tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-674803111398619972.post2014357330883061840..comments2023-07-15T10:52:23.322-04:00Comments on All of Grace: Grace Abounding: Summer Grace ProducePenn Tomassettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04426113620189406498noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-674803111398619972.post-49611956928540654602010-08-26T08:53:40.942-04:002010-08-26T08:53:40.942-04:00Michael,
I agree with you completely that authori...Michael,<br /><br />I agree with you completely that authority comes from the Author of Life, the Lord Jesus Christ. Each and every justly instituted authority is established by God on earth for the specific purposes that He intends for them. However, when those authorities contradict or impose laws that are against the will of God revealed in Scripture, they are no longer authoritative at that point. That is because all authority falls under the authority of Scripture.<br /><br />Where the Roman Catholic Church teaches doctrines that contradict the clear teachings of Scripture, it no longer has authority. Christians are clearly taught to obey God's Word rather than men. Those men in authority over the assemblies (called churches) who submit themselves to obeying the Word of God in Scripture have authority only to the point where they do not contradict the teachings of the Bible. If what they do or say contradicts Scripture, it is Scripture that must be obeyed and not the men.<br /><br />For the Apostle Peter said in Acts 5:29,<br /><b><i>"We must obey God rather than men."</i></b><br /><br />And Isaiah boldly reveals the flaw of anyone who speaks contrary to Scripture,<br /><b><i>"To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn."</i></b> (I.e., they are in the dark if they speak contrary to the words of the prophet written in Scripture).<br /><br />And not least, the Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to live under the sufficient authority of Scripture in 2 Timothy 3:15-17,<br /><b><i>"you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."</i></b><br /><br />Now, it seems to me that you keep asserting the authority of the Roman Catholic Church as the church Jesus has authorized, but no Scripture you quoted supports that belief, especially since that sect of Christianity did not exist at the beginning of the church the Lord established. The passage you cited from Romans 13 is speaking of governmental authorities and has nothing to do with authority in the church.<br /><br />It also seems to me you are not open to reason about this, but only in expressing your view. I would plead with you, for the sake of your righteousness before God, to listen to the gospel, be humble and follow Scripture even where it contradicts tradition. In regard to righteousness before God, it is by faith in Christ that it is granted and not by works.<br /><br />Romans 4:6:<br />"just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works"<br /><br />Romans 10:4:<br />"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."<br /><br />I urge you, Michael, to look to the gift of righteousness by faith in Christ, rather than by faith in the Roman Catholic Church.Penn Tomassettihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04426113620189406498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-674803111398619972.post-19210353603899909432010-08-26T01:31:54.405-04:002010-08-26T01:31:54.405-04:00Dear Penn,
Who Has The Authority?
And who does n...Dear Penn,<br /><br /><b>Who Has The Authority?</b><br /><br /><b>And who does not!</b><br /><br /><br />Authority comes from the <b>"Author of Life",</b> Acts 3:15. All authority comes from GOD, <i>"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. <br /><br />For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. <br /><br />Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment." </i> (Romans 13:1-2). <br /><br /><i><b>Notice that GOD is selective as to just who He gives authority.</b></i><br /><br />The <b>Catholic Church</b> has a form of government called a theocracy and operates as an <a href="http://home.inreach.com/bstanley/rock.htm" rel="nofollow">"Hierarchy"</a>. <br /><br />Like any other form of government, it has to have <i>"authority"</i> to function. <br /><br /><b>The Church received its authority from its founder, Jesus Christ...</b>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07940745178193985942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-674803111398619972.post-60483245137366570842010-08-25T20:42:59.557-04:002010-08-25T20:42:59.557-04:00Michael,
Thanks again for commenting.
Matthew 18...Michael,<br /><br />Thanks again for commenting.<br /><br />Matthew 18:15-18 speaks about handling a brother who repeatedly sins against you and does not repent of it. The church has the authority to deal with that brother in a disciplinary manner, but Jesus did not say the church has the final authority over against Scripture. There are many instances where He implies the opposite, including this passage in Matthew 18, where it is this very passage of Scripture that the church derives the authority to deal with a brother in that way. Jesus exalted the authority of Scripture almost every time He spoke, if not directly, then indirectly. Luke chapter 16 is a clear example of that.<br /><br />Another example is how Jesus even submitted Himself to Scripture. Although He is fully God, yet as the human servant of God, He fully submitted Himself to the authority of Scripture, as when He said:<br /><br />"For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors.' For what is written about me has its fulfillment." <br />(Luke 22:37 ESV)<br /><br />Clearly, in Luke 22:37, Jesus appealed to Scripture as the final Word and authority by which He was going to accomplish His work on the cross.<br /><br />Please allow me to ask you, are you open to listening to what Protestant Christianity has to say about this subject?<br /><br />Thank you,<br />PennPenn Tomassettihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04426113620189406498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-674803111398619972.post-5321188606235128942010-08-25T19:39:11.821-04:002010-08-25T19:39:11.821-04:00But I do believe Scripture is the infallible and a...<i>But I do believe Scripture is the infallible and authoritative revelation of God..</i><br /><br />Dear Penn,<br /><br />Did Jesus Christ say that the <i>Bible</i> is the final authority on earth? <br /><br />No, He did not. <br /><br />Jesus Christ said the final authority is the <b>Church.</b> <br /><br />See Matthew 18:15-18. The <b>Church</b> has the final authority to mitigate disputes, and to dispense the truth.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07940745178193985942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-674803111398619972.post-4505053095321397042010-08-25T18:28:39.371-04:002010-08-25T18:28:39.371-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07940745178193985942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-674803111398619972.post-80825048565004338112010-08-25T17:19:35.087-04:002010-08-25T17:19:35.087-04:00Hi Michael,
Welcome to my blog!
That is a length...Hi Michael,<br /><br />Welcome to my blog!<br /><br />That is a lengthy quote! I think the post you meant to comment on was from June 14, 2010, <a href="http://all-grace.blogspot.com/2010/06/grace-abounding-new-york-city-like.html" rel="nofollow">Grace Abounding: At New York City... with my Fiancé</a>. Because there I quoted a couple of Bible verses relating to Scripture and its sufficiency.<br /><br />Just to respond to a couple things in the quote you provided, let me say that first, I don't believe that Scripture is the only guide for Christians by itself. I believe the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary for Christians to understand correctly the Scriptures, and I also believe God has provided pastors and teachers within faithful Christian assemblies, who can help Christians understand and obey the Scriptures.<br /><br />But I do believe Scripture is the infallible and authoritative revelation of God, and that it is perfectly sufficient in itself for all that Spirit-filled Christians need to understand, believe and obey the will of God.<br /><br />That said, the quote assumes that Scripture itself does not say it is sufficient in itself, but the passage from 2 Timothy 3:15-17 clearly does state that Scripture is perfectly sufficient in itself for the man of God to live by, apart from oral traditions or anything else for that matter.<br /><br />One of the reasons this is so important to understand is that Scripture teaches clearly that salvation is not by our human works or efforts or merits, but only by the free grace of God, freely bestowed on all who believe in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:1-10).<br /><br />If we hold only to the authority of the Bible, we must come to this conclusion, that salvation is all from God, from start to finish, by His grace, apart from our works (Romans 11:6). It is given to believers because of the finished work of Christ through the cross, resurrection and intercession on our behalf in heaven.<br /><br />If we believe what Scripture teaches apart from the tradition of men, that must be the conclusion we arrive at concerning our salvation.<br /><br />Thank you and may God bless you.<br /><br />PennPenn Tomassettihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04426113620189406498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-674803111398619972.post-61231290046010618302010-08-08T21:25:39.355-04:002010-08-08T21:25:39.355-04:00Amen and thanks, Stephanie.Amen and thanks, Stephanie.Penn Tomassettihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04426113620189406498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-674803111398619972.post-90516490030890477352010-08-08T07:10:16.525-04:002010-08-08T07:10:16.525-04:00Wow, God has certainly been good to you - I'm ...Wow, God has certainly been good to you - I'm glad for all these great things happening in your life!Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16745470127207480213noreply@blogger.com