[Each Monday, we will look examine the nature of the Scriptures in catechetical form. The content is taken from or based on the 1689 Second London Confession of Faith.]
Q1: What are the Scriptures?
A1: The Scriptures (a.k.a., the Bible, the Word of God) are the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience. Although the light of nature and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation.
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Theologians of categorized Revelation under two main categories: general revelation and special revelation. General revelation is that which is seen in creation and is observed by the general population. We all can see the evidence of God's created work, even if we choose not to attribute that creation to him. We see this in Romans 1:18-23:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
The lack of honoring the work of Creator God and dismissing the creation around us is a suppression of the basic truth of God as creator and creation as, well, created. Yet, even if they did recognize a Maker, they could not know Him fully or understand His will simply based on what they see. God is spirit (John 4:24) and we are not, so we need help. We need for him to give a more specific and detailed revelation about His nature and work. Psalm 19:1-4 shows what creation is doing:
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above
proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
All of creation screams the glory of God—yet unredeemed humanity is not equipped to receive that message. We need something more.
Special revelation comes to us specifically from God in his Word, giving understanding and rationality to the purpose and trajectory of creation. Prior to the completion of the canon of Scripture (our 66 books serving as the authoritative measure of all truth and wisdom), God provided special revelation through signs and wonders. Now, we have His full and complete Word to give clarity and purpose to all that we see and know.
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:16-21).
The apostles saw the majesty and miracles of Jesus. They heard from heaven itself how God described Jesus as “my beloved son.” Yet, notice the “prophetic Word”/”Scripture” was more fully confirmed.
We can assign any meaning to anything we see. The Scriptures clearly show what that meaning is—specifically! Specially!
This is why I’ve named this newsletter “Bare Forests” because of Psalm 29’s verse that the word of the Lord “strips the forests bare.” The nature of His Word takes away all the extraneous and leaves us with the fullness of His revelation.
This is also why I implore you to be in the Word every day. Find you a good Bible reading plan and get to it. One great place is bibleplans.org. Keeping His revelation before you will help you see the world the way He does and behave the way He calls you to. But more than this, He will show you the way of rescue from your sin and brokenness.