I am a non-denominational, Trinitarian, Sola Scriptura, Dualistic Conditional Immortality, and a Pacifist type Christian who is strongly against OSAS or Belief Alone-ism. I believe after we are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ (believing in His death and resurrection on our behalf and seeking forgiveness of our sins with Him), we also are saved by "works of faith" (Sanctification, i.e. Which is the next step or stage in the salvation process). I believe Paul argued against "
Works Alone Salvationism" (that did not include God's grace through faith) because he was trying to speak against the heresy of "
Circumcision Salvationism" that was attacking the different churches during that time (See: Galatians 2:3, Galatians 2:3, Galatians 5:2, Galatians 5:6, Galatians 6:5, 1 Corinthians 7:18-19, Romans 2:28-29, Romans 3:1, Romans 4:9-12, Acts of the Apostles 21:21. Also see: Acts of the Apostles 15:1, Acts of the Apostles 15:5, Acts of the Apostles 15:24).
At the end of the day, Scripture is our sole authority. We will all have to answer to God on our doctrine and on whether or not we obeyed His Word. The traditions of men are not God's words and they will fade away like the dust. Traditions in the Bible is generally looked upon as something that is bad and not good. In the one instance that it is used in a positive way, it is in reference to God's Word that was to be written down, and it was not in reference to some oral set of traditions that were passed down.
The Bible is the only reliable source of truth when it comes to spiritual matters. It is the only book in human history that has proven itself divine in origin ten times over.
Here is a Blogger article I created that shows forth many evidences that prove that God's Word is divine in origin:
Love Branch: Evidences for the Word of God
No other holy book, or church tradition can make such a claim as on the level of being on par with Scripture or the Bible.
But God can change men's hearts if Christians pray for them.
We are in a spiritual battle.
No. John 20:23 does not teach that.
Here is what it says:
"Whoever’s sins you declare forgiveness upon [by your witness of their receiving the gospel]*, their sins are forgiven unto them; and whoever’s sins you declare as still remaining [by your witness of their rejection of the gospel]*, their sins will still remain."
(John 20:23).
Note: The brackets in blue above in the verse is my commentary to the text.
How is this interpretation correct? Well, when we read about how Jesus appears to the disciples in John 20:19-23, and Luke 24:36-43, we also have to read verses 46-48 in Luke 24, which says this.
46 "And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things."
(Luke 24:46-48).
This is tied in with the gospel. The other gospels ends with the necessity of the gospel so as to preached to all nations (Which is a part of a person's forgiveness of their sins).
We often erroneously think that commands given to the disciples are for us today. The word "keys" is the teaching of God's Word. God's Word (i.e. Scripture or the keys or God's teaching) was authenticated by signs and miracles by Jesus and His followers. Yes, in a manner of speaking, these key teachings are passed down to us, but they are not directly given to us by God like the apostles. They were the ones who were forming Scripture at that time and giving them the keys of the Kingdom (i.e. the teachings of God). This is not talking about some oral passed down tradition or some kind of extra tradition that was added on top of Scripture. The good traditions mentioned in God's Word is in reference to teachings of God that was to be written down. They would obviously write what they were teaching down that was important and they would not risk just passing their teachings done orally so that it would be lost. Nor was there some kind of extra book labeled "
traditions" that existed during the time of the formation of the Holy Scriptures that is known as the Bible today.
Yeah, I honestly do not see how anyone can be Catholic. To me it so obviously not true in tons of ways. I can write for days on how I believe it is unbiblical, but I have found that arguing against Catholicism at "
Christian Forums" does not go over too well here, so I pick and choose my battles.
Although every fiber of my being is against Catholicism and I can easily defend why it is unbiblical with Scripture, It is nice that we can agree on something.
Simple. Jesus is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22) (Ephesians 5:23) (Colossians 1:18).
The Apostles and Prophets were merely the foundation built upon the foundation of Jesus. “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone;” (
Ephesians 2:18-20). We are said to have access by one Spirit unto the Father that is build upon the “foundation” of the apostles and prophets. Being an apostle is a gift (See
1 Corinthians 12:28-31). The qualifications of being an apostle was to have seen the risen Lord Jesus Christ (See
Acts of the Apostles 1:22-26). Paul said he met the qualifications as being an apostle because he had seen the risen Lord.
1 Corinthians 9:1 “…Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?” Paul called himself the “last prophet.” (
1 Corinthians 15:8-9). Paul says that God has set forth the apostles last (
1 Corinthians 14:9).
New revelation (prophecy) or new words from God are not to be added (
Revelation 22:18-19). If a person were to add to God’s Word, the plagues that are within the book known as the Bible (not the plagues in Revelation) would be added to them. We have occurrences of this actually happening. See these two links here:
Bible Corrector Loses Voice on Ankerberg Show.
Bible Correctors lose Voice