Part 2 of 2:
WHY IS SCRIPTURE THE ONLY RULE OF FAITH?
Romans 10:17So then FAITH COMES BY HEARING AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD.
Scripture is the only rule of faith because it is through the scriptures that we receive faith. Our faith comes as we believe and follow what God's Word says (
James 2:17-26).
It needs to be shown, not assumed, that “the Word of God” refers to Scripture, & not to the preached message of the Apostles.
Hebrews 11:6[6], But WITHOUT FAITH (the comes from the Word of God) IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Romans 14:23WHATSOEVER IS NOT OF FAITH (that comes from the Word of God) IS SIN..
Ephesians 2:8-9[8], For by grace are you saved THROUGH FAITH (the comes from the Word of God); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:[9], Not of works, lest any man should boast.
With or without those additions to the text, none of those passages shows that “Scripture is the only rule of faith”. What justification for adding to those texts is there ?
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So according to the scriptures we are saved by God's grace through faith that comes by the word of God as we believe and follow what Gods' Word says as our faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
GOD'S SPIRIT IS THE SPIRIT OF THE WORD OF GOD WHICH WE RECEIVE AS WE BELIEVE WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS
John 6:63, It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK UNTO YOU THEY ARE SPIRIT AND THEY ARE LIFE.
John 17:17, SANCTIFY THEM THROUGH THE TRUTH: YOUR WORD IS TRUTH.
Matthew 4:4Man does not live by bread alone BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.
Acts of the Apostles 2:38Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts of the Apostles 3:19 Repent you therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
Matthew 21:22And all things, whatever you shall ask in prayer, BELIEVING, you shall receive.
John 20:31But THESE THINGS ARE WRITTEN THAT YOU MIGHT BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; AND THAT BELIEVING YOU MIGHT HAVE LIFE THROUGH HIS NAME.
That last passage is certainly compatible with St John’s Gospel being Scripture, but equally certainly does not require it to be Scripture. All sorts of books can be described in the same way, even though nobody thinks of them as Scripture. And even if that passage did prove that Gospel to be Scripture, it still does not show that this book is, or is part of, “the only rule of faith”. The other passages fail to prove the case being made.
Acts of the Apostles 24:14, But this I confess to you, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, BELIEVING ALL THINGS THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.
Romans 15:13Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace IN BELIEVING, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
John 3:36, HE THAT BELIEVES ON THE SON HAS EVERLASTING LIFE; HE THAT BELIEVES NOT THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE, BUT THE WRATH OF GOD REMAINS ON HIM.
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Non-Protestant Churches affirm those Scriptures too. Accepting them in no way requires belief that “Scripture is the only rule of faith”.
According to the scriptures we receive God's Spirit by believing and following what Gods' Word says. God's Spirit is the Spirit of the Word of God *
John 6:63and works through Gods' Word *
John 17:17as we believe and follow what God's Word says
John 6.63 is a reference to the spoken words of Jesus, which were not Scripture when He spoke them.
John 17.17 may refer to Scripture - and it may not.
allowing God to work in and through us to will and to do of His own good pleasure
Philippians 2:13. Faith (belief or believing) comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God we are saved by grace through faith that comes from Gods' Word.
As noted above, the “word of God” may be a reference to the message preached, rather than to the Scriptures.
Therefore I believe that the scriptures are the only rule of faith. The truth of Gods' Word can only be found as we seek Jesus for it through his Word by claiming his promise for his Spirit to be our guide and teacher (see
John 16:13;
John 7:17;
John 14:26;
John 8:31-36;
1 John 2:27). This is God's new covenant promise to those who believe and follow Gods' Word *
Hebrews 8:10-12.
WHO ARE GOD'S SAINTS OR PEOPLE?
John 10:26-27 [26], But YOU BELIEVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT MY SHEEP, as I said to you. [27], MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE AND I KNOW THEM AND THEY FOLLOW ME.
John 3:36, HE THAT BELIEVES ON THE SON HAS EVERLASTING LIFE; HE THAT BELIEVES NOT THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE, BUT THE WRATH OF GOD REMAINS ON HIM.
Matthew 7:21-23 [21], Not every one that said to me, lord, lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; BUT HE THAT DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN. [22], Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? [23], And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: DEPART FROM ME, YOU THAT WORK INIQUITY.
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Gods' people are all those who believe and follow God's Word. It is by the Word of God that we have faith and it is by believing and following what Gods Word says that we are His people.
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NT Christians could not follow a written NT that did not yet exist. For the author of the Fourth Gospel, “the Word” is revealed first & foremost, not in the (OT) Scriptures, but in Jesus - in a Person Who taught with authority, not in a book. Scripture is at best a witness to Christ - without Him, it can kill. In no way can it replace Him.
The only basis for the canonisation of those 27 books as a written NT of God-breathed Scripture, was the discernment, by the churches, over a long period of time, that those 27 writings were to be had in all the churches as Sacred Scripture. And this discernment is beliieved to have been the work of the Holy Spirit of God. But on all this centuries-long process, Scripture has not a word to say.
One could make a case for the canonisation of these books based on what the Westminnster Confession of Faith calls “good and necessary consequence” - but that case would be worked out by fallible men; it would not be revealed in Scripture.
The words of the WCF on the qualities & excellence of Scripture are admirable - but they do not guard the Scriptures against determined scepticism. Great claims are made for the Koran as well, but no Christian who accepts the authority of Scripture will accept them. Here are those words from the WCF:
“We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Church to an high and reverent esteem of the holy Scripture; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man’s salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet, notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.” - WCF chapter 1.5:
The Westminster Confession of Faith - Ligonier Ministries
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The argument from the “inward work of the Holy Spirit” can have authority for the individual, or for a group of like-minded individuals; but it is of no value to a disbeliever in its force, because such an experience cannot be shown by mere argument to be of any authority. Some things need to be known by personal experience, if they are to be known properly at all. Mere argument is too impersonal to convince.
What is your view (scripture please)?
God bless