Catholic Verses - 95 Bibles Passages That Confound Protestants?
THE INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS AND THEIR CONNECTION WITH THE EARTH
Pages 138-139: Revelation 5:8. Revelation 6:9-10. Revelation 8:3-4. Matthew 17:1-3. Matthew 27:52-53. Catholics believe that saints and angels in heaven can pray for us on earth and can hear our intercessory requests, just as people on earth can do; in fact, because the saints are so near to God's presence in heaven, their prayers are more powerful than ours on earth. But most Evangelical Protestants today would deny the saints' intercessory power - and thus claim that any attempt to petition them would be vain at best and idolatrous at worst - as placing superfluous additional mediators between God and mankind.
Note: The focus in heaven will be the throne of God not earth.
Revelation 5:6-7 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
Page 140: As for the dead being "withdrawn" from earthly concerns, I would ask Calvin if he were here today: "Why, then, are there so many instances of the dead in Christ having contact with the living, with the full consent of God?" Some examples of this are Moses and Elijah's appearing with Jesus at the Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-3); the "two witnesses" of Revelation 11:3, whom many commentators believe to be Moses and Elijah also; Samuel's appearance to Saul, prophesying his impending death (1 Sam. 28:12, 14-15; commentators are almost unanimous in asserting that this was actually Samuel); and the many saints who rose from the dead and appeared to many in Jerusalem after Jesus' death (Matt. 27:52-53).
Note: The appearing of Old Testament saints was possible before the resurrection of Jesus Christ as they had not yet been to heaven but were in Paradise.
John 3:10 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
Ephesians 4:7-10 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
Page 142: Calvin's false premise is his implied assumptions that saints would need to be like angels in all respects in order to intercede. Apart from the faulty reasoning, Scripture clearly contradicts the assertion, anyway, for Revelation 8:3-4 describes an angel presenting the prayers of the saints to God, and Revelation 5:8 attributes to human beings the same function. How does Calvin interpret these passages? It is difficult to determine, because he did not comment on them in the Institutes (except for one veiled, ambiguous reference above) and did not write a commentary on Revelation. So we will have to examine how other Protestants deal with these fascinating biblical data. Methodists Adam Clarke and John Wesley in their Commentaries simply make the prayers presented in 5:8 figurative.
Note: The focus in heaven will be the throne of God not earth.
Revelation 8:1-3 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Page 143: Lastly, the fact that Christ is mediator is not questioned by anyone. Asking a saint in heaven to pray for us no more interferes with the unique mediation of Christ than does asking a person on earth to pray for us. We always pray in Christ, through his power, and to him, whether it is directly to him, or by means of another person or angel, in heaven or on earth.
Note: This author invites people to violate Scripture through his rationalizing.
1 Timothy 2:1-7 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Page 143: We are not told in Scripture that we cannot ask someone in heaven to pray for us. Saints in heaven are more alive and aware and far holier than we are. Saints in heaven are more alive and aware and far holier than we are.
Note: This author invites people to violate Scripture through his rationalizing.
Luke 11:1-4 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
Page 144: Therefore, they can pray for us, and we can ask for their prayers. We know that they can come back to earth (from the four examples given earlier). Are we to believe that when such saints come to earth, they can pray, but immediately upon returning to heaven they cannot once again? And it they can present our prayers, why is it so inconceivable that they could intercede for us?
Note: This author invites people to violate Scripture through his rationalizing.
Matthew 6:6-8 "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him."
Pages 145-146: Protestants are very reluctant to speak about these departed saints at all, for fear that it would raise them to a "godlike" status or detract from God's sole glory and majesty; or perhaps that it would lead them dangerously close to necromancy. As we have seen, this reluctance runs counter to much biblical indication otherwise. In this, as in so many instances. I believe that the underlying negative or skeptical attitude is rooted in a fear or suspicion that to act in "Catholic" ways would be to yield ground to Catholics and to start down a slippery slope leading inexorably to Rome. It is a defensive "fortress mentality." But I would contend that all Christians must yield to the biblical examples and commands, whether the issue at hand outwardly appears "Protestant" or "Catholic."
Note: This author invites people to violate Scripture through his rationalizing.
2 Corinthians 13:7-10 Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.
Page 146: Catholics who venture out into the ground of apologetics and sharing their faith with Protestants will encounter this attitude over and over, and need to be aware of how to counter it with solid biblical argumentation and simple logic.
Note: This author invites people to violate Scripture through his rationalizing.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Page 146: The mysterious, the miraculous, the sacramental, and other similar elements are minimized in many sectors of Protestantism. The overwhelming emphasis is on the individual in relationship to God, and the "Word" (construed as the Bible alone). That is simply not in accord with the Bible and historical Christianity. Therefore, Catholics who try to defend these beliefs need to show that they are rooted in the Bible, not merely petrified and arbitrary "Catholic traditions of men."
Note: Saint Peter would be shocked at the heresies of the Catholic Church today and historically.
1 Peter 2:1-5 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.