The Sufficiency and Necessity of Scripture get_app

Scripture is both sufficient and necessary. It is sufficient as the sole authority for the Church (a concept the Reformers called sola scriptura), and it is necessary for people to be saved (that they may understand God’s requirements and redemption). The Baptist Faith and Message speaks of these things by saying, “It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction,” It has ... salvation for its end,” and “It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried.”

Read Psalm 19:7-14.

• We’ve looked at verses 7-10 concerning the inerrancy of Scripture, but how do these verses speak to the sufficiency of Scripture? What does Scripture do according to this passage?
  (Scripture revives the soul, makes people wise, brings joy, etc.)
• What does verse 11 specifically say Scripture does?
  (warns and rewards; we learn of God’s judgments and blessings)

In Psalm 119:11, we see that Scripture keeps us from sinning against God as well. Isaiah 9:6 speaks of the promised Messiah, Jesus, and says that he is called “wonderful counselor.” If that is true, then surely his Word is sufficient for us (even in times of despair, confusion, fear, anxiety, and sorrow). We have access to the very words of the wonderful counselor, and that cannot be replaced by any other wisdom or knowledge.

Scripture is sufficient for us to know the principles of God, to know what is required of us, to know the redemption we have in Christ, and to guide us.

Scripture is also necessary. We can learn some things through the created world around us (we call that general revelation), but we need God’s Word (we call that special revelation) to reveal to us sufficient knowledge of God, his requirements, and his will that are needed for our salvation. In other words, looking outside will never communicate the gospel fully. For that, Scripture is needed. It is Scripture that turns our attention to Christ and the redemption he has accomplished for his people.

Read Romans 3:23-26 and Acts 4:11-12.

• Who has sinned?
  (everyone)
• How is a person justified before God, the judge?
  (by grace through the redemption found in Christ Jesus received by faith)
• How was this justification and redemption accomplished?
  (God put Jesus forward as a propitiation; in other words, Christ was punished in the place of his people to satisfy the wrath of God and reconcile his people to himself)
• Is there any other way to be saved?
  (No, salvation comes only through Jesus; there is no other name by which we are saved)

These truths are not found in the most beautiful sunset or the grandest mountain. Scripture is necessary and sufficient in matters of salvation; it is necessary and sufficient in guiding the Church; and it is necessary and sufficient for you.

Close in a time of prayer, thanking God for his provision of special revelation (Scripture) that is sufficient and necessary for our lives as it reveals God’s standard, his instructions, and his salvation.