What is God s plan for the human race?

Did Jesus Start the Catholic Church Did Jesus Start the Catholic Church Five Key Questions Is There Truth? Yes Does God Exist? Yes Is There Divine Revelation? still to cover Is Jesus Really God? Yes If Jesus is God, then He is the Big Revelation Did Jesus Start The Catholic Church? Tonight s Topic Did Jesus Christ started the Catholic Church? Why would Jesus even start a Church? Did He start a religion? Very Catholic things in the life of Christ & the Bible Early Christians who were clearly Catholic Is the Church important? Do I need the Catholic Church? Very Brief Overview of the History of Christianity Very Brief look at the some differences between Catholics and Protestants Key Question What is God s plan for the human race? Matthew 22:1-14 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, `Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast.' But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, `The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the thoroughfares, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.' And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; and he said to him, `Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, `Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen." After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!" And all the angels stood round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen (Revelation 7:9-12)." 1

Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure -- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints (Rev. 19:7-8). I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me (John 17:20-23). What is God s Plan for Humanity? CCC 760 - Christians of the first centuries said, "The world was created for the sake of the Church." God created the world for the sake of communion with his divine life, a communion brought about by the "convocation" of men in Christ, and this "convocation" is the Church. The Church is the goal of all things, and God permitted such painful upheavals as the angels' fall and man's sin only as occasions and means for displaying all the power of his arm and the whole measure of the love he wanted to give the world: Just as God's will is creation and is called "the world," so his intention is the salvation of men, and it is called "the Church." What is God s Plan for Humanity? CCC 763 The Lord Jesus inaugurated his Church by preaching the Good News, that is, the coming of the Reign of God, promised over the ages in the scriptures. To fulfill the Father's will, Christ ushered in the Kingdom of heaven on earth. The Church is the Reign of Christ already present in mystery. The Church is The Kingdom of God, The Bride of Christ, the Family of God, the Communion of Saints The Church is Home St. Ignatius of Antioch Play Video St. Ignatius was a disciple of the apostles See that you all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as you would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is administered either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude of the people also be; even as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. Letter to the Smyrnaeans, Ch 8 Written about 107AD 2

Where We Are At 1.God Exists 2.Mankind Sinned 3.Jesus is God 4.Jesus died and rose to save us Important Questions How does the message of Jesus Christ get to everyone on the Earth for all time? How does God make sure the message doesn t get corrupted? Is there something more to be communicated than just the facts of Jesus life? How does the grace of salvation come to us? What about new issues that arise? Has God established an authority on Earth we can look to? Does God want isolated individualistic relationships or us to be a family united in truth and love? Why do we need a Church? Because Jesus established a Church (a Kingdom) Because God calls people together in Christ to share in His own divine life. To preserve throughout time the deposit of faith and the means of salvation Jesus left us If we only had the Bible and fallible interpreters, we wouldn t stay in the truth It isn t just about information, but also grace Jesus and Religion Some claim Jesus hated religion and it is all about a relationship and being spiritual Religion Latin re-ligare to re-bind together Set of beliefs to which one holds (faith) A way of living (morality) A way of interacting with God (worship) Any type of relationship with God and belief system, even if it is completely ones own, could be categorized as a religion Question: Did God reveal the truth about Himself and how to be in a relationship with Him? That s religion and includes relationship. Every relationship has rules, i.e. ways of treating each other Every relationship has a revelation about who the other is Play Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru_tc4fv6fe What Are We Looking For? Evidence that Jesus started a Church Evidence that this Church is the Catholic Church Distinctly Catholic characteristics Evidence of the Catholic Church in the 1st 4 th centuries Promise that His Church wouldn t not be destroyed 3

Jesus Mission - Sent by the Father to save us from sin and restore us to communion with God by His grace For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" (Galatians 4:6) Jesus calls 12 Apostles and shares His mission & authority with them And he appointed twelve, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach and have authority to cast out demons... (Mark 3:14-15) Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." (John 20:21) He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me. (Luke 10:16) And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 16:18-19 Jesus starts a Church & gives the Apostles power of binding & loosening (apostolic authority) To Peter - I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:19) To the Apostles - Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18:17) The Keys in Isaiah 22:15-25 Thus says the Lord God of hosts, Come, go to this steward, to Shebna, who is over the household, and say to him: What have you to do here and whom have you here, that you have hewn here a tomb for yourself, you who hew a tomb on the height, and carve a habitation for yourself in the rock? Behold, the Lord will hurl you away violently, O you strong man. He will seize firm hold on you, and whirl you round and round, and throw you like a ball into a wide land; there you shall die, and there shall be your splendid chariots, you shame of your master's house. I will thrust you from your office, and you will be cast down from your station. In that day I will call my servant Eli'akim the son of Hilki'ah, and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your girdle on him, and will commit your authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him like a peg in a sure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father's house. And they will hang on him the whole weight of his father's house, the offspring and issue, every small vessel, from the cups to all the flagons. In that day, says the Lord of hosts, the peg that was fastened in a sure place will give way; and it will be cut down and fall, and the burden that was upon it will be cut off, for the Lord has spoken. The Keys in Isaiah 22:15-25 Steward was 2 nd in command after the King (i.e. Prime Minister) He was in charge while the king was away Was an office with real authority, symbolized by the keys And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. To be like a father to the house of Israel Side note: Pope means papa father. In the Old Testament we see priests, prophets and kings Prophets speak God s Word with real authority Kings govern with authority Priests offer sacrifice and are to shepherd souls to God 4

The Holy Spirit is sent to Apostles to keep the truths of the faith (i.e. Divine Revelation) These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you (John 14:25-26) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (John 16:13) The Apostles are sent by Jesus and given the Holy Spirit to forgive sins through baptism and confession Mark 16:15-16 Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. John 20:21-23 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." The Apostles speak with the authority of the Holy Spirit For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things... (Acts 15:28) see also Acts 5:1-10 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions which had been reached by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. (Acts 16:4) The Church is the Ark preserving Christ s Revelation and Grace the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15) Jesus Mission - Sent by the Father to save us from sin and restore us to communion with God Jesus shares His mission & authority with the Apostles Jesus gives the Apostles power of binding & loosening (apostolic authority) The Holy Spirit is sent to Apostles to keep the faith The Apostles are sent by Jesus and given the Holy Spirit to forgive sins through baptism and confession The Apostles speak with the authority of the Holy Spirit Characteristics of Jesus Church One Church with one faith (i.e. one Revelation) There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all (Eph 4:4-6). Visible and not just spiritual A city set on a hill cannot be hid (Matthew 5:14). Cannot be destroyed and will be here when Christ returns the powers of death shall not prevail against it (Mt 16:18). "Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock (Mt 7:24-25). Jesus was a wise man who built His house on rock Characteristics of Jesus Church The Church holds to all of Christ s Revelation and is to open to everyone on earth Mt 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. The Church is made up of sinners but is also holy because of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins Christ brings Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. The Church is founded on the apostles who had successors 5

Apostolic Succession Entrusted with the mission of Christ, the Apostles hand on their mission to their successors The Apostles give to Matthias the apostolic ministry of Judas (Acts 1:24-26) His office let another take. (Acts 1:20) And they prayed and said, "Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place." And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles. Apostolic Succession Paul is made an apostle, though not have the original qualifications (cf. Romans 1:1; Acts 1:21-22) Paul speaks to Timothy, a bishop - Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. (1 Timothy 1:13-14) what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2) And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed. (Acts 14:23)...cf. Titus 1:5 Apostolic Succession Qualifications for bishops, priests, and deacons (cf. 1 Timothy 3:1,8 & 5:17) This gift is conferred by the laying on of hands 2 Timothy 1:6 Hence I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands. (cf. 1 Timothy 4:14 & 5:22) Ephesians 2:19-22 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Heirarchy of the Church St. Peter 1 st Pope 12 Apostles 1 st Bishops Priests & Deacons Jesus Christ Head of the Catholic Church Pope Francis 266 th Pope Approx. 5,358 Catholic Bishops 414,313 Priests 42,104 Deacons Early Church Fathers were Catholic St. Clement of Rome 80AD St. Ignatius of Antioch 110AD St. Polycarp 155AD St. Justin Martyr 165AD St. Irenaeus of Lyons 189AD St. Cyril of Jerusalem 313AD Eusebius of Caesarea 340AD St. John Chrysostom 407AD St. Jerome 420AD St. Augustine 430AD And many, many more - www.newadvent.org/fathers 4 th Pope St. Clement "Through countryside and city [the apostles] preached, and they appointed their earliest converts, testing them by the Spirit, to be the bishops and deacons of future believers. Nor was this a novelty, for bishops and deacons had been written about a long time earlier... Our apostles knew through our Lord Jesus Christ that there would be strife for the office of bishop. For this reason, therefore, having received perfect foreknowledge, they appointed those who have already been mentioned and afterwards added the further provision that, if they should die, other approved men should succeed to their ministry." (Epistle to the Corinthians 42:4-5, 44:1-3 [A.D. 80]). 6

4 th Pope St. Clement of Rome If anyone disobey the things which have been said by him [God] through us [i.e., that you must reinstate your leaders], let them know that they will involve themselves in transgression and in no small danger.... You will afford us joy and gladness if being obedient to the things which we have written through the Holy Spirit, you will root out the wicked passion of jealousy" (Letter to the Corinthians 1, 58 59, 63 [A.D. 80]). He is exercising his authority as Pope St. Ignatius of Antioch "Ignatius... to the church also which holds the presidency, in the location of the country of the Romans, worthy of God, worthy of honor, worthy of blessing, worthy of praise, worthy of success, worthy of sanctification, and, because you hold the presidency in love, named after Christ and named after the Father" (Letter to the Romans 1:1 [A.D. 110]). "You [the church at Rome] have envied no one, but others you have taught. I desire only that what you have enjoined in your instructions may remain in force" (ibid., 3:1). St. Irenaeus of Lyons "But since it would be too long to enumerate in such a volume as this the succession of all the churches, we shall confound all those who, in whatever manner, whether through selfsatisfaction or vainglory, or through blindness and wicked opinion, assemble other than where it is proper, by pointing out here the succession of the bishops of the greatest and most ancient church known to all, founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul, that church which has the tradition and the faith which comes down to us after having been announced to men by the apostles. With that church [of Rome], because of its superior origin, all the churches must agree, that is, all the faithful in the whole world, and it is in her that the faithful everywhere have maintained the apostolic tradition." (Against Heresies 189AD) St. Irenaeus of Lyons "The blessed apostles [Peter and Paul], having founded and built up the church [of Rome], they handed over the office of the episcopate to Linus. Paul makes mention of this Linus in the letter to Timothy [2 Tim. 4:21]. To him succeeded Anacletus, and after him, in the third place from the apostles, Clement was chosen for the episcopate. He had seen the blessed apostles and was acquainted with them. It might be said that he still heard the echoes of the preaching of the apostles and had their traditions before his eyes. And not only he, for there were many still remaining who had been instructed by the apostles. In the time of Clement, no small dissension having arisen among the brethren in Corinth, the church in Rome sent a very strong letter to the Corinthians, exhorting them to peace and renewing their faith.... To this Clement, Evaristus succeeded... and now, in the twelfth place after the apostles, the lot of the episcopate [of Rome] has fallen to Eleutherius. In this order, and by the teaching of the apostles handed down in the Church, the preaching of the truth has come down to us." (Against Heresies 189AD) On the Eucharist St. Ignatius of Antioch They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh which suffered for our sins and which that Father, in his goodness, raised up again. They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes (Letter to the Smyrnaeans 6:2 7:1 [A.D. 110]). St. Justin Martyr We call this food Eucharist, and no one else is permitted to partake of it, except one who believes our teaching to be true and who has been washed in the washing which is for the remission of sins and for regeneration [i.e., has received baptism] and is thereby living as Christ enjoined. For not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these; but since Jesus Christ our Savior was made incarnate by the word of God and had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so too, as we have been taught, the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by him, and by the change of which our blood and flesh is nurtured, is both the flesh and the blood of that incarnated Jesus" (First Apology 66 [A.D. 151]). The Four Marks of the Church One = Unique (only one church) & United in one faith, one set of sacraments, one apostolic authority Holy = Set apart for God & sanctified by God Catholic = Universal (open to every human) and according to the totality (holding to all of the teachings of Christ) Apostolic founded on the actual apostles, governed by their successors and maintaining the apostolic tradition 7

What is the Church? The Church is the congregation of all those who profess the faith of Christ, partake of the same Sacraments, and are governed by their lawful pastors under one visible head. Baltimore Catechism Same Faith Catholic Church has not changed its teachings in 2000 years on faith and morals Same 7 Sacraments outwards signs instituted by Christ to give grace Same Authority Pope & Bishops (Magisterium) Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Where is Christ s Church Today? This is the one Church of Christ which in the Creed is professed as one, holy, catholic and apostolic, which our Savior, after His Resurrection, commissioned Peter to shepherd, and him and the other apostles to extend and direct with authority, which He erected for all ages as "the pillar and mainstay of the truth". This Church constituted and organized in the world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him, although many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside of its visible structure. These elements, as gifts belonging to the Church of Christ, are forces impelling toward catholic unity. (Lumen Gentium 8) The History of Christianity 33 AD The Catholic Church The Protestant Reformation Luther (1517) Calvin (1536) The Orthodox Church 1054 AD Henry VIII (1534) There are now over 33,830 Protestant denominations in the USA Maintaining Unity 2 Timothy 2:4 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. Jesus prayed that we would all be one What does that mean? Unity in faith, worship and authority but all denominations disagree on even essentials like salvation, sacraments, morality, etc. If the Bible is the only authority, when there is a disagreement, there is no way to settle the debate except by forming your own denomination Jesus set up a way to make sure His Church stayed united in Divine Revelation, the sacraments, and worship Why is this Important? Jesus founded one Church that is both spiritual and material / visible & invisible If we love Jesus, we must love His Bride the Church You cannot love the King and hate His Kingdom Christianity isn t just about me & Jesus, but about being a part of the Kingdom of God The hierarchy of the Church has been established by Christ to protect the treasures of the Kingdom Divine Revelation - to know the truth that sets us free Sacraments and the graces of salvation Why Should we be Catholic? Jesus established the Catholic Church Catholicism has the fullness of the truth and grace that sets us free Catholicism most reveals the love of God The Catholic Church is the Bride of Christ Catholicism is a saint-maker Because Catholicism is true 8

Key Differences Divine Revelation & Authority Scripture, Tradition Taught Infallibly by Magisterium Original Sin, Salvation & Grace Saints Scripture Alone No Authority Private Interpretation Original Sin = Loss of Sanctifying Grace Original Sin = Total Depravity Salvation through Faith & Baptism Salvation through Faith Alone Lost by Mortal Sin, Back w/ Confession May or may not be able to be lost Sacraments 7 Sacraments Baptism (some) & Marriage Real Presence of Christ in Eucharist Symbolic communion Morality Clear Morality taught infallibly by Church (Natural Law & Revelation) Mary is our Mother. Can pray to the saints & for souls in Purgatory Wide variety of opinions on morality from individual Biblical interpretation No contact with deceased. No purgatory Questions? Small Group Discussions Why are you looking into becoming Catholic? What have you enjoyed the most about your experience of Catholicism so far? What struck you in the class today? Catholic Cool Stuff St. Polycarp of Smyrna Lived 69AD 155AD Bishop of Smyrna The Martyrdom of Polycarp You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and is then extinguished, but you know nothing of the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. Why are you waiting? Bring on whatever you want. St. Cecilia Born in Rome, Italy Lived 2 nd & 3 rd Century Born to pagan parents, but converted to Catholicism Vowed virginity but parents arranged a marriage Husband converted and lived as virgins until death Body incorrupt 1700 years Patron saint of music Resources www.catholic.com www.catholicscomehome.org www.chnetwork.org Coming Home Network www.ewtn.com Catholic cable channel Rome Sweet Home by Dr. Scott Hahn Born Fundamentalist Born Again Catholic by David Currie By What Authority: An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition by Mark Shea The Essential Catholic Survival Guide by Catholic Answers 9