On Christian Doctrine and Practice

The Tests 12

Test 1 12
The parts of test two 12

Section 1 Introduction 14

Why the differences then? 14
The first matter to discuss is “what is a Christian? Sec2:16
A Warning Sec2:17

Introduction to The Gospel of Jesus 19
The Gospel of Jesus Christ 20

A Summary of the Gospel of Jesus 20

A statement of  the Gospel and Atonement 21

Salvation (results from faith  in Jesus, who He is and what He did and taught) 29

Atonement (What the death of Jesus at Calvary did for us) 29

Why was it necessary for Jesus to die? 31

Jesus’ mission statement for ministry was as follows:   32

What are we to preach as The Gospel then? 36
Some brief definitions 36

Is Baptism necessary for Salvation (Acts 19:1-6) 38

The Problem of Acts 2:38 39
Why redemption cannot occur through Baptism 40

In regard to Baptism and Salvation 41
Receiving The Holy Spirit does not occur through baptism 41
Is Baptism necessary for receiving The Holy Ghost? 41
What is Baptism then? 42
A note on sprinkling and dunking 42
Infant baptism 43
Baptism for the dead is a useless exercise. 43

Section Two – A discussion on The Catholic Church. 45
The four marks of the catholic church 47

What does Jesus say are the marks of The Body? 48

The Four Pillars of the Catholic Church 49

The Nicene Creed 49
The Ten Commandments 49
The Lord’s Prayer 50
The Sacraments 50

The Sacraments 50
The Mass 53

Communion 53
The presence of Jesus in the Eucharist Sec1:55
Transubstantiation Sec1:55
Fellowshipping in mass and communion Sec1:56
In Summary Sec1:57

Mary 58

Mother of God 58
Mother of The Church 58
Mary’s role in perfecting The Church 59
Her ‘spiritual’ motherhood. 59
Her assumption 59
Queen of heaven. 60
Her ‘immaculate’ conception. 60
Some other titles 60
Other problems with Mary. 61
The Hail Mary 62
The Rosary 62

So how should we relate to Mary? Sec1:63

Worship Sec1:63
Can she be your example of holiness? Sec1:63

Saints 64

Prayers to Saints 64
Test two 64
Who are saints? 64
Why ask saints to intercede? 65
Worship 68
There are several degrees of this worship:  68
Adoration 69
Veneration 69
Veneration of Objects 71
Worship, Summary 73
Written out prayers and devotions 73

Priests Bishops Cardinals and Popes 75

Authority and Ministry. 75
Priests 75
Clergy/laity 76
Father 76
Authority and Headship 77
So what is the role of bishops, cardinals and Popes? 77
The Body 77

Section Three – General Comments 79

Altars 79
Authority, Spiritual 80
Baptism – See chapter after  “Introduction to the Gospel of Jesus” 80
Belief 80
Bible, Modify 81
Bible, Not believing any part of it 81
Blessings 81
Body of Christ 82
Celibacy 83
Ceremony and Pomp 83
Christmas 84
Church and State 84
Clerical Robes, Dogs Collars etc. 84
Compromise 85
Confession 85
Confirmation 86
Creation 88
Creation Gap theory 88
Criticism 89
Day of Rest, see Easter 90
Dead, Prayers for 90
Denominations and similar 90
Denying self 91
Died and food 92

Discipling 93

Easter 94
Ecumenicism 95
Ecumenicism in Summary 95
Evangelism and Love 96
Evangelistic Outreach 96
Fall, The 98
Genuflection and Bowing 98
Gifts of The Holy Spirit 99
Giving to The Church or others 99
Giving, Sacrificial 100
Grace 100
Grace and the Law Sec1:101
Law, The Burden of The Sec1:103
God’s Love Sec1:103
God’s Mercy Sec1:104
Headship in Marriage Sec1:104
Holy Spirit is not a person Sec1:104
Holy Water Sec1:105
Idolatry Sec1:106
Images, statues –See chapter on Images and Statues Sec1:106
Incense, Use of Sec1:106
Jesus was not divine or was not God Sec1:107
Jesus was not a man Sec1:107
Kingdom of God Sec1:108
Law and Grace see under ‘Grace, Law’ Sec1:108
Laws of The Land Sec1:108
Liturgy Sec1:108
Marriage Headship see Headship, Marriage 109
Medals, scapulas, clothing, amulets and charms etc. 109
Meditation 109
Miracles 109
New Scriptures after 101 AD – See Scriptures, New after 101 AD 110
Prayers for The dead – see dead, Prayers for 112
Prayer times 112
Praying in Jesus’ Name 112
Purgatory and indulgences 112
Reason – see compromise Sec1:113
Reformation, The Sec1:113
Relics Sec1:113
Revival and restoration Sec1:114
Ritual Sec1:114
Sabbath – see Easter 116
Sacrificial giving see giving, sacrificial 116
Satan 116
Satan cannot hurt Christians after Calvary 116
Scripture 116
Scriptures after 101 AD 117
Self, denying see ‘Denying self’ 117
Separate from The world 117
Sings that follow a Christian 118
Sign of The Cross (an act of worship?) 118
Sin 119
Statues and Images 120
Superstition 121
Terminology 122
Tradition in The Western Church 122
Trinity 123

Conclusion 125

Epilogue 126