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To: Alamo-Girl
Again, we differ on the Word of God. You see the “word of God” as the written Scriptures. As I explained in post 21, I know the Word of God personally. He is alive from the beginning to the end; He is Jesus Christ. He indwells in the person of the Holy Spirit. Certainly, it is impossible for any mortal to “complete the word of God” – He is God!
But more to the point of whole discussion, you are rightfully concerned about people like Joseph Smith, the Pope, Jim Jones and many others who declare to have a personal revelation from God, the only true doctrine and compel others to follow their leader.

Protestants believe in the sufficiency of scripture.

But I would put anyone who asks others to follow himself or his private revelation rather than God in exactly the same bucket and that is why I eschew all doctrine and traditions of men – including Calvin and Arminius and seemingly neverending authorities and commentators.

Neither man taught or believed in "personal revelation" or took their doctrine from that . Both men were scholars that drew their doctrine from scripture . That was a part of the issues that the reformers had with Rome..

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you. – John 16:13-15

This is not a promise of 'PERSONAL Revelation' It is a promise of Illumination .I have to honest AG , what I have read in the last couple of days sounds like gnosticism

21 posted on 05/29/2004 12:32:12 PM PDT by RnMomof7 ("You did not choose me I chose you " Jesus Christ)
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To: RnMomof7
Thank you for your reply!

Protestants believe in the sufficiency of scripture.

Indeed, as compared to the Catholic doctrine of tradition being equal to Scripture. But the Scriptures tell us that it is the Spirit who leads us into Truth. The Scripture has this to say of itself:

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. – 2 Timothy 3:15-17

But there is more to understanding than Scriptures alone -John 5 above and :

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. – Matthew 22:29

Martin Luther understood this. At the Imperial Diet at Worms he said:

"Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen."

You continued:

Neither man [Calvin or Arminius] taught or believed in "personal revelation" or took their doctrine from that. Both men were scholars that drew their doctrine from scripture.

If either man relied on the Holy Spirit to understand the Scriptures, he had a personal revelation. If not, then no matter how much they knew of Scriptures as scholars, they would be lacking the most important understanding, the power of God. I have not studied either Calvin or Arminius because, like Martin Luther, I too am "captive of the Word of God".

This is not a promise of 'PERSONAL Revelation' It is a promise of Illumination .I have to honest AG , what I have read in the last couple of days sounds like gnosticism.

Sigh. God knows that I am not gnostic, even if you don’t.

We have a semantic problem, Rnmomof7. To you, the indwelling Holy Spirit gives illumination which you assert is not the same thing as a personal revelation. We might be able to clear the air better if you would define those terms the way you understand them.

23 posted on 05/29/2004 1:19:07 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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