Discerning Mormonism: On Authority

Let us sum up the radical differences between Mormonism and biblical Christianity,

1.  There are four standard works in Mormonism: the King James Version of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price (Mormon Doctrine, 1977, ed., pp. 764-65), and also the president's view of things counts like a pope.

2.  The King James Version is the most accurate (Mormon Doctrine, 1977, ed., pp.422-423).

3.  The Bible is full of errors in Mormon theology and below the others standards of authority (Mormon Doctrine, 1977, ed., pp. 764, 383).

4.  People who say the Bible is the only infallible source are foolish (BOM, 2 Nephi 29:3, 6, 10).

5.  The standard of works are directly from God and restore many truths taken away from the Bible (Gospel Principles, 1992, p. 375).

6.  The Bible is only right in light of LDS teachings (Mormon Doctrine, 1977, ed., pp. 83).

There Is One Mediator, Pt 5 (Updated)

31. It was necessary that God reveal Himself through the witness of the gospel.  God the Son became man and "tabernacled" among us.  The Word of God in the OT was like a lamp to our feet to help the Jews see the truth of the gospel; however, all the nations of the earth are called to the gospel.  It was 'testified in due time' because of the gospel witness.  The gospel was testified in due time; that is, Christ Jesus was manifested in the flesh.

32. The gospel through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was a godly secret and it was kept secret before the foundation of the world or the beginning of the world.  The angels marvel at the gospel because they had to maintain goodness where the gospel is given to sinners freely.  The angels were formerly separated from God by their fall but the human race never had it better than the angels!  The human race is better off than the angels because there is no Redeemer for the angelic race!   The fallen angels are cut off and banished from spiritual salvation.  They can never be forgiven; no, never.  The gospel astonishes all creatures to believe the truth, but the fallen angels cannot be forgiven; that is, there is no Savior for the angelic race but only for the human race to save all kinds of people.  We received the adoption as sons in and through Jesus Christ our Lord and King.  It pleased God to make the NT gospel known to the world that was unknown to the OT saints.

33.  At a certain time in our lives we were without Christ or alien to Him.  We were without hope and God in the world.  We were brought near by the blood of Christ alone.  Jesus is our peace and He broke down the wall of separation.  He made peace for us.  There is no division now between Jew and Gentile.  The discord is abolished.

34. Jesus is the glad tidings of the gospel.  He has given us His apostles and ministers of the gospel to advance His cause.  We ought to publish the peace of the good news around the world.  The Jews were near to God by way of covenant and the solemn pledge made to the fathers (as Calvin says on pg. 60).  We need reconciliation through Jesus Christ.  The Jews also need reconciliation through Jesus Christ.  How much more does the Muslim need reconciliation through Jesus Christ?  The glad tidings are meant for those who were afar off.  The poor Gentiles are afar off and need the good news of Jesus.  We all need the message of spiritual salvation and the spiritual peace of God.  Satan cannot save anyone but only God can save.  God loved them through the gospel.  He forgave all of their sins through Jesus Christ.  The wall of separation was broken down.  The ceremonies were destroyed by which God made a difference between the Jews and Gentiles.  This gospel belongs to the whole world to every kind of nation.

35. We needed Jesus to make atonement for our sins.  The death of Christ purchased our redemption.  It was required from Jesus to make atonement for our sins.  We were left helpless without Jesus but now Jesus means all the world to us.  We must believe the testimony brought from in the gospel.  We will enjoy the blessings maintained in the good news of the gospel.  We ought not say that God can change because he kept the gospel a secret for a season.  He had it preached throughout the whole world.  He determined it in the counsel of His own will.  We ought to be convinced that we ought to worship and reverence Him with all humility (as Calvin says on pg. 61).  It is surely the greatest wisdom we can have.

36. Let us not seek questions that are unprofitable because God is able to know what we can bear.  We ought to learn in the School of Jesus and no where else.  We must understand the time that is acceptable.  It is an acceptable time for the message of spiritual salvation throughout the world.  God has displayed His goodness and chosen a time to save us.  We are stiff-necked people and God reveals the corruption of our hearts.  We ought to understand that hard-hearts keep us away from God.  This prevents us from coming to God.  There is agreement and sweet harmony between God and us through Jesus Christ alone; that is, He calls us to Himself.  God has chosen a fit time to save us.
     I may have been saved in 1998 or before then but I am unsure; however, I began to repent of my sins when I gained assurance of salvation in 2005.  We always ought to renounce Satan and embrace Jesus Christ.  The Father will hold us on His lap and speak kind things to us.  He has a future for us and a hope.  He has a good plan for us through His Son and He will not harm us.  This is my testimony but none of us should have a childish faith but a child-like faith; that is, one is sinful and the other is good.

37. If things do not go as they should, we should never fault God for it.  All things are being worked out according to His good pleasure and good counsel.  We ought to retrain ourselves and keep ourselves from sin and evil and transgression.  We ought to show implicit obedience to His good will for us.   We ought to be ruled by His good counsel and we should never forget that God always does the right things.  It belongs to God to have things happen in time and space, and He commands it.

38. We ought to never forget that the gospel is a testimony of God Himself.  The gospel is Jesus and Jesus is the gospel.  It is about God Himself and He is the essence of the gospel.  We ought to understand that the gospel is a witness to the divine truth of God.  We ought to understand that God is kind and favorable toward us-ward.  We ought to never waver at the assurance of His good will or show ourselves rebellious against Him.  We do God a great dishonor if we rebel after a great testimony to His light.  The gospel is about God's goodness and when it is preached to us we hear of God's goodness.

39. The gospel is a holy witness to how God saves sinners.  God is kind and favorable to us.  We sometimes doubt after having His assurance of His good will.  We sometimes waver at His goodness and become rebellious against Him.  We cannot do God a greater dishonor than by disobeying Him after He has been so pitiful and kind to us.   God bears a witness to His goodness by His preaching to us-ward.

40. The people who speak the Word of God to us are mortal men.  May we consider what situation God has placed them.  He made the preachers of the Word of God His witnesses.  The preacher is taken as true and authentic if He has been qualified for Christian ministry.   If other people are accepted, how much more we who preach the living and active Word of God?  We ought to receive the message of spiritual salvation which they bring; however, there are false teachers among us.  If we do not honor God's message of salvation His honor is abused.  May we be more obedient than we were in the past and mediate on the doctrine of the Christian gospel.

41.  We ought to be like St. Paul; that is, we ought to fight against pride and malice of men in our time.  What should we do?   We see that unholiness overflows into evil.  The Romanists seek to abolish the truth of God.  We have grown profane.  People tread down the Word of God under their feet and people live in defiance of the Word of God.  People want to be called "Christians" but they are not controlled by the Word of God.  And they scorn and scoff at the doctrine of the gospel.  These things are common among us but we wish they were not.

42. People hear sermons once a month and see if they like it or not.  They would say it is nothing and to make them think we were not doing their duty.  We ought to be God's witnesses.  They do not have to deal with men but with the living God.  We must submit ourselves to God and His Word by His grace alone.  Let us bow our necks in obedience to Him alone.   We ought to magnify His name and acknowledge Him before men and be His children.   He is our Father and Savior.  May we call upon Him alone all the days of our lives.  Amen.

I pray that you will benefit from this sermon and my notes.  The grace and peace of Christ be with you.  Amen and amen.

END

Ambrosiaster on Romans 8:33

Ambrosiaster comments on Romans 8:33,

"It is clear that nobody would dare or be able to override the judgement and foreknowledge of God.  For who could reject what God has approved, given that nobody is equal to God?"   (Bray and Oden, Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture, New Testament VI, Romans, pg. 239).

It is God who justifies the elect.  Here he comments on no one shall bring a charge against God's elect.  Justification is not being *made* righteous.  This is something that Roman Catholicism teaches; that is, it is a difference between being "made righteous" or "declared righteous."  Rome teaches being *made* righteous.  Rome confuses justification and sanctification, but justification, if we go by the Bible alone, is a forensic or legal declaration of God in imputing His unified merit of His active and passive obedience to a lost sinner through the spiritual application of monergistic regeneration by the Spirit of God and written Word of God.  Justification is a once and for all declaration and it can never be changed.  No one can improve upon this legal declaration by God because it is founded on the life and death of Christ alone.  The bodily resurrection of Christ alone is something that verifies and confirms the life and death of Christ alone!  However, Rome would consider this Reformed language a "legal fiction" but we know that the Bible teaches it because it is a real righteousness because it comes from Jesus Christ alone and there is no higher or better merit than Christ alone.  May we deeply ponder this and keep Jesus close to our hearts.  Amen.

There Is One Mediator, Pt 4

25. There would have be little use to us if Jesus did not make the atonement.  We must be assured of this benefit that God has assured us of this saving knowledge.  Jesus has purchased the blessing of redemption for us.  Some cast away the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I suggest to you that the Romanists cast away the sufficiency of the grace of Jesus Christ by works of satisfaction.  It is as though Jesus never came into the world because there are other advocates in the Roman system.  They do not have Jesus Christ as their Redeemer and Lord.  They only give a little taste of Jesus but more of the world's way of doing things touching spiritual salvation.   They get no benefit from the gospel because of the added things to it.

26. Those not purchased by our Lord Christ do not receive the blessing of being a witness.  Without Jesus the Gentiles were blinded and unbelievers, and it seemed Jesus only came for the Jews.  Someone would have thought that at the time of the law; however, there were non-Jews helped by God in the OT as well.  God gave it to one particular people whom He held as the church of God and they were the Jewish people.

27. It pleased God to give the law to the OT saints and He held them apart from the rest of the world.  This world is full of cruelty but Jacob is His inheritance.  God chose for Himself a particular people from the stock of Abraham but kept others as strangers.  However, now the knowledge of the Most High Jesus is brought to all the world!  God is the Father and Savior of the Gentiles and Jews who believe.

28. The death and passion of Jesus Christ comes to us in the gospel.  It is profitable to us in the testimony of the glad tidings of the good news of Jesus Christ.  However, it is faith that puts us in possession of spiritual salvation.  This is a very profitable dogma of the Christian faith.  We must partake of the spiritual redemption of our Lord and Redeemed Jesus Christ.  The gospel is purchased by Jesus Christ.  There are not many who take advantage of the Word of God and come by faith.  The gospel is despised and men plug their ears and run away from the good news of Jesus Christ.  They refuse to hear about the love of Jesus Christ in His death and passion, but God proclaims His good news to the whole world.

29. There are only a few people who become reconciled to God.  Many deprive themselves of the witness of Jesus Christ.  Some cast it away or others profit it so little that they have no faith.  Jesus is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.  We ought to be grafted into Christ.  It is a true blessing indeed if Jesus is ours by faith!  He became our brother and He has made a great exchange for us that we may become rich in His glorious grace!  He has given us His imputed merit alone that declares us right before God.

30. God always bore witness of Himself and He even bore witness to Himself to the heathen, but they had neither the law nor the prophets.  He has made them without excuse.   The law of nature would be enough to convince sinners of their unthankfulness and ungratefulness to God.  The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork.  The law of nature sets forth His goodness.  We can be convinced of this without any instructor.  It is plain to us and we ought to glorify God for this awesome thing in His beloved creation.

I hope you enjoyed my notes from Calvin's sermon.  I will continue to write on this for next week.  May the grace and peace of Jesus be with your spirit.  Amen.

The Shadow's Deception: 95-Disputations on the Alleged Infallibility of the Pope That Impacts All Dogma in Denzinger's "The Sources of Catholic Dogma", Vol. 1 (updated)

Out of love for the divine truth of Jesus, I hereby write this for the precious souls of Roman Catholicism in light of an unseen tyranny that provides an uncomfortable comfort that deceives the minds of the poor souls of Rome.  May this work be helpful to you as you seek His face by His true Spirit!  Peace and love be with you.   Amen.

1. Clement of Rome never supported the primary of the Roman Pontiff, because there was a plurality of leaders in his gathering in "we write" and what Jesus has spoken "through us."  (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 19).

2. There is no papal supremacy in the language of Clement of Rome, but he writes as a concerned elder of the church in that "In order to remind you of your duty, we write" and "we, however, shall be innocent of this transgression" (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 19).

3. The apostle Peter never refers to himself as a pope, but as a fellow elder (1 Peter 1:5).  That is, there are officially no fellow popes; however, Peter is a fellow elder because he has the grace of humility.

4. It is right to give heed to honorable elders for he says, "Indeed you will give joy and gladness to us, if having become obedient to what we have written through the Holy Spirit, you will cut out the unlawful application of your zeal according to the exhortation which we have made in this epistle concerning peace and union" (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 19).

5. The Lord did appoint leaders, but none of it was in the sense of popery, "Accordingly, when they had proclaimed the word through country districts and cities and had tested the first converts of these by the spirit, they appointed bishops and deacons of those who were to believe" (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 20).

6. If the Roman Catholic Eucharist is a defied human body of our Lord Jesus Christ, isn't that the same as Callistus's purposes of two gods? It could be seem as the same because Jesus in Scripture is at the right hand of God but Rome claims He is in the Eucharist (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 20-21).

7. How can the pope be the supreme pontiff if Jesus is the Supreme Lord?  How can the pope be the bishop of bishops if Jesus is the Bishop of our souls?  How can the pope absolve sin if only Christ can absolve sin (1 John 1:9)?  Does it not say in vain, "I also hear that an edict is published and is indeed final. Evidently the Supreme Pontiff, because he is the bishop of bishops, declares: I forgive the sins of adultery and fornication to those who have performed the penance." (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 21).

8.  If the body is approved of God, how it is that He was chosen by that so-called approved body but there was an error? Thusly they have said “We know that CORNELIUS, bishop of the most holy Catholic Church, was chosen by God almighty and by Christ our Lord; we confess our error; we have suffered imposture; we have been deceived by treachery and captious loquacity; for although an seemed to have held, as it were, a certain communication with schismatical and heretical man, nevertheless less our heart has always been in the Church; for we are not ignorant that there is one God and that there is one Lord Christ, whom an have confessed that there is one Holy Spirit and that there ought to be one bishop of the Catholic Church.” (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 21).  There is one bishop of the Catholic Church, but who is it?  It is the Bishop of our Souls: Jesus Christ! 

9.    Isn’t the error of the monarchical constitution of the Church in regards to Cornelius the same error Rome makes every time they make a pope a pope or a bishop a bishop? That is, is Rome really trustworthy if they make such an error even once in light of papal infallibility and the approved magisterial framework of the Roman church? In light of their rejection of the Gospel, it is evident that they do not believe the approved Good News of Christ and have invalidated the unity of the Book of Romans! The true schismatic is Rome, because she departed from faith alone. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 21).

10. How can someone know they are forgiven if they cannot have assurance of salvation? (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 21, verses, The London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689, Chapter XVIII in the Trinity Hymnal Baptist Edition, pg. 679-670).

11. They claimed that there was only to be one bishop in Rome, but it contradicts the Epistle to the Romans (Romans 16:17-20, “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf, but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly”).

 12.    Rome contradicts Romans, because it is Paul’s Gospel of faith alone, (Romans 16:25-27, “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen”).

13.    If a famous defender of the faith formed a schismatic group after failing to become pope, what does
that tell you about their recognition of the Gospel? (Edwards, Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture, New Testament VIII, pg. 301). For he said, ‘Therefore did not that famous defender of the Gospel [Novatian] know that there ought to be one bishop in the Catholic Church [of the city of Rome]?” (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma; pg. 22).  He calls him a "bishop" and not a "pope."  There is a equality among the bishops in the plurality of elders in the ancient Catholic church.

 13.    If a famous defender of the faith formed a schismatic group after failing to become pope, what does that tell you about their recognition of the Gospel? (Edwards, Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture, New Testament VIII, pg. 301). For he said, ‘Therefore did not that famous defender of the Gospel [Novatian] know that there ought to be one bishop in the Catholic Church [of the city of Rome]?” (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma; pg. 22).

14.    Isn’t it strange that Novatian states the classic Christian doctrine of the Trinity and finds himself outside of Rome? (Edwards, Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture, New Testament VIII, pg.
301).

15.    The trust in the work of baptism cannot save anyone, because it is contrary to the law of Christ in supernatural quickening of the Spirit (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 22).

16.    The grace of Christ touching regeneration is not for the baptized people, because no work could merit what the Spirit does in bestowing the gifts of faith and repentance. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg 22). (Titus 3:4-8, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneralion and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men”).

17.    The one power is not the Church of Rome as it is claimed, because this “one power which is the most sacred reaching of the Church of God” is hindered by the Trinity without the Gospel (Denainger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 22).

18.    There is faith and repentance to any adulterous husband or woman, because there is a host of sins in the mind already, however, no spouse should not leave their spouse because of adultery. It is true it is worthy of divorce, but have we forgotten the power of the Gospel in forgiveness and cleansing? You that accuse your spouse of adultery, have you not looked lustfully at the opposite sex? For the Christian there is no option for divorce, because there is the divine grace and peace of the Gospel. It teaches us that there is no room for divorce, because if there is such a thing as peace there is no room for parting our ways. Hasn’t Jesus our Lord and Savior dealt peacefully with you? Are we not called to imitate Him in His likeness and in conformity to His image? If so, we would all do well to reject the cover of annulment, divorce, separation, or abandonment, and embrace the forgiveness of the true Reformed Gospel. Maybe today your spouse has parted from you, but have you forgotten that differences are solved by the peace of Jesus Christ? What should you do? Forgive and gain character in a game plan! The Bible says, who can stand if Thou markest iniquity? It is the same way with our spouse, but that means we should have a forgiving understanding between us in the love of the fellowship and friendship of the Gospel. In other words, it is the Gospel that brings us together and keeps us together (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 24-25).

19.    The doctrine of celibacy is contrary to the normative understanding of the Reformed Gospel for the
elders and deacons, because the normative understanding is to marry our beloved wives for each leader in the Reformed church. It is contrary to the holy pages of the Bible to not have children or forbid others to have children, because it approves us to have children (1 Timothy 3:1-7, “This is a faithful saying If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil”).

20.    The elders should be people of family, because family and church go together. (Titus 1:5, “For this
reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict”).

21.    No should be “deprived of the honor of the clerical office," because of children. It is contrary to the law of the little children principle of Christ; because all little children are welcomed into the family of Christ (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma; pg. 25).

22.    No bishop of Rome can baptize, because their teaching is contrary to the Gospel.  The baptism of
Rome is false, because it is contrary to faith alone. This means no baptism of Rome is right; but after those who are brought along by the Spirit and come to Him will have to reject it in light of Judas and accept whatever is in accord with an approved conscience of the Holy Spirit. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 25).

23.    Infants from their believing parents should be baptized in the Reformed faith, because it is all about
the allowance of the little children to come to them. If the parents do not acknowledge the Trinity, it
would be contrary to the Reformed faith to allow them to baptized (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 25).
    
24.    Roman baptism is good touching the Trinitarian formula, but also contrary to the Gospel in light of
its denial of faith alone. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 25).

25.    Baptism does not justify anyone, because it is only that Christ alone justifies the sinner, for it is
justification by Christ alone. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 25).

26.    Only those who are baptized in the Trinitanan formula embrace the Trinity, because it is according to
the Gospel. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogpa, pg. 25).

27.    Jesus is of one substance with the Father touching his deity, because He is co-equal with the Father,
however, He is also inferior to the Father touching His manhood; that is, He is at the right hand of the Father but there is a distinction between His divine and human nature (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 26).

28.    The assurance of healing during persecution is not empty rituals, but the Reformed Gospel.
(Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma; pg. 26).

29.    The only way someone can be spotless is through the life and death of Christ alone in His awesome
resurrection, because this is the essence of blamdessness. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma;
pg. 26-27).

30.    The only way death can be broken and destroyed is the life of His resurrection, because the belief
devoid of the life and death of Christ alone with a resurrection in the Roman Eucharist is contrary to the sound belief of the Christian Gospel. (Denainger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 27).

31.    The primary of the Roman bishop contradicts the early fathers, because they deny that Peter is the
rock corresponding him to Rome; that is, only the rock is Christ Himself but we are all little rocks because we called to be a little Jesus) but not the ultimate Rock, Christ alone. (Denzinger, The Sources
of Catholic Dogma, pg. 27).

32.    The churches that decide the final word are the churches with the Reformed Gospel, because this is
true apostolic succession touching the Christian doctrine of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Denainger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 27).

33.    How can the Roman bishops decide to be uncharitable in ceasing the fellowship if they do not believe the Gospel? In other words, what authority do they have to disfellowship anyone in light of their rejection of the true Gospel? And, who has the right to say that another bishop can reconcile a dispute if the Gospel of justification by faith alone is rejected? (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma; pg. 27-28).

34.    Why does anyone have to appeal to Rome? I could understand when appeal to Rome was acceptable,
because it is the church Paul prodaimed the Gospel; however, we are no longer living in that time; that is, to appeal to Rome now is a violation of the Reformed Gospel. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 28-29).

35.    No one bishop has the power of bishops except Christ alone, but we must rule our fellowship with the gentle love of the power of the Lord Christ; that is, no pope should have authority over us to rule with the alleged “power of the bishops.” (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 28-29).

36.    The Roman bishop is not suppose to rule as a pope, but as a fellow bishop; that is, the power of the
elder is Christ and His divine teachings in His Word alone; however, we as Reformed believers in Christ do not disregard the proper and reasonable authority of the Reformed elders and presbytery.
(Denainger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma; pg. 29-30).

37.    No one should appeal to Rome, because it was considered the special in light of geological location;
that is, if it was the holy city it would honor the Gospel; however, it does not honor the Gospel.
(Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma; pg. 29-30).

38.    The Holy Spirit was not made by the Son, but maybe they would think that if Rome exalts the Marian
view that she is our hope or the soul of the Spirit by virtue of her adoration and exaltation of her. It is like she is brought to the position of godhood.  (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 30).


39.    How can the Spirit be of one power and substance with the Father and the Son if the Spirit is not the
Spirit of Christ but the Spirit of Mary? That is, the Spirit is the Spirit of Christ alone and not of Mary in anyway for we say “Blessed art Thou, Oh Christ, whose life and death alone save to the uttermost.  Amen.” How can the Spirit be of one power and substance with the Father and the Son if the Son has a defied humanity in His transformation and transubstantiation over all the Roman alters in the world? That is, only the Son in His divine presence is at the table of the Reformed Eucharist; however, if He did want to make His localized presence known it would be according to His good pleasure in a dimensional sense of time and location touching the relativity of time under the now of heaven (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 30).

40. The Father is a distinct person from the Son, but the Son is not the Father, however, it’s almost like
Rome makes the Son more divine by their emphasis of mystery in the Roman transubstantiation of
the consecrated host (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 30).

41.    We do not say that Rome disavows totally the human nature of Jesus; however, she makes the host a
monophysite Jesus; that is, while denying His defied humanity they exalt in His defied divinity, however, Rome likes to have the best of both worlds; that is, they will espouse heresy to establish what they reject while maintaining their alleged orthodoxy; however, by embracing the one they dismiss the other and by embracing the other they reject the appearance of orthodoxy they claim to maintain. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 31).

42.    If we distinction between the two natures of Jesus, we do well; that is, we establish the One Christ;
however, once we reject one in anyway we reduce Jesus to a mere man, fable or myth. (Denzinger,
Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 31).

43.  There were no natural relations between Mary and another man; that is, the spiritual father of
Jesus Christ is the Holy Spirit; however, if Jesus is something he is not touching a distortion of the
two natures then He is surely born of Mary only (Denainger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 31).

44.    There are surely not two Sons, but it is almost like that in Romanisin; that is, the Son in the Roman
Eucharist is transubstaniiated in a defied humanity; however, the Son is also in heaven at God’s right
hand, that is, it seems like two Sons while the Bible only acknowledges only one eternal Son.
(Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 31).

45.    If Rome reduces the two natures of Jesus into a heresy, it does not follow that it is the real Jesus;
however, it reduces Jesus to a rational and intellectual soul. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma,
pg.31).

46.    It’s almost like the Word does have an end in the separation from the Father if He is eaten by the
members, because He is reduced to a mere human instrument of bread in direct unsupernatural supernatural idolatry. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 31).  I do not mean to suggest the eternity of the Word but a repetition of Jesus in the Eucharist that is unlawful.

47.    It’s almost like the Word does have an end in Romanism, because they are commanded to eat the host
that brings them to eternal life. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 31).

48.    The eldership is meant for His called people unto the Lord, because it is not meant for any but those
who have the dignity of the calling of His prescription. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg.
31).

49.    It is true that the Father, Son and Spirit always has existed; however, the Father is not the Father if the
Son is rejected, the Son is not the Son if He rejected, and the Spirit is not the Spirit if He is rejected in the Spirit who precedes from the Virgin Mary and not the Son. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic
Dogma, pg. 31).  It is the error of some of the Old Catholics to suggest that Mary is God, but even Rome exalts her to the status of godhood already by her idolatry.

50.    The Son is eternally begotten, but this refers to His divine nature in distinction of the two natures;
however, this distinction should not be a mixture of the two natures. (Denzinger, The Sources of
Catholic Dogma, pg. 31).

51.    There is a problem when Rome mixes the natures in the Roman Eucharist, because the deity takes the
place of the humanity while maintaining it in a transubstantiated sense. (Denainger, The Sources of
Catholic Dogma, pg. 31).

52.    The Son is equal to the Father touching His deity; however, to defy His humanity is contrary to the
Chalcedon Definition; that is, it is contrary to “If anyone says that because He was established in the
flesh when He was on earth, He was not in heaven with the Father, he is a heretic.” This ironically
agrees with Saint Augustine that the Son is localized at the right hand of the Father, but this ironically
denies the very thing it seeks to affirm in the Roman Eucharist. (Denainger, The Sources of Catholic
Dogma, pg. 31).

53.    God the Father cannot experience pain, but He does not remain unconcerned; however, this surely
seems to be Rome’s view of pain in light of a bloodless sacrifice that redeems no one; that is, every sacrifice involves pain, especially the divine Lord. Therefore, it is strange at the Roman alter when they do not weep over causing a consecration of pain over our Lord Jesus Christ again and again; for there was no pain like the Cross as Rome says in this statement in affirming the pain of the humanity of Jesus! However, touching His deity it is a distinction of that says He cannot suffer pain; that is, only His humanity suffered pain; however, the Bible speaks of God being crucified; however, we distinguish between the two natures but we do not separate them. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 31).

54. The Son surely does sit at the right hand of the Father, but how much less the Roman Eucharist?
Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 31).

55. The Son and the Spirit is not the Father, but of one substance with the Father, however, how can the Son in a defied humanity and the Spirit of Mary be of one substance with the Father? (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 31).

56. How can the Spirit know all things if He is the Spirit of Mary? That is,only the Spirit of Jesus is the
Third Person of the Trinity who knows all things. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 32). 

57. We agree that it is heresy to say that the Spirit was made by the Son, but isn’t it strange to deny
what they affirm in the Spirit as the soul of the Virgin Mary. Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma,
pg. 32).  I know Rome does not claim she is the soul of the Virgin Mary but only some Old Catholics that are not affiliated with Rome; however, she already exalts Mary to "our hope."  Respectfully, It is like another god.

58. How can the Father make all things through the Son and the Spirit if they are not the Son and the
Spirit? (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 32).

59. How is it one essence if the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are denied the proper Scriptural support as
the Father of the hypostatic Christ and the Spirit of the Father and the Son? (Denzmger, The Sources of
Catholic Dogma, pg. 32).

60. There are three true persons; however, isn’t it strange as they say this they disregard the Son in the
Eucharist and the Spirit in the Virgin Mary? (Denainger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 32).

61. How can the Holy Spirit be adored if he is not the Spirit of the Father and the Son? (Denzinger, The
Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 32).        

62. They reject those who think wrongly of the eternal Son and eternal Spirit; that is, if this is the case
they could say it of themselves! (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 32).

63. I would say that Rome rejects those who believe the Father alone is God, but accepts those who
believe her trinity, however, she also rejects herself in light of the statement that the Father alone is
God but accepts the condemnation of the Jews; that is, by condemning the Jews she rejects herself.
(Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 32).

64. How can the Spirit be the wisdom of God if it is of the Virgin Mary and not of the Son? (Denzinger,
The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 33).

65. How can the Spirit give us understanding if it of the Virgin Mary and not of the Son? (Denzinger, The
Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 33).
 
66. How can the Spirit give us counsel if it is of the Virgin Mary and not the Son? (Denzinger, The Sources
of Catholic Dogma, pg. 33).

67. How can the Spirit give us power if it is of the Virgin Mary and not of the Son? (Denzinger, The
Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 33).
 
68. How can the Spirit be of the truth if it is of the Virgin Mary and not the Son? (Denzinger, The Sources
of Catholic Dogma, pg. 33).
 
69. How can the Spirit be for those who fear of God if it is not the true Spirit? (Denzinger, The Sources
of Catholic Dogma, pg. 33).
         
70. Does the Father support a Son that isn’t a Son and a Spirit that isn’t a Spirit? (Denzinger, The Sources
of Catholic Dogma, pg. 33).
 
71. We agree with the WRITTEN Word of God that if someone has the Spirit of Christ he is His, but if
anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he is none of His! That is, the point is that we do not know
God if we know Him by the Roman Spirit (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 33).
 
72. The Roman Spirit does not precede from the Father and the Son, because there is no way it could in
light of the non-true Holy Spirit with the Virgin Mary.  That is, Mormomsm teaches a separation between the Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost; however, with such acknowledgement of separation the Scriptures mentions none. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 33).

73.    How can the Spirit receive of the Son if it is not of the Son but of the Virgin Mary? (Denzinger, The
Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 33).

74. The Roman Church is against the private collection of Athanasius, because he honors the canon of
the honorable Word of God. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 33-34).

75. If all heresy is anathematized (meaning, accursed), doesn’t it follow that they accurse themselves by
the mentioned above things? (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 33-35).

76. The “Nicene-Constantinopolitail Creed” rejects the Roman Eucharist, because it says “And in one
Lord Jesus Christ,” “true God of true God,” “and was made flesh by the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin
Mary,” and “And was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.”
(Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 35).

77.    The Eucharist of Rome is suppose to come down from the apostle Peter and his heirs, but how can
we trust them if they misled us on it? That is, doesn’t Rome claim it is a teaching that has been in
existence for 2, 000 years? There is a question of development; however, that begs the question on
how can it be from Peter in a direct sense? If it’s not clear, how do they know what to teach if there
are hints? Did the apostle Peter write a secret document telling you this? In Denzinger’s book on the Apostle Peter when does it not contradict the divine Word of God? (Denainger, The Sowres of Catholic
Dogma, pg. 36-37). CCC 1211 denies the healing power of the Gospel, because it refers to the Roman
Eucharist that does not heal anyone in an approved sense of Christ. (Catechism of the Catholic
Church, 1211, pg. 341).

78.    It is odd that they do not want to rebaptize herelics, because they were not baptized in the Trmitartan
formula. It’s almost like they wish to have them continue in their misery, but all people who have not
be baptized in the true Trinity should be rebaptized; however, if sprinkling was not properly done, I
see no reason why it should not be redone for a peace of conscience for adults who later convert by immersion only. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 37).

79.    If the Trinity is rejected it is also not true that it is not Christian marriage; however, it would be wise
to renew vows in the name of the Trinity. (Deuzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 37).

80.    Forgiveness is only granted through the true Christ alone, but not because of the primacy of the
Roman bishop. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 38).

81.    To have a wife is not a legal crime or a spiritual crime, but to call for celibacy is a violation of Paul’s
normative meaning for elders. It is not carnal to engage in marital intercourse in the eldership
ministry between husband and wife, because even Saint Paul speaks of the honor of marriage in the
apostolic ministry; that is, if he speaks of it in that creaturely high office no longer in existence it is
incumbent to ponder the honorableness of the eldership ministry with a quiet and peaceable marriage
in all godliness and honesty. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 38).

82.    There is a martial chastity, because there is nothing dishonorable about marriage. It might be said that
Rome does not think this, but in my personal encounters with Roman priests and nuns it seems to be
a hidden secret (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 38).

83.    There is no precedence to cast out people who have married, but it is not from the Apostle Peter but
through a homosexualism. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 38).

84.    The homosexual is less purer then the married elder, because no practicing homosexual is a believer in
Christ. I respectfully think this is a problem in the secretness of the Rome priesthood and I have personally witnessed it.  (Denzinger, The Sources of Cathelic Dogma, pg. 38-39).

85.    Monks should not be added to the dergy, because there are only three offices; that is the elders and
the deacons and the people of God. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 39). 

86.    I do not believe if the Virgin Mary did have other children it would pollute the Lord’s body, but she
had our Lord Jesus first; however, I am not convinced that she did have other children after our Lord
Jesus; that is, I think she virginal conception of Jesus was not because she was free from sin, but
because she had the little Lord Jesus protect her with Himself as He was conceived in her womb in
light of His deity that blocked out her sin. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 39).

87.    I want to mention in passing that here it mentions the word “imputes,” but Rome never approved of
it in justification by faith alone touching the imputed righteousness of Christ alone in His life and death alone.  That is, it is willing to acknowledge the latter of an imputation of falsehood, but unwilling to acknowledge the former of the imputed divine righteousness of Christ alone she calls a "legal fiction.” (Denainger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 39).  However, strangely the current Pope said "Luther was right" on faith alone.

88.    How can the canonical Scriptures outside the 66 books be the canonical if they deny the Trinity? (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 40).

89.    If the Trinity is orthodox, does that disavow them of orthodoxy by its rejection? (Denzinger, The
 Sources Catholic Dogma, pg. 39).

90. I would say the wrong Jesus makes it a wrong baptism, because it is contrary to baptism to have the
wrong Jesus and proclaim his name. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 41).

91.    It is according to the power of the flesh in terms of penance, because penance is not repentance but
works of satisfaction that deny them. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 41).

92. Who has the right to decide the books of the Bible? It is God alone. (Denzinger, The Sources of
Catholic Dogma, pg. 42).

93.    Everyone professing Jesus Christ after spiritual quickening must be baptized by immersion, because it
is not inconsistent to do so in light of the life, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Redeemer.  (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 42).

94.    Who can bestow the Spirit but Jesus only? It was the one doctrine of the Fourth Member to bestow
the Spirit, because it meant to be in the place of Jesus; however, no bishop can control the true Spirit
of God. (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 43).

95.    The people of God do not need the Roman extreme unction, because we have our Lord Jesus Christ.
That is, all sin is forgiven by Christ alone with the Father’s approved will in which He submits by the
work of the Spirit (Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, pg. 43).

There Is One Mediator, Pt 3

19. Prayers must be sanctified and consecrated by the blood of Christ alone.  We ought to pray through Him alone and our prayers will get to the Father in purity.  We do not need the sprinkling of holy water of the Romanists.  Paul speaks of the satisfaction for us before God.  Jesus alone satisfied the Father’s divine wrath.  God does not reject the once and for all sacrifice of Christ alone and He will always accept us because of it.  We have been reconciled to the Father through His only beloved Son.  We are made one with Christ forever.  We must stand on the solid ground of Christ’s death and passion.  If we don’t, we will stand in perplexity and doubt.  If we don’t come upon the death and passion of Christ alone in our prayers, it will be vain and unprofitable.  We must pray in faith but if we don’t come in faith it will not help us.

20.The Lord Jesus Christ was given a ransom for all of the elect and He made satisfaction by His death and passion on the Cross; however, the world deludes itself with trifles but the most important decision is to follow Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  Someone could be blown to bits but the most important thing in life is to know Jesus Christ.  Everything is trifling compared to knowing Jesus Christ.  We cannot call upon God unless we have a mediator.  The one mediator is our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ.  People think their are different ways to God; that is, different intercessors but there are Jesus and the Spirit of God that are our intercessors.  We are washed and purified by Jesus Christ and through His awesome death.  We are not washed and purified by the religion of Rome but only through the merits of Jesus Christ alone.  We see that Rome uses OT things to bring people to Jesus but these things have passed away.  We are all full of pollution and defilement.  It was not enough for them to know this.  The answer is not in the things that are passing like the water at the entrance of the temple but it prefigures Jesus Christ and His blood atonement.  We ought to focus on Jesus and His death.  When we repent, we trust in Jesus by saying "...through Christ crucified in whom we trust.  Amen."

21.We cannot purchase God's favor through ritual, ceremony, works, sacraments, or merits of other saints.  We cannot purchase God's favor with our own schemes or devising.  We ought to have been cast off and utterly condemned for thinking we could purchase God's favor by anything else than Jesus alone.  We need the atonement of Jesus alone to make us right before a holy God.  We are declared righteous in His presence and this is something that none of us can undo.  There is no secret way to undo the imputation of the unified merit of Christ alone.  Luther's hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" speaks of devils seeking to undo us, but we can rest assure that no one can be undone who has His merit alone by His Spirit of Holiness.  People assure themselves that their sins are forgiven by something or someone else than Jesus Christ.  Let's stay with the simplicity of the gospel of grace and peace; that is, the essence and simplicity of the gospel is Christ alone.  We are not forgiven of original sin in baptism, but the Romanists says we are forgiven of it in baptism.  If someone of another religion is baptized in the Roman system, their sins are forgiven them through the waters of baptism.  If we sin after baptism, there are merits of the saints to seek after and the work of indulgences.  If we really want pardon, we must seek it on God's terms; that is, it is in His Son's redemptive mercy in the Cross that is our righteousness imputed to us by faith alone. 

22. The Romanists cannot fully repair themselves through a earthly compensation.  Rome adds the merits of the saints and the power of the keys of the church to impart penance through confession to a priest.  I think through their system the merits of Christ alone are made worthless.  I sincerely desire that it would not be so, and that Rome would have true hope; however, I beg to differ because the unified righteousness of Christ alone is all-sufficient for how the sinner is made right with a holy God.  We ought never to trust in our own performance in this evil, depraved and fallen life.  There is a false self-righteousness among us.  I suggest to you that works of supererogation are nothing but fifthly rages.   I think it is blasphemy to add to the purity of the work of Christ alone and this is what Rome does. 

23. Paul is not speaking of a ransom made just for little children and those who are not baptized.  I think this is for all faults that make us guilty before God.  We may come to the good Lord and find mercy and love in Christ Jesus.  The ransom of Christ alone extends to all our sinful sins.  We must have recourse to the atonement of Christ each day.  We must repent through the merits of Christ alone and we shall be forgiven.  I suggest to you to put all your confidence in Jesus Christ alone because He is strong enough to save.  Scripture directs us to the death and passion of our Lord Jesus.  Jesus' blood was shed for remission for all our sins.  This is a common doctrine throughout the Scriptures.  We must understand the necessity for a Redeemer.   Rome also says that we are not radically corrupt or totally depraved, but that we hold to some goodness in us.  We needed the Redeemer's blood to reconcile us to the Father. 

24. Redemption is for both Gentile and Jew.  The grace of Jesus was common to all mankind.  It is enough for the Jew to stand before a holy God.  It is enough for the Gentile to stand before a holy God.  Why has God chosen people for His inheritance?  Calvin asks, "Why was it his pleasure that only the Jews should call upon him?  Why did he confine his promises to them?  Why did he give them figures [of what was to come] and grant them an expectation of this great Redeemer who was promised?" (pg. 57).  Since the world was created, He always had certain people for Himself.  God made a covenant with Abraham and cut out the heathen from the hope of spiritual salvation; however, in the OT we see God calling some Gentiles to Himself.  But now He calls all mankind to Himself through the written Word of God.  For a time it pleased God to make the Jews His people, but now He calls the heathen or the Gentiles to be made partakers of His grace.  He wants His church to extend to the whole world.  He brings to the fold those who are afar off.  This is the true meaning of Paul in his sacred text this evening.

I hope you enjoyed my notes from Calvin's sermon.  I pray that I will finish the sermon soon but for now I pray God uses this mightily in your walk with Him.  Grace and peace to you. 

Augustine on "Those Whom He Called, He Justified" in Romans 8

Augustine wrote,

"Are all those who are called justified?  Many are called, but few are chosen.  But since the elect have certainly been called, it is obvious that they have not been justified without being called.  But not everyone is called to justification; only those who are called according to his purpose...God elected believers in order that they might believe, not because they are already believed."  (Bray and Oden, Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture, New Testament VI, Romans, pg. 237).

We must understand that every who is called will be justified.  Everyone who is justified will be sanctified.  Everyone who is sanctified will be glorified.  Everyone who is glorified will be perfected.  This is the essence of free grace, free mercy, free compassion, free love.  God does not look ahead and chose based on if we have faith from our free will.  God chooses us freely by His foreordaination and predestination of all things.  God freely chooses whom He wills based on His sovereign good pleasure.  The evidence of His election is seen in the fruits of being born again; that is, faith and repentance is the fruits of regeneration.  We must make our calling and election sure by working out our salvation with reverential fear and trembling in love and grace by being faithful to His matchless and holy Word.  

There Is One Mediator, Pt 2

13. The Romanist teachers, according to Calvin, were impudent and shameless.  I think they still hold to the same doctrine of Calvin’s time but there may be some differences.  They have forged doctrines and teachings contrary to the gospel.  Rome does not think there is but one mediator.  She thinks that Mary is another mediator.  Paul defines that there is one mediator and one God, but are equally true and equally and exclusively doctrinal.  The practical side to this is that we ought to pray through Jesus Christ as our one mediator.  We see in Rome the manifestation of the wrath of God and His vengeance.  By adding things to the mediatorship of the office of Christ, they take away from the strength of grace that it offers.  We profess that Rome has dishonored God by “another gospel.”  Paul says in Galatians that there is only one gospel.  The Father commands both small and great to do homage and worship to the Son of God alone.  There should be no homage or devotion to Mohammad or the Virgin Mary.  All knees will bow to Christ our King.  We worship the majesty of our God.

14. The Romanists say that Christ is the only mediator as far as redemption but according to intercession the saints also have a role as mediator before God; however, Paul says we were redeemed by the blood of the Son of Man.  I would also say that Rome says that Mary suffered redemptively for our sins at the Cross.  We would acknowledge that she suffered but not redemptively.  There is one mediator who has opened heaven with His outstretched arms at the Cross whereby we come to God.  He has made us reconciled by His death in His blood and this is why He is called our mediator and through Jesus we are heard by His unequaled merits.  He joins together the offices of redeemer and mediator in Christ alone.  We are redeemed by His death and passion.  There is no way that God should not welcome us and accept us because we come through Jesus alone.  He never rejects anyone who comes on the basis of Christ alone.  We ought to come!  Come, therefore, come!  Let your sins be washed away!  Come and receive the living waters!  Come and take part of the salvation that is only through Jesus Christ!  Jesus still makes intercession for us before our Heavenly Father. 

15. The Bible tells us to pray for one another; however, this in no way hinders His mediatorship to God for us.  We are all made one together.  We ought to pray for ourselves but also the whole church of Christ Jesus.   We ought not to be separate in which God has joined together.  Gospel truth must be guide and rule.   We ought not to pray for departed saints and God does not appoint us to be our patrons or advocates.  Heaven is a place where joy cannot be increased or decreased.  We can’t increase the joy of someone in heaven.  We can’t increase the sorrows of hell.  There is no place in the Bible that says the saints are our patrons or advocates.  We have two advocates with the Father which are Jesus and the Spirit of God.  We ought to love one another and that means our neighbors.  We ought to pray for our neighbors but we should not go beyond what the Bible has shown us.  We go astray as soon as we go another or different path then the Bible tells us.

16. Jesus Christ is our great High Priest, but in the OT the people could not come near to the sanctuary and had to remain in the court and at the temple’s entrance and only the person offering the sacrifice could enter.  If we reflect on prayer we ought to consider our own corruption, wretchedness and unworthiness.  We are not only earthly creatures but we are also full of sins because we were polluted in Adam.  We cannot bring to God anything of value because we are corrupt vessels.  We are unworthy to open our mouths before Him.  We ought to acknowledge our misery and our woeful state but He has the remedy for us in His own Son’s shed blood.  We may ask, what is the remedy for us?  It is to have Jesus as our High Priest.   He is the one who shed His blood.   He gave a ransom for all kinds of people.  He paid the ransom not to Satan but to God.  God is merciful to us without doubt through His well-beloved Son.  He reconciles us to His Father through His death and passion.  We ought not to forget His sinless life that earned heaven for us.  He earned heaven for us by His matchless life in lived in our place.

17. The high priest bore the names of the sons of Israel on his shoulders.  He had twelve stones fastened to his breastpiece.  He bore all our sins on the Cross.  He bore every level or degree of sin on the Cross.  Jesus now bears it in His heart.  He took every evil and filth and defilement upon Himself.  He took every low thought, every criminal passion and every act of the insanity of sin upon Himself.  We stand on this foundation.  It is the basis or the rock upon which we stand.  There is no doubt that we will find favor with God if we come to God on the basis of Christ alone.  We must come to Him on the name of the mediator.  This is the sole basis upon which He accepts us.  It is because of our Lord and Savior and God and Redeemer Jesus Christ alone!  Praise God for the simplicity of His divine truth!  We ought not to think of other advocates or mediators or patrons but rest on Christ alone.  There is no need for this, because we stand in His shed blood at the Cross for our sole basis of redemption, intercession and salvation.  We must stand on the simplicity of the written Word of God.  Christ is our sole mediator.  He even now makes intercession for us and paid for the sins of the whole world. 

18. We ought to come to God solely through Jesus Christ alone.  This is how heaven comes to us.  We ought to glorify God.  We ought to thank, rejoice, bless and praise God with all humility.  It is because He has delivered us out of all abominations.  The Romanists do not have true forgiveness because they deny the exclusivity of the one mediator.  I pray God would give them a spirit of repentance on this matter.  We ought to be stirred up to walk before God in all practical righteousness, obedience and self-control in light of the Day of Judgment.  We ought to walk before Him with all reverential fear and carefulness.  We have Jesus as our advocate and mediator; that is, God’s own dear Son.  We should not be scared to present ourselves before Him.  We ought to call upon Him for all our needs.   We ought to come to God privately and pray for the church and all mankind.  

I will add more as the days go on.  Let us mediate on the mediatorship of Christ alone.  May God grant you the faith to trust Him alone for spiritual salvation.  Grace and peace.