Explaining Sufficiency of Holy Scripture

Years ago, in a pastor’s conference, I was asked to explain the sufficiency of Holy Scripture, and my answer was: “The Scriptures are self-interpreted; i.e., we don’t have to go outside of the Scriptures to get our interpretations.”

• • When the Holy Spirit inspired the 40 different authors to write the 66 books of the Bible, over a period of 1500 years, in three different languages, He wove the necessary clues within the text for us to verify the authenticity of the Scriptures.
  • Every book of the Bible points to some prophecy or proclamation of His plan for our redemption, and we can trust the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.
  • One of those clues would be the seven feasts of God because, as we see, they all point to the coming of the Savior.
  • It was no coincidence that Jesus was crucified the day the Jews celebrated Passover, for He was our Passover Lamb.
  • It was no coincidence that Jesus arose from the dead on the feast of first fruits; He gave us the pattern of the harvest of souls that will soon be resurrected.
  • It’s no coincidence the Church was empowered by the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Pentecost, for it is through His power that our witness is effective.

   But there are several more clues we need to see:

• • The “Ark” Noah built was a “type” or an illustration of our salvation in Christ. The “Ark” saved Noah and his family from the judgment of God upon the earth, and Jesus offers salvation from God’s eternal wrath to those who will put their faith and trust in Him.
  • In Genesis 8:4, the Bible says the “ark rested in the 7^th month, the 17^th day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat.”
  • God changed the calendar in Exodus, and the 7^th month became the 1^st month, and the 17^th day of Nisan is three days and three nights after the Passover Feast.
  • God caused the ark to rest from the flood, which was His judgment against the evil of the world, on the very same day Jesus rose from the grave to arrest mankind from His judgment to come.
  • Coincidence? Not likely! For you see:
    • In the Old Testament, Jesus is predicted.
    • In the gospels, Jesus is revealed.
    • In the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus is preached.
    • In the Epistles, Jesus is explained.
    • In the Revelation, Jesus is expected.
  • The sufficiency of Scriptures is that it reveals all we need to know about Jesus!

In Galatians 4:4, Paul said, “In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son, born of woman; born under the law that He might redeem those under the law.”

Jesus wasn’t just a man whose life and teachings infuriated the Jewish Religious leaders so much they crucified Him to shut Him up. Oh, that was the reason in their heart when they hung Him on the cross, but that was not the reason God allowed them to do it.

• • In Acts 2:22-24, Luke told the Jews:
  • “Jesus of Nazareth, a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through Him in your midst, as know; this man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify Him. But God raised Him up, releasing Him from the throes of death because it was impossible for Him to be held by it!”

• • In Colossians 1:15-20, Paul said, Jesus is:
  • “The image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
  • And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

   Let’s not cling to religious traditions and ideas that aren’t supported by Scripture.

• • Religious ritual becomes a reality when we fail to test everything by Scripture alone.
  • Be sure your own beliefs and practices are firmly rooted in the Bible and not tradition.
  • Are you willing to make a commitment to worship God according to biblical truth rather than human tradition?
  • Christians don’t worship a day, a date, or even an event, regardless of its significance or importance to our Christian Faith.
  • Christians worship Jesus, who proved to be our Savior and Lord, through the infallible evidence of His life, ministry, death, and His physical resurrection!

Now, knowing the all-sufficient truth about who Jesus was, and what He was sent, by God, to this earth to do:

• • Are you willing to confess with your mouth, Jesus as Lord, recognizing His deity, and surrendering your life unto His Lordship?
  • Are you willing to receive Him as your Savior; accepting His death as sufficient payment for your sins, and reconciling your relationship with God the Father?
  • Simply obey what the Holy Spirit is leading you to do.
  • “For whosoever shall call upon the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

Thank you for walking along this journey “From Gethsemane to Golgotha to Glory!”  If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us here at Heritage.