THE HOLY SCRIPTURE
2004
LESSON SIX
I. The Properties of Holy Scripture (cont’d)
The Divine Efficacy of Holy Scripture (p. 315, et.seq.)
1. Refuse to “identify” Scripture with the Word of God.
2. Give Scripture various abusive names, e.g.:
a. “paper pope”.
b. “a codex of laws fallen from heaven”.
3. They also ascribe to the Scriptures evil results.
a. They comprehend these under such terms as “intellectualism”.
b. They say the “psychological connection” is lacking if Scripture is brought into contact with man so directly as is done when it is made sole source and norm of doctrine.
B. But, Scriptures alone, among all books, are God’s Word out and out.
1. They alone have the vis vere divina (truly divine power) outright.
2. What the Church proclaims (the “Word of the Church”).
a. Also, has divine power and efficacy.
b. But always only in so far as the Church remains true to its commission and proclaims only God’s Word.
c. Mt 28:19,20.
d. Ro 3:2.
e. 1Ti 6:3-5.
f. 2Jn 9,10.
g. The Church has no word of its own.
h. Anything else is “prattle” (Luther).
i. Other books
(1) Can exert a divine power and efficacy.
(2) But always only in as much as they have absorbed God’s Word.
(3) Luther: “No book teaches anything concerning eternal life except this one alone” (quoted, p. 315)
(4) Whatever other books teach correctly re: eternal life has been taken from Scripture.
1. In its effecting in man such things as far exceed human power.
2. The Word of the Law, as revealed in Scripture.
a. Has the inherent power to work such a knowledge of sin that man realizes his damnation and despairs of all self-help.
b. Ro 3:20.
c. Is true that knowledge (conscience) of sin exists in man
(1) Is partial.
(2) Does not work a complete collapse before God.
(3) Does not cause man to despair of all self-help.
(4) Natural man goes from self-help to another.
(5) Includes suicide.
d. Before “forgiveness”, “repentance” (Lk 24:46,47)
3. The Word of the Gospel
a. Has the inherent power to work faith in the Gospel.
b. Ro 10:17.
c. Ro 5:1.
d. Human strength and learning
(1) Even at their best, do not suffice to work faith.
(2) 1Co 1:23.
(3) 1Co 2:14.
e. All believers know/have known this.
(1) Have looked to His power and efficacy.
(2) Includes that their faith is not dependent on their own choice, etc.
(3) Ps 51:10-12.
(4) 2Co 4:6.
f. Gospel has inherent power to write His Law into the heart of man.
(1) i.e. to change man inwardly.
(2) That he gladly subjects himself to God’s Law.
(3) That he willingly, with delight, walks in His ways, according to the new man.
(4) New man is created in him through faith in the Gospel.
(5) Human strength, training, etc. can not do this.
(6) Ro 8:7.
(7) Jer 31:31-33.
g. Gospel has the inherent power to deliver man from the fear of death.
(1) Thusly, makes him the victor over death.
(2) This victory is beyond human power.
(a) Scripture and experience teach this
(b) Heb 2:14,15.
h. The divine power
(1) Does not operate outside or alongside the Word.
(2) But through the Word.
(3) Therefore inheres in the Word.
(4) Ro 10:17 (ex from ek: out of, from; and dia: through)
(5) 1Pe 1:23 (dia: through, by means of)
i. But man can resist His power (Mt 23:37)
(1) Doctrine of means of grace.
(2) Doctrine of conversion.
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