To: Skooz
Some spiritual questions not clearly answered by the Bible:
Is baptism essential for salvation?
Is the atonement limited and irresistable or unlimited and resistable? (This nature of the atonement is THE foundational tenet of Christianity, and the Bible cannot be used to answer this simple question.)
Is baptism to be administered to infants?
What is the proper mode for baptism?
Is priesthood authority universal among believers or restricted to specific individuals?
Will there be a rapture?
Faith alone or faith+works?
These are profound spiritual questions over which numerous Christian denominations have formed. The Bible is of tremendous worth for what it does contain, but it is simply non-rational to maintain the Bible is complete and inerrant, especially when the Bible itself demonstrates it is NOT complete (it references several books it does not contain). Like I said before, this is only a problem for people who derive their sole authority from the Bible. I'm not one of them.
177 posted on
03/01/2004 12:17:19 PM PST by
frgoff
To: frgoff
Every one of these questions is answered in the Bible. Every one.
But, often the biblical answers stand in direct opposition to traditions which have sprung up over the ages. THAT is the problem.
A deep and reflective (and open-minded) reading of the Bible, guided by the Holy Spirit, will answer every one of your spiritual questions. But, that takes time and effort.
179 posted on
03/01/2004 12:31:25 PM PST by
Skooz
(My Biography: Psalm 40:1-3)
To: frgoff
Hence the reason Jesus appointed 12 apostles. They were given the responsibility and authority to teach the faith. It is the apostles who determined things like infant baptism etc. through prayer to the Holy Spirit who guides the Church Jesus established. Any christian who maintains they can have the true faith with out the magisterium (the teaching authority of the church through the Apostles) is in danger of losing or never acheiving the true faith.
181 posted on
03/01/2004 12:34:27 PM PST by
UnRuley
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