December 5th: 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
BCF 1.1: The holy Scripture is the only SUFFICIENT, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience.”
The compilers thought to make this the first doctrine of the Confession. The first proof text of the Confession:
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.”
Gk “perfect” an unusual word = complete. It has everything needed for the Christian life.
Gk “throughly furnish” = to bring to an end, to make complete. Hence something taken to completion.
For “all good works.” Absolutely nothing God has not thought of.
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 beyond that.
It is a complete revelation. It is comprehensive. All we need to be thoroughly equipped.
No new phase of human affairs in which it will not direct us. Eg television, social media.
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. It is the whole counsel of God.
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.”
David understood this: Psa 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.”
The word “perfect” means without blemish, complete. Unlike many manuals.
INERRANCY NOT SUFFIENCY
Some say it is an infallible book, but that it doesn’t address all the issues of the Christian life.
Some even say that Acts and the epistles were only written for the people of NT times.
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. It is given by God thoroughly equip us for everything in life.
IMITATING PAUL
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 the way I set about evangelising, church planting, organising the churches.
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.
The church is said to be (Eph 2.20) “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.”
THE PATTERN CHURCH
Anglicans have always said that Scripture does not give definite teaching on how churches should be organised.
It is not sufficient for church organisation.
‘It is silent on this, so 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.
We are instructed to imitate Paul. He founded independent churches
“To the churches of Galatia”, each with deacons, elders; not the Church of Galatia.
Not in the NT – ‘but that was just the early church’.
Sometimes referred to as the primitive church, implying there was a lot for it to learn.
What makes us think that God only gave a primitive beginning to His churches?
What makes us imagine we can do better than the early church did? Wouldn’t we love to see their blessing?
Independent churches have a natural resilience.
Some churches may be harmed by error or attacks. But others continue. Like guerrilla warfare.
A single church movement however presents one target for Satan. Easy infiltration.
The fall of the denominations
God’s Word is meant to completely equip us.
It gives us a pattern for church life. God has thought of everything.
THE CULTS
To deny sufficiency is no better than the cults which add their writings to the Bible.
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.
Denying Scripture’s sufficiency is just as bad as denying its inerrancy.
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.
It is trying to be like the world so they don’t feel awkward to come to church.
The Early Church had no worship bands, denominations, drama presentations.
But they turned the world upside down.
Churches today say in effect, “We know better than God. Better than the Early Church.”
But we achieve far less. Churches shrinking, closing or becoming little better than clubs.God’s instructions aren’t sufficient. Gospel preaching and prayer aren’t enough. So:
· Some spend money on bands and lighting.
· Charismatics bring in so-called miracle workers.
· Others organise mass rallies. Less effective than church outreach.
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 it is ineffective.
But God is our Maker, and understands us perfectly.
Did He forget to give pastors what they need for counselling?
God’s Word gives us material for teaching, guidance, correction that we may be “perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
This is a divine manual assembled with infinite wisdom.
Do we know better than our Maker? Would we consider advising NASA on their next space mission?
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 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 assemble all that you will need. Think ahead, plan.
Everything needed carefully collected together by God in advance for us.
For the Christian journey for a lifetime.
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, and therefore God does not supplement it by inspiring any other agency.”
