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.

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Position Paper

April 17, 2013

One of the things I have been working on (other than Grudem’s Systematic Theology Book and the backyard, which is undergoing quite a transformation) is this position paper for the theology class I took at my church.  Probably more aptly described as an affirmation of faith.  I finished the course at the end of last [...]

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Grudem’s Systematic Theology: Chapter 7 – Necessity of Scripture

April 16, 2013

Definition: 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. THE BIBLE IS NECESSARY FOR KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOSPEL Romans 10:13-17 The [...]

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Grudem’s Systematic Theology: Chapter 6 – Clarity of Scripture

March 4, 2013

Sorry for the delay.  Here is the next chapter in Systematic Theology for those following.  Hope you are. Can only Bible scholars correctly understand the Bible? DEFINITION OF 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 [...]

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A Little More Common Sense

February 26, 2013

In light of Dr. Carson’s speech, here are a few more common sense concepts that are rattling around inside this brain of mine. Loved his idea on taxes. It is a concept I have mentioned before and is Biblically based.  Getting rid of things such as the death tax and capital gains tax are other [...]

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