WHY SOLA SCRIPTURA MAKES SENSE - UPDATED.

Tradidi said:

What do you mean by "God's Word"?

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Hi Tradidi, nice to meet you.

Don't listen to people that try to deny what the scriptures say with their own words. They will only lead one away from God and His Word which is the water of life *Matthew 7:21-27 to those who believe and follow it *John 10:26-27.

Today we have the scriptures (the bible) to know what God's Word is as a guide to truth and error *John 17:17. For me when I say "God's Word" it is in reference to the written Word of God *Matthew 4:4 that bares witness to the living Word of God (Jesus) *John 1:1-4; 14 and is the standard of what is right and what is wrong, what is true and what is not true.

Of course there is the spoken Word of God and the written Word of God. Today we have the written Word of God. We can also have the spoken Word of God revealed through the Spirit of God. The final test however (as there are many false teachers and prophets in the last days - Matthew 24:24 is that the spoken Word must agree with the written Word). If it does not than it is not God's Spirit or is it God's Word (see Isaiah 8:20; 1 John 2:3-4; John 17:17; John 6:63; Romans 10:17). Those who deny God's Word deny the living Word of God who's words they are *John 8:31-36; Matthew 7:21-27.

May God bless you as you seek him in His Word dear friend.

Tradidi said:

Thank you for the answer, however, I'm not sure I fully understand you.

I can understand that God's spoken Word must agree with His written Word. That's evident from the fact that God "can neither deceive nor be deceived" and that He therefore can never contradict Himself.

I can also understand that there are many false teachers, and that we can recognise them as such if or when they contradict the Scriptures.

But you also seem to claim that God is not allowed, or not able to authoritatively teach us anything, either directly or indirectly, unless it is already explicitly contained in the Scriptures.

Is that what you believe?

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Hi dear friend. No. I claim no such things. Only that the written Word of God is the final authority as to what is truth and and what is errror and what Spirit has revealed it.

Tradidi said:

So what do you do with a teaching that can neither be proven nor denied from Scripture, like for example celebrating Christmas and Easter, or the canon of the Bible? How do you decide whether such practice/teaching is in truth or in error?

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Not very hard. Where is it commanded in the bible to celebrate Christmas and easter? Of course the scriptures in the bible are the Word of God and God is in control of His Word. No one can know the truth of God's Word without God's Spirit *John 14:26; John 16:13; 1 John 2:27; John 8:31-36; John 17:17; John 6:63; Hebrews 8:11

Tradidi said:

Which part of your reply is an answer to my question?

Ok, I'm pleased the know is answer is going to be easy. Bring it on..

Yes, that's an example of the first part of my question. But I fail to see how an example of part of the question is supposed to be an answer to that same question.

Ok, that's nice to know, but where is the answer to my question?

PS: This was the question: "So what do you do with a teaching that can neither be proven nor denied from Scripture, like for example celebrating Christmas and Easter, or the canon of the Bible? How do you decide whether such practice/teaching is in truth or in error?"

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Sorry dear friend, as I thought I had clearly answered your question already. I do not understand what it is you do not understand in what was shared to you. Sometimes we may need to have an opened mind and a prayerful spirit asking God to guide us and teach us His Word in order to receive the truth of God's Word. My prayer dear friend is that you may prayerfully consider these posts and scriptures shared with you and that they may be a helpful blessing for you.

Here let me add a little more to my previous posts if it may be helpful. Perhaps I was not clear enough in my writing so let me clarify myself further...

Christmas and easter are man-made traditions that have their origins in paganism and not in scripture. There is no scripture commandment that says we must follow these traditions therefore it is not biblical and something we do not need to follow. Another words not in the bible no need to follow it.

You were also shown that the bible is simply the written Word of God of God's spoken Words. The scripture (the written Word of God) have their origins in the Hebrew torah and prophets (old testament) and the new testament scriptures are the writings of JESUS and the Apostles. All of the above being scripture, that is Gods' written holy Words (God breathed) that we are to live by and obey *Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:16; John 10:26-27.

Do you believe that God is in control of His Word and has given us what we need in developing the bible which has now gone out to the whole world?

There is no salvation if we do not have faith in God's written Word as we are only saved by God's GRACE, THROUGH FAITH *Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16-21; John 10:26-27 and faith comes by hearing and hearing BY THE WORD OF GOD *Romans 10:17. If we have no Word we cannot have faith and without faith it is impossible to please God *Hebrews 11:6 because whatsoever is not of faith is sin **Romans 14:23. No one has salvation by denying what the scriptures teach *Hebrews 10:26-27 as we only have salvation as we believe and follow Gods' Word *John 3:16; Matthew 7:21-27.

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CONCLUSIONS: God's Word is the written Word of the spoken words of God revealed directly from God to the holy prophets or by God himself (Jesus). There is still the Spoken Word of God revealed through God's messengers through His Spirit (spiritual gifts - 1 Corinthians 12:10) but we are to test the spirits to see if they are from God or not from God * 1 John 4:1-6. We are to do this through the written Word of God. Therefore it is the written Word of God that is the standard of truth and error, what is God's Spirit and what is the spirit of the devil (false prophets).

Hope this helps.

Tradidi said:

How do you know that?

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You were also shown that the bible is simply the written Word of God of God's spoken Words. The scripture (the written Word of God) have their origins in the Hebrew torah and prophets (old testament) and the new testament scriptures are the writings of JESUS and the Apostles. All of the above being scripture, that is Gods' written holy Words (God breathed) that we are to live by and obey *Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:16; John 10:26-27. All scripture is given by inspiration of God (God breathed) *2 Timothy 3:16. There is no salvation without faith in God's Word for whatsoever is not of faith is sin *Romans 14:23

Tradidi said:

Thank you for trying but no, it didn't answer my question, although we may be getting closer.

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Well this is where we would agree to disagree. I believe your post has been directly answered with the scriptures. It seems you do not like the answers that have been given through the scriptures. You are free to believe as you wish as we all are to work out our own salvation and answer directly to God come judgement day. Ironically though it will be his Words we reject or accept that will be our judge according to the scriptures *John 12:47-48.

Tradidi said:

You stated that unless something is clearly found in the Bible we have no obligation to believe it. Ok, but where in the Bible does it say that? If it does not say that, then I have no obligation to believe it. Right?

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In Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:16 and all through the new testament scriptures *Acts of the Apostles 5:29-31; Romans 3:4 etc etc. The Word of God is our guide to what is right and what is wrong what is truth and what is error. As a Christian we need the whole armour of God. If you have no Word you have cast away your sword and shield.

Tradidi said:

Simply stating or repeating the claim does not prove it. The Koran claims to be inspired as well, as do other pagan books.

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My claims are the scripture from the old and new testament. They are Gods' Word not mine. You are free to believe as you wish as it seems you deny God's Word with your words. Be it known however that according to the scriptures, there is no salvation if one does not have faith in God's Word as it is faith that leads to God's saving grace and mercy *John 3:16; Epehsians 2:8-9; Romans 14:23; Hebrews 10:26-27. For me only God's Word is true and we should beleive and follow it over man made teachings and traditions that break the commandments of God *Matthew 15:3-9; Acts of the Apostles 5:29; Romans 3:4

Tradidi said:

In which of these Scriptures does it say that the written Word of God is our only guide?

In which of these Scriptures do you see proof that all 73 books are inspired? Or that Luther was authorised by God to remove 7 of the books, or prune some of the others he didn't like, or add words?

In which of these Scriptures do you see proof that we all have the authority to interpret them to our own liking, or as St. Peter stated it, to "twist them to our own destruction"?

Which of these Scriptures do you think justify you picking some verses and ignoring others? Is there a certain percentage you must "score" in order to be in the truth? Or must we believe everything God has spoken to us?

No, you haven't answered any of my questions. All you have done is throw out some verses and some incoherent statements, without proving anything. Unless you can come up with a clear and direct reply to my simple questions, I will rest my case.

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Where did I ever post that the written Word of God is only our guide? - Yep I didn't