THE HOLY SCRIPTURE

2004

LESSON FIVE

I.                    The Properties of Holy Scripture (p.307)

A.                 Since Scripture is God’s Word by inspiration, it possesses, as a matter of course, also divine properties, or attributes.

B.                 Divine properties:

1.                  Divine authority.

2.                  Divine efficacy.

3.                  Perfection.

4.                  Perspicuity.

C.                 “Moderns”:

1.                  Surrender the inspiration of Scripture.

2.                  Also, surrender or “limit” (euphemism) the divine properties of Scripture.

II.         The Divine Authority of Holy Scripture (p.307, et.seq.)

A.                 Scripture possesses divine authority.

1.                  i.e., in all that it says it is entitled to the same faith and obedience that is due God.

2.                  Christ and His Apostles took this position.

a.                   Lk 24:25-27.

b.                  Jn 10:35.

c.                   2Ti 3:16,17.

d.                  Jn 8:31,32.

3.                  He that rejects, or even only criticizes Scripture, affronts the very Majesty on High (Jn 12:48).

B.                 The divine authority of Scripture is absolute.

1.                  Not founded on personal repute of writers nor on endorsement by individuals or numbers of men, or even by the Church Universal.

2.                  Rests solely on its nature, on its theopneusty.

3.                  “Scripture is autopistos (worthy of credence on its own account) because it is Theopneustos”.

C.                 If asked how Scriptures became a divine authority for us:

1.                  We distinguish between Christian certainty and natural, or scientific, certainty.

2.                  Christian certainty is created solely by the self-testimony of Scripture, by the Word of Scripture.

3.                  Scripture, through the power of the Spirit operating in it, creates faith in itself and eo ipso secures its acceptation.

4.                  Not by the employment of human proofs.

5.                  1Co 2:4,5.

6.                  “The Word of Scripture, being the Word of God, is an object of perception that creates its own organ of perception, faith, and thus Scripture itself bears witness to its divine authority.” (p.308)

a.                   A mistake to assume a person hears this testimony of the Spirit only when his emotions are stirred.

b.                  Is already present in and with the Spirit-wrought faith in the Word of Scripture.

c.                   By working faith in the Word, which faith has its seat in the spirit of man, the spirit bears witness to the divinity of Scripture to the spirit of man.

d.                  1Jn 5:9,10.

e.                   1Th 2:13.

f.                    Is reason why Scripture calls faith in the Word of God a seal, or confirmation, of the truthfulness of God (Jn 3:33).

7.                  Self-authentication as foundation of Christian certainty.

a.                   Of the greatest practical importance.

b.                  When assailed by doubts as to the divinity of Scripture, must have intercourse with Scripture (read, hear, meditate upon and thus permit it to act on themselves).

c.                   Then, self-testimony of Scripture will dispel all doubts.

D.                 An objection that is raised against self-attestation.

1.                  Accuse us of arguing in a circle.

a.                   Groundless.

b.                  Is a universal practice to become certain of a thing through perceiving it.

c.                   Faith in Word is perception, called forth by the Word itself, through the operation of the Spirit, of this Word as being the Word of God.

2.                  Can not argue with those who will not attentively read Scripture and thus share in this internal testimony.

E.                  Divine authority, as based on arguments of reason.

1.                  All divine works bear the divine stamp, by which reason can see that are not the product of man.

2.                  Scripture is as much a work of God as is the created universe.

3.                  A natural, rational study of Scripture points to God as its author.

a.                   Compared to other “bibles” (e.g. the Koran) per content and style (salvation by works).

b.                  The spread of Christianity even though it is foolishness and an offense (1Co 1:21-25).

c.                   The effect on individuals.

4.                  Must avoid extremes of overestimation and underestimation.

a.                   Overestimation if we think anyone can be converted by such rational arguments (Law and Gospel:only way saved)

b.                  Faith then Christian certainty.

c.                   But, Christ and Apostles used such arguments occasionally.

(1)               Mt 22:29.

(2)               Ac 2:15.

(3)               Ac 17:28.

(4)               1Co 15:33,34.

d.                  Rational arguments can be used.

(1)               To help Christians afflicted with doubts.

(2)               To induce unbelievers to read or hear the Word.

e.                   But such arguments are never a necessary prerequisite for the proclamation of the Word of God.

5.                  Must remember:

a.                   It is manifest that all opinions concerning Scripture by those who have severed themselves from the Word of Scripture are not the witness of the Spirit, but merely human fabrication.

b.                  Those lack the internal testimony of the Spirit as to the divine authority of Scripture who are prompted merely by arguments of reason or human authority.

c.                   Nor can those have internal testimony of the Spirit who persistently deny the vicarious satisfaction of Christ (faith required first).

d.                  Everyone who believes Scripture for its own sake, accepts as divine truth what Scripture says because Scripture says it, has the inner testimony of the Spirit.

6.                  The witness of the Spirit is present not only when it is felt.

a.                   A Christian has periods when he feels the truth, etc. of Scripture so strongly that joyous emotions well up.

b.                  Sensation of joy belongs to the effects and fruits of faith.

c.                   But is present even when not felt, but when heart clings to the Word, longs and reaches out for it with an inner yearning.

7.         Remember, the Spirit is given to no one without and outside the Word!

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