Earnestly Contend for the Faith

Publisher Marketing: The book is a test of other beliefs in the world as they contrast with the bible. Sola scriptura is a Latin word meaning "by Scripture alone" is said to be a Protestant Christian doctrine that the Bible is the supreme authority in all matters of doctrine and practice. It is the belief that the Scripture- the Bible (Genesis to Revelation) should be the only authority that should guide the Christian teachings and conducts in the world. There are many Christian denominations including the Roman Catholic Church who don't believe the Sola Scriptura, rather they believe in Sola scriptura as well as Tradition. The Roman Catholic particularly believe that the Apostolic tradition did not end after the Apostles have gone and have their traditions documented in the twenty seven books of the New Testament, because the Apostolic authority was passed down in succession; starting from St Peter who was the Head of the Apostles to the present day Pope (Universal father) with the Head quarters in Rome, the first Church for which St Peter Himself was the First Pope. What that means is that, any tradition developed by the church and approved by the Pope who is the Virca of St Peter becomes authoritative as the written scriptures and is biding to the Church. But is this true? Is there any clue as to the veracity of this claim, that Jesus actually passed this tradition as a perpetual tradition? This is the subject of our consideration in this chapter. God's word teaches that the Holy Bible, consisting of 39 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament, is the inspired Word of God. Christ exhorted it, respected, honoured and obeyed the scriptures which He called the Law and the Prophets; referring to the Old Testament. Therefore any true Christian Church must take the Bible as final authority in all matters concerning Christian conduct and works. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; Proverbs 30:5, 6; Revelation 22:18, 19 To appreciate the contents of this book we need to establish from the onset that any objection raised here concerning any Church doctrines is done so with the believe that the Bible being the inspired word of God should be the Final authority concerning Christian doctrine and conduct. If you don't believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God and is enough to guide us to eternal salvation, then you may not find the objections raised in this book interesting and capable of effecting the needed change in the way you take the Bible and the doctrine of your church be it Roman Catholic or any other Church. Doctrine to the Church is what foundation is to a building. It is the article of faith on which a believer's faith is anchored. A building with a weak foundation will collapse under intense unfavourable weather and environmental condition while a building with solid foundation will weather through storms (Matthew 7:24-27). A believer's steadfastness and stability in the Lord is dependent on a firm grasp of the Truth revealed in the Bible (Ephesians 4:13,14) If there is no standard of the faith, you can believe anything, which is dangerous. If the Apostolic tradition was not written down, which now formed the standard of the Christian faith on what bases can we believe the tradition evolved many years after they have gone? Paul the Apostle understood the centrality of the Bible doctrines to Christian maturity, hence he counselled the Ephesians Christians that spiritual gifts were endowed them in order to teach doctrines that will bring about Christian perfection (Ephesians 4:11-14). His counselling to Timothy, his son in the Lord was: "Take heed unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shall both save thyself and them that hear thee" (1Timothy 4:16) Paul's counsel to Titus who was left in Crete to set things that wanting in order was that he should hold " fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers" (Titus 1:9).