Seven Unities God Grants His Catholic Church
The Ties that Bind Christ to His One Church and we to Christ
by Pat Miron
Matthew 7: 21, 24 - 27
"Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. "Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it."
Eph. 2:19-20 “So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
Christ is a Perfect God, and knew precisely the intent, the meaning and the future-implications of the language He used in choosing Peter as the “Rock” to build His new Church upon…. Yes, Christ is the Cornerstone that holds it all together; and prevents it’s collapse. But Peter; “the ROCK” is the “building’s” foundation.
There IS continuity in the bible, because there MUST BE, in order to insure that Christ Message of salvation be clear, concise, understood, and acceptable. ….
Therefore No one part of God’s Word can contradict another teaching is the most elementary Rule of RIGHT Understanding of God’s Inspired Biblical WORDS. …. This is an unfailing, infallible truth.
The message that I hope to share with you today is in many ways the same message that Jesus was relating in above passages of Matthews Gospel. It will likely be more clear to those who mostly don’t need to hear it [because they are already doing it], and quite possibly be missed, or ignored, or misunderstood by those who Do NEED to hear it, WHO Do NEED to understand it, and WHO Do NEED to respond to it. Still I am firmly convinced that God is ever-present and remains FULLY in charge.
LET US PRAY
Holy Spirit; Almighty God who influences our thoughts; who grants true Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding, we pray to you for the promised fruits of a TRUE and Lively Faith. Open our minds, our hearts, and move or wills to, in humility, accept, learn and love what you, the Father and the Son have always and everywhere taught, with unfailing consistently, and held as one of the many singular truths of your Divine Will. Enflame is us a powerful desire us to know what your Holy Bible actually teaches. We ask this through Jesus Our Lord. Amen!
“Let those “who have ears hear”
Matt.13:9-12 “He who has ears, let him hear." Then the disciples [Apostles] came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” For to him who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. [Jesus speaks here of true Faith and Right Understanding.]
2nd. Peter 1: 17-21 “You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
2nd. Peter 3: 14-17 “Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the forbearance of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, beware lest you be carried away with the error of lawless men and lose your own stability”
In order to, God willing, improve the odds of those needing to get this message, actually being able to grasp its importance, I will be extremely blunt and clear. PLEASE do not take offense to what I am saying. My tone is NOT accusatory; rather it is shared out of a sincere love of my neighbors; our brethren in the non-Catholic, Christian communions. And a deep concern for the salvation of all-possible souls.
God Teaches and permits ONLY of one each of the Seven signs of unity. “Seven” is a biblical number signifying “Perfect.”
1. One Body = Church, One single Faith organization
2. One Spirit = Love of God, self and neighbor as ourselves
3. One Hope = Salvation, which is a process of many essential-components
4. One Christ = Redeemer and Savior: Are not synonymous terms
5. One Faith= Only What God Actually teaches in its totality
6. One Baptism= Water and the Spirit, Desire, and or Blood
7. One God =Triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Shown below is an amazing biblical summary-confirmation of what God has always held too as key elements of the singular truths necessary for anyone’s salvation. It expresses the essential unity and doctrines that relate most directly to the broad issue of “salvation.” It is in a nearly complete “outline” form, what each of us must know the details of, then accept and live fully, if our “hope” of our own and others salvation is to bear the fruit of reality. Each of the elements has a direct, irrevocable connection to today’s Catholic Church, led of course by the Roman Catholic Church, as the “keeper of the Key’s”, those men that God Himself chooses, like Peter, to Lead and to teach to “the ends of the earth” [Mt. 28:16-20] , all that Christ has Ordained and commands.
Eph.4 Verses 1 to 24
“ I [Paul] therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, [Christ] one faith, one baptism, one God and Father [Triune] of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.”
“ I [Paul] therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, [Christ] one faith, one baptism, one God and Father [Triune] of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.”
The use of the number “One,” made even more significant by its repetition, is highly reflective of Paul’s extensive training as a Scholar of “The Jewish-Law.” As a trained Pharisee, Paul knew intimately, the Pentateuch. The first five books of the Bible taken collectively, that is, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, written from about 1400 to 1300 B.C.” In his pre-called” to apostleship position Paul would also have known all of the hundreds of added “LAWS” that were expected to be kept in fulfilling the Jews commitments to Yahweh. I mention this because “numbers” were of extreme importance in the Old Testament Bible. They in a sense had meanings, often far beyond the actual numerical indication given. I‘d like to share from the agapebilblestudy.com , site, the meanings of the numbers “ONE“ and the number “SEVEN.” This understanding is highly significant to our present discussion.
ONE: In sacred Scripture "one", ehad, in Hebrew represents unity and is the quintessential number of monotheism, the worship of one God.
This concept of one as a unity of one God is expressed in the opening lines of the first profession of faith found in Scripture, the Shema: "Hear O Israel, Yahweh our God, Yahweh is One" [Deuteronomy 6:4].
One as a cardinal number symbolizes Unity. The number One is indivisible and not made up of any other number representing the unity of the One true God in which there is no division
One as an ordinal number denotes primacy, sovereignty, divine completeness or perfection.
Christians recognized the number "one" in Scripture as symbolic of the First Person of the Most Holy Trinity, God the Father.
SEVEN: Spiritual perfection and fullness or completion. It is the number of Covenant and of the Holy Spirit.
7 is the second perfect number.
In Hebrew 7 is shevah (shebah) from the root shava (shaba or sheba), to be full.
To swear an oath in Hebrew is "to seven oneself"
The sacred Menorah has 7 branches, six on each side of a central shaft, and 7 cup shaped lamps for the olive oil
There were 7 classes of furniture in the Tabernacle: Bronze Altar, Bronze Laver, Golden Menorah, Golden Table of the Bread of the Presence, Golden Altar of Incense, Ark of the Covenant, and the Seat of Atonement
The Feast of Passover is the 1st month of the liturgical year but the 7th month of the civil year. [Exodus 12:1-2]
The Feast of Tabernacles completes the cycle of Holy Days on the 7th month of the liturgical year.[Leviticus 23:33-43]
So when Paul uses “numbers” we need to reflect and ask is there a significance beyond what seems evident to today’s readers of the bible? Clearly in the repetition of the Number “One,”
Paul is conveying a meaning of VERY GREAT significance. The “common denominator” which is used “SEVEN” times, of the seven nouns Paul uses in conjunction with the number “One,“ is “UNITY.” But not simply “unity,” but a “Perfect Unity.” Unable to be divided, unable to be split, unable to be multiplied.
This then becomes Thee key to “The Key” given to Peter by Christ. Notice the similarity of the singular terms carefully chosen by God. The very fact that the Bible is at the same time God’s OWN words, and the Divinely Inspired and guided language of those God choose to author the Bible is NOT to over be looked. Also NOT to be overlooked in the fact that Matthews Gospel is the FIRST to be written. When God is involved, we can and we MUST rule out coincidences as a possibility.
Matthew 16: 15-19 “He [Jesus] said to them, [Plural] "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, [Singular] "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I [Singular] tell you, [Singular] you are Peter, and on this rock [Singular] I will build my church, [Singular] and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. [Singular]. I will give you [Singular] the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you [Singular] bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you [Singular] loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Allow me now to share and apply what we have just learned to the Seven Unities. Addressing briefly what is the meaning and implications of each “Unity.” I would also like to point out that time and grace have permitted me to accept, and partially understand [I KNOW God is behind it], why so many different understandings of what is written in the bible exist. The One issue that I personally continue to struggle with however, is the Obvious Fact that in the totality of the Bible; God never so much as hints at being willing to accept belief in more than One God, or His One set of Faith Beliefs, as taught by those He personally puts in charge. I am strangely able to recognize the differences in understanding [pride-filled-human nature], but unable to grasp how it is not obvious that God has always, consistently and constantly permitted only One set of faith beliefs. The very foundation for other faith-beliefs being acceptable to God is to me somewhat of a mystery. YES, I know: they think we are the ones who are wrong. BUT we were here some 1,500 years before they “became right?”
1. One Body = Church, One single Faith organization
The New testament alone has over 100 references to but One Church, meaning one set of Faith beliefs, confined in a single faith-organization. God Choose only “One” Chirch influenced by Divine Prudence, Justice and Fairness. Any more than one would increase the potential for error. Would permit a double jeopardy. 1. The choice of knowing and loving God or hating God. 2. A possibility of “loving God” in a manner NOT of His Divine choosing. Quite possibly insufficient for ones personal salvation?
2. One Spirit = Love of God, self and neighbor as ourselves
Here, Paul is speaking of “the New Commandment.” [John 13:34] “Love one another as I [God] Love you“. This implies more than what is at first evident. Because in fulfilling this AGAPE Love, one must be humble enough to accept everything that is taught by the Commandments, and ALSO those God has placed over us to teach, guide, guard and protect our souls. The Magisterium of our Catholic Church. That friends means ALL those in authority who align themselves with our Pope. Catholism, mimicking the practice of the Old Testament Jewish- faith, allows for no picking and choosing. Agape love MUST strive for perfection, which is attainable only in fullness of humility, obedience and application.
3. One Hope = Salvation, which is a process of many essential-components
This one is easier to understand. It floes naturally from the other two and through the remaining four.
There is only one unforgivable sin man can freely choose. That being NOT to freely choose to Know, Love, Obey and serve our God, through His [our] faith. This is the First Commandment. Every other wrong, incomplete, or imperfect act, can, with God’s help and intervention, be corrected and forgiven. That friends is why; no matter how bad, or desperate things appear to us we ought never loose HOPE, as we always have access to our God. Amen!
I would be in grave error if I failed to point out that ALL Salvation must and does flow through the Catholic Church. Further, those outside Her Embrace, who have been offered this information, and then choose to deny, ignore or try to reinvent it, do so at great personal risk to there souls. Man-made, innovative and easier ways to attain assurance of salvation, taught by so many faiths, are myths, false-hopes, and of no salvation value.
4. One Christ = Redeemer and Savior: Are not synonymous terms
Both Independent actions, clearly are in, by, from, and through Jesus Christ. This “One” is as stated above, seemly easy for all of Christianity to accept. The problem is that nearly half of us [the non-catholic-Christians] have often an overly optimistic , simplistic, unrealistic and incorrect understanding of both terms. Their hope is [biblically and factually] unfounded and therefore salvation is very clearly and definitely not assured.
Redemption is for “all-humanity.” Past, present and future. It is a fully accomplished act. BUT The FACT that we ARE “Redeemed,” does not imply or guarantee that anyone of us has assured or “attained” salvation. Nor may we believe that any one or two things will be sufficient for our salvation. If what we choose to believe does not conform to what God commands, such beliefs are worthless.
Salvation is a PROCESS that always and every time must include grace, faith, Christian Baptism, complete obedience to ALL of the Commandments and ALL that they entail [the ten being only categories of sins; not the list of], and as stated earlier, also to the Church and the authorities God makes us subject too. And we are also required to do good works as a condition of salvation. And YES, each of these is biblically supportable.
5. One Faith= Only What God Actually teaches in its totality
Here I shall be brief. [IMO]… There is absolutely to record, no reference, no tradition that our God ever, EVER, permitted more than only His One set of faith-beliefs. Given the multitude of biblical evidence for Only One Church, the lack of any historical, traditional or even logical evidence that God somewhere along the line changed His mind. The idea that mortal men can come along 1,500 YEARS later, and claim without evidence beyond there own opinions, that despite abundant biblical proof that God Himself warrants what His One Church teaches [Jn. 14:16-17; Jn. 17:15-19; Jn. 20: 19-22, Mt. 16:15-19, Mt. 18:18, Mt. 28:16-20], and then still insist on knowing more or knowing better that what God Himself Ordained, implemented, protects and guides, is quite amazing. Very HUMAN, but truly astonishing.
6. One Baptism= Water and the Spirit, Desire, and or Blood
As this is NOT a lesson on the sacraments, I’ll leave this alone. Know that the norm is “by water and the Spirit.” And that God himself is the judge of the effectiveness of the other two forms, which are required because of the Divine Nature, Justice and Fairness of God Himself.
7. One God =Triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Again there is no debate on this Critical issue. [THANK GOD!] Nor is there room for one. It is true and also FACT. Amen!
Eph.4 Verses 1 to 24 CONTINUED: “…. “And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, [Singular] until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, [Singular] joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love.
This my friends, defines, and explains OUR Personal Mission, and the Mission of “The Church “ [Singular.] It is in this very sense that “WE ARE Thee Church.” SHE; “Mother Church” exist For us, and if we are truly joined to Her; by us; and through us to Christ.
Eph.4 Verses 1 to 24 CONTINUED: “…. “Now this I affirm and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; they are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart; they have become callous and have given themselves up to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of uncleanness. You did not so learn Christ! --
Paul, like me in this lesson is getting tired. The list he supplies is to include ALL of the Commandments and full Obedience to Church Teachings. The root of each of these articulated sins can be attributed to Satan’s favorite tool: man’s pride. Pride is the lead - in to all Seven Capitol Sins [also a separate lesson.].
Eph.4 Verses 1 to 24 CONTINUED: “…. “assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus. Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Amen!
What a truly amazing and informative chapter. God willing, you now also have gained some insight as to why it is dangerous to trust your own understanding of what the Bible ACTUALLY is teaching. The test is: “If it does NOT fully conform to what the Catholic Church teaches; quite simply; it is wrong.
May God Continue to Bless, Guide and Protect you!
Love and prayers,
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