1. Papal Regalia and Insignia

2. Papal Regalia and Insignia
Crossed keys = Keys of Peter
Gold/Silver = Power to loose and bind
Three crowns = Triple Power
Father of Kings
Governor of the World
Vicar of Christ

3. The authority of the Pope
The Vicar (substitute) of Christ vs. Scripture and simply Jesus as the Head of the Church
Matt. 16:15-19

4. He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Matt. 16:15-19
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

5. The Church
“The Catholic Church is the only church today that can claim to be the one church founded by Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago. Other denominations can trace their origins back to various human founders at a later date in history.”
Catholicscomehome.org

6. The Necessity of the Roman Catholic Church
From catholic.com
Since the sacraments are the ordinary means through which Christ offers the grace necessary for salvation, and the Catholic Church that Christ established is the ordinary minister of those sacraments, it is appropriate to state that salvation comes through the Church.

7. The Necessity of the Roman Catholic Church
From catholic.com
“Instead of simply pointing out how God offers salvation from Christ, through the Church, the Church has warned that there is no salvation apart from Christ, outside his Church.”

8. The Necessity of the Roman Catholic Church
From catholic.com
“The grace necessary for salvation continues to come from Christ, through his Church. Those who innocently do not know and embrace this might still attain salvation but those who knowingly and willingly choose to reject it, reject salvation on God’s terms.”

9. Reflections on Apostolic Succession
Can’t start with assumptions – What is the rock?
“Rock”(masc.) vs. “Rock”(fem.)
Jesus and the reality that He is the Christ
(1 Cor. 3:10-11; John 20:30-31; 1 John 5:1; Acts)
Use of the “keys” (Acts 2, 8, 10)
Peter to Jews vs. Paul to Gentiles (Gal. 2:7-9)
Actual history in Acts

10. Apostolic Succession History in Acts
Peter
Paul
Ch. 2
The Book of Acts
Ch. 28
Ch. 8

11. “The Body of Christ should serve… …like Christ in the body.

12. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:12-19
The Challenge of Church
The Comfort of Church 3:12-15
The Concern of Church 3:16-19

13. Heb. 3:12-14
Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,

14. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:12-14
This is clearly addressed to believers (Heb. 3:1).

15. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:12-14
Those who fell involved the entire nation, minus Joshua and Caleb.
Remember Moses!
Num. 20

16. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:12-14
Believers can stop believing!

17. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:12-14
We help others and ourselves when we encourage others to believe God’s
Word!
Kadesh Barnea!

18. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:12-14
A worsening of the drift in Heb. 2:1-4

19. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:12-14
God has proven Himself.
Are you giving Him a chance?

20. John 12:37
But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him

21. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:12-14
There’s plenty of reason to believe Him!

22. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:12-14
“Today”
A timely word.
A needed encouragement.

23. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:12-14
We need each other!
We give each other grace, and
not just the clergy!

24. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:12-14
“Hardened…deceitfulness of sin”
Choosing to sin, rather than trust,
makes not believing easier.
Sin can fool you!

25. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:12-14
Partnership comes from confidence!

26. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:12-14
Confidence comes from a teachable, obedient heart!

27. Heb. 3:15-16
while it is said:
“Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
 For some, having heard, rebelled. But, it was not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses.

28. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:15-16
Am I teachable?
Am I responsive?

29. Rev. 1:3
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

30. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:15-16
“it was not all who came out of Egypt”
Joshua and Caleb =
Teachable and encouraging!

31. Heb. 3:17-19
Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey (were not persuaded)? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

32. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:17-19
God was both patient and angry.
He had reason to be angry!

33. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:17-19
They paid a price for their hard hearts!
So do we!

34. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:17-19
They died because they were not persuaded in spite of good reasons!

35. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:17-19
We pay a high price for not being teachable!
Luke 10:38-41
“one thing is needed”

36. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:17-19
A lack of faith leads to a different future!

37. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:17-19
Attending church only to “get something out of it” is very unlike Jesus Christ!

38. Matthew 20:28
“…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

39. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:17-19
It is often in giving that we receive!
“Freely you have received, freely give”
Matt. 10:8

40. What Church is Supposed to Be – Heb. 3:17-19
“Freely you have received, freely give”
Matt. 10:8

41. “The Body of Christ should serve… …like Christ in the body.