THE SUFFICIENCY OF BIBLE REVELATION
LUKE 16:31
A. "AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, IF THEY HEAR NOT MOSES AND THE PROPHETS, NEITHER WILL THEY BE PERSUADED, THOUGH ONE ROSE FROM THE DEAD." - Luke 16:31
1. The words of our text are, as you know, a part of the conversation between Abraham and the rich man of our Lord’s parable:
2. In this parable Christ shows that the people, who live for themselves in this world, will reap the fruit of their selfish heart: Rom. 6:23
B. "THEY HAVE MOSES AND THE PROPHETS; LET THEM HEAR THEM . . . IF THEY HEAR NOT MOSES AND THE PROPHETS, NEITHER WILL THEY BE PERSUADED, THOUGH ONE ROSE FROM THE DEAD."
1. That establishes these facts:
a. That the sixty-six books of the Bible are the all-sufficient Revelation to prepare us for a sanctified life and also for glory land - 2 Tim. 3:15-17
b. That no other supernatural manifestation can supplant the written word of God - Gal. 1:8, 9; Rev. 22:17, 18
c. "To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." - Isa. 8:20
d. Man-made traditions, too, are out as far as saving revelation is concerned - Mark 7:7-13; Isa. 29:13, 14
e. Dreams, too, unless they are in harmony with the written Word of God - Jer. 23:28
2. The grand purpose of revelation:
a. To reveal Christ to the sinner - John 5:39; Luke 24:25-28
b. To make known the plan of redemption -
2 Tim. 3:15-17; John 5:46, 47
c. To establish saving faith upon a sound foundation - Rom. 10:17; John 7:37, 38
d. To safeguard us against the deception of the last days - 2 Thess. 2:9-11; 1 John 2:3-7
3. Let us keep in mind:
a. That persons have been raised from the dead, yet some people refused to believe the truth -
EXAMPLES -
(1) Lazarus, the friend of our Lord was brought back from the dead - John 11:4-48; 12:17-43;
(2) the daughter of the centurion was brought back to life - Matt. 8:8-13;
(3) the son of a widow was raised from the dead by the power of Christ - Luke 7:14
b. Yet, the Pharisees refused to accept the Word of God - John 9:18
C. THE BIBLE HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE A SUFFICIENT REVELATION TO INSTRUCT US IN THE WAY OF SALVATION
1. It was recognized by Jesus Christ as the all-sufficient source of light:
a. He always appealed to the Bible as the supreme authority for truth - Matt. 4:1-12; Luke 4:1-9
b. He based His faith in Him upon what the Bible said concerning Him - John 5:39, 46, 47; 7:37-39; Luke 24:25-28
2. It was the very basis of the preaching by the apostles:
a. Paul warns against departing from the Bible - 2 Tim. 4:1-6
b. Peter, too, admonishes us to heed the Word of God - 2 Pet. 1:16-20; 3:1-6
3. Think, dear friends:
a. What would the world know about the origin of sin? Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:12-18
b. What would we know about creation? - Ps. 33:6, 9; Rom. 1:20; Ps. 19:1-6
c. What would we know about redemption? - 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Matt. 22:29
d. What would we know about the second coming of Christ? - John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11
e. What would we know about the state of the dead and the resurrection? - 1 Thess. 4:13-17; 1 Cor. 15:12-57
f. What would we know about the World of Tomorrow? - 2 Pet. 3:13; 1 Cor. 2:9-17; Rev. 21:1-17; 22:1-22
