Here is a question a received from a Protestant brother who wanted to know the Catholic Church's understanding of Church.
Your question was: I guess I cant answer your question, unless you can tell me what is your understand of what the "CHURCH" really is?
My answer: The Church is a visible Church (Matt. 16:19; 18:17-18, Matt. 5:14). In Matthew 18, Jesus says that if there is a matter at hand, we are to take it to the Church (Matthew 18:17). If the Church wasn't visible, how can we take it to the Church? What does this verse mean?
Also, the Church has the fullness of truth (1 timothy 3:15, Eph. 5:23-27, John 14:16-18, John 16:13) and so it cannot teach error.
Also, the Church is One and has no divisions on doctrinal matters (John 17: 9-26, Eph. 4:11-14, Eph. 4:3-5, Eph. 5:30; Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 6:15, Phil. 1:27, Phil. 2:2, 1 Tim. 6:4, 1 Cor. 14:33, Acts 2:44).
And the Church will never teach false doctrines and fall into corruption because Christ promised this (Matthew 16:16-19) and because the Holy Spirit guides the Church into ALL truth (John 16:13) and also because Christ will not leave the Church orphans (John 14:18) because He will be with the Church always (Matthew 28:20).
So, it is impossible for the Church to have fallen into corruption. If that's the case, then we'd be forced to believe that Christ was a liar or that He couldn't keep His promise. The Church that He established cannot become corrupt and it cannot teach different doctrines. It is One and teaches One Truth. If it taught different truths, then the Church would no longer be the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 tim 3:16). It would be chaotic.
The earliest Christians from 100 AD and on were Catholic. If these guys were Catholic and Christ promised the Church that it won't be corrupted, then it's safe to say that the true Church is the Catholic Church because it has existed for 2000 years.
Your question was: I guess I cant answer your question, unless you can tell me what is your understand of what the "CHURCH" really is?
My answer: The Church is a visible Church (Matt. 16:19; 18:17-18, Matt. 5:14). In Matthew 18, Jesus says that if there is a matter at hand, we are to take it to the Church (Matthew 18:17). If the Church wasn't visible, how can we take it to the Church? What does this verse mean?
Also, the Church has the fullness of truth (1 timothy 3:15, Eph. 5:23-27, John 14:16-18, John 16:13) and so it cannot teach error.
Also, the Church is One and has no divisions on doctrinal matters (John 17: 9-26, Eph. 4:11-14, Eph. 4:3-5, Eph. 5:30; Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 6:15, Phil. 1:27, Phil. 2:2, 1 Tim. 6:4, 1 Cor. 14:33, Acts 2:44).
And the Church will never teach false doctrines and fall into corruption because Christ promised this (Matthew 16:16-19) and because the Holy Spirit guides the Church into ALL truth (John 16:13) and also because Christ will not leave the Church orphans (John 14:18) because He will be with the Church always (Matthew 28:20).
So, it is impossible for the Church to have fallen into corruption. If that's the case, then we'd be forced to believe that Christ was a liar or that He couldn't keep His promise. The Church that He established cannot become corrupt and it cannot teach different doctrines. It is One and teaches One Truth. If it taught different truths, then the Church would no longer be the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 tim 3:16). It would be chaotic.
The earliest Christians from 100 AD and on were Catholic. If these guys were Catholic and Christ promised the Church that it won't be corrupted, then it's safe to say that the true Church is the Catholic Church because it has existed for 2000 years.
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