ROMAN CATHOLICISM / PROTESTANTISM X KINGDOM OF GOD By Josimar Salum 8/8/24

ROMAN CATHOLICISM / PROTESTANTISM X KINGDOM OF GOD By Josimar Salum 8/8/24

   1 - The church (building) is the center of the city X The disciples of Jesus, the community of Saints is the Church.

   They are people of all ages, born again, and they have nothing to do with the temple. 

   Note that, per example, in every Brazilian city the “church” is built in the central or highest place of the city. In other words, the Catholic temple in Brazil or the Protestant temple in American cities is the center. 

   The temple replaces King Jesus. It is not His Throne that is the center, but the altar of these “churches”. 

   So different from what the Bible says: 

   “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, of all nations, and tribes, and people, and tongues, STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE AND BEFORE THE LAMB, clothed in white robes, and palm branches in their hands.” Revelation 7:9 NIV 

   2 - The altar is a sacred place inside and in front of a temple where God dwells X God dwells in the Church, in His people everywhere.

   The Church is the House and Temple of God.

   “But if I am delayed, you should know how people ought to conduct themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15 NIV 

   “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16 NIV 

   3 - The church (the temple) is the center of devotion to God X The disciples work and live everywhere in devotion to God on a daily basis.

   “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 NIV 

   4 - Priests, fathers and pastors are the representatives or vicars of Christ on Earth X The Saints are the Body of Christ on Earth.

   “Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the cornerstone, in whom the whole building is shaped and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you too are being built together to become a dwelling place for God by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV 

   5 - The Mass is the perpetual memorial of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and worship services are the central activity of the Christian life X The disciples are Jesus Christ on Earth, alive and resurrected among men, they are like Jesus, Salt of the Earth and Light of the world.

   The Eucharist and the Lord's Supper are a sacred memorial and are not part of any daily family meal. They are the exclusive act of the vicar or pastor and are not part of the family meal. 

   “WHILE THEY WERE EATING, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 

   Then he took the cup, gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 

   I tell you, do not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” Matthew 26:26-29 NIV 

   6 - Meeting in the temple on a specific day to worship and have fellowship X While they meet daily for fellowship (to eat bread together) and continue in the apostles' doctrine, in prayers and in the breaking of bread, they are the Church in the city. 

   7 - Only singing, praising, praying is spiritual X Living in a family, working, studying are equally spiritual to God.

   Jesus never scheduled a meeting with His disciples in the Temple of Jerusalem. But He scheduled and participated in meetings in the kitchens and living rooms of many families while He walked the dusty streets and roads of Israel. 

   The Church does not need a temple to be Church. The good tradition of believers meeting in buildings cannot suppress the Church that meets naturally every day. 

   In the life of the disciples with Jesus in the lands and cities of Israel there was no set time to be the church. The Church (the meeting), although it could be called to be a solemn assembly, was church every time the disciples met with one another. 

   Certainly, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers were given to perfect the Saints for the edification of the Body, but in Acts they gathered together because in the course of the days they had already gathered together and it was in these acts of meeting that the Church manifested itself. 

   Finally, the most important aspect of the Church is that it is an Ekklesia which is more than an assembly or gathering, but a Body to exercise the Authority of Christ.

   ““Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. 

   If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 

   But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 

   And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. 

   “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “

   Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 

   For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.””Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭15‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

   #ASONE