UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS
https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
The Word Today Video Gospel
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DIVINITY OF JESUS CHRIST
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 0 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 – whoever sees me sees the one who sent me
Jn 14:8-12 – whoever has seen me 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 w/ His blood
Eph 1:7 – in Him we have redemption by His blood
1 Jn 1:7 – blood of His Son Jesus cleanses from all sin
Tit 2:13 – glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ
HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON NOT 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 …”
1 Cor 2:11 – no one understands thoughts of God, but Spirit
- Cor 12:11 – Spirit apportions to each as he wills Eph 4:30 – “do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, …”
CALL NO MAN FATHER? (“MT 23:9)
Mt 19:19 – Jesus confirms commandment “Honor father & mother”
Mt 3:9 – Jesus calls Abraham “father”
Mt 5:29-30 – Jesus uses hyperbole “pluck out eye;
cut off hand”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” 1 Cor 4:14-15 – I became your father in Christ thru gospel 1 Tim 1:2 – my true child in the faith
Tit 1:4 – 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 who hating his father … 1 Thess 2:11 – we treated you as a father treats his children Philem 10 – whose father I became in my imprisonment 1 Jn 2:13, 14 – I write to you, fathers, because you know him
CATHOLIC CHURCH
Mt 16:18-19 – upon this rock I will build my Church.
Mt 18:17-18 – if he refuses to listen even to 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 w/ you always, teach/ remind everything
Jn 16:13 – Church is the pillar & foundation of truth
APOSTOLIC CHURCH – THE APOSTLES
Jn 15:16 – Jesus chose special men to be his Apostles
Jn 20:21 – Jesus gave the Apostles his own mission
Lk 22:29-30 – 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
1 Tim 3:1, 8; 5:17 – identifies roles of bishops, priests, deacons
Tit 1:5 – commission for bishops to ordain priests
THE CHURCH MUST BE ONE
Jn 10:16 – there shall be one-fold and one shepherd
Eph 4:3-6 – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God & Father
Rom 16:17 – avoid those who create dissensions
1 Cor 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 w/ one another
Jn 17:17-23 0 I pray that they may be one, as we are one
Jn 17:23 – that they may be brought to perfection as one
1 Cor 12:13 – In one spirit we were baptized into one body
Rom 12:4 – we, though many, are one body in Christ
Eph 4:4 – one body, one Spirit, called to one hope
Col 3:15 – the peace into which you were called in one body
St. Cyprian (c. 250 AD): “God is one and Christ is one, and one is His Church, and the faith is one, and His people welded together by the glue of concord into a solid unity of body. Unity cannot be rent asunder, nor can the one body of the Church, through the division of its structure, be divided into separate pieces.” On the Unity of the Church 23.
Tertullian (197 AD): “We are a society with a single religious feeling, a single unity of discipline, a single blood of hope.” Apology 39, 1.
St. Hillary (4th c.): “In the Scriptures our people are shown to be made one; so that just as many grains collected into one and ground and mingled together, make one loaf, so in Christ, who is the heavenly Bread, we know there is one body, in which our whole company is joined and united.” Treatise 62, 13.
PERPETUAL CHURCH FOREVER
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
Lk 1:32, 33 – no end to Christ’s kingdom
Mt 7:24 – Jesus is like a wise man who build 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.
CHURCH INFALLABILITY
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
1 Tim 3:15 – church called “pillar and foundation of truth
1 Jn 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 always
St. Irenaeus (c. 200): “For where the Church is, there is the Spirit of God; and where the Spirit of God is, there the Church and every grace. The Spirit, however, is Truth.” Against Heresies 3, 24, 1.
St. Hippolytus of Rome (c. 215 AD): “Baptize first the children; and if they can speak for themselves, let them do so. Otherwise, let their parents or other relatives speak for them.” The Apostolic Tradition 21.
Origen (post 244 Ad): “the Church received from the apostles the tradition of giving baptism also to infants.”
Commentary on Romans 5, 9.
In 252 AD, the council of Carthage condemned the opinion that infants must wait until the eighth day after birth to be baptized, as was the case with circumcision.
St. Cyprian of Carthage, Letter 64 (59), 2.
CHURCH IS 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
TEACHING AUTHORITY OF CHURCH
Mt 28:18-20 – Jesus delegates all power to Apostles
Jn 20:23 – power to forgive sin
1 Cor 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
St. Irenaeus (c. 20 AD): “…the Church, having received the this preach and this faith, although she is disseminated throughout the whole world, yet guarded it, as if she occupied but one house. She likewise believes these things just as if she had but one soul and one and the same heart; and harmoniously she proclaims them and teaches them and hands them down, as if she possessed but one mouth.” Against Heresies 1, 10, 2.
Eusibius of Caesarea (4th c.): “But the brightness of the Catholic Church proceeded to increase in greatness, for it ever held to the same points in the same way, and radiated forth to all race of Greeks and barbarians the reverent, sincere, and free nature, and the sobriety and purity of the divine teaching as to conduct and thought.” Ecclesiastical History 3,7, 13.
St. Augustine (392 AD): “The Catholic Church is the work of Divine Providence, achieved through the prophecies of the prophets, through the Incarnation and the teaching of Christ through the journeys of the Apostles, through the suffering, the crosses, the blood and death of the martyrs, through the admirable lives of the saints ‘’’When, then, we see so much help on God’s part, so much progress and so much fruit, shall we hesitate to bury ourselves in the bosom of that Church? For starting from the apostolic chair down through successions of bishops, even unto the open confession of all mankind, it has possessed the crown of teaching authority.” The Advantage of Believing 35.
APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION
2 Chr 19:11 – High priest is over you in everything of Lord’s
Mal 2:7 – seek instruction from priest, he God’s messenger
Eph 2:20 – church built upon foundation of apostles and prophets
Eph 4:11 – God gave some as apostles, others as prophets..
1 Cro 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 priest, & deacons
1Tim 4:14 – gift conferred with the laying on of hands
1 Tim 5:22 – do not lay hands too readily on anyone
Acts 14:23 – they appointed presbyters in each church
2 Tim 2:2 – what you heard from me entrust to faithful teachers
Titus 1:5 – appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed
PRIMACY OF PETER
Mt 16:18 – upon this rock (Peter) I will build my church
Mt 16:18 – 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 Cephus to his face, for his hypocrisy.
Peter’s name always heads list of Apostles Mt 10:1-4; 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.
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!
- 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
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 call 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
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* Mt 13:55-56-brothers James, Joseph, Simon & Jude Mt 27:56 – Mary the mother of James & Joseph is 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 – 1 am with you always, until end of age
1 Tim 4:13 – until I arrive, attend to reading, teaching … 1 Cor 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
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
Assumption
Gn 5:24 (Hb 11:5) – Enoch taken to heaven without dying
2 Kg 2:11 – Elijah assumed into heaven in fiery chariot Mt 27:52 – many saints who had fallen asleep were raised 1 Thess 4:17 – caught up to meet the Lord in the air 1 Cor 15:52 – we shall be instantly changed at last trumpet Rom 6:23 – for the wages of sin is death
Rev 11:19-12:1 – ark in heaven = woman clothed with sun
SACRAMENTS
INFANT BAPTISM
Jn 3:5; Mk 16:16 – baptism required for entering heaven
1 Cor 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. – servant healed because of centurion’s Faith
Mt 15:21ff – daughter healed ble of Canaanite woman’s faith
Lk 7:1 ff. – 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
1 Cor 1:16 – I baptized the household of Stephanas
REGENERATIVE BAPTISM
Jn 3:5, 22 – born of water & Spirit; Apostles being 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
1 Cor 6:11 – you were washed, sanctified, justified
Rom 6:4 – baptized into death; live in newness of life
1 Pet 3:21 – baptism … now saves you
Heb 10:22 – heart sprinkled, bodies washed in pure water
SACRAMENT OF 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)
2 Cor 5:17-20 – given us the ministry of reconciliation
James 5:13-15 – prayer of presbyters forgives sin
Jam 5:16 – confess your sins to one another
Mt 18-18 – whatever you bind & loose on earth, so it is in heaven
1 Jn 5:16 – there is sin that is not deadly
REAL PRESENCE OF CHRSIT IN THE EUCHARIST
Jn 6:35-71 – Eucharist promised
Mt 26:26ff (Mk 12:22ff., Lk 22:17ff) – Eucharist instituted
1 Cor 10:16 – Eucharist 22participation in Christ’s body & blood
1 Cor 11:23-28 – receiving unworthily 22guilty of his body and 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
1 Cor 2:14; 3:4 – explains what “the flesh” means in *Jn 6:63
Ps 14:4; Is 9:18-20; Is 49:26; Mk 3:3; 2 Sm 23:15-17, Rv 17:6 ; 16 – to symbolically eat and drink one’s body and blood = assault
St. Ignatius (11- AD “[heretics] abstain from Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the Flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ…” Letter to Smyrnaeans 6, 2, 2.
St, Justin Martyr (150 AD): “…not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these; but … as we have been taught, the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by him, and by the change of which our blood and flesh is nourished, is both the Flesh and Blood of that incarnated Jesus.” First Apology 66, 20.
St. Irenaeus of Lyons (195 AD): “He [Jesus] has declared the cup, a part of his creation, to be His own Blood, from which he causes our blood to flow; and the bread, a part of creation, He has established as His own Body, from which He give increase to our bodies.” Against Heresies 5, 2, 2.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem (350 AD): “He himself, therefore, having declared and said of the Bread, ‘This is My Body,’ who will dare any longer to doubt? And when He Himself has affirmed and said, ‘This is My Blood,’ who can ever hesitate and say it is not His Blood?” Catechetical Lectures” Mystagogic 4, 22, 1.
St. Cyril again: “Do not, therefore, regard the bread and wine as simply that, for they are, according to the Master’s declaration, the Body and Blood of Christ. Even though the senses suggest to you the other, let faith make you firm. Do not judge on this matter by taste, but be fully assured by faith, not doubting that you have beened worthy of the Body and Blood of Christ.” Ibid. 4, 22, 6
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
Acts 19:5-6 – Paul imposed hands on baptized, received H. Spirit
Acts 8: 14-17 – laid hands upon them, they received the Holy Spirit
2 Cor 1:21-22 – put seal on us & given Holy Spirit in our hearts
Eph 1:13 – you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit
Heb 6:2 – instruction about baptism & laying o of hands.
THE SACRAMENT OF 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
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS
Acts 20:28 – HS 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 HS
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
1 Tim 4:14 – gift received through laying on of hands of presbyterate
2 Tim 1:6 – gift of God you have through imposition of hands
Tit 1:5 – appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you
ANNOINTING THE SICK
Mk 6:12-13 – anointed with oil many sick. Cured them
Jam 5:14-15 – presbyters’ prayer over sick, anoint, sins forgiven.
CELIBACY
*I Tim 4:1-3 – forbidding marriage is a doctrine of demons
*I Tim 3:2-bishop must be married only once
Eph 5:21-33 – marriage is good: holy symbol of Christ and church
Mt 19:12 – celibacy praised by Jesus, who was celibate
Jer 16:1-4 – Jeremiah told not to take wife & have children
I Cor 7:8 – St. Paul was celibate
I Cor 7:32-35 – celibacy recommended for full-time ministers
II Tim 2:3-4 – no soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits
I Tim 5:9-12 – pledge of celibacy taken by older widows
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 is adultery
Mk 10:11-12 – if either divorces and remarries = adultery
Lk 16:18 – to divorce & remarry or marry divorced=adultery
Rom 7:2-3 -wife consorts adulteress if living, but not if dead *
1 Cor 7:10-11 – if wife separates, stay single or reconcile
CONTRACEPTION
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
1 Chr 25:5 – God gave 14 sons & 3 daughters to exalt him
Hos 9:10-17 – Israel is punished with childlessness
Ex 23:25-26 – blessings promised; no miscarrying, barrenness
Dt. 7:13-14 – you will be blessed; no male or female barrenness
Gn 38:9-10 – Onan killed for spilling his seed on ground
Dt 25:5-10 – penalty for defying Levirate law; not death
Lv. 20:13 – If man lies with man, put to death (wasting seed)
Note: no similar penalty prescribed for lesbian actions or relations between single man & single woman (Dt 22:28-29)
Lv 20:15 – If man lies with animal, put to death (sterile sex)
Lv 20:16 – woman lies with animal, put to death (sterile sex)
Lv 21:17-20 – crashed testicles is called a defect & blemish
Dt 23:1 – no one who is castrated shall enter the assembly
Dt 25:11-12 – punishment for potential damage to genitals
Rom 1:25-27 – natural function of women (=childbearing)
1 Tim 2:11-15 – women saved through the bearing of children
Act 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 pocions
1 Cor 6:19-20 – body temple of HS, glorify God in body
HOMOSEXUALITY
Gn 1:27 – complementarity of sexes reflects God’s inner unity
Gn 2:21-24 – transmission of life through total self donation-1 flesh
Gn 19 – original sin deteriorates to Sodom’s sin, destroyed
Lv 18:22 called abominatin, 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 perversity
1 Cor 6:9 – active homosexuals won’t inherit kingdom of God
1 Tim 1:9-10 – those who engage in such acts called “sinners”
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
1 Cor 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
JUDGED ACCORDING TO DEEDS
Rom 2:5-8 – God will repay each man according to his works
2 Cor 5:10 – recompense accord to what did in body
2 Cor 11:15 – their end will correspond to their deeds
1 Pet 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
GOOD WORKS
Mt 7:21 – not lord lord, but he who does the will of father
Mt 19:16-17 – to have life, keep the 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
Phjl 2:12-13 – work out salvation with fear and trembling
Jam 2:14-24 – a man is justified by works & not faith alone
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 wish to enter into life, keep commandments.
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
1 Cor 9:27 – drive body for fear of being disqualified
1 Cor 10:11-12 – those thinking they are secure, may fall
Gal 5:4 – separated from Christ, you’ve fallen from grace
2 Tim 2:11-13 – must hold out to 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, judgement remains
HAVE YOU BEEN SAVED?
Past Event (I have been saved)
Rom 8:24 – for in hope we were saved
Eph 2:5, 8 0 by grace you have been saved through faith
2 Tim 1:9 – he saved us, called us, according to his grace
Tit 3:5 – he save us through bath of rebirth, renewal by Holy Spirit
Present Process (I am being saved)
Phil 2:!2 – work out your salvation with fear and trembling
1 Pet 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 save
Mt 24:13 – 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
1 Cor 3:15 – he will be saved, but only as through fire
1 Cor 5:5 – deliver man to Satan so his spirit may be saved
Heb 9:28 – Jesus will appear second time, to bring salvation.
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 he will burn in unquenchable fire
2 Thess 1:6-9 – these will pay the penalty of eternal ruin
PURGATORY
Mt. 5:48 – be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect
Heb 12:14 – strive for that holiness who w/o which cannot see God
Jam 3:2: we all fall short in many respects
Rev 21:27 – nothing unclean shall enter heaven
I Jn 5:16-17 – degrees of sins distinguished
Jam 1:14-15 0 when sin reaches maturity gives birth to death
II Sam 12:13-14 – David, though forgiven, still punished for 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 judgement day
II Macc 12:44-46 – atoned for dead to free them from sin
I Cor 3:15 – suffer loss, but saved as through fire
I Pet 3:18-20; 4:6 -Jesus preached to the spirits in prison
II Tim 1:16-18 – Paul prays for dead friend Onesiphorus
I Cor 15:29-30 – Paul mentions people baptizing for the dead.
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 at unexpected day and hour
1 Thess 5:2-3 – day of Lord will come like thief in night
2 Pet 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
FASTING (*I TIM 4:3)
Mk 7:19 – Christ declared all foods clean
I Tim 4:4-5 – everything created by God is good
Dan 10:3 0 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
REPETITIOUS PRAYER
*Mt 6:7 – do not babble like pagans with their many words
1 Kgs 18:25-29 – example of vain repetition: call Baal for hours
Mt 26:44 – Jesus prayed a third time, saying 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”
1 Thess 5:17 – pray without ceasing
*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 and Moses
Lk 23:43 – this day you will be with me in paradise
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
*1 Tim 2:5 “One mediator between God and man”
1 Tim 2:1-7 – offer prayers, petitions for all men
1 Pet 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; one 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
COMMUNION OF SAINTS
Eph 1:22-23 – he is head of the church, which is his body
Eph 5:21-32 – Christ is head of church, savior of the body
Col 1:18, 24 – he is the head of the body, the church
1 Cor 12:12-27 – If I suffers, all suffer; if I honored, all rejoice
Rom 12:5 – we are 1 body in Christ, indiv, 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
1 Thess 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 TO SAINTS
Rom 15:30 -join me by your prayers to God on my behalf
Col 4:3; 1 Thess 5:25 – pray for us
2 Th 1:11 – we always pray for you
2 Th 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
Rev 5:8 – angel offers prayers of the holy ones to 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 – Tobish & Tobit fall to ground before Gabriel
Mt 18:10 – angels in heaven always behold face of God (we venerate angels because of their great dignity, which comes from their union with God, Saints also united with God)
1 Jn 3:2 – we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is
1 Thess 1:5-8 – you became an example to all the believers
Heb 13:7 – remember leaders, consider/imitate their faith & life
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
1 Kgs 6:23-29 – temple had engraved cherubim, trees, flowers
1 Kgs 7:25-45 – temple had bronze oxen, lions, pomegranates
*Indicates verses used to challenge Catholic doctrines.
RELICS
2 Kgs 13:20-21 – contact with Elisha’s bones restored life
Acts 5:15-16 – cures performed through Peter’s shadow
Acts 19:11-12 – cures through face cloths that touched Paul
BIBLE ALONE OR BIBLE PLUS TRADITION?
1 Cor 11:2 – hold fast to traditions I handed on to you
2 Thess 2:15 – hold fast to traditions, whether oral or by letter
2 Thess 3:6 – shun those acting not according to tradition
Jn 21:25 0 not everything Jesus said recorded in Scripture
Mk 13:31 – heaven & earth shall pass away, by my word won’t
Acts 20:35 – Paul records a saying of Jesus not found in gospels
2 Tim 1:13 – follow my sound words; guard the truth
2 Tim 2:2 – what you heard entrust to faithful men
2 Pet 1:20 – no prophecy is a matter of private interpretation
2 Pet 3:15-16 – Paul’s letters can be difficult to grasp & interpret
1 Pet 1: 25 – God’s eternal word = word preached to you
Rom 10:17 – faith comes from what is heard
1 Cor 15:1-2 – being saved if you hold fast to the word I preached.
Mk 16-15 – go to whole world, proclaim gospel to every creature
Mt 23: 2-3 – chair of Moses; observe whatever they tell you.
St. Athanasius (360 AD): “let us note that the very tradition, teaching, and faith of the Catholic Church from the beginning which the Lord gave, was preached by the Apostles, and was preserved by the Fathers, On this was the Church founded; and if anyone departs from this, he neither is nor any longer ought to be called a Christian…”Four Letters to Serapion of Thmius 1, 28.
Origen (c. 230 AD) “The teaching of the Church has indeed been handed down through an order of succession from the Apostles, and remains in the Churches even to the present time. That alone is to be believed as the truth which is in no way at variance with ecclesiastical and apostolic tradition.” Fundamental Doctrines 1, preface, 2.
HEALTH AND WEALTH GOSPEL?
Mt 10:38 – no “take cross and follow me” 22 not worthy of me
Rm 8:16-17 – heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him
Rm 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.
1 Pet 1:6 = for a while you must suffer various trials
1 Pet 2:19-21 – suffering 22 grace; Jesus suffered as our example.
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
1 Cor 11:2 – commends them for following Apostolic tradition
2 Thess 2:15 – commands them to keep traditions
2 Thess 3:6 – shun those acting not according to tradition
DRINKING WINE
Gn 27:25 – Isaac brought Jacob wine, and he drank.
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 rise early & run after strong drink
Is 5:22 – woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine
Lk 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
1 Tim 5:23 – drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach
