Series: Five Transcendent Truths
Sola Scriptura
Hebrews 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Sola Scriptura is a Latin phrase that means only Scripture or Scripture alone. It was one of the rallying cries of the Reformation. But what is the significance of this phrase? Everything about Christianity revolves around the Scriptures, everything. We live in an age where the Scriptures are devalued and disrespected by many even within the evangelical community. It is being attacked by modernists and revisionists. Reminds me of a story I heard…
ILL: A collector of rare books ran into an acquaintance who told him he had just thrown away an old Bible that he found in a dusty, old box. He happened to mention that Guten-somebody-or-other had printed it.
"Not Gutenberg?" gasped the collector.
"Yes, that was it!"
"You idiot! You've thrown away one of the first books ever printed. A copy recently sold at auction for half a million dollars!"
"Oh, I don't think this book would have been worth anything close to that much," replied the man. "It was scribbled all over in the margins by some guy named Martin Luther."
Every well-worn Bible is priceless! Hebrews 4:12
We want to examine our text this morning and look and three statements of truth. First, there is the…
I. The Authority of Sola Scriptura
a. Inspired
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
We believe that all scripture both OT and NT are inspired. That is called plenary verbal inspiration. Every letter, word, phrase, sentence, paragraph and punctuation mark is inspired.
b. Inerrant
Whereas inspiration concerns the origin of the authority, inerrancy describes its nature. By inerrancy we refer not only to the Bible’s being “without error” but also to its inability to err. Inerrancy, positively defined, refers to a central and crucial property of the Bible, namely, its utter truthfulness.
The basis for the doctrine of biblical inerrancy is located both in the nature of God and in the Bible’s teaching about itself.
First, if God is perfect—all-knowing, all-wise, all-good—it follows that God speaks the truth. God does not tell lies; God is not ignorant. God’s Word is thus free from all error arising either from conscious deceit or unconscious ignorance. Such is the unanimous confession of the psalmist, the prophets, the Lord Jesus and the apostles.
Second, the Bible presents itself as the Word of God written. Thus, in addition to its humanity (which is never denied), the Bible also enjoys the privileges and prerogatives of its status as God’s Word. God’s Word is thus wholly reliable, a trustworthy guide to reality, a light unto our path. C. S. Lewis Institute
c. Infallible
When we say the Bible is infallible, we mean that God’s Word is incapable of error. Because God is perfect, so is His revelation of himself. God’s Word will accomplish exactly what God wants it to, “My word that comes from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do” (Isa. 55:11).
What we believe about God and what we believe about the Bible are intertwined and cannot be separated. What we know about God comes from the Bible. Scripture says God cannot lie (Heb. 6:18). “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:”
If the Bible is God’s Word to us, and if He cannot lie, then His Word also must be incapable of error. Daniel Dewitt
Our view of Scripture should not be shaped by our experience or our emotions or our own reason but by the Scripture itself. Steve Trail
Second, there is the…
II. The Action of Sola Scriptura
Hebrews 4:12 states, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” This verse reveals the intimate connection between our spirit and soul.
a. Quick
Is quick - Greek ???? zo¯n - "living." It is not dead, inert, and powerless. It has a "living" power, and is energetic and active. It is "adapted" to produce this effect.
Ephesians 3:1-2 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
b. Powerful
And powerful - Mighty. Its power is seen in awakening the conscience; alarming the fears; laying bare the secret feelings of the heart, and causing the sinner to tremble with the apprehension of the coming judgment. All the great changes in the moral world for the better, have been caused by the power of truth.
ILL: I and several other preaching students were permitted to visit Brother G. E. Steward, a masterful preacher of the gospel, who was holding a gospel meeting in Houston, TX, in the summer of 1972. We were permitted to bring lessons at that meeting.
He was following Brother Keeble’s manner of training preachers, in many of his gospel meetings. Keeble would come up behind the younger preachers, and deliver the lesson for that evening; building on what they had presented.
Brother G. E. Steward, did the same thing, the night we visited and preached in Houston. After the meeting was over, he talked to all of us young preachers. His main comment on our presentations was: “Not enough scriptures.”
He stressed, “I heard a lot of your words; but, not enough words from the Scripture.” He continued: “Fill your sermons and preaching with the word of God. The power of our preaching is in the Word.”
Peter wrote: “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever,” Amen, 1 Peter 4:10-11; Hebrews 4:12.
c. Sharp
The Romans used at least three short swords that were similar in construction. They were 18-24 inches long, and sharpened to a point on both sides. It could cut both ways and thrust in and out. God’s Word cuts both ways as well. It can hurt or it can heal. A knife can be used by a criminal to do great harm, even kill while a trained surgeon can take a knife to remove a tumor and save a life.
d. Piercing
There is a powerful lesson in the ancient Greek proverb. We, too, find it hard to kick against the goads. Solomon wrote, “Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path” (Proverbs 15:10). When we choose to disobey God, we become like the rebellious ox—driving the goad deeper and deeper. “The way of the unfaithful is hard” (Proverbs 13:15). How much better to heed God’s voice, to listen to the pangs of conscience! By resisting God’s authority we are only punishing ourselves. “It is hard for you to kick against the pricks” was a Greek proverb, but it was also familiar to the Jews and anyone who made a living in agriculture. An ox goad was a stick with a pointed piece of iron on its tip used to prod the oxen when plowing. The farmer would prick the animal to steer it in the right direction. Sometimes the animal would rebel by kicking out at the prick, and this would result in the prick being driven even further into its flesh. In essence, the more an ox rebelled, the more it suffered. Thus, Jesus’ words to Saul on the road to Damascus: “It is hard for you to kick against the pricks.”
The conversion of Saul is quite significant as it was the turning point in his life. Paul later wrote nearly half of the books of the New Testament.
Jesus took control of Paul and let him know his rebellion against God was a losing battle. Paul’s actions were as senseless as an ox kicking “against the goads.” Paul had passion and sincerity in his fight against Christianity, but he was not heading in the direction God wanted him to go. Jesus was going to goad (“direct” or “steer”) Paul in the right direction.
e. Discerner
The work of the Holy Spirit through God’s Word is to reveal what is in our hearts; what the thoughts and intents of the heart.
"Marathoner Loses by a Mustache." So read the headline of a recent Associated Press story. It appeared that Abbes Tehami of Algeria was an easy winner of the Brussels Marathon--until someone wondered where his mustache had gone! Checking eyewitness accounts, it quickly became evident that the mustache belonged to Tehami’s coach, Bensalem Hamiani. Hamiani had run the first seven-and-a-half miles of the race for Tehami, then dropped out of the pack and disappeared into the woods to pass race number 62 on to his pupil. "They looked about the same," race organizers said. "Only one had a mustache." It’s expected that the two will never again be allowed to run in Belgium.
Today in the Word, Moody Bible Institute, Jan, 1992.
III. The Aim of Sola Scriptura
Ultimately Sola Scriptura or Scripture Alone, points us to God Himself and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 13 declares two things about God…
a. His attributes
“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight…”
Christ is the Lord God omniscient; there is no creature, in general, rational, or irrational, animate or inanimate, but what are known to him, and seen by him. He is the all wise, all knowing, all seeing omniscient God. Biblestudytools.com
Galations 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
b. Our accountibility
“…but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”2 Corinthians 5:10
WHO'S WATCHING?
I remember the story of that man who wanted to steal a goat. He took his four children and said to them: "You hide there, you hide by my left, you hide at my back, you hide by my right. If you see anybody coming, give me a sign that I will quickly stop whatever I 'm doing."
But as he moved to catch the goat, one of the children exclaimed, "Papa, wait, wait."
The man said, "What is the matter? Is somebody coming?"
The child said, "No, who is watching this way?" He pointed to the sky. In other words the father had taken care of the north, east, south and west but the small child pointed to and asked about heaven? How about God? Does He not see you? The man left the goat.
Those of us who think we can hide anything from God deceive ourselves.
(From a sermon by Daniel Olukoya, Candidates of Heaven and Hell, 5/9/2011)
Let’s review what we have learned from this text. We can trust the authority of the Scriptures, the action of the scriptures and the aim of the scriptures. We can trust what His word says about our salvation, our sanctification and our glorification.
I. The Authority of Sola Scriptura
II. The Action of Sola Scriptura
III. The Aim of Sola Scriptura
An older man once sat in on a class in a Bible College. That day the professor asked his students to share a verse that means a great deal to them. The students were eager to oblige. They offered many great verses, rich with theological implications. When the class finished, the professor asked the visiting man if he would like to share his favorite verse. He agreed and said, “My favorite verses in the Bible are the ones that begin with the phrase, ‘and it came to pass.'” A few snickers could be heard among the prideful students so the elderly man added an additional comment.
He said, “Young men, allow me to explain why I answered as I did. You see, when I was 32, our firstborn son was killed by a drunk driver. My wife and I were devastated. We didn’t know how we would go on, but we did. At the age of 45, our daughter came home on a break from college, sat her mother and me down, and proceeded to tell us why she no longer believed in God. She told us that God was merely an invention of man intended to be a crutch for the psychologically weak, and that she wanted no part of it. We found this to be more painful than the death of our son. At the age of 55, I lost my job. Due to my age at the time, I couldn’t find a job. Everyone wanted to hire someone younger than me. Consequently we lost our home, and for six months we were forced to live in our car. Then at the age of 63, we discovered that my wife had cancer. For three years we fought that cancer as hard as we could, but my wife eventually died three years later. So you see young men, the events that have taken place in my life have caused to appreciate and love the verses that begin with the words, “and it came to pass,” for they are a reminder to me that the horrible circumstances in which we sometimes find ourselves don’t “come to stay,” they “come to pass.”
After the man finished, you could have heard a pin drop. The class was no longer snickering because they learned a valuable lesson. You’ll have many things “came to pass” in you life, but thank God they won’t “come to stay!”
