A Point-by-Point Disputation-Focused Sermon on the Denial of the Absolute Perpetuity of the God-Breathed Word of Divine Truth

I am arguing for the Bible's view of the clearness of the divine Word.  Many reject the clearness of the written Word with the "hermeneutic of humility."  However, humility is not a virtue of ignorance.  It is opposed to Scripture to advocate "we can't know what we know in the Bible."  I will demonstrate that the Bible is clear in its presentation on how someone is right with God and how someone can grow in the gospel-grace of God in the Spirit-revealed Scripture.

1.     The written Scriptures alone clearly call sinners to spiritual belief in the Incarnate Creator alone (see Jn 20:31).

2.     The written Scriptures alone is clearly the Word of God (Heb. 4:12).

3.     The written Word alone is clearly the Word of Truth (Js 1:18).

4.     The written Scriptures alone are the very oracles of God (Rom. 3:2).

5.     The Bible alone is the Word-revealed Spirit revelation (Js 1:21-23).

6.     The Bible alone is the Holy Scriptures (Rom. 1:2).

7.     The written Scriptures alone are the Sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17).

8.     The Bible alone (not so-called “Sacred Tradition) is the divine and holy writings of the prophets of the divine Scriptures (Rom. 16:26).

9.     The Bible alone is supernaturally authoritative (1 Pet 4:11).

10. The Bible alone is divinely God-speaking (2 Tim 3:16).

11. The Bible alone is effectual in spiritual life (1 Thess 2:13).

12. The Bible alone is supernatural truth which is God-breathed (Ps 119:160).

13. The written Scriptures alone are divinely perfect (Ps. 19:7).

14. The written Word is supernaturally sharp (Heb. 4:12).

15. The written Word is divinely pure (Prov. 30:5).

16. The written Word says “do not go beyond what is written” (1 Cor. 4:6 ESV).  What is contained in the Living Scriptures is clear enough for a non-seminary person to spiritually comprehend for the clearness of the written Word that says, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha” (1 Cor. 16:22 KJV).  Thus this eliminates so-called “Sacred Tradition” for no one shall add to the written Word or take away from the written Word (see Rev. 22:18-19).

17. The written Word is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16-17) and its “divine inspiration” is proven by external evidence (Heb. 2:1-4).

18. The church is not described as God-breathed because only the written Word was superintended by God’s Spirit through holy men of old.

19. By nature there is no “sincere seeker” (Ps. 53:1-3).

20. By nature there is no “honest seeker” because all are lairs by nature (see Rom. 3:4).

21. Fallen man tends after the spiritual abominations (Prov. 26:25) of his “Master” (Jn 8:44) who is a Lair and a Devil (see Jn 8:44).

22. There is divine internal evidence for the supernatural inspiration of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

23. The divine inspiration of God is proven by its supernatural infallibility (Jn 10:35).

24. The supernatural inspiration is proven by prophetic and historical fulfillment (Jn 6:39, 45-47).

25. The divine truth of God comes through the Spirit’s Word-centered and grounded illumination in the born again sinner not of works (1 Cor. 2:10-14; Titus 3:5; 2 Tim. 2:15).

26. The written Scriptures are a gift of God to be used as a divine instrument to change hearts unto Spirit-worked obedience (Rev. 1:3): those who have ears to hear let them hear (Mt 13:9).

27. Sinners are called to “search” the Scriptures (Jn 5:39).   If we are called to search the Scriptures, absolute perpetuity is divinely assumed.

28. We are called to “reason” from the Scriptures (Acts 17:2).  If we are called to reason from the written Word, the clearness of it is presumed.

29. We are called to “compare” Scripture with Scripture (2 Pet 1:20-21), because we must interpret Scripture in light of Scripture.

30. God works through His people to explain the Scriptures, because everyone’s interpretation of Scripture is private (Acts 17:10-12).

31. The Scripture with the Spirit cause monergistic regeneration (1 Pet 1:23) for the sinner remains spiritually passive while the divine work of God is accomplished in spiritual rebirth not of any works touching free willism nor sacramental baptismal rebirth (Tit 3:5).

32. The Scriptures by God’s Spirit are used for spiritual salvation (2 Tim. 3:15). 

33. The Scripture by God’s Spirit produce supernatural and spiritual life (Jn 20:21).

34. The Scriptures by the Holy Spirit search our hearts (Heb. 4:12).  Sacred Tradition does not possess this spiritual power!

35. The Scriptures by the Spirit of God cause “supernatural and spiritual” growth that only comes from God (Acts 20:32).

36. The Scriptures are God’s supernatural truth that causes sanctification further and further in the unbreakable chain of redemption (Jn 17:17; Rom 8ff).

37. The Scriptures by God’s Spirit causes divine illumination (Ps. 119:9-11).

38. The Scriptures ought to be used to spiritually defeat Satan (Eph. 6:16-17).

39. The Scriptures ought to be used to prove the truth of God (Acts 18:28).

40. The written Word can be abused by Satan (Mt 4:6) but it invalidates Satan as wrongly handling God’s Word.  That is, it does not disprove the Bible like many have wrongly handled the Word.  

41. The Scriptures are misused by spiritual hypocrites (Mt 22:23-29).

42. The Scriptures are misused by false teachers (2 Cor. 2:17).

43. The Scriptures are misused by the unlearned (2 Pert 3:16).

44. Paul warns of false teachers.  He does not appeal to “Sacred Tradition” to refute them.  Rather he says the written Word is enough for all good works (2 Tim 3:16-17; Eph 2:10).

45. We are called as Christian people to understand and obey the written Word (Rev. 1:3) for it does not say it is “spiritually unintelligible” for those who are approved of God (Rom. 14:18; 2 Tim 2:15).  We are not “approved of God” through person-by-person succession (Acts 20:29).  Rather by apostolic doctrinal succession (2 Tim 1:13).

46. The Scriptures should dwell in us with abundant richness (Col. 3:16).

47. Christians are divinely commanded to search the written Word daily (Acts 17:11).

48. Christians are called to hide the written Scriptures in our heart of hearts (Ps. 119:11).

49. Christians are called by the Word of Truth to love (Ps. 119:97, 113, 167).

50. We ought to spiritually delight in God’s written Word (Ps. 1:2).

51. We are to receive the written Scriptures with Spirit-born meekness (Js 1:21).

52. The Scriptures are meant to teach children (Deut. 11:19).

53. We are called by the written Truth to obedience (Js 1:22).

54. The Bible calls us to read it thoroughly (Deut. 17:19).

55. Jesus always divinely taught the perpetuity-centered reading of the written Word for He always asked, “HAVE YOU NOT READ?” (See for example Mt 22:31).

56. We are called not to add or subtract from God’s holy Word (Deut. 4:2).

57. Sinners will abuse the purity, dignity and divinely intended use of the written Word by handling it with extreme deceit (2 Cor. 4:2) but no one will except divine judgment (Ecc. 12:14).

58. The Scriptures are used to clearly correct false doctrine (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

59. Sinners evilly twist the Scriptures (2 Pet 3:16) but this does not mean “there is no divine clearness to the written Word!”

60. The Scriptures are invalidated through add-ons and unbiblical tradition (Mk 7:9-13).

61. The Scripture clearly records the mission of Jesus Christ (Lk 4:16-21).

62. The written Word records the supernatural death of Christ (Lk 24:27, 44-47).

63. The Scriptures record the Satan-caused rejection of Christ (Acts 28:25-29).

64. The written Word records the BODILY RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ that confirms the ONLY WAY to be RIGHT WITH GOD is through His perfect life and perfect death (Acts 2:24-31; Jn 8:46; 19:30).

65. The Scripture record the fulfillment of the Spirit’s descent (Jn 14:16-21).

66. The written Word records the fulfillment of spiritual faith (Rom 4:3) for those called from God alone (Jn 1:13; Rom 9:16).

67. The Scriptures are distorted by the spiritually condemned (Prov. 30:5-6; Rev. 22:18-20).

68. The distortion of the divine Word is predicted (2 Tim 4:3-4).

69. The memorization of Scripture keeps God’s people from sin (Ps. 119:11).

70. The written Word provides us with understanding (Ps. 119:130).

71. The Scriptures further spiritual Christ-honoring, exalting and centered prayer to the Trinity alone (Jn 15:7; Mt 28:19).

72. The Scripture provide us with divine comfort (Ps. 42:1-5).

73. The Scriptures provide us with courage (2 Cor. 4:7-18).

74. The Scripture gives us divine direction (Heb. 4:16).

75. The Word gives us spiritual peace (Phil. 4:4-7).

76. The written Word gives us spiritual relief (Ps. 91:1-16), spiritual rest (Mt 11:28-30) and helps us in spiritual temptation (Js 1:12-16).

77. The written Word is for our spiritual instruction (Mt 5:1-7:29).

78. Men by nature tend to turn to spiritual fables (2 Tim 4:3-4).

79. God will punish those who distort His written Word (Rev. 22:18-20).

80. The condemned do not teach the right doctrine (Prov. 30:5-6) but God reveals His divine truth in their damned state (see Rom 1ff).

81. The Bible is CLEARLY centered on the exclusive exaltation of Jesus Christ and glory-magnification of Jesus Christ (Phil. 2:5-11).  If someone or something is honored alongside of Jesus, it is cosmic idolatry!

82. Christians are CLEARLY taught the nature of justification by faith alone (Rom. 5:1-21; Eph 2:8-9).

83. Christians are CLEARLY taught the divine righteousness of Jesus Christ by faith alone (Rom. 3:19-28; Rom 9:11).

84. Christians are CLEARLY taught to be a workmen of God (Eph. 2:10) because we were CREATED and ORDAINED for good works.

85. The Scriptures CLEARLY teach a divine judgment (Rev. 20:10-15).

86. The Scriptures PLAINLY teach there is ONE MEDIATOR (1 Tim 2:5; Heb 8:6; 9:15; 12:24).

87. The Scriptures are CLEARLY meant for stewardship (2 Cor. 13:1-13).

88. The Scripture instruct of spiritual guilt (Rom. 8:1).

89. The Scripture teach us about the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:1-19).

90. If “Sacred Tradition” is equal with the written Word, why doesn’t Jesus Christ the Ruler of the Faith rebuke Satan with the “oral tradition of the Jewish elders” instead of the Scriptures alone (see Mt 4:10)?

91. If Scripture is not clear, why does it refer to itself as clear knowledge (Job 33:3)?

92. The pope is not above Scripture (see 3 Jn) by his naked authority, because the written Scripture equips a Christian for every profitable doctrine (2 Tim 3:16-17).

93. If Scripture is not the supreme infallible authority, why did Tertullian refer to the written Word as the “fullness of His Scripture” (Against Hermogenes 22)?

94. Why did St. Augustine recognize no other authority above Scripture (see A.D.R. Pohlman, The Word of God According to St. Augustine (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1961), p. 63)?

95. Why did “…Hippolytus, Cyprian, Epiphanius, Marius Victorinus, Hilary of Poitiers, Ambrose, Jerome, Theophilus of Alexandria, Niceta of Remesiana, John Cassian, Theodoret, John of Damascus, Cyril of Alexandria, Salvian the Presbyter, Cesarius of Arles, Vincent of Lerins, Gregory the Great and Cosmus of Indicopleustus” (Webster, “The Church Fathers and the Authority and Sufficiency of Scripture”) all believe in the supremacy of the divine Scriptures over popes, councils, tradition and the local church?  Doesn’t the “supreme authority” of Scripture reflect a divine sense of its divine perpetuity?