WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.199 This morning we wish to talk about scripture alone, Sola Scriptura, and that's why we're turning to 2 Timothy chapter three. 00:00:11.199 --> 00:00:13.800 Let's pray as we begin our morning. 00:00:13.800 --> 00:00:24.239 Heavenly Father, we're so grateful to you because of the Lord Jesus Christ, because in him there is forgiveness of sins. 00:00:24.239 --> 00:00:42.840 Through your savior, we can be reconciled to you, a holy God, those of us who have been estranged, who have fallen in Adam, who have missed your mark, that have fallen short of all that would give you praise and honor. 00:00:42.840 --> 00:00:58.600 We thank you that you draw us close to you through the power of the Holy Spirit, even as you use your word to illuminate to us your truths so that we might be enlivened and alive to you. 00:00:58.920 --> 00:01:05.799 We ask Lord that you would use this teaching this morning to build us up in the holy faith. 00:01:05.799 --> 00:01:08.120 In Christ's name we pray, amen. 00:01:08.120 --> 00:01:24.920 Scripture alone, as a definition, you could say that scripture alone means that the Bible is the word of God and it is the only infallible rule of faith and practice. 00:01:26.780 --> 00:01:29.480 The Bible alone is the word of God. 00:01:29.480 --> 00:01:32.500 That's what scripture alone means. 00:01:32.500 --> 00:01:37.500 It's the only infallible rule of faith and practice. 00:01:37.500 --> 00:01:47.459 Going back to the Protestant Reformation, we may refer to two causes or two principles of that movement. 00:01:47.459 --> 00:01:54.939 There is the formal principle, that is the foundational issues that were underlying everything. 00:01:54.939 --> 00:01:58.060 And the formal principle is sola scriptura. 00:01:58.060 --> 00:02:04.379 Scripture alone establishes the authority of the gospel. 00:02:04.379 --> 00:02:11.520 The gospel is defined by God's word and all theological claims in general. 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:15.599 But what did the firestorm occur with? 00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:17.879 That's the material principle. 00:02:17.879 --> 00:02:19.560 What caused all of that? 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:27.939 That was the argument or the understanding of how we are brought into union with Christ. 00:02:27.939 --> 00:02:30.120 How are we justified before God? 00:02:30.120 --> 00:02:38.800 The material principle was justification by grace alone, sola gradia, through faith alone, sola fide. 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:49.400 But this morning we're going to look at what is the foundation of all of this as we look at 2 Timothy chapter three, verses 14 through 17. 00:02:49.400 --> 00:02:51.879 Scripture alone is what we're to look at. 00:02:51.879 --> 00:03:52.879 As you are looking at God's word, we pick up Paul's writing and he says,"'But as for you, continue what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.'" Verse 16,"'All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.'" This is sola scriptura. 00:03:52.879 --> 00:04:01.479 It is God's word alone that will inform us how a person can be reconciled to a holy God. 00:04:01.479 --> 00:04:08.439 It is God's word alone that instructs us how to live in a worthy manner of him. 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:19.279 It is God's word alone that will convict us of our sins, that will correct us when we're wrong and it will mature us to the end. 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:46.680 Even in our own documents of the London Baptist Confession, chapter one, paragraph six says this,"'The whole counsel of God concerning everything essential for his own glory and man's salvation, faith, and life is either explicitly stated or by necessary inference contained in the holy scriptures. 00:04:46.680 --> 00:05:04.980 Nothing is ever to be added to the scriptures, either by way of new revelation of the spirit or by human tradition.'" We look at Galatians one, Galatians one, especially verses eight and nine. 00:05:04.980 --> 00:05:08.800 Here, Paul is talking to the Galatians. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:19.480 He's wondering who has bewitched them, who has cast a spell upon them that they would turn away from another gospel, which is not a gospel. 00:05:19.480 --> 00:05:23.199 Here we see apostolic astonishment. 00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:26.560 How is it that you could turn away from that? 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:38.519 Verse eight,"'But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you another gospel, contrary to the one that we preach to you, let him be a curse. 00:05:38.519 --> 00:06:01.959 Let him be damned, consigned to eternal punishment.'" Verse nine,"'As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel, contrary to the one that you receive, let him be a curse.'" We're not to add anything to God's word. 00:06:01.959 --> 00:06:05.720 We're not to subtract anything from God's word. 00:06:07.019 --> 00:06:09.600 God takes this very seriously. 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:32.560 Continuing on with the 1689 confession, we read,"'Nevertheless, we acknowledge that the inward illumination of the Spirit of God is necessary for a saving understanding of what is revealed in the word.'" See, God's word gives us the standard for faith and living. 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:33.899 Anyone can read it. 00:06:33.899 --> 00:06:36.040 It's accessible to all. 00:06:36.860 --> 00:07:27.639 "'But we're also dependent upon the Holy Spirit to open our eyes so that we might behold wonderful things.'" The confession continues by saying,"'We recognize that some circumstances concerning the worship of God and the government of the church are common to human actions and organizations and are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian wisdom, following the general rule of the word, which must always be observed.'" The Bible doesn't tell us about every aspect of every portion of life, but it does give us principles that order how we live and what we do and what we don't do. 00:07:27.639 --> 00:07:55.980 Continuing on with this idea of the illumination of the Holy Spirit, James Montgomery Boyce summarizes for us by saying,"'The Reformers, in particular John Calvin, stress the way of the objective written word and the inner supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit works together, the Holy Spirit illuminating the word to God's people. 00:07:55.980 --> 00:08:30.180 The word without the illumination of the Holy Spirit remains a closed book.'" How often should we pray with the Psalmist in chapter 119 verse 18,"'O Lord, open my eyes that I might behold wondrous things out of your law.'" God's law has a treasure trove of beauty for us to behold, but in our sinfulness, in our fallenness, our eyes are veiled from it. 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:42.860 We should pray that even this morning, bright Lord, open my eyes to the glory and the splendor of Jesus Christ, to your majesty. 00:08:42.860 --> 00:08:53.559 Well, solo scriptura says only God's word can tell us who he is and what we need to do to live to please him. 00:08:53.559 --> 00:09:04.799 The 1689 confession also says, the infallible rule for interpreting scripture is scripture itself. 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:09.799 I do not go to some higher level authority. 00:09:09.799 --> 00:09:14.639 I don't go beyond a book other than the word of God. 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:23.059 If I went to another book, that tells me that that book, that teacher, that counsel has more authority than God's word. 00:09:23.059 --> 00:09:24.059 You understand that? 00:09:25.539 --> 00:09:43.779 So, although it may be very helpful for me to learn from another instructor or teacher or pastor that has been gifted by the Holy Spirit, ultimately it is scripture that interprets scripture that helps me understand what this book says. 00:09:43.779 --> 00:10:04.259 The confession goes on, it says, therefore, when there is a question about the truth and the full meaning of any part of scripture, and each passage has only one meaning, not many, it must be understood in light of other passages that speak more clearly. 00:10:04.259 --> 00:10:22.100 God's word is deep, very deep, but it has entry level so that a child can understand what is necessary for salvation. 00:10:23.559 --> 00:10:27.580 Yes, even a child can understand that they're fallen. 00:10:27.580 --> 00:10:32.419 Even a child can understand that God saves through Jesus Christ. 00:10:32.419 --> 00:10:47.620 And yet, even though there's a zero entry level for anyone, this word of God can keep a theologian busy for millennials to study. 00:10:47.620 --> 00:10:53.460 Who can plumb the depths of the riches and the greatness of our great God? 00:10:53.460 --> 00:10:55.139 No, no finite human can. 00:10:55.139 --> 00:11:01.539 That's why we're always studying God's word to know more and more about him. 00:11:01.539 --> 00:11:12.480 Sola Scriptura, yes, it is scripture alone, not human traditions, not the rulings of the church that is our final authority, but God's word. 00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:32.700 Going back to the Reformation, Martin Luther said this, unless I'm convinced by the testimony of the scriptures or by clear reason, for I do not trust either in the Pope or in the council alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves. 00:11:32.700 --> 00:11:36.019 I am bound by the scriptures. 00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:41.740 I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the word of God. 00:11:41.740 --> 00:11:51.419 I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. 00:11:51.779 --> 00:11:53.620 May God help me. 00:11:53.620 --> 00:12:06.299 In that context, he was dealing with the Roman Catholic Church, who said in the Council of Trent, their opinion about scripture and tradition. 00:12:06.299 --> 00:12:18.460 They say seeing clearly that this truth and the disciplines that are contained in the written books and the unwritten traditions. 00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:26.759 Here they are talking about a two source of revelation, two sources of revelation. 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:32.399 Martin Luther was saying, no, it's not scripture and traditions. 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:35.200 It's God's word alone. 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:43.240 God's word tells us how to live and what we are to do and to think about God. 00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:50.980 In our society, we're often in conflict about what is the supreme authority. 00:12:50.980 --> 00:13:06.340 Is it society that makes things right, the masses, or is it some survey where we have a civilized democratic vote, or is it science where we have some type of sophisticated study of research? 00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:14.700 See, we may not think about it in the terms that Martin Luther did, but we still have a vying for what is ultimate authority. 00:13:15.580 --> 00:13:22.139 For your life and my life as Christians, we're going to the word of God and it alone. 00:13:22.139 --> 00:13:34.240 Martin Luther said it this way, we cannot have these things dictating to us, but rather he says, and this is the sum of the matter. 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:45.580 Let everything be done so that the word may have free course instead of the pattering and the rattling that has been the rule up to now. 00:13:45.580 --> 00:13:50.580 We can spare everything except the word. 00:13:50.580 --> 00:14:05.820 Again, we profit by nothing as much as by the word, for the whole scripture shows that the word should have free course among Christians. 00:14:05.820 --> 00:14:07.980 What is the supreme authority? 00:14:07.980 --> 00:14:12.820 God, as he has dictated through his word. 00:14:12.820 --> 00:14:35.600 Our confession says in chapter one, paragraph nine, the supreme judge for deciding all religious controversies and for evaluating all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, human teachings, and individual interpretations, and in whose judgment we are to rest is nothing but the Holy Scripture delivered by the spirit. 00:14:37.139 --> 00:14:42.019 In this scripture, our faith finds its final word. 00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:58.299 Now, in the moments following, what I'd like for us to do is to look to summaries of scripture, especially how this relates to what was Jesus' opinion about this matter? 00:14:58.299 --> 00:15:01.379 What was the apostles' opinion about the matter? 00:15:01.379 --> 00:15:04.419 And what about the Old Testament writers? 00:15:04.419 --> 00:15:05.539 How did they view it? 00:15:05.539 --> 00:15:10.139 Did they appeal to some other source than God and his word? 00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:19.220 Well, when it comes to Christ in the Bible, one has said it this way, which is very, very helpful. 00:15:19.220 --> 00:15:36.500 It has been said with truth that the attempt to evade the evidence of our Lord's teaching as to the God-givenness of scripture is as futile as a mathematician's attempt to prove that it is possible to dodge an avalanche. 00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:48.259 He may satisfy himself that the trajectory of each boulder is calculable and that an agile man could step out of the way of any one of them. 00:15:48.259 --> 00:16:00.100 So taken one at a time, a perverse ingenuity may satisfy itself that it can find ways of disposing of many of our Lord's statements about the Old Testament. 00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:13.659 But these statements do not come one at a time, for they form a great avalanche of items of accumulative evidence which cannot, in honesty, be evaded. 00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:16.340 The evidence is clear. 00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:21.820 To Christ, the Old Testament was true, authoritative, inspired. 00:16:21.820 --> 00:16:30.179 To him, the God of the Old Testament was the living God, and the teaching of the Old Testament was the teaching of the living God. 00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:34.820 To him, what scripture said, God said. 00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:37.580 Soul of scripture. 00:16:37.580 --> 00:16:49.940 Now, let's take a look at what Christ thought about this, what the apostles said as well, and the Old Testament writers. 00:16:49.940 --> 00:16:56.460 Once again, Martin Luther said, we can spare everything except God's. 00:16:57.860 --> 00:17:04.819 We can do without the greatest books or teachers in your mind, but you can't do without God's word. 00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:12.579 Let's take a look at what Christ said on so many different occasions. 00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:18.099 Here are four evidences for you so that you can understand what Christ bought. 00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:23.099 Jesus appealed to scripture when God's word was challenged. 00:17:23.099 --> 00:17:26.940 You remember the temptation found in Matthew 4? 00:17:26.940 --> 00:17:31.940 Three times, three times he said, it is written. 00:17:31.940 --> 00:17:34.380 How am I going to fight temptation? 00:17:34.380 --> 00:17:37.299 How am I going to defeat the enemy? 00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:43.940 I'm going to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, it is written. 00:17:43.940 --> 00:17:53.019 Jesus defended truth with scripture rather than appealing to oral traditions. 00:17:53.019 --> 00:18:10.619 Remember in Mark chapter seven, when there were controversies about those things that were going on at that time, he says, you religious leaders, you leave the commandments of God and you hold on to the tradition of men. 00:18:10.619 --> 00:18:13.660 He rebukes them for not being sole of scripture. 00:18:13.660 --> 00:18:23.700 With over a hundred references to scripture, Jesus bypasses reliance upon the teachings of his time. 00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:32.220 And he goes straight to a rebuke and says, have you not read? 00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:33.420 Have you not read? 00:18:33.420 --> 00:18:35.980 Don't you remember what Isaiah said? 00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:38.500 Don't you remember what the prophets were telling us? 00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:39.819 What about the Psalms? 00:18:39.819 --> 00:18:40.980 Have you not read it? 00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:46.700 Jesus didn't say, well, Gamaliel did it this way. 00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:50.339 This counsel over here said that. 00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:53.740 No, Jesus said, no, no, no. 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:56.500 We're going straight to the source. 00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:58.420 Have you not read? 00:18:58.420 --> 00:19:08.460 Jesus expected scriptures to be understood by everyone and anyone that came in contact with it. 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:11.420 He rebukes them time and time again. 00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:15.259 Is this not what scripture meant and is now fulfilled? 00:19:15.259 --> 00:19:21.180 Yes, Jesus appealed to scripture and scripture alone. 00:19:23.259 --> 00:19:34.859 The inspired apostles with genuine oral revelation directed others to scriptures for the final determination of truth. 00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:42.460 The apostles weren't, even though they were writing scripture, they didn't go on and say, hey, just take my word at it. 00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:47.460 No, they constantly said, let's go back to the scriptures. 00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:51.220 Let's go back to the scriptures and to the scriptures alone. 00:19:53.220 --> 00:20:03.140 Scripture alone is all sufficient for life, for morality, for conduct, for doctrine. 00:20:03.140 --> 00:20:09.099 Paul said it to Timothy this way, you've known this from childhood. 00:20:09.099 --> 00:20:10.339 You can understand this. 00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:13.779 This was taught to you of how you are to live. 00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:23.579 The apostles believed in Sola Scriptura because they quoted the Old Testament and they used that as their authority. 00:20:23.579 --> 00:20:29.259 Nothing that was inherent to them or nothing that was around them. 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:31.220 They went to scripture alone. 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:40.059 Scripture is clear and it's understandable, even by the youngest. 00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:45.339 Just read the scripture to your family fathers. 00:20:45.339 --> 00:20:54.619 Those of you that are trying to convert or evangelize those that are lost, don't be afraid to use God's word. 00:20:54.619 --> 00:20:55.859 It's powerful. 00:20:55.859 --> 00:21:04.500 There's not a power that you can get outside of God and his word. 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:11.579 Trust him, know it, breathe it out to those that are lost around you. 00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:16.019 What about the Old Testament? 00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:31.220 Well, you remember in Deuteronomy chapter four, verse two, or chapter 12, verse 32, where the law was given, the covenantal documents, and they were told time and time again, do not add to this. 00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:34.740 Do not subtract from this. 00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:40.500 And when you do or if you do, it's upon the pains of death, right? 00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:47.180 Proverbs 30, verses five and six essentially say the same thing. 00:21:47.180 --> 00:22:06.059 And if we were to close the canon all the way in Revelation chapter 22, verses 18 and 19, it is a recapitulation that if anyone adds to the prophecy of this book, judgment will fall upon them. 00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:12.539 Do not add and do not subtract from God's word. 00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:16.140 That's the soul of scripture. 00:22:16.140 --> 00:22:27.099 We can spare anything and everything else, but we cannot spare God's word from having his authority over us. 00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:31.539 You know, just on a practical level, how much time are you spending in God's word? 00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:35.180 Daily. 00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:39.019 Are other things having authority over your life? 00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:45.059 Could you actually say with Martin Luther, we can spare everything but God's word? 00:22:45.059 --> 00:22:48.660 But you won't spare social media. 00:22:48.660 --> 00:22:51.180 You won't spare the headlines. 00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:53.380 You won't spare your entertainment. 00:22:53.380 --> 00:22:55.099 You won't spare your job. 00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:56.619 You won't spare your family. 00:22:56.619 --> 00:23:03.619 You won't, because those have a greater influence, power and authority over you. 00:23:03.619 --> 00:23:04.779 I'm gonna try to get up in your grill. 00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:05.819 Are you with me? 00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:07.299 Good, good, good. 00:23:10.900 --> 00:23:12.619 We can't spare God's word. 00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:20.019 It should be our greatest delight, our greatest joy, our greatest satisfaction. 00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:26.299 Roger Nicole helps us by talking about the New Testament use in the Old Testament. 00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:32.859 He says Jesus Christ himself provide a most arresting example in this respect. 00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:48.940 At the very threshold of his public ministry, our Lord in his dramatic victory over Satan's threshold, a three-fold onslaught, rested his whole defense on the authority of three passages of scripture. 00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:53.619 He quoted the Old Testament in support of his teaching to the crowds. 00:23:53.619 --> 00:23:58.619 He quoted it in his discussion with antagonistic Jews. 00:23:58.619 --> 00:24:04.900 He quoted it in answer to questions, both of the Cautitious and the sincere. 00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:12.619 He quoted it in instructing the disciples who would have readily accepted his teaching on his own authority. 00:24:12.619 --> 00:24:18.299 He referred to it in his prayers when he alone in the presence of the Father. 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:25.660 He quoted it on the cross when he is suffering could easily have drawn his attention elsewhere. 00:24:25.660 --> 00:24:39.339 Jesus quoted it in his resurrection glory when any limitation real or alleged of the days of his flesh was clearly superseded. 00:24:39.339 --> 00:25:02.940 Whatever may be the difference between the pictures of Jesus drawn by the four Gospels, they certainly agree in their representation of our Lord's attitude towards the Old Testament, one of constant use and of unquestioning an endorsement of its authority. 00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:05.740 Isn't that wonderful? 00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:08.259 Turn to Psalm 19. 00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:21.099 Jesus looked at the Old Testament as one of constant use and of unquestioning endorsement of its authority. 00:25:21.099 --> 00:25:26.380 Psalm 19 is such a glorious Psalm. 00:25:26.380 --> 00:25:36.660 Many of you guys have memorized portions of it or all of it together, but let's take a look at verse seven through 14. 00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:47.339 In verses one through six, we see God's general disclosure to the world. 00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:54.140 He talks about the publication in the skies and the prominence of the sun. 00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:56.819 You know, the heavens are declaring the glory of God. 00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:59.660 This is general revelation. 00:25:59.660 --> 00:26:11.420 But now we're in verses seven through 14, which is God's special revelation, how he discloses himself to us through the word. 00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:18.940 And here we should see how God's word, the scripture is absolute and utterly sufficient. 00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:21.660 It is sola scriptura. 00:26:21.660 --> 00:26:29.380 Looking at verse seven, it says, the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. 00:26:29.380 --> 00:26:34.259 Here we're given a title of God's word. 00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:37.220 It's the law. 00:26:37.220 --> 00:26:39.900 It's the law of Yahweh. 00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:46.539 And then we're told a characteristic about this word, about this law. 00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:48.980 It is perfect. 00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:51.980 It is blameless. 00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:55.460 There is no imperfection in it. 00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:59.259 God's word cannot be improved upon. 00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:06.099 And if that's the title and that's the characteristic of it, notice the benefit that it will give. 00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:09.740 Reviving the soul. 00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:14.140 Isn't that marvelous? 00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:18.819 Does your soul need to be revived? 00:27:19.900 --> 00:27:22.259 If you're an unbeliever, yes. 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:32.900 You're dead in your trespasses and sin and God's word through the power of the Holy Spirit, you can be quickened and made alive towards him. 00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:39.539 And for those of us that are in Christ, we still need him to give us life. 00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:43.779 Every day, it enlivens us. 00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:51.420 But notice this three-fold progression of the title of the word, the characteristic of the word and the benefit of the Lord. 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:54.220 Do not stop in verse seven. 00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:55.700 It continues in verse eight. 00:27:55.700 --> 00:28:00.700 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. 00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:01.819 Did you see it again? 00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:07.019 The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eye. 00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:08.900 The fear of the Lord. 00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:18.579 So whether I'm talking about the law of the Lord or the testimony of the Lord or the precept of the Lord or the commands of the Lord, the fear of the Lord, all of these are titles. 00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:23.460 They're just marvelous ways to speak about God's word. 00:28:23.460 --> 00:28:29.859 And you should be in all of it, that it's not one dimensional, it's multifaceted. 00:28:29.859 --> 00:28:33.099 And it doesn't just do one thing. 00:28:33.099 --> 00:28:35.539 It doesn't just have one characteristic. 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:42.700 It's perfect, it's sure, it's right, it's pure, it's clean, it's true. 00:28:42.700 --> 00:28:45.619 And there are benefits to it. 00:28:45.619 --> 00:28:47.180 It revives my soul. 00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:50.019 It makes the simple wise. 00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:52.740 It rejoices the heart. 00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:54.579 It enlightens the eyes. 00:28:54.579 --> 00:28:58.500 It endures forever. 00:28:58.500 --> 00:29:05.059 Popular opinions come and go, but not God's word. 00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:10.019 It endures forever. 00:29:10.019 --> 00:29:15.019 The rules of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 00:29:15.619 --> 00:29:18.259 And if that's the case, what should we do? 00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:33.859 Verse 10, more to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the honey drippings of the honeycomb. 00:29:33.859 --> 00:29:44.259 Moreover, by them is your servant warned, and in keeping them, there is great reward. 00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:49.259 Scripture is sufficient. 00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:56.380 Scripture should be valued. 00:29:56.380 --> 00:30:02.779 And scripture should be our commitment. 00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:06.500 Who can discern his heirs? 00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:09.059 Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:14.140 Keep back your servant from presumptuous sins. 00:30:14.140 --> 00:30:16.980 Let them not have dominion over me. 00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:22.099 Then I shall be blameless and innocent of great transgression. 00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:25.380 Oh, and this is my favorite prayer. 00:30:25.380 --> 00:30:35.420 Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. 00:30:35.420 --> 00:30:39.980 Oh Lord, my rock and my redeemer. 00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:46.460 So the scripture, God's word alone has final authority. 00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:50.019 The Bible is God's word. 00:30:50.019 --> 00:31:01.180 It is the only infallible rule of faith and practice, and it is sufficient for all areas, every area of our Christian life. 00:31:01.180 --> 00:31:04.819 Aren't you glad that God has given it to us? 00:31:04.819 --> 00:31:09.740 He hasn't covered it up, but he's made it known to us. 00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:11.140 Let's praise him for that. 00:31:11.619 --> 00:31:12.460 Let's pray. 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:22.980 Oh Lord, we do give thanks unto you for your word, that you haven't hidden it from us. 00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:25.140 You have made it known to us. 00:31:25.140 --> 00:31:48.859 Lord, may it be our commitment that we would please you, that we would know you through your word, that we would spend much time in it so that you would gain glory from us because we are constant living according to it through the power of your spirit. 00:31:48.859 --> 00:31:57.339 Be pleased Lord, to encourage us and convict us this morning to the praise of your son. 00:31:57.339 --> 00:31:59.660 It's in his name we pray, amen. 00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:01.660 You