One of the battle cries of the Protestant Reformation was Sola Scriptura, which means Scripture alone. In those days, the Roman Catholic Church upheld traditions with the same authority, if not more, as Scripture. It allowed them to advance unbiblical practices such as selling indulgences, transubstantiation (Christ’s actual blood and body during communion), and praying to the saints.
But the reformers, led by Martin Luther, contended for the sole authority of Scripture for faith, godliness and practice. Hence the slogan, Sola Scriptura. But that wasn’t the end. The reformers (and the church at large) also had to contend for the sufficiency of Scripture.
The doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture means that everything we need to live according to God’s will and glory is in the Holy Scriptures. We need nothing else. As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
Since the days of the Reformation, the sufficiency of Scripture has been under siege on multiple fronts. For instance, evangelism, church services, counseling, and more recently, racial reconciliation. One area where it has been attacked the most is in hearing God’s voice. The church today is full of Christians who seek personal communication from God outside Scripture. “It is written” is not sufficient; they want, “God told me.”
I am the chief of them.
I spent most of my Christian life believing the Bible isn’t enough and seeking all kinds of extra-biblical revelations. It caused me to stumble in many ways. But by God’s grace, I renounced this unbiblical practice when I discovered Clouds Without Water by Justin Peters. In this seminar, Peters explains why hearing from God outside of Scripture is unbiblical and why Scripture is sufficient.
So far in this short series, I have explained why we should search Scripture instead of seeking signs and small voices, explored the dangers of pursuing extra-biblical revelations, and showed how God speaks to us today (and why we reject His way).
For this final post, I want to make a case for the sufficiency of Scripture in hearing God’s voice. To achieve this, I will refer to the best defense for the sufficiency of Scripture: Psalm 19. In this psalm, David makes six astounding claims about God’s Word that should convince us that the Bible is enough to hear God speak.
1. Scripture is perfect
“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.”
The law of the Lord, which is all of Scripture, is perfect. The Hebrew word for perfect is tanim, and it means complete, whole, full, and without spot. In other words, the canon of Scripture is finished and flawless. All the information we need for our spiritual life lies within its pages, and it does not require new content or updates.
Moreover, God’s perfect Word is sufficient to revive the soul. The Hebrew word for revive is gal, and it means to turn back or return. We know that all have turned away from God, and no one seeks Him (Romans 3:11-12); it is only upon hearing the words of Christ that we repent and turn unto Him in faith (Romans 10:17). Only Scripture can transform our inner being and conform us to the glorious image of Christ (John 17:17).
Oftentimes, Christians wanting personal revival or transformation will try to hear God’s voice outside Scripture or ask for divinely appointed word for the year. But these extra-biblical revelations are faulty and powerless to effect any lasting change. The only word we need to grow spiritually is God’s perfect word revealed in the Bible.
2. Scripture is trustworthy
“The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.”
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines testimony as a “solemn declaration” or a “firsthand authentication of a fact.” The Bible is God’s testimony. It is the only document where God reveals His nature, character, attributes, will, and deeds. Unlike human testimonies that may contain false statements, God’s testimony is always trustworthy. The same cannot be said of extra-biblical revelations. We can never be entirely sure that our impressions or dreams are true or that they are from God, for that matter. But whenever we read Scripture, we know that God is speaking and that His words are always true.
Moreover, His testimony has the power to make the simple (naive or open-minded) wise. Psalm 118:98-99 says, “Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.”
Extra-biblical revelations, on the other hand, often lead to folly. For instance, yours truly moved to a new city without money, contacts, job offer, or even a place to stay because “God told me.” Reading Scripture also makes us more discerning and cautious. In church history, extra-biblical revelations have led to false religions like Islam and Mormonism. God’s Word guards our heart against such errors and closes it to new doctrines or beliefs.
3. Scripture is right
“The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.”
Scripture contains all the instructions and principles we need for righteous living. The Hebrew word for right means straightforward, correct, upright, or undeviating. So God’s Word gives us guidelines that set us on the right path and direction. As Psalm 119:105 says, God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.
We often seek extra-biblical revelations because we want guidance in choosing whom to marry, where to live, etc. But God’s Word provides enough wisdom to make day-to-day decisions without needing a unique sign from heaven. And when we make decisions based on the wisdom of Scripture, our hearts will rejoice.
Authentic Christian joy is never based on our circumstances or outcome but knowing God and obeying His Word (John 15:11). Even when our decisions don’t produce the result we expect, we can still rejoice in knowing we sought God’s counsel and obeyed Him (Luke 11:28). You can’t get that peaceful assurance from extra-biblical revelations. They are powerless and ineffective in bringing lasting joy.
4. Scripture is pure
“The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.”
The Bible also contains commandments we must obey. And these commands are pure. The Hebrew word for pure is bar, and it means clear or sincere. This means that Scripture can easily be understood. It doesn’t take a seminary degree or cryptology course to get the full meaning. It is clear enough that even children can understand it. Theologians call this the perspicuity of Scripture.
Extra-biblical revelations, on the other hand, are not clear. Contrary to Scripture which has only one straightforward interpretation, extra-biblical revelations are highly subjective. Two people can have the same vision or experience and interpret it differently depending on their circumstances. Furthermore, they are cryptic and usually require more signs to make sense of them. When I thought God spoke to me outside Scripture, I often couldn’t make head or tail of it. But Yahweh is not a God of confusion. His Word brings enlightenment and order out of chaos. It shines in the darkness and reveals truth from lies.
5. Scripture is clean
“The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.”
For believers, the fear of the Lord means having reverence and awe at the magnificence of the living God. Fearing God comes from knowing Him, and we can only know Him through Scripture. John MacArthur says, “The fear of the Lord is a reference to the passion evoked in believers when their minds are awakened to the truth of Scripture.”
The Hebrew word for clean is tahor, and it also means pure. The Old Testament uses it about purification before ceremonial rites, e.g., Leviticus 10.10. So God is holy, set apart, and undefiled. Psalm 12:6 says, “The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.” It is without imperfections and doesn’t need new editions or revisions. It is as perfect and flawless as it was written thousands of years ago, and it will never change.
No extra-biblical revelation possesses this divine quality. They are far from perfect and sometimes need revisions. Take Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, for example. Young claims Jesus spoke to her outside the Bible, and she wrote down His words in the book. But the content, including Jesus’s words, has undergone significant revisions and editing.
Furthermore, extra-biblical revelations are fleeting. In a little while, books like Jesus Calling will go out of print, all these personal messages we claim to receive from God with eventually fade away. But Scripture will endure forever (Isaiah 40:8). It will always be relevant and never return void.
6. Scripture is true
“The rules of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”
Lastly, David speaks of the rules of the Lord. The Hebrew word for rule is mishpat, and it means judgment, sentence, or verdict. God is the supreme judge of the world. He has given us edicts, principles, and commandments which are true and righteous. John MacArthur says, “Scripture is the divine Magistrate’s verdict on everything that pertains to life and godliness. When Scripture speaks, it is conclusive because it is God’s own verdict. It is an immutable decree from the judgment seat of heaven.”
Scripture is not just true; it is the truth (John 17:17). It is the standard by which all facts are derived and measured. And it is altogether righteous. Extra-biblical revelations are rarely—if ever—true. One only has to look at so-called modern-day prophets and their false predictions to see it. In our postmodern world full of subjectivity, redefinition of realities, and false ideologies, Christians don’t need new truths but the truth. And that’s the Bible.
I have covenanted with my Lord that he should not send me visions or dreams or even angels. I am content with his gift of the Scriptures which teaches and supplies all that is necessary, both for this life and that which is to come.
Martin Luther
After affirming the supremacy of Scripture, David gives three benefits of abiding in it.
First, Scripture is our most valuable treasure. Psalm 19:10 says, “More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold.”
The Bible is worth more than thousands of gold and silver pieces (Psalm 119:72). Most of us who live in the West take the privilege of having a Bible in our native language for granted. But it is a privilege that most Christians throughout church history didn’t have, and many believers in persecuted countries today do not have. God’s Word is also our sweetest pleasure. David says it is “sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.” Meditating on God’s precepts brings more delight and pleasure than the sweetest things this world can offer (Psalm 119:102). Why neglect such a precious treasure for worthless extra-biblical revelations?
Second, Scripture protects us. Psalm 19:11 says, “Moreover, by them your servant is warned. There is great reward in keeping them.” The Bible is our protection against sin (Psalm 119:11) and the enemy (Eph 6:17). Psalm 1 says the man who delights and meditates God’s Word is “like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” The rewards for keeping God’s commandments include knowing Him (1 John 2:3), loving Him (John 14:15; 21), abiding in Him and He in us (John 14:23; 15:10).
Last, Scripture purifies us. Psalm 19:12-13 says, “Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sin. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless and innocent of great transgression.” We know from Hebrews 4:12 that God’s Word pierces our heart, exposes the sin within, and cleanses us. Extra-biblical revelations can do nothing for our holiness. The Bible alone sanctifies us (John 17:17).
David’s response to God’s perfect revelation in Scripture is to meditate on it. He says, “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O God my rock and my redeemer.” This should also be our response. We ought not to seek new personal extra-biblical revelations but meditate on Scripture day and night and be careful to do according to all that is written (Joshua 1:8). And only then will our thoughts, words, and actions be pleasing and acceptable to God.
Dear reader, Scripture is sufficient to hear from God. You don’t need to look outside of the Bible to hear God’s voice because everything He needs to say to you is in the Sacred Scriptures.
For further learning on Hearing God’s Voice, I highly recommend the book God Doesn’t Whisper by Jim Osman.
Grace and peace to you!
“My sheep read my book, their scribes and lawyers teach it: And I give unto them the way to heaven.”
Sufficiency is well and good, but if I didn’t want sufficiency? What if I wanted abundance? What if I need a God who doesn’t need a translator to talk, or one who can explain what he means?
Hi Gordon, I am not really sure what you mean by this comment. what do you mean by abundance? Who says God can’t explain what he means or needs a translator? Certainly not I as I believe God does need anything and can communicate however He pleases.
Scripture was sufficient. I don’t want sufficient. I want abundant.
If God actually can talk through means other than the Bible, (which needs translators from Hebrew and Aramaic and Greek,) so that he might clarify his intended message personally (instead of through translators and theologians,) where does he do it, and to whom does he do it without variation?
Why call him a God of today if there are no prophets today?
I am not sure what you mean by abundant but can’t help you if you are not content with God’s Word and the way He chose to communicate with us.
Nonsense.
Hi Bruce, do you mind elaborating on your comment?
Sure. Sorry if I seemed rude, it was just bluntness! I find it to be just amazing that people will give up a personal relationship with God and think His answer to all your questions is to go and read the Bible. He wants a relationship with you. A personal and individual back and forth. It’s a strange and odd sort of relationship to establish for sure, so to think one can just blurt out questions and expect audible voice answers is absurd. But He will communicate to you in many different ways. He is very creative and a wonderful… Read more »
Hi Bruce, thank you for clarifying your statement. I suppose we will just have to disagree on this.
Ok, last word: Life comes from Him, the being, not the scriptures.
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”
If God speaks today, what does he say? What prophet do you know whose prophesies came true, and what prophesies from the same are yet to be fulfilled that we may see? God once made statements to Israel’s neighbors, sending horrible threats left and right to Babylon and Nineveh and Egypt. What has he to say to Beijing and Kiev and Los Angeles? ‘Or declare to us the things to come, tell us what the future holds, ‘so we may know that you are full of the Holy Spirit. ‘Do something miraculous, whether good or bad, ‘so that we will… Read more »
God speaks today through His written Word (How God Speaks to us Today). If you want to know what God has to say, just read your Bible 🙂
Oh? Then does Hitler still speak today, since Mein Kampf can still be read?
We know that God spoke yesterday. I’m asking today about things of today as yesterday the things of yesterday.
There were many prophesies about Babylon and Philistia. What does God have to say about London? Or Beijing? What is God’s answer to the current schisms in the church? What does God have to say about today’s controversies in theology which both sides claim to speak for God?