THE SCRIPTURES ALONE ARE SUFFICIENT

By David J. Riggs

Paul told Timothy, "From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim. 3:15). Consequently, according to an inspired apostle, one can obtain eternal salvation solely by following the Scriptures. In 2 Tim. 3:16-17, Paul declared that the Scriptures contain everything necessary for doctrine, reproof, etc., to make the man of God perfect or complete. He further added, "...thoroughly equipped for every good work." (Verse 17). Thus, there is not a single good work the Christian can do which is not designated in the Scriptures.

The apostle John clearly shows that the things which he wrote were given to produce the faith which brings life in the name of Jesus (John 20:30-31). We freely admit that the Scriptures do not contain everything Jesus did. John said, "And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written." (John 21:25). Although we do not have everything Jesus did, we do have every necessary thing. We have enough to give us life in His name.

Luke said he wrote his book to Theophilus in order that he might know the certainty of the things which he had heard (Luke 1:3-4). In other words, Theophilus would no longer need to rely on what he had been taught by word of mouth, but could now prove them by the inspired writings. In Acts 1:1 Luke said, "The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach..." What did Luke mean when he said he wrote of all that Jesus did and taught? We know he did not mean every detail of the life of Christ, because John said if that were done, the world itself would not contain the books. He meant, therefore, that he had written all necessary things that Jesus did and taught. The Scriptures provide:

All necessary things which Jesus did - Acts 1:1-2

Certainty of His action and teaching - Luke 1:3-4

Life in the name of Jesus - John 20:30-31

Instructions to salvation - 2 Tim. 3:15

Commands of the Lord - 1 Cor. 14:37

The proper conduct - 1 Tim. 3:14-15

Every good work - 2 Tim. 3:16-17

Protection against sin - 1 John 2:1

An assurance of eternal life - 1 John 5:13

Standard by which teachers are tested - Acts 17:11

Standard which we cannot go beyond - 1 Cor. 4:6

Blessings from God - Rev. 1:3

Joy that is complete - 1 John 1:3-4

Standard of judgment - Rev. 20:12

If one reads and studies the New Testament and obtains from it all the things mentioned above, what else would he need? Do not men cast reflection on God when they imply that God failed to provide everything necessary for salvation? God declared that man is equipped for every good work through the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Who has the right to say that man is not equipped for every good work through the Scriptures?