Sole Authority of the Bible

"Just One Book"

"There's just one book," cried the dying sage,

"Read me the old, old story."

And the winged words that can never age

Wafted him home to glory.

There's just one Book.

There's just one book for the tender years, One book of love's own guiding,

The little feet through the joys and fears, The unknown days are hiding There's just one Book!

There's just one book for the bridal hour, One book of love's own coining,

Its truths alone lend beauty and power, To vows that lives are joining.

There's just one Book!

There's just one book for life's gladness, One book for the toilsome days.

One book that can cure life's madness, One book that can voice life's praise.

There's just one Book!

There's just one book for the dying, One book for the starting tears,

And one for the soul that is going home, For the measureless years.

There's just one Book!

(W. A. Criswell, The Bible for Today's World, p. 25)

"The Christian view has always maintained that the revelation of God has had written embodiment and that in the Scriptures there is such an embodiment. The Scriptures are, therefore, the supreme source of Christian theology

I. The Word of God is eternal and unchanging.

John 1:1–2 KJV 1900

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.

1 Peter 1:25 KJV 1900

25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Numbers 23:19 KJV 1900

19 God is not a man, that he should lie; Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

A. The Word of God is eternal and unchanging because it is with God.

Colossians 2:1–3 KJV 1900

1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

B. The Word of God is eternal and unchanging because it is God.

Revelation 19:13 KJV 1900

13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Isaiah 40:8 KJV 1900

8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: But the word of our God shall stand for ever.

C. The Word of God is eternal and unchanging because just like God it was in the beginning.

John 17:5 KJV 1900

5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

1 Timothy 3:16 KJV 1900

16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

- Since God created the World and the Word was with Him the beginning and The Word was Him we can be totally sure that God’s Word is our sole authority.

Genesis 1:1–2 KJV 1900

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

III. Thankful that God wrote the Bible not man. (unceasingly thankful)

1 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV 1900

13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, 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, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Matthew 7:28–29 KJV 1900

28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

John 5:28–40 KJV 1900

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. 31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. 33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. 35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. 37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. 38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. 39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

A. We all can receive God’s Truth.

John 1:17 KJV 1900

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:9 KJV 1900

9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

John 8:32 KJV 1900

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

B. We all must receive it as God’s Word not man’s word.

Galatians 1:8 KJV 1900

8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

C. The Word of God works in us to help us believe.

2 Peter 3:15–16 KJV 1900

15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

IV. We have the Word of God.

2 Peter 1:19–21 KJV 1900

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

A. God’s Word the Bible is a guaranteed truth.

1. All must take notice of God’s Word.

2. It is a light to guide us.

3. All who follow this light will see the morning.

B. God’s Word can only be interpreted through God’s Word

C. God’s Word is not inspired by men.

1. God inspired Holy men.

2. Holy men moved by the Holy Spirit wrote the Word of God down.