Access Christian - Part 3

Mr. Ernest Martinez wrote to Mr. Al Martinez and asked him to show him specifically where the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church were found in the Bible. Mr. John Martignoni responded on his behalf. Below is my e-mail to Mr. Al Martinez and second is Mr. John Martignoni's response.

Doctrine - Mr. Ernest Martinez

So, are you going to show me in the Bible where the Roman Catholic doctrines are found, specifically? John seems to think that all of the Roman Catholic doctrines are found in the Bible, and yet when asked to show where they are specifically, he simply goes around the subject. Show me where the Papacy, specifically is taught in the scriptures, chapter and verse. It must say two things for me to believe it, one it must say specifically, "Roman Catholic Church," and second it must use the word "pope" or "papacy." If you can find those two things, specifically in the Bible or in the 1st century Fathers, (unanimously taught as the Roman Catholic Church declares) then we can start from there. You can even get John to help you.

Ernest

Doctrine - Mr. John Martignoni

Roman Catholic doctrine: Baptism saves us. 1 Peter 3:20-21, "Baptism...which corresponds to this, now saves you."

Roman Catholic doctrine: Men have the authority on earth to forgive sins. Matt 9:6-8, "So that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...they glorified God who had given such authority to men."

Roman Catholic doctrine: Works play a role in our salvation. Rom 2:6-7, "For He will render to every man according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life."

Roman Catholic doctrine: The Eucharist is truly the flesh and blood of Christ. John 6:53-54, "Truly, truly, I say to you unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life..."

Roman Catholic doctrine: We are not saved (justified) by faith alone. James 2:24, "You see that a man is justifed by works and not by faith alone."

Roman Catholic doctrine: Peter was the head, the chief shepherd, of the early Church. John 21:15-17, "Feed My lambs...Tend My sheep...Feed My sheep." Luke 22:31-32, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you [the Apostles] that he might sift you [the Apostles] like wheat, but I have prayed for you [Simon] that your faith may not fail; and when you [Simon] have turned again, strengthen your brethren."

Roman Catholic doctrine: Peter, Paul, and the other Apostles passed on their authority to others via the laying on of hands, and these men ordained by Peter, Paul, and the other Apostles went out and ordained others as well. See 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus

Roman Catholic doctrine: Salvation is not a once saved, always saved, proposition. John 15:1-6, "I am the true vine...every branch of mine that bears no fruit, He takes away...if a man does not abide in me, and I in him, he is cast forth as a branch and withers and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned."

Roman Catholic doctrine: The Word of God was delivered to people in both writing and orally: 1 Thes 2:13, "And we thank God constantly for this, that when you received the Word of God which you HEARD from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as what it really is, the Word of God." 1 Cor 11:2, I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you."

Now, regarding the Papacy specifically, you have to see the words "Roman Catholic Church," and "Pope" or "Papacy" in order to believe, eh? Well, show me the words "Calvary Chapel" in the Bible? Show me the words, "Pastor Martinez" or "Pastor Walker," in the Bible. Show me the words, "Faith alone" or "Bible alone" in the Bible? Your request is ridiculous on the surface of it. Show me the word "Trinity" in the Bible. Yet, you believe in the Trinity, do you not?

Let me explain something to you, Pastor Martinez. The title, "Pope," is actually not the official title. The Pope's official title is, "Bishop of Rome." St. Peter was the first Bishop of Rome...based on easily available historical documentation...and the Pope is merely his successor. The word "pope" is merely the English transliteration of the Italian word "papa"...for father. In Isaiah 22:19-24, God says that His servant Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, will become what was, in essence, the Prime Minister for the Kingdom of David. And what does God say of Eliakim? "And he shall be a FATHER to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah." And, in Matthew 16, Jesus hearkens back to this specific verse when he gives Peter the keys to the Kintgdom of Heaven. So, as Eliakim was a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah (the Old Testament church, essentially) so Peter is a father to the members of the New Testament church. And, Peter's successors are also known as father, or Pope.

God bless!

John Martignoni

My response to Mr. John Martignoni's comments here are found in Part 5 - A Response to Mr. John Martignoni.