20/02/13

Is the Word of God sufficient?

Jeremiah 35:13 - Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD.


The main point of contention between Catholics and Christian (Believers) is this question 'Is the Word of God sufficient?'. The Catholics believe the Word of God is not sufficient and does not hold everything that is required for the faith of a Christian. They believe traditions and oral instructions passed down through the church are also very important. They believe these originated with the Apostles and then were handed down through the heads of the Catholic Church.

As a Catholic my change in my life happened when I realized the value of the Word of God and that the Word of God was complete and sufficient. As a catholic I was misled to believe in many things which I never verified or confirmed but took them as they were because it came from the 'Church'. It is like Islam who believe Muhammad as a prophet because he said he was a prophet, even though he did not do one miracle nor did he prophesy and that prophecy came true. In fact, according to their own records he failed the test of a prophet yet they believe him 'because he said so'. If you ask a Muslim to prove anything he or she would quote the Quran. They will never give any historic proofs outside Islamic sources or followers of Muhammad for they have none.

The Catholics also follow the same principle of circle argument like the Muslims to justify themselves.

One great lie given by the Catholic Church is that the Bible was put in place by them or they are the co-authors of the Bible, therefore they have the authority to decide what goes in it and what doesn't.

Like I pointed in my previous message the Old Testament came to us from the Jews and what we refer to was what in the hands of Jesus and the Apostles and accepted and acknowledged by them. With regards to the Apocrypha (7 additional books which the Catholic Church has added to the OT), they are not referred to in the NT and were not among the canonized books even in the early years of the Church. They were added only in 1500AD at the Catholic Council of Trent. Also the Apocrypha contradict the other books so would cause the rejection of the other books (I will note some contradictions below).

Coming to the 27 books of the NT. These books were considered scriptural since the early years the Church only acknowledged them but had no hand in organizing or authenticating them as canonized. We read in the letters of the Apostles as authenticating the Gospels and the letters of each other as scriptures which are profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness. One historian literally said the other books (Gospels or Epistles) which some claim should be part of the Bible did not exist in the first century and most have their origin after 300AD like the Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Judas and Gospel of Mary Magdalene.

Coming to traditions; Paul's instructions to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:15-17 clearly indicates that the scriptures are completely sufficient for the faith building, confirmation and training in righteousness of a Christian. Yes there are many things which are not written in the Bible as stated in John 20:30 and John 21:25, but these are things that are not necessary to the building and confirming of the faith or training in righteousness of a Christian.

Jesus clearly stated scriptures cannot be broken and they are infallible in John 10:35, they are indestructible in Matthew 5:17,18, historically confirmed in Matthew 19:2-5 and factually inerrant in John 17:17; Matthew 22:29.

What is not 'written' should be carefully considered and if it goes against the spirit or records of that already given unto us needs to be discarded and rejected. Other things need to be tested as - do they build our faith and bring us into a better relationship with God?

The Catholic Church also falsely claims they existed since the beginning, from the time of the Apostles. We have records of nearly the first 50 to 60 of the Church in the NT and we do not read of anything Catholic in them. When we say Catholic it is not the meaning of the word which means universal but Catholicism or Catholic dogma which is the teachings of the Catholic Church and contrary to scriptures.

The Catholic Church believes in the infallibility of the Pope more than the scriptures. We all know the current Pope Benedict (Joseph Ratzinger) resigned. People think he did for old age or illness. He is in fact in better health than most of the other Popes before him, who did not give up their throne even when they could not walk or stand on their own feet. This makes us question his reason or the infallibility of the previous Popes.

The latest version of Catholicism that was approved by Pope John Paul II as being official, consistent and current statement of the Roman Catholic Church was written by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (current Pope) in 1992. It is ironic that the 'infallible' Pope and author of the belief of Catholics while resigning stated 'however, in today's world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith' and 'I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me'.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, we pray your people see the importance and trustworthiness of scriptures. Lord, we pray You open the eyes of your people who are still in the deceit of Babylon, the woman who is the queen of all spiritual fornication and seat of Satan. Lord we pray the infection of this Church which still exist in the Believer Church may be completely irradiated and you Bride may be spotless and holy, so that your glory be seen in Her...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
2 Timothy 3:15-17
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.


Contradictions between Apocrypha and the Bible

2 Maccabees 12-42-45 (the doctrine of Mass) against Hebrews 7:27

Wisdom of Solomon (creation of the world) against Genesis 1 and Psalms 33:9

Sirach 3:3; 3:30; 5:5; 20:28; 35:1-4; 45:16; 45:23 (giving alms as atonement of sins) against Romans 3:20

2 Maccabees 15:14, Baruch 3:4 (invocation and intercession of saints) against Matthew 6:9 (which asks us to directly pray to the Father)

Tobit 12:12 (worship of angels) against Colossians 2:18

2 Maccabees 12:42,45 (purgatory and redemption of souls after death) against Hebrew 9:27


The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others.
(All rights are with God)