The Sufficiency of the Scriptures
“The Bible is good,” some might say, “but you also need ________ to know truth and live as God intended.” Ever heard a statement similar to that one? We have mentioned the absolutes in the Bible and the Scriptures place of sole authority for faith and practice of believers, but do we actually and fully believe in the sufficiency of the Scriptures that through them we may be all that God intended us to be? That blank above may be filled in by some with religious tradition or philosophy or psychology or sociology, but is there really a need for these other things for us to know truth or even to find the help we need with spiritual problems?
Psalm 19: 7, “The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple.” Yes, the Word of God can truly transform a man from what he was into what he needs to be. It is also true that some of these other systems have given some people some help. For example, a therapy group for addiction recovery will tell a man that he is still an alcoholic even if he has been sober for many years. But Christ transforms a man. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
That which is meant to complement the faith as found in the Bible actually instead either compromises, contradicts, or complicates it. There is no other Gospel, but that which is according to the Scripture. [See 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.] Even the spectacular or miraculous is not as an effective platform for truth as the simple preaching of God’s Word to reach the lost. “They have Moses and the prophets let them hear them.”[See Luke 16:29-31] “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that are lost.” 1 Corinthians 1:21.
We should not be fooled into believing that the wisdom of man is on par or better or even necessary for those seeking to know and obey God. The Lord Jesus Christ said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Are you finding sufficiency in the Word of God or are you looking to the molded bread of this world’s wisdom to meet your needs that only God’s Word can meet?
“These were more noble. . . in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.” Acts 17: 11
Read Simple Bible Truths Series, Part 9
Read Simple Bible Truths Series, Part 7
June 28, 2010 at 7:46 am |
Gordon:
Thanks for posting this article. I appreciate it very much.
LM
June 28, 2010 at 12:06 pm |
Lou,
As you know, a lack of trust in the Scriptures as the completely sufficient means for spiritual knowledge and growth has led many away from truth and into diverse errors.
June 28, 2010 at 11:52 pm |
Good stuff! This is so foundational. We must have our nose in the BOOK, reading it for ourselves. For far too long believers have let others tell them what is in the Bible by reading various self-help books and the like that speak about the Bible without really encouraging the reader to read the Bible for themselves. The systematic, yearly reading through the Bible is of such spiritual benefit yet so few actually make the time to do it. I have for years stressed Bible reading in the various ministries I have served. It is such a blessing to have folks come up months later and say, “I picked up your reading schedule and have been faithfully reading my Bible and have been greatly blessed.”
June 29, 2010 at 12:07 pm |
Brian,
What else is foundational along the same vein is Colossians 2:10, “And ye are complete in him. . .”
Understanding and being fully persuaded of the sufficiency of the Scriptures and of our completeness in the Lord Jesus Christ are absolutes necessities if we are to abide in the truth and have more than just a “form of godliness.”
July 5, 2010 at 9:57 pm |
I’m having a difficult identifying the author of this blog and would like to learn more about him. If you would be so kind, could you email some form of bio information to the address attached to my comment? Thank you.
July 5, 2010 at 10:55 pm |
Nathan,
Thanks for stopping in and looking around.
I guess the easiest way for you to find out more about me would be for you to visit my personal website. Here is a link. If that still leaves you with specific questions unanswered, you may utilize the contact information provided there to get a hold of me.
April 13, 2011 at 7:21 pm |
The information that You are giving is so desperately needed today! I am sharing news of this site with all of those persons that i feel that are in need of reading what is to be found here.
John Gregory