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To: Gamecock
that there is only one special revelation from God that man possesses today, the written Scriptures or the Bible

God reveals Himself through natural law, extra-natural law (miracles), individual revelation, and people who preach His word...so "sola" is not on its face accurate.

HOWEVER...if anything CONTRADICTS the Scriptures, that item is to be rejected for the Scriptures are indeed the highest authority.

4 posted on 02/08/2011 11:18:25 AM PST by Siena Dreaming
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To: Siena Dreaming
.....that there is only one special revelation from God that man possesses today, the written Scriptures or the Bible

God reveals Himself through natural law,

But that only to condemns you.

extra-natural law (miracles)

And as in the case of Jesus and the prophets, that always validates what they are saying, or who they say they are.

individual revelation,

Which many say, erroneously, trumps Scripture.

and people who preach His word...

Which is NOT based on individual whimsy, but on His word, Scripture.

5 posted on 02/08/2011 11:34:34 AM PST by Gamecock (The resurrection of Jesus Christ is both historically credible and existentially satisfying. T.K.)
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To: Siena Dreaming

Actually, a Presbyterian author named Keith Mathison has explored what you’re talking about calling it “solo” scriptura, not the “sola” scriptura believed by the Reformers.

Luther, Calvin et al. believed that there were all kinds of authorities binding on an individual outside of scripture (ex. the creeds, catechisms, governments, oaths given, even natural law, etc.) ...

NONE of these however, was inerrant or a FINAL authority, which was reserved for the Bible alone. As long as these rightful authorities did not contradict the bible, a Christian should, definitely, obey rightful authorities. Where a Christian does NOT have to obey authorities is where those authorities break God’s law.

I’d say for example that a court employee MUST obey his orders to sign dutifully filled out marriage licenses. However, since government is outside of God’s law in certifying homosexual “marriage,” a Christian court employee is obligated NOT to sign such (lying) documents—even if he or she is disciplined or fired for that...

If Christians actually followed through on that, the social consequences would be huge (no “just following orders” excuse!), and we’d stop “gay marriage” in its tracks—just by obeying God’s law, rather than man’s.

We never HAVE to violate God’s law, some unjust governments though will make us suffer for keeping it, however.


56 posted on 02/08/2011 3:01:15 PM PST by AnalogReigns
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To: Siena Dreaming

A little different way of defining what is called revelation, the basis for which The God(head) imparts the knowledge of His Will to mankind. “Sola Scriptura” is only in the sphere of Special Revelation and Inspiration:

A. Revelation is the way The God divulges truth to a man:

1) Natural or General Revelation (Rom. 1:18-20, Ps. 19:1-3)
a) This is not a personal communication mode (Lk. 4:4)
b) Natural revelation is not spiritual (1 Cor. 2:14-15)

2) Supernatural or Special Revelation (too many refs to recount here)
a) Body of records available to Moses for Genesis
b) Dreams, sleeping & wakeful visions
c) Extraordinary appearances
d) Mouth to mouth
e) Through His Son, The Living Word

B. Inspiration is the act of God, controlling by means of His Holy Spirit, the initial written recording of The God’s Word without error, so that it was perfect, (2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Pet. 1:20,21), even in the smallest consonant (yodh) or vowel pointing (keraia) (Matt. 5:18, Lk. 16:17).
1) Writing is the tangible and complete method by which His Will is given precisely (Ex. 31:18, Matt. 4:4)
2) It was revealed progressively over time. (Eph. 3:3-9)
3) It is not intended to be exhaustive on all subjects. (John 29:30, 21:25)

C. Canonicity is the list of books recognized by the church as inspired of The God to complete the Bible.
1) The writing of the Bible was concluded (as of ~100 AD)in the fulness of time (Gal. 4:4-6)
2) It is comprehensive as to salvation (1 Pet. 1:23, ), separation (2 Cor. 6:14-18), and sanctification (1 Pet 1:15-16, 2 Cor. 7:1).
3) It is closed to any further inclusion through man (Rev. 22:18-19).

D. Preaching is _not_ revelation. It is to proclaim, as a herald, something already known; to dispel ignorance of the fact that The God is willing to reconcile the hearer to Him through Jesus’ obedience to The God’s Will (Heb. 10:9-10), according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:1-4).

E. Teaching is _not_ revelation. It is explaining that which is known — what (a) Scripture means and/or how it is to be applied, keeping it watchfully secure against mistranslation or misinterpretation (Matt. 28:20a)

The feature of “Sola Scriptura” doctrine is that the only valid tradition authorized by Scripture (2 Thess. 2:15 and 2 Pet. 3:16 as comp. Matt. 115:3,6 and Gal. 1:14)is that of using the Holy Scriptures to explain and apply it, using itself alone as the standard and authority, as did the original Apostles, and Paul (1 Cor. 15:8).

You might note that John Wesley’s Methodism was based on the Quadrilateral (Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience) — flying in the face of Sola Scriptura (as does today’s Romanism); for which Wesley was chastened by his contemporary, George Whitfield AFAIK.

With regards —


129 posted on 02/08/2011 8:48:02 PM PST by imardmd1
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