@Joe, I don’t dispute many things you say, such as being in the Church even when alone. Nor do the saints take souls to heaven. They serve as guides and models and companions on the way–that’s part of what “The communion of saints” means: that those still on earth, as well as those in heaven, are all members of the One Church. But, the saints don’t give the grace and justification to get us into heaven–that comes only through Jesus.
However, if you believe only what the Bible says, how do you know what constitutes the Bible? There is no list within the texts that tells us what should be included, and what left out.
Further, if you limit yourself to the Bible, do you have any creeds, or even use words such as “Trinity”? Neither is part of the Bible.
Paul’s authority was from the Spirit, and Paul certainly said many things not spoken by Jesus. We believe that that same Spirit was promised to the Church by Jesus himself, and continues to guide us to preserve us as a church from major error. Given that, the rest of our faith follows.
@Joe, I don’t dispute many things you say, such as being in the Church even when alone. Nor do the saints take souls to heaven. They serve as guides and models and companions on the way–that’s part of what “The communion of saints” means: that those still on earth, as well as those in heaven, are all members of the One Church. But, the saints don’t give the grace and justification to get us into heaven–that comes only through Jesus.
However, if you believe only what the Bible says, how do you know what constitutes the Bible? There is no list within the texts that tells us what should be included, and what left out.
Further, if you limit yourself to the Bible, do you have any creeds, or even use words such as “Trinity”? Neither is part of the Bible.
Paul’s authority was from the Spirit, and Paul certainly said many things not spoken by Jesus. We believe that that same Spirit was promised to the Church by Jesus himself, and continues to guide us to preserve us as a church from major error. Given that, the rest of our faith follows.