Expert: Ernie Laurence, Jr. - 8/28/2008

Question
Have you watched the documentary about the lost gospels? According to them there are other gospels that not have been included in the new testament cannon (which is what we have now). If that was true how can we be sure that bible is really complete and that the books in it are authentic and not some make-believe writings of people in the past. What if there are still other books that wasn't included?

How sure are you that you are in the right church?


Answer
I have not watched the documentary about the "lost gospels".  I do know that there are a lot of writings writing anywhere from after the fall of the Southern Kingdom of Judah to Babylon to the 4th and 5th centuries after his death, burial, and resurrection or even into modern times that some claim to be inspired.  The books of Apocrypha, the Quran, the Book of Mormon...

Each of these is an attempt by man to add to God's word or to throw doubt into the minds of Christians.  None of them are inspired.

The Bible itself tells us that the Apostles were given all truth during their life times (John 16:13; 2 Pet. 1:3; Jude 3).  So so-called "gospel" written outside of their lifetimes (such as the "gospel" of Judas -- hypothetically written around 180 AD) is not inspired.

The word "gospel" means "good news" and there was only one gospel, the gospel.  This good news was that the Messiah/Christ had come and He was Jesus, Son of God, son of Mary and Joseph the Carpenter.  There were four accounts of his life.  These four gospel (singular) accounts are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  They were written by men who were either Apostles themselves (Matthew and John) or lived and wrote during the life time of the Apostles and had direct contact with them (John Mark and Luke).

God's Providence would not allow for mankind to go for 1300 years without necessary information (400 AD to 1700 AD -- the period that we supposedly did not have access to the gospel of Judas).  God always provides for man all the necessary things to get to heaven.  This is the second reason we should not worry about these so-called "lost gospels".

Finally, we can apply the same tests we have done for all the books of the Bible.  We see if the book in question is contextually and conceptually compatible with those parts that we know are inspired.  If we compare the gospel account of Judas, or the Book of Mormon, or the Quran to the four gospel accounts, to Acts, to Paul's letters, the 39 books of the Old Testament or any other portions of the Bible we will find contradictions between the two.

You can check out www.apologeticspress.org for some very in depth discussions on these topics.  They explain there how we can know that the Bible we have is all of God's Word and only God's Word and not just the writings of men or incomplete somehow.

I am sure that I am in the right church for a host of reasons.  But the short answer is, I believe I am in the right church because it is the only church that conforms 100% without addition or subtraction, to God's Word.  We teach and practice the same things the Bible says on Salvation, Water Immersion, Church Organization, Worship, Name, and Service without addition or subtraction.  THAT is the litmus test that everyone should follow to know the answer to your last question.

Are you in the right church?  How do you know?

In Truth and Love,

Ernie