THE Word, not a word or some words

THE WORD

Inspiration

2 Timothy 3:15–17 ESV

and how from childhood 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 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.

2 Peter 1:20–21 ESV

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.

2pet 1:20-21

2 Peter 3:16 ESV

as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.

From God

God breathed

Carried along by the Holy Spirit

Unique

not like impression or artistry

God still leads, but not in the same infallible way; we can and do get it wrong, and even if we get it right, it is still not the same degree of inspiration as Scripture

Also, NO translation or interpretation can rightly claim inspiration in this way!

In time

holy men wrote - not eternal, thus not God to be worshipped

there WAS a progression of revelation, thus each age is responsible to the degree of light revealed

which means that we live in the greatest light and thus the greatest responsibility

Not dictation

carried along by the Holy Spirit

- I saw visions of God

1 Corinthians 7:6–7 ESV

Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

1 Corinthians 7:6 ESV

Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.

- The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place.

- Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

1cor

1 Corinthians 7:6–7 KJV 1900

But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

- Now as a concession (by permission), not a command, I say this. 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

Paul’s experience shows us both a variance of understanding of authors

Here we see the sovereignty of our God in that the method or experience of inspiration of Scripture was varied, but in no place was the level of inspiration or accuracy or authority compromised

Sufficiency

Romans 1:16 ESV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 10:17 ESV

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

2 Timothy 3:17 ESV

that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

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.

God has given un in His Word a treasure sufficient to meet any challenge to evangelization and discipling

Jurisdiction

Isaiah 40:8 ESV

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

1 Peter 1:25 ESV

but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Matthew 24:35 ESV

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

The Word of God is for all peoples, all places, and all times!

When we say the 66 books of the Bible are the Word of God, we are saying they were uniquely inspired of God, that they are sufficient for salvation and godliness, and that they are authoritative for all mankind for all time.

Not just a word

exclusivity

Simply put, there is no other source; no single work or collection of writings; no treasury of collected wisdom; no scholarly volumes or commentaries; no pronouncements of holy men or councils; no dreams, visions, or new revelations; no commonly held position nor super majority among ANY possible selected group that can make the same claims of inspiration, sufficiency, or authority as the Word of God.

lesser words

Fake gospels

The claims of so-called missing books of the Bible can only prevail as long as the target audience has never and never does read them, has no knowledge of history, and relies primarily on internet memes as their source of wisdom and understanding.

Blessed and wise saints

commentaries, sermons, live presence

God has blessed us with good and wise saints

God has promised to lead us collectively into all truth ()

Every member, teacher, minister, congregation, association, and council MUST be placed under the Word of God, not over it

...so, Jesus name drops

Matthew 22:31 ESV

And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God:

Martin Luther

Not just some words

Unless I am convicted by scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.

d each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.

Me/Us

Unless I am convicted by scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of MISSIONARY BAPTIST PREACHERS, for they have so often contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. For me to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.

Traditions

Paul

2 Thessalonians 2:15 ESV

So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

Every generation and every congregation has worked out their own ways of implementing, communicating, and honoring scriptural truths. These are traditions; many are good, right, and helpful

Every generation and every congregation has

Jesus

Matthew 15:2–3 ESV

“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

Every generation must seek to identify imbalances and errors / contradictions in their inherited as well as created traditions as they are compared to THE WORD OF GOD

Not just some words

Hypocrisy - a canon within a canon

Comfort and Preference (what I like and what I know)

focusing on what you are comfortable with (either by familiarity or by lack of conviction) says more about your ignorance and personal sins than about what God wants to say

focusing on what you like is idolatry of self: YOU ARE NOT GOD

Red Letter exaltation - an imbalanced view of inspiration and an insult to the perfect work of the Holy Spirit

Poor understanding of Old and New Covenants - if you cannot consistently and biblically explain why certain specific requirements from the Old Testament are retained and others are not, you should not expect anyone to listen to you on matters of morality and theology

If you are guilty (and we all have been or sometimes are) of the error of holding to some words of God, this is sin. Humbly confess, repent of it, pray for God’s help, and strive to be Biblically balanced starting today.

Full Counsel

Acts 20:20 ESV

how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,

acts

Acts 20:26–27 ESV

Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

acts 20:

Ezekiel 33:4 ESV

then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

eze

Inasmuch as we need be focused on following Sola Scriptura, meaning scripture alone as the objective rule of faith and practice, we must equally embrace Tota Scriptura, that is ALL of Scripture

When in debate over the teaching of scripture we should NEVER have the attitude of you have your verses and I have mine, so as to set scripture against scripture!

Biblical texts balance each other, nuance each other, help interpret each other, but Biblical texts never contradict one another.

It takes the whole Bible to produce a healthy church.

It takes the whole Bible to produce one life of holiness.

We thank The Spirit for inspiring Holy Scripture, for moving men to love and protect, and deliver it to us in our age. May God help us to be faithful to His Word, apart from and above any other source or influence. May we see that the more we follow scripture, we are obeying God rather than men.