The Sufficiency and Supremacy of the Scriptures

One of the most recognizable teachings of Jesus is Luke 16 with the rich man and Lazarus. Both die, but Lazarus, the beggar in abject poverty, is carried to Heaven while the rich man goes to Hell.  In his eternal torments, the unnamed rich man makes a request for Father Abraham to send Lazarus to his house for he has five brothers there who are following his footsteps and headed to this same place of torment. 

Father Abraham responds "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them." (verse 29). When Abraham confirms eternity is set and cannot be changed, the rich man continues to push his notable position by showing deep concern believing his brothers will not respond to "Moses and the prophets," so let someone rise from the dead and then they will respond.

We often hear persons, well-meaning like this rich man, want to do all types of things to entice and engage those who are without Christ assuring us nothing is wrong with doing whatever we can to win people to Jesus.

But apparently, God does not feel the same way.  In this passage filled with teaching about one's relationship with money and hell, the eternal and unchanging Word of God is affirmed as the sole authority and means for which people respond to saving and life-changing faith.

We have no tool in our possession greater than the Word of God.  The Scripture is sufficient to reveal everything needful for our salvation, for the Christian life, for the establishment of right doctrine, and for the living out of a successful Christian life.

This truth is no greater seen than in the Lord's church. The Word of God preached and proclaimed is the first and most essential mark of the church.  The location of the pulpit in our churches is front, center, and elevated about all else.  We even see this more exaggerated in European culture when the preacher had to climb several steep steps to reach the pulpit. 

Under the preaching of the Word of God, sinners are convicted and converted plus the church is brought to maturity confirming to the likeness of Christ.  There are many means of ministering to one another and helping one another, but nothing rises to the place and priority of the preached Word of God.

In verse 17 Jesus affirmed, "It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail."  (NASB).  God's word is permanent and unchanging.

The bottom line of this teaching is summarized this way by Dr. Albert Mohler, Jr.: "One who will not hear the Scripture will not hear anything or anyone else. They will not repent, even if they are confronted with one who has risen from the dead.  The one who did rise from the dead told us this on his own divine authority." 

#David O. Cofield