Day 4

Of The Holy Scriptures

 Chapter 1, Paragraph 1

“…and afterward for the better preserving, and propagating of the Truth, and for the more sure Establishment, and Comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the World, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God’s revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.”

Scripture Lookup

Proverbs 22:19-21. According to the passage, what is used to help make truth known?

Romans 15: 4. What does Scripture offer?

2 Peter 1:19,20. How does Peter describe the prophetic word that he and the apostles declare?

Reflection

After learning of all the exciting and miraculous ways God revealed Himself in the past, it can be easy to long for such a supernatural experience ourselves. Those events sound like a spectacular summer blockbuster movie! In contrast, Scripture can sometimes seem like a dry documentary. However, when we realize just how much of a treasure Scripture is, we see how its light is brighter than any revelation that came before.

The written Word, or Holy Scriptures, reveal God and His will to His people. While it complements those former manners in which God revealed Himself, it nonetheless surpasses those former ways. Scripture does a better job at keeping that truth available than what came before. Scripture does a better job at spreading that truth than the former ways. By having God’s will committed to writing, the information can be disseminated more easily than through a single prophet in a single point in history.

Scripture also is superior to the former ways of revelation in how it builds up God’s church, His people. It provides a grounding for the church. Remember back in Day 1 when we looked up Ephesians 2:20? “…the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone…”  Not only does it equip the church, it encourages us and gives us hope (Romans 15:4). It teaches, rebukes, corrects, trains in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). It is the sword of the Spirit we are to wield in all circumstances (Ephesians 6).

THAT is Scripture.

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your aid in his excellent Word! What more can he say than to you he hath said, you who unto Jesus for refuge hath fled?

Questions to consider:

• Have you ever reflected on the necessity of Scripture?
• What is your attitude toward Scripture?
• Do you give Scripture a place of authority in your life?