Where would we be without theology

[dog8food]

I've been reading around this website for a while now. I believe someone here mentioned it may be a seventh day adventist site. There are some interesting topics such as the Roman Catholic Church being the source of the antichrist, and this interesting write-up that denies hell as an eternal conscious suffering state. The Biblical Truth about HellFire . It's a sincere site with many biblical references. There are others as well.

It got me thinking where us reformed folk would be without knowing the doctrines of Luther/Calvin. What would be our interpretation of the Bible if there were no other supplemental historical texts to read? Or if there were no minister to influence our thoughts? How far would the Holy Spirit guide us in revealing God's Word in its truest context if we read the Bible alone?

 

[Jack K]

I believe someone here mentioned it may be a seventh day adventist site.

It has several distinctively Adventist features, though it is more hardcore than is the typical Adventist today.

It got me thinking where us reformed folk would be without knowing the doctrines of Luther/Calvin.

Luther in particular did not have very much good teaching outside of the Bible to draw on, so you've actually cited an example of how an individual who's honestly and prayerfully searching the Scriptures can get a good grasp of the truth. Community and trained teachers are helpful, though, and a part of Christ's plan. He established a church, not a bunch of isolated believers, and we should all humbly seek out good teaching.

 

[Wayne]

There is an evangelical wing of the SDA. Present Truth magazine being the notable example.

 

[Ask Mr. Religion]

It got me thinking where us reformed folk would be without knowing the doctrines of Luther/Calvin. What would be our interpretation of the Bible if there were no other supplemental historical texts to read? Or if there were no minister to influence our thoughts? How far would the Holy Spirit guide us in revealing God's Word in its truest context if we read the Bible alone?

Difficult to answer a question that assumes Scripture alone while also assumes said Scripture does not already include the church offices of pastor, teacher...

Scripture declares these offices to be so, hence they will be so else we are reading the wrong revelation of God, no?

Our Confession states the perspicuity of Scripture. Some will argue the perspicuity extends only to the essentials of the faith, others to all of Scripture. No matter, I am of the confident opinion that the believing person confined to a cave for their entire lifetime with only Scripture to read will come to all the knowledge necessary for their perseverance. Yes, they may be denied some of the wonderful blessings in their walk of faith made possible by those that have come before us in their teachings of the marvelous truths of the Scripture, but they will not forfeit their salvation because of this.

We should be driven to our knees that we live in a time wherein the efforts of the saints of old are readily available to us that we may drink from their fountains of wisdom. Sadly, not a few seem content to "just me and my Bible" and chronological snobbery, thinking that they know more than those who were illuminated by the same Spirit as are they.

 

[Free Christian]

Hello Juan. That site is clearly aligned at least with the SDA movement as they do strongly defend Ellen G white.
Ellen G white which the SDA's hold in the highest regard and also regard as a Prophetess was in fact a false prophet.
She falsely predicted the coming of Christ which clearly never happened (re the Great Disappointment), of course they then made up ridiculous excuses as to why it never happened to save face and claimed it did not happen because the Bible itself foretold this event, and in doing so proved herself to be indeed a false prophet. A thing which the Bible clearly condemns. As we are told in the Bible that no one knows the hour of the coming of Jesus, a thing which Jesus told us Himself. I would recommend avoiding that site altogether. It is a site that is "a wolf in sheep's clothing"