The Clarity of Scripture (3 of 5)

On Wednesdays we celebrate “walking in the Word” through study & application of Biblical doctrine. Rightly understanding Biblical doctrine fuels doxology, delight in Jesus, & gospel centered discipleship. Today we continue a survey of the Doctrine of Scripture (Bibliology), embracing the clarity of God’s Word.
 
In this short series we have dared to Delight in God's word and studied the sufficiency of Scripture. Today we investigate the clarity of Scripture, what some call the perspicuity, or “see-through-ableness” of God’s word. The point is for us to know God more intimately and accurately, to trust Him more fully, and to live for Him more fruitfully.

Satan’s strategy is a one-page playbook: question the authority of God’s word and confuse the clarity of God’s revelation. Satan has been running the same play since the Garden of Eden, asking Eve “Did God actually say? ...” (Genesis 3:1) And Satan still employs this strategy today. Liberal scholars and “impastors” want Christians to think modernity muddies our ability to understand Scripture. Consider this clip- Unreal.  For others it is post-modernity that clouds scripture’s clarity through challenging Scripture’s claim of absolute truth, compelling people to consider Scripture as one of several ingredients for your personal spiritual cocktail. Common to every challenge to the clarity of Scripture is the centralization and elevation of humanity and our preferences, a recipe leading to ruin.

Simply put, the clarity of Scripture means that the essential teachings of the Bible are clear and accessible. As Allistair Begg regularly says, “The main things are the plain things, and the plain things are the main things.” (That may sound better when read with a Scottish accent.) Satan wants you to believe the lie that Scripture is not clear, driving distrust in God and His word.
 
The clarity of Scripture does not mean we understand everything in the Bible. Nicodemus did not understand what it meant to be born again, missing the message of Ezekiel 36. The Ethiopian eunuch did not understand Isaiah 53 and asked Phillip for insight (Acts 8:26-40). Peter called Paul’s writings difficult to understand (2 Peter 3:16).  But when I cannot see clearly through my glasses, I never blame what I am trying to look at. I always try to clean my lenses. The clarity of scripture has more to do with my heart and pride than the Word of God itself.

​The clarity of Scripture means (at least) that those things necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are clear. The WCF of faith summarizes the clarity of Scripture this way:
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“All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.” (WCF 1.7)
 
God desires for His people to see through His word, giving believers the Spirit of truth to guide us in all truth (John 16:13). The revelation of God’s word brings light and understanding to the simple (Psalm 119:130; Psalm 19:7), even to children. Timothy’s grandmother taught him the scriptures since he was a child (2 Timothy 3:14-15), embracing the commandment of Deuteronomy 6:6-7 for God’s people to teach children in God’s covenant community the covenant promises and commands of God. The main things in God’s word are clear, for believers and our children.
 
The clarity of Scripture is why the Bereans searched the scriptures to validate Pauls’ teaching (Acts 17:11) and why God’s word has historically been translated into local languages. Martin Luther  translated the Bible from the original languages into German (1534) and William Tyndale translated the first full version of the English Bible (1536). Both because they believed God’s people could understand God’s word without the church acting as intermediary. 
 
In both cases, revival followed. When we reclaim the clarity of God's word, God's Spirit will rive us and our communities.

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God reveals Himself and His work through His word because God desires for His people to know Him, enjoy Him, follow Him, and help others to enjoy and follow Him too. Scripture claims to be clear, and God's grace invites Christians to dive into God's Word to know God more intimately and accurately, to trust God more fully, and to live more fruitfully for God's glory. 

Richly Dwelling
-Do you believe Scripture's claim of clarity? Is this proven by your searching of the Scriptures to know God and how to live for God?

​-Where do you join Eve in questioning the clarity of God's revelation, and how does that lead to devastation in your life. Be specific.

-How does the work of Jesus free you to return to God and His word, seeking to know Him more intimately and serve Him more faithfully?