| Author | Message | ||
| Max |
A multitude of texts full of eisegesis and devoid of exegesis proves nothing. | ||
| Patti |
I feel like today prophecy is being fulfilled right in front of my face: Amos 8:12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. I am so saddened at the direction this forum has taken. I will be praying for all of you. May God ever reveal to us our helplessness to help ourselves and His all-sufficient salvation in Jesus Christ. Patti | ||
| Max |
It is unscriptural to base one's faith on one's feelings, but only -- as Martin Luther and the other Reformers insisted -- on Scripture and Scripture alone. | ||
| Max |
NIV Luke 6:46 "Why do you call me, `Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." | ||
| Max |
Martin Luther used Scripture in contradistinction to church councils, creeds, learned instruction, human theories, or the opinions of others as the litmus test for determining belief: " Unless I shall be convinced by the testimonies of the Scriptures or by clear reason [based on Scripture], . . . I neither can nor will make any retraction, since it is neither safe nor honorable to act against conscience; God help me! Amen!" Quoted in The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Vol. VII, Under Luther, Martin. And I do also. | ||
| Max |
"When the attempt is made to reprove them [Romanists] out of the Scriptures, they raise the objection that the interpretation of the Scriptures belongs to no one except the pope." Martin Luther, "The Three Walls of the Romanists," An Open Letter to The Christian Nobility of the German Nation Concerning the Reform of the Christian Estate, 1520 by Martin Luther (1520) Introduction and Translation by C. M. Jacobs. Works of Martin Luther: With Introductions and Notes, Volume II (Philadelphia: A. J. Holman Company, 1915). http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/witten berg/luther/web/nblty-03.html _______________ What's good enough for the Reformation, therefore, is good enough for this humble web site: IF ONE IS GOING TO MAKE A POINT WHICH DISAGREES WITH SOMEONE ELSE'S POINT HERE, ONE MUST BE PREPARED TO BACK IT UP AND, IF NECESSARY, PROVE IT WITH SCRIPTURE ALONE. Stated opinions and theories are fine, but as far as FAF is concerned, Scripture alone is the final arbiter of truth on this web site. No exceptions. Max of the Cross | ||
| Max |
Ps. Any good English translation is acceptable. One does not need to know and use Hebrew and/or Greek to prove a point. If one does and can, however, so much the better. BUT DO NOT LET YOURSELF BE INTIMIDATED IF YOU LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGES. Reason: The scholarship of the translators of the original texts into English is sufficiently reliable. | ||
| Max |
Pss. This FAF web site is not about winning. It is not about political alliances, ganging up, and piling on. "I agree with _____" or "You're right, _______" are unacceptable substitutes for your own study of Scripture and expression of faith on FAFF. May God bless each and every one of you, Max of the Cross | ||
| Max |
NIV 1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas "; still another, "I follow Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? 14 I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. | ||
| Max |
If I talk with the tongues of men and even of angels, but if I do not love people, then I am only like the sound of a big horn or a loud bell. If I speak words from God, if I can understand all secrets, and know everything, if I can move mountains by believing, but if I do not love people, I am nothing, even though I can do all. If I give away all I have, and if I give my body to be burned, but if I do not love people, I get nothing out of it. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. Love is not proud and does not boast. Love does not do things that are not nice. Love does not just think of itself. Love does not get angry. Love holds no wrong feelings in the heart. Love is not glad when people do wrong things. But it is always glad when they do right. Love forgives everything. Love is always trusting, and always hoping, and never gives up. Love never ends. The gift of speaking words from God will end. The gift of speaking in different tongues or languages will stop. The gift of knowing many things will end. Now we know only a little, and we can speak only a little of God's words. But when everything becomes perfect, that part will come to an end. When I was a child, I talked like a child. I understood like a child. I thought like a child. But when I became a man, I stopped doing things like a child. Now [things are] like looking in a looking- glass which does not make things clear. We cannot see and understand things plainly. But when things become perfect, then we shall fully know and understand everything, just as God knows. These three things will remain for ever. They are faith, hope, and love. And love is the greatest of them. -- 1 Corinthians 13 (Worldwide English = WE) | ||
| Max |
ìKnow that no one can have indulged in the Holy Writers sufficiently, unless he has governed churches for a hundred years with the prophets, such as Elijah and Elisha, John the Baptist, Christ and the apostles. Do not assail this divine Aeneid; nay, rather prostrate revere the ground that it treads. We are beggars: this is true.î Martin Luther, ìThe Last Written Words of Luther: Holy Ponderings of the Reverend Father Doctor Martin Luther,î 16 February 1546. _Dr. Martin Luther's Werke_, (Weimar: Hermann Boehlaus Nachfolger, 1909), Band 85 (TR. 5), pp. 317-318. Translated by James A. Kellerman ____________________________________ This text was translated in 1999 for Project Wittenberg by James Kellerman and has been placed in the public domain by him. You may freely distribute,copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to Rev. Robert E. Smith, Walther Library, Concordia Theological Seminary. E-mail: smithre@mail.ctsfw.edu. Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (219) 452-3149 Fax: (219) 452-2126 http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/witten berg/luther/beggars.txt ****************** Begin Maxís comment ****************** Please note well the good doctorís absolute respect and reference for the primacy of Scripture alone.î On this web site ours should be no less absolute. No Scripture should be permitted to be trashed or considered ìoff limitsî or unquotable simply because our friends the Adventists also quote it. The love of Christ Jesus to you all, Max of the Cross | ||
| Max |
7 REASONS WHY SCRIPTURE REIGNS SUPREME ON FAFF 1. Jesus used Scripture to prove his points. NIV Matthew 22:29 ìJesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the [Old Testament] Scriptures or the power of God.î 2. Jesus considered Scripture to be absolute and inviolable. NIV John 10:35Ý(Jesus speaking) ì[Old Testament] Scripture cannot be broken." 3. Paul considered no Scripture unimportant, something to be trashed, or not to be quoted. NIV Romans 15:4ÝìFor everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the [Old Testament] Scriptures we might have hope." 4. Paul told Timothy to ìdevoteî himself to Scripture. NIV 1 Timothy 4:13ÝìUntil I come, devote yourself [Timothy] to the public reading of [Old Testament] Scripture, to preaching and to teaching." 5. Paul told Timothy that Scripture could make him ìwise for salvation.î NIV 2 Timothy 3:15ÝìThe holy [Old Testament] Scriptures ... are able to make you [Timothy] wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus...." 6. Again, Paul considered NO Scripture off limits. NIV 2 Timothy 3:16ÝìAll [Old Testament] Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness ...." 7. Peter warns that eisegesis -- reading into Scripture oneís own theories, ideas, politics, opinions or anything else -- leads to the ìdestructionî of those who would dare to do so. NIV 2 Peter 3:16Ýì... ignorant and unstable people distort ... [Old Testament] Scriptures, to their own destruction.î Therefore, on this web site Scripture and Scripture alone settles all disagreements and leads to all conclusions. No majority vote. No political alliances. No factions. No FAFF ìpope.î No FAFF ìEllen.î No exceptions. God be with you all, Max of the Cross | ||
| Max |
JAMES THE AUTHOR OF JAMES The author of the New Testament book of James identifies himself as James (1:1), and he was probably the brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem council (Acts 15). Four men in the NT have this name. The author of this letter could not have been the apostle James, who died too early (AD 44) to have written it. The other two men named James had neither the stature nor the influence that the writer of this letter had. James was one of several brothers of Christ and was probably the oldest since he heads the list in Matthew 13:55. At first he did not believe in Jesus and eevn challenged him and misunderstood his mission (John 7:2-5). Later he became very prominent in the church: 1. He was one of the select individuals Christ appeared to after his resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7). 2. Paul called him a "pillar" of the church (Galatians 2:9). 3. Paul, on his first post-conversion visit to Jerusalem, saw James (Galatians 1:19). 4. Paul saw James on his last visit (Acts 21:18). 5. When Peter was rescued from prison, he told is friends to tell James (Acts 12:17). 6. James was a leader in the important council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:13). 7. Jude could identify himself simply as "a brother of James (Jude 1:1), so well known was James. 8. James was MARTYRED about AD 62. --From the NIV Introduction to the book of James. Max of the Cross | ||
| Max |
WHAT MAKES JAMES SO SPECIAL? Characteristics that make this letter distinctive are: 1. It is unmistakably Jewish in nature. 2. It emphasizes vital Christianity characterized by good deeds and a faith that works: Genuine faith must and will be accomanied by a consistent life-style. 3. It has a simple organization. 4. It closely adheres to Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. For examples, compare: (a) James 2:5 with Matthew 2:5. (b) James 3:10-12 with Matthew 7:15-20. (c) James 3:18 with Matthew 5:9. (d) James 5:2-3 with Matthew 6:19-20. (e) James 5:12 with Matthew 5:33-37. 5. It is similar to Old Testament wisdom writings such as Proverbs. 6. Its Greek is excellent. --From the NIV Introduction to the book of James. Max of the Cross | ||
| Max |
WHAT ABOUT THE FAITH-CLAIMER WHO REFUSES TO DO GOOD DEEDS? NIV James 2: 14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. | ||
| Max |
SHOW FAITH, SHOW DEEDS NIV James 2: 18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. | ||
| Max |
DEMONS BELIEVE IN (HAVE INTELLECTUAL KNOWLEDGE OF) GOD NIV James 2: 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. | ||
| Max |
NO DEEDS, USELESS FAITH NIV James 2: 20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? | ||
| Max |
ABRAHAM'S WORKS COMPLETED HIS FAITH NIV James 2: 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. | ||
| Max |
GOOD WORKS ACCOMPANY HEART FAITH 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. |
