The True Vicar of Christ


Because there is a direct connection between the redemption of Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, it is a soul damning error to mistake the work of the Holy Spirit as Vicar of Christ with the position or work of any man. As Christ Jesus had been the Master, Counselor and Guide to the believers He promised to send the Holy Spirit as His substitute so that He might abide with them forever. Catechism Paragraph 937

In believers' lives, the Holy Spirit has full, immediate, and universal influence, as the Scripture so wonderfully teaches, "now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed unto the same image from glory to glory, even as the Spirit of the Lord"

The work of the Spirit is transforming, we are changed from one degree of glorious grace unto another, until by that same grace one day we will ber perfect in and with HIm in glory fore ver.



History of the claim to be Vicar of Christ

This outlandish assertion came relatively late in the history of the Papacy. To begin with, the Bishop of Rome claimed to be the vicar of Caesar and his successors the rightful heirs to the Caesars. The city that had been the seat of power for the Roman Empire became the city for the Bishop of Rome to exercise his authority. Gradually other Bishops and national monarchs accepted him as vicar and successor to Caesar with the same supreme title of“Pontifex Maximus”. Next the Bishops of Rome claimed to be“The vicar of the prince of the apostles”7, that is, the vicar of Peter.8 Thus in the early fifth century Bishop InnocentI(401-417AD) insisted that Christ had delegaed supreme power to Peter and made him the Bishop of Rome. ollowing this he held that the Bishop of Rome as Peters successor was entitled to exercise Peter's power and prerogatives. Bonifice III who became Bishop of Rome in 607 established himself as "Universal Bishop" thus claiming to be vicar and master of all other bishops. It was not until the eighth century however that the particular title "Vicar of the Son of God" was found in the fraudulent documents of "The Donation of Constantine"

Although this notorious document was proven false in the early sixteenth century, the Bishops of Rome have used the title "Vicar of Christ" since the eighth century. This title has been the Pope's surpreme claim to spiritual and temporal supremacy. The taste of divine power, with which the title resonates, has proven to be addictive. The "Vicar of Christ" is able to recognize no authority other than his own. He looks upon himself as Master of all, and boldly proclaims "The First See is judged by no one " (Code of Canon Law, Latni English ed. )

It is truly significant that Joseph Ratzinger had been elected as the new Pope as Benedict XVI. Before this he headed up the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith since he emphatically is dictatorial. Archconservatives in the Church of Rome will warmly welcome him, however he will not be acceptable to many American Catholics because of his hard-line stance This rigid positiion was seen clearly in the document that he issued on September 5th 2000 called "Dominus Iesus" In that document, he boldly decreed that Roman Catholic Church is only "instrument for the salvation of all humanity" Dogmatically, he also rules out Evangical Churches from being considered as "Churches in the proper sense" when he proclaimed " the eccleaial communities which have not preserved the valid Episcopate and the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic mystery are not Churches in the proper sense"


Counterfeit vicar of Christ

Rome's alleged office of Christ's Vicar on earth is so all embracing and complicated that Benedict XVI as one man cannot exercise "supreme full immediate and universal power" Thus Joseph Ratzinger, who purports invested with the office, needs a vast hierarchy to command. The pyramid of power that constitutes his office of the "Vicar of Christ" consists of cardinals, patriarchs, major archbishops, metropolitans, coadjutor archbishops, diocesan bishops, coadjutor bishops, episcopal vicar, eparches, apostolic vicars, apostolic prefects, apostolic administrators and vicars general.

The counterfeit nature of the Pope's claim to be "the Vicar of Christ" is shown by his doctrine and deeds. The key role of the True Vicar of Christ is to glorify Christ. "He shall gloridy me: for he shall receive of mine and shall show it to you: The sending of the Spirit was the glorifying of Christ. God the Father glorifies Christ Jesus in heaven, and the Spirit glorifies Him on earth. All the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit are to glorify Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ promised the Apostes, "when he the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth" God's truth is an indissoluble, alanced and harmonious whold. In the Bible, we have "all truth" In this the Holy Spirit truly glorifies Jesus Christ. In stark contrast, the Pope claims to possess "infallible teaching authority" This neithe glorifies Christ nor honors the Spirit of truth. Also the Pope, as the "Vicar of Christ" teaches "rebirth" by baptism, which demeans the glory of Christ. (Canon 849)

 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!  Gal. 1:8
Last Edited By: RichWh1 Aug 1 13 7:04 AM. Edited 2 times.