The Sufficiency of Scripture

Introduction:  When speaking about spiritual matters, it is not uncommon to hear people say things like “God told me” or “The Holy Spirit told me” when referring to so—called private revelation from God. Is that the case? Is God giving additional revelations, or is he leading people directly and independently of His written Word?  Let’s see what the Bible says.

A. God Has Spoken

Hebrews 1:1-2 (NKJV)

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

Notice it is past tense. God is not continuing to speak (is speaking) nor will he add to what he has spoken (will speak).

John 14:26 (NKJV)

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you [the apostles] all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

If it came after the time of the Apostles, it is not part of the truth that was once for all delivered to the saints! In context, this is a promise to the apostles, not every single believer.

Jude 1:3 (NKJV)

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

“If it’s new, it is t true. If it’s true, it isn’t new!”

Point: God’s communication to us from Jesus via the Apostles is complete!

B. The Revelation Communicated To Us In Scripture Is Complete!

2 Timothy 3:15-17 (NKJV)

and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for 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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Peter 1:2-3 (NKJV)

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

 Not only has he given us everything, it is again in the past tense. It’s already been given!

Point: We do not need any further revelations from so-called modern day prophets. God is not telling you something he did t tell everyone else.

C. Conclusion (what’s the point?)

The communication of the will of God is complete, having been given in its entirety to the Apostles and passed down to us in the New Testament. We have no need of new scriptures, personal revelations, or direct messages from the Holy Spirit. To seek such is to attempt to add to God’s all sufficient Word.

• Do you need a word from God? Go to the Word OF God! 
• Want to get guidance by message from the Holy Spirit? Go to the complete message given through the Holy Spirit! 
• Want to hear that message audibly? Read it out loud! 

God is not telling you something he hasn’t revealed to everyone else!

If someone says, “God told me” or “The Spirit led me” and they aren’t pointing at a Bible verse, they are either lying or in error. Don’t believe it!

Many times we hear people say that the Lord revealed something to them directly, or that the only thing you need is your Bible and the Holy Spirit will teach you directly. Often there are those online who claims to be Apostles or prophets today that give us a word from God. But is that true?

John 16:12-15 (ESV)

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.“

This promise from Jesus was directly to the Apostles, and assures us that they got all the truth Jesus intended to pass down to us. If it doesn’t date back to what they left us, the New Testament, then it is not truth Jesus wants us to have. This was further reinforced in 

Jude 1:3 (ESV):

“Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”

The truth was delivered once for all. There is no further additional revelation. Notice the way the Hebrew writer put it at the beginning of his letter:

Hebrews 1:1-2 (ESV)

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Notice he “has spoken”, not “is speaking”. The revelation is complete in Jesus. That is why the Word is not still being confirmed by signs and wonders.

Hebrews 2:4 (ESV)

while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Again, notice the past tense without allowance for continuing action.

So what does this mean?

1.  God spoke through jesus, and by extension his apostles. He is not continuing to speak outside of his Word today. We have the apostle’s doctrine in the New Testament. (Acts 2:47; Luke 10:16)
2. Elders and teachers are needed in the church today, precisely because the promise of Spirit guidance into all truth was for the Apostles, not every single believer. The Spirit teaches through the Word. (2 Tim 3:15-17)
3. If a teaching is extra biblical, it is not for us today. If it’s new, it is t true. If it’s true, it isn’t new. We have all we need in the New Testament. Period. If you want a word from God, then open the Word of God!
4. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, we must search the Scriptures to see if something is true rather than just praying and asking the Lord to tell us if a teaching (or teacher) is true or not.
5. There are no prophets or apostles today. Their foundational ministries are completed.
6. The Word is already confirmed, so we have no further need for signs and wonders to do so. (Hebrews 2:4)