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To: pseudogratix
*** am curious, though, as to when it is that you believe that the scriptures became sufficient?***

Honestly I can't answer that question. I would have to say that, according to Paul, we know for sure they were sufficient at the time of his writing.

We know in Leviticus 18 the Lord says:

"You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD."

Each step along the way in the unfolding drama of redemption God provided what was needed for a person to know His will. We are responsible for the light we have.

All of this was leading up to the ultimate revelation of God's nature and will in the Life of Jesus Christ. As the scripture says:

"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power." - Heb 1
358 posted on 03/22/2004 4:02:59 PM PST by PetroniusMaximus
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To: PetroniusMaximus
Each step along the way in the unfolding drama of redemption God provided what was needed for a person to know His will. We are responsible for the light we have.

I totally agree. Just as God didn't give Adam a complete and perfect volume of doctrine when he got booted from the garden, and just as God has yet to provide a complete and perfect volume of doctrine to the world, it is apparent to me that just as we teach our children in accordance to their level of understanding and willingness to give heed to that which they already have been taught, that our Heavenly Father also works according to the collective understanding and obedience of his children at any given time. (i.e., From the time of Moses down until Christ, Israel was given a lower law adapted to their spiritual level and level of obedience.)

To me, this is one of the great messages of the Bible as we have it today. And as such, all the more reason to be diligent to the light and knowledge we possess and always be willing to accept more light and knowledge when the Holy Spirit guides us to it. Hence, I see no need to rush to assertions like "the Bible is all the scripture we need." Perhaps the amount of scripture available to Paul and Timothy in their time was indeed sufficient for them in the context of their light and understanding. Yet, we live in a very different time and in very different circumstances. Surely our Heavenly Father continues to provide light and knowledge in our time as well. Surely his children in this time are just as valuable to Him as His children in other times. Rather than asserting that we have all that we need, perhaps we would better off asserting that we should give heed to the light and knowledge that we have, look forward to and pray from more light and knowledge to come, and welcome it when the Holy Spirit guides us to it.

God bless you in your journey for increased light and knowledge :)

pseudogratix @ In Him All Things Hold Together

361 posted on 03/22/2004 5:39:20 PM PST by pseudogratix (the word of God is not bound)
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