The Word of God - Its Necessity and Authority

Introduction: The Foundation of Our Faith

In a world of competing voices and conflicting claims to truth, the Christian stands upon a foundation that does not shift with cultural winds or bend to human opinion. The Westminster Confession of Faith—that great distillation of biblical doctrine crafted by godly divines in the 17th century—begins not with man's quest for meaning, nor even with God's character, but with the source of our knowledge of God: His self-revelation. This starting point is profoundly significant. Before we can speak of salvation, before we can discuss the nature of God or the condition of man, we must establish how we know what we claim to know.

The confession opens with these weighty words:

"Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of His will, which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto His Church; and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing: which maketh the Holy Scripture to be most necessary; those former ways of God's revealing His will unto His people being now ceased."

In this dense but rich paragraph, we find a complete theology of revelation that must be carefully unpacked. Let us consider its elements one by one.

I. The Testimony of Creation: Magnificent but Insufficient

The confession begins by acknowledging what is evident to all humanity: God has not left Himself without witness in the created order. The majesty of mountain peaks, the intricate design of the human eye, the mathematical precision of planetary orbits—all these point to a Creator of immense power, wisdom, and goodness. This revelation through nature is universal, continuous, and inescapable.

As David exclaimed in Psalm 19:1-3: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard."

Similarly, Paul writes in Romans 1:20 that "since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse."

This natural revelation serves a vital purpose—it renders all people "without excuse" before God. No one can claim ignorance of God's existence or of their basic moral obligations to Him. The human conscience itself bears witness to God's moral law (Romans 2:14-15), creating an awareness of right and wrong that transcends cultural boundaries.

Yet here the confession makes a crucial distinction. While natural revelation is real and universal, it is not sufficient. It cannot bring salvation. It reveals enough of God to condemn, but not enough to redeem. It shows us there is a Creator, but not that He is a Redeemer. It testifies to His power and divinity, but not to His grace and mercy in Christ.

Why is this so? Not because natural revelation is inherently flawed, but because man is. The problem lies not in the clarity of the revelation, but in the spiritual blindness of sinful humanity. As 1 Corinthians 2:14 teaches, "the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Sin has corrupted our ability to properly interpret the world around us. We suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18), twisting the evidence of creation to avoid accountability to our Maker. The history of human philosophy demonstrates this tragic tendency—brilliant minds constructing elaborate systems that acknowledge aspects of divine reality while ultimately rejecting the personal God who demands our worship and obedience.

II. The Necessity of Special Revelation

Since natural revelation cannot lead us to salvation, God has graciously provided what theologians call "special revelation." The confession states that "it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto His Church."

This language echoes Hebrews 1:1-2: "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son." God's revelation came progressively throughout history, using various methods and modes of communication:

• Direct speech, as with Adam and Eve in the garden

• Dreams and visions, as with Jacob at Bethel

• Theophanies (visible manifestations of God), as with Moses at the burning bush

• The Urim and Thummim, providing guidance to Israel's priests

• The prophetic office, through which God spoke to Israel

• Angelic messengers, appearing at crucial moments in redemptive history

• Types and symbols, foreshadowing Christ throughout the Old Testament

• And finally, most perfectly, in the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ Himself

Through these varied means, God gradually unfolded His redemptive purposes, revealing not only His existence but His character, His will, and His plan of salvation. This special revelation was directed specifically to the covenant community—"unto His Church"—establishing the unique relationship between God and His people.

III. From Spoken Word to Written Word

The next movement in the confession's argument is crucial: God determined "to commit the same wholly unto writing." The revelation once delivered through diverse means is now preserved in the fixed form of Scripture.

Why did God choose to inscripturate His Word? The confession provides four specific reasons:

1. For better preserving of the truth: Human memory is fallible; oral traditions tend to shift and change over generations. By committing His Word to writing, God ensured its preservation in an unchanging form. As Isaiah 40:8 declares, "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever."

2. For better propagating of the truth: A written text can be copied, translated, and distributed far beyond the original recipients. The gospel can thus spread "to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8) through the multiplication of Scripture.

3. For the more sure establishment of the Church: The written Word provides an objective standard for doctrine and practice, protecting the Church from error and division. As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 states, Scripture is "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

4. For the comfort of the Church against threefold dangers: The confession identifies three perennial threats: "the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world." Against these enemies, Scripture stands as our sword and shield (Ephesians 6:17), providing both offensive and defensive spiritual protection.

The written Word is thus not an afterthought in God's plan, but a deliberate provision for our spiritual welfare. As the apostle Peter testified after witnessing Christ's transfiguration: "And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:19). Even after experiencing such a glorious manifestation of Christ's deity, Peter directs believers to the "more sure" testimony of Scripture.

IV. The Cessation of Former Modes of Revelation

The confession concludes this section with a significant statement: "those former ways of God's revealing His will unto His people being now ceased." With the completion of Scripture, the varied modes of special revelation used throughout redemptive history have come to an end.

This does not mean God no longer speaks or guides His people. Rather, it means He now speaks authoritatively through the completed canon of Scripture. We should not expect new revelations on par with Scripture, nor should we seek divine guidance through dreams, visions, or audible voices as the primary means of knowing God's will.

This principle safeguards the unique authority of Scripture. If God continues to give new revelations of equal authority, then the Bible is not truly sufficient. But Scripture claims sufficiency for itself: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God... that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Nothing is lacking in God's written Word that would require supplementation through ongoing revelation.

This does not deny the Holy Spirit's work in illuminating Scripture or applying it to our lives. The same Spirit who inspired the sacred text also helps us understand and obey it. But the Spirit never contradicts His written Word or adds authoritative revelation beyond it.

V. The Vital Necessity of Scripture

The Westminster divines conclude that this entire process "maketh the Holy Scripture to be most necessary." The Bible is not a luxury for the spiritually curious; it is an absolute necessity for the Church and for every Christian. Without it, we would have no sure knowledge of salvation, no reliable guide for faith and practice, no protection against error, and no authoritative revelation of God's will.

This necessity does not stem from any deficiency in God, as if He could not reveal Himself in other ways. Rather, it stems from our condition as fallen creatures in need of redemptive knowledge that nature alone cannot provide. God, in His wisdom and mercy, has chosen to speak through the written Word in a way that perfectly suits our need.

Conclusion: Standing on the Word in a Shifting World

As we conclude this reflection on the opening section of the Westminster Confession, let us consider its relevance for our own day. We live in an age that doubts the very possibility of certain knowledge, that questions all claims to authority, and that prioritizes personal experience over propositional truth. Against this cultural backdrop, the confession's unwavering commitment to the necessity and authority of Scripture stands as a bold counter-witness.

The Christian does not determine truth by consulting the shifting opinions of society, the dictates of human reason, or even the promptings of personal experience—though each has its proper place. Rather, we stand on the foundation of God's written Word, recognizing it as the definitive revelation of Him who is Truth incarnate.

This conviction is not obscurantism or blind faith. It is the reasonable recognition that in matters of eternal significance—who God is, who we are, how we may be saved—we need more than natural insight. We need God to speak. And in Scripture, He has.

Let us therefore approach the Bible not merely as an object of academic study or a repository of inspirational thoughts, but as what it truly is: the very Word of God. Let us read it with reverence, submit to it with humility, proclaim it with confidence, and treasure it as our most precious possession.

For in its pages, we hear the voice of our Shepherd (John 10:27), we behold the glory of our Savior (John 5:39), and we find the path to eternal life (John 17:3). As Jesus Himself declared, "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63).

"Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations." (Psalm 119:89-90)

📘 Study Guide: The Word of God – Its Necessity and Authority

Based on WCF 1.1

✍️ Key Terms & Concepts

TermDefinition General Revelation God's self-disclosure through creation and providence, revealing His existence and attributes. Special Revelation God’s direct revelation of His will, character, and redemptive plan, culminating in Scripture and Christ. Inscripturation The act of committing God's revelation to writing in the form of Holy Scripture. Sufficiency of Scripture The doctrine that Scripture contains all that is necessary for faith and life. Cessation The belief that extraordinary modes of revelation (e.g., dreams, audible voices) ceased with the completion of the biblical canon.

📚 Scripture Readings

1. Psalm 19:1–6 – General Revelation in creation

2. Romans 1:18–23 – Man's guilt before God through natural revelation

3. Hebrews 1:1–2 – Special Revelation through the Son

4. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 – The sufficiency of Scripture

5. 2 Peter 1:19–21 – The prophetic Word as a sure foundation

💬 Discussion Questions

Use these questions to spark reflection or small-group conversation:

1. What are the differences between general revelation and special revelation? Why is this distinction important?

2. How does natural revelation leave people “without excuse” but still unable to be saved?

3. Why was it necessary for God’s Word to be written down? How does this protect and benefit the Church?

4. What dangers does the confession identify that Scripture protects us from? How have you seen these dangers in your own life or church?

5. Why does the confession affirm the cessation of previous forms of revelation? What might be at stake if we deny this?

6. What does the necessity of Scripture teach us about our dependence on God?

🧠 Reflection & Journal Prompts

Encourage personal growth through deeper meditation:

• “How has the sufficiency of Scripture been challenged in my thinking or experiences?”

• “Am I treating the Bible as necessary or merely helpful?”

• “When I face spiritual difficulty, where do I instinctively turn for comfort and guidance?”

• “In what ways do I need to renew my reverence for God’s Word as His final and sufficient revelation?”

🛠️ Practical Application

• Daily Reading Plan: Begin a daily habit of reading and meditating on God’s Word. Start with Psalm 119, focusing on the benefits and beauty of Scripture.

• Family Worship: Use this study guide to lead your family in a discussion on the authority of Scripture.

• Scripture Memorization: Commit 2 Timothy 3:16–17 to memory as a cornerstone text on the purpose of Scripture.

• Evangelism Preparation: Practice explaining why the Bible is necessary using the categories of general vs. special revelation.

📌 Teacher Tips (for Sunday School Leaders)

• Use the Confession and Bible Side-by-Side: Have students read the confession and then turn to the corresponding Scripture.

• Encourage Interaction: Break participants into pairs or small groups to answer questions, then share insights with the larger group.

• Visual Aid: Consider drawing two columns on the board—“General Revelation” and “Special Revelation”—to help clarify the distinction.

• Caution Against Misuse: Gently challenge any tendency to undervalue Scripture by appealing to subjective impressions or modern forms of “prophetic” speech that claim the authority of God.

For Further Study:

The Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms As Adopted By the Presbyterian Church in America

Truths We Confess: A Systematic Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith By RC Sproul

The Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes By G.I. Williamson