September 10th: The Sufficiency of Scripture

Speaker: Chris Laws

Scripture is described by our Confession as a “sufficient” as well as infallible ‘handbook for life’. A look at the the first BCF doctrine and its implications.

DEFINITION
The first sentence in the Baptist Confession of Faith. “The holy Scripture is the only SUFFICIENT, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience.”
It is sufficient for the Christian life. A comprehensive manual for the Christian life.
2 Tim 3.16-17: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
1. The word “perfect” means fresh, without blemish, complete. Always adequate for all modern issues.
2. Gk “throughly furnished” = to bring to an end, to make complete. Hence something taken to completion.
3. For “all good works.” Absolutely nothing God has not thought of.

Scripture is a manual with everything needed for the Christian life.
3x Paul says the Scripture contains all that we need to know about spiritual things.
Believer’s life, church life. That is what sufficiency means.  

Some say that it is all we need when it comes to salvation, but not for the Christian life.
But it is a comprehensive revelation. Everything we need.
This is the key to understanding many issues today.
There is nothing in life for which it will not direct us.
It will always be far ahead of us in wisdom.
Here is a comprehensive manual for the Christian, “the whole counsel of God”.

Ephesians 2.20-22: We “are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone...in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
BCF 1.6: “The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith and life is…in the Holy Scripture, to which nothing is to be added at any time, either by new revelation of the Spirit, or by the traditions of men.”

Nothing new: David understood this. Psalm 19.7-9: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”

Inerrancy not sufficiency
Some say it is an infallible book, but that it doesn’t address all the issues of the Christian life.
Nottingham Conference 1977: John Stott affirmed inerrancy.
Then he said the Bible writers were limited to what they could understand in their day.
So the Bible doesn’t have much to say about our modern situation.
But it does – 2 Tim 3.16. It is given by God to thoroughly equip us for everything in life.
To deny sufficiency is to be no better than the cults.
God’s Word isn’t enough for JWs, etc. They have the arrogance to add their teaching to God’s.
But we do the same if we start adding to God’s instructions.

1. CHURCH ORGANISATION
Anglicans have always said that Scripture tells us all we need to know to be saved.
But it does not give definite teaching on how churches should be organised, evangelise etc.
‘We must use our own judgement. Only we must not do anything against the Scripture.’
      Hence hierarchy of bishops, archbishops, national organisation. So, too, the Presbyterians.

The doctrine of sufficiency says: look at Scripture.
We are instructed to imitate Paul. He founded independent churches each with its deacons, elders.
      Not national churches
The Early Church copied Paul and the apostles in everything it did.
1 Cor 4.16: “I beseech you be ye followers [imitators] of me”.
Do as I do. Imitate me.
1 Cor 11.1: “Be ye followers [imitators] of me, even as I am of Christ.”
Phil 3.17 “Brethren, be followers [co-imitators] together of me.”
1 Thess 1.6: “And ye became followers [imitators] of us, and of the Lord…so that ye were ensamples [patterns] to all that believe in Macedonia.”

This has given rise to a term – the pattern church.
Paul gave a procedure for church life and government for God’s people.
This makes a big difference.

They will answer: that was just for the early church, the ‘primitive church’.
But, were they primitive? Was Paul’s teaching primitive?
Can we do better than the early church did? Wouldn’t we love to see their blessing?
History has demonstrated he was right. Independent churches have a natural resilience.

Some may be harmed by error or attacks. But others continue. Like guerrilla warfare.
A denomination, however, presents one target for Satan. Infiltration brings down all the churches.
The fall of the Baptist, Methodist, Anglican groupings.
Here is the pattern for church life. God has thought of everything.

2. EVANGELISM
Many today say that Scripture does not tell us how to evangelise, and what methods to use.
Therefore we are free to do anything which attracts unbelievers in.
So drama, contemporary worship, seeker-sensitive churches.
Trying to be like the world so they don’t feel awkward to come to church.

What are God’s instructions? “Be imitators of” Paul.
What did the Early Church do? Gospel preaching and prayer.
      They had no worship bands, denominations, drama presentations.
But they turned the world upside down.
Churches today say in effect, ‘We know better than God’s Word. Better than the Early Church.’
But we achieve far less. Churches shrinking, closing or becoming little better than clubs.
· Some spend money on bands and lighting.
· Charismatics bring in so-called miracle workers.
· Others organise mass rallies – they are less effective than church outreach.
If we wish for blessing, we follow God’s Word/manual.

3. COUNSELLING
Nowadays many churches use secular psychology rather than Scripture in much counselling.          
How little man knows about the human condition!
Eg: Railway crash in London, many killed: counselling offered.
Academic later investigated: those not counselled did better than those counselled.
Some secular psychologists today acknowledge that secular counselling is ineffective.

But God is our Maker, and understands us perfectly.
He has given pastors what they need for counselling. Psalms, Proverbs.
Here is a divine manual written with infinite wisdom. Which do we prefer – divine or earthly/changeable?

4. WORSHIP
God has laid down how we are to worship Him. A future study, but note just this:
“What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it” (Deut 12.32).
No leaving out anything. No adding anything. Scripture is complete, sufficient.
We just copy NT worship – hence simple services. CHS: “severely plain”.

GOD’S PERFECT, COMPREHENSIVE MANUAL
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Gk “profitable” = heaped up, accumulated by God.
Illn: When going on a long trip, you accumulate all that you will need. Think ahead, plan.
Everything needed has been carefully collected together by God in advance for us.
For the Christian journey. Nothing forgotten by the Lord.

Thank God for such a wonderful Christian life manual.

Dr Masters added a note to BCF 1.1: “The word ‘sufficient’ means that Scripture contains all we need to know. It deals with every possible issue.”