I am telling you the truth: when you were young, you used to get ready and go anywhere you wanted to; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you up and take you where you don’t want to go.” (In saying this, Jesus was indicating the way in which Peter would die and bring glory to God.) Then Jesus said to him, “Follow me!”
(Joh 21:18-19)

When Jesus made this statement to Peter, it was the third time he had appeared to the disciples after His resurrection. Peter had just told Jesus he loves Him; Jesus, tells him to feed His sheep. Then, Jesus -giving Peter an indication of what lay ahead of him[Peter], in his future- says emphatically “Follow me!”.

The prophetic insight provided in the word of God

Peter did deny Jesus – that was his human frailty. And of course, the denial was foretold by Jesus- for He knows the frailties of men. In fact Jesus prior to advising him about “the denial”, He says to him:

Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and thou, being once converted, confirm thy brethren.
(Luk 22:31-32)

So Simon is being told, about the clutches of Satan. Even then Jesus prays for him and for his faith.

The impact of the disappointment of letting Jesus down is clearly evident in Peter’s reaction- he wasn’t pleased, proud nor indeed flippant:

And the Lord turning looked on Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, as he had said: Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny thrice. And Peter going out, wept bitterly.
(Luk 22:61-62)

Priest, Prophet and King

Remembering that Jesus-and He alone- is Priest, Prophet and King – it should be of no surprise to us that within these same words, Jesus was also giving us, some two thousand years later, a prophetic insight to the outcome of His “church”.

The Young Church

When the Church was young it was in control of itself, following the Holy Spirit and the instructions of Jesus: of going out and preaching to all nations. Proof of this is found in the teachings from Paul to the Corinthians. In his, true Jesus-like, humility he wants no praise for himself, as he corrects those who say they belong to Paul.

“Christ has been divided into groups! Was it Paul who died on the cross for you? Were you baptized as Paul’s disciples?”
(1Co 1:13)

“Christ did not send me to baptize. He sent me to tell the Good News, and to tell it without using the language of human wisdom, in order to make sure that Christ’s death on the cross is not robbed of its power.”
(1Co 1:17)

The early church expressed itself clearly, like Jesus, with no ambiguity or confusion with regard to morality. Paul was no exception and he certainly didn’t shy away from any topic. He addressed it, directly, clearly and concisely.

“Surely you know that the wicked will not possess God’s Kingdom. Do not fool yourselves; people who are immoral or who worship idols or are adulterers or homosexual perverts or who steal or are greedy or are drunkards or who slander others or are thieves—none of these will possess God’s Kingdom.”
(1Co 6:9-10)

So there is clear guidance given in the young church, by the ministers, of those who were known to be the followers of Jesus. This was given in the form of encouragement to others, and never forgetting the source of their belief-Jesus. For instance as Paul writes to Timothy:

“Now, however, that grace has been revealed through the coming of our Savior the Messiah Jesus, who has destroyed death and through the gospel has brought life and release from death into full view. For the sake of this gospel I was appointed to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the gentiles. That is why I suffer as I do. However, I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I’m convinced that he is able to protect what he has entrusted to me until the day that he comes. Hold on to the pattern of healthy teachings that you have heard from me, along with the faith and love that are in the Messiah Jesus.”
(2Ti 1:10-13)

And again with clear unambiguous language:

“My brethren, if any of you err from the truth and one convert him: He must know that he who causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his way shall save his soul from death and shall cover a multitude of sins.”
(Jas 5:19-20)

With regard to the type of appropriate relationship with the world that we live in we are advised as follows:

“Adulterers, know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world becometh an enemy of God.”
(Jas 4:4)

Finally, from the words of Jesus as to conversion

“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.”
(Mat 28:18-20)

The Mature Roman Church(Today)

In Peter’s church, now some 2000 years later,  for those who claim the direct lineage of Apostleship from Peter to the present day Pontiff- the fundamental approach to the message and instruction of Jesus, that Paul and the disciples of Jesus used, is disliked. In fact as Pope Francis stated:

“Being a priest, a pastor, a imam, a rabbi – this is the vocation of a religious leader. Political influence is exercised indirectly by preaching values, true values , and one of the greatest values is fraternity between us. We are all children of God. We have the same Father.  We must use a word that I don’t really like, but we must use it – tolerance, no, more than tolerance, living together. Fundamentalism is a sickness we find in all religions. Among Catholics, there are many, not a few, many who believe to hold the absolute truth and they go ahead by harming others with slander and defamation, and they do great harm. I say this because it is my church. And it must be combated. Religious fundamentalism is not truly religious. Why? Because God is missing. It is a form of idolatry, in the same way as worshiping money is idolatry. Being political in the sense of convincing these people who have this tendency is a policy that we religious leaders must adopt. But fundamentalism always ends up in tragedy. It’s something bad. Every religion has a bit of it.”

Do Catholics who believe Jesus to be the Son of God, and recognise Jesus as the Messiah as part of their fundamental belief, hold the absolute truth that the “young” church held? Yes. Do these same Catholics share the same Father as Jews and Muslims, who do not believe Jesus to be the Son of God nor recognise Jesus as the Messiah? No they do not. This is because Jesus himself tells us:

“Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would without doubt have known my Father also: and from henceforth you shall know him. And you have seen him.”
(Joh 14:6-7)

For a Christian believer the “truth” given by Jesus, not assumed by Catholics, is “the way to the Father is through Jesus.” This is a fundamental belief given to all believers from Jesus Himself. Yet Pope Francis says this is a sickness; it’s idolatry and without God.

With his statement, Francis is being blasphemous when he speaks here; since he is against all precepts of Christian faith taught by Jesus and so he is against God. Furthermore, he demonstrates that the church, founded  by Jesus, has clearly changed ownership since Francis by way of his own oratory:

“I say this because it is my church.”

If we look back at what Jesus said earlier about the clutches of Satan he says :

…and thou, being once converted, confirm thy brethren.(Luk 22:32)

Is Jesus now speaking regarding the change of ownership of the Church He had founded which, now in Satan’s clutches is being sifted like wheat.  Jesus is telling Satan to confirm his followers, the ungodly- those who neither recognise nor respect “truth” as the embodiment of Jesus Christ himself as the Son of God and the Messiah.

Apostolic Tradition permits a change of ownership of the church. However, the true Church was founded by Jesus Christ following His interaction with Peter:

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 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. 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. 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. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
(Mat 16:13-20)

When Peter confirms Jesus as, The Christ, the Son of the living God – it is upon this precept(foundation of faith or rock, if you will) that Jesus founds His True Church. This therefore is the one and only Divinely founded Church. It was not founded upon tradition, it was founded upon faith in God, accepting the redemption offered by Jesus, His Son, who died for ALL sinners – if, through belief in Him, repentance of sins and a lifestyle conversion was achieved that believing individuals became the saints.

So, who are the saints?

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
(Rev 14:12)

So what about the Apostolic Tradition? What is that founded upon?

The mystery of the Holy Trinity is the most fundamental of our faith. On it everything else depends and from it everything else derives. Hence the Churchs constant concern to safeguard the revealed truth that God is One in nature and Three in Persons. Catholic Education Resource Center

Stop! Where in the Bible does it refer to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit? Nowhere! Yet earlier we are told by Peter about the individual Jesus – the Son of the living God. There is no mystery there. There is One God, and there is His only Son Jesus. What about God the Holy Spirit? There is no reference to this type of Godhead.

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
(Joh 17:3)

The saints of God, earlier defined as those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus can now be identified as the wheat referred to in (Luk 22:31-32). These saints of God, are such, because of the same obeisance they show to Him, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. These same saints shall share in the inheritance promised by God to Abraham: the promised land. This is not currently in Israel. The promise is of the New Jerusalem which will be part of the new heaven and the new earth.

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
(Rev 3:10-13)

With this promise we are told, then we will be sons(children) of God.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
(Rev 21:1-7)

On the contrary, what about the chaff?

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whore-mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
(Rev 21:8)

Does the church of today encourage the same good sense of teaching and morality that was seen with the young Church?

“I ask you to pray fervently for this intention,” the Pope continued, “so that Christ can take even what might seem to us impure, scandalous or threatening, and turn it into a miracle. Families today need miracles!”- Pope Francis, Ecuador 7/7/15

On morality

“If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” – Pope Francis

On faith in Jesus

“sometimes you may hear someone say, ‘I believe in God, in Jesus, but the church…I don’t care.’  How many times have we heard this. This is wrong.  There are those who believe you can have a personal, direct and immediate relationship with Jesus Christ outside of the communion and mediation of the church. These temptations are dangerous and harmful. They are,

In New York Pope Francis told the world

“We need to remember that we are followers of Jesus Christ, and His life- humanly speaking -ended in Failure. The failure of the Cross.”

To Jews, Muslims and Christians of Argentina, Pope Francis said:

“The majority of us know how to co-exist and that’s a clear message. It’s a message that we have the same Father, up in Heaven, and the same Father down on earth and we adore him.”

Is the communication clear, concise and unambiguous? The answer to both of these questions is irrefutably -No. The church of today makes communications which create confusion, beggar belief and are contrary to Biblical teachings and God’s Law.

Pope Francis is the leader of his catholic church, where he presents himself to the world as a meek and humble man whilst making comments and statements that make him more attractive to the world as a whole. The world loves Pope Francis – is he wheat or chaff

Is there hope for Christianity in the world?

Undeniably, for believers there is always the Blessed hope of the second coming of our Lord Jesus. Thankfully there are still some free thinking individuals who still profess the true gospel of Jesus. Further testimony to this is from- a recent article I came across by Matt Barber of the Christian Post[Full Article] when quoting- Pastor Matt Short states:

Christ Jesus Himself would, like so many of his followers today, be slandered as an “intolerant bigot” and crucified all over again.

I am telling you the truth: when you were young, you used to get ready and go anywhere you wanted to; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you up and take you where you don’t want to go.” (In saying this, Jesus was indicating the way in which Peter would die and bring glory to God.) Then Jesus said to him, “Follow me!”
(Joh 21:18-19)

Are you a saint, a fundamentalist and wheat?