The Word II
Notes
Transcript
63,799 cross references are in the Bible and that is what is pictured here.
Today we continue our study of Scripture and why we believe it is God’s Word. Last week we talked about the inspiration of
Scripture, and that the Bible is divinely Inspired by God. Every word of Scripture is God breathed. Well today we are going to look at how Scripture is authoritative in our lives. This boils down to one primary question, How does one become convinced that the Bible is the Word of God. Or how does a person become certain that Scripture is the truth of God conveyed through the process of inspiration and that it thereby has the right to exercise authority over one’s life. To better understand this we need to define authority—power exercised by rulers or others in a high position by virtue of their office. In a biblical worldview original and ultimate authority resides with God and God alone. When speaking of God’s authority there are three things that help to make it clear.
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
1) God Created everything
1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
2) God owns the earth all it contains and all those who dwell on it.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
3) In the end God will consume it all, just as He has declared.
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Paul tell us here that no authority exists that does not come from God.
11 Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God,
All power belongs to God. The same power and authority is attributed to Jesus in the New Testament.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
The matter of authority is addressed often in Scripture. The descriptions and titles given to us in Scripture of God shows us His absolute authority over His creation. He is called Creator, Lord, God Almighty just to name a few. Also God’s attributes point us to His authority. Eternal, immortal, the only God, Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Righteous, Unsearchable wisdom, Sovereignty over all. This authority is conveyed to man through God’s Word and is an unalterably authoritative message. It is God’s nature and His Word that qualify Him alone to establish and attest to Scriptures divine authority. And God does this through the internal testimony of the Holy Spirit to the believer. According to Scripture the Holy Spirit works through the Scriptures to confirm its reliability and give the believer a certainty that the Bible is truly the Word of God. The authority of God’s Word is derived from the Holy Spirit. But the Bible starts with a statement of fact Genesis 1:1. It makes no attempt to prove its truthfulness to the readers, God’s word simply presents the truth as truth, while both expecting and demanding the reader to accept it as such. Now this does not mean there is no evidence corroborating the truth of the Bible. There are many historical, geographical, scientific, prophetic facts that can be confirmed. We have testimony composed by more than 40 writers over 1500 years that consistently give the same message without contradiction or error. In order for us to accept this we must have a changed heart, our understanding and realization of the authority of Scripture starts with Jesus. It takes a changed heart a rebirth.
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
We must be born again.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Once God opens our eyes and our ears and we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then we can truly submit to the authority of God’s Word. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we can gain understanding of the Word. We must remember we have our part to do as well, we must be diligent in our study of God’s Word.
The Word
The Word
Okay as we close let me ask you, do you believe God’s Word is authoritative— if you said yes, that leas to my next question, do you live your life under the authority of God’s Word, or do you just turn to it in time of trouble, or looking for the promise of blessings. God exercises His authority over His children through His Word. Are we submitting to God’s Word. Now as we have our time of invitation, I also want you to take a few moments to prepare your hearts for the Lord’s Supper.