Authority of ScriptureAuthority of Scripture

Lesson 8 Lesson 8 SufficiencySufficiency

““Scripture contained all the words Scripture contained all the words of God he intended his people to of God he intended his people to have at each stage of redemptive have at each stage of redemptive history, and…now contains all the history, and…now contains all the words of God we needwords of God we need- For salvation- For salvation- For trusting him perfectlyFor trusting him perfectly- For obeying him perfectly.” - For obeying him perfectly.”

-Wayne Grudem-Wayne Grudem

Scripture isScripture is sufficient sufficient

for salvation.for salvation.

2 Timothy 3:15 2 Timothy 3:15 …from …from childhood you have known the childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.Christ Jesus.

James 1:18 James 1:18 In the exercise of His In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His a kind of first fruits among His creatures.creatures.

1 Peter 1:23-25 1 Peter 1:23-25 …you have been …you have been born again not of seed which is born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring is, through the living and enduring word of God…. And this is the word of God…. And this is the word which was preached to you.word which was preached to you.

Scripture isScripture is sufficient sufficient

for godliness.for godliness.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.for every good work.

Acts 20:32 Acts 20:32 And now I commend And now I commend you to God and to the word of His you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are among all those who are sanctified.sanctified.

Scripture isScripture is sufficient sufficient

alone.alone.

2 Peter 1:3-4 2 Peter 1:3-4 His divine power His divine power has granted to us everything has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness….pertaining to life and godliness….

Christian writings are useful.Christian writings are useful.

Personal Personal impressions impressions are useful.are useful.

Miraculous events are useful.Miraculous events are useful.

Modern challenges to Modern challenges to the sufficiency of the sufficiency of

Scripture.Scripture.

Roman CatholicismRoman Catholicism

Liberal ProtestantismLiberal Protestantism

MormonismMormonism

Joseph SmithJoseph Smith

Jehovah’s WitnessesJehovah’s Witnesses

““Moonies” Moonies” (Unification (Unification Church)Church)

Sun Myung MoonSun Myung Moon

Christian ScienceChristian Science

Mary Baker EddyMary Baker Eddy

Implications of the Implications of the sufficiencysufficiency

of Scriptureof Scripture

We must search and We must search and study the Scriptures.study the Scriptures.

We must not elevate We must not elevate any other teaching to any other teaching to the same authority.the same authority.

We must weigh all We must weigh all ideas and practices ideas and practices against Scripture.against Scripture.

We must realign We must realign ourselves to be in ourselves to be in

accord with Scripture.accord with Scripture.