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The following is an answer to a response addressed to the Webmaster of brandonpres.com  that appeared in the Dear Ann column of the 10-3-01 Rankin County News.  The writer basically challenged the Protestant doctrine of "Sola Scriptura" or Scripture alone as the final authority.

Dear Bible Say Bible Alone.

     The issue you raise is one possessing eternal significance even for your own soul.  I gladly welcome & will enter into wholesome debate over some of the smaller issues with you, however, what is ultimately at stake here, is not whether particular N.T. teaching & texts were around & accepted when Peter wrote his epistle, but whether you accept the gospel that is presented in Scripture, or whether you are trusting in another gospel, which is “no gospel at all”, for you see, in denying the Authority, Inspiration, & Sufficiency of Scripture & Scripture alone, you are denying THE GOSPEL as presented in Scripture, the ONLY gospel by which a man may be saved to eternal life. 

On the smaller issues, it is clear & undebatable that the N.T. recognizes the process of augmentation (that there was an embodiment of teaching in the 1st century in perfect agreement with & on the same level of authority as the O.T. Scripture) (2 Pet 3:15-16, Gal 1:11, Gal 2:7-9, Jn 14:23-26).  Jesus himself speaks of the unity of Scripture as well as the thematic end of Scripture being found in him personally.  (Lk 22:37, 44; Jn 5:32, 39, 45)  To this end, he also teaches in Jn 15:26 that when the Holy Spirit came, he would testify about him as well.  This he did to New Testament writers (Jn 14:26) & to the church thru the apostles & thru the inspired Scripture.  The church did not “come up” with Scripture, but recognized the Bible as we have it today to be what it is … the Holy Word of God.

In reference to church discipline in Matthew 18, you are right in saying the final hearing is taken to the Church, but if you look at Acts 15, the precedent for church councils, be it judging on theological matters (or discipline matters) is to make judgments based on the teaching of Scripture.  There is no other standard of truth or accountability. 

 
You refer to Christ establishing the Church in Matthew 16, but in verse 17 we find that establishment is upon the revealed word of God, the same truth that is found in the N.T. Scripture.

 
Finally, & most importantly, you seem to imply that one can be saved apart from the gospel of Jesus Christ as given in the Scripture.  It is normal for heretics & those associated with cults to want to “get rid” of Scripture or “add to or take from” Scripture in order to live by a gospel other than that which is presented in scripture.  I remind you of Paul’s word in Gal 1:8-9  “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!  As we have already said, so now I say again:  If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!”

 
I exhort you to turn from other sources & to turn to the gospel of scripture alone.  I also exhort you “not to teach false doctrines any longer”, promoting controversies rather than God’s work.  The authority of these commands come not from on my own, but from the authority

                                                                                                       OF SCRIPTURE ALONE