WELCOME TO THE HAGERSTOWN CHURCH OF CHRIST If you are visiting with us today would you please fill out a Welcome Card and leave it on the seat beside you to be collected following our services? THANK YOU. Psalm 51:15 (NASB) 15  O Lord, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise.

Scripture Reading 1 Corinthians 2:6-13

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB) All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

2 Peter 1:20-21 (NASB) But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

THE NECESSITY OF SCRIPTURE The essential characteristics of Scripture are: SUFFICIENCY CLARITY AUTHORITY NECESSITY. Use the an acronym SCAN.

ENUF- E – the Scriptures are ENOUGH. (Sufficiency) N – the Scriptures are NECESSARY.(Necessity) U – the Scriptures are UNDERSTANDABLE. (Clarity) F – the Scriptures are FINAL. (Authority)

THE DOCTRINE OF THE NECESSITY OF SCRIPTURE 1 Corinthians 2:6-13 - 6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him."

10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit 10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit, and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit. 12 And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. Holy Bible, New Living Translation.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him."

People want purpose. We want to be happy. We want to be part of something bigger than ourselves. We want to be known by someone bigger than ourselves. We want to live forever.

Thus the Doctrine of the Necessity of Scripture.

Psalms 63:1 –“O God, you are my God, and I long for you Psalms 63:1 –“O God, you are my God, and I long for you. My whole being desires you; like a dry, worn-out, and waterless land, my soul is thirsty for you.”

John 17:3 – 3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. NASU

It is VITAL for us to know God – and that is the heart of the doctrine of the necessity of Scripture.

Romans 1:18-23 - 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Holy Bible, New Living Translation.

Calvin wrote “the Scriptures are our spectacles, the lenses through which we see God, the world, and ourselves rightly.”

John 6:68 – “Lord, to whom shall we go John 6:68 – “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

A DIFFERENT WISDOM 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 - 18 The message about the cross doesn't make any sense to lost people. But for those of us who are being saved, it is God's power at work. 19 As God says in the Scriptures, "I will destroy the wisdom of all who claim to be wise. I will confuse those who think they know so much." 20 What happened to those wise people? What happened to those experts in the Scriptures? What happened to the ones who think they have all the answers? Didn't God show that the wisdom of this world is foolish? 21 God was wise and decided not to let the people of this world use their wisdom to learn about him. Instead, God chose to save only those who believe the foolish message we preach.

22 Jews ask for miracles, and Greeks want something that sounds wise 22 Jews ask for miracles, and Greeks want something that sounds wise. 23 But we preach that Christ was nailed to a cross. Most Jews have problems with this, and most Gentiles think it is foolish. 24 Our message is God's power and wisdom for the Jews and the Greeks that he has chosen. 25 Even when God is foolish, he is wiser than everyone else, and even when God is weak, he is stronger than everyone else. CEV

Paul says you won’t find it in his sermons 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 - When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn't use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God's secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. Holy Bible, New Living Translation.

Paul says you won’t find it in the people around you 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 - 26 My dear friends, remember what you were when God chose you. The people of this world didn't think that many of you were wise. Only a few of you were in places of power, and not many of you came from important families. 27 But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame. 28 What the world thinks is worthless, useless, and nothing at all is what God has used to destroy what the world considers important. 29 God did all this to keep anyone from bragging to him. 30 You are God's children. He sent Christ Jesus to save us and to make us wise, acceptable, and holy. 31 So if you want to brag, do what the Scriptures say and brag about the Lord. CEV

GOD’S WISDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD 1 Corinthians 2:6- 6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. Holy Bible, New Living Translation.

2 Corinthians 4:4 - 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. Holy Bible, New Living Translation.

2 Corinthians 10:3- 5 - 3 We are human, but we don't wage war as humans do. 4 We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

God’s wisdom is unique. This is why the world has such trouble sometimes comprehending God’s will. 1 Corinthians 2:7- 7 We speak of God's hidden and mysterious wisdom that God decided to use for our glory long before the world began. CEV

God must speak to us

1 Corinthians 2:6 – “doomed to pass away”. “DECREED BEFORE THE AGES”.

“God has revealed to us through the spirit.” Verse 10.

ONLY GOD CAN TELL US ABOUT GOD A DIFFERENT SOURCE ONLY GOD CAN TELL US ABOUT GOD

1 Corinthians 2:10-13 - 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. NASU

Philippians 2:2-4 - 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. NASU

Matthew 28:19-20 - 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." NASU

Romans 6:7 – “for he who has died is freed from sin.”

THE DOCTRINE OF THE NECESSITY OF SCRIPTURE

John 16:12-15 - 12 "I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you. NASU

A DIFFERENT LOVE The reason God made known his will to us – the reason HE revealed His mind to us – is so that we might know His love, His mercy and be saved.

1 Corinthians 2:9 - but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." NASU

God’s word is understandable! God’s word is necessary! God’s word is final! God’s word is understandable! God’s word is necessary! And God’s word is enough!