THE SCRIPTURES

from
Wayne Grudems
Systematic Theology
THE SCRIPTURES
Characteristics
 SCRIPTURES

Authority
Clarity
Necessity
Sufficiency
 AUTHORITY
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.
 CLARITY
The clarity of Scripture means
that the Bible is written in such
a way that its teachings are
able to be understood by all
who will read it seeking God's
help and being willing to follow
it.
 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.
 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.
 AUTHORITY
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.
 AUTHORITY
It is one thing to affirm that the
bible claims to be the words of
God.
It is another thing to be
convinced that those claims are
true.
Our ultimate conviction that the words of the bible
are God's words comes only . . .
 AUTHORITY
. . . when the holy spirit speaks in and through the
words of the Bible to our hearts and gives us an
inner assurance that these are the words of our
Creator speaking to us.
Just after Paul has explained that his apostolic speech
consists of words taught by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor.
2:13), he says,
 AUTHORITY
The natural man does not receive the things of the
Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not
able to understand them because they are
spiritually discerned (1 Cor. 2:14).
Apart from the work of the Spirit of God, a person
will not receive spiritual truths and in particular will
not receive or accept the truth that the words of
Scripture are in fact the words of God.
 AUTHORITY
The Truthfulness of Scripture
God Cannot Lie or Speak Falsely.
Therefore All the Words in Scripture Are
Completely True and Without Error in Any Part.
God's Words Are the Ultimate Standard of
Truth.
Might Some New Fact Ever Contradict the
Bible?
 AUTHORITY
All scripture is inspired by
God and profitable
for teaching,
for reproof,
for correction, and
for training in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16
 AUTHORITY
Christian Application of the Word of God
Timothy 3:16
& Teaching Correct Belief
&Rebuking Incorrect Belief
&Correcting Unrighteous Behavior
&Training Righteous Behavior
 SCRIPTURES

Authority
Clarity
Necessity
Sufficiency
 CLARITY
The clarity of Scripture means
that the Bible is written in such
a way that its teachings are
able to be understood by all
who will read it seeking God's
help and being willing to follow
it.
 CLARITY
The Role of Scholars
1. They can teach Scripture clearly
2.They can explore new areas of understanding the
teachings of Scripture.
3.They can defend the teachings of the Bible
against attacks by other scholars
4.They can supplement the study of Scripture for
the benefit of the church.
 CLARITY
And these words which I command you this day shall
be upon your heart; and you shall teach them
diligently to your children, and shall talk of them
when you sit in your house, and when you walk by
the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
 CLARITY
Human Reactions
to the Word of God
Matthew 13:1-9
 CLARITY
MT 13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house
and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered
around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while
all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told
them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer
went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the
seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came
and ate it up. 5 Some fell
 CLARITY
on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It
sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6
But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched,
and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other
seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked
the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where
it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times
what was sown. 9 He who has ears, let him hear."
 CLARITY
MT 13:18 "Listen then to what the parable of the
sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message
about the kingdom and does not understand it, the
evil one comes and snatches away what was sown
in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky
places is the man who hears the word and at once
receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he
lasts only a short time.
 CLARITY
When trouble or persecution comes because of the
word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who
received the seed that fell among the thorns is the
man who hears the word, but the worries of this life
and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it
unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed
that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word
and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a
hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
 CLARITY
& Reactions from Unregenerate Hearts
$Lack of Understanding Robs Them
$Persecution Withers Them
$Cares of the World Choke Them
$Unfruitful
 CLARITY
& Characteristics of Regenerated Hearts
$ Loves the Word of God
$Improves under Affliction
$Thrives through Temptations
$Produces in Measure
 SCRIPTURES

Authority
Clarity
Necessity
Sufficiency
 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.
 NECESSITY
A. The Bible Is Necessary for Knowledge of the
Gospel
B. The Bible Is Necessary for Maintaining Spiritual
Life
C. The Bible Is Necessary for Certain Knowledge of
God's Will
 NECESSITY
D. But the Bible Is Not Necessary for Knowing That
God Exists
E. Furthermore, the Bible Is Not Necessary for
Knowing Something About God's Character and Moral
Laws
 NECESSITY
But he answered, It is
written, Man shall not live
by bread alone, but by
every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.
Matt. 4:4
 NECESSITY
Nothing Substitutes
For the Truth of the
Word of God.
1 Peter 1:17-25
 NECESSITY
1PE 1:17 Since you call on a Father who judges each
man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers
here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not
with perishable things such as silver or gold that you
were redeemed from the empty way of life handed
down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the
precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or
defect.
 NECESSITY
20 He was chosen before the creation of the world,
but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21
Through him you believe in God, who raised him from
the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and
hope are in God.
1PE 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by
obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for
your brothers,
 NECESSITY
love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you
have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of
imperishable, through the living and enduring word
of God. 24 For,
 NECESSITY
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like
the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,

1PE 1:25 but the word of the Lord stands forever."
And this is the word that was preached to you.
 NECESSITY
& Modern Society tries to replace the Power
of Purity with Public Opinion
& Modern Society tries to replace Submissive
Obedience with Rugged Individualism
& Modern Society tries to replace Sincere,
Deep Love with Shallow Human-affection
& Modern Society tries to replace Divine
Regeneration with Human Decision Making
& Modern Society tries to replace the Eternal
Word of God with Human Philosophy
 SCRIPTURES

Authority
Clarity
Necessity
Sufficiency
 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.
 SUFFICIENCY
The sufficiency of Scripture should
encourage us as we try to discover what
God would have us to think (about a
particular doctrinal issue) or to do (in a
particular situation).
The sufficiency of Scripture reminds us
that we are to add nothing to Scripture
and that we are to consider no other
writings of equal value to Scripture.
 SUFFICIENCY
The sufficiency of Scripture also tells us that God
does not require us to believe anything about himself
or his redemptive work that is not found in Scripture.
The sufficiency of Scripture shows us that no modern
revelations from God are to be placed on a level
equal to Scripture in authority.
 SUFFICIENCY
With regard to living the Christian life, the sufficiency
of Scripture reminds us that nothing is sin that is not
forbidden by Scripture either explicitly or by
implication.
The sufficiency of Scripture also tells us that nothing
is required of us by God that is not commanded in
Scripture either explicitly or by implication.
 SUFFICIENCY
The sufficiency of Scripture reminds us that in our
doctrinal and ethical teaching we should emphasize
what Scripture emphasizes and be content with what
God has told us in Scripture.
 SUFFICIENCY
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk
in the law of the LORD!
Psalm 119:1
 SUFFICIENCY
The Word of God
and Righteousness
Psalm 1
 SUFFICIENCY
PS 1:1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
 SUFFICIENCY
PS 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

PS 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of

water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
 SUFFICIENCY
PS 1:4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.

PS 1:5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the

judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
 SUFFICIENCY
PS 1:6 For the LORD watches over the way of the
righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
 SUFFICIENCY
&The Blessed Man
$ Avoids temptations
$ Delights in the Law
$ Prospers
 SUFFICIENCY
& The Wicked Man
$ Not so to all of the
above
$ Like Chaff
$ They will not stand
 SUFFICIENCY
&The Lord
$Watches over the
Righteous
$Watches the Wicked
perish
 SCRIPTURES
Authority
Clarity
Necessity
Sufficiency
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