of the age
1Tim 4:13 – UNTIL I arrive, attend to reading, teaching…
1Cor 15:25 – he must reign UNTIL has enemies underfoot
Lk 1:80 – John in desert UNTIL day of his manifestation
Ex 13:2; Nb 3:12 – consecrate first -born that opens womb
Ex 34:20 – first-born among your sons you shall redeem

THE PRIESTHOOD
Call No Man Father
Acts 7:2 – St. Stephen calls Jewish leaders «fathers»
Acts 21:40, 22:1 – St. Paul calls Jerusalem Jews «fathers»
Rom 4:16-17 – Abraham called the father of us all»
1Cor 4:14-15 – I became your father in Christ through gospel
1Tim 1:2 – my true child in our common faith
Heb 12:7-9 – we have earthly fathers to discipline us
Lk 14:26 – if anyone comes to me without hating his father…
1Thess 2:11 – we treated you as a father treats his children
Philem 10 – whose father I became in my imprisonment
1Jn 2:13, 14 – I write to you, fathers, because you know him

Celibacy
*1Tim 4:1-3 – forbidding marriage is a doctrine of demons
*1Tim 3:2 – bishop must be married only once
Eph 5:21-33 – marriage is good: holy symbol of Christ & church
Mt 19:12 – celibacy praised by Jesus, who was chaste
Jer 16:1-4 – Jeremiah told not to take wife & have children
1Cor 7:8 – St. Paul was celibate
1Cor 7:32-35 – celibacy recommended for full-time ministers
2Tim 2:3-4 – no soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits
1Tim 5:9-12 – pledge of celibacy taken by older widows

(also see Apostolic Succession and the sacrament of Holy Orders)

PURGATORY, HELL, & SIN
Purgatory
Mt 5:48 – be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect
Heb 12:14 – strive for that holiness without which cannot see God
Jam 3:2 – we all fall short in many respects
Rev 21:27 – nothing unclean shall enter heaven
Jam 1:14-15 – when sin reaches maturity gives birth to death
2Sam 12:13-14 – David, though forgiven, still punished for his sin
Mt 5:26 – you will not be released until paid last penny
Mt 12:32 – sin against Holy Spirit unforgiven in this age or next
Mt 12:36 – account for every idle word on judgment day
2Macc 12:44-46 – atoned for dead to free them from sin
1Cor 3:15 – suffer loss, but saved as through fire
1Pet 3:18-20; 4:6 – Jesus preached to spirits in prison
2Tim 1:16-18 – Paul prays for dead friend Onesiphorus
1Cor 15:29-30 – Paul mentions people baptizing for the dead

Hell
Is 33:11, 14 – who of us can live with the everlasting flames
Mt 25:41 – depart, you accursed, into the eternal fire
Mt 25:46 – these will go off to eternal punishment
Lk 3:16-17 – the chaff will burn in unquenchable fire
2Thess 1:6-9 – these will pay the penalty of eternal ruin

Original Sin
Gn 2:16-17 – the day you eat of that tree, you shall die
Gn 3:11-19 – God’s punishment for eating of the tree
Rom 5:12-19 – many became sinners through one man’s sin
1Cor 15:21-23 – by a man came death; in Adam all die
Eph 2:1-3 – we all once lived in the passions of our flesh

THE SACRAMENTS
Infant Baptism
Jn 3:5; Mk 16:16 – baptism required for entering heaven
1Cor 15:21-22 – in Adam all die, in Christ all made alive
Mk 10:14 – let children come; to such belongs the kingdom
Lk 18:15 – people were bringing even infants to him…
Col 2:11-12 – baptism has replaced circumcision
Jos 24:15 – as for me and my house, we will serve Lord
Mt 8:5ff. – daughter healed because of centurion’s faith
Mt 15:21ff. – daughter healed because of Canaanite woman’s faith
Lk 7:1ff. – just say the word, and let my servant be healed
Acts 16:31 – believe in Lord Jesus you & house will be saved
Acts 16:15 – she was baptized, with all her household
Acts 16:33 – he and all his family were baptized at once
1Cor 1:16 – I baptized the household of Stephanas

Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist
Jn 6:35-71 – Eucharist promised
Mt 26:26ff (Mk 14:22ff., Lk 22:17ff.) – Eucharist instituted
1Cor 10:16 – Eucharist = participation in Christ’s body & blood
1 Cor 11:23-29 – receiving unworthily his body & blood
Ex 12:8, 46 – Paschal lamb had to be eaten
Jn 1:29 – Jesus called «Lamb of God»
1 Cor 5:7 – Jesus called «paschal lamb who has been sacrificed
Jn 4:31-34; Mt 16:5-12 – Jesus talking symbolically about food
1Cor 2:14-3:4 – explains what «the flesh» means in Jn 6:63
Ps 14:4; Is 9:18-20; Is 49:26; Mic 3:3; 2Sm 23:15-17; Rv 17:6, 16 –
to symbolically eat & drink one’s body & blood = assault

Confirmation
Acts 19:5-6 – Paul imposed hands on baptized, received Holy Spirit
Acts 8:14-17 – laid hands upon them, they received Holy Spirit
2Cor 1:21-22 – put seal on us and given Holy Spirit in our hearts
Eph 1:13 – you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit
Heb 6:2 – instruction about baptism & laying on of hands

Confession
Mt 9:2-8 Son of Man has authority to forgive sins
Jn 20:23 – whose sins you forgive/retain are forgiven/retained
Jn 20:22 – breathed on them, «receive Holy Spirit» [recall Gn 2:7]
2Cor 5:17-20 – given us the ministry of reconciliation
Jam 5:13-15 – confess your sins to one another
Mt 18:18 – whatever you bind & loose on earth, so it is in heaven

Anointing the Sick
Mk 6:12-13 – anointed with oil many sick, cured them
Jam 5:14-15 – presbyters pray over sick, anoint, sins forgiven

Holy Orders
Acts 20:28 – Holy Sprit appointed you overseers, to tend Church
Lk 22:19 – do this in memory of me
Jn 20:22 – As Father sent me, I send you…receive Holy Spirit
Acts 6:6 – the apostles prayed and laid hands on them
Acts 13:3 – they laid hands on them & sent them off
Acts 14:22 – they appointed presbyters in each church
1Tim 4:14 – gift received through laying on of hands of presbyterate
2Tim 1:6 – gift of God you have through imposition of hands
Tit 1:5 – appoint presbyters in every town as I directed you
(also see The Priesthood)

Matrimony
Mt 19:5-6 – leave father & mother, join wife, 2 become 1 flesh
Mk 10:7-12 – what God joined together, no man separate
Eph 5:22-32 – union of man & wife image of Christ & Church
Heb 13:4 – let marriage be honored among all

SOCIAL TEACHINGS
Divorce and Remarriage
Mal 2:14-16 – for I hate divorce, says the Lord
Mt 5:32-33 – to divorce or marry divorced wife is adultery
Mt 19:4-6, 9 – to divorce wife and remarry = adultery
Lk 16:18 – to divorce & remarry or marry divorced = adultery
Rom 7:2-3 – wife consorts = adulteress if living, but not if dead
1Cor 7:10-11 – if wife separated, stay single or reconcile

Contraception
Gn 38:9-10 God killed Onan for spilling seed [see next]
Dt 25:5-10 – penalty for defying Levirate law: not death
Gn 1:27-28 (Gn 9:1, 35:11) – be fruitful and multiply
Ps 127:3-5 – children gift from God, blessed is a full quiver
1Chr 25:5 – God gave 14 sons & 3 daughters to exalt him
1Chr 26:4-5 – God indeed blessed Obededom with 8 sons
Hos 9:10-17 – Israel is punished with childlessness
Ex 23:25-26 – blessings promised: no miscarrying, barrenness
Lv 21:17-20 – crushed testicles is called a defect & blemish
Dt 23:1 – no one castrated shall enter the assembly
Dt 25:11-12 – punishment for potential damage to genitals
Rom 1:25-27 – natural function of women = childbearing
1Tim 2:11-15 – women saved through the bearing of children
Acts 5:1-11 – Ananias/Saphira slain – withholding part of gift
Gal 6:7 – God is not mocked-accepting pleasure, denying fruit
Mt 21:19, Mk 11:14 – Jesus cursed fruitless fig tree
Gal 5:20, Rv 9:21, 21:8 – Greek pharmakeia = abortifacient potions
1Cor 6:19-20 – body temple of the Holy Spirit, glorify God with body

Homosexuality
Gn 1:27 – complementarity of sexes reflects God’s inner unity
Gn 2:21-24 – transmission of life through total self-donation – one flesh
Gn 19 – original sin deteriorates to Sodom’s sin, destroyed
Lv18:22 – called abomination, cut off from people (v.29)
Lv 20:13 – both shall be put to death for abominable deed
Rom 1:27 – called unnatural, shameful, and a perversity
1Cor 6:9 – active homosexuals won’t inherit kingdom of God
1Tim 1:9-10 – those who engage in such acts called sinners

Drinking Wine
Gn 27:25 – Isaac brought Jacob wine, and he drank
Dt 14:23-26 – spend money on sheep, wine, & strong drink
Prov 20:1 – wine is a mocker, unwise to be led astray by it
Eccl 9:7 – drink your wine with merry heart – God approves
Is 25:6 – God will provide feast of rich foods & choice wines
Is 5:11 – woe to those who rise early & run after strong drink
Is 5:22 – woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine
Luke 7:33-34 – son of man eats & drinks: behold glutton & drunk
Jn 2:2-10 – miracle at Cana: water turned into good wine
Eph 5:18 – do not get drunk with wine, that is debauchery
1Tim 5:23 – drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach

SAINTS, RELICS, AND STATUES
Communion of Saints
Eph 1:22-23 – he is head of the Church, which is His body
Eph 5:21-32 – Christ is the head of the Church, Savior of the body
Col 1:18, 24 – He is head of the body, the Church
1Cor 12:12-27 – if I suffer, all suffer; if I am honored, all rejoice
Rom 12:5 – we are one body in Christ, individual parts of one another
Eph 4:4 – one body, one Spirit, called to one hope
Col 3:15 – you were called in one body
Rom 8:35-39 – death cannot separate us from Christ
Rom 12:10 – love one another with mutual affection
1Thess 5:11 – encourage, build up one another
Gal 6:2 – bear one another’s burdens
Gal 6:10 – let us do good to all, especially those in family of faith

Intercessory Prayer of Saints
Rom 15:30 – join me by your prayers to God on my behalf
Col 4:3, 1Thess 5:25 – pray for us
2Thess 1:11 – we always pray for you
2Thess 3:1 – finally, brothers, pray for us
Eph 6:18-19 – making supplication for all the saints & for me
Tob 12:12 – angel presents Tobit & Sarah’s prayer to God
Ps 148 – David calls upon angels
Zech 1:12 – angel intercedes for Jerusalem
Mk 12:25, Mt 22:30 – men in heaven are as the angels
Rev 5:8 – those in heaven offer prayers of the holy ones to God
*Saints dead, prayer is necromancy (Dt 18:10-11)
Mk 12:26-27 – he is God of the living, not of the dead
Mk 9:4 – Jesus seen conversing with Elijah & Moses
Lk 9:31 – Elijah & Moses aware of earthly events
Rev 6:9-11 – martyrs under altar want earthly vindication
Heb 12:1 – we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses
Lk 16:19-30 – departed rich man intercedes for brothers
Rev 20:4 – saw the souls of those who had been beheaded
Wis 3:1-6 – the souls of the just are in the hand of God
2Macc 15:7-16 – the departed Onias & Jeremiah pray for the Jews
Jas 5:16 Prayers of righteous man
1 Cor. 13:12 – I shall understand fully
1 John 4: 20-21 – whoever loves God must love his brother
1 Cor 12:21 – parts of Christ’s Body cannot say to other parts,
«I do not need you».

*1Tim 2:5 – «One mediator between God and man»
1Tim 2:1-7 – offer prayers, petitions for all men
1Pet 2:5 – be a holy priesthood to offer sacrifices through Christ
Mk 10:18 – only God is good
Mt 25:23 – well done my good and faithful servant
Jn 10:11-16 – I am good shepherd; one flock I shepherd
Jn 21:15-16 – feed my lambs, tend my sheep
Eph 4:11 – He gave some as apostles…others as pastors
Heb 3:1, 7:24, 9:12-13 – Jesus eternal high priest; one sacrifice
Rev 1:6, 5:10 – He made us a kingdom of priests for God

Veneration of Saints
Jos 5:14 – Joshua fell prostrate in worship before angel
Dan 8:17 – Daniel fell prostrate in terror before Gabriel
Tob 12:16 – Tobiah & Tobit fall to ground before Raphael
Mt 18:10 – angels in heaven always behold face of God (we venerate
angels because of their great dignity,
which comes form their union with God.
Saints also are united with God)
1Jn 3:2 – we shall be like him, we shall see him as he is
1Thess 1:5-8 – you become an example to all the believers
Heb 13:7 – remember leaders, consider/imitate their faith & life

Relics
2Kgs 13:20-21 – contact with Elisha’s bones restored life
Acts 5:15-116 – cures performed through Peter’s shadow
Acts 19:11-12 – cures through face cloths that touched Paul

Statues
*Ex 20:4-5 – do not make and worship any graven images
Ex 25:18-19 – make two cherubim of beaten gold
Num 21:8-9 – Moses made bronze serpent & put on pole
1Kgs 6:23-29 – temple had engraved cherubim, trees, flowers
1Kgs 7:25-45 – temple had bronze oxen, lions, pomegranates

(also see The Blessed Virgin Mary)

MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS

Scandals in the Church
Jer 32:32-35 – OT leaders & priests offered child sacrifices
2 Kgs 23:7 – OT cult prostitutes in the temple of the Lord
Jn 4:22 – in spite of their infidelity, salvation is from Jews
Mk 14:43-46 – Judas betrayed Jesus
Mk 14:66-72 Peter denied him
Jn 20:24-25 Thomas refused to believe his resurrection
Mk 14:50 – they all left him and fled in garden of Gethsemane
Rom 3:3-4 – will their infidelity nullify fidelity of God? No!
2 Tim 2 :13 – if we are unfaithful, God remains faithful
Mt 13:24-30 – Parable of the weeds among the wheat
Mt 13:47-48 – parable of net that collects good and bad

Fasting
*1Tim 4:3 – condemns anti-flesh heretics
Mk 7:19 – Christ declared all food clean
1Tim 4:4-5 – everything created by God is good
Dan 10:3 – Daniel refused to eat choice foods for 3 weeks
Mt 9:15 – Christ’s followers will fast once he is gone
Mt 6:16-18 – Jesus gave regulations concerning how to fast

Divinity of Jesus
Jn 1:1 – the Word was God
Jn 1:14-15 – glory of Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth
Jn 8:19 – if you knew me, you would know my Father
Jn 8:58-59 – I assure you, before Abraham was, I AM
Jn 10:30-33 – the Father and I are one (see Ex 3:14, 20:7;
Lev 19:12, 24:14-16)
Jn 10:38 – the Father is in me and I am in the Father
Jn 12:45 – whosoever sees me sees the one who sent me
Jn 14:8-12 – whoever had seen has seen the Father
Jn 20:28 – Jesus accepts Thomas’s «my Lord and my God»
Col 2:9 – in him dwells whole fullness of deity bodily
Acts 20:28 – church of God he acquired with his blood
Eph 1:7 – in him we have redemption by his blood
1Jn 1:7 – blood of his Son Jesus cleanses from all sin
Tit 2:13 – glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ

Time of Second Coming Unknown
Mt 24:44 – be prepared, Jesus coming at unexpected hour
Mt 25:13 – stay awake, you know neither the day nor hour
Mk 13:35-37 – watch, unknown when lord of house coming
Lk 12:46 – master will come like a thief in night
1thess 5:2-3 – day of Lord will come like a thief in night
2Pet 3:9-10 – day of lord will come like a thief
Rev 3:3 – if not watchful, will come like a thief
Mt 24:36 – no one but Father alone knows day and hour

Holy Spirit a Person, Not a Force
Jn 14:26 – «he will teach you all things»
Acts 8:29 – «and the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go up…»
Acts 13:2 – «Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me…'»
Rom 8:27 – «Spirit intercedes for the saints…»
1Cor 2:11 – no one understands the thoughts of God, but Spirit
1Cor 12:11 – Spirit apportions to each as he wills
Eph 4:30 – «do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God»

Repetitious Prayer
*Mt 6:7 – do not babble like pagans with their many words
1Kgs 18:25-29 – example of vain repetition: call Baal for hours
Mt 26:44 – Jesus prayed a third time, saying the same thing again
Lk 18:13 – collector kept beating breast & praying: be merciful
Rev 4:8 – repeat day & night, «Holy, holy, holy is the Lord»
1Thess 5:17 – pray without ceasing
Ps 136 (26X ‘his steadfast love endures forever’)
Mt 6:9-13 Our Father

Primacía de Roma

“The church of God which sojourns at Rome to the church of God which sojourns at Corinth … But if any disobey the words spoken by him through us, let them know that they will involve themselves in transgression and in no small danger.”
Pope St. Clement of Rome, 1st Epistle to the Corinthians, 1,59:1 (A.D. 96).

“Since, however, it would be very tedious, in such a volume as this, to reckon up the successions of all the Churches, we do put to confusion all those who, in whatever manner, whether by an evil self-pleasing, by vainglory, or by blindness and perverse opinion, assemble in unauthorized meetings; [we do this, I say,] by indicating that tradition derived from the apostles, of the very great, the very ancient, and universally known Church founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul; as also [by pointing out] the faith preached to men, which comes down to our time by means of the successions of the bishops. For it is a matter of necessity that every Church should agree with this Church, on account of its pre- eminent authority, that is, the faithful everywhere, inasmuch as the apostolical tradition has been preserved continuously by those [faithful men] who exist everywhere.”
-St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 3:3:2 (A.D. 180).

“…the Church which presides in the place of the region of the Romans, and which is worthy of God, worthy of honour, worthy of the highest happiness, worthy of praise, worthy of credit, worthy of being deemed holy, and which presides over love…”
-St. Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Romans, Prologue (A.D. 110).

“…thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church’ … It is on him that he builds the Church, and to him that he entrusts the sheep to feed. And although he assigns a like power to all the apostles, yet he founded a single Chair, thus establishing by his own authority the source and hallmark of the (Church’s) oneness…If a man does not fast to this oneness of Peter, does he still imagine that he still holds the faith. If he deserts the Chair of Peter upon whom the Church was built, has he still confidence that he is in the Church?”
-St. Cyprian, De Unitate Ecclesiae , 4 (A.D. 251).

“…Peter, that strongest and greatest of all the apostles, and the one who on account of his virtue was the speaker for all the others…”
Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 2:14 (A.D. 325)

The only time the keys are used in the OT, or in the Gospels, they have to do with dynastic succession and authority of office. Jesus purposely used the language of Isa 22:22 when demonstrating this purpose in Mt 16:19.

In the Old Davidic kingdom, the king had a prime minister on whose shoulder was placed the keys of the kingdom. Similarly, the new kingdom of Christ also has a prime minister (Peter and his successors) who is given the keys of the kingdom. The keys not only represent the authority the prime minister has to rule over God’s people in the king’s absence, but also the means of effecting dynastic succession to the prime minister’s office.

In that verse(Isa 22:22), the keys are passed on from Shebna to Eliacim as prime minister/steward of the Kings house. So too is Peter the steward in Christs house in his absence. Christ did not give this authority to everyone. He gave it to Simon and renamed him Cephas just as Abram became Abraham and Jacob became Israel. When God chooses a new vocation for you, He gives you a new name.

Mt 16:19 • ‘And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.’
Isa 22:22 • ‘And I will lay the key of the house of David upon his shoulder: and he shall open, and none shall shut: and he shall shut, and none shall open.’