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Today we continue our brief examination of the Shorter Catechism. We are now on Question and Answer Two of the Catechism. The first Question and Answer dealt with the meaning of life for man, but in this Question and Answer we will examine the source of all truth in matters of Faith and practice.
Let’s get started.
Question 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him?
Answer: The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy God.
All systems of thought have starting points. Every religion has a place from which it derives its teachings and doctrines. The starting point for Christianity is the Bible alone. The sixty six books of the Protestant Bible, to be exact, is the only starting point of Christianity.
Dr. Gary Crampton expresses this same idea in his book titled, “By Scripture Alone.†Crampton writes, “As Augustine pointed out centuries ago, all systems have axioms, which cannot be proved. They are starting points, without which no system could get started. All of our beliefs are ultimately based on presuppositions. The Protestant axiom, as taught by the Westminster Assembly and Reformed Protestantism, is that the Bible and the Bible alone is the Word of God, and it has a systematic monopoly on truth†(By Scripture Alone, part II, page 147).
Dr. Crampton's book can be purchased at this link:
http://www.trinitylectures.org/product_ ... f6290ce978
The Bible is accepted as true and is the basis for thousands of logical arguments and inferences.
The Westminster Confession of Faith comments on this stating, “The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture†(WCF, I, article 6).
A copy of the Westminster Standards can be obtained at this link:
http://www.lulu.com/content/538304
What this means is that Calvinism starts with Scripture alone, then makes use of deductive logic to systematically construct its theology. Some doctrines are expressly stated in the Scripture. For example, the Bible plainly states that God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1, John 1:1). However, other doctrines must be logically deduced from Scripture. For example, the doctrine of the Trinity is deduced from a multitude of different verses throughout the Bible. Therefore, a good understanding of deductive logic is essential to the study of Scripture.
When the catechism teaches us that the Scripture is to be our only rule, or authority, then it means that all other teachings must be judged in light of the Bible. If a minister teaches something that is opposed to the teaching of Scripture, then that minister’s teaching is false. The Bible can not be contradicted. We see this principle being demonstrated in the Book of Acts, chapter 17: 11,12. Paul and Silas preached their doctrine to the Bereans, but the Bereans did not accept the teachings of the Apostle to be true just because they were the official clergy of the church in that day. No, we see that the Bereans, “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.â€Â
We are never to consider the religious traditions or the authority of any sinful man or sect to be above the written Word of God. The Bible says, “that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against the other†(1 Corinthians 4:6).
The importance and sufficiency of Scripture cannot be emphasized enough. The Bible states, “And 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. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good worksâ€Â
(2 Timothy 4:15-17).
The Bible never sends us to seek the advice of popes or mystical gurus. It is the Bible, not some church, which is able to make us wise unto salvation. It is the Bible, not the teachings of men, that is said to be inspired by God. It is the Bible, and not rituals, human traditions, or religious experiences, which is sufficient to thoroughly furnish us and fit us for every good work. Since it is only the Bible, and nothing else, which can do all of these things, then Calvinists say that Scripture Alone is our only rule in matters of faith and practice?
This principle was widely taught during the Protestant Reformation by Lutherans and Calvinists. It came to be known as Sola Scriptura.
Before the Reformation, the Roman Catholic Church-state refused to translate the Bible into the vernacular languages of the people. The pope, just like the devil before him, sought the throne of God, claimed to be God on earth, and demanded all men to obey and worship him. The pope and his clergy withheld the Bible from the laity. They knew that if the people were to ever read the Scriptures for themselves, then their corruption would be laid bare. Their superstitions would be repudiated, and their doctrine would be condemned by the very Scripture which they claimed to interpret infallibly.
Men like Erasmus of Rotterdam, published books demonstrating how the Roman Catholic Church itself, the idea of a pope, the office of bishops, and the enormous body of superstitions and human traditions could not be found anywhere in Scripture.
Erasmus’ book ‘Praise of Folly’ speaks even today against the absurdities of the pope and his Bible hating system known as Roman Catholicism.
Men had to translate and publish the Bible into English, German, and other languages at the risk of their own lives. Men were murdered by the Catholic Church in the attempt to prevent the people from having God’s precious word in their own language. Men like William Tyndale were burned at the stake by Catholics for merely trying to give the English speaking people of Britain the Bible in their own language. The Bible teaches us that it is the Devil and the spirit of Antichrist which has long ago infiltrated the churches and still seeks today to withhold the Scriptures from God’s people. The Bible says, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ†(Jude v.4).
Let us close with a few verses that emphasize the importance of our serious study of Scripture Alone.
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hopeâ€Â
Romans 15:4.
“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path†Psalm 119:105.
“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple†Psalm 119:130.`
Listen to this lecture free on Google Video!
Here is the link to the latest video lecture:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... nism&hl=en
Let’s get started.
Question 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him?
Answer: The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy God.
All systems of thought have starting points. Every religion has a place from which it derives its teachings and doctrines. The starting point for Christianity is the Bible alone. The sixty six books of the Protestant Bible, to be exact, is the only starting point of Christianity.
Dr. Gary Crampton expresses this same idea in his book titled, “By Scripture Alone.†Crampton writes, “As Augustine pointed out centuries ago, all systems have axioms, which cannot be proved. They are starting points, without which no system could get started. All of our beliefs are ultimately based on presuppositions. The Protestant axiom, as taught by the Westminster Assembly and Reformed Protestantism, is that the Bible and the Bible alone is the Word of God, and it has a systematic monopoly on truth†(By Scripture Alone, part II, page 147).
Dr. Crampton's book can be purchased at this link:
http://www.trinitylectures.org/product_ ... f6290ce978
The Bible is accepted as true and is the basis for thousands of logical arguments and inferences.
The Westminster Confession of Faith comments on this stating, “The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture†(WCF, I, article 6).
A copy of the Westminster Standards can be obtained at this link:
http://www.lulu.com/content/538304
What this means is that Calvinism starts with Scripture alone, then makes use of deductive logic to systematically construct its theology. Some doctrines are expressly stated in the Scripture. For example, the Bible plainly states that God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1, John 1:1). However, other doctrines must be logically deduced from Scripture. For example, the doctrine of the Trinity is deduced from a multitude of different verses throughout the Bible. Therefore, a good understanding of deductive logic is essential to the study of Scripture.
When the catechism teaches us that the Scripture is to be our only rule, or authority, then it means that all other teachings must be judged in light of the Bible. If a minister teaches something that is opposed to the teaching of Scripture, then that minister’s teaching is false. The Bible can not be contradicted. We see this principle being demonstrated in the Book of Acts, chapter 17: 11,12. Paul and Silas preached their doctrine to the Bereans, but the Bereans did not accept the teachings of the Apostle to be true just because they were the official clergy of the church in that day. No, we see that the Bereans, “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.â€Â
We are never to consider the religious traditions or the authority of any sinful man or sect to be above the written Word of God. The Bible says, “that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against the other†(1 Corinthians 4:6).
The importance and sufficiency of Scripture cannot be emphasized enough. The Bible states, “And 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. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good worksâ€Â
(2 Timothy 4:15-17).
The Bible never sends us to seek the advice of popes or mystical gurus. It is the Bible, not some church, which is able to make us wise unto salvation. It is the Bible, not the teachings of men, that is said to be inspired by God. It is the Bible, and not rituals, human traditions, or religious experiences, which is sufficient to thoroughly furnish us and fit us for every good work. Since it is only the Bible, and nothing else, which can do all of these things, then Calvinists say that Scripture Alone is our only rule in matters of faith and practice?
This principle was widely taught during the Protestant Reformation by Lutherans and Calvinists. It came to be known as Sola Scriptura.
Before the Reformation, the Roman Catholic Church-state refused to translate the Bible into the vernacular languages of the people. The pope, just like the devil before him, sought the throne of God, claimed to be God on earth, and demanded all men to obey and worship him. The pope and his clergy withheld the Bible from the laity. They knew that if the people were to ever read the Scriptures for themselves, then their corruption would be laid bare. Their superstitions would be repudiated, and their doctrine would be condemned by the very Scripture which they claimed to interpret infallibly.
Men like Erasmus of Rotterdam, published books demonstrating how the Roman Catholic Church itself, the idea of a pope, the office of bishops, and the enormous body of superstitions and human traditions could not be found anywhere in Scripture.
Erasmus’ book ‘Praise of Folly’ speaks even today against the absurdities of the pope and his Bible hating system known as Roman Catholicism.
Men had to translate and publish the Bible into English, German, and other languages at the risk of their own lives. Men were murdered by the Catholic Church in the attempt to prevent the people from having God’s precious word in their own language. Men like William Tyndale were burned at the stake by Catholics for merely trying to give the English speaking people of Britain the Bible in their own language. The Bible teaches us that it is the Devil and the spirit of Antichrist which has long ago infiltrated the churches and still seeks today to withhold the Scriptures from God’s people. The Bible says, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ†(Jude v.4).
Let us close with a few verses that emphasize the importance of our serious study of Scripture Alone.
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hopeâ€Â
Romans 15:4.
“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path†Psalm 119:105.
“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple†Psalm 119:130.`
Listen to this lecture free on Google Video!
Here is the link to the latest video lecture:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... nism&hl=en
