Scripture is the Sufficient Standard (1689 1:1)
“The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience…” The 1689 Confession of Faith opens with this unambiguous declaration that Scripture is the only sufficient standard of truth. All things pertaining to the Christian faith are found in the canon of Scripture. No where else. The modern world has no objective standard or rule by which to live. Everyone defines their own truth, decides who they are and want to be, and have completely abandoned the idea that there is a God who defines morality and reality. In contrast to this fallen worldview, the 1689 confession summarizes clearly and concisely what Scripture teaches about itself:
The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God’s revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Section 1:1
Two Sources of Revelation…One Sufficient for Salvation
Notice first that the authors of the confession call out two ways God communicates who He is to humans: the Scripture and the “works of creation and providence.” In doing so, the authors are keeping with Psalm 19 and Romans 1 where the Bible says that God has revealed part of His glory and character through creation. When humans look out at the world around them, they should be able to deduce that there is a powerful, wise, and good ultimate Being who created the universe.
However, the authors are careful to distinguish between Scripture and natural revelation. The former they explicitly say is sufficient, while the latter is explicitly called out as not sufficient. In both cases, the sufficiency in view is “sufficient for salvation.” In other words, Scripture is the only sufficient standard in which you can find how to be reconciled to God. Natural revelation at the best only reveals that there is a God and He must have certain attributes.
Now, what does “sufficient” mean? It means that Scripture has in itself everything you need to be saved from your sins. It exhaustively contains the doctrines needed for being reconciled to God and then living in obedience to Him after you are reconciled. In using the word “sufficient”, the authors are making it clear that the canon of Scripture is all you need for salvation. You don’t need any supplementary or external material in order to understand and believe the Gospel. Not only that, Scripture is the sufficient standard for how Christians are to live in the world.
People can give you wise or helpful life-advice. But at the end of the day, only the Bible contains what the Lord requires of you, your family, or your Church.
Many Ways of Speaking in the Past…One Authoritative Word in the Present
The confession states that in the past God used various means to communicate His will to man. A simple read through of the Old Testament confirms this. God spoke directly to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He communicated to the nation of Israel through Moses, a mediator. When Israel forsook God’s covenant, He sent prophets who said “Thus saith the Lord.” But now, the 1689 asserts, these former ways have ceased. God spoke in many ways in the past, but now His authoritative word is contained in Scripture.
In arguing this point, the authors of the confession cite a very important verse:
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
Hebrews 1:1-2, ESV
The authors here see a contrast between the past and the present. In the past, God spoke at many times and in many ways. But on this side of the Cross, God has spoken His decisive word: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The confession sees in this verse an implication that the past ways that God used pre-Christ to reveal His will have ceased with the coming of God’s final word.
I think it is important to note here, however, that even when God was speaking directly through prophets, He established a standard in His Word.
“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams.
Deuteronomy 13:1-3a, ESV
Notice that even if a prophet made a prophecy that came true, the ultimate test of if they are a false prophet or not is if they lead you away from the Lord. Now, the question is, where would Israel have known to not follow other gods? The 10 commandments, which were God’s written commands. So even in the past, direct prophetic communication had to be examined by God’s written revelation. Therefore, in both past and present, God’s written word held the ultimate authority.
In summary, the Word of God is everything. Scripture is the sufficient standard by which you should measure everything you hear, learn, or experience.
Want to know who God is? Go to Scripture. Want to hear God speak directly to you? Go to Scripture. Want to know how to be saved? Go to Scripture. Want to know how to live your life pleasing to God? Go to Scripture.
Until you see scripture as the sufficient standard of truth, you will never be safe from subtle error.
Practical Implications
1. The Scriptures give certain truth in a confused world
The modern culture has no objective truth or standard to cling to or rely on. “Truth” is defined by the individual and any of the “standards” societies adopt are simply those expedient for them at the moment. Every day through social media and the internet, countless thoughts and opinions are offered for you to hear. What can you fall back on? What can you know for certain? The answer: anything spoken by an unchanging God.
Notice, the confession says the Scripture gives a “more sure establishment and comfort of the Church.” The Church and individual Christians find their certainty in the pages of Scripture. They don’t look to the arguments of fallen humans or whatever the current wisdom of the world is. “To the law and to the testimony!” they cry.
You will never have certainty in your life until you find it in Scripture.
All of life is uncertain except what God has declared to be so from the beginning. Cling to the only comfort you can count on: God’s inerrant, infallible, sufficient, unchanging, authoritative word.
2. Hearing from God means reading the Bible
The very last line of this section of the confession gives a not-so-subtle hint at cessationism: “those former ways of God’s revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.” What former ways are in view here? I take this to mean that God communicating directly by a prophecy given to an individual has ceased. Hearing from God does not require you to travel to hear someone speak. In fact, the only way to be sure you are hearing God’s words when you hear a human speak is if they are reading and expounding the text of Scripture.
Everyone wants to hear directly from God. Everyone wants to comfort of having a message from the all-powerful creator of the universe. The good news is that God’s words have been preserved for you. God has committed His words “wholly into writing”. Hearing from God is as easy as reading what He has recorded for you. Now, reading can be quite difficult. That is why having tools to help you understand Scripture is vital. However, you will never know God’s will any other way than working through the Bible.
This post is part of a new series walking through the 1689 2nd London Confession. For other teachings I have done in the past, click here. If you found this post helpful, please share below and subscribe. Follow The Average Churchman on Instagram to get more content.