Part I
Before returning to Heaven, Jesus chose twelve Apostles, and for three years taught and prepared them for becoming the first leaders/priests of His Christian (Catholic) Church on earth:
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.” (Matt. 4:19)
Jesus gave the twelve Apostles authority:
"He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness." (Matt. 10:1)
"He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him Who sent Me." (Matt. 10:40)
"Whoever listens to you listens to Me, and whoever rejects you rejects Me. Whoever rejects Me rejects Him Who sent Me." (Lk. 10:16)
"I confer on you a kingdom, even as My Father conferred on Me" (Lk. 22:29)
"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matt. 28:19)
"If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.” (Jn. 20:23)
and so on...
Jesus made Peter first among his equals:
"I also tell you that 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 to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in Heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in Heaven.” (Matt. 16:18)
"Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in Heaven, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in Heaven." (Matt. 18:18)
"I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd." (Jn. 10:16)
"Tend My sheep" (Jn. 21:17)
Jesus formed a hierarchy when He chose His successors, gave them authority, and accumulated believers.
Acts 1:15-26 – the first thing Peter does after Jesus ascends into Heaven is implement apostolic succession. Matthias is ordained with full apostolic authority. Only the Christian (Catholic) Church can demonstrate an unbroken apostolic lineage to the apostles in union with Peter through the sacrament of ordination and thereby claim to teach with Christ’s own authority. See subsequent posts (#2—#9).
Before returning to Heaven, Jesus chose twelve Apostles, and for three years taught and prepared them for becoming the first leaders/priests of His Christian (Catholic) Church on earth:
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.” (Matt. 4:19)
Jesus gave the twelve Apostles authority:
"He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness." (Matt. 10:1)
"He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him Who sent Me." (Matt. 10:40)
"Whoever listens to you listens to Me, and whoever rejects you rejects Me. Whoever rejects Me rejects Him Who sent Me." (Lk. 10:16)
"I confer on you a kingdom, even as My Father conferred on Me" (Lk. 22:29)
"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matt. 28:19)
"If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.” (Jn. 20:23)
and so on...
Jesus made Peter first among his equals:
"I also tell you that 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 to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in Heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in Heaven.” (Matt. 16:18)
"Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in Heaven, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in Heaven." (Matt. 18:18)
"I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd." (Jn. 10:16)
"Tend My sheep" (Jn. 21:17)
Jesus formed a hierarchy when He chose His successors, gave them authority, and accumulated believers.
Acts 1:15-26 – the first thing Peter does after Jesus ascends into Heaven is implement apostolic succession. Matthias is ordained with full apostolic authority. Only the Christian (Catholic) Church can demonstrate an unbroken apostolic lineage to the apostles in union with Peter through the sacrament of ordination and thereby claim to teach with Christ’s own authority. See subsequent posts (#2—#9).
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