THE SCRIPTURES ALONE ARE SUFFICIENT
Garden City, Michigan church of Christ
Bulletin
Paul told Timothy, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). Consequently, according to an inspired apostle, one can obtain eternal salvation solely by following the Scriptures. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Paul declared that the Scriptures contain everything necessary for doctrine, reproof, etc., to make the man of God perfect or complete. He further added, “. ..thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (verse 17). Thus, there is not a single good work the Christian can do which is not designated in the Scriptures.
The apostle John clearly shows that
the things which he wrote were given to produce the faith which brings life in
the name of Jesus (John
Luke said he wrote his book to Theophilus in order that he might know the certainty of the things which he had heard (Luke 1:3-4). In other words, Theophilus would no longer need to rely on what he had been taught by word of mouth, but could now prove them by the inspired writings. In Acts 1:1 Luke said, “The former treatise have I made, 0 Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach.” What did Luke mean when he said he wrote of all that Jesus did and taught? We know he did not mean every detail of the life of Christ, because John said if that were done, the world itself would not contain the books. He meant, therefore, that he had written all necessary things that Jesus did and taught. The Scriptures provide:
All necessary things which Jesus did — Acts 1:1-2
Certainty of His action and teaching — Luke 1:3-4
Life in the name of
Jesus — John
Instructions to
salvation — 2 Timothy
Commands of the Lord
— 1 Corinthians
The proper conduct — 1 Timothy 3:14-15
Every good work — 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Protection against
sin — 1 John 2:1
An assurance of
eternal life — 1 John
Standard by which
teachers are tested — Acts
Standard by which we cannot go beyond — 1 Corinthians 4:6
Blessings from God — Revelation 1:3
Joy that is complete
— 1 John 1:3-4
Standard of judgment
— Revelation
If
one reads and studies the New Testament and obtains from it all the things
mentioned above, what else would he need? Do not men cast reflection on God when they
imply that God failed to provide everything necessary for our salvation? God declared that man is equipped for every
good work through the Scriptures (2
Timothy