We often wonder if we have enough. I was recently working on a project at home. I made the plans, calculated the materials and made the purchase. But as I was making the purchase I was aware of a constant nagging question in my mind, “Is this going to be enough?” This nagging question was legitimate based upon past experiences. In the past I had projects, made plans, calculated the materials, made the purchase and gone to work on the project only to realize in the middle or at the end I did not have enough to finish. And then there is that time wasting trip back to the store that inevitably lengthens the time of the project. When we wonder if we have enough we are dealing with the issue of sufficiency.
The issue of sufficiency is also a matter of life and death. How do we know we have sufficient authority to live life for the glory of God? And when it comes to death how do we know we have sufficient authority to assure us of eternal life beyond the grave? These are questions that every man, woman and child should be wrestling with because we are all created for the glory of God and we will all face death and an eternal existence of life or death.
The apostle Paul wrote concerning this sufficient authority to his son in the faith Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:15-17. Paul first of all tells him that the Scriptures are the sufficient authority to assure him of eternal life beyond the grave. He says in verse 15 and 16, “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. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God…” Timothy had been taught from the “sacred writings”. This phrase refers to the Old Testament Scriptures. He had been taught these by Paul, but also his mother and grandmother. It was the Scripture or the “breathed out” Word of God that was God’s sufficient means to bring Timothy to salvation by faith in Christ Jesus. The Scripture is from God and authoritative and because it is from God it is his sufficient source for the certainty of his children’s salvation. It is able to make them wise and understanding as to the way of God’s salvation for them in Christ. Where there is so much uncertainty inside and outside the church as to how many ways there are to God, in the Scripture we read the only sufficient answer. In Jn.14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The Scripture is from God and sufficient to make us certain of God’s salvation for us in Christ Jesus.
We also see in this text that the Scriptures are the sufficient and final judge in the matter of faith and life. Timothy was living in the midst of ungodliness in the context of the church (2Tim.3:1-9). In that situation God is the judge and he judges according to his sufficient Word. Paul did not command Timothy to think through their lives and his life and try to determine which is best way, so that he may pass judgment on one way of life and live in the other. In the midst of this ungodliness he was to follow Paul’s example of godliness and expect suffering (3:12). And while he did this he was to preach God’s Word (2Tim.4:1-2). It is God’s breathed out word that is the sufficient and final judge in matters of faith and life. The church will be among a form of godliness that denies it’s power (3:5) within the church and God has given her his sufficient word to be the final judge. If there is uncertainty about what you must believe to be a Christian or if there are questions about what we must believe and do as those who are alive in Christ and following him by faith through the Spirit, then God’s Word is the sufficient and final judge. In a church and culture that does not think anyone should judge or be judged we have great uncertainty. But there is great certainty where God’s Word is trusted as the sufficient and final judge in the matter of faith and life.
The last thing Paul tells Timothy about the sufficiency of God’s Word is that it is sufficient for a life of good works that flow out of his salvation for us in Christ Jesus. In verse 16 and 17 he says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” God’s salvation for his children leads to good works or fruit bearing for his glory (Mt.13:23; Jn.15:8). We read in Ephesians 2:10, “10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” But how do we know we have enough for these works or to know what the works and the fruit looks like? The Word of God is “profitable” to this end. It is the sufficient truth of God given to his church to lead her in his pleasure.
The Word of God given us by God through the prophets and apostles is his sufficient Word for faith and life and it is the basis of the churches certainty that we may believe and live for his glory.
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