Subject: complete return to biblical Christianity |
Bible Note: Dear Emmaus, You replied saying that my comment " raises the question of authority and how the Holy Spirit works in and through the Church which Christ established and of which He said, "He who hears your hears me." Luke 10:16 ". Context Emmaus, context! Who is Jesus addressing here? The Seventy He sent out before Him: Luke 10:16 "The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.". How does verse apply to the question of final authority? The final authority is the written Word of God. We have many wonderful and godly theologians in the Reformed Faith, and what they say is oft times then not a treasure of Scriptural insight and it is wise not to dismiss what they teach lightly. Nevertheless, it is not Holy Writ in itself. None of these men lay claim to infallibility but rather exhort us to prove them by the foundation laid down by the Apostles themselves. Acts 15:22, 23 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas--Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, and they sent this letter by them, "The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings. The passage above deals with the administration of the church and has no relation (at least that I can see) to the topic of Final Authority, or as I would prefer to say "Sola Scriptura". Acts 15:28 "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: Again, I fail to see the relavence. The Holy Spirit impresses the hearts of all true christians. You said the Holy Spirit still continues to "lead you (the apostles and their successors) to all truth.". What about the rest of us pew warmers, do we not have the Holy Spirit as well? John 16:7 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you" You believe this refers to the Apostles and their successors. I believe it applies to the Apostles and every one who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Your thoughts? Brother John |