How do you know the scripture reflects what God had to say?
Initially it is Faith through regeneration by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14)
I can't speak for the garden variety Catholic, because Roman Catholicism is much like Islam in that it isn't strictly a denomination, rather it is more of a culture/life-style - IOW, you can be a Roman Catholic like Teddy Kennedy, John F'ing Kerry and Nazi Pelosi and still end-up burning in Hell for all eternity. For the non-Rome version of Christianity, you actually must believe the Scriptures and actually must have saving faith in Jesus Christ. To be saved, it is axiomatic that you believe the Scripture to be true, and to be saved one must first have the heart changed from stone to flesh where the Word of God is written on the heart, not left as "foolishness" on the page.
Again, this is one of the many remarkable differences between Roman Catholicism and true Christianity, belief in Scripture for the Roman is voluntary (though occasionally recommended) and it is to believed by authority of the Pope, so ultimately one must have unwavering faith in the authority of the Pope and his mistress "Holy Tradition". That is, you believe the Canon because the Pope told you that you must. Since this is a compulsory faith originating from whatever excommunication or vilification emanating from a political office in the Vatican is not spiritual in its foundation, it goes a very long way to explaining why Roman Catholics are fast and loose with Scripture and have no qualms about wresting it to weakly harmonize with some edict out of Rome or some popular opinion syncretized from a regional pagan religion.
Earlier I mentioned that it was "initial", for I can't possibly believe that a new convert can exhaustively fathom the depths of what little God has revealed of Himself to us. Yet, we have the benefit of apologetics to help ease us along intellectually, even popular forms such as Josh McDowell's "Liar, Lunatic or LORD" challenge. We have the vast confirming record of our LORD's works. What is the strongest evidence is prophecy fulfilled; for only the eternal Divine Alpha/Omega can declare the events of the future, with our LORD fulfilling hundreds of prophecies personally just by being born.
We can believe the Scriptures because they have been made alive in us via the Paraclete, are intellectually understood by apologetics, and are confirmed by eye witness and the testimony of fulfilled prophecy.
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I have one. And your lovely post is well-worth pinging Christian to its solid Scriptural teaching...
"How do you know the scripture reflects what God had to say?"
Initially it is Faith through regeneration by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14)
I can't speak for the garden variety Catholic, because Roman Catholicism is much like Islam in that it isn't strictly a denomination, rather it is more of a culture/life-style - IOW, you can be a Roman Catholic like Teddy Kennedy, John F'ing Kerry and Nazi Pelosi and still end-up burning in Hell for all eternity. For the non-Rome version of Christianity, you actually must believe the Scriptures and actually must have saving faith in Jesus Christ. To be saved, it is axiomatic that you believe the Scripture to be true, and to be saved one must first have the heart changed from stone to flesh where the Word of God is written on the heart, not left as "foolishness" on the page.
Again, this is one of the many remarkable differences between Roman Catholicism and true Christianity, belief in Scripture for the Roman is voluntary (though occasionally recommended) and it is to believed by authority of the Pope, so ultimately one must have unwavering faith in the authority of the Pope and his mistress "Holy Tradition". That is, you believe the Canon because the Pope told you that you must. Since this is a compulsory faith originating from whatever excommunication or vilification emanating from a political office in the Vatican is not spiritual in its foundation, it goes a very long way to explaining why Roman Catholics are fast and loose with Scripture and have no qualms about wresting it to weakly harmonize with some edict out of Rome or some popular opinion syncretized from a regional pagan religion.
Earlier I mentioned that it was "initial", for I can't possibly believe that a new convert can exhaustively fathom the depths of what little God has revealed of Himself to us. Yet, we have the benefit of apologetics to help ease us along intellectually, even popular forms such as Josh McDowell's "Liar, Lunatic or LORD" challenge. We have the vast confirming record of our LORD's works. What is the strongest evidence is prophecy fulfilled; for only the eternal Divine Alpha/Omega can declare the events of the future, with our LORD fulfilling hundreds of prophecies personally just by being born.
We can believe the Scriptures because they have been made alive in us via the Paraclete, are intellectually understood by apologetics, and are confirmed by eye witness and the testimony of fulfilled prophecy.
AMEN!
The Theophilus: We can believe the Scriptures because they have been made alive in us via the Paraclete
Whatever the Paraclete does to you, -- I don't think He does much, judging by the Protestant fruit of denying essential scripture, -- this does not explain what makes you think the Scripture as put together by the Church (or, if you prefer, by "men inspired by God to write, and other men through prayer and study, [to] compile") is an accurate reflection of the works and words of Jesus Christ?
For example, in one place the scripture says "the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world" and in another it says "Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only?". You are on record interpreting these words in a way that -- I am being charitable -- wanders far off the direct meaning of the text: the "bread" becomes faith or something, the "not by faith alone" becomes "by faith alone". Wouldn't your doctrines be better expressed by a different scripture? Why don't you get the Paraclete rewrite it for you?