I completely and wholeheartedly trust the Holy Spirit to lead me to all truth concerning the things of God. Our Lord Jesus said, "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come" (John 16:13, emphasis added). If someone tells me something contrary to what is written in the Scriptures, than I will reject it outright. I test all things against Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21) and I pray for understanding and discernment.
(1) If "All Scripture" only refers to the Old Testament, than every single word written in every book of the New Testament should be rejected as Scripture.
(2) If "All Scripture" does not include the New Testament as being inspired by God, than anything and everything written about Jesus Christ (His birth, His ministry, His teaching, and His suffering and death on the cross for the remission of our sins) should all be rejected.
(3) If "All Scripture" does not include the New Testament as being inspired by God, than how do we know we're truly saved or not?
(4) If "All Scripture" does not include the New Testament as being inspired by God, than how do we know if God loves us enough to send His Son to die for us on the cross?
(5) If "All Scripture" does not include the New Testament as being inspired by God, than how do we know if Jesus Christ really died on the cross for our sins?
(6) If "All Scripture" does not include the New Testament as being inspired by God, than what good is Christianity?
(7) If "All Scripture" does not include the New Testament as being inspired by God, than why are we following the commands, instructions, and teaching of Jesus and the apostles?
(8) If "All Scripture" does not include the New Testament as being inspired by God, than why go to church to hear passages of the New Testament read and preached from the pulpit?
(9) If "All Scripture" does not include the New Testament as being inspired by God, than why do we pray in Jesus' name? Jesus said that where two or more are gathered in His name, there He would be also. Is that not true?
(10) If "All Scripture" does not include the New Testament as being inspired by God, than why do we believe that the Old Testament is divinely inspired by God?
And if the Old Testament is the "All Scripture" referred to in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, which is God-breathed and it alone is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, than we're ALL in deep trouble (and that includes Catholics and Orthodox). As far as I'm aware Christians (which we wouldn't be Christians in the first place since the term Christian was first used in Antioch, as recorded in the Book of Acts, which is in the New Testament, that is not divinely inspired), aren't sacrificing animals on altars for the remission of their sins. I know I haven't been. And as far as I'm aware Christians (see above explanation also in parenthesis), haven't been following all the rules and regulations set forth by God (who only inspired the Old Testament) in the Old Covenant. I know I haven't been. Since our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) to God and the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Him (Proverbs 15:8; 21:27) than we're ALL up the creek without a paddle. We have absolutely NO hope of salvation, because none of us are righteous.
So I can only conclude that we're ALL condemned to hell, without any hope of redemption. We're not forgiven for our sins because we don't do the animal sacrifices for the remission of our sins as commanded in the Old Testament (which is the "All Scripture" mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:16-17). We're not reconciled to God because of our sins and because we're unrighteous. The wrath of God is still upon us, because we have not hope of being truly forgiven by God and we won't inherit the Kingdom of God nor will we have eternal life. In fact, since 2 Timothy 3:16-17 is in the New Testament (which is not included in the "All Scripture"), than we can't even trust and believe that God inspired the Old Testament. If we cannot believe and trust what is written in the New Testament as being "God-breathed" and included in the "All Scripture" of 2 Timothy 3:16, than we cannot possibly trust in God Himself.
If we do not believe that the New Testament is included in the "All Scripture" than we cannot believe any of the prophecies about the end times written in the New Testament. We could not believe Peter when he wrote, "knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:20-21). In fact, we could not even believe what John the Revelator wrote in the book of Revelation. There is nothing written in the New Testament that we can believe, if we do not believe it to be divinely inspired of God.
So, what do we do now? Where or in whom do we place our faith, which without it, we cannot please God. If we aren't to believe that the "All Scripture" includes both the Old AND the New Testament, than how do we know what absolute truth is? If we don't believe that the Holy Scriptures are divinely inspired, than we cannot know if God is telling us the truth, or that if He is even real. If He is real, than we won't be able to have communion or fellowship with Him, or even have a personal relationship with Him, because of our sinfulness. We have no hope. We're just condemned prisoners in the prison of our sins.
If what is written in the New Testament isn't included in the "All Scripture" than we are not in Christ Jesus. We are not forgiven of our sins. We are not cleansed in the blood of Jesus for our sins. We are not reconciled to God nor do we have peace with Him. We are lost and eternally condemned if we aren't to believe that what is written in the New Testament is included in the "All Scripture" of 2 Timothy 3:16. We would not believe what is written about how to be saved. We would not believe what is written about salvation in the New Testament, which is freely given to us by God, because of His love, grace and mercy toward us demonstrated through the cross of Jesus Christ. We would still be under the law, condemned.
However, I do believe that the New Testament is definitely included in the "All Scripture" and that "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." I believe and fully trust that God preserves His Word and that it will not return to Him in void. I wholeheartedly believe that the Word of God alive and is sharper than any two-edged sword. I wholeheartedly believe the Scriptures are infallible and inerrant, and are the sole authority for the Christian faith and practice. I believe that as long as church tradition or doctrine is in full agreement with the Scriptures, than they can be accepted and practiced. However, if a church tradition or doctrine is contrary to what is written in Scripture, than I believe that the tradition or doctrine should not be accepted or practiced, but condemned as heresy.
the Jerusalem council would be totally invalid because they went beyond known Scripture
ALL SCRIPTURE means ALL SCRIPTURE.
