WEBVTT 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:03.680 Thank you for that introduction, Jordan. 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:12.320 And I want to thank the elders and those who were in charge of the renovation of the worship center. 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:23.839 And we also thank our Lord that we have a such great place to worship and learn the Word of God every every Sunday or every occasion. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:27.519 Just a little background of myself and myself. 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:30.960 I was born in a Christian evangelical family in Bolivia. 00:00:31.120 --> 00:00:36.880 My parents came to know the Lord Jesus as a result of the missionary's work in Bolivia. 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:42.159 I came to know the Lord Jesus when I was eight years old, baptized when I was 16. 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:45.359 I started ministry in 1986, a long time ago. 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:49.840 And living in the US since 1999 together with my family. 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:58.079 And serving in IBC since 2005, my wife Lily, and six grown-up children and two grandchildren. 00:00:58.320 --> 00:00:59.679 That's my family. 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:09.760 And tonight we are going to talk about this doctrine, it's a reformation doctrine that came out from the reformation as a result of the reformation. 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:12.959 It's called the perspicuity of the scripture. 00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:16.239 But perspicuity is clarity of scripture. 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:18.959 We are going to talk about the clarity of the scripture. 00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:28.480 As in our Bible reading tonight, in 2 Timothy 3, chapter 3, verse 14 to 17, we read about this. 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:37.920 But there's an important part in these verses that we read that we are going to tonight study a little bit. 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:57.200 And we may say the doctrine of clarity of scripture, also known as the doctrine of perspicuity of scripture, means that the central or main message of the Bible is clear and understandable, that the Bible itself can be interpreted in its normal and literal sense. 00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:10.639 In other words, the scripture was written in such a way that all things necessary for our salvation and for our Christian life and growth are very clear there or in the scripture. 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:12.240 Let's pray. 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:21.039 Father, I want to thank you for for your word and ask for your Holy Spirit help as we open the scriptures and share it. 00:02:21.280 --> 00:02:30.000 Give us desire for your word, and we may walk every day in your sanctification, our sanctification as your children. 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:33.599 Thank you for all our Imangel family. 00:02:33.759 --> 00:02:35.360 Give us always wisdom. 00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:38.159 Help us always to walk in your path. 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:41.680 And thank you for the renovation of our worship center. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:43.280 In the name of Jesus. 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:44.240 Amen. 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:56.960 I don't know what was your first experience reading the Bible, but some may say that they had some difficult to understand the scripture. 00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:04.800 Even more, some may say when they read the scripture, they cannot understand sometimes the meaning. 00:03:05.360 --> 00:03:18.479 Well, are parts of the scripture that are difficult to understand, as the Apostle Peter wrote in reference to Apostle Paul's writings in 2 Peter 3, 15 to 16? 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:30.639 It says, also regard the patience of our Lord as an opportunity for salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. 00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:48.240 The untaught and the unstable twist them to their own destruction as they also do with the rest of the scriptures. 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:59.759 Peter is stating that there are parts in the scripture that are difficult to understand, but it's not saying that it's impossible to understand, but difficult to understand. 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:10.879 During the 16th century, the reformers stated the doctrine of the perspicuity of the scripture, which is the same to say the doctrine of the clarity of scripture. 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:13.439 And we are going to talk about that tonight. 00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:20.639 We are not going to explain all the passage that we read tonight, but we are going to go to part of it. 00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:29.360 Just a little background of this doctrine, clarity of scripture. 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:44.399 During the Reformation and before that, the Roman Catholic Church thought that the scripture was not clear to understand, which means it was obscure and difficult to understand for the ordinary people. 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:58.160 The priests and bishops taught the Bible wasn't not clear enough, and it shouldn't be trusted to the ordinary people for the interpretation of scripture and even to read it. 00:04:58.319 --> 00:05:11.519 And one of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church is their authority for matters of practice of faith are the Catholic theologians, their tradition, and the scripture. 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:18.319 They have three sources for their as authority in practice of faith, of their faith. 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:22.639 The reformers reacted to this with the sola escritura. 00:05:22.879 --> 00:05:29.600 Only the word is the final authority for us for matters of the practice of our faith. 00:05:29.759 --> 00:05:47.360 Then it comes the five sola of the reformation, like sola escritura, sola fide, sola gracia, solus Christus, solid of gloria, as we say in English, faith alone, Christ alone, grace alone, scripture alone, and for the glory of God alone. 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:56.560 As a matter of fact, the scriptures, as a matter of fact, the scriptures or the Bible wasn't available for everybody as it is today in that time. 00:05:56.720 --> 00:06:04.000 Mostly the Roman Catholic Church, clergy, had access to them, and it was also translated into Latin. 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:14.480 In reaction to this, the reformers stated a doctrine that is known as the perspicuity of the scriptures, as we are going to talk tonight. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:26.079 What happened back in the 16th century, that the Roman Catholic Church considered only itself as the one to interpret the scripture. 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:31.519 But contrary to this affirmation, the scripture affirms its own clarity. 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:36.959 In Psalms 1905, this is one of my favorites in Spanish. 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:43.839 But in English says, your word is a lamp for my feet and the light on my path. 00:06:44.079 --> 00:06:55.199 The scripture is stating its own clarity because passages like this and the 2 Timothy 3, 15 to 17, which we read at the beginning. 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:13.839 Later, William Tyndale also in 1525 and 1535, and others. 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:27.759 The doctrine of the clarity of the scripture had its influence in the translation of the scripture in several languages considered by that time vernacular languages. 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:35.360 Also, King James version came in 1611, English Standard Version in 2001. 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:43.600 And Cassiodoro de Reina finished translating the Bible into Spanish in September 26, 1569. 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:49.680 Later 1602, Cipriano de Valera published a Cassiodoro de Reina version. 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:56.079 Since then, the most known version in Spanish is the version Reina Valera 1960. 00:07:56.240 --> 00:07:58.800 That's the Bible we normally use in Spanish. 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:12.560 And the Bible became the most translated book in history. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:22.480 Many men of God dedicated their lives to translate the scripture to languages, dialects spoken in several parts of the world. 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:28.480 I remember when I was growing up in Bolivia, I was probably nine years old. 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:37.200 A missionary came, I don't know from where, I don't know, but he came to translate the Bible into Quechua. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:39.840 Quechua is my native language. 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:41.679 I learned Spanish at school. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:46.559 My dad used will also talk to me in Quechua. 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:48.159 I understand very well. 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:51.679 I cannot speak very well Quechua, but I understand very well. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:56.159 And he came to translate, this missionary came to translate the Bible in Quechua. 00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:57.840 That was his mission. 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:03.039 It took like probably three years translating the scripture. 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:14.159 I remember that day when he brought the Bible in Quechua, and the people may read directly the Word of God, they may understand the Word of God. 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:22.559 Clarity of Scripture promoted, in some sense, the translation of the Scripture to several languages. 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:33.519 The Westminster Catecists chapter 1, 7, and later the Second London Baptist Confession restates about the clarity of Scripture. 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:41.039 It says, all things in Scripture are not alike, plain in themselves, or alike, clear unto all. 00:09:41.200 --> 00:10:03.600 Yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are so clearly propound and open in some place of scripture or other that not only the learned but the unlearned in a due use of the ordinary means may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:13.679 As the same as our constitution, by laws, we have the clarity of the scripture implied in our preamble. 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:29.519 It's talking about the way we interpret the scripture. 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:46.480 Now we can say that the doctrine of the clarity of scripture or perspicuity of scripture means that the scripture was written in such a way that all things necessary for our salvation and for our Christian life and growth are very clear stated there. 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:51.360 Well, the Bible affirms its own clarity. 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:58.080 The Old Testament affirms its own clarity in Deuteronomy 6, 4 to 7. 00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:03.519 It says, listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:11.360 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your sand. 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:16.639 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:19.360 Repeat them to your children. 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:28.399 It's saying that these words they should repeat the people should repeat to their children. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:34.320 If the children are going to repeat these words, that means that the scripture is clear. 00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:36.720 Has its own clarity. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:40.159 As we read before at the beginning. 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:24.720 Again, it's stating about the clarity of the scripture in the Old Testament. 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:29.840 Psalm 11905, the same as we read before. 00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:41.279 That's what the Old Testament states about the clarity of the scripture. 00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:46.559 It's not something that wasn't in the scripture, it was always in the scripture. 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:50.480 Then also the New Testament talks about the clarity of the scripture. 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:56.639 When the Lord Jesus was asked questions, he never said the Old Testament was not clear. 00:12:56.799 --> 00:13:04.960 Instead, he rebuked the people asking them questions because they didn't understand the scriptures. 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:28.799 In Matthew 12, 3, 5, when the disciples were observed for picking and eating some heads of grain, and the Lord said to the son of that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath, he said to them, Haven't you read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry? 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:35.360 He said, Haven't you read what David? 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:38.080 He's not given another option. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:40.000 Why don't you read? 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:42.799 The scripture is clear. 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:46.879 You need to read the scripture, Matthew 21, 42. 00:13:47.279 --> 00:14:01.440 In the parable of the Bingard owner, uh referring to his rejecting people of Israel, Jesus said, Have you never read in the scriptures? 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:06.399 He's referring to them that they should read the scriptures. 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:10.080 If they can read the scriptures, the scriptures are clear. 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:13.039 Matthew 22, 31. 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:18.559 Some Sadducees when came to the Lord asking about the resurrection. 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:29.919 Now concerning to the resurrection, that's what he says, verse 31, of the dead, haven't you read what was spoken to you by God? 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:36.720 Haven't you read what was spoken to you by God? 00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:43.039 The scripture saying clearly, is affirming its clarity. 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:44.960 It is clear. 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:48.399 But there are some qualifications to understand the scripture. 00:14:48.960 --> 00:15:00.720 If we read 1 Corinthians 2, 14, but the unbeliever does not welcome what comes from God's spirit, because it is foolishness to him. 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:05.679 He is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually. 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:08.879 But the unbeliever, this is what is talking this verse. 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:15.120 In the ESB, it says, the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God. 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:19.519 They need to know the Lord in order to understand the scripture. 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:21.679 It's a qualification. 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:27.120 2 Corinthians 3, 14, 16, but their minds are closed. 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:39.440 For to this day, at the reading of the Old Covenant, the same veil remains and it is not lifted because it is set aside only in Christ. 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:44.960 Even to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts. 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:51.120 But whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:59.759 If you come to the Lord, if you know the Lord, then it's the Bible is going to be understood. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:01.759 That's the clarity of the scripture. 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:04.879 There are some qualifications to understand the Bible. 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:17.200 Then that means that in order to understand the scripture, turning the Lord Jesus Christ in faith is necessary because that means the desire to obey God. 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:20.559 And it's also true Romans 8.29 to 30. 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:22.720 He's talking about that also. 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:30.480 But the scriptures are very important to know this. 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:35.679 What the clarity of the scripture means then. 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:41.840 The scripture needs to be read not just once, but needs to be read continually. 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:48.240 Like Joshua 1.8 says, this book of instruction must not depart from your mouth. 00:16:48.960 --> 00:17:02.159 You are to recite, recite it day and night, so that you may carefully observe everything written in it, for then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:10.240 It's not talking about just reading once the scripture, but we need to read continually the scripture. 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:14.559 Then we may say that's what the clarity of the scripture means. 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:21.920 It is not just reading in once at once, but we need to read more and more time, more times to understand. 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:24.799 The other thing is in Ezra 7.10. 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:28.720 The scripture needs some effort to be understood. 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:40.640 Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:45.440 That means that we need to put some effort to understand the scripture. 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:46.720 It is clear. 00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:49.759 But we need to decide something as Ezra did. 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:54.559 The scripture can be understood with the use of ordinary means. 00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:58.720 In 1 Corinthians 14, 10, 11, and 16 talks about that. 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:07.279 Today we can find a lot of resources, Bible dictionaries, commentaries that can help us to understand the scripture. 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:13.680 Then we should take in consideration those resources to help us to understand the scripture. 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:20.720 Then in James 1, 22, 25, the scripture can be understood if the believer is willing to obey God. 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:45.359 Verse 22 says, But the doers, but be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourself, yourselves, because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he's like a man looking for his own face in a mirror, for he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:59.119 But one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom perseveres in it, and it is not a forgetful healer, but one who does good works. 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:04.400 This person will be blessed in what he does. 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:20.400 Then when we go to the scripture, the clarity of scripture means that people wanting to understand the scripture, they need to go ready to obey the word of God. 00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:26.079 The scripture can be also understood with the help of the Holy Spirit. 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:31.440 We cannot just understand for ourselves, that goes to the doctrine of illumination. 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:42.559 Then we read the Psalm 19, 18, 119, 18, open my eyes so that I may contemplate wonderful things from your instruction. 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:48.480 We need the help of the Holy Spirit to understand the scripture. 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:51.440 And that's what the clarity of the scripture means. 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:57.359 When a person is a believer, this person has the Holy Spirit. 00:19:57.599 --> 00:20:02.480 And the Holy Spirit is gonna help to understand the scripture. 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:06.160 And we need the help of the Holy Spirit to understand the scripture. 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:11.680 The scripture can be understood, but not without human misunderstanding. 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:17.920 We are not uh let's read Luke 24, 44, 45. 00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:28.960 When the Lord resurrected, he said these words to his disciples, then he told them, These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you. 00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:36.400 That everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled. 00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:40.880 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:47.440 There are things that are not going to understand immediately, as the disciples did. 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:53.279 They didn't know many things, especially when the Lord Jesus was there. 00:20:53.440 --> 00:21:03.519 But he explained that things that spoke, he spoke to them before, but later they understood because he opened their minds to understand. 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:05.680 And that's gonna happen also to us. 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:08.559 We are gonna understand the scripture. 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:14.400 Uh sometimes not completely, but we are going to understand the scripture. 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:18.559 The scripture can be understood not in its totality. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:22.240 We are not gonna perhaps answer everything. 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:36.000 Uh but as Hebrews 5.14 says, but solid food is for the mature, for those who whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil. 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:45.279 More mature, more understanding of the scripture, because we are more ready to obey the word of God. 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.720 That's what he's saying. 00:21:46.880 --> 00:22:05.920 Then we may say the scriptures are firm that is able to be understood not all at once, but reading continually, requires some effort with the use of ordinary means, with the help of the Holy Spirit, and not without human misunderstanding, and not in its totality. 00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:25.279 Then we may say the doctrine of clarity of scripture, also known as the doctrine of perspicuity of the scripture, means that the central or main message of the Bible is clear and understandable, that the Bible itself can be interpreted in its normal and literal sense. 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:37.759 The scripture was written in such a way that all things necessary for our salvation and for our Christian life and growth are very clear there. 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:41.119 That's the clarity of the scripture. 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:50.480 I guess that's a thing many people sometimes don't find in their lives when they read the scripture. 00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:52.960 They may say this is difficult to understand. 00:22:53.200 --> 00:23:05.039 But perhaps they need first the Lord Jesus in their lives, the author of the scripture, the Holy Spirit living in their lives to understand the scripture. 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:06.240 Let's pray. 00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:22.400 Father, we pray to you that we can always come to your word, knowing its clarity, that we are not going to be able to understand all at once, but reading it continually. 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:26.079 We know that it requires some effort from our part. 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:30.480 We may use the great resources we have available. 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:41.359 And most of all, we ask you for the help of your Holy Spirit, who is our teacher, our guide, our comforter, in the name of Jesus. 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:42.319 Amen. 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:44.559 God bless you. 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:48.319 Thank you for being with us today. 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:50.799 And now a parting word from Pastor Jesse. 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:56.720 If you have any questions about what you heard today, or if you want to learn more about what it means to follow Christ, please.