Pope Says Jesus is Not Necessary 
  
The following is an example of Nicholas' egoism at the PRESENTS OF GOD message board.  He literally makes himself the great prophet and in his home-church, has established himself as an anti-pope. 

Nicholas writes:   

new twist on the Pope to be stating that Jesus is not needed... 

the Pope "to be" states that... 

Cardinal Francis Arinze, who's considered a possible successor to Pope John Paul II, has denied Jesus is the only way to heaven. In a recent interview the spirited 66 year-old deputy for outreach to other religions was asked, "So was Jesus wrong when he said he was the way, the truth and the life?" Arinze responed, "If a person were to push what you said a little further and say that if you're not a Christian you're not going to heaven, we'd regard that person as a fundamentalist...and theologically wrong. I met in Pakistan a Muslim. He had a wonderful concept of the Koran. We were like two twins that had known one another from birth. And I was in admiration of this man's wisdom. I think that man will go to heaven. There was a Buddhist in Kyoto, in Japan. This man, a good man, open, listening, humble--I was amazed. I listened to his works of wisdom and said to myself, "The grace of God is working in this man." The interviewer then repeated the question, "So you can still get to heaven without accepting Jesus?" "Expressly, yes he laughs with the audience]" (Dallas Morning News, 3/20/99) 

Andrew responds: 

The key word in the Arinze interview is "expressly".  The Catholic view of salvation allows that non-Christians may have had a real spiritual experience with the true God, that their religions may possess important elements of the truth, and that ignorance is a factor mitigating personal culpability.  Cardinal Arinze is implying that one might be saved through an IMPLICIT faith in Jesus, because such a person desires to know and to follow the truth. The missionary task is to take that stirring of faith and to help make it explicit by preaching Christ crucified.   

It should further be said that while he heads the congregation that dialogues with non-Christian religions, there is no guarantee that he is the "Pope-To-Be".  Such is idle speculation. 

Nicholas writes: 

And another Pope states... 

POPE DECLARES SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS CANNOT BE SAVED! 

It [the Roman Church] firmly believes, professes, and teaches that the matter pertaining to the law of the Old Testament, of the Mosaic law, which are divided into ceremonies, sacred rites, sacrifices, and sacraments, because they were established to signify something in the future, although they were suited to the divine worship at that time, after our Lord's coming had been signified by them, ceased, and the sacraments of the New Testament began; and that whoever, even after the passion, placed hope in these matters of the law and submitted himself to them as necessary for salvation, as if faith in Christ could not save without them, sinned mortally. Yet it does not deny that after the passion of Christ up to the promulgation of the Gospel they could have been observed until they were believed to be in no way necessary for salvation; but after the promulgation of the Gospel it asserts that they cannot be observed without the loss of eternal salvation.  All, therefore, who after that time observe circumcision and the Sabbath and the other requirements of the law, it declares alien to the Christian faith and not in the least fit to participate in eternal salvation, unless someday they recover from these errors. 

Source: Pope Eugene IV, Papal Bull Cantate Domino, dated February 4th, 1442, Denzinger, The Sources of Catholic Dogma, Translated by Roy J. Deferrari, from the Thirtieth Edition of Henry Denzinger's Enchiridion Symbolorum, published by B. Herder Book Co., Copyright 1957, page 228, #712. 

Andrew responds: 

First, it should be noted that the statement by Pope Eugene IV constitutes the papacy's ordinary magisterial authority, and is not an official infallible statement of the Magisterial teaching office.  Second, in what year were the SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS constituted?  This is important, because I doubt the Holy Father was addressing them in 1442!   

The Pope is simply reiterating that teaching from St. Paul that the Mosaic Law saves no one, only Jesus Christ.  The Pope states:  " All, therefore, who after that time observe circumcision and the Sabbath and the other requirements of the law, it declares alien to the Christian faith and not in the least fit to participate in eternal salvation, unless someday they recover from these errors."  While the rhetorical style is archaic and offensive in tone today, it was addressing the situation of Jews who rejected Christian faith and possibly those who sought to blend elements of Jewish faith that had been superceded by the claims of the new dispensation.  Interestingly, there is even a qualification of the language in this text.  The Holy Father does not say that such non-Christians are damned, but rather that they were "not fit to participate in eternal salvation" as understood by the Church.  The mercy of God is infinite and unfathomable.  Many who are NOT FIT may find salvation because it hinges on Christ and not on ourselves.    

Nicholas writes: 

Now let me get this straight. EVERYONE that wants to go to Heaven can go, 
UNLESS you are a Bible believing, commandment keeping, prophecy proclaiming, fruit bearing, true Remnant, Beast exposing, Holy Spirit gifts claiming, Seventh day Adventist? One thing is obvious. If the devil is threatened by something he will attack it, right? The Roman Catholic Church embraces ALL the churches of the World, right? EXCEPT The SDA Church. And the SDA Church is the ONLY one that can be best described by reading this verse... 

Andrew responds: 

Besides the punishment that might be enacted upon those who assault the true Church; we in the Catholic community have great confidence in God's boundless mercy.  While God may draw to himself those who are in varying degrees of ignorance of the truth, there is a special kinship between those who call upon the name of Jesus and his saving power.  A healthy historical criticism would help you to see the truths of Catholic doctrine behind archaic polemics.  Instead, you content yourself with surface meaning and fail to fathom that which rests beneath the waves of human rhetoric.  You spout silliness in order to justify your ignorance and your hasty abandonment of your Catholic inheritance.  My doctor is SDA and he prays that my Catholic ministry will be fruitful and loving.  I pray that the Lord will continue to work in this generous healer that God might be glorified. Catholics and their holy Church hold no animosity toward the true SDA.  We have differences, for sure, but love often transcends the mightiest of barriers. 

Nicholas writes:     

Revelation 12:17, "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." 

Andrew responds: 

I have heard your interpretation of this passage and it is false.  The woman is often identified, in Catholic circles, with the Church and Mary, who is the model of the Church.  The seed is Jesus and all those remade in him.  The commandments are fulfilled, not only in the decalogue but in the two-fold love of God and love of neighbor.  The dragon is not the Church and the anti-Christ is not the Pope. 

Nicholas writes: 

I am sure everyone understands what "keeping the commandments of God" means. But what is the "Testimony of Jesus Christ?" 

Andrew responds: 

No, Nicholas, indeed most people do not understand the commandments as you do.  There is too much hate in your version and a pharisaical allegiance to the "letter of the law." 

Nicholas writes: 

Revelation 19:10, "... for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." 

The testimony of Jesus is the gift of prophecy. What church on this planet 
is known for keeping the TEN COMMANDMENTS (Including the Seventh Day 
Sabbath) and has the GIFT OF PROPHECY? 

That's right! The Seventh Day Adventist Church! The SDA Church has been the 
main movement behind exposing the Beast in the Vatican since 1844. And they are the ONLY Church that claims Jesus as Saviour and STILL keeps all ten of the Commandments! 

Is this not open and outright evidence that the Vatican is the haven of hell? It is doing EXACTLY as prophecy said Antichrist would do.  

Truth is truth  

Andrew responds: 

For those who do not know, Nicholas is harping about the Saturday (Jewish) Sabbath and the business about graven images.  However, the focus for the early Christians, especially when thrown out of the synagogues and among the Gentile Christians was the so-called "eighth day" or Sunday when they celebrated the Lord's resurrection.  The prohibition about graven images was never absolute, even among the Jews.  The economy of images is reformed by the incarnation of Jesus.  The transcendant God of Spirit has made himself known in the soul and flesh of Christ.  Our very humanity has become representative of God's presence among us and his self-sacrificing love.  Jesus is the face of God.   

As for the SDA being the one true church, even their leadership does not make such absolute claims.  However, Nicholas does-- he views himself as the infallible prophet of God-- disagreeing with the SDA and forming his own church.  Nicholas may not be an anti-Christ, but he sure makes himself a contender for the role, anti-pope.