The Next Chapter - Taking God at His Word, Ch 3

God's Word Is Enough

For those who have wondered whether the Bible is enough for all the pressures and decisions required to conduct day-to-day life, in this important chapter, DeYoung points to the attributes of Scripture as they are portrayed in Heb 1:1-4. A careful reading of this passage shows us that the Bible is:

• Sufficient, giving us all we need for the knowledge of salvation and godly living. 
• Clear in it's message of salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
• Authoritative above all other human experience and tradition.
• Necessary in knowing how to live, who Christ is and how to be saved.

In short, DeYoung rightfully claims, God's word is final, understandable, necessary and enough. 

It is enough and more than enough, giving us all we need to know about Christ, salvation and godliness. This is an important reminder to those that find a fascination and pleasure with "spiritual" books that claim experiences outside of the Bible, conversations with God or anything that is additional revelation  above and beyond Scripture. The recent spate of books about people who have visited heaven or hell are examples of this type of "revelation" that goes far beyond anything we see in the Bible, as do the current trend of devotionals that are based on "my conversations with God." 

All of Scripture hurtles toward the story of redemption in Christ. The whole of revelation is inextricably bonded to the story of redemption. The finality of the redemptive story is intimately tied to the finality of His revelation to us. 

Furthermore, the is no work of redemption beyond the final and complete work of Christ. Once His work was complete on the cross, we entered the "last days", a term that is grossly misunderstood in today's church culture. The only major biblical events remaining are His return and the final battle, both of which are already ordained, their outcomes determined. This nullifies any new revelation received by any man after Christ, any tradition established by the church beyond what we see in Scriptures and any new religion that claims to add additional revelation to or apart from the Bible. God has spoken in these last days in a singular revelation, his Son, Jesus Christ. The Son is:

• The heir of all things. Everything culminates and belongs to Him.
• The creator of all things. He is the Word become flesh.
• The sustainer of all things.
• The revelation of God. the physical manifestation of God to his creation.
• Purification for our sins. Because of Him, our sins are washed away. 
• Sitting down, having accomplished what he came to do, He assumes His rightful place on the throne, having all power and authority given to Him. 
• Superior to the angels. God's final word has been spoken through Him. None will come after Him. The fullness and finality of God's redemption and revelation are in Him.

Here's my take on all this:

Does God still speak? Yes He does but we have to be careful about how we interpret this. He still speaks through His word and the Holy Spirit still counsels us and guides us. But, we should understand that the entirety of Scripture and the purpose of revelation is to point to Christ and His redemptive work. 

So, when God speaks, He speaks of and through His Son, to His glory. Should we still seek God's will? Yes. But God's will is to glorify Himself through the work of His Son. Should I buy the red car or the blue car? Should I teach Sunday School? Should I take the job in Cleveland? None of these decisions, in and of themselves, bring glory to God. But the heart that makes those decisions, a transformed and transforming heart does. 

The heart that longs to give glory to God is a testimony to His presence and His transforming power. What does this mean? Buy any color car you like as long as you honor God in your decision! Teach Sunday School to the glory of God! Move to Cleveland or stay right where you are but do all you do to the glory of God! Every decision a regenerated heart makes should be made to the glory of God. I think God cares far more about why we decide than He does about what we decide. 

The bottom line: All we say, do, read, write, pray, every decision we make is governed by the word of God, the full, necessary and compete revelation of His will.

OK!, Now, let's hear from you. Is the word of God sufficient? Where else do we go for wise input and inspiration?  Is there a more reliable source? What about books and commentaries? What part do they serve in our walk? How do we know which ones to use?