Why Sola Scriptura Honestly Scares Me

http://www.patheos.com ^ | July 22, 2013 | Ryan Adams

[American Constitutionalist]

God through the Holy Spirit is the soul author that moved and inspired man to write the scriptures.
For the Bible it's self tells that :

2 Peter 1:20:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

In other words nothing in the Bible that was written was the imagination or contrived by man.
The soul authority of scripture is from God through the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is our teacher.

However I would go on to say that anyone who was " Born Again " and or Protestant and left the faith is considered " Apostate " .
Salvation through grace by faith only.... not by works.
Of course what James said about " faith without works is dead " is a whole another debate.
Simply put, he was not talking about saving faith, but daily practical faith, it has nothing to do with your eternal salvation.
Your " eternal salvation " was bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus and accepted by faith only.

[pgyanke]

Is there much more depth in the Bible that I don’t understand? Yes. Would I like to? Yes. Do I need to? Bu>No.

Fascinating. So the Bible is the ultimate authority but you don't need to understand it fully? Did it ever occur to you that the Church has studied It for nearly 2000 years and has discovered many of the answers you admit you don't have?

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

“Many words” does not make a good prayer or necessarily a good argument.

[American Constitutionalist]

So your scared to death by some Protestant who is moved and taught by the Holy Spirit of the scriptures, but not terrified that your soul hangs in the balance of “ Some man “ Catholic teacher who is influenced by man’s agenda and “ Humanistic “ theology of the scriptures ?

[American Constitutionalist]

Don't be surprised that the anti-Christ sends so called " Teachers " out into the world as well taught teachers of all things in the bible who have " Authority " and Theology Degrees to impress people that they are somebody who knows the bible who don't have the Holy Spirit within them.

Take this warning now, don't follow the ways of man, or the paths of man.... the Bible Sola Scripture is your safe haven.

[pgyanke]

The problem with your citations is that none of them actually explain the "how" of becoming born again. The discussion with Nicodemus comes the closest when Jesus says we are to be born of "water and spirit". I really need to go to bed... I offer this previous discussion for more on the subject. We tend to plow the same ground over and over around here...

[American Constitutionalist]

The God of Grace gives us hope, The Gospel of Jesus Christ, Good News....
Those who want power and to control people are those who have a bad agenda in mind and imprison people and their souls by fear, and intimidation.
After the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ coming to God now in his presents of Grace should not be a fearful thing, it was his love and grace that saved us.

[American Constitutionalist]

Those who fall for these scare tactics will be those who fall for the anti-Christ and take the mark of the beast.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

On what authority does the church make stuff up?

Galatians 1
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

[American Constitutionalist]

" outside of Scripture, is needed for the salvation of a soul "

Because outside of Scripture ? it's impossible to define what is needed for salvation of the soul.

[pgyanke]

But let’s say that I say it is a metaphor and you say it means there is a literal transubstantiation. On what basis can you say I’m wrong?

I would point you back to the words of Christ, St Paul (1 Cor 11), and the many popes and doctors of the Church. The Church was given authority by Christ and the Church has held the truth of transubstantiation from the beginning (though the word took a while to define).

I would only say that neither you nor any other human being can prove it, and what difference does it make?

Is that you, Hilary? Just kidding. Getting punch-drunk from fatigue.

The question of authority is essential because without it we have no unity. We are mean to be one in faith (John 17:21). Please read the following prior posts on the subject of authority... it is important and makes all the difference.

On the Authority of the Church
More on the Authority of the Church
Even more on the Authority of the Church

[jimmyray]

QUOTE: Even the demons believe... and they tremble in terror (James 2:19).

Did you misquote that intentionally? In it's entirety "19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." I believe and stated much more that simple mono-theism. In any case, demons can't be saved, only humans.

QUOTE: "Yet, not everyone who says to Christ, "Lord, Lord" will enter the Kingdom of God (Matt 7:21). Rather, only those who DO the will of God the Father. "

TRUE!! and to clarify,

John 6:28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

The verses you quoted do not support your assertion that Jesus commanded us to confess our sins, but I do agree that we are to confess them one to another, for we are all priests!

Regarding your sole proof text for the transubstantiation, we will have to agree to disagree on that point, and we will not convince one another otherwise, I am sure.

Finally, I am not a protestant, I am a follower of The Way, a Christian. If anything, call me an anabaptist. Since they preceded Luther's act, and were killed by the RCC for their beliefs regarding the scriptural prescription for baptism, communion and salvation, they are not offshoots of the RCC.

[American Constitutionalist]

It's seems if one were to study the 4 Gospels that Jesus had much contention with the religious leaders about " Traditions "
The Jewish " Traditions " is what Paul came face to face with Peter in his contention about Peter being a hypocrite sitting with Jews ONLY and not sitting with non-Jew Christians.

[American Constitutionalist]

Deniers ?

More like defiant.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

The Church and Apostles were given specific authorities, many cited in this thread.

Plenary and arbitrary authority is only ascribed to any human or institution and claimed by Satan, as demonstrated (pun!) in the Gospels:

Matthew 16:23
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Mark 8:33
But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

[American Constitutionalist]

If Sola Scripture it's frightening, terrifying, horrible, then please explain why many Protestants throughout many centuries were martyred, burned to the stake, killed for their faith and for trying to bring the " Scriptures " to the people ?
It seems ? those who want to keep the truth of God's word from the masses, the people, and to keep their control over the people, and their power grab should be those whom you should fear.
You want a good example of this ? take a look at what is happening in some of the middle east countries who are Muslim.

[jimmyray]

QUOTE: "The problem with your citations is that none of them actually explain the "how" of becoming born again."

John 1:12-13 is as plain as day!

12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

1. Believed in his name
2. given the right to become children of God (children are born)
3. born of God. (Since you have been born once, this is being born again!)

John 3:5-6 explains we must be "born of the spirit", and John 3:14-16 explains how that is achieved, belief in Jesus.

Jon 3:15 is as plain as it can be: "that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him."

[jimmyray]

QUOTE: "I would point you back to the words of Christ, St Paul (1 Cor 11)"

I looked up the words of Paul, and they were:

1 Cor 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

These verses don't seem to suggest transubstantiation, rather, they suggest a memorial, a way to remind ourselves and proclaim the great sacrifice made for our salvation. It does not seem to suggest failing to take the supper or to believe in transubstantiation leads to damnation.

[American Constitutionalist]

Jesus was reminding the Pharisees that in so doing by their traditions of man, that they were in fact laying aside the commandments of God, to honor thy father and mother.

He said in verse 9 in that setting while talking to them "
9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. "

So Jesus was not talking about how everyday people were not keeping God's commandment, but how the religious leaders were hypocrites in not keeping God's commandments by holding into their own man made " traditions " .

In other words, they were in fact rejecting God's word and doing what they wanted to do and force others to hold to it even if it was not commanded by God to do so.