Some Implications of Sola Scriptura

It is not that hard to say that Scripture is the absolute authoritative Word of God, because that is clearly what Scripture itself says. So one can easily say that they believe the Bible to be God's Word and that it is what they consider to be their authority in life and spiritual matters.

But this belief goes far beyond merely saying 'Sola Scriptura'. Much like faith in Christ goes beyond merely saying 'I believe in Jesus'.

There are some serious implications to beievers in saying that All scripture is breathed out by God (2 Timothy 3:16a). Here are a couple:

1) Holiness

We know that we should be holy because God is holy. But how often do we really consider holiness and its implications? Take a look at 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1:

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”

7 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Here we see that there is a great contrast (as with light and darkness) between believers and unbelievers, things associated with believers and things associated with unbelievers. God has promised to make His dwelling with us. We are the temple of the living God (v.16)! His very Spirit dwells, lives within us.

So, as Paul writes, we are to cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit. Every defilement of body and spirt. In other words, there should not be an aspect of our lives that is not being consecrated to God. If it would have any negative effect on us whatsoever, we should seperate ourselves from it so we can bring holiness to completion (v.1), or be growing in holiness.

In Mark 10:21, Jesus told a rich young man to sell all he had, give it to the poor and follow Him. Much like Paul's exhortation in 2 Corinthians, this does not at all imply a partial commitment to God, rather a true, complete abandonment to the things of this world and a true, complete submission to God in every area of our lives.

2)Evangelism

The other implication of Sola Scriptura that I want to look at is our responsiblity, our obligation to evangelize or share the gospel. Take a look at some of Jesus' final words in Mark 16:15:

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

"Jesus was speaking to His disciples", you may say. "Not everyone has the gift of evangelism", you may say. First of all, I don't think that evangelism is a gift, if we're just talking about sharing the gospel. Second, in light of the great commission, and the words of Jesus in Mark 16:15 to proclaim the gospel; I believe this command was intended for all believers. For some Scriptural proof, look at John 17:18:

18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

Yes, Jesus is praying for His disciples, the Apostles here, but just two verses later, Christ says this:

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,

Jesus has in mind that more than just Apostles and preachers would be 'going out' and sharing the gospel. And we should too.

These are just two implications to consider when standing on the divinely inspired authoritative Word of God. It not only applies to doctrines of grace and faith and Christ and God - but it applies to believers. It applies to the lost as well as those who have been bought.