We have just finished our study of the Gospel of John in which the Word incarnate is proclaimed and a revival in which our conformity to the Word was examined. I think it would be a good time for a brief overview of how we should view the Word of God. That relationship is outlined in the doctrines related to the Word of God. See the Systematic Theology by Grudem for more information on these topics. The outline used here is based on Grudem.
First we’ll look at the forms that the Word of God takes. Then we’ll look at the characteristics of Scripture as 1) authority, 2) clarity, 3) necessity, and 4) sufficiency.
Forms of the Word:
The Word of God as the Person, Jesus Christ:
Having just finished the Gospel of John this one should seem pretty natural. However, this usage isn’t very common in Scripture. We find this in John 1 and Revelation 19.
Revelation 19:13-16
He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
The Word of God as Speech by God:
God’s Decrees – for example, Genesis 1:3 which reads “And God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.“ This is the powerful creative Word of God.
God’s Words of Personal Address – God has at times spoken with people on earth. For example, Adam and Moses. In Matthew 3:17, God said “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” and it was heard by those surrounding Jesus at the time.
God’s Words as Speech Through People – True prophets deliver God’s words. For example in Deuteronomy 18:18 God tells Moses, “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren; and I will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak to them all that I command him.
God’s Words in Written Form (the Bible) – This is the form of God’s Word which is most familiar to us. We often don’t value it as highly as we ought to because it is so familiar to us. Sometimes we think that if God would speak to us or through us then we’d find obedience to be easier but Scripture shows us that isn’t true. Many folks failed like us even after a direct word from God. Jonah is a great example. To say that if God would speak to me directly then I would obey is to fail to see the value and authority of the written Word of God.
The Authority of Scripture:
The authority of Scripture means that all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.
All the Words in Scripture are God’s Words
This is what the Bible claims for itself. Very often in the Old Testament the words of a man were preceded by “Thus saith the Lord” and if the prophet was wrong then he was a false prophet. This is not to say that all the words of the Old Testament were what God was saying because some portions are historic or poetic. However, remember that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:16. All means all and Scripture is a word that explicitly means Old Testament. The New Testament writers claim and recognize the same authority for the work of the Holy Spirit through them.
The Holy Spirit uses Scripture in our lives to correct us. As an editor, I am accustomed to coming to a work with a hard look of criticism. However, Scripture comes at me with a hard look of criticism. I take note of the historical accuracy and the remarkable internal consistency of a multi-authored document but in the end it is the Holy Spirit that “proves” the Word and convicts my heart.
To Disbelieve or Disobey Any Word of Scripture is Sin
We must understand Scripture correctly but we can’t start from the point of view that rejects the command and then justifies disobedience. If you disbelieve and disobey and you are a Christian then God will discipline you and correct you via the Church or via His work in your life. God will not let you get away with distorting His “prescriptive commands” forever. I’ve seen people do this because they didn’t like God’s commands. It is ultimately rebellion and treason but we are great at justifying our sin.
Scripture is Truth
God can’t lie so you can come to Scripture for truth. God can’t lie because it is contrary to His nature. It isn’t possible for God to lie. So God has kept Scripture true and without error for us. He has done this through all the noise and confusion of history. Psalm 12:6 says that, “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.” Just a few weeks ago we read Jesus’ prayer for us in which He says, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17) and He didn’t say Your Word was like truth but rather He said Your Word is truth.
Written Scripture is our Final Authority
Paul said that the written Scripture was “God-breathed”. People with an agenda will start to argue about what Jesus meant rather than what is written or what Paul meant or was thinking in contrast to what is written. It the written form that is our authority. The authority of Scripture means that all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.
The Clarity of Scripture
The clarity of Scripture means that the Bible is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by all who will read it seeking God’s help and being willing to follow it. Once we have stated this, however, we must also recognize that many people, even God’s people, do in fact misunderstand Scripture.
The Bible Frequently Affirms its Clarity
The testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple (Psalm 19:7). Not everything in Scripture is easy but the big points are clear and are easily understood. Some things are more difficult to understand (2 Peter 3:15-16) but they are not impossible to understand. Scripture even commands that we should teach our children constantly about God’s laws (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
The Moral and Spiritual Qualities Needed for Right Understanding
The ability to understand Scripture is more a product of a moral and spiritual attitude than an intellectual ability. Those who are unspiritual don’t receive the things of the Spirit of God. So the New Testament says that it is clearly written but that it will not be understood by those who are unwilling to receive its teachings. However, when the Holy Spirit is at work, an unsaved person seeking salvation will understand and a believer with God’s help can understand (1 Corinthians 2:14; 1:18-25; James 1:5-6, 22-25).
Why Do People Misunderstand?
The short answer is Sin but it is a difficult question. All believers will not agree on all the teachings of Scripture. Hermeneutics is the methodology of developing sound methods of interpretation. The practice is exegesis in which you explain what a verse means. History tells us that interpretation will not always be in agreement but this also tells us that it is not wise to be ignorant of our history. Just as God always had a people from Genesis through Acts, He has always had a people from Acts to our day. Historical conflicts and controversy have shaped and focused our understanding of Scripture … or they will if we pay attention.
The Necessity of Scripture
The necessity of Scripture means that the Bible is necessary for knowing the gospel, for maintaining spiritual life, and for knowing God’s will, but is not necessary for knowing that God exists or for knowing something about God’s character and moral laws.
Knowledge of the Gospel
Romans 10:13-17 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
The “hearing” is a product of the Word enlivening the spoken Gospel that comes via preaching. There are not spontaneous regenerations. Regeneration occurs in response to the Word as the Holy Spirit works. The Holy Spirit may drive someone to a place in which they can hear the Word - but salvation comes via “hearing” the Word of God.
Maintaining Spiritual Life
How lightly we take the Bible. Jesus says that “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” and yet we fast the Word rather than fast our food to devote ourselves to the Word. At our own risk and those in the Body of Christ around us we suppress our hunger for the word with the bulk filler of the world which doesn’t nourish or even satisfy and also with the things of the enemy of our souls that poison and pervert the natural hunger for spiritual milk (1 Peter 2:2).
Certain Knowledge of God’s Will
We can’t guess all things that God finds pleasing. The moral law is explained in Scripture but we do tend to add to it or subtract from it as seems pleasing to us. We have a certain inherent familiarity with the moral law even before salvation (Romans 1 and 2) and that seems to lead us to make up our own. This is naturally forbidden by God in Deuteronomy 4:2 but we sure do need reminding. God gives Scripture so that we can know what His will is and to restrain us from our own devices.
The Bible is Not Necessary for Knowing That God Exists.
This is spelled out in the first chapter of Romans. Paul teaches that creation gives evidence of God’s existence and character so plainly that even evil men see it. This revelation is not sufficient to bring salvation although the Holy Spirit may use it to move hearts prior to salvation.
The sufficiency of Scripture means that Scripture contained all the words of God he intended his people to have at each stage of redemptive history, and that it now contains everything we need God to tell us for salvation, for trusting him perfectly, and for obeying him perfectly.
We Look for God’s Word and Answers in Scripture
We can find what God requires of us and needs for us to know on every topic necessary for our life in submission to Him. We don’t error on the side of Roman Catholic theologians who insist that Church tradition and history add to God’s word. We reject that notion. We agree that history may help understand God’s Word but it never adds to it or subtracts from it. We also don’t error on the side of liberal theologians who view Scripture as just one of many religious books.
Scripture Accumulated Over Time in Accord with God’s Sovereign Will
God’s people have had exactly what God wanted them to have at each point in history. His revelation at each point was not exhaustive but it was sufficient and He repeatedly warned against adding to it or subtracting from it.
Practical Application of the Sufficiency of Scripture
This doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture should drive our passion for the Word of God. If you internalize the fact that God has given you exactly what He wanted you to have then you’ll value Scripture correctly. You’ll realize that what God wants He has provided in written form. All that you need to understand your salvation and communicate it to others is found in Scripture.
Now I want to use a video. I don’t do this very often but this video shows the correct response to the Word of God. These are a people named the Kimyal. At one point they were not believers. These guys are from the Indonesian part of New Guinea and they have called upon the name of the Lord. They had never heard the Gospel but someone was sent to them, learned their language, and preached to them. This video shows a people who know far better than we do “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Their faith came by hearing as the Holy Spirit changed hearts and created this response to the arrival of Word of God for the first time in their language. This is what revival looks like.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9dpmp_-TY0
The Sufficiency of Scripture
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