Realitybites said:

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Hark the Herald Angels Sing is probably my favorite. I don't think that there is another Christmas Carol that captures so much Christian doctrine in a single song.

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Great Song.

Please take the time to read this first post if you haven't yet

Oldbear83 said:

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" The Bible is extremely clear that Peter was the undeniable leader of the early Church."

With all due respect, if that statement were true there would not have been such sharp disagreement all these years.

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With all due respect, the evidence is ignored by those that don't want to except it -

• Jesus renames Simon as Peter, the Rock, upon which he builds his foundation of the Church.
• He is consistently listed first among the apostles in the Gospels and is mentioned more than all the other apostles combined.
• He is often the spokesman for the apostles, as seen during events like Pentecost, delivering a defining sermon that leads to the conversion of thousands.
• In Acts 15 at the Council of Jerusalem, he leads the discussion there.
• The first half of Acts focuses on his miracles and his missionary journey.

Despite their disagreement with the Catholic Church's claim of Apostolic Succession, protestant scholars like F.F. Bruce, N.T. Wright, James D.G. Dunn, and J.N.D. Kelly believe that Peter was the leader in the early Church.

Your "evidence" is no more than subjective assumptions based on cherry-picking interpretations to support only your pre-assigned choice.

It's no more valid than Jews who say Jesus was not the Christ because they have an interpretation of the Old Testament that says what they want.

I have repeatedly reminded you, just as one example, that the verse you pretend has Jesus promoting Peter to Pope does no such thing. Instead Jesus built His Church on the FAITH shown by Peter in that moment and not Peter himself, especially since just minutes later Jesus called Peter 'Satan' for his lack of faith. You never addressed the point that if Jesus was talking about Peter then Jesus was saying 'Satan' would lead His Church, which is plainly not true .

You are free to believe what you want, but pretending there is evidence in Scripture for your claim is to bear false witness.

Happy New Year

Oldbear83 said:

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Your "evidence" is no more than subjective assumptions based on cherry-picking interpretations to support only your pre-assigned choice.

It's no more valid than Jews who say Jesus was not the Christ because they have an interpretation of the Old Testament that says what they want.

I have repeatedly reminded you, just as one example, that the verse you pretend has Jesus promoting Peter to Pope does no such thing. Instead Jesus built His Church on the FAITH shown by Peter in that moment and not Peter himself, especially since just minutes later Jesus called Peter 'Satan' for his lack of faith. You never addressed the point that if Jesus was talking about Peter then Jesus was saying 'Satan' would lead His Church, which is plainly not true .

You are free to believe what you want, but pretending there is evidence in Scripture for your claim is to bear false witness.

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I'll believe what has been believed for nearly 2000 years.

Catholics can also look at John 21 when Jesus allows Peter to repeat of his three-fold denial with his three-fold affirmation of his love for Jesus in John 21 when He tells Peter to Feed my lambs," "Tend my sheep," and "Feed my sheep," signifying the vital call to nourish, guide, and care for God's people through teaching His Word and showing love.

I'll also cite that Jesus, in Luke, tells Peter that He prays for him (singular) and to strengthen his brothers.

You don't accept it. That goes against history and that's on you.

Like I said, even protestant scholars believe that Peter was the undisputed leader of the Apostles.

Coke Bear said:

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Like I said, even protestant scholars believe that Peter was the undisputed leader of the Apostles.

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Let's reverse engineer your position for a moment.

1. I presume that you believe that Peter was the first Pope, and the first occupant of that office.
2. Do you believe that Peter, as the first Pope, also had the power to speak "ex-cathedra"?

I did notice that you still ignore the glaring problem in the Scripture you think says what in fact it does not.

Happy New Year, though!

The Bible is the final authority on earth. Not the Church or the Pope or tradition. The literal translation of the bible. Not the allegorized, fictionalized, false version of scripture. God expects us to believe what He says. When we stand before Him he is not going to accept the excuse that we didn't believe what He said and that He meant something other than what the word says. Just like any legal document the Bible is to be literally interpreted.

Happy New Year

So far so good

Back to business tomorrow. Hope you all had a great Christmas and new year.

Please take the time to read this first post if you haven't yet

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A PRAYER OF SALVATION: If you have any doubts about whether or not you are going to heaven, YOU COULD HUMBLY PRAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO GOD FROM YOUR HEART IN FAITH:

"Dear Lord Jesus I know that I am a sinner and need you to save me. I believe that You are the Lord and believe in my heart that You died on the Cross and Rose from the dead, shedding your blood as the Sacrifice for my sins. I turn to You as the only way of Salvation, I submit my life to you, I submit my will to yours, I place my Faith and Trust in You alone as Lord of my life, Please save me and I thank You for it, in Jesus holy name, Amen."

If you have truly placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord, submitting your life to Him, you can know that you are a child of God and on your way to heaven. Now that you are on your way to heaven, you should attend a bible believing Church and follow in baptism.

Studying The Bible Is Essential To Christians Growth. Click Here To Walk Through The Bible Verse By Verse From The Beginning, In 25 Minute Lessons:

https://www.lesfeldick.org/

Please take the time to read this first post if you haven't yet

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1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV
[9] However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" the things God has prepared for those who love him