What We Believe
The Bible: Our Complete Authority
“All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NASB)
Christians need a dependable answer to a basic question: Who decides what we believe and practice? Feelings change, cultures shift, respected teachers disagree, and traditions develop over time. The New Testament directs us to a stable authority—the word God has revealed through Christ and His inspired apostles and prophets. Scripture is not merely helpful religious literature. It is God-breathed truth, capable of equipping His people completely for the life and work He requires.
God Has Spoken Through His Son
Hebrews 1:1–2 explains that God formerly spoke through the prophets but has now spoken in His Son. Jesus possesses all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). His words will judge humanity on the last day (John 12:48). Therefore, Christian faith begins by listening to Christ rather than treating His teaching as one voice among many.
Jesus prepared chosen apostles to preserve and proclaim His message. He promised that the Holy Spirit would teach them, remind them of His words, and guide them into all truth (John 14:26; 16:13). Their message was not religious opinion. Paul wrote that the things he taught were the Lord’s commandment (1 Corinthians 14:37), while Peter placed Paul’s writings alongside the other Scriptures (2 Peter 3:15–16). The New Testament gives us the authoritative apostolic witness to Christ.
Inspired, True, and Sufficient
Second Timothy 3:16 says Scripture is “inspired by God,” literally God-breathed. Although God used human writers with recognizable backgrounds and styles, the message originated with Him. Second Peter 1:20–21 explains that prophecy did not come by human will; men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Because God is truthful, His word is truth (John 17:17).
Scripture is also sufficient for its God-given purpose. It teaches, exposes wrong, corrects, trains, and fully equips the person of God for every good work. Jude 3 speaks of “the faith” delivered once for all to the saints. We do not need new doctrines to complete what God forgot, nor may we treat later revelations as equal to the apostolic gospel. God has given what His church needs to know Him, receive salvation, worship faithfully, grow in holiness, and carry out its mission.
Scripture Above Creeds and Traditions
Human summaries can sometimes help explain what a group believes, but no creed has divine authority. A creed may say more than Scripture, less than Scripture, or something different from Scripture. When a human statement becomes the test of fellowship or the final interpreter of God’s word, it occupies a place the New Testament never gives it.
Jesus warned religious leaders that tradition can nullify God’s word (Mark 7:6–13). Their problem was not that every custom was automatically sinful, but that human teaching had been elevated above divine command. Paul similarly warned against going beyond what is written (1 Corinthians 4:6) and against accepting a different gospel, even if proclaimed by an impressive messenger (Galatians 1:6–9). Every teacher, practice, and tradition must be tested by Scripture.
Reading the Bible Responsibly
Honoring biblical authority requires careful reading. We should consider context, audience, purpose, and the difference between the old covenant given to Israel and the new covenant established by Christ. The Old Testament remains inspired and instructive (Romans 15:4), but Christians are governed by the covenant of Christ (Hebrews 8:6–13; Colossians 2:14). We must not lift a verse from its setting to defend a conclusion we already prefer.
The Bereans were called noble because they received the message eagerly and examined the Scriptures daily to see whether the teaching was true (Acts 17:11). That spirit combines humility with diligence. We listen respectfully, but we verify. We pray for wisdom, compare related passages, accept clear teaching even when it challenges us, and refuse to twist difficult passages to fit our desires (2 Peter 3:16).
What This Means for Us
If the Bible is our complete authority, then Scripture—not preference, popularity, family history, or denominational tradition—must settle questions of faith and practice. We must be willing to change when God’s word corrects us. The goal is not to win arguments, but to hear Christ and obey Him from the heart.
This conviction also gives confidence. We are not left to guess what pleases God. His word reveals the gospel, shows us how to become Christians, teaches the church how to worship and serve, and trains believers for holy living. Let us read it regularly, study it carefully, teach it accurately, and live it faithfully, doing all things by the authority of Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17).