Sola Scriptura

Sola Scriptura: The Scripture Alone is the StandardThe doctrine that the Bible alone is the ultimate authority was the "Formal Principle" of the Reformation. In 1521 at the historic interrogation of Luther at the Diet of Worms, he declared his conscience to be captive to the Word of God saying, "Unless I am overcome with testimonies from Scripture or with evident reasons -- for I believe neither the Pope nor the Councils, since they have often erred and contradicted one another -- I am overcome by the Scripture texts which I have adduced, and my conscience is bound by God's Word." Similarly, the Belgic Confession stated, "We believe that [the] holy Scriptures fully contain the will of God, and that whatsoever man ought to believe unto salvation is sufficiently taught therein...Neither may we consider any writings of men, however holy these men may have been, of equal value with those divine Scriptures nor ought we to consider custom or the great multitude, or antiquity, or succession of times and persons, or councils, decrees or statutes, as of equal value with the truth of God... Therefore, we reject with all our hearts whatsoever does not agree with this infallible rule" (VII). As the Scripture says,Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Thy law....I will bow down toward Thy holy temple, And give thanks to Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth; For Thou hast magnified Thy word according to all Thy name....You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them; and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (Psalm 119:18; Psalm 138:2; II Tim. 3:14-17)

Remodeling Hell----Dr. Al Mohler

Remodeling Hell -- Americans Redefine the Doctrine
Posted: Monday, August 18, 2008 at 4:57 am ET
Is belief in hell disappearing? "Absolutely," says Barnard College professor Alan Segal, author of Life After Death: A History of the Afterlife in Western Religion. Segal's remark is found within a news story released by Religion News Service. In "Belief in Hell Dips, But Some Say They've Already Been There," Charles Honey traces the transformation of hell in contemporary America.
The catalyst for Honey's article was the "U.S. Religious Landscape Survey" released this summer by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. The data does indicate a shift in beliefs concerning hell. In the Pew study, just 59 percent of those surveyed indicated belief in a concept of hell "where people who have led bad lives, and die without being sorry, are eternally punished."
That figure, Honey reports, is down from 71 percent "who said they believed in hell" as recently as a 2001 Gallup poll.
A closer look at those figures raises significant questions about the usefulness of the data. In the first place, the definition of hell as "where people who have led bad lives, and die without being sorry, are eternally punished" is a problem in itself. Evangelical Christians -- presumably among those most likely to believe in hell -- believe that hell is indeed where unrepentant humans will go, but that does not mean that the issue is having led a "bad" life. Evangelicals have historically believed that those in heaven are themselves no more worthy than those in hell. The crucial issue is faith in Christ, and thus the formulation used in the Pew study would confuse many evangelicals.
Nevertheless, no informed observer will doubt the central argument of Honey's report. Americans are redefining the doctrine of hell before our eyes. Honey provides a helpful survey of various beliefs concerning hell, but the most interesting part of his article concerns evangelicals.
He writes:
Skepticism about hell is growing even in evangelical churches and seminaries, says one theologian here, a bastion of conservative evangelicalism.
"In a pluralistic, post-modern world, students are having a more difficult time with (the idea of) people going to hell forever because they didn't believe the right thing," says Mike Wittmer, professor of systematic theology at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.
"That's the biggest question out there right now: `Would God send someone to hell if they were someone as good as me, but didn't believe what I believe?"'
It was easier to believe in hell 20 years ago when missionaries tried to convert people in far-flung places, Wittmer says. In today's global village, many live next to good, non-Christian neighbors and wonder why an all-powerful, loving God wouldn't eventually empty out hell, Wittmer says.
"I've noticed in the last five years how that view is making inroads even in conservative churches, whereas five years ago it wasn't even uttered or discussed," he adds.
Wittmer's observation holds true for anyone familiar with the accommodationist tendency within modern evangelicalism. The key insight within Wittmer's comments, however, is the way he lays out the populist transformation of the doctrine. Reasoning from their own experience and emotions, rather than from the Bible, many who call themselves evangelicals are just deciding that a "good" God would not send persons to hell -- at least not anyone they know.
Undoubtedly, much of this can be traced to currents in the larger culture, where non-judgmentalism, a therapeutic view of life, and a thoroughly modern view of fairness lead many to reject hell as a place of everlasting torment and punishment for those who never come to faith in Christ.
As Professor Segal observed, "They believe everyone has an equal chance, at this life and the next." Thus, "hell is disappearing, absolutely."
That this is true within the culture at large is not surprising. But when those who claim identity as evangelical Christians begin to modify the doctrine, this should set off alarms.
No doctrine stands alone. There is no way to modify belief in hell without modifying the Gospel itself, for hell is an essential part of the framework of the Gospel and of the preaching of Jesus. Hell cannot be remodeled without reconstructing the Gospel message.
Here is a sobering thought: Hell may disappear from the modern mind, but it will not disappear in reality. God is not impressed by our surveys.

Truly a man of God !!

it touches my heart beyond measure to see such a wonderful young man
born again by the grace of God . . .

defending the truth of the Word of the Lord , no matter the consequence !!!

may God richly bless you brother Matt -

this is without a doubt a true piece of solid Bible study ,
it is uplifting, exhorting and sharp , cutting to the marrow

we need this kind of men today

below was written in 'response' by Matt, to a article series that is run EVERY
sunday in our local newspaper , by several 'churches of Christ' -

if i can find the 'article' , i will post it too, for reference

Matt, i am honored to call you a brother in Christ !!

drive on , sir, drive on
*******

I write this e-mail to you with all the love in my heart. I would like to respond to a recent article you put in the standard, entitled "Are sinners saved by works." There is no good deed we could ever perform that would commend us to God. For you see even "our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment." (Isaiah 64:6) Ephesians chapter two verses 8-9 clearly says "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not as a result of works so that no one may boast." "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). "Not because of works but because of Him who calls." (Romans 9:11) Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith." (Romans 3:24) So you see it is by grace alone, through faith alone, based on the work of Christ alone. Of course genuine faith and repentance go hand and hand. You cannot have true faith and it not cause you to repent, nor can you trust in Christ alone for salvation without repenting. So sinners are saved when they respond to the gospel call in repentance and faith. We are saved unto good works. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10) Now let's look at some of the verses you cited in your article and see if we can put them into context. The point of James 2:17-26 is not to show how works play into God's plan of salvation. Our Lord Jesus Christ completed that on the cross. If that's not enough, then none of us will make it. Rather, the point of the text is to show that genuine faith is demonstrated and proved by works. Back up a few verses. Don't miss that important phrase in verse 14 "...if someone says he has faith... Can faith save him." The answer of course is no. We know that not everyone who says they have faith actually has faith. That's the point of the text. "But someone may well say, "You have faith but i have works show me faith without works and i will show you my faith by my works." (v.18). Faith without works is dead. It is true. It cannot save. Not because of a lack of works but still because of a lack of real faith. When Abraham was counted righteous it was years before he offered Isaac on the altar. "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." When he offered Isaac up it proved he believed God, thus his faith was perfected and the scripture was fulfilled. (v.22 and 23.) The faith he is talking about in verse 24 is the vain, dead faith he started with in verse 14. You quoted Matthew 7:21 to support your work-based gospel, but again if we put it in context it proves just the oppostie. Look at the following verse " Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord Lord', did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons and in your name performed many miracles. or many wonderful works as king james says." So we see condemnation is not based on a lack of works. These folks our Lord says done many wonderful works in His name, they even professed faith in Him. (v21) But yet he said "I never knew you, depart from you who practices lawlessness." Why is that? Because, "He saved us,not on the basis of works which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit" They never experienced regeneration. Thus they were inable, in their fallen state, to produce true faith and repentance.(Rom. 8:7) You see even faith and repentance are gifts from God.(Ephesians 2:8, 2Tim. 2:25) So what is the will of the father? That men be born again and come through Jesus alone for salvation. You quoted Romans 2:13, but why would you take that so far out of context. The point of Romans is obviously not that works of the law saves. "because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in his sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20) 2 Thessalonians 1:8 says those who "obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." What is the gospel? Paul tells the church at Corinth the gospel he preached to them.(1 Corinthians 15:1-4) He preached the work of Christ, not the work of man, as the gospel. So what does it mean to obey the gospel. It is to obey the gospel call, our Lord said "repent and believe the gospel". (Mark 1:15) You said even belief is a work of man and said to look at John 6:29. Well I did. Let me share with you what it says, "Jesus answered and said to them, "this is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He has sent." I pray that you would take time to search these things out for yourself. We are commanded not only to study but to get these things right "Be diligent to present yourselves approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."(2 Tim. 2:15) I think the main difference between what you believe and what i believe is that you believe works produces salvation. Whereas, I believe salvation produces works. My prayer is that God would lead us both to the truth of His word. May God bless you. (all scriptures i quoted are from the NASB version of the Bible) *******

Freedom----Valley of Vision

FREEDOM
O Holy Father, thou hast freely given thy Son,
O Divine Son, thou hast freely paid my debt,
O Eternal Spirit, thou hast freely bid me come,
O Triune God, thou dost freely grace me with salvation.

Prayers and tears could not suffice to pardon
my sins,
nor anything less than atoning blood,
but my believing is my receiving,
for a thankful acceptance is no paying of the debt.
What didst thou see in me?
that I a poor, diseased, despised sinner
should be clothed in thy bright glory?
that a creeping worm
should be advanced to this high state?
that one lately groaning, weeping, dying,
should be as full of joy as my heart can hold?
that a being of dust and darkness
should be taken like Mordecai from captivity,
and set next to the king?
should be lifted like Daniel from a den
and be made ruler of princes and provinces?
Who can fathom immeasurable love?
As far as the rational soul exceeds the senses,
so does the spirit exceed the rational in its
knowledge of thee.
Thou hast given me understanding to compass
the earth,
measure the sun, moon, stars, universe,
but above all to know thee, the only true God.
I marvel that the finite can know the Infinite,
here a little, afterwards in full-orbed truth;
Now I know but a small portion of what
I shall know,
here in part, there in perfection,
here a glimpse, there a glory.
To enjoy thee is life eternal,
and to enjoy is to know.
Keep me in the freedom of experiencing
thy salvation continually.