His Word…

Every Christian acknowledges that in some sense our theology and ethics must “accord with Scripture.” But when push comes to shove in theological wrangling, to whom or what do we appeal to make our closing arguments?

–Kevin DeYoung, Taking God at His Word

His Word is regarded differently by different people…

Some believe church tradition is as important as Scripture when it comes to truth…

The Church gives us her Tradition like a mother giving a child hand-me-down clothing that has already been worn by many older sisters and brothers. But unlike earthly clothing, this clothing is indestructible because it is not made of wool or cotton but truth.

–Peter Kreeft quoted by Kevin DeYoung, Taking God at His Word

Some require their own reason and experience to align with Scripture…

The essential idea of liberal theology is that all claims to truth, in theology as in other disciplines, must be made on the basis of reason and experience, not by appeal to external authority. Christian scripture may be recognized as spiritually authoritative within Christian experience, but its word does not settle or establish truth claims about matters of fact.

–Gary Dorrien quoted by Kevin DeYoung, Taking God at His Word

For some… His Word is set above and beyond both tradition and the opinions of people…

The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture.

–The Westminster Confession of Faith quoted by Kevin DeYoung, Taking God at His Word

For me… His Word… is His Word…

All Scripture is breathed out by God and 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 ESV

If tradition is equal in authority to the Word… then what do we do with a tradition which no longer has meaning to the people who practice it…?

Tradition was once a fresh revelation to a certain people at a certain time and place in history… If the meaning of the tradition is not passed on…? then what good is there in doing what we don’t understand…?

The only traditions we are called to exercise are baptism and communion… these we find in His Word… these are ways we surrender to Him…

If we reject Scripture because it does not appeal to our natural reason… or our understanding of what we have experienced… what do we do with the Word which contradicts…? and convicts…? do we toss it out…?

No where in Scripture does God call us to exercise our own reason and understanding…

He says…

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5 ESV

He says…

Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 26:12 ESV

Since sin entered the world… our understanding has been broken… perverted… we no longer think straight… but crooked…

In Christ… those born again in the spirit… receive the Spirit in all His holiness… to bless us with revelation… knowledge… and understanding of the truth…

He is our Teacher… and Guide… into all truth…

He is the One who makes the Word living and active to those who believe…

He is the One who opens our eyes to wonderful things in His Word…

We are not called to make sense of Scripture… we are called to let Scripture make sense of us… revealing sin… warped reason… revealing lies we believe… and lies we tell ourselves…

Yes… I believe God’s Word is His Word…

I’ve tested it… tried it… and my experience has been only positive transformation…

There is power in His Word…

If you’re one who elevates tradition… or one who needs the Word to appeal to your sense of who you are… I’d challenge you today to try for one month… to let His Word be the only authority in your life…

Try it… test it… experience His Word for yourself…

Let the Holy Spirit interpret and reveal… there’s no need to figure it out for yourself…

Ask and you will receive… when you surrender to Him… and His Word…

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…

John 1:14 NKJV

Experience His glory and grace…