Here are the completed noted from the Sunday Morning Worship Service May 22, 2016:
Scripture: Jeremiah 30:1-3
1. The Establishment of the Bible’s Authority
A. The Bible claims to be no ordinary book, but claims to be the Word of God.
Phrases such as “Thus saith the Lord” or “God spake these words” appears over 2,000 times in the OT
In the NT –
- 2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God”
- 2 Peter 1:20, 21“The prophecy came no in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit”
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13 “When ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the Word of God”
- Galatians 1:11, 12 “The gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ”
If the Bible is not God’s Word, it is no longer a good book, but a lying book.
Why Believe the Bible is the Word of God? (Outside of the fact that it claims to be)
- Manuscript Support (Manuscript – a handwritten copy of scripture)
- Quantity and date of manuscripts
- Archaeology
- Scientific Accuracy of Scripture
- Fulfilled Prophecies of Scripture- Isaiah 48:3-5
- The testimony of Jesus to the Scriptures
Supporting Scripture:
Matthew 4:3-10; Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27; John 5:39, 45-47; John 17:17
- In His recorded words, He referenced 14 OT books
- Jesus quoted from the OT
- He believed the history of the people and events recorded in the OT
- Jesus informed the Pharisees that they erred “not knowing the scriptures”
- Jesus used the Scriptures as His weapon of choice against the devil
- Jesus anticipated the NT writings –John 14:26; 16:12-15
B. Scripture is God breathed – 2 Timothy 3:16a
Lit. “God Breathed” or “Breathed out by God”
- When Scripture speaks, God speaks
- The authority behind the Bible is God Himself – God’s Word
2. The Acceptance of the Bible’s Authority- 2 Tim. 3:16b
- Doctrine – Tell us what to believe
- Reproof – Tells us what is wrong
- Correction – Tells us how to correct the wrong
- Instruction in righteousness – Tells us how to live
God’s Word provides guidance – Psalm 119:105
The Word of God provides comfort – Psalm 119:50
Key Statement: Since the Scriptures are God’s Word, they inherently possess His authority as His speaking (Practical Christian Theology – Floyd H. Barackman, Pg.31)
God communicates Himself to us through Scripture
- Who He is
- What He is like
- How to have a relationship with Him
- How to live
- What He wants for our lives
3. The Perversion of the Bible’s Authority
1 Timothy 4:1 – Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
When?
Latter times – the period from the first coming of Christ until His return
What?
Some shall depart from the faith
- Depart – falling away from an original position
- Apostasy – Falling away from the truth
Doctrines of Demons: Teaching that originates from demons
1- Evolution – Genesis 1, 2
Supporting Scripture:
Psalm 19:1; Psalm 148:4-6; Isaiah 40:28; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16; Acts 17:24, 25; Romans 1:20; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 4:11
2- Homosexuality, transgender, bisexuality
Supporting Scripture: Genesis 19:1-25; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26, 27; 1Corinthians 6:9-10; 1Timothy 1:9, 10
3- Sexual immorality (accepted as a way for life) Co-inhabitation is a way of life
Supporting Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Hebrews 13:4
Sexual Sin:
- Grieves the Holy Spirit
- Displays a graphic self-centeredness
- Dishonors those made in God’s image
- Violates God’s plan for marriage
- Total opposite love which is a fruit of the Spirit
4- Abortion – Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5
5- Denial of the Deity of Christ – John 14:9
6- Denial of the resurrection – 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
7- Denial of eternal punishment in Hell – Luke 16:23, 24
8- Denial of Scripture
9- Reinterpret the Bible
10- Compromise with sin
11- Toleration of sin in the church
12- No need for repentance
13- Get to heaven by your own self-worth and good works
2 Timothy 4:3, 4 – For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Not endure sound doctrine
- People becoming intolerant of the confronting, demanding preaching of God’s Word
Why?
- Driven by their own lusts
- Desiring preaching and teaching that offer them God’s blessings apart from repentance (Pleasant sensations that leave them feeling good about themselves)
- People will want what they want to hear not what they need to hear
Ears tickled
- Wanting to hear what is culturally acceptable
- People will have an itch to be entertained but not challenged with Biblical truth
Turn away from the truth
See Jude 3 – Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
In Closing
Corner Stone Statement of Faith
The Holy Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. The Bible is our sole and final authority for faith and practice.
George Washington (1st President) –
“It is impossible to rightly govern the world without the Bible.”
What authority does the Bible, the Word of God have in your life?
- None
- Selective
- Partial
- Complete