Necessity

¶ What does it mean?

Creation tells us there is a God (Rom. 1:19-20), but it can not tell us the way of salvation. We need Scripture to know Christ, to know the gospel, and to know what God has commanded his people.

¶ Where do we see it in Scripture?

• Romans 10:14, 17How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are the to hear without someone preaching?... So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
• Psalm 119:105Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.
• 2 Timothy 3:15-17All 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.

¶ Historical context

The Reformers insisted that the Scripture was key to knowing the gospel, and that it was an essential duty of the church to ensure God's people had access to His word. God chose Scripture as the way to share the gospel with the world. If the chruch prohibited or restricted the sharing of Scripture, then it would be activity going against God's plan of redemption.

¶ What this does not mean

The necessity of Scripture does not preclude the necessity of the church or the necessity of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures contain what we need to believe in order to be saved and what we must do in order to honor God. The Spirit uses the Word of God to sanctify us, and the church uses Scripture to teach right doctrine.

¶ Why it matters

In order to know God, we must know his Word. If we want to hear from God, we have read what He already has spoken.