The Sufficiency and Authority of God's Word
By What Standard? Part 2
As we continue our exploration of God’s Word, I’m grateful for your companionship on this pilgrimage. May we grow together in our understanding and application of Scripture as we seek to walk faithfully with Jesus Christ.
God’s God-Breathed Book
The Bible is authoritative and sufficient for us, Paul says, because it is God’s book. It is God-breathed. Some translations say “inspired,” but the NIV gets it right. The idea is not that the Bible is inspired in the way we might say, “The actor in the play gave us an inspired performance.” Instead, the meaning of the phrase, “God-breathed,” literally means words breathed out by God. Paul is teaching us the words of Scripture are literally God’s words to us. We have in Scripture precisely what God wants us to have, the way he wants us to have it.
What Did God Condescend to Teach Us?
What did God, as John Wesley put it, condescend to teach us? In addition to the way to heaven through Christ, Paul indicated all Scripture is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. We have been given Scripture for a reason. Paul reminds us that Scripture is sufficient for all our needs and should be our comprehensive guide and authority for every sphere of faith and life.
John Wesley beautifully expressed this idea. He wrote,
“I want to know one thing – the way to heaven, how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach me the way. For this very end he came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God! I have it: Here is knowledge enough for me. Only God is here.”
A Lord Who Cannot Exercise Lordship
Reformed writer, R.C. Sproul, once shared a story that powerfully illustrates the importance of recognizing the authority of Scripture. After preaching on the authority of Scripture, Sproul encountered an old college friend who had become a missionary and later attended seminary. This friend told Sproul that he no longer believed in the authority of Scripture.
Sproul asked his friend, “Well, what do you still believe?” His friend replied, “Oh, I still believe that Jesus is my Savior and my Lord.” Sproul then posed a crucial question: “You say that Jesus is your Lord. Can you tell me how Jesus expresses his Lordship over you? That is, a Lord is someone who issues commands. How does Jesus, as your Lord, give you your marching orders?”
His friend’s answers led him to realize that without accepting the authority of Scripture, he had “a Lord who is unable to exercise Lordship over you.”
Hear His Voice, Obey His Word
Is Jesus your Lord? In truth, Jesus is Lord whether you recognize him as so or not. Yet, he exercises his Lordship through his Spirit working through his Word. Thus, we must hear his voice in the pages of Scripture and obey them. Let’s say with John Wesley, “O give me that book! At any price, give the book of God! Here is knowledge enough for me.”
Only the Spirit of God working through that book, the Bible, will lead you to Christ and the real, abundant, and eternal life that comes through faith in him. Only God’s Spirit working through God’s Word will sanctify you, making you more and more like Jesus. In a world full of people, ideas, and activities competing for your allegiance, there’s only one standard worthy to be your sure foundation. May it be for you the Word of God.
Discussion Questions
1. What does it mean to call the Bible “God-breathed” or “inspired?” How does this affect how we view and approach Scripture?
2. Besides the way to salvation, what are some other ways the Bible is useful and profitable for our lives according to 2 Timothy 3:15-16?
3. How would you respond to someone who says they can follow Jesus without submitting to the authority of the Bible?
4. When have you found the Bible to be a steady, reliable guide and authority in the midst of life’s storms and crises?
5. What are some specific ways you can grow in your commitment to hear God’s voice and obey his Word through regular Bible study and meditation?
Action Steps
1. Memorize 2 Timothy 3:16-17 as a reminder of the sufficiency and authority of Scripture.
2. Prayerfully consider how you can make regular Bible reading and study a higher priority in your weekly routine.
3. Identify one area of your life where you may be struggling to submit to the authority of God’s Word, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you align your thoughts, desires, and actions with Scripture.
Thanks for joining me today for this devotion. If you’ve found it beneficial, I encourage you to share it with others who might be wrestling with questions about the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. Let’s continue to encourage one another to build our lives on the solid foundation of God’s Word.