Round the Sphere Again: Doctrine of Scripture

Its Sufficiency
What Does Sola Scriptura Mean? It means that Scripture is

the perfect and only standard of spiritual truth, revealing infallibly all that we must believe in order to be saved and all that we must do in order to glorify God. That—no more, no less—is what sola Scriptura means.

(John MacArthur at Ligonier Ministres Blog)

And from Dr. James Montgomery Boice, a sermon on the sufficiency of Scripture: 

Do we really believe that God has given us what we need in this book? Or do we think we have to supplement the Bible with other man-made things? Do we need sociological techniques to do evangelism? Do we need psychology and psychiatry for Christian growth? Do we need extra-biblical signs or miracles for guidance?

(Effectual Grace)

Its Perspicuity
Robert Shaw discusses the perspicuity of Scripture:

If the Scriptures were unintelligible to common Christians, and the interpretation of the Church were necessary to discover their meaning, then such Christians would have no foundation upon which a divine faith could rest.  Their faith must be ultimately resolved into the testimony of men; but human testimony, being fallible, cannot be the ground of an infallible persuasion

Quoted from An Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith at The Reformed Reader.

The Canon
Now in one place, all of Michael Kruger’s 10 Misconceptions About the New Testament Canon posts (Canon Fodder).

Reading Classics Together: The Discipline of Grace, Chapter 8

Dependent Discipline

This week’s reading for Tim Challies Reading Classics Together program was about the necessity of discipline and dependence in equal measure for growth in holiness.

If we are to make any progress in the pursuit of holiness, we must assume our responsibility to discipline or train ourselves. But we are to do all this in total dependence on the Holy Spirit to work in us and strengthen us with the strength that is in Christ.

First on the list of disciplines in the pursuit of holiness is the discipline of prayer, important because it expresses our dependence on the Holy Spirit. Here’s an excerpt of what Bridges writes about the discipline of prayer.

It is precisely because we are not endowed with a reservoir of strength that we need to pray daily for the Spirit’s enabling work in us. Holiness requires continual effort on our part and continual nourishing and strengthening by the Holy Spirit. Unless you plan to pray, however, and set aside a specific time to do it, you will find that you will not carry out your good intentions. So if you do not already have this practice, why not stop and make your plan now? I also find it helpful to write down on paper (for my eyes only) the specific sins I need help to deal with and the specific virtues of Christian character in which, as far as I can tell, I most need to grow.

In addition to prayer about sins in our lives and areas of character in which we need to grow, it is also good to pray that we will be kept from temptation (Matthew 6:13) and that we will be alert to and not be blindsided by temptation when it does come. Finally in our planned time of prayer, it is good to pray along the lines of Hebrews 13:21, that God will work in us what is pleasing to Him, for He knows far better than we what really needs to happen in our lives at any given time.

Next week’s reading is chapter 9, The Discipline of Commitment. 

Thankful Thursday

I’m thankful

• for the beautiful place where I live. 
• for a quiet day.
• for the energy to get some cleaning done. 
• for God’s help to finish two big projects since last Thankful Thursday.
• for Natalie’s first year of life. I’m thankful that God sustained her through that first day when her heart was not functioning as it should, when she had to be flown out to the children’s hospital. I’m thankful he sustained her through the rest of the year, too.
• that winter has Christmas and is followed by spring.
• that God spoke so I can know.