----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, May 14, 2005 2:09
AM
Subject: [TruthTalk] Fruit from the Seed
and Root of Orthodoxy FYI
If you've been keeping abreast of
world news, you know that the new pope is putting the late Pope John Paul on
the fast-lane of "sainthood." It makes no
difference, of course, what God's sentiments are in this
paganistic ritual, for if the Roman Catholic hierarchy decrees that someone be
elected a saint, that's it�regardless. But this is the
history of Roman Catholicism.
According to
Catholic doctrine, Pope John Paul cannot be elected a
"saint" unless it can be substantiated that he performed at
least three "miracles." Now watch closely the
Vatican over the next few months and you will see a number of Catholics
coming forth and claiming that Pope John Paul "healed"
them. But you will not be seeing legitimate miracles.
Instead, you will be viewing counterfeit miracles.
How do I know
this? The great apostle Paul, in prophesying about Roman Catholicism,
declared, "The coming of the lawless one [Roman Catholicism] will
be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of
counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders, and in every sort of evil that
deceives those who are perishing" (2 Thess. 2:9-10).
Popes claim to
be apostles. To be an authentic apostle, he must demonstrate
his apostleship by performing signs, wonders, and
miracles. "The things that mark an apostle�signs,
wonders, and miracles�were done among you with great perseverance"
(Paul, 2 Cor. 12:12).
So unless a pope is able to effect supernatural signs, wonders, and
miracles, he cannot be an apostle. Pope John Paul might have performed
counterfeit miracles, but the Vatican will try hard to manufacture and
invent and devise bona-fide miracles. Their efforts will be
futile.
And what about
this "saint" question? Again, we see the Roman
Hierarchy devising laws that God did not author, for if a believer is not a
saint before death, he will not be a saint after death.
The term
"saint" in the scriptures does not carry the idea of
perfection, impeccability, flawless excellence, or place one in a spiritual
celebrity status. The core definition of "saint"
refers to one who has been sanctified or set apart to serve
the God of creation.
Every living
believer is a saint. And not once did any apostle write a
letter to dead saints! Their letters were written to living
saints. Allow me to demonstrate.
"To the congregation of God in Corinth, to those sanctified [or made to be saints] in Christ
Jesus..." (1 Cor.
1:2). "To the
congregation of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout
Achaia" (2 Cor.
1:1).
"To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ
Jesus" (Eph.
1:1).
"To all the saints in Christ Jesus at
Philippi" (Phil.
1:1).
All of these
statements were addressed to living saints. To show you how
deceptive the Vatican and her clergy are, I have before me The Catholic
Living Bible. The term "saints" in all of the
above passages has been deleted. Why? Because to include them
would be a direct contradiction of Catholic doctrine, which says that one
cannot be a saint until he passes on.
In closing this
weekend edition, I say to my Catholic friends and
readers: Place your allegiance in and give your loyalty
to Jesus only. You don't need religion. You need a
relationship. A good, strong relationship with the Man called
Jesus will save you in the end.
Your pope cannot save you, nor forgive you.
Your church cannot deliver you to paradise. No church can accomplish
that feat. But Jesus can! Be neither Catholic nor
Protestant. Be a Christian only, but not the only Christian. Only
then will you experience freedom in Jesus. Trust me, I know�"been
there, done that."
(written by Buff Scott
Jr)
