"Do you mean that without RC sacraments, one cannot overcome the world?"
No, that's not what I'm saying. I simply do not know exactly what God is doing in all circumstances and with each individual. However, Jesus has established a Church and Apostolic leadership. That Church in turn wrote the Gospels and Epistles, developed the Liturgy (worship service), established Holy Communion as directed by Jesus, established Holy Confession as established by Jesus, etc.
Jesus also said to Peter when Peter identified as the Messiah and Son of God: "
[15] He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
[16] And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
[17] And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
[18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
[19] And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
These are powerful and meaningful words. As a Protestant we tried to manipulate these words by finding any twist and distorted interpretation to remove the clear meaning that Jesus had chosen Peter to lead His Church because the Father first revealed the mystery of the New Covenant to Peter. Now there are many fundamental blessing that come to the believer through this reality. As Protestants we struggle to change this word to make it fit with our doctrines. Did this destroy a certain grace from our Christian walk? I think so.
How about Jesus' conversation with the multitude that he had fed by multiplying the loaves and fish?
That multitude followed Him the next day across the sea of Galilee to Capernaum. When the came to Jesus he basically told them that they were following Him not because the saw the miracles but because they had eaten their fill. In simple words, this definitely resembles modern prosperity doctrine.
Then Jesus said: "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you.."
The hypocrisy of the crowd was soon revealed when they demanded another sign....meaning they wanted more easy material gain like the fish and break. When they requested what should they do to do the works of God, Jesus said: "That ye believe on Him whom he hath sent". Basically Jesus was saying trust and believe in every word I am giving you. Then the fireworks start when they once more requested another sign like the sings during the 40 year pilgrimage through Sinai where God gave them daily meant and manna from heaven. They were once more looking for material prosperity but Jesus told them that they would receive instead would be the true bread of life that came down from heaven and gives life to the world meaning himself. They missed the point and cried out for this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never
The relationship with the large crowd soon devolve when Jesus insisted that He was the bread of life.
They began to murmur against Jesus because he claimed to be the bread of life. Then Jesus told them that they basically could not understand this language unless the father would reveal it to them.
Then Jesus increased the emphasis saying: I am the bread of life.
"This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
[51] I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh,"
Then the Jews said: "How can this man give us his flesh to eat.""
Then Jesus goes almost ballistic saying:
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
[54] Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
[55] For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
[56] He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Instead of toning it down and telling them that he was only talking symbolically, as the Protestant say today, he blows them away with stronger and stronger language that they must eat his body and drink his blood.
This whole idea of changing bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus is just as impossible and irrational to the worldly mind as being Born Again. Both are supernatural and impossible. Nicodemus captured it when he said: 'how can a man enter his mother's womb again'. Foolishness to the natural mind but totally logical to the eyes of faith.
Soon after the crowds couldn't take it. "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." Only the inner core of his Apostles stuck with him.
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
You cannot follow Jesus without have absolute faith in his words. Only God the father can give us that kind of faith. Millions of Protestants also "from that time many of his disciples go back and walk no more with hime" when it comes to Holy Communion---eating and drinking the body and blood of Jesus.
I think all those who truly desire and have faith in all that Jesus offers like Holy Communion, confession, etc will arrive at the point of following EVERYTHING that Jesus gives us in the Gospels.
I'm sorry that this is so long and probably doesn't fully answer your question. |
