http://www.christianforums.com/t898871
Sure, just read the Study Helps in our Scriptures at the Church's website.
The Holy Spirit means the same to us as it means to anyone.
Catholic Evangelist said:
If the Paraclete had any power at all, then why was there supposedly a big "falling away" from the church in the 1st century
You tell me. Why has there ever been Apostacy's of the Church? The Church after all was in one when Christ came, otherwise he would have just molded His Higher Law right into the Church.
So what makes you think in the Last Days He would "mold" His Church right into Christiandom, rather than establishing it Anew and Separate from the Established Traditional Faiths like He did before?
(which happened without any historical proof to support that assertion),
Your opinion, but there are LOTS of people in the world who see the "historical" proof, not to mention the proof in the various religions and believers themselves of Christiandom.
then why would the Church have to be "restored" 1700 years later?
You tell me. Why did Christ have to "restore" and establish His Church when He came?
Tell me also why He "wouldn't", especially in such an important time as the "Last Days"?
No other time after all is as different in the world, especially with the bastian of hope as America.
So why wouldn't God re-establish His Church at the exact time man and history started to change, for which to Gather His People and Prepare for His Coming?
Didnt Christ say the Holy Spirit "would lead you (the church) into all truth"?
When did it NEVER? Whether there was an Apostacy of His People and Church, man has always had access to His Holy Spirit.
I mean, even when Christ came and His Church was in Apostacy, that doesn't mean that all of those of His Pre-hope-of-Christ people were in Apostacy (i.e. the Jews), it simply meant that His "Church" was.
His Church and it's leaders had simply lost it's authority to act in His Name.
Even when Christ came, He gave specific people His Authority to act in His Name, and those same people gaves other's of the Church the Authority to act in the Church.
You need to understand, that while the Catholic Church is in Apostacy, first in Authority that wasn't given to the early Bishop's who fought for control and then later in Doctrine and Practice over time, the Catholic Church has had essentially the SAME organizational "Church" structure as it was when Christ and His Apostles set it up.
Historically, it is blatantly clear that Christ set up a Church by both proper authority and power, not simply by ones personal spiritual relationship with Christ.
Didnt he say "I will be with you always, until the end of the age"?
Yes, He did (depending upon which Bible translation is most accurate), but this has nothing to do with the Church.
The Church is in Apostacy as to the Authority and Power of God, as well as many of His plain and precious Truths being lost because of that loss of Divine Invested Authority, that of which the Apostles had over the Church.
If this is true then why is there a "restoration"?
Because the "Church" needed to be restored so that the purposes of God for His Saints might be fullfilled.
Dont you have any faith in the Holy Spirit?
I have all Faith in the Holy Spirit, but I have no Faith in men who take authority unto themselves and it not be given as it was to Aaron and the Apostles.
We are in the age of the Church right now.
Okay, whatever non-scriptural thing that is supposed to mean.
Believers in the Most High God have exhisted since Adam and Eve, such has nothing to do with God Authoritative and Authorized Church and Servants on the earth who are called at various times to fullfill His Purposes in leading men to Him.
Christ and his followers were considered a "cult" in their times and for many years after.
Again, with this new time His Church is again the major threat to the powers that be, and are again accused of being a "cult".
In time, we will no longer be considered so by most.
The age of the prophets is over.
Since Prophets and Apostles are spoken of regularily as being a part of Christ's Church in the Bible, it hence is a "non-biblical" idea that the "age of the Prophets is over".
You would hence be wise to follow what the Bible actually says on the matter instead of believing the creeds of false religions.
Since the Church has the Holy Spirit, it will never be destroyed.
The Holy Spirit has always been in men, and as long as their are Righteous men on the earth, it can't be destroyed.
But of course, sometimes God starts FRESH as He did with the Flood, Moses, Christ Himself, and in the Last Days His Prophet Joseph.
The gates of hell will not prevail against it.
True, the Gates of Hell can never prevail against the Spirit, and the body of believers fully.
But because of the Free Agency of man, His Authoritative Church and it's leaders most certainly can be taken away because of wickedness.
The Holy Spirit doesnt need 'prophets' to communicate truth anymore as it did in the Old Testament.
But why did Christ's Church need Prophets and Apostles, and all the leadership below to "communicate truth" when Christ Himself was on the earth and after His death?
The Apostles made lots of "decisions" and proclaimed much doctrine after Christ was gone.
Yet, according to you, simply because wicked men murdered them, and then corrupt priests took over the Church, that must mean there is never again a NEED for His Annointed?
Well, your pretty bold telling God what He CAN'T ever or need to DO.
For me, tossed to-and-fro by every wind of doctrine Christiandom and everything else out there IS NOT and NEVER WAS "His Church".
You are "believers" in the Christ, but that doesn't make you His Authorized Servants and Church. That's a whole other ballgame.
Mark 9:
38 ¶ And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
40 For he that is not against us is on our part.
For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
We are Believer's in the Christ, and peoples condemnations and attempts to destory us because of our Faith and Works unto Christ, though we don't follow you, "
offends" us.
Thus, I encorage true Christians to follow the better way as in Galations 5.
