BD #7 - God’s Word Is Sufficient | Psalm 19:7-14

Introduction: Continuing in our series on Baptist Doctrine tonight. So far the only subject we’ve looked at is Biblical Authority – God’s Word. The attributes we’ve focused on are God’s Word is:

 Inspired – The written words of Scripture came from God.

2 Tim 3:16 says “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.”

Inerrant – What came from God was recorded without error.

2 Peter 1:20-21 says “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

Infallible – The Bible is perfect in its teaching. It never leads us astray.

2 Tim. 3:17 “Scripture…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.”

Preserved – What came from God and was recorded by man has been preserved in written form for us, even still today.

Mark 13:31 “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” Psalms 12:6-7 tells us God will keep them for every generation.

We believe that God’s Word has been divinely preserved for the English speaking people. We believe we have God’s Word in this King James Version of the Bible. This is the only one we use in our teaching and preaching. First, because we believe it’s God’s Word. But second, it’s a practical matter of unity and a way to avoid confusion.

For all these reasons, we gladly proclaim that The Bible Is Our Sole Authority for faith and practice.

We’re going to look at one more attribute of God’s Word tonight: The Bible Is Sufficient.

If this is God’s Word, then it’s all we need. People turn to all kinds of resources to help their Christian lives, but God’s Word is up to the task. It is sufficient.

Paul told Timothy it is profitable for everything, “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

That means sufficient. It is enough. But there are many schools of thought that try to diminish the sufficiency of the Word of God by replacing it with something else.

Some try to replace it with tradition, but tradition can’t do for us what God’s Word can.

Some try to replace it with experience, and as good as experience is, even Peter said, “We have a more sure word of prophecy” than experience. Experiences can feel right but be wrong. God’s Word is objective.

Some try to add to or take away from God’s Word with scholarship and critical thinking. That you have to be educated to understand it and then we need to try to improve it. But God’s Word was written for the everyman and everywoman. The Holy Spirit is a good enough teacher.

The Biblical Mindset is that God’s Word is sufficient. It has all answers in matters pertaining to life and godliness.

And to reinforce that, let’s look to Psalm 19. In Vv. 7-14.

We’re going to summarize 6 ways that David says God’s Word is Sufficient.

I.     7a – The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul

Law refers to God’s divine instruction

Perfect means something comprehensive, complete, or SUFFICIENT. Scripture is God teaching man everything he needs to live life to the full, spiritually.

Converting means to return, turn back, RESTORE

So the Lord’s divine instruction, is so powerful and comprehensive that it can convert or transform a person from the inside (soul) out. It’s one thing to change behavior, God’s Word can change our souls.

God’s divine instruction can take something broken and return it back to its original condition.

If you’ve ever restored a car or renovated a house, that’s the idea. God’s Word does that for our souls from the inside out.

His intention for us at creation was to live a fulfilled, abundant life of perfect fellowship with Him, but sin broke us. But God is in the restoration business. And He uses His Word to restore us.

Fixer Upper – Soul Edition

Obviously, soul renovation begins at salvation.

God’s Word can transform a lost, broken sinner and make one His child.

Do you remember what you were before salvation? For some it’s much more recent than others. But God’s Word was the power behind your soul renovation.

And if God’s Word can convert a lost and broken soul, why do we assume we need anything else to help us be more like Jesus Christ?

His Word is sufficient. If you’re not what you need to be, start in this book. 

#1 - God’s Word can restore a broken soul.

II.   7b – The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple

Testimony – Witness

A good witness is reliable. They remember details. They don’t get their testimony wrong. That’s God’s Word.

Sure –His testimony can be believed, it’s confirmed, it’s reliable, you can trust it.

I love the word confirmed. God’s testimony is firm. Like the difference between walking on ice or walking on pavement. God’s Word is like pavement and everything else is like ice.

You can trust His Word enough to build your life on it.

Like the wise man who built his house upon the rock, it’s not going anywhere.

God’s testimony is so sure that it makes the simple wise.

Simple means naïve, foolish or open-minded.

One person wrote that it means open or spacious, like an open door.

These days, having an open mind seems like some great virtue, but the word simple implies that it’s not that wise to leave a door open. You don’t know what might enter.

The picture is a naïve person who is undiscerning, ignorant, and gullible, but God’s Word makes him wise.

God’s Word helps us discern what is good to let in and what is not. It helps us filter out that which is false.

Without it, we’d be simple. Unwise. This book is the difference between wise and foolish.

Wisdom is knowledge turned into skill.

“Wise” implies that the Word of God takes a simple mind with no discernment and makes it skilled at living life.

If we would embrace and follow God’s instructions, we’d be good at life.

Finances, relationship, work ethic, parenting - there is a lot of wisdom here.

If you want to live life skillfully, dwell in God’s Word.

#2 - God’s Word can make a simple person wise.

III.  8a – The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart

Statutes – Commandments

Right – Not just right as opposed to wrong, but to be straight or level, like walking on the right path.

God’s commandments keep us on the right path. Pr. 3:5-6

I love GPS, but GPS isn’t always right. I’ve had a GPS lead me to an empty field that it told me was a Walmart. I’ve had a GPS tell me I’m driving through a cornfield while I’m clearly on the highway.

The Scripture keeps us on the right path. It’s GPS but it’s never wrong.

Rejoicing the Heart simply means, when we’re on the right path, we have joy. We don’t have to be anxious or desperate in tough circumstances because God’s path gives us joy.

Psalms 16:11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

You know the joy that comes when everything is right. When you are on the path you’re supposed to be walking. You can’t put a price tag on internal joy and peace.

Have you ever had something weighing on you so heavy, and there are moments you forget about it, but then you remember it and the heaviness returns? That’s so miserable.

There is no true joy on the wrong path. You may forget or be distracted or pretend, but only a person who walks on the path that the Word leads them can have lasting, long-term joy.

Do you have that joy? It can only be found on the right path. And we can only be on the right path when the Word is guiding our steps.

What’s amazing is joy can happen even when the path gets rocky and steep. Because God’s Word gives us perspective in every situation and confidence in God’s ability to handle the matter.

#3 - God’s Word is our source of joy in any situation.

IV.  Vs. 8b – The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes

Scripture is pure – means clear or lucid.

Some things you read are clear as mud. Like the instructions for a toy you buy your kids at Christmas.

I just think that instructions in English ought to be written by someone who kind of knows English.

But when you read the Bible, it’s like looking through a freshly cleaned window.

There’s nothing hindering you from seeing what you need to see.

God’s Word contains mysteries, but the basics are simple and easy to understand.

While there are difficult things to understand, the Bible isn’t some incomprehensible book. It is understandable. Fear God and keep His commandments.

Because it’s so clear, it’s like light. It enlightens our eyes. It’s not that it makes us smarter. We just see more clearly.

I love summer camp. That one week is like watching the light turn on for young people because their primary influence for a week is the Word. And things are so clear.

I wish it could stay that way.

#4 - God’s Word brings clarity to confusion.

V.     Vs. 9a – The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever

Fear is respect or reverence. As we learn of God through His Word, our respect and reverence, our fear, for Him grows. So the Word gives us a proper fear of God.

The word “clean”means the absence of impurities.

Because God is pure His Word is pure. It is so free from sin and corruption that it conveys truth without blemish.

It is so purely accurate that it will always be true. God’s purity never changes. Therefore, the purity of His Word never changes.

This verse sums up a word I love – “timeless.” God’s Word is true for every generation. That’s a miracle. Universal truth applies in every culture, every generation, to every man, woman and child at any point in history. God’s Word is both pure and timeless.

Philosophers, analysts, and psychologists gain a following and then they and their thoughts pass away and become old hat. But not God’s Word!

Good books come and go. They can be a help, there’s no denying that. But like Spurgeon said, “Visit good books, live in the Bible.”

Trends come and go, but God’s Word will always be sufficient.

#5 - God’s Word has no expiration date.

VI.     Vs. 9b – The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether

Judgments mean verdicts.

If you’ve ever been incensed at some unjust outcome in our court system, then you can relate to this. One day, the true and righteous Judge will be the only judge. And He never has a wrong verdict.

He is always accurate and righteous. He never gets one wrong. And He never does anything sinful.

But His Word is the same. It is always right. It is absolute.

Many today reject absolute truth in favor of “my truth.” They don’t like that God’s Word claims to be absolute truth.

There’s so much animosity toward the Bible and truth. But we believe this is true and it will never lead us astray. 

What it says about creation is true. 

What is says about sin is true. 

What is says about redemption is true. 

What it says about history is true.

What it says about everything is true. You can trust this.

And if it’s absolute truth, we don’t need anything else.

Righteous altogether means exhaustively and comprehensively right.

#6 - God’s Word offers everything we need to live lives that are pleasing to God.

Conclusion:  We could keep working through this chapter, but the power of God to:

#1 - God’s Word can restore a broken soul.

#2 - God’s Word can make a simple person wise.

#3 - God’s Word is our source of joy in any situation.

#4 - God’s Word brings clarity to confusion.

#5 - God’s Word has no expiration date.

#6 - God’s Word offers everything we need to live lives that are pleasing to God.

We hold in our hands the comprehensively sufficient Word of God.

God’s Word is enough, and it’s enough for you.

Do you live like that is true?

Do you turn to it first?

Do you trust it to fix you when you’re broken with sin?

Do you go to it when you need wisdom?

Do you open it when you’re confused and need clarity?

Do you visit it daily? Jesus called it daily bread. Is that how often you visit it?

Are you relying on someone else’s walk with the Lord? Or you own faith? Eating bread crumbs from someone else’s table while God’s manual for life sits on your bookshelf?

God’s Word is all you need. It’s not just for me or someone else. It’s for you.

It is enough. If it’s enough, it’s enough for you.

I remember once my wife went to eat at Red Robin. Quite often we’ll split at a place like that because they bring bottomless steak fries. But this time we decided to get our own meals in case it wasn’t enough for two to split one burger. Toward the end of the meal, she had meat sweats. She was struggling to finish her burger. I remember she looked at me and said, “I can’t believe I doubted that it would be enough.”

We often do that with God’s Word. We somehow convince ourselves we need something else, but when we truly trust the bread of life, it never leaves us empty. And we find ourselves saying, “I can’t believe I doubted that it would be enough.”

God Word’s is Enough. And it’s enough for you. Read it. Study it. Meditate on it. Listen to it. Obey it. Respond to it. And when you’re troubled, or need answers, or need encouragement, or you need to be fixe, turn to it alone. It’s always, always, always, enough. God’s Word Is Sufficient.