Did you know that the doctrine of Sola Scriptura has existed only for the last 500 years? Before the reformation, the doctrine of Sola Scriptura was unknown. The church was not ruled by Sola Scriptura. It was a doctrine that was invented during the reformation. That is history, if you would care to look it up.
What I am saying is what the church taught for the first 1500 years of its existence. It was not until Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis on the door of Wittenberg Cathedral that men began to teach the Bible as you teach it now. Up until around 1520 or so, the church itself was in the role that you put the Bible in.
The reformation rejected the idea of the church being the guardian of the truth because of the massive corruption and abuse in the Catholic branch. In rejecting all things Catholic, they had to have some foundation for their doctrine. And so was born the doctrine of Sola Scriptura - what you are asserting. That doctrine does not go back to the Apostles, but only back to the later part of the reformation.
This is all verifiable stuff. Have you ever sought out the origins of Sola Scriptura? I have. It is a relative recent doctrine invented to fill a void created by the rejection of all things Catholic.
Even the Catholics were not following what the Bible teaches as to how we are supposed to be individually taught by God.
Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
The reason that the church fell into corruption is because they also were enslaved by the alternate path. However, the source they substituted for personal instruction by God was “church tradition”. (That also snared the Jews.) All the doctrine of Sola Scriptura did was substitute one second hand source for another second hand source - fleshly understanding of the Bible for “church tradition”. The source was still second hand information as opposed to the first hand information created by listening to God and obeying Him.
It matters not what the second hand source is. It is the fact that it is second hand that is the problem. God is seeking those who will listen to Him and obey. When God speaks to you, it is a living thing, for God’s words are spirit and are alive. They enter you and they affect the desired change in you. That is why the only way that one can be saved is by listening to and obeying God through the Holy Spirit. It is only God speaking to you and you accepting it that can change a man’s heart. Knowing good from evil does not change a man’s heart.
Since the doctrine of Sola Scriptura came on the scene, what has been its fruit? If the Bible were the correct source, ought not the church to be united in one doctrine? What has been the fruit of Sola Scriptura except greater and greater division and conflict?
If the Bible is the “Word of God”, why can’t we be united in one common doctrine? The doctrine of Sola Scriptura itself is the author of that massive tidal wave of division and sectarian squabbling. No one can agree on what it says. Why is that? If Sola Scriptura is true and the Bible is the one true source of the truth about God, we should all be united in one common set of beliefs.
The fact that we are not is sufficient to falsify the doctrine. There are tens of thousands of sects and denominations worldwide. If you get 10 Christians in a room, there will be 12 opinions on what any verse says.
The reason that Sola Scriptura is responsible for all the division is because it places men in the role of trying to figure out the truths of God using a defective instrument – a mind darkened by sin. Since the things of the Spirit of God are foolishness to the natural mind, the outcome of the sin darkened mind is foolishness. It is the opposite of what is true. The carnal mind cannot grasp the things of the Spirit of God, and he cannot know them.
That is why it is necessary to be taught of God. He can and does explain how all the things we thing are foolishness and all the things He thinks are not. By revelation we can understand the juxtaposition of truth and error.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
This verse explains why we must become as little children and be taught by God from the simplest concept to the most divine. It is this dichotomy that is at the root of why Sola Scriptura has not enabled the church to be fully restored to its former glory. It is Isa 55:8-9 that necessitates that my view of scripture is the correct one. Those who approach God through the acquisition of knowledge never find Him. Those who approach Him by letting Him teach us through the Spirit do find Him. Only God is able to get around the fact that the natural mind cannot get past the fact that the things of the Spirit of God are foolishness to him.
This is called “ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”.
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
It is the alternate path that this verse is describing. Ever seeking after knowledge and never being able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
The seeking after knowledge has the form of godliness.
Ge 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
But it denies the power thereof.
The fruit of your view of the Bible is massive division and in-fighting in the church, an inability to agree on what the Bible says. Jesus said we will know whether something is true or not by its fruits.
Walter
Kambulow
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reserved
Burlington,
Ontario
Mail to
walthope@mail.com
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