1689 Chapter 1 (Paragraphs 1 & 2)

Intro

Tonight we begin our study of the 1689 LBCF.

My goal for this is for you to grow in your love for God and to grow in your understanding of His perfect Word.

As I mentioned this past Sunday, we must be able to defend our position. We must be able to backup what we believe by using the Word of God and without taking it out of context.

That is where the Confessions and Creeds come in handy. They act as a magnifying glass to help us understand what the Bible teaches.

That being said, the confessions and creeds are imperfect and fallible; they cannot, nor could they ever take the place of the Bible.

They serve as a tool to help us better understand what God is saying to us.

Paragraph 1

The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) Chapter 1: Of the Holy Scriptures

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 divers manners to reveal Himself, and to declare 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 ceased.

First Sentence:

Gods word is first described as Holy, meaning it is set apart from all else. There is nothing else like it, nor will there ever be on this side of Heaven.

2 Timothy 3:14–17 “You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

The Greek word here is ἱερός (hieros), which means consecrated, set apart, or holy.