Session 2: WCF Chapter I Of the Holy Scripture, Section 1

CHAPTER I - Of the Holy Scripture 1. 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 unexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of 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 afterwards, 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 Scripture to be most necessary; those former ways of God’s revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.

CHAPTER I - Of the Holy Scripture 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… Rom. 2:14–15. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them. Rom. 1:19–20. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Ps. 19:1–4. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun.

CHAPTER I - Of the Holy Scripture …yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation… John 17:3. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 1 Cor. 1:21. For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 1 Cor. 2:13–14. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

CHAPTER I - Of the Holy Scripture …Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manner, to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto His Church… Heb. 1:1–2. 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.

CHAPTER I - Of the Holy Scripture …and afterwards, 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… Luke 1:3–4. It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. Rom. 15:4. For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Matt. 4:4, 7, 10. But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”.… Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”.… Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Isa. 8:91-20. And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.

CHAPTER I - Of the Holy Scripture …which maketh the Holy Scripture to be most necessary… 2 Tim. 3:15. … and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Pet. 1:19. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

CHAPTER I - Of the Holy Scripture …those former ways of God’s revealing his will unto his people being now ceased. John 20:31. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. 1 Cor. 14:37. If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 1 John 5:13. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 Cor. 10:11. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Heb. 1:1–2. 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.

CHAPTER I - Of the Holy Scripture 1. 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 unexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of 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 afterwards, 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 Scripture to be most necessary; those former ways of God’s revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.

Controversy of the Week!

Cessationism/ Continuationism Does the Holy Spirit cause people to prophecy, heal and speak in tongues today? Testing the Spirits (1 John 4:1) vs. Quenching the Spirit (1 Thess. 5:19)

1 Corinthians 12:4-11. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Full Cessationism – Today, God neither gives any miraculous gifts nor performs any miracles. True miracles are undeniably supernatural, not merely inexplicable. B. B. Warfield, J. Gresham Machen and Francis Nigel Lee. Classical Cessationism – Miraculous gift, or “sign gifts,” ceased with the apostles and the completion of the canon of Scripture, because they were only used as launching pads for the spreading of the Gospel. However, God still occasionally performs miracles today, such as healings or divine guidance, but true miracles never create new doctrine or add to the canon of the Bible. Other “miracles” are a deception. Wayne Grudem, John MacArthur, Daniel Wallace and Jonathan Edwards Strong Cessationism – Sola scriptura. Period. Moderate Cessationism – Although miraculous gifts have ceased, they are likely to re-emerge in the future, during the Tribulation and when Christ’s Millennial Kingdom is established on Earth. Continuationism – Paul thought of all churches as charismatic; he did not differentiate between charismatic and noncharismatic churches. Today’s church should have the same supernatural powers to fight Satan as Satan has against it. God uses miracles to shatter the unbeliever’s disinterest. John Piper, Jon Ruthven and Jack Deere

Personal Personal Focus Focus

How does special revelation affect how you view the unsaved?