The Link between Bible prophecy and joy

Jude 24-25 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25to the only wise God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Defining the meaning and significance of eschatology

Bible teachers calls the study of prophecy “eschatology” or the study of last things (from "eschatos" = "last things" and "ology" = study of).  To center upon a subject of which ¼ of scripture is devoted to should cause great joy – since 224 predictions are made of Christ’s soon return.  Yet how often  have you heard a sermon or a read a book on Bible prophecy where the end result is fear and dread rather than hope and joy?  Repeatedly scripture connects the Christian's current joy with the soon return of Jesus Christ. 

Demonstrating the link between prophecy and joy

Jude in his short little book states his purpose in verse 3: “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.”  How can you and I as Christians contend for the faith in this present time if we do not have a joyful expectation of Christ's return?  Centering upon the Word written and the Living WORD produces joy not only for the current age, but the age to come.  Scriptures bear out this important link between prophecy and joy:

1. Notice what Israel will experience at Christ’s return in Isaiah 51:11 So the ransomed of the LORD will return
And come with joyful shouting to Zion,
And everlasting joy will be on their heads.
They will obtain gladness and joy,
And sorrow and sighing will flee away.

2. When Christ returns, we know that there will be a judgment of believers, as recorded in Matthew 25:21 - “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

3. Peter reveals that for the saints of God, joy will characterized their state of existence at Christ’s coming in 1 Peter 4:13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

4. In one of the final visions of our activity in Eternity, we see these words in Revelation 21:3-4 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

Overwhelmingly the core theme of Bible prophecy is the joy we have in the Living Word, Jesus Christ and the certainty of what is said about Him in the written Word. 

Provisions for Christian Victory over temptation

Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Introduction: Christ was also tempted
Yesterday we noted some thoughts on how it is that Christians can have victory over temptation.  In the Bible, Christ's temptation in the wilderness stands as the epicenter on all scriptures dealing with the subject of temptation.  Christ's earthly ministry was characterized as being under constant barrage of various trials and temptations. (Luke 22:28)  Thankfully Christ never gave into such temptations despite being tempted at all points like we are. (Hebrews 4:15).

So why was Christ tempted?  What does His temptation have to do with Christian living? In today's blog, I want to list for you five provisions Christ gained for every believer as a result of His defeat of satan in temptations such as He endured in Matthew 4:1-11.  We will then close with two verses that explain why Christ had to undergo temptation.

5 provisions for victory over temptation gained by Christ for every Christian as taken from Matthew 4:1-11 and other verses:

1. God’s Holy Spirit.  Mt 4:1; Lk 4:1; Gal 5:16

The Holy Spirit was the One who led Christ into the wilderness.  It was a place full of wild beasts. (Mark 1:12-13)  The Holy Spirit's leading of Christ into the wilderness was for the purpose of victory, not failure.  Every child of God who is led by the Holy Spirit will be able to overcome whatever temptation may come.  At every point in our own humanity, we have to make a choice whether we will be self-led or Spirit-led.  Thankfully, Christ at every point in His humanity chose to be led by the Holy Spirit.

2. God’s Word. Mt 4:4; Ps 119:11

The counsel of the scriptures cannot be over estimated.  Whenever I as a Christian choose to subject myself to the word of God, I am indicating that I am also choosing to be led by the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18; Colossians 3:16)  As much as Jesus Christ was God in human flesh, He nonetheless chose to forego accessing His Divine attributes in preference to drawing from the scriptures. 

3. God’s character. Mt 4:5-6; 1 Cor 10:13

In every temptation, God's character is posed as a question in the believer's mind.  If we conclude that God is not trustworthy, we will fail.  However if we conclude that God is trustworthy, then we will prevail.  This is what Christ did consistently in His rejection of Satan's words.  The Character of God, standing as the backdrop of revealed scripture, guided Christ in His humanity, since in His Deity he shared in such character.  As fully God, He could not sin and as sinless man he would not sin.

4. God’s Glory. Mt 4:7-10; Ps 121:1-12

Though in the stark Judean Wilderness in Matthew 4;1-11, the glory of God functioned for Jesus like a morning dawn on the horizon of His life.  He never lost hope, He never let discouragement get the best of Him.  God's glory far outshown the glories of the kingdoms shown to him by the Devil.  Anyone who has ever seen a sunset or sunrise over a city skyline knows that the city lights pale in comparison to the light-show God can put on display. 

5. God’s Angelic Hosts. Mt 4:11; Heb 1:14; Acts 27:23,24

The Bible tells us that after Satan left, angels came to minister to Him.  Angels are ministering spirits who to this day minister to God's people. (Hebrews 1:14)  Our invisible Angelic friends were made possible through what Christ accomplished.  They are servants of the most high God.  We know Peter had such assistance (Acts 12:7-10) and Paul had such assistance (Acts 27:23,24).  Furthermore we as Christians today, in ways we cannot even begin to understand, have angels dispatched by the authority of Christ to protect every believer. (Hebrews 1:14, 13:2)

Why Christ had to undergo temptations for every believer: empathy with believers and enablement of believers
Whatever Christ experienced in the course of His humanity during the days of His time here on earth, we as believer's have access to the provisions he won for us.  Hebrews 2:18 states - "For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted."  That verse tells us that Christ can enable every Christian, who so avail themselves of Christ provision, to overcome temptation.  Then Hebrews 4:15 explains even more: "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin."  Thankfully our High Priest understands what we are undergoing.  Just to know that He knows means that there is no better One to flee to in times of trouble than Jesus Christ. 

Christian Victory over Temptation

2 Peter 2:9a "then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials...."

In today's blog we want to consider what the Bible has to say on the subject of temptation.  I thought we would do this by noting some observations we learn about temptation from God's Word.

1. Temptation by itself is not sin

James 1:12-13 "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

2. When I give in to temptation, it is sin   

James 1:14-16 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

3. God is faithful.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

4. Three sources of temptation.

a. Devil (temptation’s adversary) 1 John 2:14

b. World (temptation’s arena) 1 John 2:15

c. Flesh (temptations active target). 1 John 2:16

1 John 2:14-16 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 15Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

5. Why do people give into temptation?

 James 4:1-3 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

6. Can Christians have victory over temptation? Yes.

Hebrews 2:18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Orthodoxy, Heterodoxy, Heresy

Daniel 2:43 "And in that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery."

What happens when you mix iron and clay
When Daniel was interpreting Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the Colussus or Large statue, he got to a part in the dream where the statue's feet was made of a mixture of iron and clay.  In the next verse, Daniel explains that the final kingdom to rise up before the return of Jesus Christ will have two properties: partially strong and partially brittle. 

Defining Orthodoxy
When examining any belief system to determine its adherence or non-adherence to the gospel, three terms can be used: Orthodoxy, Heterodoxy and Heresy.  In thinking on the properties of iron and clay, orthodoxy can be likened unto iron: something that is strong, reliable, consistent.  Orthodoxy comes from two Greek words: "ortho" meaning "straight" and "dokeo" meaning "thinking, thought".  So a Christian who holds to an orthodox understanding of the Bible, Christ and Salvation (note: our use of "orthodox" here is not to be confused with how the term is employed by the Eastern Orthodox Church), is holding straight and parallel with the teaching of scripture. 

Defining Heresy
Heresy represents another end of the spectrum.  It can be likened unto clay, since it is subject to constant change and moves in response to the preferences of men.  Heresy comes from a Greek word meaning "opinion".  Thus, a heresy is a belief system that claims to be Christian, however it is utterly "un-orthodox" in its views of the Bible, Christ and Salvation.  Heresies contain no redemptive value and over time end up producing there own literature that completely replaces the Bible. (i.e Mormonism for example) 

Defining Heterodoxy
There is a third class of belief system that functions much like the part of Nebuchadnezzar's vision, in that it mixes together elements of sound orthodoxy (i.e iron) and unsound heresy (i.e clay).  Heterodoxy comes from two Greek words: "hetero" meaning "of a different kind" and "dokeo" meaning "thinking, thought".  A heterodox belief system occupies a wide range of territory between orthodoxy and heresy.  Heterodoxy will usually be sound in at least one of the three major areas of the Bible, Jesus Christ or salvation, while retaining heretical elements in at least one of those same areas.

Understanding how Orthodoxy, Heterodoxy and Heresy are related
If we were to picture all three on a scale, we could picture them accordingly:
Heresy--------Heterodoxy----------------------------------------Orthodoxy

Heterodoxy is dangerous because while claiming to be orthodox, it finds comfort in retaining beliefs that are not taught in the Bible.  As seen in the above diagram, heterodoxy can cover the chasm between orthodoxy and heresy.  Depending on the amount of "iron" to that of "clay", some forms of heterodoxy will seem closer at times to true biblical Christianity than others.  However, as can be noted also in the diagram above, the manner in which heterodoxy drifts will lead to an abandonment of the Gospel if not corrected.

Where do we place Roman Catholicism on this scale?
As we have examined Roman Catholic belief and practice for the past two weeks, we have noted that at some points, Roman Catholic belief does hold to "iron" truths revealed in scripture, such as:
1. The Trinity
2. Christ's Deity and Humanity
3. The Inspiration of the Bible

However there is a lot more "clay" or heretical elements not taught anywhere in the Bible, including:
1. The Co-redeemer role and elevation of Mary
2. The cult of the saints
3. The equality of tradition and the Majesterium to Biblical authority
4. Salvation by faith plus baptism, which maintained to adherence to the Roman Catholic sacramental system
5. The departure from the Gospel, thus compromising the legitimacy of its claim to be the mission of Christ to the world
6. The sacramental system's function as a substitute Jesus in the application of salvation
7. Addition of other books to the 66 inspired books of the Bible

Other teachings could be mentioned, but as it can be plainly seen, Roman Catholicism is a heterodox system.  Its departure from the Gospel makes it even more dangerous to remain a part of, since its "clay" content cannot be supported by scripture.  Its system is ultimately brittle.  Only Christianity that adheres to salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone of the Bible alone for the glory of God alone can be deemed orthodox, biblical Christianity.

Credit or Debit? Justification in scripture vs Roman Catholicism

Romans 4:4-5 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

Credit or Debit?
Whenever I go to a gas station or grocery store, the clerk will usually ask the question: Will that be credit or debit?  A New York Times Article on this subject states: "Debit cards are linked to your bank account so the money you spend is automatically deducted from your account."1   Then in distinguishing credit cards, the article defines them: "Credit cards basically allow you to use someone else’s money (the card issuer’s) to make a purchase while you pay the money back later." 2

When we consider the difference between the biblical view of Justification by Faith Alone vs the Roman Catholic view of justification, we can liken both to a Perfectly pure credit based system of salvation vs a debt based system of salvation.

The Biblical View - Credited Righteousness
As we saw in yesterday's post, the Bible teaches that at saving faith, God credits or "imputes" the righteousness of Jesus Christ to the sinner, thus making him or her positionally right with God.  This crediting of righteousness means that all the sinner's debts have been paid in full.  From that standpoint, the Bible then teaches that the saint of God will grow experientially in the practice of right godly living, or sanctification.  The ability to live the Christian life stems from the Holy Spirit working through sanctifying grace, which is distinguished but nonetheless rooted in the justifying grace received by faith at salvation.

The Biblical view of Christ's credited righteousness means the bill for salvation is paid in full for believers
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."  The Biblical view of justification by faith alone has the righteousness of Christ being credited to the believer.  Unlike the credit of credit cards, there is no bill coming from God, expecting the believer to "hold up his end of the bargain" so as to make payments.  Romans 4:4-5 states: "Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness."


The Biblical view of Christ's credited righteousness provides the basis for wanting to live right for God
Often I have heard the accusation that for God to credit a sinner at salvation with a righteousness that is not His own amounts to some type of legal fiction.  Furthermore, some will say that the crediting of Christ's righteousness leads to a person living anyway they want, since God forgives no matter what.  True saving faith receives the grace of justification by itself.  However the believer's life from thereon is characterized by a faith that aims to live right for God.  James 2:26 states: "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead". 

In the credit based system of biblical salvation, I have the infinite merit of Jesus Christ's righteousness to draw from in living the Christian life.  There is no credit limit, and furthermore, it is by using that credit of His righteousness that I more and more begin to look like the One who issues the credit!  As I use the credit of Jesus Christ, I learn how to live for God plus I gain the desire to want to live for Him. By being in Christ, and he working through me, God's declaration of me as righteous is not fictional - but factual! (Philippians 2:12-13) 

The Roman Catholic System - Debt Based view of salvation
In the Roman Catholic system, the type of righteousness in their view of justification is not Christ's righteousness, but the believer's righteousness.  Furthermore, there is no "crediting" or "imputing" of Christ's righteousness to the sinner's account, rather, in the Roman Catholic perspective, God "infuses" or "begins to pour in" gradual righteousness into the sinner. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church spells this out:  "The theological virtues are the foundation of Christian moral activity; they animate it and give it its special character. They inform and give life to all the moral virtues. They are infused by God into the souls of the faithful to make them capable of acting as his children and of meriting eternal life. They are the pledge of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in the faculties of the human being. There are three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity." 3

A debt based system of salvation leads to the impossible of finding assurance
This righteousness of the believer is begun in the Roman Catholic rite of baptism, and must be maintained through confession, participation in the Mass and the whole Roman Catholic system.  In short, the individual is always in debt.  Roman Catholicism teaches that one can lose their status of rightness (or justification) before God, and thus must reconnect via confession, paying penance and the Mass.  In Roman Catholic thought, justification and sanctification are one and the same.  This confusion leads to trying to attain right standing before God, since in Roman Catholic thinking, one cannot be declared righteous by God until they are actually righteous. 


So which would you have? Credit or debit?
The Biblical view of Justification by faith alone advocates the crediting of Christ's righteousness to the one who receives salvation by grace alone through faith alone.  Roman Catholicism teaches that in order for God to declare me righteous, I have to become actually righteous by my faith, plus baptism and participation in the Roman Catholic system.  The first one is credit based, meaning the price of my salvation is paid in full and applied to me in saving faith, resulting in me wanting to live right as I draw from the infinite merit of Jesus Christ.  Roman Catholicism is debt based, meaning that I can never be assured of whether I truly right with God, since I'm attempting to achieve right standing through faith in the Roman Catholic system. 

I would urge you today dear friend, if you have not done so, to by faith enter into God's credit based system which is from Jesus Christ and by Jesus Christ.  (John 14:6; Acts 4:12) 
End Notes
1 Jennifer Barrett, New York Times January 6 2009.
2  Jennifer Barrett, New York Times January 6 2009.
3  Catechism of the Catholic Church

Justification by Faith Alone: How people are made right with God

Romans 4:3 what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Four questions to consider on the subject of how people are made right with God?
This question is given an answer through a word Bible teachers use called "justification".  This one area of the doctrine of salvation is "the area" that lies at the heart of the Gospel.  It is this very issue that the Reformer Martin Luther determined to be what causes the church to rise or fall.  It was, and to this day still is the continental divide between Roman Catholics and Bible believing Christianity. 

What exactly is meant by the phrase "Justification by faith"?
The late James Montgomery Boice, an ardent defender of Biblical inerrancy in the twentieth century, writes this definition of justification in his book - "Whatever happened to the Gospel of Grace?": "Justification is an act of God by which he declares sinners to be righteous by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone." 1

The biblical doctrine of Justification by faith aims to answer four very important questions: "How are people made right with God?" "What is it that makes a person right with God?" Thirdly, "How does God go about making a person right with Himself?" Then fourthly, "how does a person stay in the right with God?" 

Where Baptists have stood on the issue of Justification by Faith Alone
With a clearer understanding of what we mean by the term: "Justification by Faith Alone", what then of groups such as Baptists?  A recent book commenting on the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message has this to say about Justification by Faith: "Given current confusions concerning the doctrine of Justification prevalent in the larger evangelical world, it is helpful that the Baptist Faith and Message makes it clear that sinners are justified by faith alone - on the basis of Christ's righteousness alone."2

Other older Baptist doctrinal statements, from the New Hampshire Confession of 1833, to the Philadelphia Baptist Confession of 1742, to the Baptist Confession of faith 1689, echo this same idea.  Those former generations defined justification as occuring by grace alone, through faith alone, whereby the work of Christ is "credited" to the sinner who trusts in Him.

How the Bible unfolds the issue of how one is made right with God
The reason I have labored the above is to demonstrate the importance and consistent testimony of other Christians back through the ages.  Hearing the testimony of the past Christians is an important part of developing a sharper understanding of doctrine.  However that testimony can never be equated with scripture.  It is the scriptures which govern what we ultimately believe about issues such as Justification by faith.  So how does Scripture answer the above four questions through its teaching of justification by faith.

1. How are people made right with God? By Grace Alone through Faith Alone.  Through God's declaration of that person's "rightness" or righteousness before His sight by grace alone through faith alone. (Ephesians 2:8-9) 

2. What is it that makes a person right with God? Christ's righteousness.  That is, the righteousness of God earned by Jesus Christ in His perfect life, perfect death and powerful resurrection. (Philippians 3:7-14)  At saving faith, God justifies or aquits the sinner by crediting them with the righteousness of Christ.  This idea of crediting someone with another's accomplishments is what we call "imputation". 

3. How does God go about granting the righteousness of Christ to a person? God credits the believer with the righteousness earned by Christ.  When a person by grace alone through faith alone trusts in Christ Person and work on their behalf, God credits them with Christ's righteousness.  This means then that even though the sinner is not actually righteous at salvation, God declares Him to be so, since it is Christ's righteousness that is being credited to the sinner's account.  For it was on the cross that God credited to Christ's account my unrighteousness, even though Christ was actually sinless. (Romans 3-4; Galatians 3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:15-21) 

4. How does a person stay in the "right" with God?  Justification deals with God declaring me and crediting me with Christ's righteousness at saving faith.  It is from the root of Christ's righteousness credited in justification that my own progressive, experiential righteousness (what is called "sanctification") bears fruit.  I'm essentially kept in my salvation by the same basis I first entered - by reliance upon Christ's Person and accomplishment.  
Justification and Sanctification, though related, must be distinguished if the Gospel is to be understood rightly
I'm becoming in experience through sanctification whom God has declared me to be already in Christ at justification.  Though related graces, both justification and sanctification must be distinguished if a biblical understanding of salvation is to be maintained.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church consistently confuses these two doctrines, leading it to an incorrect view on how a man is made right with God.  3

Biblically understanding the relationship between faith and actions (or works)
A truly converted heart is saved by grace through faith alone, and lives out the Christian life with a faith that is never alone.  Works proceed from true saving faith. (James 2:13)  My experiential righteousness grows forth from who I am in Christ's righteousness credited to me in justification.  Thus it only stands that I remain right with God in the same manner I entered into relationship with Him - in Christ's righteousness alone. (Philippians 3:7-14; Titus 3:5; 2 Peter 1:4-11) A true Christian, operating from the once credited justifying grace, will want to continue progressing experientially in sanctifying grace.

End Notes_____________
1 Boice, James Montgomery. "Whatever Happened to the Gospel of Grace?" Cross Way Books. 2001

2 Blount, Douglass K. and Joseph D. Wooddell. Rowan and Littlefield Publishers. 2007 

3 Catechism of the Catholic Church -  Part Three: Life In Christ Section One Man's Vocation Life in the Spirit, Chapter Three- God's Salvation: Law and Grace, Article 2 - Grace and Justification.

Knowing whose in charge: Catholicism vs the Bible

Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

Why the Bible Alone must be asserted as uniquely authoritative
It is obvious that the system of the Roman Catholic Church is complex, involved and not as straightforward as claimed by its proponents. Again when we advocate the Bible Alone as the believer's authority, we are not ignoring things like tradition or church history. However, the scriptures, in their 66 books of the Old and New Testament, are the most stable authority available.  Theology, Church History and Bible teachers, no doubt representing the working of God the Holy Spirit through response to the scriptures, nonetheless must acknowledge the superiority of the Bible to all other authorities.

The aim of today's blog
In light of the above statement, we want to see why the Bible alone must be declared the final authority on all matters, and why things like tradition, though important, cannot be equated with the scriptures.  As will be seen, Roman Catholic Church Tradition is not fixed, and represents a source of authority that has departed from the true Gospel. Today I want to outline how the Roman Catholic system developed in its view of authority, with some closing tips on how to share the Gospel in light of such observations.

What makes Roman Catholicism the system that it is?
Knowing how a particular movement developed and knowing its underlying assumptions for understanding the world or its "worldview" is key to effectively sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 
It must be remembered that words such as "faith", "Christ" and "authority" will have different meanings for Roman Catholics from those of Bible believing Christianity. 

The Three-fold Source of Divine Truth in Roman Catholic thought.  Three equal sources of authority or Divinely revealed truth Teaching Authority of the Papal Heirarchy (Majesterium); Church Tradition and the Scriptures.1 Paragraph #95 of Catechism.  How did the system come to view these three as equals?

a. How Roman Catholicism came to view the scripture. 
In terms of the authority of scripture, the Roman Catholic Church affirms the Bible to be Divinely inspired and without error, much in line with Bible believing Christianity.  However it also has added other books called the Apocrypha to the collection of Bible books or the "Canon", a decision that came about in 1546 A.D at the Roman Catholic Church's Council of Trent, and which is still retained in the current version of the Catholic Catechism. 1

b. How Roman Catholicism came to its view of Teaching Authority as Equal with the Bible
The tradition of the Catholic Church finds its central embodiment and communication in the Pope and the teaching heirarchy of the Roman Catholic system called "The Majesterium".  This component of Roman Catholicism has its root in their doctrine called "Apostolic Succession".  It began with a right motive of identifying which churches taught true doctrine, since there were heresies masquerading as Christianity.  Early Christians such a Iranaeus in 180 A.D wrote that a true church taught the traditions handed down by the apostles through a succession of Bishops.2

Since the Apostles Peter and Paul both influenced Christianity and died in Rome, and since the Roman Church (by and large) had avoided the corruptions of heresy in the first three centuries, the Roman Bishop came to be viewed as the rightful heir of apostolic authority in Roman Catholic thinking.  After Christianity became legalized in 313 A.D, the ceasing of persecution gradually led Institutional Christianity to allign with the Roman empire.  In 440 A.D the Roman Bishop, Leo I, declared the Roman Bishop to be "papas" or Uniter of the secular and spiritual powers of the empire and the church. 3

From Leo I in 440 A.D to a man named Gregory 1 in 590 A.D we see what would be the pattern for the remaining development of the position of Pope, the majesterium or teaching authority of the Catholic Church and thus the belief that such authority was binding upon the consciences of men.  In 800 A.D a man by the name of Charlemane, of ancient French and German descent, was crowned "Holy Roman Emperor" by Pope Boniface on Christmas day 800 A.D.  Through the period of the Middle Ages, the Pope's power continue to increase, with the declaration of his ability to speak infallible truth in the Vatican I council of 1871.

c. How Roman Catholicism came to view Church Tradition as equal with the Bible
With the development of the Heirarchy system of the Roman Catholic Church, it led logically to the Church viewing itself as having equal authority to the Bible.  Again through the centuries, the church had to battle heresies that denied Biblical doctrines such as the Deity of Christ, the Trinity and Salvation by Grace through Faith.  Through the convening of meetings called Church Councils, Godly pastors and theologians did right in making declarations that communicated the Gospel clearly.4

However many of those who alligned themselves with the system that would become the Roman Catholic Church, came to view the church as equally authoritative due to the Pope's allignment with the Roman Empire and then later on other prevailing secular authorities.  Like a snowball going down a hill, the Roman Catholic Church picked up a combination of Biblical and non-biblical assumptions.  From roughly 200-800 A.D it picked up the remnants of left over Greek and Roman beliefs.  In what is called the Middle Ages (900-1500 A.D), it came to interpret the Bible through the Ancient Greek Philosopher Aristotle. 5 

Right down through today, the Roman Catholic system views itself as a living tradition, meaning that the Holy Spirit speaks not only through the scriptures, but equally through the growing understanding of the Roman Catholic Church as led by the Pope and accompanying Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops. 6

Practical tips to remember when sharing the Gospel with Roman Catholic Friends and Family
When sharing the Gospel with Roman Catholic Friends and Family, these differences must be acknowledged.  If your friend still insists on hanging onto the equal authority of the Pope and Church Tradition, you will find it very difficult to continue sharing the Gospel.  However pray the Holy Spirit would open their eyes to the truth of the Unique and Binding authority of the scriptures, and how Christ through the Bible, works through His Spirit to uniquely bring about conversion and spiritual transformation. (Psalm 19:7; Romans 10:17) In understanding these differences, we will have a better idea of how to proceed as we aim to share the Gospel with our Roman Catholic friends, families and neighbors. 

End Notes_________________
1 Catechism of the Catholic Church. Section 1, Chapter 2 Article 2, Chapter 3, Section 4

2 Quoting Iranaeus' book against heresies in Henry Bettenson's: "Documents of the Christian" Church pg 97 

3 Earle E. Cairnes:  Christianity Throught the Centuries. ppgs 154-155. 

4 Early Christians would convene church councils to decide, clarify or defend important truths already outlinedin scripture.  The earliest of these was the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15, which defined how the Jewish Christians were to proclaim the Gospel to an increasing converted Gentile Church.  In Church History the four main church councils to which many Christians to one degree or another appeal to are the following: Council of Nicea which affirmed Christ's Deity against the Arians who denied such in 325 A.D; Council of Constantinople of 381 A.D which affirmed the Deity of the Holy Spirit; Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D which reaffirmed the conclusions of Nicea and finally, perhaps the most significant of them all, the Council of Chalcedon in 451 A.D which affirmed the dual natures of Jesus Christ

5 A Theologian in the Middle Ages by the name of Thomas Aquinas took much of Aristotle's thought and shaped biblical interpretation around it. 

6 When we think about it, the system known as the Roman Catholic Church did not become formalized, at least in a reconizeable way, until after the fifth century.  This would mean then that the Roman Catholic system is at least five centuries removed from the original biblical Christianity that, running parallel, has remained unbroken since the days of Christ and the Apostles.  Thankfully God in His providence has seen fit to use Revivals, Reformations, Godly Men, and at of course preservation of the biblical text to ensure that the Gospel would never be finally lost.