Sola Scriptura: The Heart of the Reformation (and the True Christian Faith)

"Within a year of posting his Ninety-Five Theses, Martin Luther was summoned to appear before Cardinal Cajetan to be examined for his accusations against the Roman Catholic Church’s theology and practice. When the Cardinal pressed him on the issue of the church’s authority, Luther responded, “The truth of Scripture comes first. After that is accepted one may determine whether the words of men can be accepted as true.”[i] Now, Luther was not discrediting the words of men completely, rather, he was claiming that, far and above anything or anyone else, Holy Scripture was first and foremost. This led to the development of Sola Scriptura—“Scripture alone.” But in order to examine this principle within the context of the Reformation, we first need to explore the doctrine of Scripture itself. For the rest of this article, we will examine four foundational claims regarding the Word of God: its inspiration, inerrancy, authority, and sufficiency.

The Issue of Inspiration- The most dynamic and explicit passage in all of Scripture about the nature of the Bible’s own divine inspiration comes in 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The Apostle Paul writes:  “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.”

In the Greek, the word theopneustos is used to describe how Scripture came to be; it was literally “God-breathed”. It was as if the Lord took a deep breath in, and then exhaled Holy Scripture. Further, the means by which God brought Scripture about was through the pens of human writers—“men [who] spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). Both the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Reformers did not disagree about divine inspiration. What was and is still contested, however, is the content of the revelation.

Paul’s use of the word “all” in 2 Timothy 3:16 leads us to examine: What books of the Bible are contained in the “all” of Scripture? This is the question of the canon. The word “canon” comes from the Greek word kanōn, meaning “measuring rod”, which came to be used in speaking of a “rule” or “standard”. And in the most general sense, the canon is “the authoritative books that God gave his corporate church.”[ii] Historically, the accepted canon consists of 66 books—39 Old Testament books (Genesis to Malachi) and 27 New Testament books (Matthew to Revelation).

During the Reformation, the Roman Catholic Church asserted that there were additional books inspired by God, which belonged in the canon. What came to be known as the Apocrypha consisted of the books of Tobit, Judith, the Additions to Esther, the Additions to Daniel, the Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus (also called Sirach), Baruch (Hebrew for Blessed), the Letter of Jeremiah, and 1st and 2nd Maccabees. In response to the Reformers’ claims that many of the Catholic Church’s practices were unbiblical, the Council of Trent (1545-1563) canonized the Apocrypha, thus deeming it to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God. But after 1,500 years of being absent from the canon, did the Apocrypha suddenly deserve to be included? Certainly not.

Guiding Principles For Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

Personal Bible Studies and Group Bible Studies are wonderful ways to grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Christians need to be careful however that they have done the hard work of bible study before sharing (note 2 Timothy 2:15; James 3).  Too many "bible studies" turn into a well intentioned but biblically misguided "this is what this text means to me" share fest.  Wrong interpretations can lead to wrong applications- some errors are more damaging then others.

Every believer is a theologian and every Christian employs biblical interpretation principles when reading, studying, and/or teaching the inerrant Word of God.  So here is the important question: Do Your Hermeneutics Hold to Sola Scriptura? 

"THE ARGUMENT FOR SOLA SCRIPTURA

How does Christ build His church? Arguably, He builds His church by His Word (Eph 4:11-14; 2 Tim 4:1-2). To have a ministry that pleases God, we must be all about His Word—it is central to true ministry.  We could sum it up this way: Scripture is the beginning, middle, and end of ministry.

Beginning-  Ephesians 2:20, “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone . . .”

Scripture is foundational for the church. The book of Acts establishes the church’s origins (Acts 2) and its mission (Acts 1:8). The epistles articulate its role (Eph 1-3) and operations (1 Tim 4:13; Tit 2:1-15). Thus, you can’t even define the church apart from the Bible. We can see this in the American church today. We have left the standard of Scripture and pursued every distraction. The resulting chaos illustrates how central God’s Word is—without it, we are confused, dysfunctional, and purposeless. You can’t have church or ministry apart from the authority of Scripture.

Middle- John17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”

The Word of God drives the ministry of the church. As our Lord prayed, sanctification revolves around Scripture. However, people may wonder, “There are so many ways I can become a better and nicer person. Why do I need the Scriptures?” But, God is not just interested in making you a better and nicer person—He wants to make you like Christ. He doesn’t want you just to change so you please the world, but that you would please Him. That is our true destiny.There is no human manipulation on the planet that can transform you to fulfill your destiny

We can see this from the very beginning. In Genesis 1, we note that we are created in the image of God.  However, because of Adam and the fall, we observe that image is tarnished (cf. Gen 5:3). But there is hope because of the second Adam. Daniel 7 teaches that there will be one like a son of man, the true son of Adam.  He is like a son of man in that He is a man, but He is only like a son of man in that He is more than that. He is God.

For this very reason, Jesus is called the Son of Man in the Gospels.  In Romans 5, He’s called the second Adam. In Colossians 1:15, Paul proclaims He is the image of God.  And in Romans 8:29, we were predestined be conformed to His image.

At this point, Scripture ultimately reveals that the image of God in Genesis 1 is the image of Christ in Romans 8. When God made us in His image, He always meant for us to be like Christ. That is our destiny.

So yes, there are lots of human manipulations that can make you nicer. But there is no human manipulation on the planet that can transform you to fulfill your destiny. That belongs to the Word of God alone.

End-  1Timothy 3:15, “…the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”

God’s Word is not only the beginning and middle of the Church, but also its end. As the support of the truth, it is up to us to preserve and uphold the truth for the next generation. That is our role in the plan of God and our legacy. Championing Scripture is mission critical for the church.

So the Scripture is the beginning, middle, and end of the church. For that reason, we hold to the doctrine of Sola Scriptura. Sola Scriptura means Scripture alone is authoritative for faith and practice. Scripture alone determines if your ministry is effective or not."

Are You Handling God's Word With Extreme Care?  Article to be continued.

This article was first published by Dr. Abner Chou.  Chou is a foremost authority on hermeneutics.  Dr. Chou is a professor at the Master's University and the Master's Seminary.   

Magnify Jesus Christ - Preach Revelation!

O WORSHIP THE KING

 

When I came to Freeport in 2008 I wanted to be very strategic and intentional in my role as pastor-teacher. After a short thematic series of sermons on "Biblical Exposition: An FBC Distinctive," I decided to take my new congregation through the book of Revelation. The most common response I got when sharing that bit of information with fellow believers was, "Are you crazy, stupid, or a little bit of both?" Ok not really, but I could see what many Christians were thinking when I told them what my plans were:  Why Revelation?  For those preachers who love to proclaim the glories of Jesus Christ Revelation is your book!

Most Christian’s think of Revelation as a very complicated New Testament book with lots and lots of prophecy charts and really strange enigmas that no one truly understands. Yet I found that the book of Revelation is one of the most Christ-centered, doxological books in the Bible.   It is also one of the most encouraging New Testament books, especially for persecuted believers (pay special attention to the original context in Revelation 1:9).  Chapter 1 begins with a picture of Jesus Christ in all His post-resurrection glory (note Revelation 1:12-20)!  This triumphant vision sucks the air out of your sanctified lungs (note Revelation 1:17).  Chapters 2 and 3 provide immensely practical instructions from the Lord of the Church to seven congregations in Asia Minor.  These are seven real churches that represent the type of congregations (and church goers) that exist in every century of church history.  What King Jesus praises and condemns in these chapters is some of the richest pastoral theology in all the Bible.  Revelation 4 pictures heaven's worship of the Sovereign Creator of the universe (the Lord God Almighty is His name).  Revelation 5 highlights the great Hero of Heaven, Jesus Christ.  He alone is worthy to “open the book and its seven seals” (note Revelation 5:5-7).   Some of the richest details about the gospel are also presented in this magnificent fifth chapter (see Revelation 5:9-14).  I believe that Revelation 6-18 describes the awful Tribulation period that is yet "to come" (see Revelation 1:19; 3:10).   Rather than spend six months in chapters 16-18 going verse by verse through the Text I provided two overview sermons of this unit of Scripture.  Chapter 19 highlights the majestic return of Christ as the righteous Judge, the Holy Warrior, and as the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords while chapter 20 describes the millennial Kingdom and the final judgment of all God's enemies. Chapters 21-22 showcase the New Heavens and the New Earth.  As I exposited the final two chapters of Revelation I told my flock that heaven is going to be mind-numbingly massive, heart-stoppingly holy, and breathtakingly beautiful.  For believers the best is yet to come.  Is it any wonder that after taking all of this in John proclaims, "Amen, Come, Lord Jesus! Come!"