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 Dear
"Out Of The Bible",
First, your statement that “the
Bible came out of the Church and not the Church from the Bible” seems to imply that the Bible is unreliable.
The Bible was written by chosen men under the inspiration of God; therefore,
the origin of the Bible is not the Church but God. (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet
1:19-21). Jesus himself
refers to the trustworthiness of Scripture when in Jn 10:35 He says
“Scripture cannot be broken.”
The fact that the Old Testament was completed almost four hundred
years before the birth of Christ, and yet contains at least 333 accurate
prophecies concerning Christ provides unassailable credibility to the
Bible. Some of these
accurate prophecies will be added to our website for those interested in
reviewing them. Most
of the N.T. was written by Apostles of Jesus Christ or men close to the
Apostles. These men also
wrote under the inspiration of God and witnessed many miracles including
the resurrection of our Lord.
Second, your statement that the “church did not come out of the
Bible” does not agree with God’s proclamation and testimony in the
Bible. 1 Pet 1:23
tells us “…you
(the church) have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of
imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”
So, while it is
true that God inerrantly and infallibly communicated his truth to the
world thru his saints (church), the church finds it’s origin in the
Bible and in the eternal purpose and will of God.
You see, God’s purpose throughout history has been to “redeem
us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people (church) that
are his very own, …” (Titus 2:14).
This God does thru the truth of His Word, the Bible.
Eph 3:10 tells us God’s intent is that “now, through the
church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known… according to
his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus.”
Finally, your statement that the Presbyterian Church “was started by
John Calvin” fails to recognize that the Reformed Faith championed by
John Calvin did not begin with him but was faithfully and boldly
proclaimed by him at a time when many in the church were abandoning the
truth of God’s Word. It’s
true that John Calvin taught Presbyterianism as the form of government
most consistent with the teaching of Scripture and that he was
singularly most instrumental in the delineation of our denomination
during his time, but the Reformed Faith & the Doctrines of Grace
taught by Calvin did NOT begin with Calvin, but go back to the early
church (Augustine, Paul, Christ) as well as to the O.T. body of Christ
(David, Moses, Noah), to the garden of Eden and to the mind and nature
of God himself. These
biblical truths (Doctrines of Grace) , once preached by Calvin and now
boldly proclaimed at Brandon Presbyterian
Church (PCA), continue to provide eternal life to those who come to a
saving faith in Christ Jesus. Visit
us at www.brandonpres.com for more information and also
interaction on
our Forum Apologetica page. We
encourage people to participate with their comments and questions.
Better still we invite you and everyone else to come & be
warmly received as our guest & to visit & worship with us at BPC.
Webmaster
of
www.brandonpres.com
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