Is the Bible the Sole Authority of Christian Teaching?

By: Phil Friedl

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Dear Friend,

I would like to stick to one point at a time while discussing these topics on theology. It is very easy
tendency for me to get off topic. You say that the Bible is the sole authority. I am going to ask you this
question.

Where in the Bible does it say that the Bible is the sole authority?

It will help me very much.

Phil Friedl

Phil.
Yes.

In short. One who accepts Jesus Christ as his saviour. from death (the second death) brought on by our
sins.I know and believe God is creator of all, and Jesus, God's only begotten Son, the Word made flesh
who took on the sins of man and died on the cross and was resurrected from the dead and lives forever
seated at the right hand of God. He saved me from the death (eternal death, hell) that I truly deserve.
He coveres my sin with his cloth of righteouness dipped in HIs blood which He shed for me and all
who turn to him. This does not mean I have atained perfection. By no means. As Paul teaches in
scripture, I do not do what I should and I do what I should not do...wretched man that I am. The civil
war rages within all Christians. The carnal struggels agains the Spirit, but once having accepted Jesus
Christ as my Savior he along with the Holy Spirit, prays and works unceassingly to keep me saved. A
christian must be "born again" in spirit as Jesus instructed to Nicodemus. This makes us heirs to the
kingdom of heaven and brothers in Christ. Thus we go as sons of God not as servants or slaves which
can be fired or sold off. And in case anyone wonders all this is due to God who loves us even when we
were sinners. By his grace we are saved through faith. God has gloriously provided the grace and the
faith and the desire to accept him and the ability to reject him. Read about King Asa 2 Chron 14. Was
he saved? or was he paying lip service and not really one who beleived in God? Or did he feel his
works should be paid in an earthly way? let me know what you think. Compare to David who did Gods
will but then later in life had an affair with a married woman and then killed her husband but...later
admitted his sins and repented. With Jesus Christ it is different. God saves us. He knows what he did
and what we will do in the future. He didn't make a mistake and is not capable of doing so. Our
salvation, because of the great sacrafice by Jesus on the cross is forever once we accept it. We cannot
be like Asa. We are convicted by the Holy Spirit each time we sin so we do repent and acknowledge
our sin. Christians are part of the body of Christ, no ranking no segregation no special favors. We are
all of one body. Paul taught that we are of one body no matter who we baptised by, on Baptism one
Lord, one church. Read abotut he seven Churches in Revelations. Can the problems in those churchs be
related to churchs today? Sure they can. As Christians we must always seek to walk in the Lord, Like
Peter we sometimes take our eyes off of Jesus (look to ourselves, or mankind or worldly ways and
immediately begin to sink. When we turn back to Jesus he pulls us out of the water, out of of the
worldly ways out of sin. All that I have said here is found in scripture and has become a living part of
my heart and my life. And this is just the beginning. There is so much more to say. Scripture is no
longer simply a written word, a book , a story. It is not empty and plain. Scripture is the word of God,

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writted and recorded the way He wants. for our learning of who God is, not in a scholarly way but in in
living way, not the law written on stone but like grace written in our hearts to be lived in the Joy of God
our Creator! The bible is the sole authority. There are many books that help us navigate different
doctrines found in the bible. There are many persons who teach from the bible with authority that God
gives them through the Holy Spirit. There are many people who give testimonies of miracles done by
God in their lives. Scripture teaches us that anyone who even anangel that teaches different from
scripture is not truthful. There are some who teach from scripture but then add their own new
dimensions, not supported by scripture some intentionally some being deceived by satan. We must pray
continuously for wisdom, Gods wisdom to know the truth and the difference. By the way, praying is
communication with God. God wants us to pray. He wants to hear from us. Scripure teaches us to pray
humbly, alone, like Daniel did, not to make a big show or be repetitive as if that helps. God hears our
prayers the first time. He knows what is in our hearts. If prayer becomes rote or simply a required
routine what good is it. If while praying our minds drift away and we allow this are we really praying?
What spirit teaches different from scripture? If anyone or any spirit teaches different from scripture test
it. Do not follow it. Is scripture important? Jesus thaought so. Three time when being tempted by satan
Jesus said "it is written..." and he referred to scripture. Satan then said it is written and referred to
scripture also. But Jesus Christ saw his ploy and rebuked him! Some thing I read the other day
regarding man. After Adam and Eve sinned they knew right from wrong. They had a conscious.The
first age of man up to the great flood man was allowed to go about the earth with the knowledge of
right and wrong in im. But he greww exceedingly sinful. God found Noe to be righteous and saved him
and his family and wiped out the rest of the world. The next age of man God gave the written law to,
both commandments and civil law. Again man fell away from God and sometimes the chosen people
fell even further into sin than the gentiles. God sent his son as the perfect sacrifice the final attonement
for our sins. All need to Accept Jesus Christ as Saviour, repent from sins and be saved by the grace of
God. In the next age Jesus will return to the world and rule it from here for a 1000 years. After that he
will release satan one more time and will then throw satan and the antichrist and all who reject him into
hell. All this can be found in scripture in much greater detail. What ever christian church a person may
belong to he needs to make Jesus the focus for salvation. Jusus intercedes for us. He did not do an
incomplete job. He is the only one who is pure enough to be the sacrafice. Paul teaches we are saved by
grace through faith. James teaches that once saved our works should show or reflect our faith. ANd our
works will be tested in heaven and worthless works will be burned up. I think I am preaching to the
choir. Phil I pray for you often. I pray God sheds great wisdom on you and that your eyes are on Christ
our Saviour and that you are able to walk in His way and discern the truth and give glory to God and
resist satan and flee from lust ful temtations. I pray you a His salt, His light in a dark in sinful world.

Pray for me also. Everyday I fall short.

Friend

Dear Phil,

Show me where in the bible it says that there are other authorities independandt and contrary to
scripture.

Friend

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Dear Friend,

I asked you first. I would like a response to my question (And asking a question does not answer the
question, but rather digress from my original question). I promise you, Friend, that I will give you my
answer but you first must answer mine. Where in the Bible does it say that the Bible is the sole
authority?

Love & Prayers,

Phil Friedl

His Response:

Phil,
Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, refutation, for
correction, and for training in righteousness so that one who belongs to God may be competent,
equipped for every good work.

Read James for instruction about works. Works that come after and because of faith in Jesus Christ by
the grace of God as described by Paul in scripture.

Read 2 Tim. ch 4 for your own edification and instruction.

2 Peter 1: 19-21 " Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do
well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and a morning star rises
in your hearts. Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal
interpretation, for no prhphecy ever came through human will; but rather human being moved by the
holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God."

Read 2 Peter 2; 1-3 and more if you wish.

Phil I can go on and on . In the end though it is a matter of faith. I believe Jesus Christ is my savior and
that he died on the cross for me even though I deserve it and that there is nothing I can do to provide
for my salvation because Jesus did it all, one time, perfectly, being the perfect and pure lamb of God.
Will you profess openly that Jesus Christ alone is your savior? Will you give him the full credit for
your salvation? If any man puts himself before Christ flee from him.

Luke 6:46-49 Build your life on Jesus. He is your foundation. Obviously paraphrased.

I will keep it short and send more later.

Take care and like Peter on the water...keep your eyes on Jesus Christ

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Dear Friend,

Firstly you did not answer my question. I have indeed read the chapters which you asked for me to
read.

You state that Holy Scripture is the sole rule of faith. Am I correct to understand this?

You then state as well that you are a follower of Christ. Am I correct to understand this?

If I were to adopt what you claim to be Christian teachings, I would have to logically believe then that
Jesus Christ made it a simple rule of faith and only rule of faith that the bible is the sole authority. Am I
correct to understand this?

Where for example in Holy Scripture does Jesus Christ say clearly: “Holy Scripture, which will be
given you from the Holy Ghost, is the sole rule of the Faith I am giving you.”

Until you find a line in Holy Scripture clearly telling me in a statement, that yes, Holy Scripture is the
sole rule of Faith, I will not settle for less.

Because anyone can interpret the bible anyway they want, I can, you can.

But unless you find that line from Holy Scripture, that states clearly as I had given to you above, that
the bible is the sole rule of faith, your evidence is lacking, and essentially non-existent.

Just as you must prove in a court of law, with evidence a criminal is truly guilt for his crimes, so to
must you prove in theology that there are proofs which back up your proposition. If you have no
evidence, you have no case.

Love & Prayers,

Phil Friedl

Phil,
This was originally a lesson thus the notes referring to “tell the story about..” Since I did not hear the
lesson I do not know the stories but you don't have to get the message. I hope it is helpful in your
works. My response to your last email is coming.

Dear Friend,

You do not quite understand what had occurred.

I asked you a simple question.

That is “where in the bible does it prove that the Bible is the sole authority”?

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You have not given an answer to that.

But rather digressed from that question.

Therefore, your belief system that is the one and only belief that you have, is non existent.

For it is not in Holy Scriptures.

As you justly proven, for you could not find it.

You have however, attempted to explain your belief in sole authority and what it is legitimate in your
eyes.

But that is not legitimate in the eyes of God.

For Jesus Christ setup the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church as His one and only Church.

I promised you that I would fulfill my part of the bargain.

“Obey your prelates, and be subject to them. For they watch as being to render an account of your
souls; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief.” (Hebrews 13:17)

“And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

For this Church is not independent of Jesus Christ, for He (Jesus Christ) was the one who founded it.

And to say otherwise is idiotic, foolish, and would be obstinate as a devil to refuse to believe such a
thing.

He built His Church upon St. Peter, meaning the Papacy, and that Hell cannot destroy it.

He did not say that in 1500 years later (Protestant Revolt), I will build another church and call them
protestants, and a little later on, methodists, baptists etc.

What an asinine thing for God to do, if God had truly gone through with that plan!

No, Friend you are not Christian, He that is of Jesus Christ, whom I truly profess and hold the true
Christian faith, the Catholic Faith, from which in the external form you had apostatized from as a child.

You can, as God always wants, a sincere act of contrition for your infidelity.

But that lies in your will to changed from your idiotic, non existent, illogic religion, namely
Protestantism.

And base yourself on the truth.

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I can prove scripturally that Jesus Christ Founded but One Church, and that it was upon St. Peter.

You however, cannot even prove, the one rule which you base your faith on.

That is the Bible being the "Sole Authority."

As they say on Law and Order: “Nothing Further.”

Love & Prayers,

Phil Friedl

If the bible is the sole rule of faith for “Christians” why then did Jesus Christ not say it?

Evidence is lacking...

Since evidence is lacking we can conclude that it never existed.

The bible is thus not the sole authority.

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or
by our epistle.” (2 Thessalonians 2:14)

True Christians, that is Catholics, hold onto Tradition and the Word of God.