Iron Works Foundations

Attributes of Scripture: SCAN Sufficiency Clarity Authority Necessity For each term, we’re going to define each attribute, define what it means with regard to Scripture, and examine verses that testify to each attribute

What’s your problem? Authority  the Liberal problem Clarity  the Postmodern problem Necessity  the Atheist or Agnostic problem Sufficiency  the Evangelical problem (DeYoung) But first, I have a question for you: “What’s your problem?” Is human reason superior to Scripture? Can we understand Scripture objectively? Do we need Scripture? Don’t we need more than Scripture? (theological books, devotionals, websites, conferences, symposia, celebrity pastors, theological experts)

Sufficiency Sufficiency is “the quality or state of being sufficient” (Merriam-Webster) What does it mean to be sufficient? (enough) What does it mean for Scripture to be sufficient? (salvation & obedience)

Sufficiency Sufficient: “enough to meet the needs of a situation or a proposed end” (Merriam-Webster) “The Scriptures contain everything we need for knowledge of salvation and godly living. We don’t need any new revelation from heaven.” (DeYoung) 2 Timothy 3:15-17 “15 from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Sufficiency “The sufficiency of Scripture means that Scripture contained all the words of God he intended his people to have at each stage of redemptive history, and that it now contains everything we need God to tell us for salvation, for trusting him perfectly, and for obeying him perfectly.” (Grudem)

Clarity Clarity is “the quality or state of being clear.” (Merriam-Webster) What does it mean to be clear? What does it mean for Scripture to be clear?

Clarity Clear: “easily understood” (Merriam-Webster) “The saving message of Jesus Christ is plainly taught in 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.” (DeYoung) Psalm 19:7 “7 The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple” “Have you not read…” (Matthew 12:3, 5; 19:14; 22:31) 2 Peter 3:16 “16 There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.”

Clarity Westminster Confession of Faith, Ch. 1., para. 7 “All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.” “The main things are the plain things and the plain things are the main things” (Begg)

Authority What does it mean to have authority? What does it mean for Scripture to have authority?

Authority Westminster Confession of Faith, Ch. 1, para. 4 Authority: “power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior” (Merriam-Webster) Westminster Confession of Faith, Ch. 1, para. 4 “The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man, or church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God.” “The authority of Scripture means that all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.” (Grudem) Analogy of President’s word carrying authority vs. God’s word carrying authority

Authority “Thus says the LORD” appears hundreds of times in the Old Testament 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” “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.” (DeYoung) Why is it important that we emphasize the authority of Scripture?

Necessity Necessity is “the quality of being necessary” (Merriam-Webster) What does it mean to be necessary? What does it mean for Scripture to be necessary?

Necessity Necessary: “absolutely needed” (Merriam-Webster) “General revelation 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.” (DeYoung) Romans 10:14, 17 14 “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? … 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Necessity “The necessity of Scripture means that the Bible is necessary for knowing the gospel, for maintaining spiritual life, and for knowing God’s will, but is not necessary for knowing that God exists or for knowing something about God’s character and moral laws.” (Grudem) Westminster Confession of Faith, Ch. 1, para. 1 “Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation.”

Necessity Matthew 4:4 “4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Attributes of Scripture: SCAN Sufficiency Clarity Authority Necessity