“But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin,…”‭‭

Galatians‬ ‭3:22‬ ‭ESV

‬‬If the Scriptures are the good, holy and true testimony of God, and they are; why did they “imprison everything under sin…”??

Because faith in Christ is GIVEN to those who BELIEVE.

“….so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”

Galatians 3:22 ESV

And even that faith to believe is the very GIFT of God.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”‭‭

Ephesians‬ ‭2:8-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

And again, how does faith come??

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”‭‭

Romans‬ ‭10:17‬ ‭ESV

‬And how does faith work??

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”‭‭

Galatians‬ ‭5:6‬ ‭ESV

‬‬And how is this faith administered to us??

“But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.”‭‭

Job‬ ‭32:8‬ ‭ESV

‬‬“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”‭‭

John‬ ‭6:63‬ ‭ESV

‬‬So then who has bewitched you church? How did you receive the Holy Spirit? Was it by works of the law, searching the Scriptures for the right answers, or was it by HEARING the voice of the Holy Spirit??

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”

Galatians‬ ‭3:1-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

And for those hard hearted among you who are reading this and thinking to themselves “He’s downgrading the Scripture he doesn’t believe in the validity or authority of Scripture.”

On the contrary friend.

The Scriptures are the testimony of the Living God and every word, every jot and tittle, is breathed out by Him.

Jesus said clearly, it is not possible to believe the words of the Holy Spirit, that is the rhema of God, if you do not believe Moses’ writings.

Period.

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?””‭‭

John‬ ‭5:39-40, 45-47‬ ‭ESV‬‬

If a man says he hears from God but rejects the Bible, even one jot or tittle, this man is a liar and a deceiver. The Truth is not in him.

“But Kyle, “The authority you use in your argument is the very book you quote saying the book is the authority, how is that not circular logic?!”

Because we receive the book by faith!

And that faith comes by hearing. Hearing the very same voice of the Holy Spirit testifying that these things are so.

The Holy Spirit who is God Almighty. The one and only Authority.

The same Holy Spirit who wrote the book!

Every last word.

So yes we stand on the authority of Scripture, the 66 books of the Bible, I maintain they are God breathed, God’s own testimony concerning himself and his creation, they are good, they are true, they are to be believed…

But they are not the Spirit. They are not life. And THAT is why they imprison everything under sin.

Because it is the Spirit that sets men free. And he does this by the supernatural proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, him crucified and risen for the forgiving of sin.