The Authority of the Bible

  • Tim Kelly
  • Aug 31, 2008
  • Series: Apologia

"The Bible's Authority"

Genesis Christian Church    August 31, 08

Tim Kelly

 

I. Intro.

What is your attitude toward the Bible?  A lot of people view it as optional or very casually:  "If I have time, when I feel like consulting it or when I get in a real bind, besides, I hear it on Sundays, etc."  Sadly, we don't read the Bible and therefore remain ignorant of what is inside the Bible.  Listen to these findings from surveys testing people's Bible knowledge:

Three examples of the Biblical ignorance: 

Wife of Noah?  Joan of Arc.

Who preached the Sermon on The Mount?

God helps those who help themselves.

 

Something that is optional and so really unimportant has very little influence in your life.  Author and pollster George Barna has shown there to be little difference in morality between those claiming to be Christians and those who are not Christians. 

 

A former pastor of mine, Mark Brewer, pointed this out vividly...  He used to say, "What happens below your belt (your wallet and your zipper) reveals what or who has sway over your life: money & sex or God's word."  Which will win out?  Are those two areas under obedience to God or under the whims of your feelings?  What wins out in your life: God's word or deep felt desires? 

Even some churches convey a certain casualness to the Bible.  Have you noticed this?  You can observe it in the titles of their messages: "Four tips to living."  "Six ways to purpose in life."  "Three building blocks for a healthy marriage."  "Four steps to freedom."

Is the Bible authoritative or not in your life? The Bible claims to be from God (God breathed), eternal, true, for wisdom, for life, for guidance, liberating, contain the words of life, explain how to live in a way that honors God, how to treat your neighbor, how to parent kids, how to treat your enemies, how to work, how to best handle money, the necessity to forgive, and on and on.  This book- the Bible- matters more than any other book.  We can't afford to have such a casual or optional mindset toward the Bible.  In reality, eternity is at stake and it has authority over our lives whether or not you obey it.

Our culture has a negative view of authority.  It's seen as repressive and restrictive.  So, as a culture we've thrown off authority: teachers no longer have authority, neither do parents, churches don't, morality doesn't matter anymore either...  Granted, there have been abuses by those in authority, but that doesn't mean that we ought to completely reject any authority.  Besides, when it comes to the Bible, the authority behind it is God, who is both Holy & loving, all knowing and merciful.  He never abuses authority.

The Bible's authority is first trustworthy, & second, it is true. 

 

II. Read Psalm 119:137-138.

 

III. Trustworthy:

A. God wrote it through His Spirit... II Peter 1:20-21. He used people in the process, to be sure. Lots of manuscripts help correct human mistakes. There are so many manuscripts of the Bible that errors really don't change its message.

 B. It's historically verifiable... I Cor. 15:3-5 Jesus appeared to more than 500 eye-witnesses. Since the Bible was a public document, not hidden and concealed, and since it was written close to when Jesus actually walked this earth, the message they declared could have been refuted or rejected if it weren't accurate. "If you don't believe this, then go ask one of the hundreds who saw Jesus."

C. The Church or man did not decide which is Scripture.... counter the Da Vinci Code heresy. They didn't change it. Too little time existed between Jesus' resurrection and when letters in the New Testament were written down... Galatians: 20-30 years. There wasn't enough time for legend or myth to creep in because these were written too close to the event.

D. Authority:

  • Catholic: Pope & top cardinals.
  • Eastern Orthodoxy: Creeds, Bible, tradition- equal weight.
  • Liberal Theology: Reason & the Bible.
  • Reformation & Evangelicalism: The Bible.  Sola Scriptura... Only The Bible is the true and final judge on matters.

      The Bible declares Jesus is Lord!

E. What does all this mean? Don't dismiss the Bible because of unfounded skepticism from our culture. It's trustworthy.... Therefore, you can trust the Bible, you can have complete confidence in what it says.

Marriage, sex, money, life...  the authority being cited in current controversies is not the Bible, but Kinsey report, experiential appeals, based on wisdom of humanity and not wisdom of God.  

It's a matter of Truth.  You have to have some authoritative reference outside of yourself...  The Bible.  Otherwise, whoever can grab power will win out: the old adage:  "Might makes right."  Case in point: If I declare marriage being between a male and a female, then this could be considered hate speech one day in the very near future.  Why?  Who has more legal power right now?  That will be what determines right and wrong.

 IV. Why the Bible? Why not some other book?

Because it's true.  John 8:31-38.

The Bible is true.  Jesus declared truth:

            He spoke what He heard from God, who is true.

            Adhering to Jesus' word brought freedom.

            Jesus' message dealt with the real issue of sin.

A. It's about Jesus. Look at His life. Sinless, died & resurrected, performed miracles... showed himself to be God's fulfillment of messiah, the prophet, priest, and King that was predicted in the Old Testament.

B. CS Lewis quote: "I believe Christianity not because of what it does for me, but because it is true." I try each Sunday to declare to us the truth from God's word about God, about us, about our world. Why? Anything else would be foolish. It's also the only true message that will really help you in life. My opinions don't matter, it's what God's word says!

C. Conclusion: If Jesus Christ is who He said of himself to be - If he is the one who the Old Testament predicted, then He demands your life. He's your creator, your judge, your savior, your provider, your everything. He's your king and Lord who reigns in your life.

 D. Back to the authority issue. The authority of the Bible doesn't mean that you are repressed. Far from it.... It actually means that you are set free to worship God, and not be enslaved any more to sin and self. It means that you are free to be who God created you to be!

E. Have you experienced the Truth of the Bible? Have you experienced the freedom that Jesus' truth brings? The truth that through Jesus Christ you can be forgiven and have forgiveness, purpose, peace, eternal life, and a life free to be who God created you to be...

V. How does this really matter to people?

Youth- You'll live by your feelings or so called wisdom...  I have seen and from my own mistakes know what making poor decisions leads to...  Living contrary to God's word- The Bible- leads to messed up lives, painful consequences, "wages of sin is death... Romans 6:23a," regret, guilt, you don't want to go there.  A person reaps whatever he sows. (Galatians 6:7b)  The Bible doesn't keep you from having fun, but it protects you and provides for you a life that honors God and will benefit you with the peace, blessing from obedience, and ultimately the freedom to become the man or woman God created you to be.

Adult- How is it working for you?  Try it God's way.  Pills for depression and fear.  (Nothing wrong with help from modern medicine...)  Jesus Christ is the one who can give you hope and acceptance, real forgiveness.  You are more sinful than you could ever imagine, but you are also more loved and accepted than you ever could conceive!

Set in your ways...  You may have the excuse, "I'm not much of a reader."  Begin today.  One chapter a day!  You would finish the New Testament in nine months by reading one chapter a day.

What does this have to do with anything that our church is trying to do? 

Growth Groups- How can I stress these enough?  These encourage you to live out the truth of the Bible.