On Matters of Revelation, Baptism, and Authority: Part 1
In the last post, we took a look at the Apostles' Creed, seeing the
major truths of the Catholic Christian faith, the core of who we are.
The twelve articles that make up the creed are infallible dogmas
revealed by God to humanity that we might believe these things with
supernatural faith on the authority of God Himself. As we know from
Scripture, "without faith
it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6). So, we must believe in
everything revealed by God in order that we might be saved and delivered
into God's kingdom and family. So, we must ask ourselves, where are
we supposed to find everything we need to believe? Where can we find
the truths of God's great Revelation to man? In order to answer these
questions, we must analyze a few things.
First, we know that Jesus Christ Our Lord is the Word made Flesh (John 1:14) who so loved the world that He came to reconcile the human race with God. During His life here on Earth, Christ delivered the fullness of God's Revelation to man once and for all, the complete and perfect fulfillment of the prophecies of old. When most people think of 'the Word', they typically think of Sacred Scripture but in fact, there is much more meaning underneath this simple term. 'The Word' truly refers to the God-Man Jesus Christ who delivered the deposit of faith once and for all to His people (cf. Jude 3). Many might wonder to whom Christ gave this Revelation from God. Is there any way for us to find the Divinely-revealed truths of the faith that we are required to believe as truths revealed by God Himself? The answer to this latter question is a resounding "Yes!"
As Catholics, we believe that Our Lord delivered the deposit of faith, God's Divine Revelation to the Church He established. At this point in the conversation, many people might wonder about the nature and makeup of this Church. So, let us look to the New Testament and to the historical records of the early Fathers to find some answers to our questions.
In the beginning of His ministry here on Earth, Christ took aside twelve special men, the Apostles, to follow after Him and to be set apart as men devoted to ministry of Christ. These men witnessed the miracles, the preaching, and the teachings of Jesus, knowing Him to be exactly who He claimed to be: The Son of God.
After
His Crucifixion and Resurrection and before His glorious Ascension into
Heaven, Jesus gave His Apostles a great commission which we read about
in Matthew 28:18-20: "And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. Going therefore, teach ye 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 behold I
am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world."
This verse is important for many reasons. First, we must notice Christ's declaration that He has complete power and authority. This fact calls to mind John 20:21 where Our Lord also says, "As the Father hath sent me, I also send you." Putting these verses together, we see that Christ, full of power authority He has received from the Father, gives this Divine authority and commission to His Apostles, telling them to teach every nation the things that He taught them, namely, the Divine Revelation He handed onto them.
Christ also promises His Apostles that He would be with them until the end of the world, a promise of Heavenly assistance and guidance throughout the ages. Indeed, the Church Christ established on these men will be protected from all error and every evil. As Matthew 16:18 puts it: "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (the Church)." So, the Church that Our Lord established is not a mere human institution, destined to fall apart or succumb to heresy, but truly has Jesus Christ as Her Founder.
This discussion will be continued in future posts.
First, we know that Jesus Christ Our Lord is the Word made Flesh (John 1:14) who so loved the world that He came to reconcile the human race with God. During His life here on Earth, Christ delivered the fullness of God's Revelation to man once and for all, the complete and perfect fulfillment of the prophecies of old. When most people think of 'the Word', they typically think of Sacred Scripture but in fact, there is much more meaning underneath this simple term. 'The Word' truly refers to the God-Man Jesus Christ who delivered the deposit of faith once and for all to His people (cf. Jude 3). Many might wonder to whom Christ gave this Revelation from God. Is there any way for us to find the Divinely-revealed truths of the faith that we are required to believe as truths revealed by God Himself? The answer to this latter question is a resounding "Yes!"
As Catholics, we believe that Our Lord delivered the deposit of faith, God's Divine Revelation to the Church He established. At this point in the conversation, many people might wonder about the nature and makeup of this Church. So, let us look to the New Testament and to the historical records of the early Fathers to find some answers to our questions.
In the beginning of His ministry here on Earth, Christ took aside twelve special men, the Apostles, to follow after Him and to be set apart as men devoted to ministry of Christ. These men witnessed the miracles, the preaching, and the teachings of Jesus, knowing Him to be exactly who He claimed to be: The Son of God.
This verse is important for many reasons. First, we must notice Christ's declaration that He has complete power and authority. This fact calls to mind John 20:21 where Our Lord also says, "As the Father hath sent me, I also send you." Putting these verses together, we see that Christ, full of power authority He has received from the Father, gives this Divine authority and commission to His Apostles, telling them to teach every nation the things that He taught them, namely, the Divine Revelation He handed onto them.
Christ also promises His Apostles that He would be with them until the end of the world, a promise of Heavenly assistance and guidance throughout the ages. Indeed, the Church Christ established on these men will be protected from all error and every evil. As Matthew 16:18 puts it: "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (the Church)." So, the Church that Our Lord established is not a mere human institution, destined to fall apart or succumb to heresy, but truly has Jesus Christ as Her Founder.
This discussion will be continued in future posts.
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