Defending Sola Scriptura
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Part in red I think is very funny....outrageous....
http://wooq.blogspot.com/2006/04/defending-sola-scriptura.html
Monday, April 17, 2006
Defending Sola Scriptura
Where in the Bible is the principle or concept of Sola Scriptura (By Scripture alone) espoused?
To answer this question, I believe the doctrine of Sola Scriptura must be defined first. I would define it to mean the Scriptures, the sixty-six canonical books of the Bible, are the only authoritative and infallible rule for the Christian faith. The Scriptures reveal all that is necessary for salvation. No other revelation outside the Scriptures is necessary for the Church. The Scriptures are the sole and supreme written norm by which God binds the conscience, and the authority of the Church, which includes its traditions, confessions and creeds, is subordinate to the Word of God.
What the doctrine of Sola Scriptura is not: it is not a claim that the Scriptures contain all knowledge of human wisdom. It does not reject traditions, confessions and creeds; it means that any tradition, creed or confession must be tested through the Word of God. It is not a claim that the Scriptures record every single exhaustive detail of religious knowledge, for instance, an account of every thing that Jesus Christ has ever done on earth. It does not deny the authority of the Church to teach divine truths; that the Church has the duty to uphold divine truths found within the Word of God, while remaining subservient to the Scriptures.
Sola Scriptura was one of the five important doctrines in the 16th century Protestant Reformation, along with Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus and Soli deo Gloria. Even today, the divide between Protestants and Roman Catholics still exist, with the Vatican maintaining the infallible authority of its traditions, councils and the Pope.
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we read:
As a result the Church, to whom the transmission and interpretation of Revelation is entrusted, "does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honoured with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence.
While Roman Catholicism contains many extra-biblical doctrines such as purgatory, the sacramental system, the immaculate conception and bodily assumption of Mary, the veneration of graven images, papal primacy and infallibility, and transubstantiation etc, many proponents of the Charismatic Movement hold in high regard extra-biblical revelations such as dreams, visions, and spectacular prophecies.
Here are two examples of outrageous extra-biblical revelations from two prominent personalities in the Charismatic Movement, Benny Hinn and Kenneth Copeland:
Adam allegedly flew into space
“Adam was a super-being when God created him. I don't know whether people know this, but he was the first superman that really ever lived. First of all, the Scriptures declare clearly that he had dominion over the fowls of the air, the fish of the sea--which means he used to fly. Of course, how can he have dominion over the birds and not be able to do what they do? The word 'dominion' in the Hebrew clearly declares that if you have dominion over a subject, that you do everything that subject does. In other words, that subject, if it does something you cannot do, you don't have dominion over it. 1'll prove it further. Adam not only flew, he flew to space. He was--with one thought he would be on the moon.” – Benny Hinn (“Praise the Lord” program on TBN, 26 December 1991)
Jesus was allegedly raped by Roman soldiers
“Let me tell you something folks. Anybody in here that's ever been sexually abused, listen to me right now. Listen to me very carefully. The bible's very careful about the way it says these things. But down there in that dungeon, Romans, ungodly men, ungodly men, put him (Jesus) to every kind of abuse that you can think of. There is no sin that Jesus didn't bare. There is no thing, there is no such thing as a sexual abuse on somebody that Jesus doesn't know firsthand what it's all about. He's been where you are, I don't care what you've been through, Jesus has been through it. And everything's done to him that we couldn't even speak of.” – Kenneth Copeland (The Resurrection Truth)
The above cited excerpts show us how far these men deviate from the doctrine of Sola Scriptura. It is even more saddening that many Christians would defend these men and often times falsely accused discerning Christians of hypocritical judgments and causing unnecessary divisions.
However, I believe the doctrine of Sola Scriptura, which was once and still used to defend the essentials of the Christian faith against Roman Catholicism, has to be firmly defended against extreme proponents of the Charismatic movement, especially those of the word-faith movement, who advocates special extra-biblical revelations apart from the Scriptures.
For if the doctrine of Sola Scriptura is compromised, it will lead to a denial of the rest of the Solas, which would eventually destroy the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can observe throughout the history of the Christian Church, there are many false prophets who claim that the teachings of the Bible are abrogated by introducing some “holy” books or teachings. These false teachings pervert the gospel, most often denying the Trinity and the deity, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. -
Benny Hinn and Kenneth Copeland have been known to write ludicrious stuff....
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my wife like to read their books.Originally posted by Chin Eng:Benny Hinn and Kenneth Copeland have been known to write ludicrious stuff....
while I am into Charles Swindoll, so when our library merged, we realised our scope of readings also widen -
Good for you, which is probably why your theology is quite sound.Originally posted by vince69:my wife like to read their books. while I am into Charles Swindoll, so when our library merged, we realised our scope of readings also widen
With regards to the likes of Hinn and Copeland, I think there is a fine line between sound theology and sensationalistic/irresponsible teachings. It's okay to read their stuff if one is sure of one's faith, but when these articles are given to an impressionable Christian who reads without any guard or filter, they can be extremely dangerous.
There will be some who will say that "to each his own", but I think good, responsible, doctrinal theology is the only way for a Christian to grow. -
indirectly, uncle Chin Eng is saying......muaahahhaaOriginally posted by Chin Eng:Good for you, which is probably why your theology is quite sound.
With regards to the likes of Hinn and Copeland, I think there is a fine line between sound theology and sensationalistic/irresponsible teachings. It's okay to read their stuff if one is sure of one's faith, but when these articles are given to an impressionable Christian who reads without any guard or filter, they can be extremely dangerous.
There will be some who will say that "to each his own", but I think good, responsible, doctrinal theology is the only way for a Christian to grow. -
saying what?Originally posted by laoda99:indirectly, uncle Chin Eng is saying......muaahahhaa -
he is saying....good, responsible, doctrinal theology is the only way for a Christian to growOriginally posted by Chin Eng:Good for you, which is probably why your theology is quite sound.
With regards to the likes of Hinn and Copeland, I think there is a fine line between sound theology and sensationalistic/irresponsible teachings. It's okay to read their stuff if one is sure of one's faith, but when these articles are given to an impressionable Christian who reads without any guard or filter, they can be extremely dangerous.
There will be some who will say that "to each his own", but I think good, responsible, doctrinal theology is the only way for a Christian to grow.
muahahahahhaa -
is he referring to someone in particular?Originally posted by laoda99:he is saying....good, responsible, doctrinal theology is the only way for a Christian to grow
muahahahahhaa
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me loh, cause uncle was talking to me when he say this mahOriginally posted by Icemoon:is he referring to someone in particular? 
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whaha .. older uncle giving advice to younger uncle.Originally posted by vince69:me loh, cause uncle was talking to me when he say this mah 
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yeah...all uncles.....Originally posted by Icemoon:whaha .. older uncle giving advice to younger uncle.
even i look like uncle...haizzz -
no lah, no such thing... I was talking to everyone in general.Originally posted by vince69:me loh, cause uncle was talking to me when he say this mah 
most definitely not..... but as a general reminder that nobody should attempt to sensationalise or trivialise Christian theology.Originally posted by Icemoon:is he referring to someone in particular?
again, no such thing....Originally posted by Icemoon:whaha .. older uncle giving advice to younger uncle. -
haha, this topic has the best timing.
486 years ago on this day...
http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Leo10/l10exdom.htm
Exsurge Domine!!!!!!!!!!! -
u must know....sola scriptura does not restrict to luther's only....Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:haha, this topic has the best timing.
486 years ago on this day...
http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Leo10/l10exdom.htm
Exsurge Domine!!!!!!!!!!!
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yeah, but one thing leads to another... =pOriginally posted by laoda99:u must know....sola scriptura does not restrict to luther's only.... -
like wat??? hmmm......Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:yeah, but one thing leads to another... =p -
Luther was not infallible. no one man has perfect theology here on earth.Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:haha, this topic has the best timing.
486 years ago on this day...
http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Leo10/l10exdom.htm
Exsurge Domine!!!!!!!!!!!
But one thing about Luther: He was absolutely correct in all the essentials of the faith. He was correct in the majors [he did not major on the minors].
he was correct on the doctrine of salvation [justification aspect]
he was correct on the doctrine of the Bible. Bible alone as the source of doctrine and practice. Where else do we get our doctrine?
he was correct on the Trinity. -
He was wrong on the eucharist?Originally posted by Ironside:Luther was not infallible. no one man has perfect theology here on earth.
But one thing about Luther: He was absolutely correct in all the essentials of the faith. He was correct in the majors [he did not major on the minors].
he was correct on the doctrine of salvation [justification aspect]
he was correct on the doctrine of the Bible. Bible alone as the source of doctrine and practice. Where else do we get our doctrine?
he was correct on the Trinity.
I think he did not have faith in the biblical canon. how dare he tore up the epistle of straw.
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hmmm....i tot luther's theology of eucharist is abt the same as RC?Originally posted by Icemoon:He was wrong on the eucharist?
I think he did not have faith in the biblical canon. how dare he tore up the epistle of straw. -
His belief about the eucharist does not change the free offer of salvation in Christ unlike transubstantiation. He rightly maintains that justification is by faith alone. transubtiation is faith + works.
although i myself believe that consubstantiation is wrong. I believe in Calvin's view of it. but then again his beliefs on the eucharist did not obstruct the free offer of salvation in Christ.
about James, he called it the epistle of straw. he repented of it in later life.
he could not reconcile at that time justification by faith alone and James 2.
his theology was still developing at that time. -
it is amazing, though many Christians do not see each other eye to eye on every point of doctrine. What's amazing is that they converge on the essentials. it's like someONE is guiding them not to be in error on the foundational doctrines of Christianity.
One sinner in America undergoes the Holy Spirit's conviction, sees himself a sinner and despairs of his spritiual condition before God. Hears the gospel and boom realizes that salvation is by faith alone. He finds Christ sufficient.
Goes to church for the first time not knowing about Luther's justification by faith alone. Hears the gospel sermon of the preacher and he says: "exactly, yes, that's so true, that's so true. only Christ!!!!!!! only Christ satisfies."
One aborigine man in some island, does not know anything about God's Law but somehow knew by his inner being that there is a HIGHER BEING[ becausse he sees His creation], he possesses some measure of what's right and wrong in him through conscience and knows by inner intuition [i do not know a better word for it....my english is limited] that this HIGHER BEING gave him this conscience.........he then seeks to live according to his conscience but later on realizes that he cannot obey his conscience perfectly.........for a period of time he despairs of his condition [not knowing the the Holy Spirit is convicting him] .........he sees his true self.........a sinner, helpless and hopeless in the sight of the Higer Being.........................
for a period of time languishes over his conditon........one day a plane hovered above the horizon........he followed it with his eyes..........he saw something that fell from the plane by accident..........traced it and found it......it was a BOOK [a book translated in his own language!!!!!!!!!!!]
to soothed his pierced conscience he starts flipping over the BOOK, and through that book found the good news of salvation...........God so loved the world that He gave His Son..............that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life!!!!!!!!!!! He finds out that it is through faith alone in Christ is salvation nothing and no one else.....
He was saved...............he was to be the first missionary in his tribe.........
The man in America and the native finally meet on some place directed by providence and discussed things about religion.........they in no time find out that they have a common faith........faith in Jesus alone for salvation.... -
AMEN! CHRIST ALONE can save us. That is the MOST ESSENTIAL!!!!!!!!Originally posted by Ironside:it is amazing, though many Christians do not see each other eye to eye on every point of doctrine. What's amazing is that they converge on the essentials. it's like someONE is guiding them not to be in error on the foundational doctrines of Christianity.
One sinner in America undergoes the Holy Spirit's conviction, sees himself a sinner and despairs of his spritiual condition before God. Hears the gospel and boom realizes that salvation is by faith alone. He finds Christ sufficient.
Goes to church for the first time not knowing about Luther's justification by faith alone. Hears the gospel sermon of the preacher and he says: "exactly, yes, that's so true, that's so true. only Christ!!!!!!! only Christ satisfies."
One aborigine man in some island, does not know anything about God's Law but somehow knew by his inner being that there is a HIGHER BEING[ becausse he sees His creation], he possesses some measure of what's right and wrong in him through conscience and knows by inner intuition [i do not know a better word for it....my english is limited] that this HIGHER BEING gave him this conscience.........he then seeks to live according to his conscience but later on realizes that he cannot obey his conscience perfectly.........for a period of time he despairs of his condition [not knowing the the Holy Spirit is convicting him] .........he sees his true self.........a sinner, helpless and hopeless in the sight of the Higer Being.........................
for a period of time languages over his conditon........one day a plane hovered above the horizon........he followed it with his eyes..........he saw something that fell from the plane by accident..........traced it and found it......it was a BOOK [a book translated in his own language!!!!!!!!!!!]
to soothed his pierced conscience he starts flipping over the BOOK, and through that book found the good news of salvation...........God so loved the world that He gave His Son..............that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life!!!!!!!!!!! He finds out that it is through faith aloney in Christ is salvation nothing and no one else.....
He was saved...............he was to be the first missionary in his tribe.........
The man in America and the native finally meet on some place directed by providence and discussed things about religion.........they in no time find out that they have a common faith........faith in Jesus alone for salvation....