A Confessional Church: Confessing Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16–17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

P.O.P.

God’s Word must be the highest standard of truth and the tool for which we grow in sanctification and obedience.

Kids

The Bible is from God and tells us truths about God so we can obey Him.

Abstract of Principles (1858)

I. The Scriptures

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience.

Baptist Faith and Message (2000)

I. The Scriptures

The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. 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. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.

Second London Baptist Confession (1689)

Of the Holy Scriptures

Paragraph 1 The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and His will which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in diversified manners to reveal Himself, and to declare (that) His will unto His church; and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which makes the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing His will unto His people being now completed. Paragraph 4 The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, depends not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.

The New Hampshire Confession of Faith (1833)

I. Of the Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter, that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union , and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (1978)

Preface

The authority of Scripture is a key issue for the Christian Church in this and every age. Those who profess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are called to show the reality of their discipleship by humbly and faithfully obeying God's written Word. To stray from Scripture in faith or conduct is disloyalty to our Master. Recognition of the total truth and trustworthiness of Holy Scripture is essential to a full grasp and adequate confession of its authority.

Protect the truth of God’s Word in humility driven by a love for God desiring the Gospel to spread throughout the world.

I. We confess the Bible as the revelation of God.

All Scripture

Thomas Jefferson - Jefferson Bible (1819-1820), would take scissors to the Bible and form what he thought was to be the “important” part of the Bible.

Red letter Bibles - can be deceptive because we must understand all of them to be inspired, important, and worth our attention.

Breathed out

“Inspired” NASB

What we DO NOT mean...

God sent the pages of Scripture down from heaven already written.

God dictated every word they were to write down.

What we DO mean...

God, by way of the Holy Spirit (theopneustos - God-breathed), breathed into the writers to ensure they wrote what He intended to reveal.

By God

What does this mean to us?

God’s Word is trustworthy.

“What the Bible says, God says”

God’s Word is authoritative.

God’s Word is necessary.

God’s Word is the standard of truth.

God’s Word contains no errors.

2 Peter 1:19–21 “And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

II. We confess the Bible as instruction for the Church.

What is the Bible about?…We can say that the Bible is centrally about what our triune Creator-covenant God has done to redeem us and to make everything new in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Steve Wellum, Christ from Beginning to End

Profitable

Teaching (Positive)

Reproof (Negative)

Correction (Negative)

Training (Positive)

Righteousness

Growth in Christ involves nurturing and correction…instructing in holiness and rebuking of sin.

Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?

A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

Westminster Shorter Catechism

III. We confess the Bible as sufficient for the Church’s work.

Complete

Ephesians 2:8–10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Christian training must first be grounded in Scripture (not merely general life experience or commonsense values). It must be thorough - there are no shortcuts to true spiritual growth - including both instruction and correction, rather than focusing unilaterally on encouragment. The purpose of such training isn’t merely an individual’s personal edification or intellectual stimulation; it’s ministery to others.

Andreas Kostenberger

Equipped

2 Timothy 2:21 “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”

Every good work

Salvation comes through faith but a necessary outflow of salvation in the believer is the work God has called us to do.

Titus 3:8 “The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.”

Elders (Unqualified to serve)

Titus 1:16 “They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”

2. Widow

1 Timothy 5:9–10 “Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.”

3. Rich

1 Timothy 6:17–19 “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

4. Older men

Titus 2:7 “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,”

As those bought by the blood of Jesus

Titus 2:11–14 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

The power you and I have, if we will be faithful to confess Scripture as the highest truth, is to make disciples that know God’s Word is true and love God deeply…this is the testimony that Paul Timothy is giving even here.

2 Timothy 3:14 “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it”

2 Timothy 1:5 “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”