Sola Scriptura, Part 6

Shawn McCraney discusses the upcoming special guest appearance of Matt Slick, who will explain Calvinism in a non-confrontational format, addressing topics like total depravity and unconditional election while emphasizing his own rejection of Calvinism as aligned with biblical Christianity. He further critiques the hype around "Blood Moons" and advises watching an HBO special on Scientology, highlighting the idea that religious believers should focus directly on God rather than human leaders and systems, emphasizing the foundational role of apostles and their firsthand witness of Jesus Christ’s resurrection as laid out in the Bible.

The apostles were directly chosen by Jesus, uniquely inspired, and empowered with abilities to perform miracles as foundational figures in Christianity, leaving no need for successors, which contradicts claims of ongoing apostolic authority. As such, their teachings and writings hold enduring authority, while the ongoing role of guiding believers rests with the Holy Spirit rather than any human hierarchical structure.

The teaching explains that within Christianity, three main approaches—Catholicism, Protestantism, and Restorationism—each claim authority, demand conformity, and assert alignment with the Bible while rejecting others' views, leading to numerous divisions and the propagation of their faith 'brands'. Each of these religious "factories" takes people seeking God, impresses its doctrines upon them across doctrinal, ceremonial, financial, moral, and liturgical lines, yet none can universally claim absolute correctness, creating a space where Universalism attempts to bring peace by embracing a more inclusive perspective.

Shawn argues that Jesus was incarnate as God, and disputes Universal Unitarianism for not recognizing this, advocating instead for "subjective Christianity" which views faith more individually rather than through established religious structures. He emphasizes the importance of preterist eschatology, suggesting that understanding historical Biblical events, like the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, allows for a clearer perspective on faith that does not rely on continuous apostolic authority or apocalyptic expectations, encouraging believers to engage in a more personal and current practice of Christianity.

The teaching emphasizes that the twelve apostles were sent by Jesus to reach the House of Israel and Paul to the Gentiles, with the expectation of Jesus' return in 70 AD to collect His church. Additionally, it challenges the Protestant principle of Sola Scriptura, arguing for the necessity of understanding the Word through the Spirit and highlighting the individual believer's responsibility for discerning truth rooted in faith and love.