• Daniel Baker
Posted in Bible, Sanctification, Sermons
This summer we have been thinking about Personal Reformation in our sermons. The first series was on change—How Can I Change? The second series, Scandalous Mercy, challenged us in many ways through the Minor Prophet Jonah. The third series of the summer, How Firm a Foundation, will focus on the Bible.
To think rightly and live rightly as Christians we have to think rightly about the Bible. If we get off here, we don't just get off a little bit. We create Grand Canyon-sized gaps in our thinking and living. Before long we will be following a caricature of the true God in ways that are not at all pleasing to him.
To help us think rightly about the Bible we'll look at five topics over the next five weeks. I'll use definitions from Kevin DeYoung's Taking God at His Word for each of them:
The Authority of Scripture: The last word always goes to the word of God. We must never allow the teachings of science, of human experience, or of church councils to take precedence over Scripture….God's word is final.
The Clarity of Scripture: The saving message of Jesus Christ is plainly taught in the Scriptures and can be understood by all who have ears to hear it. We don't need an official magisterium to tell us what the Bible means….God's word is understandable.
The Sufficiency of Scripture: The Scriptures contain everything we need for knowledge of salvation and godly living. We don't need any new revelation from heaven….God's word is enough.
The Necessity of Scripture: General revelation (i.e., the creation) is not enough to save us. We cannot know God savingly by means of personal experience and human reason. We need God's word to tell us how to live, who Christ is, and how to be saved.
The Delight of Scripture: DeYoung doesn't have a chapter devoted to this topic. Ricky Wright will preach from Psalm 1 on this issue, helping us to live the "blessed" life promised there: "His delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers" (Ps 1:2-3).
Lord willing you will come away from this series with a greater respect for God's Word and a greater dedication to it. And if this respect and dedication inspire you to read more (we hope they do!), you can check out John McLeod's post about some reading plans.
Daniel