Definition: 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.
2 Timothy 3:15 sufficient to make you wise for salvation
2 Timothy 3:16 sufficient for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness
2 Timothy 3:17 sufficient to equip you for every good work
James 1:18 and 1 Peter 1:23 also address God’s word as being sufficient as a means to bring us to salvation
Psalms 119:1 following God’s word is sufficient to make you blameless
Based upon these verses we can be assured that we can find all that God has said on particular topics, and we can find answers to our questions in the Bible. We do not have to look at literature outside the Bible or Church teaching (such as in the Catholic Church) to find these answers. It can all be found in the Bible, and if it is not there, God has not given us instruction on it.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF THE SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE
(1) We should be encouraged that everything God wants to tell us about any particular question can be found in Scripture.
(2) It should remind us that we are to add nothing to Scripture and that we are to consider no other writings of equal value to Scripture. (Something certain cults and sects violate. For example Mormons claim divine authority for the Book of Mormon, Christian Scientists claim equal authority for the book Science and Health With a Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy)
(3) God does not require us to believe anything about himself or his redemptive work that is not found in Scripture. While some of the contemporary writings (some of which claim to be collections of sayings of Jesus that are not recorded in the gospels) could be accurate, we have no way of knowing for sure, and if God wanted us to have them, he would have included them in Scripture.
(4) The sufficiency of Scripture shows us that no modern revelations from God are to be placed on a level equal to Scripture in authority.
(5) With regard to living the Christian life, the sufficiency of Scripture reminds us that nothing is sin that is not forbidden by Scripture either explicitly or by implication. Don’t call something a sin if the Bible does not say it is…i.e. Birth control
(6) The sufficiency of Scripture also tells us that nothing is required of us by God that is not commanded in Scripture either explicitly or by implication. The issue here is creating man made requirements or rules that are not defined in the Bible.
(7) The sufficiency of Scripture reminds us that in our doctrinal and ethical teaching we should emphasize what Scripture emphasizes and be content with what God has told us in Scripture.
{ 0 comments }