Basic Theology: Sufficiency of Scriptures Part 03 - The Law of the Lord
1. The Law of the Lord
Previous: Sufficiency of Scriptures Part 03
Title for Scripture is “the law.” The word is ‘Torah’, means biblical or divine teaching. It points to the teaching or the didactic/ moral nature of Scripture. God instructing man.
The Scripture as doctrine, dispensed from God to man which is divine instruction,
relative to faith: what we believe,
relative to character: what we are, and
relative to conduct: what we do.
It is a complete explanation of God’s instruction or teaching for man’s life.
This divine teaching which comes through the Holy Scripture is perfect.
James in his epistle he called it even called it the perfect law. (James 1:25)
Old Testament scholar says that the fullness of the meaning of perfect is to say that it means “all sided so as to cover completely all aspects of a thing.” It is a word of comprehensiveness. In other words, we say that Scripture covers everything, and it lacks nothing whatsoever.
V 7 says that its perfection is related to converting the soul.
The Hebrew term for converting can mean reviving, restoring, refreshing, converting, and transforming.
The Scripture is so comprehensive that it literally can transform a person’s life.
The word soul, ‘nephesh’ in Hebrews means the person or the self or the heart. The inner person, the whole person, the real you. The word then is so comprehensive as to have the ability to totally transform the real you, the whole person.
The Scripture is sufficient for conversion, for transformation, for restoration, for spiritual birth and growth to perfection for the whole person.
2 Timothy 3:15-17, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Paul reminds Timothy that the Scripture is able to make you wise unto salvation. Not only that, to make you perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
The Word of God then has the power of total transformation. It is so comprehensive that it can mould a soul, a living person, into precisely what God desires that person to be.
1 Peter 1:23-24, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away,
The new birth, or conversion, transformation is accomplished by the Word of God. The Word by which the gospel is preached to you. So, it is the Word that converts the soul.
Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Paul said that the power in the word is able to transform a life. The word of God is the agency of the new birth.
The following questions will make you understand the problem when we leave the sufficiency of scriptures.
➢ Is the Word of God so weak and without power in itself as need to be preached by a superstar celebrity personality?
➢ Or not famous for being godly and not well-known for great skill in the Word?
➢ Or because the media made them famous?
➢ Are we to believe that they can do what the power of the Word cannot accomplish?
➢ Or do we need to make sloppy appeals to the emotions of people to boast their feelings, egos, and their need for self-esteem?
➢ Or does the gospel have no power and weak that we have to be polluted with promises of material success?
➢ Why do TV evangelists have to tell us that if only we will send them large sums of money and believe, “seed” faith will bring us back more money than we can imagine?
➢ Is this necessary to add money to the gospel to make it appetising that it cannot convert the soul?
➢ Is it really the Lord’s plan for men called to preach the unsearchable riches of the Word of God to leave the Word of God but to become political activists and lobbyists, hoping to overcome the deficiency of Scripture with human power?
➢ Does the Word must be put in a sophisticated, saleable, suitable marketing plan that shows the perspective buyer primarily what’s in it for him?
If you answer yes for anything to the above questions, then you are in a serious violation of law of God by not trusting the sufficiency of the Word of God.
One author puts it across so beautifully!
The Word is the sea
Christ is the pearl of great price is found.
Psalm 119:41, Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord— Your salvation according to Your word.
Psalmist says that Salvation is connected to the Word of God.
Psalms 119:50, This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.
Psalms 119:81, My soul faints for Your salvation, But I hope in Your word.
Psalms 119:146, I cry out to You; Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies.
Psalms 119:151, You are near, O Lord, And all Your commandments are truth.
Salvation is found in Your Word and they are not looking there.
Psalms 119:158, I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, Because they do not keep Your word.
Psalms 119:174, I long for Your salvation, O Lord, And Your law is my delight.
Is it any wonder Paul commanded his spiritual son saying, “Preach the Word, in season or out of season?” (2 Timothy 4:2)
The Word is sufficient to convert the soul.
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