Scripture Alone
“Scripture Alone” points to the bible as the inspired and authoritative word of God. It is the only source for Christian doctrine and it is accessible to everyone. In opposition to those who insist that Scripture can only be interpreted by Sacred Tradition, this sola recognizes that the bible requires no interpretation outside of itself.
God’s Word is really all we need for faith and life. It delivers God’s commands. It accuses all people of sin. It demonstrates the deep need for a Savior. The Bible clearly tells us that Jesus is the Savior from sin and that we need to know about our Savior and the way to heaven. The Bible tells believers what is pleasing to God and what isn’t. It is sufficient for learning God’s will.
Because the Bible is clear, we don’t need any outside help to learn the way to heaven. By reading simple passages such as John 3:16, readers clearly find the good news of salvation. “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Romans 3:28 very plainly declares that “a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.” Ephesians 1:7 reveals, “In [Jesus] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.” The Bible tells where faith comes from. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). The Holy Spirit provides his divine power for this gospel message. The gospel of Jesus Christ is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Romans 10:16).
The Bible is sufficient for training God’s people to know the Lord and his will. Holy Scriptures is not only “able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus,” it is “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (1 Timothy 3:15-17). The Bible tells us everything that God wants us to believe and know to live in his kingdom and serve him. God decided what he wanted to tell us and what he didn’t want to tell us. God’s wisdom and knowledge are so great we could not possibly know what he knows.
Scripture alone tells us everything that we truly need to know for our Christian faith and lives. John 20:31 explains why we have the words of Scripture: “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” The Bible is perfectly sufficient because it tells us all we need to know to obtain eternal life.[1]
[1] Brian R. Keller, People’s Bible Teachings: Bible: God’s Inspired, Inerrant Word(Milwaukee, WI: Northwestern Publishing House, 2002), pg.44,45.