Last week we presented a four part series on the topic of sola gratia. This week we want to bring you the foundational principle that undergirded the Reformation, that is sola Scriptura. Scripture alone served as one of the rallying cries of the sixteenth century protest and is a doctrine that every Evangelical should love and embrace. The following sermon was delivered in Nigeria earlier this month as part of a conference on the truths of the Reformation.
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"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
In the spring of 1521, the Parliament of the German state assembled and demanded the appearance of Dr. Martin Luther. Since October 31, 1517, Luther had set the world on fire with his teachings and now he must give an account of himself. Obedient to the crown, Luther journeyed to Worms believing that he had been summoned to debate his theological positions. That was not to be the case, however. Luther was really being summoned to recant his position at the instance of the 21 year old emperor, Charles V under the influence of the Roman Catholic Church.
In Worms, late in the afternoon, 4:00 PM, April 17th, Luther was ushered into a large room where the nobility of the land had assembled including the king and the royalty of Rome. His books were spread on a table. Luther was to answer two questions in a simple and straightforward manner: "Are these your writings?" and "Will you recant the writings and the beliefs that they contain?"
For the moment Luther was caught off guard. He had come to debate his works not to renounce them. In desperation Luther asked for more time to consider the request and one day was granted. Luther was to return the next afternoon. At the appointed hour Luther re-appeared. He was ready to answer the questions. Yes, the writings were his, and no he would not recant what he had written for this reason:
"Not all of the books are of the same kind: some deal with matters of faith which popes and priests alike have universally applauded as being worthy of a Christian's perusal. Others do attack the papacy, and the teaching of the papist. But what is that? Truth is truth!
Therefore, Your Most Serene Majesty and Your Lordships, since they seek a simple reply, I will give one that is without horns or teeth, and in this fashion: I believe in neither pope nor councils alone; for it is perfectly well established that they have frequently erred, as well as contradicted themselves.
Unless then I shall be convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason, I must be bound by those Scriptures, which have been brought forward by me; yes, my conscience has been taken captive by these words of God. I cannot revoke anything, nor do I wish to; since to go against one's conscience is neither safe nor right: here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen."
In that moment, the doctrine that the Bible alone is the ultimate authority for all faith and practice was established as the formal principle of the Reformation.
We have in our possession the most unique book on planet earth. Written over a period of one thousand five hundred years by about forty different authors on three continents in three languages the Bible is profitable, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. The Bible is a book with a purpose which is simply, "That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." When we pick up a copy of the Bible we notice immediately it is one book. Though it contains sixty six works it is still one book for there is an essential unity to the Bible.
There are many, however, who attempt to destroy the unity of the book by denying its inspiration, by dividing God’s Word into multiple dispensations or by pitting Moses against Christ, but the Bible remains one book for the "New Testament is in the Old contained while the Old Testament is in the New explained." Someone else has written, "The New Testament is in the Old concealed while the Old Testament is in the New revealed."
What is the message that is contained in the Bible? What is the glorious truth explained in the Bible but this: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). The Bible is all about Christ and so we find Him in every verse of Scripture, in every chapter, and in every book.
In Genesis He is the Seed of the woman (3:15).
In Exodus He is the Lamb of God for sinners slain (see chapter 12).
In Leviticus He is our High Priest (the whole book).
In Numbers He is the Star out of Jacob (24:17).
In Deuteronomy He is the Prophet like unto Moses (18:15).
In Joshua He is the Captain of the Lord’s armies (5:13-15).
In Judges He is the Angel of the LORD or the messenger of Jehovah (chapter 13).
In Ruth He is our Kinsman-Redeemer (Chapter 3).
In Samuel, Kings and Chronicles He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Samuel 8:1-9).
In Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther He is the sovereign Lord over all the kingdoms of the earth (entire books).
In Job He is our risen and returning Redeemer (Job 19:25).
In Psalms He is the Blessed Man (Psalm 1), the Son of Man (Psalm 2), the Crucified One (Psalm 22), the Coming One (Psalm 24), the Reigning One (Psalm 72).
In Proverbs He is our Wisdom (chapter 14).
In Ecclesiastes He is the forgotten Wise Man (9:14-15).
In Song of Solomon He is "My Beloved" (2:16).
In Isaiah He is our suffering Substitute (chapter 53).
In Jeremiah He is the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (23:6).
In Lamentations He is the Man of sorrows who weeps for His people (l: 12-18).
In Ezekiel He is the glory of God (1:28).
In Daniel He is the Smiting Stone (2:34) and the Companion in the furnace of fire and the den of lions (3:24-25; 6:22).
In Hosea He is David’s Greater King (3:5).
In Joel He is the Hope of His people (3:16).
In Amos He is the Rescuer of Israel (3:12).
In Obadiah He is the Deliverer upon Mount Zion (verse 17).
In Jonah He is the buried and risen Saviour (compare Matthew 12:40).
In Micah He is the Everlasting God born in Bethlehem (5:2).
In Nahum He is our Stronghold in the day of wrath (1:7).
In Habakkuk He is the Anchor of our faith (2:4).
In Zephaniah He is in the midst for judgment and cleansing (3:5,15).
In Haggai He is Lord of presence and power (1:13).
In Zechariah He is the smitten Shepherd (13:7).
In Malachi He is the Sun of Righteousness (4:2).
Because Christ is the single great theme of the Bible and unifies all the Scriptures, it would be proper to read the Bible as a whole. Writer Amos Wells reflected on our need for thorough Bible reading with a little verse of poetry:
"I supposed I knew my Bible,
Reading piecemeal, hit or miss,
Now a bit of John or Matthew,
Now a snatch of Genesis,
Certain chapters of Isaiah,
Certain Psalms (the twenty-third),
Twelfth of Romans, first of Proverbs –
Yes, I thought I knew the Word!
But I found that thorough reading
Was a different thing to do,
And the way was unfamiliar
When I read the Bible through.
You who like to play at Bible,
Dip and dabble, here and there,
Just before you kneel, aweary,
And yawn through a hurried prayer;
You who treat the Crown of Writings
As you treat no other book,
Just a paragraph, disjointed,
Just a crude, impatient look,
Try a worthier procedure,
Try a broad and steady view;
You will kneel in very rapture
When you read the Bible through."
Find Christ in the Scriptures. Read the Bible through. It is one book.
to be continued...
