Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: CynicalBear; annalex; daniel1212; smvoice; boatbums
All the truth we need has been revealed to us in Scripture.

John 20:30-31 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

1,056 posted on 11/12/2011 2:23:32 PM PST by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1055 | View Replies ]


To: metmom; CynicalBear; annalex; daniel1212; RnMomof7; boatbums
Suppose a person stumbled upon a NT Bible and being stirred by the Holy Spirit, he longs for a knowledge of God. (We won't even go back as far as the OT). What would he find of God's word to man? In Matthew through John, he would find the exact truth (Luke 1:4) of Christ's life and earthly ministry. When he got to Acts he would find a continuation of Christ's ministry through Peter and the 11 and the promise of a Kingdom to be set up when Christ returns to this earth. Halfway through Acts, he would find a new Apostle, who taught of a Body of believers being assembled, called the Church the Body of Christ. In a very short time, he would have obtained "...the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim. 3:15).

Now that he has found salvation, he would continue to read this NT to find out how to serve and worship the Creator, his God, his Saviour. How to live his Christian life. He would then discover what the future of this world holds for those who are not saved. And he would learn that God's wrath will be poured out one day on an unbelieving, Christ-rejecting world. Then that same Christ is going to return and set up His kingdom just as He promised in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. He is thoroughly equipped with the intended purpose of the Bible:

"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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Tim. 3:16,17.

Now suppose he sets out to find like-minded believers, to share his Christian life with. He finds a beautiful Church and decides to enter. What does he find? An empty pew where he watches priests celebrating the Mass, hearing confessions, and leading in the praying of the rosary before a statue of Mary. He searches his Bible, certain he must have missed all this. But no, it is not there. Confused, he asks someone to explain this mystery, not in the Bible, but performed by so many.

He's told about baptismal regeneration and justification, programs that last a year for the preparation of justification, seven sacraments, sanctifying grace, transubstantiation, a continuing sacrifice, confession to a priest, temporal punishment, indulgences, purgatory, merited eternal rewards, priestly ordination, the papacy, ruling bishops, the Magisterium, Mary's Immaculate Conception, her Assumption into Heaven, her co-redemptive work, and her mediation of all grace.

This new creature in Christ would have two choices. Knowing that these beliefs were not only NOT taught in Scripture, but actually contradicted God's Word, he could put his Bible aside and begin the journey to salvation through this RCC, or he could simply take his Bible, thank God for the simplicity that is in Christ, and move on.

For some, there are never enough proofs. For others, God's enduring word is proof enough.

1,057 posted on 11/12/2011 3:11:53 PM PST by smvoice (Who the *#@! is Ivo of Chatre & why am I being accused of not linking to his quote?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1056 | View Replies ]

To: metmom; CynicalBear; daniel1212; smvoice; boatbums
All the truth we need has been revealed to us in Scripture.

John 20:30-31 does not say so. It says that the scripture is sufficient to produce faith in some ("may believe"), and that among those who do believe, some "may have life".

1,063 posted on 11/13/2011 11:07:36 AM PST by annalex (http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1056 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson