"Sola Scriptura" - 500th Anniversary of the Reformation - The Solas

"Sola Scriptura"

Text: 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (Text at the End)

** Sola Scriptura or By Scripture Alone was the foundation of the battle cry of the reformers found in the Five Solas! **

• Sola Scriptura (By Scripture Alone), Sola Gratia (Through Grace Alone), Sola Fide (Justification By Faith Alone), Sola Christo (In Christ Alone), Soli Deo Gloria (For The Glory of God Alone) -

** Scripture MUST be the foundation of all doctrine, creeds, theology, practice, and belief for the Christian for it is the ONLY sure Word that we have! **

** The Word of God is the Voice of God and The picture of God himself revealed in the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ! John 1 **

• The essence of the doctrine of Sola Scriptura is that the Scriptures are not only sufficient but efficient in all rule and practice! -

• Roman Catholicism taught that the foundation for faith and practice was found in three distinct authorities, the scriptures, the magesterium & pope, and sacred tradition. The reformers said “Sola Scriptura!” For all things can be corrupted but God's Word stands sure! -

Matthew 5:18

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

• Christ himself refuted tradition in Mark 7 with the pharisees! -

C.H. Spurgeon said “We must settle in our minds that the Word of God must certainly be true, absolutely infallible, and beyond all question.”

** Like this morning, if we are “little Christ's” as Christians we should feel about the scriptures the same as Christ felt about them! **

• It was always “It is written” not “it is thought”, “it is taught”, “it is heard.” -

• Thus saith the Lord -

** Truths about the Word that give it it's authority! **

1.) Inspired

• Though penned by men it's author is God, though preached by men, it's voice is God's, though given by men, it's directed by the Spirit! -

2 Peter 1:19-21

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

** Our Text **

2.) Inerrant

• Without Error! -

Romans 3:4

God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar;

Psalm 19:7-8

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of theLord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

3.) Infallible

• Trustworthy, effective, sure! -

Matthew 7:24-25

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

• In 1521 at the historic interrogation of Luther at the Diet of Worms, he declared his conscience to be captive to the Word of God saying, "Unless I am overcome with testimonies from Scripture or with evident reasons -- for I believe neither the Pope nor the Councils, since they have often erred and contradicted one another -- I am overcome by the Scripture texts which I have adduced, and my conscience is bound by God's Word." -

• The battle to discredit the Word of God has plagued mankind since the Garden! In Genesis 3 the catalyst of the fall was Satan's twisting of what God said and Eve's idea that she could discern for herself! -

• No matter what you've seen, heard, been taught, felt, experienced, or thought, if it's opposite the Word, the Word is true and all these are a lie! -
  - This wasn't something new the reformers stumbled upon, church history testifies of the belief in the sufficiency of scripture! Michael Kruger said it like this “The reformers weren't innovators but excavators!” -
  The 1689 London Baptist confession says this concerning the scriptures “The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own Glory, Mans Salvation, Faith and Life, is either expressely set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture; unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new Revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men” (Chapter 1, Paragraph 6).
  In Closing:

If i'm going to stand on any wisdom, any knowledge, any word, any voice, any truth it will be that of God's and no other!

John 17:17

 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

2 Timothy 3:14-17King James Version (KJV)

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.