Richard: Here is plenty of Scriptural proof for you that the Word of the Lord is not limited to the written word.
I certainly have not suggested that every word of the Lord is written down in the bible. I don’t have a problem admitting that. It’s you next statement that I have a huge problem with.
And that because of that, we cannot be saved by the written word or necessarily brought into communion with Christ only through the written word as you have suggested.
What you are saying here is that because every word that Jesus spoke is not written down. The words that are written down are not sufficient to introduce us to Christ. This doesn’t even make a little sense. and if it is correct it makes Jesus a liar.
Jn.5:37And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
38And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
41I receive not honour from men.
42But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
43I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
44How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
45Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
47But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
In v. 38 Jesus accuses his listener of not having the word abiding in them because they believe not in Him the word made flesh. In v. 39 Jesus tells them to seach the scriptures for in them they think they have eternal life and the scriptures that tell them they can obtain eternal life are the ones that talk of Him. Let, me ask you HC what more is there, what more do we need than the introduction to eternal life. Notice what Jesus says in vs.45-47 Jesus is not going to accuse them, But Moses is. The one they trust accuses them of being sinners, through the law. It is Moses the one they trust that did what. Wrote of Jesus. And in v. 47 But if you believe not Moses what? Writings. You won’t believe Him. The WORD made flesh.
I don’t think that I need to go through all these. I’ll just pick a few to make a few points.
Mark 13:31 -
Mark 16:15 -
Mark 3:14; 16:15 -Luke 10:16 -
Luke 24:47 -
Acts 2:3-4 -
I have no problem with the idea that the apostles preached the gospel. Of coarse they preached. It’s when you say that what they were preaching was somehow different or more complete better than the written word that I have a problem with.
Acts 15:27 - Judas and Silas, successors to the apostles, were sent to bring God’s infallible Word by “word of mouth.”
Actually Judas and Silas were contemporaries of the apostles. Silas even preached with Paul for a time. Acts 15 talks about the first General Conferance meeting of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and in it some of the Apostles And other stalwarts of the church come together to discuss the question of whether or not people had to become Jews (be circumcized, keep the Levitical law) before they could become Christians.
10Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Acts15:11But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
12Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
Notice v. 11. What they are preaching is salvation through the gift (grace) of God in His Son Jesus Christ. NOTHING ELSE.
