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Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.
If it is complete, when was it completed, and how do we know this? Before that last inspired book or letter was done, how did people know (if they knew) that God's Word was not yet complete?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
I did hear a preacher say once that there were exactly 66 words in the Lord's Prayer, and that was proof that the 66 books was complete. Don't really follow that logic...
If it is complete, when was it completed, and how do we know this? Before that last inspired book or letter was done, how did people know (if they knew) that God's Word was not yet complete?
Maybe God did like my mother used to do and said, "THIS IS IT! I'M NOT TELLING YOU AGAIN! WRITE IT DOWN SO YOU'LL REMEMBER!" Least'n that's how my mamma used to say it!
I affirm and believe that the Bible is the inerrant, infallable Word of God.
God never commanded anyone to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost as translated (and understood by most of Christianity) in Mt 28:19.
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"The choices we make reveal the true nature of our character."
Colossians 4:16: And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
It seems Paul also wrote a different letter to the church at Laodicea. He wanted the church at Colossus to read it, and vise versa.
Since we do not have this letter, do we:
A. Write it off as not being "God breathed"
B. Suggest that Man corrupted (or hindered) God's will to share this epistle
Colossians 4:16: And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
It seems Paul also wrote a different letter to the church at Laodicea. He wanted the church at Colossus to read it, and vise versa.
Since we do not have this letter, do we:
A. Write it off as not being "God breathed"
B. Suggest that Man corrupted (or hindered) God's will to share this epistle
It is very possible that we do have the letter to the Laodiceans, in that it was a circular letter, among the churches. Some scholars (william Barclay comes to mind immediately) believe that the epistle titled "Ephesians" is actually the letter originally written to the Laodicean church, circulated amongst other churches, eventually ending up, and being most prominetly identified with the church at Ephesus.
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"Resolved: That all men should live to the glory of God. Resolved, secondly: That whether or not anyone else does, I will." ~Jonathan Edwards
"The only man who has the right to say he is justified by grace alone is the man who has left all to follow Christ." ~Dietrich Bonheoffer, The Cost of Discipleship
"Preachers who should be fishing for men are now too often fishing for compliments from men." ~Leonard Ravenhill
I believe that God is more than able to give us His word as He wanted us to have it, no matter the council. I wonder if some of you even believe God is able to protect His own Word.
Just because Paul wrote other letters (exp. Epistle to the Laodiceans) doesn't mean everytime He picked up a pen He was inspired and infallible (requirements if it is scripture). I'm sure many Biblical authors had other works, doesn't mean they should be scripture. Do you think Malachi only wrote 4 chapters in His entire life, James only wrote a short letter, etc.
IMO, questioning if the Bible we have is complete (thus we have only a partial version of God's Word) is questioning the ability of God himself to preserve His Word, and by extension questions the omnipotentcy of God Himself.
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"Resolved: That all men should live to the glory of God. Resolved, secondly: That whether or not anyone else does, I will." ~Jonathan Edwards
"The only man who has the right to say he is justified by grace alone is the man who has left all to follow Christ." ~Dietrich Bonheoffer, The Cost of Discipleship
"Preachers who should be fishing for men are now too often fishing for compliments from men." ~Leonard Ravenhill
It is very possible that we do have the letter to the Laodiceans, in that it was a circular letter, among the churches. Some scholars (william Barclay comes to mind immediately) believe that the epistle titled "Ephesians" is actually the letter originally written to the Laodicean church, circulated amongst other churches, eventually ending up, and being most prominetly identified with the church at Ephesus.
That would make it corrupted since it says in the beginning that it was written to the Ephesus church
Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus.
__________________ Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
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