Q: How do we know that the books we have in the Bible are the only ones that are supposed to be there? A man I work with belongs to a religious group that claims the Bible wasn't complete until their founder discovered some additional books that God revealed to him. - K.W.
A: The central theme of the Bible is God's plan to bring us back to Himself - and this plan was fulfilled, totally and completely, in Jesus Christ.
In other words, we do not need to look for another Savior, nor do we need to add anything to what Jesus Christ has already done for us. Christ came down from heaven according to God's plan - and by His death and resurrection He did everything that is necessary to make our salvation possible. The Bible says, "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God" (1 Peter 3:18).
This is why Christians have always rejected attempts to add any later books to the Bible. The Bible's message is complete - and the reason is because Christ's work is complete. Without exception, these later so-called "revelations" deny the Bible's teaching about Jesus' divinity, or say that He cannot save us. But the Bible says otherwise.
Don't be misled by those who claim the Bible's message is incomplete. God's plan for our salvation was finished through Christ's death and resurrection for us. The Bible says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Are you trusting Christ alone for your salvation?
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Affectionately known as the “World’s Preacher” for more than 60 years, the Rev. Billy Graham is one of the most influential and respected spiritual leaders of the 20th century. He has been a friend and spiritual advisor to ten American presidents and has preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history — nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories — through various meetings. Hundreds of millions more have been reached through television, video, film, and webcasts. Send your queries to "My Answer," c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: www.billygraham.org.
Comments
Spot on!, Daniel !
To God be the glory. :)
There are those who say causing division is wrong. Jesus caused division. Paul was talking about those who divide AWAY from the truth of the Gospel. Luther sought to remove the humanism which had become obvious in the church of the day. He posted almost 100 statements to the door of the church which were all based on clear Biblical principle.
What did the church do? The same as the religious leaders in the day of Christ. "Who does this Luther think he is questioning what WE say is right." It was the arrogance of the church which caused the division by not following it's own rules concerning addressing questions brought to it.
The Bible is clear about 'dividing' ourselves from those things that are not Biblical. Unsubmissive man has no desire to submit to God and His word as the final authority (check out California....) and they defend what they believe instead of what the Bible clearly and simply says.
Vaho...that was his point. "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, that no one should boast." Eph 2:8-9
There is a concept in theology called the "total depravity of man" which this verse supports. The second law of thermal dynamics also supports this concept. In short, there is nothing good in man except what God puts there. Man left to himself with go from a state of order to a state of disorder.
The problem is man doesn't want to believe he really needs to be saved from who he is. He doesn't want to accept that we are sinners who need to be saved by grace. We don't want to believe we need Jesus to do anything rightous (which is different from what we call 'good').
christians do not even admit they are wrong. so how can you say that they are humble & they need correcting. they do not know the difference bet correcting & judging. when you rebuke them with the same issue, they will be insulted & say the 'ye not judge me.'
and I believe the article here says that is the bible complete & not about mr manson.
"Since this page is a Billy Graham article I recall Mr. Graham once saying the only difference between himself and Charles Manson was the grace of God. That pretty much spells it right out!"
The only thing that kept Graham from murdering people for the fun of it was his belief in God? That's disgusting.
I done flagged myself. It's kind-o hard to spell check yourself in this tiny box!
Oh now Mike...you've read some of my other posts in other places....
Since this page is a Billy Graham article I recall Mr. Graham once saying the only difference between himself and Charles Manson was the grace of God. That pretty much spells it right out!
Yes, a pharasee by any other name.... They're still around and still playing godly for all to see. I tend to focus on Jesus for what Jesus is like. The Bible talks about being humble and correcting those who need it in a humble way knowing that except for the grace of God you would be the one being corrected.
Except for the grace of God go I.... For those who are saved you would be beating a dead horse as we are to have died to self.
so funny, christians are quick to point to sin but if their sins are exposed, they get defensive & insulted. just like the pharisees, they do not want to be lectured. also, the arrogant self righteous sinless attitude of the pharisees is biblical. but it is not discussed in websites & blogs like this one.
I have enough trouble with "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself." Once I have those two down pat I'll worry about more!
Quecat,
I am not saying in the least that the Catholic Church didn't need reformation. I am simply stating that other reformers like St. Charles Borromeo, St. Francis of Assisi, Saint Catherine of Sienna created Reforms by doing in in the Scope of what the Scriptures clearly advocate. You must work within the Hiearchy and you must work in cooperation with the whole Body of Christ and not just go it on your own.
I do not wish to demonize Luther at all, but merely point out that his personality led to the ultimate division. Saint Paul says to avoid those who cause Division within the Body. He was bombastic in his approach, Belligerant and was well documented to have a psychosis. St. Francis and others who reformed the Church did it within the Structures of the Church and did it according to Scripture.
Isn't it a little Ironic for Luther to say go by Scripture alone, and yet do things contrary to Scripture? I did recently read Justo Gonzales two volume books and they were Great, thanks!
Chris333,
The principle of not "adding' or 'taking away' from God's Word is what these passages are referring to. It is self evident the the Old and Testaments compliment each other and extra biblical dogmas are not needed nor necessary as Graham highlights in this article.
You seem to wish to demonize Luther as the instigator of some unspeakable evil. However the Reformation was only the culmination of several hundred years of various sincere biblical scholars questioning RCC dogma and traditions and breaking with Rome out of conscience. Luther's posting of his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg was not the spark that lit the fires of reformation - merely fuel for the existing flames. Does the name John Wycliffe ring a bell?
If not for these daring men of God, would we yet be struggling to read the scriptures from the Latin Vulgate - if we were allowed personal copies at all?
For further reading - I would highly suggest "The Story of Christianity" Volumes I & II, by Justo Gonzales.
>>and what happens after a person becomes a believer. he is given an endless 'to do' list & if he / she misses one of them, then you are a failure or god will not answer your prayer.<<
This is bizarre but I totally agree with it! I LIKE the endless to-do list, and it's true, I've noticed that when I'm argumentive or have done something wrong, God *won't* answer my prayer, and I don't feel his influence. Luckily, though, because of repentance and working harder to become a better person, I'm able to gain that back and feel his influence in me. I think Christianity's real message isn't everything is your fault, but that every day a person needs to try to be better.
This is turning the discussion a little inside-out, but doesn't it seem like every person has their own "Bible"? Or rather, a book or method of thought that they govern the principles of their lives by? Some people's Bible *is* the Bible, you can tell by how they act. Other people say they believe in the Bible, but when they're doing drugs or arguing with people, you wonder if they actually believe in some other bible. I have a friend who belongs to a religion but is religiously devoted to art. When someone came to him asking for help on an art project, he saw that they were good, and was afraid they would be taking clients away from him. So he told the kid to not become an artist. It seems that if he really believed in the Bible, and was trying to follow it's Christ-like principles, his response would've been different. Art was his bible instead the real Bible. So's, maybe we can look at ourselves and see if our daily bibles complement the real Bible. Just a crazy non-sequitor.
Thank you all for the THUMBS down.
I would rather stand by the Testimony of those who knew the Apostles and their Disciples, than someone like Luther who was also going to throw out SEVEN OTHER BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT on HIS OWN AUTHORITY.
My point: Alone LUther has no authority. There was no ecumenical council to discuss the books of the OT. Even the Pope doesn't act this dictatorial in matters of faith and morals.
You must listen to the entire body of Christ and to not consider the earliest Christian witnesses is just plain foolish.
Luther was a renegade and while he had some very valid points, his well know psychosis and BiPolar personality should be considered. He simply did not work within the system, which is Bishop, Priest and Deacon established by God. Luther acted directly against Scripture on how to handle these things. Yes, the indulgences were a HUGE mistake and absolutely wrong. But in Luther's childlike fashion of ranting and raving he went to the extreme. Extremists should never be allowed to be leaders of groups because they lack many of the Cardinal Virtues.
Luther had a divisive personality and this is attested to in many writings while he was a professor. How can a divisive person create unity or reformation? God allowed division in the Body of Christ and until all Protestants come home you will continue to divide and suffer even further fragmentation. Today, each person of the Protestant Christian faith is their own Pope and that is exactly the problem.
You all agree that you are not Catholic, but you all haven't agreed on anything else since then.
Online4Him,
Haven't seen you in a while. A little bit of difficulty in the Old Testament accounts of the Bible saying that we are not to add to it: Deuteronomy was written before a great deal of the OT books, thus if Deuteronomy was to be the end, then these would be wrongful additions. This argument can be used against any part in the Bible wich says something similar.