7.1 Although God reveals His glory and power in the universe, this is insufficient of itself to lead man into a personal relationship with Him. Therefore, God has revealed Himself and His plan of salvation to man, in order that man might come to know Him.
7.2 God has revealed Himself through word and deed in history as He has fulfilled His plan of salvation, leading up to the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, and the sending of the Holy Spirit. God has also revealed Himself by causing the Bible (comprising the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments) to be written as a permanent record and explanation of His revelation in history.
7.3 Although human authors wrote the Bible, God ensured that they wrote the very words which He wished to be recorded as His revelation to man. Because this is so, the Bible is entirely trustworthy in all its teaching; therefore it is the only sure and complete guide to knowing and serving God today. Christians and Churches are to live by the teaching of the Bible. No other book, person, or tradition has such authority. All that they say must be tested against the teaching of the Bible.
7.4 In order to understand the message of the Bible, we depend on the Holy Spirit to enlighten us. He does so as we study the Bible humbly and reverently, as we benefit from the ministry of those whom the Holy Spirit has given as teachers and preachers to the Church, and as we seek to obey God’s will expressed in His Word.
Passages for study: Psalm 19:1-14; Romans 1:18-20; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; 2 Timothy 3:10-17; Hebrews 1:1-2:4; 2 Peter 1:16-21