From: NU169273@vm1.nodak.edu
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: The Lord's Table (Part 1 of 2)
Date: 17 Aug 92 06:19:42 GMT
Organization: North Dakota Higher Education Computer Network

My intention was never in anyway meant to attack Catholics or
whosoever.  [I have got better things to do.]  I was looking at
a specific false teaching that Peter supposedly founded the New
Testament church.

I took the Biblical stand the Jesus Christ himself founded the first New
Testament church.  This independent, local church then in turn sent out
missionaries which in turn planted other N. T. churches which would eventually
become independent and self-sustaining relying solely on the Bible and the
Holy Spirit for truth, doctrine, and wisdom in the things of God.
(Christ is the rock mentioned in Matthew 16:18.)  Jesus Christ has ALWAYS
been the Rock.  "And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the
builders rejected is become the head of the corner:"  Mark 12:10.  See
also Psalms 119:22.  Peter was a mere man ... YES, a man of God, BUT still
a mere man.  God the Father founded His church through His Pure and Holy
Son.  In fact the Bible declares that Jesus Christ purchased it with His
own BLOOD need I say more?  Matthew 16:18 declares the church to be Jesus
Christ's foundation.  Jesus Christ says it was His church "MY church" ...
not Peter's, not Paul's, not anyone elses.

No doubt about it Peter and the Other desciples eventually got authority
from the God to Preach His Pure and Precious Word to the Jews and Gentiles
alike once they had shown themselves worthy and faithful.

However, this authority DID NOT include forgiving sins.  The Bible says
NOTHING BUT the shed BLOOD of Jesus Christ can forgive sins.  (The Bible
does not contain errors and clearly states that God is not the author of
lies and/or confusion.  Let God be true and every man a liar.)
Someone might object YEAH BUT what about the verse that talks about
remitting sins.  Here we must keep in mind that God doesn't change.
IF the Bible says Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins
of the world then that settles it and clearly IT DOES.  God said Himself
on the Cross at Calvary that He had finished it:  the one-time payment
for all sins past, present and future.  He had accomplished His Father's
will by making possible the Redemptive Gift called Grace over and over for
Sin.  Jesus Christ the anointed Saviour of the world provided/s the means of
escape from the wages of sins which is death; Death of the body and soul
in a eternal place called the Lake of Fire (Hell for those who deny
and yet know what Bible teaches and proclaims.)

Confessing your faults one to another when you have offended someone
is Biblical.  "Confess yours faults one to another, and pray for one
another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much."  (James 5:16)  This commandment from
God's word when obeyed clears your conscience so to speak with the offended
party and pleases God.  Read I John Chapter 1.  This is one of the
areas of Scripture that I find people need to see when a teaching of
a mere man (not the ONLY Saviour) can and is able to forgive sins.

First John Chapter 1 verse 7 says "The BLOOD of Jesus Christ
his Son cleanseth us from ALL sin."  It doesn't matter whether your are
still a lost sinner because you have not repented (turned from yourself,
the world, and Satan to Christ) and placed all your faith in Jesus Christ
alone OR a saved sinner ... the PATH of forgiveness of your sins is
Christ Jesus.  Nothing has changed.  He is the Way, the Truth, and the
Life.  No man cometh unto the Father (which is in Heaven) BUT by Him.
Amen.


K. Paulson
1109 16th Street North #1
Fargo, ND  58102

[If someone said that Peter founded the church, I suspect they misspoke.
As far as I know, everyone agrees that Christ founded the church, and
that any forgiveness is from his blood.  --clh]