Biblical Landmarks

Recently, I was speaking with a friend, John, who’s a member of this list. The topic: the canon.

I keep asking the question: what is the authority that determines the canon? The question really needs to be split in two: What is the authority that determined the Old Testament canon? What is the authority that determines these 27 books were the New Testament canon?

For those who hold to the authority of Scripture in the Protestant and Reformed tradition, the answer is in the Confessions. Article 5 of the Belgic Confession of Faith, in dealing with the Authority of Scripture, says this:

“And we believe without a doubt all things contained in them– not so much because the church receives and approves them as such but above all because the Holy Spirit testifies in our hearts that they are from God, and also because they prove themselves to be from God.”

Read carefully. “We believe without a doubt . . . above all because the Holy Spirit testifies in our hearts.” In other words, it is the Holy Spirit that is the highest authority because the Spirit authenticates Scripture.

And those words “because they prove themselves to be from God.” What do they mean? How do they prove themselves to be from God?

Consider these words in the Westminster Confession of Faith: “our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.” (What happens if I believe the Spirit has given a different witness than the one you have? How does that get resolved? I know: I’m right and you are less “spiritual” than I am.)

Now ask yourself this question: What is the highest authority? Is it Scripture or is it the Spirit?

And if it is the Spirit, by what authority does the Spirit get this position? (I know, circular question. Forbidden question. But ask it anyway.)

You also need to understand that the reason the Confessions were written this way is because the Reformers did not want to use the “other” argument. That being that the Church determines what is Scripture.

It does not take a genius to figure out why so much contemporary Christianity holds prayer meetings to discover God’s instructions rather than hold a Bible study. The commitment to the Spirit as ultimate authority rather than the Scriptures is evident. On top of this, since most Christians accept the NT is a higher authority than the OT, the commitment today is really to “half-Bible” Christianity. The other half is not needed since the Spirit will now reveal to us everything we need to know.

And there we see why the church is failing to change the culture, even Reformed churches. Everyone, it seems, is ready to abandon Scripture and replaced it with the Spirit.

And when the Spirit contradicts Scripture . . . . ? The late Dr. Greg Bahnsen’s enigmatic question comes to mind: “How do I know if the “intuition” or “feelings” I have are caused by the Spirit, or by the breakfast I ate this morning?”

Meditate on this.