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Q3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?
A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.
2 Timothy 1:13
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” This Scripture provides us with a good basis to explore the question.
Someone once said, “The Bible and the Bible only is the religion of the Protestants.” The faith of the nonconformist is based on the Scriptures only. The Bible was penned by holy men of God, meaning that they were set apart by God (2 Peter 1:21). Matthew Henry wrote, “So that the Scriptures are to be accounted the words of the Holy Ghost, and all the plainness and simplicity, all the power and all the propriety of the words and expressions, come from God. Mix faith with what you find in the Scriptures, and esteem and reverence the Bible as a book written by holy men, taught by the Holy Ghost.”
The Bible has been authenticated by prophecies coming to pass and the fact that the Scriptures have been preserved for many years. The most-read book in world history is also the most hated book. Over the course of time, mankind has tried to destroy the Bible's reality and faithful testimony. During the Protestant Reformation translating the Bible into the common language of England was a crime punishable by death. Copies of English Bibles were burnt in London and the preaching of Scripture was censored by the religious elite.
Scripture addresses every area of spiritual life. The 66 books of the Old and New Testament are the complete canon of Holy Writ. There is no need for “church tradition” or so-called extra or new revelations such as the Book of Mormon or any text that claims to be from God. The Word of God is sufficient for us. Revelation 22:18-19 warns us, “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which is written in this book.”
The Holy Bible teaches us what we need to know about God and what God has said concerning mankind. Scripture also teaches us what God expects from men and women. By nature, we do not know God nor the things of God. We are spiritually dead by nature. 1 Corinthians 2:14-15, says, “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man.” The Bible is the mirror to the soul and the path that points to the Saviour. The Scriptures are described as a lamp to our feet in this dark world of sin.
Above all books, the Bible is inspired by God, unique in beauty, and our only source of spiritual truth. The Bible is the Christian's joy, comfort, and peace. A life lived in the light of Scripture is not wasted on vain things of this passing world, but a life lived to the full. A good life, a noble life, and the best life. The Bible is worth defending, worth living for, and if necessary, worth dying for. Be of good cheer, O child of God. Remember that our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus came for us to have life, and life more abundant and free. Let's conclude with this thought from Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
