The Five Solas: A Cry for Truth‏ (Part 2 of 5)‏

Hello Friends!

Welcome back to part two of The Five Solas: A Cry for Truth.

This week we will investigate the second Sola known as SOLA SCRIPTURA…

The Five Solas: #2 – Sola Scriptura

The inerrant Old and New Testament Scripture - the Holy Bible - is the sole source of written divine revelation, which alone can bind the conscience. The sixty-six books of the Bible alone teaches all that is necessary for our eternal salvation from sin and is the standard by which all Christian behavior must be measured. It is denied that any creed, council or individual may bind a Christian's conscience, that the Holy Spirit speaks independently of - or contrary to - what is set forth in the Bible. Also, personal, subjective spiritual experience can ever be a vehicle of revelation outside of the Holy Scripture.

Scripture alone (Sola Scriptura) is the teaching that Scripture is the Church's only infallible and sufficient rule for deciding issues of faith and practices which involve doctrines. While the Bible does not contain all "general" knowledge, it does contain and is the ONLY source of that which is necessary for eternal salvation of the soul. Indeed, if something is not found in Scripture, it is not binding upon the believer. This view does not deny that the Christian has the authority to teach God's Word. Furthermore, while tradition itself may indeed be valuable, it but must be tested and approved by the higher authority of the Scriptures.

Sola Scriptura:

"does not mean that the Reformers rejected everything that every Christian in earlier ages has said: indeed, they often cited the early Christians as supporters of their own positions. However, they recognized that those earlier believers were not inspired, were not inerrant, and, in fact, quite often made errors in their judgments and beliefs, just as people do today. The only infallible rule of faith, they argued, is found in the pages of Holy Writ." – The Shape of Sola Scriptura, by Keith A. Mathison

In all of this, the role of the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, is critically vital. The Word of God can only be received and obeyed by the power Holy Spirit within the believer.

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 – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Catholic position on Sola Scriptura differs from Protestantism. Roman Catholicism teaches that the Bible is inspired and the infallible original manuscripts. Catholics also do not believe in Sola Scriptura due to the fact that there is no guide to decipher important theological issues without their Church. The Catholic Church also teaches that it collected and organized the Holy Scriptures via Tradition and has the Papal Office guiding and helping decipher important scripture verses.

Thank you for reading! Don’t miss next week’s edition as we investigate Sola #3 – SOLA CHRISTUS…

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!

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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><

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