Hesston MB Sermon Notes: 5 Solas-Scripture Alone

5 Solas: Scripture Alone

2 Timothy 3:14-17

Introduction: We are beginning a 5 week study on the 5 Solas. Sola is Latin for alone, the solas were considered the foundational principles of Protestantism which was begun by Martin Luther in 1517 (Sola! Pg 3) The 5 solas are Scripture Alone, Grace Alone, Christ Alone, Faith Alone, and Glory of God Alone. Each week we will look at a different sola and how it is important for us today.  But before we get to Scripture Alone, we are going to watch a brief introduction of Martin Luther and the Reformation.

One Story vs. 14-15

·         Vs. 14-Continue in what you have learned and become convinced of-why because you know and trust those who taught you.

o   He knows that his mother and grandmother and Paul are trustworthy and they are the ones who taught him^[1]

·         God has chosen to reveal himself to us in various ways (creation, Bible, Jesus)

o   Creation-Sun, moon, stars, humans. As you look at what God has made in creation, what causes you to praise Him?  For me, it’s mountains and oceans. Kansas sunrises and sunsets are pretty amazing too.

o   Scriptures (Bible)-You might have heard the Bible described as Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth (it is so much more than instruction), Change in children’s curriculum-Not moral lessons (Be brave like Daniel, Be a leader like Gideon), Not individual heroes or authors,

§  One story from Genesis to Revelation of how God is redeeming, restoring and reconciling the world to Himself. It shows us who God is. (sermon series later this summer)

o   Vs. 15-Focus on salvation through faith in Jesus

§  Jesus is the hero of Scripture and of which all Scripture points

·         Luke 24:44; John 5:39

God-Breathed vs. 16

·         God breathed-made up of two Greek Words theo for God & pneustos which comes from word for Spirit which means breath. Only used once in the entire Bible.

·         What does it mean?

o   This is another way of saying that scripture is God’s word^[2] God is the source of it. Do you want to hear God speak?  Read His Word

o   Focus on God not man

§  2 Peter 1:20-21

o   Accurate & Reliable-Reeves and Chester write, “The Spirit ensures that it is an accurate and reliable account of the word of God. So it is from God, about God, and by God.” (Why the Reformation Still Matters, Pg. 54)

o   The Bible is our ultimate authority about life.  God’s way is best.

§  Listen to another quote from Reeves and Chester, “What sola Scriptura does mean is that when we have to choose, there is only one choice we can make: Scripture alone is our ultimate authority.” (Why the Reformation Still Matters, Pg. 41)

Useful (vs. 16-17)

·         Vs. 16-Useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness

o   Stott suggests that these four phrases are arranged in two pairs, each with a negative word and a positive word, the first pair dealing with belief and the second with action...^[3]

o   Teaching- didaskalia teaching; instruction

§  That is to say, scripture instructs one by means of its content^[4]

§  Teaches us about the Bible, who God is (Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit), about humans, the church, family, life here on earth and in future for eternity

§  Here there is found all that man needs to be taught and to learn to make him wise for salvation; here and nowhere else. ^[5]

o   Rebuking-elegmos reproof; refutation; conviction

§  “refuting error” (TEV: “rebuking error”). ^[6]

§  Do our views of who God is, the Bible, humans, life agree with the Bible? If not, the Scriptures rebuke our false beliefs.

o   Correcting-epanorthōsis improvement; correction; restoration; correcting

§  sense of “correcting” or “setting right” most likely with reference to conduct,^[7]

§  When I sin, the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit point me toward repentance

o   Training-paideia discipline; training; teaching; LSJ rearing of a child

§  The training in view here is training “in righteousness,” i.e., it “is designed to produce conduct”^[8]

§  How we live: in our world (government, jobs) in our homes (marriage, parenting, friendship) & in our church (leadership, gifts, discipleship)

·         Vs. 17-equip us for every good work

o   The sense of the passage is that scripture is given to enable any “person of God” to meet the demands that God places on that person…^[9]

Good News As You Go:  

·         The Holy Spirit Helps Us Understand

o   The same Holy Spirit who guided the human authors of Scripture is helping us to understand it.  Kevin J. Vanhoozer writes, “the Spirit is clearly directing the action, prompting the apostles what to say, when to say it, and to whom. The Spirit is the ultimate interpreter of the word that he authored… (Biblical Authority After Babel, Pg. 138)

·         We have the Body of Christ, the Church To Help Us

o   Listen to Vanhoozer again, “The Spirit who enables and sustains our reading of Holy Scripture also provides a community to aid us in our reading.” (Biblical Authority, Pg. 129)

o   Community Hermeneutic-Mennonite Brethren

·         It reminds us who God is and what He has done

o   God is redeeming, restoring, and reconciling the world from Genesis to Revelation.

o   God is with us always. He is for us not against us.  He loves us not matter what. He keeps His covenant. He is faithful, merciful, all powerful, always present, all knowing.

o   Jesus died for sinners.

o   He empowers us by the Holy Spirit.

Minute Reflection: Ask God—what do I need to remember from the message today?

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^[1] Knight, G. W. I. (1995). 1-2 Timothy/Titus. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 1113). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

^[2] Knight, G. W. (1992). The Pastoral Epistles: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 447). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

^[3] Knight, G. W. (1992). The Pastoral Epistles: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 449). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

^[4] Knight, G. W. (1992). The Pastoral Epistles: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 449). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

^[5] Lenski, R. C. H. (1937). The interpretation of St. Paul’s Epistles to the Colossians, to the Thessalonians, to Timothy, to Titus and to Philemon (p. 846). Columbus, OH: Lutheran Book Concern.

^[6] Knight, G. W. (1992). The Pastoral Epistles: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 449). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

^[7] Knight, G. W. (1992). The Pastoral Epistles: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 449). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

^[8] Knight, G. W. (1992). The Pastoral Epistles: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 449). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

^[9] Knight, G. W. (1992). The Pastoral Epistles: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 450). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.