I agree.
Then you keep the entire Bible rather than throwing out part of His Word, right?
People can say what they like but when they show through their actions that they believe Luther has more authority than Christ the reality that they have more faith in Luther than in Christ overshadows everything they may say just like the actions of the Pharisees overshadowed what they said.
Christians don't throw part of the Word of God in the garbage can to avoid the clear Scripture that disagrees with their own personal twisting of Scripture by substituting the anti-Christ, anti-Christian, Pharisee Approved Luther Subset of Scripture for the entire Bible Christ and the Apostles taught from and quoted.
People who accept the authority of someone other than Christ over the Word are followers of whoever they grant that authority, not of Christ.
And I would say there are some who place more faith in "tradition" than the words of Christ and the apostles as recorded in the Bible.
I do not discount or throw out any part of the Word. I believe the Word. I study the Word to know it better. I study the Word and seek the Holy Spirit's guidance to help identify false teachings.
My studies indicate that a large part of catholic teaching is not Biblical; it is often taken out of context, it is often twisted to wring out a meaning not intended by the Bible.
When the Bible doesn't give support for what catholics teach, they resort to tradition as told by man which does not in any way carry the same authority as the Bible.
Why do people bow before the Pope? When Cornelius bowed down before Peter, Peter told him to get up for he was just a man.
From Catholic Answers:
Should Catholics kneel before a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary? After all, in Scripture Peter rebuked Cornelius for kneeling before him. The passage in question states: "When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, ‘Stand up; I too am a man’" (Acts 10:25–26). The act of kneeling does not always mean that the person kneeling is performing an act of worship. Catholics kneel in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary to show her respect and honor and to pray for her intercession; they are not kneeling to worship her.
Another example of a man-made concept regarding praying to Mary which is no where supported in the New Testament.
As I said earlier and will repeat again...I follow Jesus Christ who died on a cross for my sins...past, present and future. My faith and hope and trust are in Him and Him alone. Not the pope. Not Peter. Not Paul. Not Mary, Not any of the early or later church fathers. Not Luther. Not my pastor. Not my parents who dragged me to church when I was a kid.
Based on His Word and His Word alone my sins have been forgiven. He is the final offering for all sins. There is nothing I can do to earn my way into Heaven nor is there anything I can do to earn my way out of Heaven based on what He did on the Cross. We have been sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise as a down payment for our redemption. I find no where in the Bible where we are ever unsealed.
Based on His Word and His Word alone I can approach the Throne of Grace anytime, anyplace for any reason. This would include just to talk.
I do not need to go to a priest for forgiveness as he cannot forgive my sins. Only Christ can as Peter noted in Acts and as did all the other writers of the New Testament. We have no instances in the New Testament where Peter ever said, "I forgive your sins." We do have a bunch though where he notes sins can be forgiven through faith in Christ.
There is no New Testament teaching on indulgences, penance, etc.
If we do as Paul commands us to do we are to search the Scriptures and compare to what we are being taught. If the teaching doesn't square with God's Word and His Word alone, the teaching is wrong. Plain and simple and clear as day.
Well, that's enough theology for tonight.
Been good chatting with you.
I agree.