Scripture is God’s written revelation of himself to man. Also referred to as the Word of God, Scripture is necessary if we want to know God and the salvation he has provided in his Son, Jesus Christ. Below we’ll consider several important aspects of Scripture.1
The Authority of Scripture
God has revealed himself to us using human words written down by human authors. These human authors used their individual personalities, experiences, and writing styles in the process of recording Scripture. However, the words of Scripture are not merely human; they originated with God. In fact, 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that “All Scripture is breathed out by God.”
Scripture is necessary if we want to know God and the salvation he has provided in his Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the power of his Spirit, God worked in and through the human authors of Scripture to pen the precise words he wanted them to write. The words of Scripture are therefore the words of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13), which means they come to us with his authority. When Scripture speaks, God speaks.
This is why Christians look to Scripture as the ultimate and final authority for their faith. Scripture is the standard by which all truth claims, human traditions, and earthly authorities are judged.
The Truthfulness of the Scripture
The fact that Scripture originates with God speaks not only to its authority but also to its truthfulness. God, who “never lies” (Titus 1:2), is the source and standard of all truth. The words he has inspired, or breathed out, can be trusted completely. Scripture is inerrant, which means it is true without any mixture of error. According to Jesus, Scripture “cannot be broken” (John 10:35).
The truthfulness of Scripture gives us confidence in its message and provides comfort in the midst of trials. “Every word of God proves true” (Proverbs 30:5).
The Central Theme of Scripture
The Bible contains 66 books and is divided into two testaments—the Old Testament and the New Testament. It was written by over forty authors in three different languages over a period of about 1,500 years, yet it presents us with a unified story with one central theme—the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.2
From beginning to end—Genesis to Revelation—Scripture tells of how God is bringing glory to himself by redeeming a people through his Son. Christ himself claimed that the Old Testament Scriptures bore witness about him (John 5:39) and found their fulfillment in him (Luke 24:44). The Holy Spirit directs our attention to this reality as we read Scripture since his goal is to glorify Christ (John 16:14). Christ’s life, death, resurrection, ascension, and return in glory stand at the center of Scripture’s witness.
The Clarity of Scripture
We shouldn’t be surprised that certain parts of the Bible are difficult to interpret. Scripture is, after all, the revelation of an infinitely wise God to finite creatures who are still battling the effects of sin (Romans 11:33–36). However, when it comes to the most important truths of our faith, God has revealed these to us in words that we can understand.
Through the Spirit’s help, every Christian who searches the Scriptures can gain a sufficient understanding of what God is like, what our greatest need is, what Christ has done to save us, how we are to respond to God’s offer of salvation, and what obedience to God looks like. God has graciously made the foundational truths of Scripture known to all his people in words that are intelligible and accessible.
The Sufficiency of Scripture
Christians can be confident that God is able to accomplish his purposes through his Word. Scripture is sufficient for our salvation, our sanctification, and our satisfaction.
Salvation
The apostle Paul assured Timothy that the Scriptures “are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” Similarly, Paul expressed confidence in the gospel because it is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). God gives us new, spiritual life through his Word (James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23).
Sanctification
God uses his Word not only to bring us from death to life but also to sustain that new life and produce spiritual growth. We are transformed as our minds are renewed (Romans 12:2), and it’s through hiding God’s Word in our hearts that we avoid sin (Psalm 119:11). Scripture is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
Satisfaction
The words of Scripture are a delight to believers (Psalm 1:2), as they reveal to us the God who is supremely satisfying. God’s Word is more to be desired than food or money (Psalm 19:10) because the knowledge of God is more valuable than human wisdom, might, or riches (Jeremiah 9:23–24). We abide in Christ, who is our greatest joy, as his words abide in us (John 15:7).
The Application of Scripture
In light of everything we’ve seen about Scripture—its authority, its truthfulness, its focus on Jesus, its clarity, and its sufficiency—every Christian should make it a priority to know Scripture and apply it to their lives. Reading, hearing, meditating on, and studying God’s Word is critical for Christian discipleship.
Likewise, churches should look to God’s Word as the foundation for their beliefs, practices, and priorities. A biblically healthy church will allow Scripture to determine its message and its mission.
Finally, translating Scripture into new languages and proclaiming its central message—the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ—is critical for those who have yet to hear this good news. The church’s global mission is dependent upon the life-giving power of God’s Word. As the apostle Paul reminds us, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
- Some of the categories and Scripture references below are adapted from David Platt, Secret Church 17, “Scripture and Authority in an Age of Skepticism.” See pgs. 94–104 in the Secret Church 17 Study Guide. ↵
- David Platt, Secret Church 17 Study Guide, pg. 78. ↵
