The Protestant Problem

John MacArthur demonstrates the problem for protestants. No central authority resulting in over 28,000 different denominations and growing. As a leader of his own church, Grace Community , he claims authority for himself. The problem is he has no biblical basis for such a claim.

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* “The Pope and God are the same, so he has all power in Heaven and earth.” Pope Pius V, quoted in Barclay, Chapter XXVII, p. 218, “Cities Petrus Bertanous”.

* Pope Nicholas I declared: ” the appellation of God had been confirmed by Constantine on the Pope, who, being God, cannot be judged by man.”(Labb IX Dist.: 96 Can 7 Satis Evidentur Decret Gratian Primer Para)

* The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, He is Jesus Christ himself, hidden under the veil of flesh.” Catholic National July 1895

* “We hold upon this earth the place of Almighty God” Pope Leo XIII Encyclical Letter of June 20, 1894

Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) wrote: "For the Pope holdeth place on earth, not simply of a man but of the true God." (1 Book of Gregory 9 Decret. c.3)

The Lateran Council addressing Pope Julius II in an oration delivered by Marcellus said: "...thou art finally another God on earth." (Council Edition. Colm. Agrip. 1618)

The title "Lord God the Pope" - these words appeared in the Canon Law of Rome. "To believe that our Lord God the Pope has not the power to decree as he is decreed, is to be deemed heretical." (The Gloss extravagances of Pope John XXII Cum. Inter, tit XIV Ad Callem Sexti Decretalium, Paris, 1685)

"We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty." Pope Leo XIII, in an Encyclical Letter June 20, 1894.

Pope Nicholas to Emperor Michael: "The pope can never be bound or loosed by the secular power, since it is plain that he was called God by the pious prince Constantine; . . . and it is manifest that God can not be judged by man." (Decreti Prima Pars. Distinctio XCVI, Caput 8).

The New York Catechism: "The Pope takes the place of Jesus Christ on earth...by divine right the Pope has supreme and full power in faith, in morals over each and every pastor and his flock. He is the true vicar, the head of the entire church, the father and teacher of all Christians. He is the infallible ruler, the founder of dogmas, the author of and the judge of councils; the universal ruler of truth, the arbiter of the world, the supreme judge of heaven and earth, the judge of all, being judged by no one, God himself on earth."