How the Catholic Church Denies the Apostasy

ACCORDING TO CATHOLIC priests, the Church that was built by Christ in the first century has continued until our time. They use verses of the Bible as their bases which, they say, prove that the Church built by Christ was never apostatized.  Let us now examine their bases.

In a Catholic book entitled, Religion: Doctrine and Practice, which was written by a Catholic priest named Francis B. Cassily, on page 332, this is what could be read:

“Then Simon made the memorable confession of faith, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus made a declaration in return to him, saying: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to thee, but my Father in heaven. And I say to thee, thou art Peter (the Rock), and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

So others say that it could not be possible that the Church built by Christ was apostatized, because Christ said that the gates of hell would not prevail against it.

What other verse of the Bible is being used by the Catholic Church as basis for saying that the Church built by Christ did not turn away from the faith?

In a Catholic book entitled, The Faith of our Fathers, written by James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, this could be read:

“In the last words recorded of our Redeemer in the Gospel of St. Matthew the same prediction  is strongly repeated, and the reason of the Church's indefectibility is fully expressed: Go ye, teach all nations, "and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation  of the world".  This sentence contains three important declarations; First the presence of Christ with His Church Behold, I am with you.? Second is constant presence, without an interval of one day absence I am with you all days.? Third—His perpetual presence to the end of the world, and consequently the perpetual duration of the Church Even to the consummation of the world." (pp. 43-44)

According to the Lord Jesus Christ, they say, in Matthew 28:19-20 the Church would not be apostatized, because He promised I am with you unto the end of the world.? We will now examine these verses upon which the Catholic Church bases its claim that the Church built by Christ was not apostatized.

 

What will not prevail against the Church?

What is Christ referring to which will not prevail against His Church?

In Matthew 16:18 this is stated:

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.?” (Revised Standard Version)

What is mentioned in Matthew 16:18 which will not prevail against the Church is death,? and not the kind of hell?envisioned by the Catholic Church as quoted from above.

What does it mean that the powers of death will not prevail against the Church built by Christ?

In John 11:25, this is the declaration of our Lord Jesus:

 “Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live.” (New King James Version)

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. So even though a member of His Church would die, he will live again. Jesus promised this to the Church that He built. When will the people who died as members of the Church of Christ be brought back to life?

In I Thessalonians 4:16-17, this is stated:

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.? (NKJV)

The resurrection of the people who died in Christ will be at the second coming of Christ or on the day of Judgment. The people who died as members of the Church of Christ will be the first ones brought back to life to meet the Lord. The people in Christ who will still be alive when Judgment day comes will no longer die. Instead, they will meet the Lord together with those who were resurrected first. Therefore, Catholic defenders are mistaken in saying that in Matthew 16:18 Christ promises the Church would not be apostatized.

 

The meaning of what Christ said in Matthew 28:19-20

“Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (King James Version)

The ones whom Christ promised to be with are the people who were taught His commands and observe them. The proof of this is when Christ said: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.?Our Lord Jesus Christ would be with them as long as they would observe the commands that He taught. When such people do not follow the teachings of Christ anymore, He would no longer be with them. It is only through the teaching or doctrine that He would be with them unto the end of the world.

Source:   PASUGO  -  God's Message Magazine International Edition, Jan. 1998, pp. 11-13