Sufficient Word


Selvaraj with some prominent Filipino Christian leaders in the 24th National Prayer Gathering, April 12, 2013,  at the Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City. From the "Intercessors for the Philippines" Facebook page. Image credit

 How come even sincere Christian leaders fall for false prophets just like what happened recently when they trumpeted the supposed predictions of the self-styled Prophet Sadhu Sendar Selvaraj? I believe that one of the root causes why is because they thought that God still speaks apart from His Word. They apparently doubt that the Bible is sufficient for faith and life. 
NOTE: I personally believe that not all leaders who were there in the National Prayer Gathering support Selvaraj. One of them sent me a private message thru Facebook: "I do not agree with Selvaraj and asked Bishop Dan Balais [of Intercessors for the Philippines"] privately later that they should evaluate." Image credit

However, according to Psalm 19, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul” (v. 7a, ESV). The word “perfect” means that the “[Scripture] lacks nothing [for] its completeness; nothing in order that it might be what it should be. It is complete as a revelation of Divine truth; it is complete as a rule of conduct. It is absolutely true… it is an unerring guide of conduct. There is nothing there which would lead men into error or sin; there is nothing essential for man to know which may not be found there.” (Albert Barnes, “Notes on Old Testament: Psalms.”) In short, the Bible is sufficient for what we believe and what we do as followers of the Lord. 
Image credit

Also, according to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “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.” Note the words “complete” and “every.” “Complete” means “all that is necessary.” “Every” means “all without exception.” Through the Word, we could “be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (NIV) 

 So, what else do we need apart from the Bible as far as faith and life is concerned? Instead of chasing after so-called “fresh revelations” or modern-day prophecies, we are to crave for the sufficient Word. As one translation goes, “The scriptures are the comprehensive equipment of the man of God and fit him fully for all branches of his work.” (Phillips) Everything we need to know and to do is in the Bible already.

 Brothers and sisters, the Bible is the sufficient Word.

Comments

  1. Anonymous2:59 PM

    Didnt also the Scripture says in..

    Ephesians 4:11-12
    Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the PROPHETS, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

    In the day of the churches in Acts 11:28, Agabus is affirmed as a true prophet, who accurately foretold the coming of a severe famine. and also fortoled a dishearting prophecy to the Apostle Paul in Acts 21:10–11, when he warns Paul of the coming persecution he will face if he returns to Jerusalem. Paul encourage the church not to treat prophecies with contempt. 1 Thessalonians 5:20; The Filipino people, whom almost 80% belong to the Catholic faith with all their idolatry and witchcraft (animism) has long been under a curse..Deuteronomy 28:15-68. Why defend them if its God's call for them to repent? This should not scare Christians, those who faithfully walk with him. as the Lord will surely protect them..Genesis 18:23-25

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Eyriche Cortez4:28 PM

      Thank you for your comments. Appreciate it.

      First, let me clarify that I am not defending the animists and the idolaters in our country. Please do not read beyond what I have written. With or without these so-called modern-day prophecies, God has commanded and is commanding people to repent already: "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31, ESV) The Gospel IS God's call or command for repentance.

      Second, Ephesians 4:11-12 do not necessarily refer to a local church or to a denomination but to "the body of Christ" a.k.a. the universal church (not to be confused with a group using the name). So for a local church to have an apostle or a prophet is not Biblical. Also, having pointed out that it refers to the Church as a whole ("the body of Christ," that is, every believer from Acts 2 until the Rapture), then believing that there are no longer modern-day apostles and prophets does not really contradict Ephesians 4:11-12 but is actually true to the intent of the text. Let us be faithful to what Scripture really says.

      Third, according to Ephesians 2:19-21, "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord." Note that this passage came from the same epistle where it also says "And he gave the apostles, the prophets,..." (4:11a) Also, note that it says "the foundation of the apostles and prophets". Allow me to quote "The Bible Knowledge Commentary," "The words 'apostles and prophets' could modify 'the foundation.' This could mean (a) that the foundation was built by them, or (b) that the foundation came from them, or (c) that they own a foundation or, as seems best, (d) that they are the foundation. The words could be translated, 'the foundation which consists of the apostles and prophets.' This makes the best sense when one sees in 4:11 that the apostles and prophets were gifted men given to the church as its 'foundation.' Furthermore, this fits well in the present context, which states that Christ Jesus Himself is the chief Cornerstone, that is, He is part of the foundation." In short, the apostles and prophets were foundational. We only lay down the foundation of a building once and at the beginning of its construction, not when we are half-way or about to finish it.

      Fourth, yes we are commanded: "Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:20-22) I did not despise prophecies but I evaluated Selvaraj's supposed prophecies in the light of the command to "test everything". And since it failed the test of Scriptures (like its geographical mistakes), I am bound by the Word to "abstain from [it]." I'm just sharing the result of the test I did.

      Again, thank you for your comments. I hope my response would at least challenge all of us to correctly handle the Word (2 Timothy 2:15).

      Delete

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