A few questions for Protestants

[concretecamper]

They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 1 Cor 10:3-5

Correct, The Eucharist

And the Gentiles are fellow heirs, of the same body, partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God; Eph 3:6-7

Correct. Christ came to save even the Gentiles!

 

[keepitsimple144]

Correct, The Eucharist


Correct. Christ came to save even the Gentiles!

Christ redeemed us so that the blessing promised to Abraham would come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith receive the promise of the Holy Spirit; Gal 3:14
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Gal 3:25-29

 

[bbbbbbb]

I believe he did. I do not myself regard it as plausible.

Although he may have developed that particular expression of the theory, it seems to trace its roots to the Fundamentalist/Modernist schism in mainline churches at the beginning of the twentieth century. At that time many looked fondly back at the nineteenth century as having been a golden age for the Christian faith. On the liberal end of the spectrum, the magazine, The Christian Century, began at the turn of the twentieth century with the hope that the twentieth century would be the first Christian century of the millennium which would see the return of Jesus Christ ca. 2900. However, with the schism, someone, perhaps even earlier, decided that Christian history could be nicely paralleled with the characteristics observed in the letters to the seven churches in Revelation. They decided that the church in Philadelphia, being the least-criticized of the set, was similar to (Western, specifically British and American) Christianity of the nineteenth century. In contrast, they portrayed the twentieth century negatively, proclaiming that it was lukewarm, like Laodicea. The conclusion was that, if the twentieth century was a Laodicean segment of Christian history, Jesus Christ would return very soon.

We see this scenario played out throughout the twentieth century (not to mention many other centuries). The Jehovah's Witnesses proclaimed the return of Jesus Christ in 1914. World War I fed the fear. The 1920's were not at all good for most people, especially in agricultural areas. The Great Depression of the 1930's accompanied by drought and massive heat as well as rising political aggression was truly nasty. Then came World War II which led to multiple predictions of the end of the "Laodicean" age. The latter half of the twentieth century was comparatively calmer, but not without exponents of this generic eschatology.

 

[rockytopva]

I believe the Christian experiences as three...

1. Salvation - Very easy! Simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ - Romans 10:9
2. Sanctification - Seeing the Christ formed on the inside - A sort of Catechism if you will. - Galatians 4:19
3. Gifts of the Spirit - I believe we are all blessed uniquely

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. - 1 John 4:15

 

[BPPLEE]

Under the Protestant/Sola Scriptura (the Bible alone) theological system, is it your belief, and would you agree, there exists no person or no institution that can infallibly decide what is true and what is false for Christians when it comes to matters of faith and/or morals?

If you happen to answer yes to this question, my next question would be.... under this theological system, would you agree there is no sure way you could have absolute assurance of anything you believe being true? In other words, there is no way of knowing the truth?

Yet, Jesus says, "Know the truth and the truth will set make you free." (John 8:32)

So, let me leave you with this last question: For a Christian, what is the pillar and ground of the truth - i.e., the upholder and foundation of the truth? Is it the Bible? Yes or no?

Have a Blessed day!

2Co 5:7 - (For we walk by faith, not by sight

 

[eleos1954]

Under the Protestant/Sola Scriptura (the Bible alone) theological system, is it your belief, and would you agree, there exists no person or no institution that can infallibly decide what is true and what is false for Christians when it comes to matters of faith and/or morals?

If you happen to answer yes to this question, my next question would be.... under this theological system, would you agree there is no sure way you could have absolute assurance of anything you believe being true? In other words, there is no way of knowing the truth?

Yet, Jesus says, "Know the truth and the truth will set make you free." (John 8:32)

So, let me leave you with this last question: For a Christian, what is the pillar and ground of the truth - i.e., the upholder and foundation of the truth? Is it the Bible? Yes or no?

Have a Blessed day!

The truth will set people free from spiritual slavery. Freedom biblically refers to liberty to do what one should do, not what one wishes to do. This person is no longer under slavery to sin. There is liberty (freedom) in Christ (2 Cor. 3:17; Gal. 5:1, 13; cf. 4:4–7; James 1:25).

When ever we sin we put ourself in bondage until the Holy Spirit helps us overcome our sin.

It is sin that takes away our freedom.

What is sin? Transgression of the Law

 

[Fidelibus]

2Co 5:7 - (For we walk by faith, not by sight

For a Christian, what is the pillar and ground of the truth - i.e., the upholder and foundation of the truth? Is it the Bible?

 

[Fidelibus]

The truth will set people free from spiritual slavery. Freedom biblically refers to liberty to do what one should do, not what one wishes to do. This person is no longer under slavery to sin. There is liberty (freedom) in Christ (2 Cor. 3:17; Gal. 5:1, 13; cf. 4:4–7; James 1:25).

When ever we sin we put ourself in bondage until the Holy Spirit helps us overcome our sin.

It is sin that takes away our freedom.

What is sin? Transgression of the Law

Hello eleos, same question. For a Christian, what is the pillar and ground of the truth - i.e., the upholder and foundation of the truth? Is it the Bible?

 

[eleos1954]

Hello eleos, same question. For a Christian, what is the pillar and ground of the truth - i.e., the upholder and foundation of the truth? Is it the Bible?

Absolutely it should be the bible .... however ... keep in mind there are many interpretations .... it really is best if one studies for themselves ... across the entire bible (because God never changes) ... taking selective bible passages (some call it cherry picking) is not a good idea as often they can be taken out of context ... even by seasoned clergy and can lead one down distorted paths.

You can search the bible fairly easily nowadays ... here's a couple resources you might check out.

Search by topic (you can change to topic at the top) not all will apply but many will
Open Bible

Here you can find other helpful tools (lexicons, commentaries) various versions of the bible etc.
Bible Hub

May God Bless your in your studies, amen.

 

[BPPLEE]

Absolutely it should be the bible .... however ... keep in mind there are many interpretations .... it really is best if one studies for themselves ... across the entire bible (because God never changes) ... taking selective bible passages (some call it cherry picking) is not a good idea as often they can be taken out of context ... even by seasoned clergy and can lead one down distorted paths.

You can search the bible fairly easily nowadays ... here's a couple resources you might check out.

Search by topic (you can change to topic at the top) not all will apply but many will
Open Bible

Here you can find other helpful tools (lexicons, commentaries) various versions of the bible etc.
Bible Hub

May God Bless your in your studies, amen.

Bible Gateway and Blue Letter Bible are good ones too and easy to use

 

[bbbbbbb]

Hello eleos, same question. For a Christian, what is the pillar and ground of the truth - i.e., the upholder and foundation of the truth? Is it the Bible?

The alternative answer, which I assume you expect, is that is "the church" that is the pillar and ground of the truth.

There are several conundrums in understanding this in the twenty-first century of Christian history, as follow:

1. What is "the church"? Is it a huge religious bureaucracy with its headquarters in Rome, Italy, as many such as yourself believe? What of the other branches of Christianity? Are they not "the church" and, if not, what are they? The convenient response is to label them and "ecclesial communities" is it not and, thereby dismiss any actual claims to including them in "the church". An alternative would be to embrace them as "separated brethren" which still results in the same dichotomy between "the church" and schismatic imposters.

2. Assuming that "the church" is actually and truly only the bloated religious bureaucracy headquartered in Rome, Italy, what "truth" does it support? Is this "truth" the pure, unchanging truth of God? Or, by contrast, is this "truth" ever-evolving and changing to develop "sacred tradition".

3. If "the church" continually changes, as clearly evidenced in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, how can anyone know what "truth"actually is? At this point in its history, the RCC proclaims that it alone possesses the true "dogmas" of God. However, it is either unwilling or unable to establish a codified list of these dogmas, leaving the task to various theologians who explain various dogmas, but cannot define all of the dogmas simply because these dogmas have not yet been provided by "the church" which, allegedly, supports them.

I look forward to your answers. Thank you.

 

[timothyu]

You can search the bible fairly easily nowadays ... here's a couple resources you might check out.

Search by topic (you can change to topic at the top) not all will apply but many will
Open Bible

Here you can find other helpful tools (lexicons, commentaries) various versions of the bible etc.

Yes and remember to clear your mind of thousands of years of tradition and the theology of man.
Everything focuses around Jesus' Gospel of the Kingdom and the Kingdom itself. The entire Bible from beginning to end is about God telling us to put His will ahead of our own, and how man continually refuses to do so and the problems that creates, from the original self serving sin of Adam and Eve until today. He tells us the world is backwards in nature and how to rectify the situation for ourselves by rejecting the ways of man and loving all as self. He'll take care of the rest in overcoming both adversarial man and elohim. Its not complicated.

 

[Clare73]

For a Christian, what is the pillar and ground of the truth - i.e., the upholder and foundation of the truth? Is it the Bible?

It is the body of Christ, the church (Eph 5:31-32).

 

[bbbbbbb]

It is the body of Christ, the church (Eph 5:31-32).

Please see my post above. In order to further the discussion I think it is imperative that we define what "the church" actually constitutes. I am convinced that Fidelibus' definition is quite at odds with yours and my own.

 

[timothyu]

15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Truth comes from God and not from mankind. This was the basis of a movement that would be Jesus' church. Not an institution or religion, but a movement among the people, based on truth from God and free of interpretation, traditions, and the concepts and religion of man.

 

[The Liturgist]

Bible Gateway and Blue Letter Bible are good ones too and easy to use

I like BibleHub myself as it has the widest selection of bibles of any such websites. Still not wide enough for my tastes, but better than most.

 

[Valletta]

Assuming that "the church" is actually and truly only the bloated religious bureaucracy headquartered in Rome, Italy, what "truth" does it support?

You make a false assumption. Part of the Catholic Church is in Heaven, part is on earth, and the Church also consists of those who are being purified. Very often upon hearing the words "Catholic Church" my first thought is the Catholic Church in Heaven.

 

[bbbbbbb]

You make a false assumption. Part of the Catholic Church is in Heaven, part is on earth, and the Church also consists of those who are being purified. Very often upon hearing the words "Catholic Church" my first thought is the Catholic Church in Heaven.

Thank you for your definition. Out of curiosity, how does the church in Purgatory support the truth?

 

[Fidelibus]

Absolutely it should be the bible ....

But is it? That being, is "the bible" the pillar and ground of the truth, the upholder and foundation of the truth? What does Scripture say?



Have a Blessed Day!

 

[Fidelibus]

It is the body of Christ, the church (Eph 5:31-32).

In what three ways are husbands to serve their wives? What verse does Paul quote in verse 31 from the Old Testament creation story of the marriage of Adam and Eve that Jesus also quotes in Matthew 19:5?


Have a Blessed Day!