Scripture Alone

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Scripture Alone

By David Block

Throughout the history of God's people, the faithful have always held to the idea that the Scripture was sufficient for faith and practice. In other words, the Bible has all the answers to life that we need. Some of the greatest upheavals in church history have focused on this question: is the Bible sufficient or do we need to turn somewhere else for answers?

We see today that many people doubt that the Bible has answers. Many people have picked up the ideas of corporate growth and use them in the church as if they have found the keys to growth of God's kingdom. Many Christians have turned to occult and mystical practices in order to discern what God wants or in order to receive a supernatural experience. People have turned from the Bible in regards to the importance and the nature of the family and children, embracing the philosophies of the selfish driven world. Counselors are sought out first over the Bible in regards to marital and family problems. J.I Packer has said that “Certainty about the great issues of Christian faith and conduct is lacking all along the line. The outside observer sees us as staggering on from a gimmick to gimmick and stunt to stunt like so many drunks in a fog, not knowing at all where we are or which way we should be going.”

So why do we doubt the sufficiency of Scripture? I believe it is because we don't know what it is or what God has given us. 2 Corinthians 9:8 says that, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” All grace, all sufficiency, all things all times in every good work. Are we missing anything there? Paul when he was teaching claimed that he was teaching by the Spirit of God not by human wisdom. He told us that through the Scripture we have the mind of Christ. Is there anything lacking in the mind of Christ that we need to add worldly wisdom or our own wisdom? There are many passages from the Bible that declare the beauty, the fullness and richness of God's word but perhaps the greatest and most pointed statement for the sufficiency of the Scripture is found in 2 Timothy 3:15-17 which says, “You have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” Scripture makes you wise for salvation. Scripture teaches you. It reproves you. It corrects you. It trains you. It is able to make you equipped and competent to do every good work in your life. No exceptions.

So, if you are seeking after God wanting to do his will and to live a life that brings honor and glory to him, then all your instructions are contained in the pages of the Bible. It is a comprehensive and exhaustive guide to life. There is only one source and one ultimate authority for faith and practice: it is Scripture alone.