Four Biblical Truths

The following is an online version of Lifeline's Four Biblical Truths, a concise guide to:

1. Help Catholics defend the Faith
   
2. Help others make an informed decision when choosing a church
   
3. Engage fellow Protestant brothers and sisters in inter-religious dialogues
   

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Are you looking for a Church to belong? Have you asked yourself if you are in the right church? Or aren’t all Christian denominations the same?

These 4 Biblical Truths are offered to you as your right to make an informed choice


1ST BIBLICAL TRUTH

The SEPARATION of Christians is against God’s plan

Jesus prayed to the Father,

‘The glory that you have given me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one’”

John 17:22

Today, Christianity is separated into over 25,000 denominations,

How did these divisions begin?

They began when individuals began to take the Bible as their sole authority and interpreted it by themselves.


2nd BIBLICAL TRUTH

SACRED SCRIPTURE was never meant to be read alone

The last book of the New Testament was only completed in 100 AD and the list of books to be included in the Bible was only finalised by 397 AD. Clearly, at least until that time, the early Church must have regarded something else as authoritative for the Faith.

This “something else” is Sacred Tradition. This includes the Bible, but also oral teachings and unwritten practices. Sacred Tradition helps us to interpret the Bible rightly, according with what the early Christians believed.

“So then brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter”
2 Thessalonians 2:15

Where can I find this Sacred Tradition?


3RD BIBLICAL TRUTH

SACRED TRADITION is found in the Church built by Jesus

The Church is the pillar and foundation of truth
1 Timothy 3:15

Jesus said, “I will build my Church and the powers of hell shall not triumph over it”
Matthew 16:18

And where is this Church?

Through her successive leaders of Popes and bishops, the Catholic Church traces her roots and identifies with the Biblical church founded by Jesus Christ. All Protestant churches were founded by men not more than 500 years ago.

We are secure knowing that the father of lies will never succeed in introducing false doctrines into the Church that Jesus Christ founded. To claim that the Catholic Church, as the bearer of this promise, has deviated from the truth is to call God a liar.


4th BIBLICAL TRUTH

A SPECIAL AUTHORITY was given by Jesus to the leader of his Church

Without clear and visible leadership, the people of God would be left to do what they thought was best. This is a sure path to division and idolatry (Judges 17:6, 21:25).

Jesus said to Peter, “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”
Matthew 16:19

St. Peter received special authority to arbitrate over Church disputes and discern authentic Tradition. Even St. Paul did not decide on his own but recognised this authority in a doctrinal dispute that broke out in the early Church (Acts 15:3)

Christ planned for the Church to remain till the end of time. Wouldn’t it be strange that He would give this visible office of authority to Peter and not intend for it to be passed on in succession?


Jesus’ promise that the Spirit would lead the Church into all truth (John 16:12, Acts 15:28) enables the Church to consolidate, grow in insight and clarify the teaching of the Apostles. It was the Catholic Church, exercising this authority that defined what we hold today to be indisputable: Christ’s human and divine nature, the Trinity and the books to be included in the Bible.

The Catholic Church has been accused of being slow to change. In fact she is always cautious to change and has changed nothing that has been received as doctrinally essential from the Lord. An honest examination of early Christian letters as historical documents reveal belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to the saints, prayers for the Dead, Baptism of infants and Confession of sins; everything which you may have heard were innovations of the Catholic Church.

Today, you can plant your Faith firmly upon the facts of God’s Word. Just as you have a biblical faith that in no other name can you be saved except the name of Jesus, in no Christian denomination is there fullness of Truth except in the Catholic Church. In this Church alone is there Apostolic Faith, God-ordained Authority and the Sacraments of Salvation.

TESTIMONY OF THE EARLY CHURCH

It is within the power of all in every Church, who may wish to see the truth, to contemplate clearly the tradition of the apostles manifested throughout the whole world. We are able to list those who were instituted bishops by the apostles in the Churches, and [to demonstrate] the succession of these men to our own times. These men neither taught nor knew of anything like what these [heretics] rave about.

We point to the tradition of that very great, ancient and universally known Church that was founded and established at Rome by the two most glorious Apostles Peter and Paul. We point I say, to the tradition which this Church has from the Apostles, and to her faith proclaimed to men which comes down to our time through the succession of her bishops. And so we put to shame who, in whatever manner, whether by an evil self-pleasing, by vainglory, or by blindness and perverse opinion, all who assemble in unauthorised meetings. For it is a matter of necessity that every Church must agree with this Church on account of its superior authority. The faithful who preserve the Apostolic tradition would do as much.

St. Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons,
Against Heresies Book 3, Chapter 3 (125-189 AD)