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On Thursday, we celebrated Reformation Day.
I am not really sure how we are supposed to celebrate Reformation Day, but in any case October 31st is Reformation Day.
On October 31, 1517, the German monk Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany sparking the Reformation.
The Reformers didn’t want to leave the Catholic church, but they knew there were things wrong with what was being taught.
Eventually, they were expelled from the Catholic church and became known as Protestants because they protested the abuses of the church.
The Reformers had five doctrines that were central to what they believed.
They are in Latin and are called the five Solas.
Each week, we will explore one of their teachings, starting with Sola Scriptura or the scriptures alone.
One of the reasons the Reformers put forward the concept of Sola Scriptura was because the Catholic church, over time, elevated its traditions over the clear teachings of Scripture.
Some of these traditions were even in conflict with clear biblical teachings.
Some of the Catholic teachings which elevated themselves over the clear teachings of Scripture were prayers to the saints and to Mary.
Another errant doctrine was indulgences.
This is the idea that you could purchase a document from the church which allowed you to sin in someway.
You wanted to commit sexual immorality, just give some money to the church and you are good to go.
Another problem was the primacy of the papacy.
The teaching was that the pope’s authority was equal, maybe even superior to the authority of the written word of God in the Bible.
Another error in teaching was the perpetual virginity of Mary.
The teaching was that somehow Mary kept her virginity throughout her life, even though the Bible teaches us that she had other children and that Joseph was intimate with her after Jesus was born.
Think about the problem of forcing priests to be celibate has caused, which is not something the Bible teaches is necessary to serve God.
Another was the perpetual virginity of Mary.
Think about the problem of forcing priests to be celibate has caused.
Jesus warned about teaching as commandments the doctrines of man and allowing traditions to override God’s commands in .
This is not to say all traditions are bad, but rather our traditions need to be based on the Word of God.
Traditions can provide a solid foundation on which we build when they are based on the Word of God.
Traditions based on traditions are no good.
Jesus warned about teaching as commandments the doctrines of man and allowing traditions to override God’s commands in .
This is not to say all traditions are bad.
We have our own traditions and ways of worship, but our traditions need to be based on the Word of God.
Traditions can provide a solid foundation on which we build when they are based on the Word of God.
Traditions based on traditions are no good and can lead people away from the Word of God.
Which brings me to another reason for the Reformation.
A major problem at the time of the Reformation was allowing people to read the Scriptures.
They didn’t want people to read the Scriptures because they thought only the church’s leadership could interpret the Scriptures.
Instead of teaching people how to properly handle the Scriptures, they simply denied access to the Scriptures.
They wouldn’t even allow the Bible to be translated into the native language of the people.
This led to major abuses on the people who had no access to understand what God’s Word actually said.
Please understand this.
The one book I want you to read is the Bible.
You need to be in the Scriptures, examining the Scriptures, and being illuminated by the Scriptures.
The Bible is like a mirror.
It shows us what we really are, what we need to do, and what we need to change.
The Reformers wanted people to read the Bible and understand the Bible.
They taught the concept of Sola Scriptura, which is Latin for “the Scriptures alone”.
They taught that all truth necessary for our salvation and spiritual life is taught either explicitly or implicitly in the Scriptures.
Sola Scriptura means all truth necessary for our salvation and spiritual life is taught either explicitly or implicitly in Scripture.
The Bible is the highest and supreme authority on any matter on which it speaks.
This is not to say that the Bible talks about every matter.
There are things the Bible does not talk about, but it is the authority on any matter on which it speaks.
God, through his written word, has given us everything we need for life and godliness.
Everything we need to know about how we are to live in a manner pleasing to God is contained in God’s Word.
Everything we need to know about how we relate to others is contained in God’s Word.
The Bible is our “how to” book.
It is our supreme authority.
1.
The Bible is our supreme authority ()
This is why you hear me talk to you so often about the need to read and study God’s Word.
If you want to know what God expects from you and what you need to do, read his Word.
God has provided everything you need for life and godliness through his Word.
Every problem, every situation, and every circumstance to which you need answers, is answered by God’s Word.
Of course, there are many subjects on which the Bible is silent.
There are subjects on which the Bible does not speak.
If the Bible doesn’t talk about it, then it must not be a big deal and good people can disagree on how to deal with it.
However, when the Bible does speak about a subject, then we need to submit to the authority of the Scriptures.
There is no excuse for not doing what is right when you have recieved everything you need to know about living righteously.
The danger is in simply taking what some person says at face value without checking it out in the Bible.
Throughout history, people have twisted God’s Word, taken God’s Word out of context, and misrepresented what God has said.
Be people of the Bible.
Be like the Bereans.
They didn’t just take Paul and Silas’ word for it.
They received what Paul said, but they searched the Scriptures to make sure it was true what was being said.
They trusted, but they also verified.
If Paul was not above being checked against the Scriptures, no person is above the need for verification.
The Bible, no person, is our supreme authority and the Scriptures are interpreted through the person and work of Jesus Christ who is the incarnation of the Word of God.
The Bible is our supreme authority.
2. The Bible is sufficient.
()
God inspired the writing of the content of the Scriptures.
Throughout the years, people have tried to do their very best to understand what was meant by “inspired”.
The word “inspired” is a compound word in the Greek.
θεόπνευστος (theopneustos)
θεόπνευστος (theopneustos) - God breathed
"Theos” is the word for God and “pneustos” is the word for “breath or spirit”.
The idea is that God caused the Scriptures to be written.
The Bible didn’t originate from the ideas or words of man, but rather God caused the people to write down what he wanted written.
This is why the Bible is so exhaustive over so many years and so many subject matters.
God wanted us to have everything we need to teach, to educate others on what is right and what is wrong.
The Bible is our source book for educating on what God has said.
The Bible is profitable for rebuking or pointing out our errors in thinking and doing.
The Bible teaches us what need to change about how we are living and what we are thinking.
We start at the Bible and allow it to mold our thinking.
Too many times we start somewhere else and we insert man’s values and ways of thinking into the Scriptures.
The Bible is profitable for correcting.
Sometimes we drift.
Sometimes we get off the right path.
The Bible is what brings us back on track.
It is our navigational beacon.
There is an old story told about an aircraft carrier captain.
The weather was stormy and he was on the bridge of the vessel.
He looked into the dark night and saw a light in the distance.
Immediately he told his signalman to send a message, “Alter your course ten degrees south.”
He promptly received a reply, “Alter your course ten degrees north.”
The furious captain sent another message, “Alter your course ten degrees south.
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