We believe that this Holy Scripture contains the will of God completely and that everything one must believe to be saved is sufficiently taught in it.
For since the entire manner of service which God requires of us is described in it at great length, no on--even an apostle or an angel from heaven, as Paul says (Galatians 1:8)--out to teach other than what the Holy Scriptures have already taught us.
For since it is forbidden to
add to or subtract from the Word of God (Deuteronomy 12:32, Revelation 22:18-19), this plainly demonstrates that the teaching is perfect and complete in all respects.
Therefore we must not consider human writings--no matter how holy their authors may have been--equal to the divine writings;
nor may we put custom,
nor the majority,
nor age,
nor the passage of time or persons,
nor councils, decrees, or official decisions
above the truth of God, for truth is above everything else.
For all human beings are liars by nature and more vain than vanity themselves.
Therefore we reject with all our hearts everything that does not agree with this infallible rule, as we are taught to do by the apostles when they say,
"Test the spirits to see if they are of God,"
and also,
"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house"
(2 John 10).
Here are the Scriptures which are referenced, but not written out fully in this article:
Galatians 1:8
"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a Gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed."
Deuteronomy 12:32
"Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it."
Revelation 22:18-19
"I warn everyone who hears the words of prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, [19] and if anyone takes away the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book."
The main question that comes out of this article is this:
Does Scripture contain all things sufficient for the knowledge of salvation?
The answer for this a resounding YES!
The word sufficient can be defined as this (and hopefully more clear throughout the rest of this post): "adequate for a purpose."
Therefore, to say that Scripture is sufficient; it must be asked, "What is Scriptures adequate purpose?" Well the purpose of Scripture is to reveal God's plan of salvation for us.
And Scripture does just that.
Scripture clearly reveals the following:
- The creation created good.
- The fall of all humanity into sin.
- God choosing a people group, a nation to serve His purposes in the world
- Jesus Christ, the God-man, entering the world He created to be like His brothers (and sisters) in every way.
- Jesus Christ dying a death to save those who believe in Him as Lord and Savior.
- He stayed in the grave for three days and then was raised from the dead to life again.
- He then ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God.
- Before Jesus ascended, He promised the Holy Spirit, as a comforter to live in and among us (those who believe in Him as Lord and Savior)
- God's chosen people was expanded from one chosen nation to the possibility of people of all nations on the entire globe being saved from sin and death.
- And God has promised that Jesus Christ will come back to this earth to completely conquer sin and death so that we who believe in Him as Lord and Savior can live and reign with Him forever.
- God also promises to usher in a New Heaven and New Earth to live with Him forever.
- Those who do not believe will be condemned and sent to hell because of their sin not being forgiven.
This is the Gospel, the good news:
Our gracious God has selectively saved soiled sinners from eternal destruction and damnation to rule and reign with Him fully forever.
And this is what the sufficiency of Scripture means for you and for me.
The first paragraph deals with this answering any objection to it. The first paragraph anyways, is very anti-Catholic. Catholics believe that Scripture and tradition prove to sufficient for the knowledge of salvation. However, Guido combats this by clearing stating that "the Holy Scriptures [which he mentions in Article 4 and Article 6 ] contains the will of God completely....everyone one must believe to be saved is sufficiently taught in it."
And then Guido makes two sub-points which prove the initial statement above. His first sub-point is in paragraph two where he says that no one should teach other than what the Bible teaches. Just as Paul says in Galatians 1:8 that if anyone teaches another Gospel not found in Scripture (although there really is truly only one Gospel...) "..let him be accursed." The word here for "accursed" in the Greek is "anathema" meaning some sort of divine punishment will be on him or her who teaches a false Gospel.
In the third paragraph, Guido states his second sub-point saying that we (NO PERSON) should not add or subtract to the Word of God. The Word of God is "...perfect and complete in all respects." And the verses from Deuteronomy and Revelation clearly explain the repercussions if a person decides to add or subtract from this book--the Word of God. Once again, here are the verses:
"Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it."
Revelation 22:18-19
"I warn everyone who hears the words of prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, [19] and if anyone takes away the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book."
Deuteronomy 12:32 clearly explains that we should do all that God commanded. Nothing should be added nor taken away from what God (this is the key component) has commanded.
Revelation 22:18-19 clearly shows the warning if a person adds or subtracts. First, God will add to that person the plagues which are described in this book. I cannot begin to name all of the plagues or things that will happen to the person who chooses to do so, but I think Galatians 1:8 (explained above) proves to be noteworthy and sufficient for now. Secondly, God will take away this person share of eternal life. In other words, Galatians 1:8 proves to be sufficient again, "...let him be accursed."
When Guido states that the Word of God is "...perfect and complete in all respects." The doctrine that Scripture is infallible comes to my mind. This means literally, "immunity from error." The Bible is incapable of being in error. There is nothing in the Bible that holds an error; it is "perfect and complete in all respects."
Guido moves on to explain this further in the fourth paragraph summarizing it stating that no matter what books, articles, etc. were written by whatever person; these writings are not "...equal to divine writings...above the truth of God for truth is above everything else." And then the next line is awesome, in as far as it proves the point of the fourth paragraph. It states this,
"For all human beings are liars by nature and more vain than vanity itself."
Tough words to hear, but true words.
Harsh words indeed, but ever so true.
Therefore, Guido ends this article by stating that we reject anything that does not agree with Scripture. This article piggybacks on Article 6 for good reason and it has huge implications for Christians.
First, for the pastors and teachers of Scripture. We should not consider other books about Christianity to be equal to or higher in authority than God's Word. As John says in 2 John 10 we should not even receive him or her into our house!
Second, for the Christian sitting in the pew. 1 John 4:1 has huge implications for you, "Test the spirits to see if they are of God." Be like the Bereans in Acts 17:10-15. They examined the Scriptures to see if what Paul was saying was true. Imagine that, the Apostle Paul comes to your church and you still examine the Scriptures to see if what he was saying was true....if the Bereans did this of Paul, how great and often should you and I do this when we hear the Word of God each week from the pulpit. Not only that, but also examining Scripture to see if what we read in a book or wherever we heard or read it is true. Check the Scriptures time and time again.
"Test the spirits to see if they are from God."
1 John 4:1
For when we do this, we will know if we are being taught a false Gospel or the true Gospel.
"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a Gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed."
Galatians 1:8
No comments:
Post a Comment