Introduction:

Jesus said in John 10:16, “So there will be one flock, one shepherd”. Zechariah 14:9 says, “And the Lord will become king over all the earth; on that day the LORD will be one and his name one.” We all should be one under Jesus the only Lord. Regarding our unity, Jesus says in John 17:20, “that they all be one.” The Lord Jesus prays to God the Father in John 17:22, “so that they may be one, as we are one”. But we scattered ourselves with diversity of thoughts and ideas. To avoid these diversities, we should find the truth in Bible regarding the Church. A very great truth is forcibly hidden to some sects of Christianity regarding Pope and the Church. A vast majority of my Pentecostal friends go up to the stage of saying that our Holy Pope is Anti Christ. A veil is upon them. Let us remove the veil and see the truth about Pope and the Church.

The first Pope Peter:

Jesus established the Church and its first human head was Peter whom we can rightly call the first Pope. Peter, an ordinary fisherman whose actual name was Simon. Jesus met him and named him Ce’phas that means Peter-”rock.” He was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. But in bible, we see him an outstanding and leading figure among the disciples, especially after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Peter raising the dead:

We see this man in Jop’pa raising the dead to be alive simply by calling her name to get up. The words he uttered are, “Tab’i-tha, get up”. The dead Tab’i-tha comes to be alive and this miracle begins to be known through out Jop’pa and thus many begin to believe in the Lord. Acts 9:36-42 explains this as follows: “Now in Jop’pa there was a disciple whose name was Tab’i-tha, which in Greek is Dor’cas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lyd’da was near Jop’pa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter got up and went with him; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dor’cas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tab’i-tha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Jop’pa and many believed in the Lord.”

Peter punishes:

This man Peter was very powerful. To our surprise, he is uttering some words on a man and his wife who have committed wrong against Holy Spirit, and all of a sudden they fell dead. Among the early Christians, it was the way of life that they were of one heart and soul and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each, as any had needed. In this time, as Acts 5:1-10 read, “But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought out only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God! Now when Ananias heard this word, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all those who heard of it. The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold your land for such and such a price”. And she said, “Yes, that was the price”. Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you two have agreed to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and died.” Here we see the mighty power the man Peter possesses.

Peter’s Great miracles:

Very great miraculous healing of the sick has taken place even when his shadow fell upon the sick. Let us read the verses Acts 5:15-16: “they even carried the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.”

Jesus is the answer:

How did an ordinary man get such a mighty power? We know Jesus is the answer! Let us read Acts 3:1-8. “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of the prayer, at three o’ clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” And he took him up by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.” Yes, Peter performed this miracle in the name of Jesus. Jesus is the power source.

Upon Peter Jesus built the Church:

Jesus gave very great power to Peter and he built his Church even upon peter. Let us read what Jesus says to Peter in Matthew 16:18-19: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Here we see that Jesus is converting an ordinary man Simon into “Peter” that means, “rock”. We know rock is hard and strength and any building that is built upon rock are stable and strong. Jesus made Simon into Peter - “the rock” upon which the Church is being built. At the very first sight when Jesus had seen him first in John 1:42, Jesus foresaw the power and authority which is going to be conferred upon Peter by him and so he prophesied at his very first meeting with Peter,” “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Ce’phas” (which is translated Peter).”

Peter’s unlimited power:

While we look into the above verses of Matthew 16:18-19, we see Jesus, granting him unlimited power which makes Peter an outstanding figure. The Lord built the Church upon this rock (Peter) and gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven to him that means the ways and means to go to Heaven is under the control of Peter whose head is Jesus. And also Jesus says to Peter whatever Peter binds on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever he looses on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Protection of Church:

Peter got the promise from Jesus that the gates of Hades will not prevail against the Church that he established upon Peter.

Some doubts:

Now my Pentecostal friend tells me that Jesus is the real “rock” as Mark 12:10-11 says: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing and it is amazing in our eyes.” He continued that since the cornerstone and real rock is Jesus he might have meant about himself when he says in Matthew 16:18, “on this rock I will build my Church.” He says, “this rock” refers to Jesus and not to Peter. So he said that Jesus built the Church upon himself and not upon Peter. Is it true?

The answer:

1) Jesus converts Simon into rock:

Let us once again read Matthew 16:18-19, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Here, we see Jesus decided to build a Church upon a rock and converts Simon into rock - Peter. Upon this rock-Peter, Jesus builds the Church and gives him the authority to control the Church. When we read the above verses, we see Jesus continuously pointing towards a second person who is before him. If we say that he points out towards himself when he utters the word, “this rock”, he needs not to convert Peter into rock first. In order to build the Church upon Peter, Jesus converts Peter into rock first and then builds the Church upon Peter and gives the keys of the kingdom of heaven to him. Jesus confers the power upon him that “whatever he binds on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever he looses on earth will be loosed in heaven.” This is the correct interpretation the real Church is giving. It is explicitly meaningful and correct. If we interpret that Jesus refers himself as rock in this context it looks meaningless because there is no explanation why Jesus converts Peter into rock in this context. And also there is no explicit specification that he points out towards himself when he utters the word, “this rock”.

2) No whims and fancies:

However, we have to note the verses 2 Peter 1:20 that says, “First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation.” So my friend should know that he has no eligibility to interpret the holy verses at his free will as his whims and fancies go. Only the real Church - the Original Church established by Jesus has the eligibility to interpret the holy verses. The Holy Scripture does not entertain other interpretations whether it may be from other congregation or from any individual. The interpretations of other congregations get its root from the founder’s own interpretations who was an individual.

3) Jesus assigns His glory to Peter:

And 1 Peter 2:4-6 says, “Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: “See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a corner stone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”” We see here, of course, Jesus is corner stone and living stone – “the rock”. But Jesus wants us all in 1 Peter 2:4 to become living stones like the living stone Jesus. This is the Lord’s desire. For that, Jesus says to God the Father in John 17:22, “The glory that you have given me I have given them.” Jesus wants his glory to give to all his devotees. Jesus is the rock - the living stone. He wishes all to become rock - the living stones. But here, the Lord Jesus - the real rock desires to give his glory to Peter in a special manner and so in Matthew 16:18-19 made Simon an ordinary fisherman into “rock”-”Peter” as himself and built his Church upon him. Very clearly we can observe in Matthew 16:18-19 that from the very beginning of the sentence Jesus is uttering these words continuously to a second Person and not to the first person.

The real head behind Peter:

Jesus gave full authority to Peter to administer the Church because the Lord is not away from the Church and he is with the Church always behind Peter. The actual Head of the Church is Jesus. Through Peter Jesus is controlling the Church. Regarding the Church each and every action done by Peter is actually done by Jesus. So Peter could not do wrong regarding the Church. Ephesians 5:23 says,“For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Savior.” Ephesians 1:22-23 says, “And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”

Jesus, permanent leader:

The leadership of Christ over the Church is permanent up to the end of the world. Matthew 28:20 says, “And remember I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Confirming this Mark 16:20 says, “the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.” Thus the Lord really worked behind Peter and led the Church, which he built upon Peter.

The only Church:

This is the only Church Jesus built and established and the protection of the Church is Jesus himself. He stands guaranty against the gates of Hades, which cannot prevail against this Church. No one in this world can establish another Church better than the Church, which is built by Jesus himself upon Peter. If anybody ventures to come forward to build another Church saying that his church is better than the Church established by Jesus, sure, there is an element of pride and sin, which comes from Satan. So it is obvious that the influence of Satan will be inevitable in establishing another Church. Establishing another Church means competition with Jesus that is sin and wrong. We know all the efforts, which are competing with Jesus is Satanic. Who can establish or found or form another Church that is better than the Church, established by Jesus?

No other Church is His body:

We found already that the head of the Church that He established is Jesus and his body is the Church - the particular Church that He established. He never said that He would be the head of the Church, which will be formed by any other person; he never said that any Church would be the body of Jesus, which will be formed by any other person. Can we say the founder of any other Church is able to be the head of the Church that he established and the Church his body as Jesus is in his Church? No! Certainly not! We know the founder who ventured to build a Church in competition with Jesus, is wrong and against Jesus and so the Church built by him cannot be the body of Jesus.

No protection for other Churches:

Jesus never promised his protection for those Churches against the gates of Hades as Satan influences right from their formation. So it is quite obvious that there are many possibilities of satanic influences and interruptions in the conduct and policies of the Churches formed by any other persons. So the followers of Christ should be very careful in distinguishing between the real Church - the Church established by Jesus upon Peter and the unfair ones that are established by any other persons. The word “Church” in the bible means only the Church built by Jesus upon Peter. Never it denotes any other Church. The only Church built upon Peter is the real Church and that is The Catholic Church! Peter was the first Pope of the Catholic Church. So all Christians should become one block under Jesus in the Church that he established – that is in the Catholic Church.

Pope the human Head of the Church:

Since the Lord Jesus was with Peter, he was able to raise the dead to become alive, and condemn the livings to be dead. It was possible to him, as he has got such power and authority from Jesus. So this man plays a leading role among the disciples. Everywhere he is the first and important figure in the early Church. This is because, the Lord Jesus has already ordered him to tend and feed his sheep - his followers in John 21:15-17. Let us read the verses: “When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs”. A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you”. Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”” Peter the first Pope accepted the call of Jesus and worked as the human head of the Church in the name of Jesus.

Pope is not Anti Christ:

So the Pope is not Anti Christ. He is the servant and instrument of Jesus working on his guidance. He is working for and behalf of Jesus and under Jesus. Since he is acting at the call of Jesus and acts in the name of Jesus the saying that the pope is Anti Christ is false and wrong. We have to be answerable before God Almighty for each and every irresponsible word we uttered.

Peter the sole authority:

Peter was the sole authority in decision-making and sometimes he alone took decision on very important issues. Others are accepting him wholeheartedly. One day Peter happened to deliver a talk at Caes.a.re’a in Cornelius’ family who were gentiles. In Acts 10:44-48, “While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?  So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” “ When the circumcised believers criticized him, he explained to them in Acts 11:15-18 as follows: “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave them the same gift that He gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God? When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.” “ Here we see that Peter takes the lead.

Peter’s first mission:

He began his mission as the head of the Church in Acts 2:1-4 where Holy Spirit comes down to the disciples as the tongues of fire in the day of Pentecostal. After the resurrection of Jesus it was the first experience of disciples being filled with Holy Spirit. Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them with courage as follows in Acts 2:38-41: “ “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord Our God calls to Him.” And he testified with many other arguments, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.” Here also we see Peter stands first and foremost.

Pope also the sole authority:

The present Pope, seated in the throne of Peter has the same exclusive Power to take decisions, frame policies and declare dogmas on his own will. Since Jesus is with him it will be accepted in Heaven as Jesus Himself declares it. Whatever Peter binds on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever he looses on earth will be loosed in heaven. We know the present Pope is the proper and true lineal descendant of Peter who sits in the throne of Peter.

Paul’s revelations submitted to Peter and
the Church:

Even Paul receives the verdict from Peter. We know that Paul received the call directly from Jesus and the messages he preached, he got through the divine revelation and did not get it through Peter or the Church. Yet he is submissive to Peter and the Church and submits all his preaching before Peter. Paul says in Galatians 1:11-12, “For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me, is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” Paul continues in Galatians 2:1-2, “Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up in response to a revelation. Then I laid before them (though only in a private meeting with the acknowledged leaders) that the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure that I was not running, or had not run, in vain.” Here, Paul is afraid, if they deny his preaching all his work he has done will be a waste. Paul still continues in Galatians 2:7-9, “On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the the gospel for the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter making him an apostle to the circumcised also worked through me in sending me to the Gentiles), and when James and Ce’phas and John who were acknowledged pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas, and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.” The very same incidence is portrayed in Acts 15:1-12. Since the revelation received by Paul was actually a divine revelation the Church accepts and approves it. The fear and the submission of Paul to the Church show the authority the Church posses upon preaching Christianity in this world.

Conformity of Revelations with the
Catholic Church:

No one can preach according to his whims and fancies. We come to know that Paul received the messages, which he preached, through divine revelation only. Yet it was to be accepted by the Church- THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. He was answerable to the Church and Peter. So anybody who claims that he has divine revelations and messages and is preaching accordingly which the Catholic Church denies will be a waste and wrong. It should be brushed away from the world. Any preaching in the world regarding Christianity should be in conformity with the Catholic faith. Otherwise, it is to be neglected away completely. Hello world! Please think it over.

Beware of wrong preachers:

But some pieties from Catholic Church incline towards the wrong preaching and ideas and towards wrong revelations of Pentecostals. I am surprised why they are going behind such wrong path! Paul says in Galatians 1:6-8, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed!” All of us know that the early church is Catholic Church lead by Peter and there was no Pentecostal Church. St. Paul belonged to the Catholic Church. St. Paul says in Ephesians 5:24 that the Church – Catholic Church is subject to Christ. The teaching of the Church comes from Jesus. That is why, Paul implies in Galatians 1:6-8 that the preaching other wise than the Catholic Church is preached even by an angel is false and it is to be neglected. But, alas! Wrong preachers use this verse to confirm their own wrong preaching and revelations. The followers of Christ should be alert to find the REAL TRUTH. Yes, there is in the world imitation of truth. Beware of wrong preachers and their revelations.

Hitting Catholic faith- hitting Jesus:

Let us have a look at the present trend of these so-called divine revelations! Countless revelations and ideas rise every now and then and the main target of which is to attack Catholic faith. Whichever may be the revelation if it is against the Catholic faith it is hitting Jesus and so it is wrong. We have already seen in Ephesians 5:23, which says, “For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Savior.” And we have seen in Ephesians 1:22-23 that says, “And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” So the Church - The Catholic Church alone - is the body of Jesus Christ and it is the fullness of him of which Jesus is the head. So anybody ventures to attack catholic faith should remember that he is venturing to attack Jesus himself. Hence it is dangerous. Let us recall Luke 20:17-18. “‘’The stone that the builders rejected has become the corner stone.’ Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.” So no one should venture to fall on the Church and thereby broken into pieces.

Authority of interpretation:

Once again let us read 2 Peter 1:20: “First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation.” We can understand from this that Peter foresaw the wrong preaching and false interpretation of Bible by those, who are not eligible to do it. So nobody whether may be an individual or other congregation has the right to interpret the Holy Scripture. As we see earlier, the interpretations of other congregations get its root from the founder’s own interpretations that are from an individual. Only the Catholic Church – the only Church established by Jesus upon Peter has the distinguished ancient lineage from Jesus, Peter the first Pope to the present Pope. Since it is the only Original Church, it alone has the right to interpret the holy verse, as its real head is Jesus.

Apostles with Peter:

With Peter, apostles also administered the early church. Yet, Jesus had asked Peter to strengthen them. When Jesus prophesied Peter’s denial and repentance he says in Luke 22:31-34, “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fall; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” The apostles were the brothers to be strengthened by Peter. They were assisting Peter in the mission of the Church.

Core of the Church:

In Acts 15:1-11, we also see the core of the early Church when Paul encountered a problem regarding circumcision. Here, we see in the early church apostles and elders met together to consider this issue and they had discussion regarding this. Let us read the verses: “Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you can not be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders…The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter. After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the massage of the good news and become believers. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us. Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to beer? On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” “ Here we see the apostles and elders are present with Peter in the early administration of the church as a council. Yet, Peter taking the lead concludes the discussion and gives the verdict. Now the present Vatican council including cardinals and bishops represent the elders and apostles of the early Church who are assisting the Pope.

Only after Peter apostles and others:

Quoting 1 Corinthians 12:27-28, My Pentecostal friend says that the apostles stand first and fore most and not Peter alone. Let us read 1 Corinthians 12:27-28: “And God has appointed in the church first apostles second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gift of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.” Here we see various groups of people in the administration of the early Church in addition to the Peter. But we should not forget that Jesus made Peter to strengthen his brothers – apostles and feed the sheep. We should not forget his leading position and activities above all everywhere. So Jesus made him important in a special manner and after him only, he appointed in the Church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gift of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. In the present time we have cardinals, bishops, priests, nuns, preachers and many others to conduct the mission along with pope.

Ordinary members:

The Church that is the body of Jesus is formed not only by Peter, apostles and elders etc. but also by individuals - the ordinary members of the church. 1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “Now you are the body of the Christ and individually members of it.” The ordinary members play the vital role in the Church. Regarding the each members of the Church, Ephesians 2:19-21 says, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows, into a holy temple in the Lord.” So we are all members of the household of God and citizens with saints who are in heaven. The household of God the Church is built upon the “rock” Peter and the foundation of which are the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure the Church is joined together and grows, into a holy temple in the Lord.

Membership and Baptism:

How an ordinary individual become a member of the Catholic Church? As we saw earlier in the chapter “Baptism”, it is through the Baptism in Catholic Church in the name of Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit an ordinary individual become a member of the Catholic Church. Let all of us be one under the Pope in Catholic Church that is established by Jesus himself. Amen!