9-16-07 #Disciple Bible Study Titled: "The Authority Of Scripture"

[Disciple]

‘BACK TO SCHOOL – THE FUNDAMENTALS’ – ‘The Authority Of Scripture’
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Intro.
Authority – in our society today the word almost has a bad connotation. It leaves a nasty taste in the mouths of some people. Some resist authority, some despise authority, any authority. The urge is to rebel against and reject any authority that is strong in the hearts and minds of many. But authority is essential for our lives. The one with authority is in charge.
ILL – I can’t verify that it is a true story but I love the story told of Christian Herter, former governor of Massachusetts (1953 – 1957). He was campaigning for a 3nd term. After a busy morning and no lunch he arrived at a church barbecue. It was now late afternoon and he was really hungry. He moved down the serving line and held out his plate to the woman serving chicken and she put one piece on his plate. He said, ‘Excuse me, but do you know mind if I have another piece of chicken?’ she said, ‘Sorry, I’m supposed to give one piece to each person.’ He was a modest man but he decided this time he would throw his weight around and so he said, ‘Do you know who I am? I’m the governor of this state.’ The woman looked at him and said, ‘Well, do you know who I am?’ Governor Herter said, ‘No, ma’am, I do not.’ She said, ‘well, I’m the lady in charge of the chicken and its one piece per customer, so move on down the line.’
Authority is a wonderful thing, isn’t it? Probably all of us here have exercised the authority vested in us at some time. Have you ever said to your children, ‘Because I said so!’ You have used your authority as a parent over your children. Fundamental to our faith is the role that is played by the Word of God. The scriptures are the final authority for what we believe and what we do in our Christian living.
ILL – We have been talking about going ‘back to school.’ Tonight for just a brief moment of time, I want you to go back to Sunday School. I want you to sing a song that probably many of you haven’t sung since you were a young child in Sunday School. ‘The B-I-B-L-E Yes, that’s the book for me, I stand alone on the Word of God, The B-I-B-L-E! BIBLE!’
Do you stand on the Word of God alone? Do you accept and trust the Bible as the sole and final authority for what we believe?
ILL – Really whether you accept it or not the Bible is the final authority. I read about the pilot of a plane being told by a flight controller in the tower to remain in a holding pattern because there was a plane coming that needed to land immediately. The pilot said that he thought he could go ahead and land and clear the runway in plenty of time, but the flight controller answered in the sharpest terms, ‘This is not a matter for discussion.’ Just as the pilot of the airplane must submit to and accept the authority of the air traffic controller, so we must submit to and accept the authority of the Scriptures if we are going to successfully live the Christian life.
What makes the Bible the final authority for our faith?
I. The Bible’s Origin
The Scriptures claim for themselves origin from God. The apostle Paul tells Timothy that ‘all Scripture is God-breathed.’ This means simply that all Scripture is the result of action taken by God. Every portion of Scripture originated from God.
1 Thess 2:13
Paul declares that the Scripture is actually the word of God and those in Thessalonica had accepted it and received it as such. So many today in our society and culture do not accept the Bible as being the word of God. Either they outright deny that the Bible originated with God or they deny it by the way they live their life. The attitude is, ‘I know what the bible says, but I’m going to live my life the way I want to anyway.’
ILL – I like the story of the little girl who had been taught that God was the author of the Bible. Her mother noticed her one day looking very intently at the Bible and then she asked her mother, ‘Is it really true that God wrote the Bible?’ Her mother said, ‘Yes, He really did write it.’ Then the girl looked at the Bible again and said, ‘He really has good handwriting!’
God has such good handwriting because he wants you to know the truth about himself. He has revealed himself to us in the Bible. Everything we need to know about God is revealed for us here in this book perfectly through his Son, Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1:1-3
II. The Bible’s Content
The Bible is the final authority because of what it says. The word of God contains truth. I want to give you just a little quiz tonight. I’m going to cite some statements and you tell me which is not found in the Bible.
Cleanliness is next to godliness
God helps those who help themselves
Confession is good for the soul
We are as ****e to sin as sparks fly upwards
Money is the root of all evil
Honesty is the best policy
Though we might agree with all of these statements and there is at least some truth to them, none of them is from the Bible.
Have we come to the place that we treat man’s opinions with as much respect as we do the Bible? The Bible tells us the truth about God. It tells us the truth about ourselves. It tells us the truth about the eternal destinies that await us determined by what we do or don’t do with Jesus Christ. Maybe this is the reason some people do not like the Bible. It tells them the truth about themselves. Because the Bible is truth, noet that Paul tells us, “All Scripture is useful.” Paul outlines four particular areas of usefulness for the Scripture.
1. Teaching – The Bible instructs us about how we can get forgiveness of our sins through Jesus Christ, about how we are to live our lives in this world. The Scripture is the standard by which we can measure all that claims to be true. If it doesn’t measure up to what the Scriptures declare, it is false.
2. Rebuking – When you act and live in disobedience to the word of God, you are convicted of your sin. That explains why you get a twinge of guilt when you disobey God’s word and truth. Rebuking is ‘conviction’ of the one who is in error and wrong.
3. Correction – God’s word will get you back on course when you stray and wander off course. The literal idea of ‘correction’ is that of ‘setting straight.’ This is talking about making changes in your living practices.
4. Training – The idea of training is that of instruction or discipline. God’s word will keep you on the right path.

Psalms 119:11

Because the Scripture is truth that means it is infallible, it is without error. You can trust the bible, You can rely on God’s word.

2 Peter 1:20-21

III. The Bible’s Purpose
The Bible actually has a double purpose for us. The first is to get us to come to God through Jesus Christ. God has revealed himself to us in the Scripture and he wants us to come to him for salvation. God used his Son Jesus to be the drawing power.
John 3:14-15
John 12:32-33
When you read the Scriptures understand they are pointing you to and urging you to come to God through the death of Jesus Christ for you.
The second purpose is seen in 2 Timothy 3:17
2 Timothy 3:17
Consider a few things about this verse.
Man of God – The word for man here is the more general word for man and not specifically the male gender. It refers to ‘anyone who belongs to God.’ So this verse is talking to and about every Christian. This verse is especially applicable for every Christian
Thoroughly Equipped – One who is thoroughly equipped is able to meet all the demands. Jesus our Lord was a man who ‘went about doing good.’ As we live our lives we are to be ‘Christ-like.’ We also are to be doing good.
We are without excuse – We cannot say ‘I just can’t live that kind of life’, because we are thoroughly equipped for every good work. We are given everything we need to do every good work.
2 Timothy 2:21
Are you an instrument for ***le purposes? Are you holy? Are you useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work?
Conc.
What do you believe and accept about the Bible? Do you believe and accept the Bible to be the infallible, authoritative, and verbally inspired Word of God? Do you believe the Bible to be the revelation of God to man? Do you believe the Bible to be the sole and final authority for your life and for the church today?
If you believe and accept these matters about the Bible, then my next question is, are you living your life with the Bible as the final authority for your life and practices?
What have you done about Jesus Christ and his death for you?
Will you receive Jesus today as your Lord and Savior?
Will you live your life according to the Word of God?