The Sufficiency of the Bible

Text: Ephesians 3:1-12

 

I.         Do we need anything beyond the Bible to know God’s will for us?

            A.        If the Bible is all sufficient, then we would not need any church, priest, or religious leader.

            B.        If the Bible is sufficient then we would be responsible to find the truth for ourselves - Philippians 2:12

                        1.         We can’t blame anyone else if we choose to get on the wrong bus.

                        2.         The Bible warns there are false teachers - I John 4:1

                        3.         But the duty of spotting them falls upon us

II.        God speaks to us through Jesus - Hebrews 1:1-2

            A.        Jesus commanded his apostles to take that message to all the world - Matthew 28:18-20

            B.        The Holy Spirit was sent to guide the apostles in all truth - John 16:13

            C.        This was accomplished, and passed on to us - II Peter 1:3

                        1.         Notice that nothing was left out

            D.        It was written down for us - I John 1:1-4

            E.        There were written as a reminder that would survive their death - II Peter 1:12-15

III.       Such writings were not someone sitting down deciding to write some nice words - II Peter 1:19-21

            A.        It was an act of God, a miraculous gift - I Corinthians 2:12-13

            B.        Acts of other miracles confirmed the word - Hebrews 2:3-4

            C.        That is why Peter said that God’s divine power had (past tense) given us everything pertaining to life and godliness - II Peter 1:3

            D.        But the time of miracles was to end - I Corinthians 13:8-10

                        1.         Not when Jesus comes again, but when the perfect thing comes, the partial would no longer be needed.

                        2.         The Scriptures have what is needed to make a person complete or perfect - II Timothy 3:15-17

                        3.         When we look at the word of God we see the perfect law of liberty - James 1:22-25

            E.        The end was even prophesied in the Old Testament - Zechariah 13:1-3

                        1.         That is why, as well, that Jesus said that there would come a time when people who claim to prophesy and cast out demons would not be doing the will of God - Matthew 7:21-23

            F.        Thus this word was delivered once - Jude 3

                        1.         There is no on going revelation

IV.      We are to limit ourselves to what God has revealed - I Peter 4:11

            A.        It is not to be altered - Galatians 1:6-10

            B.        The book of Revelation was not to be changed - Revelation 22:18-19

                        1.         That rule applies to all of God’s revelation - Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:6

            C.        If someone claims to be speaking the words of God, the burden of proof is on them.

                        1.         His statements must always be true - Deuteronomy 18:20-22

                        2.         Cannot contradict what was already revealed, even if apparent miracles accompany him - Deuteronomy 13:1-4

V.        To be useful, then it must be understandable - Ephesians 5:17

            A.        When we read we have insight - Ephesians 3:1-7

            B.        If there were new revelation, then the Bible’s claims of having everything needed would be false.

            C.        If we needed someone else to tell us what to do, then it would not be understandable and God would have commanded us to do the impossible.

            D.        There will always be a need for teachers - Romans 10:14-15

            E.        But the burden of understanding is on the student.