Sola Scriptura and Religion.
The
phrase sola scriptura is from the Latin: sola having the idea of
“alone,” “ground,” “base,” and the word scriptura meaning
“writings”—referring to the Scriptures. Sola scriptura means that
Scripture alone is authoritative for the faith and practice of the
Christian. The Bible is complete, authoritative, and true.
Sola scriptura was the rallying cry of the Protestant Reformation. Is it practiced by Protestant religions as they claim?
The
Bible itself does not allow for traditions that contradict the person of Jesus.
Sola scriptura is against unbiblical tradition, extra-biblical and/or anti-biblical
doctrines of which religion is inundated with. The only way to know what
is truth is not as to what tradition is or how respected religious men have interpreted the
Bible but, we know what is truth by the revelation of the Spirit of
Christ within. We can know, beyond the shadow of any doubt, that
Scripture is true, authoritative, and contextual reliable only if its
revelation is through the lens of Jesus and sanctioned by His Spirit.
The principal of the Reformation is expressed by
Chillingworth as; "The Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the
Bible, is the religion of the Protestants." The sola scritura idea came
about to combat the Roman Catholic view that declared the "Bible and
Tradition to be the co-ordinate sources and rule of faith, and makes
tradition, especially the decrees of popes and councils, the only
legitimate and infallible interpreter of the Bible.
However, protestants by no means reject the
doctrines or traditions of man such as denominational hierarchical
authority, the canonization of the Bible, the segregation of believers,
nor the practice of calling a building the "House of God'. Also, besides
having its own religious symbols and standards of doctrine, its own
standards of rules in order to be members of their denomination, it
retained all the articles of ancient man-made-creeds and ritual
tradition.
When we build doctrines or establish beliefs out of
reaction to something we do not agree with, instead of following the
Spirit of Truth, error is easily accepted. To observe what is happening
in religion, one would think that Jesus told His disciples in John
14:26, "but the Bible, which the Father will send in my name, it will
teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things I have
said to you." Is the Bible what Jesus promised the Church to keep it
from error...NO...rather it was the Spirit of Truth. The Godhead is not
made up of the Father, the Son and the "Holy Bible."
Instead of allowing the Spirit of God to teach us,
we tend to keep feeding on religious hog-wash that is spoon fed by the
man-appointed denominated chef when we should be eating solid food from
the table of the Spirit of Truth.
Most all major denominations believe in the main tenants of Christian faith. However there is some minor differences of opinion where there is room for interpretation. However the main tenants don`t need any interpretation.
ReplyDeleteFor instance they all believe that Christ is coming back again. The disagreement is when He is coming.
Pretty well all that call themselves Christians believe in birth of Christ, His atonement and His resurrection.
We find the main tenants in the Apostles creed.
Another area that is a nonessential is all symbols in Book of Revelation. There are some areas where we can agree to disagree.
Paul said that in some areas we all see through a glass darkly so we need to be guided by Holy Spirit as Paul was when he knew when to just have a disagreement with somebody or to label them an apostate.
Paul spoke about what will happen to those who have the truth but doesn`t walk in it in Heb.10:26-31.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
The only difference between those living under the law and those living under grace is that those that turn there backs upon the truth under grace will have a sorer punishment than those under grace.
That last word should be law.
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