The Reign of Gods Word

In a sermon on the authority of God's Word, Rev. Kent Compton highlighted that the Reformation was not a sudden event, but the culmination of efforts by earlier figures like the Waldensians and Jan Hus, who had previously pushed for church reform. Compton explained that the reformers, including Martin Luther, aimed to reform the existing church rather than establish a new one. A central issue for the reformers, and one that remains relevant today, was the question of authority. The church at the time placed tradition, the pope, and church councils on equal footing with Scripture as sources of authority. The reformers challenged this, asserting that the Word of God is the ultimate authority in faith, life, and salvation for the Christian. Compton drew a parallel to Jesus challenging the scribes and Pharisees, who elevated their traditions to the level of Scripture, thereby "mak[ing] void the word of God" because of their traditions.

Reverend Compton then shifted the focus to the modern-day crisis of authority, noting that today, many people look to the self as the ultimate authority, prioritizing their own feelings, desires, or the collective opinions and morality of society. He urged the congregation to ensure that their ultimate authority is the Word of God, echoing Luther's famous stance, "unless I am convinced by sacred scripture," when he stood before the church. Compton structured his message around three characteristics of Scripture: its permanence, power, and perfection. The permanence of God's Word is illustrated by its steadfastness, which is likened to the creation; just as God's word firmly fixed the heavens, His word, the Bible, is a reliable and unchanging standard. He quoted Psalm 119:89 and Isaiah 40:8, emphasizing that while the glory of man and all his achievements will pass away, "the word of our God shall stand forever."

Compton elaborated on the power of God's Word to save, citing Psalm 119:92: "If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction." He explained that the "law" here is used in a broad sense, encompassing all of God's revelation through both law and gospel, which provides sustenance, joy, and a change of perspective from the crushing load of sin and affliction. Finally, he spoke of the perfection of Scripture, which is "exceedingly broad" in its application, teaching, reproof, and correction, fully equipping the man of God. For Reverend Compton, the eternal nature, saving power, and perfection of God's Word all combine to make it the highest authority to which every other authority must submit, a truth for which reformers like William Tyndale were persecuted.