Sola Scriptura

 John MacArthur defines the Reformation principle of sola Scriptura as having “to do with the sufficiency of Scripture as our supreme authority in all spiritual matters.  Sola Scriptura simply means that all truth necessary for our salvation and spiritual life is taught either explicitly or implicitly in Scripture.” 

If we are to embrace sola Scriptura, then it would seem to me that it would be pretty important to spend time reading Scripture, learning from Scripture, and growing as a result. I sense in all honesty I should be spending more time reading and studying my Bible. If we carry that a little further, we should all be able to see just how important a dedicated study of the Bible, the very word of God should be. 

I am reading a great book called “Taking God at His Word” by Kevin DeYoung. It is a book that provides a little detail concerning the authority and the sufficiency of Scripture. In it DeYoung states: 

"The scriptures are our spectacles (to use Calvin's phrase), the lenses through which we see God, the world, and ourselves rightly. We cannot truly know God, his will, or the way of salvation apart from the Bible..."Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the word of eternal life" (John 6:68). There is no other book like the Bible. It reveals a different kind of wisdom, comes from a different source, and tells of a different love." 

I love that image of using the Bible as our lens to view God and all he has created as the path to truly know God. Acts 17:11 tells us: 

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” 

Father, help us be of noble character and help us examine the Scriptures; your precious Word every day. 

Grace and Peace!