Sermon Tone Analysis

How important is it that we hold to Sola Scriptura?

Scripture alone is the rule of faith and life for the Christian.

Intro

Sola Scriptura

500 anniversary of the Reformation

Reformation is nothing new to the church.

Israel was known for their continued reform.

They would get comfortable and fall back on their Worship of God, their obedience to God, and would turn from Him.

And, many times in the OT we see them reform, or turn back to God with an oath.

Illus:

King Asa and his reform in 2 Chronicles 15

Azariah - “Filled with the Holy Spirit” and went to Asa

Gave him the Word of the Lord

Asa turned from their idolatrous ways

They gathered together and swore an oath to God

They reformed

2 Chron 15:

What was it that reformed them?

It was the Word of God.

The Word of God is essential for reform.

John must have known the importance of his witness and how it would be used to change men’s hearts.

Drama

John signs off on his gospel

John knew the consequences for

false Witness

Breaking of the ninth commandment

Sanctity of an oath before God

“We” know that this testimony is true

Some believe this means that others n the Johannine community helped put this gospel together and so all of the editors are credited here.

Some believe this is an added editorial by another that attests to John’s work

As if John’s witness were not enough

I believe it simply is John’s way of speaking about himself

The beloved disciple - third person

He now moves to the First person plural

Plural as I believe he intends to include all who believe

much like he does in his epistles.

He then goes on to say something profound about Jesus

That much more could be written about Him

He attempts to show that his witness is true yet not exhaustive

That the works of Jesus could not all fit into written form.

Not the limited 3 years of Jesus ministry

Jesus in creation

Jesus in the OT

Burning Bush

Wrestling with Jacob

Jesus in the lives of every man

Every elect man has a story of Jesus

These works alone would take up many books

Jesus in the work of King and protector of His people/the bride/ the church

John teaches us that God’s Word is the chosen method for witnessing about God and bringing men to faith in Jesus Christ

VI.

The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men.

Doctrine

We as Christians believe that it is Scripture alone that provides our ultimate authority

This is an important doctrine to know and be reminded of lest we fall back into depending on other authorities

The reformation against Rome was against the addition to Scripture - tradition and Magisterium

Mike Kruger rightly says:

The key component in this trifold authority was the Magisterium itself, which is the authoritative teaching office of the Roman Catholic Church, manifested primarily in the pope.

Because the pope was considered the successor of the Apostle Peter, his official pronouncements (ex cathedra) were regarded as the very words of God Himself.

It was at this point that the Reformers stood their ground.

The Word of God is our rule of faith and life WCF 1. II

It is to be believed because it is the witness of real mean in real time and space

Inspired Word of God given to real men

This is not a mystical book that fell from the sky

It is to be believed because it is how God reveals himself to us

Illus: Some Christians treat the Bible as a sacred book that can’t be written in nor thrown away

Qu’arn is held by men with gloves on and read in thsi manner

IV.

The authority of the holy scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God, (who is truth itself,) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the word of God.

Although it was written by men, it is authored by God himself

It’s purpose is to reveal to us Jesus - Faith and rule

John concludes with it be a witness to Jesus

An ordinary means to bring men to faith in Jesus

VII.

All things in scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened 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.q

Salvation is plain and undisputed

We don’t need a Pope to interpret Scripture for us

The blessing of Scripture is it is plain and ordianary

It’s purpose is to glorify God through Jesus Christ by drawing men into salvation

The doctrine of Scripture alone is important and cannot be compromised

Illus: Here at TPC we will be heavy on the Word of God

Doxology

Praise God the he reveals to us Himself in very ordinary ways

Originally in Hebrew and Greek

Vulgar language

But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have right unto and interest in the scriptures, and are commanded, in the fear of God, to read and search them, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come,u that the word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner, and, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, may have hope.x

Preserved throughout time

Praise God that he reveals to us Jesus Christ, the Redeemer

The Holy Spirit uses the Inspired Word, Holy Scripture to point us to our salvation

All Scripture points to Christ

Praise God that the Holy Spirit uses the witness of men written down to bring us to saving faith in Him

Sola Scriptura

Not through the church or man made laws

Not by works of any kind

Only by His Word

God’s gift to us is His written word!

Illus:

Carey Cash - A Table in The Presence

A Bible that was lost in the Iraq desert while on a convoy

He realized it was missing miles away.