IS THE BIBLE ENOUGH?
The place of the Bible in the scheme of human redemption has been for many years and still is very controversial. Do we not need creeds, confessions of faith, human rule books, traditions, the official interpretations of religious leaders and other aids to know what we must do to become Christians, how to worship God, what moral values God demands of his children and how the church is to govern itself? I remember receiving a letter from a man who wrote: "You must accept the idea of sola scriptura." I do not remember what I said that gave him that impression, but he was exactly right. The Latin phrase, sola scriptura, literally means scripture alone. It was one of the major emphases of the Reformation movement. Churches of Christ do not embrace the doctrine of "scripture alone" because Reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin believed and preached it, but because the Bible explicitly teaches it. Our lesson today asks the question, "Is the Bible Enough?"
If the Bible is not enough, would that not be God's fault? Did not the all-wise God know enough to provide for all our moral and spiritual needs? Did he not care enough to remove all doubts about salvation from our minds? If the Bible does not furnish us all we must have to please God, where do we go to get the rest? If you have the slightest doubt about the doctrine of scripture alone, please listen to these familiar words. The apostle Paul urged a young preacher: "Continue in the things that you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them, and that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:14-17).
You may not agree with Paul's words about scripture, but you would have a hard time not understanding them. I shall briefly summarize the great truths of these verses. If the holy scriptures make us wise unto salvation, what else do we need? I shall not take time to review the many examples of conversion in the book of Acts, but I shall give one example. Luke tell us that Philip the evangelist went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. "When they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Christ, they were baptized, both men and women" (Acts 8:5, 12). While there are preachers in all religious groups, including some left-leaning preachers among churches of Christ, who vigorously oppose what they call "pattern theology," is it not obvious that the conversion of the Samaritans is a pattern for the conversion of men and women in every generation until the Lord returns?
Paul affirmed: "All scripture....is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." Is there anything else we need in order to "grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 3:18)? The words Paul used--doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness cover all the bases in our growth as Christians. Whatever teaching is required for us to become Christians and to remain faithful Christians has been graciously given in the word of God. Incidentally, the Greek word paideia (translated "instruction") would be more correctly translated "discipline." Does this not mean that the scriptures furnish all the information we must have to serve God acceptably? The scriptures also discipline us so that we may become like our Savior. The book of Hebrews emphasizes that truth. "Whom the Lord loves he disciplines, and scourges every son whom he receives" (Heb. 12:6). I am not arguing that the word of God is God's only means of discipline, but that is certainly one way he disciplines his children.
Paul further emphasizes: The God-breathed word enables the man of God to be "perfect." I am fully aware that some theologians have misinterpreted and misapplied the word "perfect." Some holiness groups teach the doctrine of perfectionism, that is, that once a Christian has received the direct operation of the Holy Spirit he can no longer sin. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are no sinless people. The apostle John was writing of and to Christians when he said: "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (l John 1:8). Did not the apostle Paul teach: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23)? The verb, "have sinned," is past tense and the verb, "come short," is present tense and means continually come short.
The word "perfect" means full grown or mature. It never means sinless or flawless. The author of Hebrews severely criticizes his readers for their immaturity. "For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For everyone who uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them who are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:12-14). The expression, "of full age," is from the same Greek word translated "perfect." The author of Hebrews uses the same word when he charged his fellow Christians: "Therefore let us go on unto perfection" (Heb. 6:1). He was pleading with the Hebrew Christians to grow up, to mature, to quit acting like babies.
Paul argues: "The scriptures ... thoroughly furnish us unto all good works." Most modem versions use the word "completely" rather than the word "thoroughly." If the scriptures completely furnish us unto all good words, what has God left out of the scriptures that we need to know? Has he not told us how to be saved and how to stay saved? Do you honestly believe the God who loved us enough to send his Son to die for us would have left out of his word information and instructions we must have to be his faithful servants? In case you have any doubt, please remember the Apostle Peter's words. "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who has called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceedingly great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Pet. 1:2-4).
Has God "given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness?" If he has not, Peter was not telling the truth. If he has, what need is there for further revelation? And yet, if one watches Trinity Broadcasting Network, the Inspiration Channel and similar operations, he cannot avoid noticing how many of the speakers on those programs claim to have a direct revelation from God. They use words somewhat as follows: "The Lord spoke to me" or "The Lord appeared to me in a dream." I wish I could say that only Charismatics or Pentecostals were guilty of deceiving their listeners by pretending to have a direct word from God, but that would not be the case. Rich Atchley, the preacher of the Richland Hills Church of Christ in Dallas, Texas, made this completely unscriptural claim: "Right there at that spot about 1994 the Holy Spirit said to me in the middle of a sermon, 'that's what you and all preachers like you are doing, who haven't for years believed that the worship of God with instruments was wrong. But you continue by your silence to let people think it's wrong. But you allow the people to be disrupted, and you do so under the plea, 'Well, we're just maintaining peace.' But that's not peace; that's cowardice. I knew then the day would come I'd have to teach this lesson." Tragically and inexplicably, Rick Atchley is guilty of imitating some of the false prophets in Old Testament times. He was speaking where God has not spoken. He is like the Balaam, the Gentile prophet:
He was waiting for what more the Lord has to say. He was attempting to convince churches of Christ to fall in with the fleeting fashions of the world (Rom. 12:2). I pray to God almighty that we shall not be deceived by Rick Atchley's imagination.
In view of the false teachers who claim to have direct communication from God, I must ask a series of questions. Is there something we need to know about God the Bible does not reveal? The word of God tells us that God spoke the world into existence (Gen. 1:1). It informs us that God in his infinite love initiated the plan of salvation so that all who love God and keep his commandments will be saved from their sins and given the promise of eternal life. Paul explained these great truths to the Ephesians. "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hidden in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ, to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to his eternal purpose, which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him" (Eph. 3:8-12).
I do not have time in this short study to discuss many features of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, but I must read several passages from the Old Testament that shed considerable light on the nature of God. Moses taught: Our "God is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are just: a God of truth, and without iniquity, just and right is he" (Dt. 32:4). No book of the Old Testament has so much to teach us about the nature of God as Isaiah. The Lord God himself asks: "To whom then shall you liken me, or shall I be equal, says the Holy One? Lift up you eyes on high, and behold who has created these things, that brings out their host by number; he calls them all by names by the greatness of his might, for he is strong in power; not one fails (or is missing). Why do you say, a Jacob, and why do you speak, a Israel, My way is hidden from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my Lord? Have you not known? Have you not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint, neither is he weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He gives power to the faint; and to them who have no might he increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But they who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; and they shall mount up with wings of eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isa. 40:25-31). There is much more from Isaiah I would like to read, but I shall have to reserve it for a future lesson.
My second question relates to Christ. Has the word of God revealed all we must know and believe about him? Every book in the New Testament provides wonderful insight into who Jesus is, but I shall confine my reading to the book of Hebrews. In the very first chapter of this powerful book, we learn that God speaks to this dispensation through Jesus. And why does God speak through Christ and not through some other person? The inspired author explains in very plain language. "But unto the Son, he (God) says, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands. They shall perish, but thou remainest: they shall wax old as does a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail" (Heb. 1:8-12). The author of Hebrews calls Jesus "the apostle and high priest of our profession" (Heb. 3:1). He affirms that Christ "was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Heb. 4:15). Jesus Christ is the "author and finisher of our faith" who sacrificed himself for us and is now seated at the right hand of God (Heb. 12:2). Has the Holy Spirit revealed anything new to Pentecostals or to anyone else about Christ since the close of the canon?
I have already mentioned the gospel plan of salvation, but let us return to it for a moment. What do modem men and women need to know about salvation that is not found in the scriptures? I wonder if the Pentecostals, Calvinists and others think they have been given the so-called "sinner's prayer" as the means of saving alien sinners? Did God speak to them outside the scriptures and tell them that alien sinners are to pray for forgiveness? I know this and so to you: There is not a person on earth who can find the sinner's prayer in the word of God. When the believing Jews on the day of Pentecost asked Peter and the other apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?", did the apostle Peter tell them to pray? Did Philip instruct the Samaritans to pray for the forgiveness of their sins? When Ananias, the heaven-sent preacher, approached Saul of Tarsus, why did he not urge him: "Please say to Christ: I know I am a sinner. I know you died for my sins. I want you to come into my heart and save me. I thank you for saving me?" Should it not be a source of embarrassment for men in leadership positions in various denominations to add to God's plan of salvation? Why not tell modem sinners what inspired men told sinners in the first century? Or are we to ignore the divine pattern revealed in the word of almighty God?
There are two other scriptural passages I must read before our time expires. Paul met with the Ephesian elders at the seacoast town of Miletus. He warned them of false teachers that would threaten the peace and unity of the church. "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears." What were the elders to do to counteract the influence of the false teachers? Please listen. "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of this grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them who are sanctified" (Acts 20:29-32). Is the word of God alone sufficient for that purpose? Do we not need creeds, disciplines and catechisms? We need the word and only the word.
James, the Lord's brother, urged his readers: "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls" (Jas. 1:21). If the word of God is able to save our souls, what need is there for human creeds and confessions of faith? In Acts 20:32 and in James 1:21, the inspired authors used the verb, "is able." That verb comes from the same Greek word that is translated "power" in this well known passage. "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes; to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16). James adds: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a glass. For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was. But whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed" (Jas. 1:22-25).
You can discern from these verses in James 1 that hearing the word of God-as valuable as that is-is not adequate. We must obey the word to be saved and to stay saved. Is that really what the Bible teaches? There are numerous passages that stress that truth. Jesus asked his disciples: "Why call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say" (Lk. 6:46)? The author of Hebrews affirms: "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of salvation unto all them who obey him" (Heb. 5:8-9)? Is he the author of eternal salvation to those who do not obey him? If he is, the message of Hebrews 5 is meaningless.
I shall conclude our study today with two verses from 1 John. "Little children, let no man deceive you: he who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous ... In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he who does not love his brother" (I John 3: 7, 10). The meaning of doing righteousness can be gleaned from the scriptures and only from the scriptures. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Rev. 2:7). What the Spirit says to the churches, he says only in his word.
Winford Claiborne
The International Gospel Hour
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