The Scripture
Why do we believe what we believe? I believe it’s very fitting for the Baptist Faith and Message to begin with the absolute necessity of scripture, because it’s the guide from which all theology (the study of God) should originate. It’s the pathway to instruct us on daily life, the need for Christ for salvation, and it is the way God uses to communicate with his children. B.I.B.L.E.- Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
This is what the Baptist Faith & Message says about Scripture
“The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.”
Throughout history there have been controversies that have combated Orthodox Christian thought. Councils of church leaders would form, they would meet, pray, search scripture, and conclude with an agreement, creed, or an early type of confession of faith. Much like the councils of the earlier church, protestants would meet based upon modern controversies. From these controversies came the Baptist Confessions of faith. I’ll spare you the history, but as you can imagine the authority of the Bible has always been at stake. Why do you think this is? Why must the Bible have full authority? Part of being Baptist to the Bone is believing the authority of scripture! If you can conclude that the Bible has error, you can live however you please. If the Bible is an allegory or myth, you can pick and choose what you will believe or not believe. Many people treat American Christianity this way anyway, it’s a Christianity la cart, pick and choose what best fits you. This is not so. The Bible is our authority with the Holy Spirit as the divine author enacting upon and using possibly 40 human personalities; therefore, one author (God) and a few writers. Baptist have historically believed God’s Word to be man’s absolute authority and guide.
In 1963, Southern Baptists responded to assaults upon the authority and truthfulness of the Bible by adopting revisions to the Baptist Faith and Message, part of which we have now. Several passages convey the truth of scripture. I love what Spurgeon said about Scripture: “The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.” – C.H. Spurgeon
What errors do some fall into with the authority of scripture? Daniel Akin suggest that “Liberal churches tend to elevate human reason to a place of authority and judgment over the Bible. Some deny the sufficiency of Scripture by placing ecclesiastical authority over Scripture. Some exalt subjective experience to a position of supreme authority over the Bible.”
What response should a Christian have toward scripture?
To Love, Value, and Appreciate Scripture (Psalm 19:7-10) The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.”
To Acknowledge Scripture as the Absolute Truth (John 8:31-32; 17:17) “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jn 8:31-32 “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” Jn 17:17
To Affirm the Ability of Scripture if Applied (2 Timothy 3:15-17) “and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (also Romans 10:17)
As you can see, everything hinges on our view of Scripture! If we view that it has little to no authority, how can we be sure of salvation, Christ work on the cross, eternity, etc. We must view Scripture just as the early reformers did: Sola Scriptura, In Scripture Alone!