LBCF 1:6-7 - The Perfection and Perpiscuity of Scripture
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LBCF 1:6-7
LBCF 1:6-7
The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men.
Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word, and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.
All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them.
Differences between LBCF and WCF
Differences between LBCF and WCF
WCF: The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture.
LBCF: The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture.
M1689: The whole counsel of God concerning everything essential for His own glory and man’s salvation, faith, and life is either explicitly stated or by necessary inference contained in the Holy Scriptures.
Why these slight variances?
Why these slight variances?
Each of these confessions is saying , essentially, the same thing: there is room for difference in the agreement of Scripture. Differences in church government, rule, etc.
While we have perspectives we embrace, and these perspectives certainly align us denominationally, we cannot speak of another that they are disobeying Scripture.
On the same note, not all areas of difference fall into this category and there are perspectives we should expect all Biblical churches to embrace.
Consider this quote by Robert Shaw.
The Reformed Faith The Reformed Faith
In regard to the perfection, or sufficiency, of the Scriptures, it is acknowledged that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the Church in regard to which no express injunctions are given in Scripture, and which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word.
Here is another by Sam Waldron
The phrase, ‘or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture’, is equivalent to the phrase in the Westminster Confession it is intended to clarify: ‘or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture’. What may be by sound logic deduced from Scripture, that is to say, what is necessarily contained in it, has the authority of Scripture itself.
Survey of Scripture
Survey of Scripture
The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men. [2 Timothy 3:15–17; Gal. 1:8-9; Deuteronomy 4:2; Acts 20:20, 27; Psalms 19:7; 119:6, 9, 104, 128]
and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,
For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.
Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way.
Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word [John 6:45; 1 Corinthians 2:9–14]
It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.
But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed. [1 Corinthians 11:13-14; 14:26, 40]
All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them. [2 Peter 3:16; Psalm 119:130]
as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
What Does This Teach Us?
What Does This Teach Us?
The first two statements are broadly supported by 2 Timothy 3:15-17.
and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The Scriptures are a complete rule of faith and practice.
The Scriptures are a complete rule of faith and practice.
This statement also speaks to Scripture’s sufficiency. When we speak of sufficiency we must speak to sufficiency for what?
The Bible is not all- sufficient for every conceivable purpose.
The Scriptures are not sufficient as a textbook in math, biology or Spanish.
The sufficiency of the Scriptures does not mean they all are we need for the purpose of learning geometry or algebra.
Are they sufficient for man’s salvation? Absolutely, yes!
Waldron makes this statement
What, then, is the purpose for which the Scriptures are sufficient? The sufficiency of the Scriptures is nothing more nor less than their sufficiency to achieve the purposes of redemptive revelation. Surely this is clear from the qualifying statement of the Confession: ‘all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith and life’.
I would make an additional comment that Waldron spends some time on, though the Scriptures are not comprehensive on every topic, when they speak on a topic they are authoritative.
Though the Bible is not a scientific textbook it is the starting point for scientific endeavours.
The Scriptures are not a textbook of biology, but they sufficiently provide those ethical and religious perspectives basic to any proper science of biology.
So when we come to matters of Evolution vs. Creationism we must speak to Scripture’s sufficiency in even those areas.
These statements struck against Rome and the Anabaptists who both claimed that Scripture was insufficient: the Papists adding church fathers and papal babbling and the Anabaptists adding new revelations as the Charismatics and cults do.
Nothing is to be added to the Scriptures or to take its place.
Nothing is to be added to the Scriptures or to take its place.
In speaking of this sufficiency we must understand that the Scriptures, in their intended purpose, are lacking nothing.
We cannot find one area where Scripture is lacking in things necessary for guiding us to give God glory, telling how man is saved, lacking in guiding man in his faith and spiritual life.
As a result of these statements, there is no where we need to add to Scripture to accomplish its purposes.
and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The spiritual illumination of each person by the Holy Spirit is necessary.
The spiritual illumination of each person by the Holy Spirit is necessary.
This statement speaks to what we studied last time; we MUST have the Holy Spirit.
This does not mean that we need ONLY the Holy Spirit to understand something but that we are absolutely dependent on Holy Spirit illumination. Though you have the Holy Spirit you must also be diligent and studious; gaining experience and education in the study of Scripture should ALWAYS be sought out.
Recount when we visited a Presbyterian church in New Jersey - the woman at the well. This woman, yes woman, who spoke had no understanding of Scripture and no obvious evidence of regeneration.
Paul spoke with clarity on this topic when he penned 1 Cor. 2:14.
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Men are left to apply the principles revealed to practical details according to the leadings of the Holy Spirit.
Men are left to apply the principles revealed to practical details according to the leadings of the Holy Spirit.
We will not spend significant time here - we must embrace that we will not always agree.
The Confession said, there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.
Yes, Scripture says all things should be done decently and in order, but how that is specifically expressed has variance within Christendom.
Personally, I felt challenged by this statement as I have strong opinions on the accuracy of our Baptist and Reformed beliefs; when my brother or sister who is seeking to open Scriptures differs from me I must deal with them in a charitable and loving spirit.
This is an area we have grown much and we have much growing to do; we are emerging from a spirit of legalism, that used to characterize our church, and we must not allow ourselves to return to that bondage and its rejection of the plainness and sufficiency of Scripture.
This dependence on the Holy Spirit does not negate the need for diligence in study.
Not all parts of Scripture are clearly expressed and easily understood.
Not all parts of Scripture are clearly expressed and easily understood.
The Bible is clear
Peter spoke of Paul and his writing of Scripture, that some things were hard to understand.
as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
There are topics in the Scriptures that are difficult to fully grasp - in every one of these I see the answers quite clearly. Matters like the Second Coming of Christ, the nature of the Millenium, etc.
In every one of these topics what I now believe is not what I used to believe and we must allow others to also grow in these areas by displaying a heart of love and kindness.
The Bible is not equally clear in all its parts
While I make this statement the numbers of things that are not equally clear are very limited in number.
Peter did not say ALL of Paul’s writings were difficult to understand, he said “some things.”
Peter also said the the untaught and unstable people twisted Paul’s writings to their destruction - let this be a warning to us.
The Bible is not equally clear to all
This is why we need Pastors and Teachers in the church.
This is why the concept of the emerging church or the home church is a huge mistake!
We need learned men to explain to us topics - you and I bear years of men who taught us Scripture and we stand in the wealth of their wisdom.
For me, men like Mike Barrett, Alan Cairns, and others have guided me significantly. There are men we absolutely benefit by: come to my basement study or look on my Logos account and you will see how strongly I feel about this truth.