A few nights ago, Pastor Steve Lawson preached at the Strange Fire Conference. Mr. Lawson, has always been committed to faithfully teaching God's Word to our generation for many years. During this conference he spoke about The Puritan Commitment to Sola Sciptura! It was an excellent message and I would encourage you to listen to it when it becomes available.
In his message, Pastor Lawson stressed the need for us as Christians to be committed to the scriptures alone. Everything that we believe is to be based on scripture. We cannot be like other religious systems that add man's responsibility to our salvation. Upon the foundation of Scripture is the fact that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone!
The one true saving gospel is through Jesus Christ who is the chief cornerstone. We His people add to this building which grows upward and points to the glory and praise of God. Everything in our lives, all that we are and all that we do rests on scripture alone.
In the message Pastor Lawson laid out several points that I am going to share with you here.
1. The Scriptures are inspired.
2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness." The Bible was written by men who were under the influence of the Holy Spirit. It cannot be wrong for it is the very Word of God. The Bible is God's revelation to us from Him. This is how he speaks to us. The Bible is also a living book, Hebrews 4:12, "For the Word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge both the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
2. The Scriptures are inerrant.
God is truth and in Him alone is the source of all that is true. Titus 1:2 says, "...which God who cannot lie..." What a wonderful to know that our Sovereign King cannot and will not lie to us, His children. We can trust Him for what he says, and we can trust that the Scriptures are perfect and their commands are perfect, with that in mind we know that if we are solely committed to scripture we will be pleasing and honouring to God. Proverbs 30:5, "Every Word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him."
3. The Scriptures are infallible.
For something to be infallible it must be perfect and without mistakes. Since the Word was God breathed, it cannot have any error in it. It's commands, statutes, precepts, and laws and completely and totally without fault. Isaiah 40:8, "The grass withers, the flowers fades, but the Word of our God stands forever."
4. The Scripture has Authority.
The Word of God comes with the authority of God. When the Bible is read it is God speaking to us. Whatever God says, we are to do. As Christians He is our King. Just as an earthly king has subjects who obey him out of fear of his wrath, how much more should we love our heavenly king out of love and adoration of what He has done for us. He died for us, shall we not obey Him? You are no Christian if you say you love God and do not do what he says. Luke 6:46, "Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do the things that I say?"
5. The Scripture has Perspicuity.
Gods Word is clear and understandable. The life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus is written for al to see and to believe in His name. There is no man with an excuse to not know about God. Romans 1:20 says, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal nature, and divine power, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." Throughout the centuries men have said that we cannot understand the Bible, this is not true, God's word is crystal clear.
6. The Scripture is Sufficient.
It will accomplish all of the purposes that God plans for it. Isaiah 55:11, says, "So will my word be which goes forth from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." As we say earlier the word is alive and active. This book has the power to justify us, sanctify us, and if we truly believe we will one day be glorified in heaven. On this earth is all that we need for life and godliness fully sufficient, fully complete.
7. The Scripture is Immutable.
Immutability is never-changing. What God's Word says is right, it will always be right, what it ways is wrong it will always be wrong. Psalm 119:89, - "Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven." God's word will also stand the test of time, Isaiah 40:8, "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever."
8. The Scripture is Final.
The Bible has been completed and there is no extra revelation needed. The book has been written and it is finished. To claim to have extra revelation from God is to say that he was not complete in writing us His word. Revelation 22:18-19, "I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to them the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life, and from the Holy city, which are written in this book."
This is part a small portion of the message that pastor Lawson preached to us. But these points are very clear and concise. They speak about the amazing qualities of God's Word, the very Word that we Christians live by. If you can, I would encourage you to catch all of the Strange Fire conference sermons when they become available to the public. And for now, understand that the scriptures are what we must base our lives upon. The very Words of God written down into a book, preserved for us so that we may know more about Christ, and come to believe in His wonderful name. For the Glory and praise of our great God!
Blessings,
Lucas C.
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