Sola Scriptura. This was the cry of the reformation as the reformers such as William Tyndale and Martin Luther sought to move the Church away from the infallibility and even dependence upon the papacy or the priests in order for normal Christians to have the Bible for themselves to read, study, and obey. Scripture alone became the cry of the Protestant Reformation and continues to this day.
And now more than ever it is important for us to embrace the Scriptures as our sure foundation to protect us from error. James 1:21 says, “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” The Scriptures guard our salvation. They protect us from false christs and false prophets who come to us appearing to be sheep but in reality are wolves (Matthew 7:15-20). Jesus warned us that many false christs and false prophets would arise to deceive even the elect if it were possible (Matthew 24:24).
Many in our day want to live in ambiguity when it comes to doctrine. They don’t want to embrace something as fact for fear that they may be wrong or they might offend someone. Many historic Christian doctrines such as the deity of Christ, salvation, justification, sanctification, the second coming of Christ – all these have become “debateable” doctrines these days. It appears that we are living in Judges 21:25 and everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes. We now have churches that will meet all your needs since they do not stand for any core beliefs. They are evangelical in name only but not in practice.
In an age when beliefs no longer matter, all doctrines are up for debate. The Bible is being taught less and less within the Church. Post-modernism is gripping the teachers in the Church. False prophets and false christs abound. Now is not the time to abandon our Bibles. Now is the time to feed on the Word of God and allow it to fill our veins with its everlasting and transforming truth. The Bible is our sword to defeat the enemy (Ephesians 6:17) and it is so vital that we hide the Word in our hearts that we might know God’s ways (Psalm 119:11; Hebrews 5:11-14). Jesus Himself fully submitted to the authority of Scripture in every way. In fact, when Jesus debated the Pharisees or the Sadducees, He would appeal to Scripture (see for example Matthew 19:1-9; 22:23-33; John 5:39, 46-47; 10:35). When Jesus was risen from the dead, He instructed His disciples from the Scriptures concerning Himself (Luke 24:27, 44-47). As Peter later would write, Jesus did not merely give them evidence of His resurrection physically but He showed Himself to them in the Scriptures which, to Peter, became a more sure word (2 Peter 1:16-21).
In every facet of our lives we need the Scriptures. What we watch on television should be judged by the Scriptures. What we read, what we talk about, what we do – all these should fall under the watchful eye of Scripture (Hebrews 4:12-13). Every teaching that we hear should be judged with the Scriptures (Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible alone is the Word of God and it alone is the authority that we need to know truth from error. May we be Jesus’ true disciples and abide in His word (John 8:31-32). May Jesus’ words abide in us (Colossians 3:16).
[Link to original post and comments at Roy Ingle’s website]
