Holy Scripture – Sufficient for our Salvation Seminar 2
1521 was a great year for Europe and a great year for the world
It was the year of the Diet of Worms. The Emperor Charles V (Emperor of Spain, Netherlands and Germany and a staunch Roman Catholic) had called this Assembly (or Diet). Included Archbishops, Papal Delegates, Leaders of the German nation and Martin Luther. Luther powerfully argued against indulgence sellers who offered salvation for financial contributions. (St Peter’s in Rome was about to be built).
Tetzel – “As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs”.
Luther argued that the Roman Catholic church was no longer teaching the Apostolic truths. He had come to realise that the church of his day bore little resemblance to the church in Scripture.
Luther was ordered to recant. He replied,
“I stand convicted by Scriptures to which I have appealed and my conscience is taken captive by God’s word. I cannot and will not recant anything for to act against our conscience is neither safe for us not open to us. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen”
The Bible says the opposite to many voices that bombard us today.
Why is Scripture Central?
Scripture is all about Jesus.
Today Churches focus on liturgy, praise, social concerns, impressive buildings. The Bible focuses on Jesus and is all about him.
e.g. Road to Emmaus Luke 24:27
Scripture teaches that there is no other way to be saved without being committed to Jesus. Acts 4:12 John 14:6
2. Scripture is God’s Word to all mankind.
At the beginning of the Bible, creation began with the word of God. God said and it was done. This message continues throughout the Bible. God has spoken so we must listen.
God said to Adam - Gen 2:15
Remember reply of serpent to Eve? “You will not surely die”.
The first temptation was to doubt God’s word and ever since this has remained man’s foremost problem.
Read through the Bible. “The Lord says”, comes again and again and again.
Cain “The Lord said, “What have you done?”
Noah, when God saw how corrupt the earth had become, “So God said to Noah . . .”
Abram,“The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country .”
Moses, God said, “I will be with you . .”
“The Lord said” is a central theme of the Old and New Testament.
E.g. most chapters of Ezekiel begin “The word of the Lord came to me . .”
“The Lord said . .” and then each of us decide, like Adam and Eve what they want to do about it!!!
Is the Bible just a list of orders from a remote king?
It is much more personal than that. Why do the Psalmists delight in God’s law?
Psalm 1:2
Psalm 119:16
Can you delight in a rule book such as the Highway Code?
Letter from fiancé(e) wouldn’t be left on the mantle piece! So with the Bible as its underlying message is God’s love for each of us. The Lord cares, Jesus cares and he longs for us to enjoy a close relationship with him. His word reminds us of His love. This is why Christians delight in the law of the Lord.
Is the Word of God the greatest need the world has today?
Was Luther right to stake everything on what this book says?
Timothy was trained by Paul to continue his work.
Read 2 Timothy 3:14-4:4
Is the basis of the Christian life an emotional feeling or is it a conviction that what God has taught us is true. Where did Timothy learn these facts from?
v.14 – from the apostles, “those you have known”.
v.15 – from Scriptures
Then comes v16 where he brings the two together, “All Scripture” is now in the singular.
Read 2 Peter 3:15-16
Note that distorting or rejecting the word of God is associated with rejecting the salvation in Christ. Christ and his salvation are closely associated with accepting the Word of God. See 2 Peter 3:17
What does Paul teach about the Bible?
They are able to make you wise for salvation. v.15
What is salvation?
Is this our greatest concern both for ourselves and our families and friends?
The Bible teaches that God is Holy (Isaiah 6:3) yet we are selfish and very impure (Romans 3:11,23) Yet God came in Christ to make eternal salvation possible by bearing the penalty for our sins on the cross. If we are really in Christ we need not be afraid about death or the future. We must repent, be ashamed of what we are and tell Christ that we are his. This is the Bible’s message to us. Not to believe and belong to Christ is foolishness indeed.
C.S.Lewis:
“Christianity is a statement which if false is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
2. They are God breathed
Written by men but fully the words of God
Calvin in Geneva loved Romans 3:2, talking about the Jews and their Scriptures. “They have been entrusted with the very words of God.”
3. All Scripture is God breathed
Not all is of equal use today but all is equally inspired.
Red print Bibles put Jesus’ words in Red but all the Bible is the Word of God.
4. Teaches Christians how to live v. 16
Rebukes us when we go off course Eph 5:5, 1 Corinthians 6:9
God’s aim is to make us more like Jesus. Righteousness is our goal not popularity.
5. Nothing more is needed v. 17
Greek word for ‘thoroughly equipped’ implies completeness, nothing more that God’s word is needed. We don’t need updating new revelations or new teaching.
God may act in supernatural ways to draw people to himself and advance his kingdom, but he says to his people,
“Here is my Word, live by my Word”
What is the role of the Holy Spirit?
Draws people to God
Gave us the Scriptures
Helps us know if Christ’s teaching is really of God John 7:17
Different Authorities
Don’t all Christian denominations and sects think that the Bible is the ‘word of God’? What can be put alongside or above Scripture?
Discuss how these authorities apply to different groups.
How should we react when people say, “The Lord has told me . .” or “this passage is God’s word to us”.
What is the view of Jesus and his apostles on question of authority?
2 Peter 3:2 again emphasises the authority of the Old Testament prophets and the apostles.
John 8:31 confirms that holding to Christ’s teaching sets us free.
What evidence is there that we really believe the Bible is God’s Word?
2 Timothy 3:14-16
The evidence is that we continue living in what you have learned v.14, following the example and teaching of the apostles – obey.
To do this we must make Scripture central to our lives.
Personal Bible Study – discipline needed!
Home Groups
Bible teaching church
How from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures v.15
What a privilege it is to be brought up in a home where the Bible is revered and taught. Are we setting good examples. What could we do better?
All of us Christians must be Word centred and then pass on what we have learned
2 Timothy 4:2 - Preach the word, be Prepared
People will naturally drift from God if they don’t remain Bible centred v. 3, 4
What if people are honestly unsure whether Christ’s teaching is from God? – John 7:17
Will we commit ourselves to be lovers of God’s book and pass its teaching on?
Can we say “Here I stand, I can do no other.”
BVP
