Christianity Explained

1. Gods Established church

In John 17:21-23 Jesus prays for the Church to be one and Holy so that the world may believe that God sent him. Other verses about Church oneness.  Holy means being one, undivided, and set apart from. This was the reason for old testament laws like mixing fabrics. Jesus established the One Holy Church. How can his prayer to the father not be answered? And how can Jesus and holy spirit fail securing their church? As you will see in the following Bible verses, the Church was founded by Jesus and the apostles by the holy spirit with authority handed down bishop to bishop by the laying of hands transferring that spirit to the next generation to guide and preserve the Churches teaching from straying into error. It's truths of faith cannot be corrupted. Protestants don't have this line going back to the apostles so they are false priests. The Catholic Churches tradition was founded before the Bible was written. The Church was not in the dark or in falsehood for over one thousand years until Protestantism was invented. We should believe the same as what the people who wrote the Bible did (the apostles and their disciples who also wrote books). When making our own interpretations of the Bible it is important to check what the early Church Fathers believed on any given subject. Martin Luther also acknowledged the authority of the early Church fathers as well as Catholic sacraments. The Church compiled and canonized the Bible. They did not release something that contradicts their own church tradition. They go hand in hand. If you can't trust the Roman Catholic Church you can't trust the Bible, because there is no manuscript written before the Churches canonization of it in which they could have changed whatever they wanted. All the Catholic sacraments and doctrine including the Pope are affirmed in the Bible and the Didache which was written before the Bible and shows what the apostles were practicing as well as other books from the students of the apostles. Nowhere in the Bible does it say scripture is the only authority nor that its the only deposit of faith which ends there, but it does say tradition, spoken word and the Church fathers blessed by holy spirit to interpret scripture are an authority; as you will see in the following verses.

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As all denominations of Churches have schisms contradicting themselves even from within, the only one true united faith is Catholicism. The Church is without blemish in its teachings of faith secured by holy spirit (this doesn't mean priests dont sin) Holy Spirit never leaves the Church and guides its priests in coordination with Peter binding and loosing (forbidding and allowing. This is shown in Pope section shortly hereafter).:

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Ephesians 5:25–29

“Christ loved the church… that he might sanctify her… that she might be holy and without blemish....nourishes and cherishes it”

Commentaries on Ephesians

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Mathew 16

On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ​​​​​

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2 Timothy 2:19

19 God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,"​​

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1 Timothy 3:15

15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

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John 14:16

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.

John 14:26 

The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

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Passed on Authority.​​​

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Mathew 28:20

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

(By this we know God guides the Church even after Jesus ascends to heaven. The end of the age means when Jesus returns, so the apostles can't be the last authority and this is shown by their laying on hands creating more bishops in the next generations. Offices outliving office holders is shown replacing Judas in Acts 1:20, Acts 1:24-26, and "turning authority/office over" to others in Acts 6:1-6. This also happens in the old testament: Numbers 27:18–20, Exodus 29:29, Exodus 40:15, 1 Kings 19:19, 2 Kings 2:15, Psalm 109:8​; Isaiah 22:21​

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Jesus established his a kingdom the same as his father establishes his which we know is everlasting. a kingdom has successors and not just temporary reign.

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Luke 22:29-32
And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me.
 

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The holy spirit is given to priests differently than how believers have access to it, by the laying of hands giving authority and blessings with the means to protect the faith:​

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Acts 1:8

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.​​​

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Acts 6:6​

6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

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Acts 14:23
They had appointed elders for them in every church with prayer and fasting they committed them to the lord in whom they believed.

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Acts 20:28

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you Bishops, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.​

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1 Timothy 4:14
Do not neglect the gift that was was given you by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands up on you.

1 Timothy 5:22 (Priests chosen with care)

22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands
(Numb 27:18 Moses gave authority to Joshua by the laying of hands)
(Deuteronomy 34:9
And Joshua the sun of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom for Moses had laid his hands up on him, so that sons of Israel obeyed him and did as the Lord commanded Moses)

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2 Timothy 1:13-14

13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

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2 Timothy 2:1-2

2 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

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Titus 1:5

“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains and appoint elders (greek presbyteroi, presbyteries, priests) in every town as I directed you.”

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Ephesians 411 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 a fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and from by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.​​​

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The first Church council.

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Acts 15:6, 28 (Peter speaking)
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter…
‘It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…’”

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Peter shows human will can't interpret scripture, but only prophets moved by holy spirit. This is why Bishops were instituted to guide the church by transferring the holy spirit with the laying on hands.​

2 Peter 1:20-21

20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.​​​​​​​​
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Tradition and Church elders authority:​​

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Deuteronomy 32:7

Remember the days of old… ask your father, and he will show you; your elders, and they will tell you.

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Malachi 2:7

For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth.

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1 Thessalonians 5:12

We beg you brethren to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the lord and admonish you.

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Hebrews 13:7-17

7 Remember your leaders those who spoke to you the word of god consider the outcome of their life and imitate their faith.

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

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1 Peter 5:5

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Be humble in the presence of God's mighty power, and he will honor you when the time comes.

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1 Thessalonians 2:13-15

13 When you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word OR by our letter.

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1 Corinthians 11:2

“I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you.”

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 Church authority and excommunication.

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Matthew 18:17
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”

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Different levels of spiritual gifts of the holy spirit as well as authority.

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1 Corinthians 12:27-31 

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

Church/Priests

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We see in the previous verses there are different levels to being a priest. We are all baptized into the priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), and then there are actual priests the apostles established the same as in the old testament:​​​​​​​

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Isaiah 66:21
21 And some of them also I will take for priests and for Levites, says the Lord

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"Church" can be a term for the body of believers, and the actual authority we just saw established. Jesus also confirms a "building" to be his fathers house, and important to him:

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Matthew 21:12–13
“My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you make it a den of robbers.”

Luke 2:49 (when Jesus is 12 in the Temple) 
“Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

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Apostles writing to the other established "Churches."

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1 Corinthians 1:2
“To the church of God that is in Corinth..."

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2 Corinthians 8:1
“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given in the churches of Macedonia.”

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Galatians 1:2
“…and all the brothers who are with me, to the churches of Galatia.”

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Those who reject this authority given by Jesus and the holy spirit to the apostles, priests and Pope reject God.

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John 20:21

“As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”

Luke 10:16

Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.

Matthew 10:33
33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
 

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                 The Pope​

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Jesus renames Simon to Peter (which means rock)  on purpose to correlate to Jesus being the rock of the faith as said in the old and new testament. He makes the pope the vicar of Christ on earth by building the Catholic Church on his authority giving him the keys of the kingdom of heaven. The keys are a cross reference to the old testament with king Hezekiah and Eliakim becoming steward as a peg secured in a safe place receiving the keys of the house of David to bind and loose in Isaiah 22:22.

In the Greek LXX text literally uses “δέω” (bind) and “λύω” (loose) (forbid and allow). Binding and loosing is not about forgiveness of sins because this was already given to the apostles in John 20:23. The cross reference about the keys cannot be about forgiving sins anyways because in the old testament Eliakim was not a priest with authority to forgive sins. Atonement then was done by priests. He was steward of the royal house, manager of access to the king, and holder of administrative authority. In rabbinic literature, to bind (asar) meant to forbid or obligate, and to loose (hittir) meant to permit or release from obligation.
Examples of the concept:
A rabbi could "bind" a practice by ruling it forbidden.
A rabbi could "loose" a practice by ruling it permitted.
The article on "Binding and Loosing" states:
"The power of binding and loosing was exercised by the Pharisees... 'binding' meant forbidding, and 'loosing' meant permitting."
The Mishnah (compiled around AD 200 but preserving earlier traditions) repeatedly uses concepts of declaring actions forbidden or permitted.
Josephus
Josephus describes the Pharisees as having authority over legal interpretations and regulations, though he does not directly explain Matthew 16.
Many major commentators state this interpretation:
Joachim Jeremias
D. A. Carson
R. T. France
Craig Keener
Even though they disagree on Catholic doctrines, they generally agree that "binding and loosing" was judicial/legal language involving authoritative decisions.
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Matthew 16:17-19

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter (greek: rock,) and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

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Bible verse is showing it's about future doctrine:

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John 14:26, John 16:12–13, 1 Corinthians 2:10–13, acts 10:15, acts 15:28-29

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Papal jurisdiction above other apostles and infallibility. Jesus institutes his Kingdom and Peter as the prime minister:

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Luke 22:29-32 

29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

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John 21:15 

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

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Extra notes:

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Peter was the first apostles to see Jesus risen. Peter's supremacy is evident due to the fact of being mentioned more than any other apostle, speaks for the whole group and is mentioned first as in Mathew 10:1-4 when Jesus calls his apostles in order of most importance from Peter called first/potros (In Greek, protos πρῶτος  can signify leading / prominent, or rank ("chief" / "foremost".) And it's no coincidence Judas is listed last. In Acts 1:15, 2:14; 3:6-10; 5:1-11; 10:34-35; 10:44-45; 15:7; Acts 15:12. Peter speaks and heals first and gives decisive dogmatic judgments. In 1 Peter 5 though Peter calls himself a "fellow elder" he is still commanding what the other elders should do, this shows his authority. In Luke 5:1–11 even though James and John are present, Jesus speaks to Peter specifically about being a catcher of men. 

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Church Fathers:

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Homily 88 on John
Chrysostom, Leo, Augustine, and others say Peter ruled all the others, had authority over all Christians. 

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St. Ignatius of Antioch - Student of John the Apostle (c. 110 A.D.)

The middle recension of his letters are thought to be the most accurate, we know he did write as later Church Fathers affirm he did ad also made the same claims such as:​

• Polycarp of Smyrna (a contemporary of Ignatius) explicitly refers to Ignatius’ letters
  (Letter to the Philippians 13)

• Irenaeus explicitly quotes Ignatius by name
  (Against Heresies 5.28.4)

• Eusebius of Caesarea later catalogues Ignatius’ letters
  (Ecclesiastical History 3.36)

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Romans 1:1

“To the church which presides in love, which also holds the highest place in the country of the Romans… worthy of God, worthy of honor, worthy of blessing, worthy of praise, worthy of success, worthy of sanctification, and presiding over love, named after Christ and the Father.”

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See that you all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as you would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful without the bishop either to baptize or to celebrate a love-feast; but whatsoever he shall approve of, that is also pleasing to God, so that everything that is done may be secure and valid.

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For even Jesus Christ, our inseparable life, is the manifested will of the Father; as also bishops, settled everywhere to the utmost bounds of the earth, are so by the will of Jesus Christ… Let us be careful, then, not to set ourselves in opposition to the bishop, in order that we may be subject to God. —Letter to the Ephesians, Ch 3,5

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Magnesians:

“Take care to do all things in harmony with God, with the bishop presiding in the place of God, and the presbyters in the place of the council of the apostles, and the deacons, who are most dear to me, entrusted with the ministry of Jesus Christ.” — Magnesians 6:1

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“Be eager, therefore, to be firmly grounded in the decrees of the Lord and the apostles, so that in everything you may prosper, in flesh and spirit, in faith and love, in the Son and the Father and in the Spirit, with your most worthy bishop and the fittingly woven spiritual crown of your presbytery and the deacons according to God.” — Magnesians 13:1

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Trallians:

“Likewise, let all respect the deacons as Jesus Christ, just as they should respect the bishop as a type of the Father, and the presbyters as the council of God and college of the apostles. Apart from these, there is no church.” — Trallians 3:

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Succession:​

“Now it occurs to me to mention that the report is true which I heard of thee whilst thou wast at Rome with the blessed father Linus, whom the deservedly‑blessed Clement, a hearer of Peter and Paul, has now succeeded.” — Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans (chapter IV)

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Eucharist:

Take note of those who hold heterodox opinions on the grace of Jesus Christ which has come to us, and see how contrary their opinions are to the mind of God… They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the Flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, Flesh which suffered for our sins and which the Father, in his goodness, raised up again. They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes. —Letter to the Smyrnaeans, Ch 6

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Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons Against Heresies - (student of Polycaryp, student of John the apostle.180 AD.)

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Against Heresies, Book 3, Chapter 3, Section 2. (Rome):“It is a matter of necessity that every Church should agree with this Church, on account of its preeminent authority, that is, the Church which is everywhere known to be founded and organized by the apostles, and which has the succession of bishops to the present day, even to the very chair of the blessed Peter.”

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Cf Heresies 4.26.2

“Wherefore it is incumbent to obey the presbyters who are in the Church—those who, as I have shown, possess the succession from the apostles…”

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Book 3, Chapter 3, Section 1:
“The Church, though dispersed throughout the whole world, even to the ends of the earth, has received from the apostles and their disciples this faith: … being guarded in all respects by the successions of the bishops, who have followed the apostles.”

“We are in a position to enumerate those who were instituted bishops by the apostles, and their successors down to our own times…”

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Against Heresies 3:3:3

“The blessed apostles, then, having founded and built up the Church, committed into the hands of Linus the office of the episcopate. Of this Linus, Paul makes mention in the Epistles to Timothy. To him succeeded Anacletus; and after him, in the third place from the apostles, Clement was allotted the bishopric….” — St. Irenaeus, ​

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Book 3, Chapter 3, Section 3:
“It is quite clear, therefore, that we ought to adhere to the traditions of the apostles… and all those who exist everywhere have maintained them, especially the Church which presides in the place of the apostles, that is, the Church of Rome.”

the Church in Rome dispatched a most powerful letter to the Corinthians, exhorting them to peace, renewing their faith, and declaring the tradition which it had received from the Apostles…”​
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Who Affirms Irenaeus' writings?

• Hippolytus

• Tertullian

• Eusebius

• The consistent 2nd–4th century patristic tradition

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Pope Clement of Rome  (A.D 92) 

showing early Papal and Romes authority writing to other churches: 

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1 Clement 59:1

“If any disobey the words spoken by Him through us, let them know that they will involve themselves in no small transgression and danger.”

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Clement 42:1–2:
“Our apostles knew, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that there would be strife over the office of the bishops. Therefore, having received perfect foreknowledge, they appointed those whom we have mentioned, and gave instructions, that when these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry.”

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Clement 44:1–2:
“Let us honor those who have ruled well over you, who have spoken the word of God with all diligence, and whose faith has been outstanding. Through faith, they performed righteous deeds, and God gave them great glory. They have gone to their rest, and they will receive a crown of unfading glory.”

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“It is disgraceful, beloved, yea, utterly disgraceful and unworthy of your conduct in Christ, that it should be reported that the very steadfast and ancient Church of the Corinthians, on account of one or two persons, maketh sedition against its presbyters.”

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Chapter 58. Submission the Precursor of Salvation.
Let us, therefore, flee from the warning threats pronounced by Wisdom on the disobedient, and yield submission to His all-holy and glorious name, that we may stay our trust upon the most hallowed name of His majesty. Receive our counsel, and you shall be without repentance. For, as God lives, and as the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost live — both the faith and hope of the elect, he who in lowliness of mind, with instant gentleness, and without repentance has observed the ordinances and appointments given by God— the same shall obtain a place and name in the number of those who are being saved through Jesus Christ, through whom is glory to Him for ever and ever. Amen.

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Chapter 59. Warning Against Disobedience. 
If, however, any shall disobey the words spoken by Him through us, let them know that they will involve themselves in transgression and serious danger; but we shall be innocent of this sin,

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1 Clement 40:1–2:
“Through all generations, the righteous have been taken up, and none of those who trust in the Lord will lack guidance. Let us therefore follow the example of the apostles in all things, obeying those appointed over us, and humbly submitting to their guidance.”

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Pope St. Leo, Sermon 4, Section 2
Yet out of the whole world Peter alone has been chosen to be put in charge of the universal convocation of peoples as well as of every apostle and all the Fathers of the Church. Although there are many priests and many shepherds among the people of God, it is Peter who properly rules each one of those whom Christ also rules principally. 

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`St. John of Damascus, Homily on the transfiguration` (675-749 A.D)

“The Master has appointed you [Peter] as director not of tabernacles, but of the Church throughout the whole world. Your disciples, your sheep, the Good Chief Shepherd has put into your hands.”

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More on the early Church Fathers authority of the Pope and Church: 

https://www.catholic.com/tract/the-authority-of-the-pope-part-i

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The following Popes state there is no Salvation outside the Catholic Church, however that doesnt mean someone's invincible ignorance and lack of education education cant save them if they are lead into schism yet still have faith in Christ. Anyone can be saved in any religion depending on their vincible/invincible ignorance which determines their culpability.

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Ignatius of Antioch (Letter to the Philadelphians 3:3–4:1 [A.D. 110]).

“Be not deceived, my brethren: If anyone follows a maker of schism [i.e., is a schismatic], he does not inherit the kingdom of God; if anyone walks in strange doctrine [i.e., is a heretic], he has no part in the passion [of Christ]. Take care, then, to use one Eucharist, so that whatever you do, you do according to God: For there is one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup in the union of his blood; one altar, as there is one bishop, with the presbytery and my fellow servants, the deacons”

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Pope Pelagius II (died 590)

"Consider the fact that whoever has not been in the peace and unity of the Church cannot have the Lord [...] Although given over to flames and fires, they burn, or, thrown to wild beasts, they lay down their lives, there will not be (for them) that crown of faith but the punishment of faithlessness. […] Such a one can be slain, he cannot be crowned. […] [If] slain outside the Church, he cannot attain the rewards of the Church".

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St Jerome Letter 15:2 [A.D. 396]
Being in communion with the chair of Peter is necessary for salvation.

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But you say, Matthew 16:18 the Church was founded upon Peter: although elsewhere the same is attributed to all the Apostles, and they all receive the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and the strength of the Church depends upon them all alike, yet one among the twelve is chosen so that when a head has been appointed, there may be no occasion for schism.
St. Jerome, Against Jovinianus, Book 1:26 393 A.D

"I follow no leader but Christ and join in communion with none but your blessedness [Pope Damasus I], that is, with the chair of Peter. I know that this is the rock on which the Church has been built. Whoever eats the Lamb outside this house is profane. Anyone who is not in the ark of Noah will perish when the flood prevails"

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 pope boniface (A.D 418-422)
"Furthermore, we declare, we proclaim, we define that it is absolutely necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff"

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Pope Pius IX (A.D. 1846 – 1878): 
“It must be held by faith that outside the Apostolic Roman Church, no one can be saved; that this is the only ark of salvation; that he who shall not have entered therein will perish in the flood.” (Denzinger 1647)

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St. Irenaeus on the Roman See (140 - 202 A.D.)

https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/st-irenaeus-on-the-roman-see-22975

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St. Basil the Great (374 a.d)  — on Apostolic Tradition “Of the dogmas and messages preserved in the Church, some we possess from written teaching and others we have received from the tradition of the apostles, handed on to us in mystery. In respect to piety, both are of the same force.”

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Church Fathers stating there is no salvation outside the Catholic Church.

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Ignatius of Antioch (student of John the apostle c. 107 AD)

“Do not err, my brethren: if anyone follows a schismatic, he will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
(Letter to the Philadelphians, 3)

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Irenaeus of Lyons (student of Polycaryp, student of John the apostle c. 180 AD.)

“It is necessary to obey the presbyters who are in the Church… those who have the succession from the apostles.”
(Against Heresies, 4.26.2)

“Where the Church is, there is the Spirit of God; and where the Spirit of God is, there is the Church and all grace.”(Against Heresies, 3.24.1)

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Cyprian of Carthage (c. 250 AD)

“He cannot have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother.”
(On the Unity of the Church, 6)

And:

“Outside the Church there is no salvation.”

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Origen (c. 185–253)

“Let no one deceive himself. Outside this house, that is, outside the Church, no one is saved.”
(Homilies on Joshua, 3.5)

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Lactantius (c. 250–325)

“It is the Catholic Church alone which retains true worship. This is the fountain of truth… Whoever does not enter here… is a stranger to the hope of life and salvation.”
(Divine Institutes, 4.30)

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Jerome (c. 347–420)

“I follow no leader but Christ and join in communion with none but your blessedness, that is, with the chair of Peter. I know that this is the rock on which the Church has been built.”
(Letter 15 to Pope Damasus)

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Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

He is one of the strongest and most nuanced voices:

“No man can find salvation except in the Catholic Church.”
(Sermon to the People of Caesarea)

“Outside the Catholic Church one can have everything except salvation… but never salvation.”
(Sermon 6)

“The Church alone is the body of Christ… outside this body the Holy Spirit gives life to no one.”
(Letter 185)

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Fulgentius of Ruspe (c. 468–533)

Very blunt:

“Most firmly hold and never doubt that not only pagans, but also Jews, heretics, and schismatics… will go into the eternal fire unless before the end of their lives they are joined to the Catholic Church.”
(On Faith, 38)

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As you see the history of such quotes start from the time of Christ and continue as dogma unto today through councils and Popes:

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Council of Florence

“The Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes, and proclaims that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in eternal life, but that they will go into the eternal fire… unless before death they are joined with Her.”

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Eugene IV (Council of Florence approval)

“No one… even if he sheds his blood for Christ, can be saved, unless he remains within the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church.”

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Fourth Lateran Council

“There is indeed one universal Church of the faithful, outside of which nobody at all is saved.”
(Firmiter credimus)

 

Pope Boniface VIII — Unam Sanctam (1302)

“We declare, we proclaim, we define that it is absolutely necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff.”

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(CCC 846):

“Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church… is necessary for salvation… Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God… would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.”

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More early on the early Church Fathers and salvation of the Catholic Church: https://www.catholic.com/tract/salvation-outside-the-church

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Though the Catholic Church is God's ordinary means of salvation and infusing grace to us, He can still act in extraordinary means and save someone, so long as they are abiding by the natural law of their conscience and not living in mortal sin. However, uncovering the truth of their conscience requires humility. One is at spiritual risk depending on why they reject the Church after given the evidence why it's God's true Church.

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Gaudium et Spes §22:

“Since Christ died for all men, and since the ultimate vocation of man is in fact one, and divine, we ought to believe that the Holy Spirit in a manner known only to God offers to every man the possibility of being associated with this paschal mystery.”

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Pope Pius IX — Quanto Conficiamur Moerore (1863)

A classic pre–Vatican II statement using explicit language about ignorance:

“Those who are in invincible ignorance of our most holy religion and who, diligently observing the natural law… are able to attain eternal life by the efficacious virtue of divine light and grace.”

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Gaudium et Spes §16 (conscience)

A crucial text for inculpable ignorance:

“Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey… For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God… His conscience is man’s most secret core and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths.”

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Pope Pius IX — Singulari Quadam (1854)

“It must be held by faith that outside the Apostolic Roman Church no one can be saved… however, those who are affected by invincible ignorance with regard to our most holy religion are not subject to this law.”

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(CCC 847):

“Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel… but seek God with a sincere heart… may achieve eternal salvation.”

Lumen Gentium §16:

"Nor is God far distant from those who in shadows and images seek the unknown God, since He gives to all men life and breath and all things. Those also can attain to everlasting salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and, moved by grace, strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience.” 

“But often men, deceived by the Evil One, have become vain in their reasonings and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie… Wherefore to procure the glory of God and the salvation of all these, the Church… fosters the missions with care and attention.”

Pope John Paul II — Redemptoris Missio §10

“Since salvation is offered to all, it must be made concretely available to all… for many people, the possibility of being saved is accessible by virtue of a grace which… does not make them formally part of the Church.”

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Ad Gentes §7

“Although in ways known to Himself God can lead those inculpably ignorant of the Gospel to that faith without which it is impossible to please Him, the Church still has the obligation… to preach the Gospel.” (In order to make sure every soul gets the most grace possible.)