3. We really must think upon the supremacy and centrality of the written Word. We should ask certain questions to arrive at the divine truth of the Spirit of God based on His written Word. First of all, is the local church described anywhere as "infallible" like the written Scriptures are? No, only the Scriptures are understood as "infallible" and no where does it say the local church is "infallible!" Second, is the local church described in the divine Word as "inerrant" like the Word of God is? No, only the written Scriptures are declared to be without error and divinely preserved. Third, is the local church described as "divinely inspired" like the sacred text of the Word is? No, only the Scriptures are authentically inspired. To say that an extra-biblical "council" or "bishop" is "infallible" is a novelty in light of God's Word. Some say that the church has divine authority over the Bible to decide what books are in the canon. If that is the case, why does the Church of Rome and Protestants differ on the amount of books contained in its own canon? Further, the council said "we receive" from God regarding the canon. That is, they focused upon the sole authority of God over their decisions not their decisions over God. Moreover, early fathers of the ancient church already had a private listing of books. May we understand that the local church has a kind of authority. That is, sola scriptura does not eliminate "authorities" but says the written Word of God is the sole and supreme infallible rule for faith, morals and good works. That is, it is all-sufficient. For example, the London Confession of Faith is a subordinate authority to the written Word. The plural eldership of the local church is also under the submission of the written Scriptures. No local church is above the divine Word. The elder has the responsibility to teach and preach the written Word. That is, to teach and preach the author's intended meaning but there could be a thousand applications. He ought to be a workman not ashamed rightly handling the divine Word. That is, it takes education and training in the subject of the theology, philosophy and history of the Bible. No person should be exalted above the Word of God. Rather only God rules over His Word to change the hearts and minds of the sons and daughters of Adam! No minister of the Gospel can change the hearts and minds of God's people. I would say that if sola scriptura was actually taught there would be no disagreements. We see various disagreements because the church has placed herself above the written Word. I suggest to you the disagreements are because of the abuse of the "out-of-place" authority of the local church concerning a illegitimate hermeneutic and abuse of sola scriptura. There are others who think they are above the written Scriptures. For example, the Church of Rome thinks she is above the Scriptures to decide "this" or "that" doctrine is from Scripture or tradition. This has led to many false "dogmas" from the partial counterpart of "divine tradition." I would like to point out that no one is above the Bible and the author's intended meaning. Moreover, the Scriptures do not have an equal like the Church of Romes asserts regarding "sacred tradition." The hermeneutic of the ancient church was not the supremacy of the local church or the primacy of a particular bishop but "Scripture in light of Scripture." They taught the sole and universal centrality of the divine Word. The early fathers contrary to popular opinion taught the sacred doctrine of sola scriptura and interpreting Scripture with Scripture. If the early fathers did not teach sola scriptura it would not change our spiritual obligation to wholly embrace the divine teaching of holy Writ! However, I strongly believe the early fathers held to the Scriptures as the sole infallible authority. Irenaeus, for example, argued his defense of the divine teaching of God from the Scriptures against the Gnostics. Did he appeal to alleged "sacred tradition" in the "knowledge" of the supremacy of the church or refer to the "infallibility" of a particular bishop? No, his arguments on the divine teachings of God against heretics would come from the Scriptures alone!
4. The Bible declares an unashamed message of the gospel as the power of God. The local church is not described as the Word of God, the truth of God or the oracle of God. Rather the Scriptures alone are the Word Most Holy. It is the very sword of the Spirit of God. It is the Scriptures of the holy prophets! The local church is not described as perfect. Rather only the written Word is wholly perfect. She will be presented to Jesus as the bride without wrinkle or spot but that is only in divine glorification in heaven! The written Word alone is our divine guide through life's darkness and serious struggles. The local church cannot produce regeneration. Rather the divine Word alone with the accompanying of the Spirit of God regenerates the stoney heart of man. The preacher is merely the instrument of God in proclaiming its gospel. God can uses a distorted stick to draw a straight line. That is, He uses sinners to handle His Word to proclaim liberty to the spiritual captives. As the people of God, we ought to bring the Scriptures to a lost and dying world. We ought to preach the Word without shame. The love of Christ is for the worst offender. Have you judged or condemned someone because of their sin instead of sharing the good news of Jesus? People will respond to the good news like how the people believed Phillip. We ought to do the same thing as solemnly speak God's word of the Lord. We ought to keep preaching the Word of God. It is what the local church holds up as it proclaims to a dark world of sinners. Phillip proclaimed the Scriptures and so should we. The written Word makes the simple wise. The apostles were ignorant and unlearned men. However, Jesus trained them to know the Scriptures and the word of Jesus. We ought to be babes in evil but be excelling in the grace and knowledge of Christ our King. We ought bring, proclaim and boldly stand by Jesus and declare His divine truth!
This blog web site is for the in-depth, sound and basic exegetical study of the Bible in Reformed apologetics; that is, I shall expound upon the inerrant and infallible Word of God, the Holy Scriptures. There shall be biblical studies in world religions and non-Christian cults. I also quote and research reformed writers and I am happy to study from them. May the Lord bless everyone who reads this blog with spiritual riches in Christ which is His imputed merit by faith alone.
