The Accessible Word by Philip G. Ryken

[given by Isadore]
He began by saying that so many say that the Word of God is not clear. He gave 5 arguments against its clarity:
1. God is greater thant he human mind. He is a transcendent mystery which we cannot know.
2. We need the church to make the Scriptures clear to us.
3. Its a product of men and human language has ambiguity.
4. There are a variety of interpretations...how could we possibly know the correct one?
5. Doesn't the Bible say that its unclear (for instance, the Ethiopean unich)? But really, even the simplest can understand the Bible. Its central message is clear. It is able to make us wise for salvation (2 Tim. 3:15-17...notice how we keep coming back to the same passages...believe them!) This doesn't mean that we don't need teachers. Jesus taught us. But He taught from the Scriptures. Some parts of the Bible are easier to understand than others, but the basic message is clear. It has been said that in the Scriptures "the lamb may find a foot and the elephant may swim."

But some don't understand the Bible because they are not "of the truth". The problem is not with the Bible but with their understanding. Only those who know Christ can understand.

He concluded by giving us 2 reasons to believe in the clarity of Scripture:
1. The Character of God- Is God able to have us understand? Is He good at communicating? Why wouldn't He be? If Scripture is obscure, then what was the point in giving it? God is good and is able to communicate clearly. The Gospel couldn't be 'Gospel' (Good News) if it wasn't clear.
2. The Testimony of Scripture Itself- Deut.30:11-14, Psalm 119:105, Psalm 119:130, 2 Kings 22. 8-13, Nehemiah 8. Psalm 119:18 is a prayer that God loves to answer.