Logos
Notes
Transcript
ILLUST:
Will you eat today? Why? Habit? You get hungry
Actually, you’ll get cranky if you DON’T eat, right?
Will you read the Bible today (outside of church)? Why?
Will you get cranky if someone keeps you from the Word?
What will you eat today? Will it benefit your health?
What will you consume spiritually today? Will it benefit you spiritually?
Here’s the deal:
People want to please self or please God.
We are inundated with self-help, self-care
Jesus NEVER tells people to love self - He knows they already DO!
People regularly in the Word are aiming to please God - their focus
People ignoring God’s Word are about self - wanting to simply feel good, living for the day, getting by on own resources
May not vocalize it, but basically telling God, “I got this, I might tell people I know You, but I don’t really need You, or want to hear from You.”
READ: Psalm 19:7-11
Yahweh’s Revealed Word
Yahweh’s Revealed Word
Remember the presupposition
Yahweh has made Himself known…it’s up to you to know Him - And there is no excuse not to
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
BIBLE READING STATS - Lifeway research
39% of Americans read the Bible three times - a YEAR (2023 data)
11% read the Bible daily (2021) - that number is lower today
The Basics - God’s Word
Key Biblical Doctrines
Key Biblical Doctrines
(pertaining to Scripture)
1) Inspired
1) Inspired
(Theo-pneustas)
“God-breathed” - 2 Tim 3:16
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
His Word is living, active
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
God breathed life into humans, He breathed life into His Word - He speaks through His Word
“What the Bible says, God says” - Know the Word, Know God
2) Final - Complete
2) Final - Complete
Canonized - by which all is measured (“canon”)
God chose men, meetings, councils, spiritual men led by the Holy Spirit - resulting in the 66 books we have (39 and 27)
His Word is the final authority in life
seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
3) Inerrant
3) Inerrant
Without error, verbal, plenary - every word/thought
God-breathed
His Word is pure, without error in the original writing/autograph
The accuracy of our translations is incredible
4) Understood
4) Understood
Interpreted properly
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,
Hermeneutic - literal, historical, grammatical, context - rules of interpretation
You don’t get to make Scripture fit what you believe…
Examples? Parables or other mis-quoted
John 3, Nicodemus, born again - crucial to get it right
Matthew 18, when two or three are gathered…
Jeremiah 29:11, in proper context
What about questions we have that are not answered in Bible?
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.
5) Authoritative
5) Authoritative
THE sole authority of life and godliness to the believer
THE sole authority of life and godliness to the Biblical Christian
BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY STANDS ALONE - As we stand on His Word as the Authority
RCC - Pope and Catechism
Lutheran - Matin Luther and Catechism
Methodist - Wesley and Book of Doctrine
Episcopal - Church of England, Book of Common Prayer
Reformed churches - John Calvin
Islam - Mohammed and the Quran
EVERY world religion, outside of Biblical Christianity
Based on a man/human
Based on works
(Even Southern Baptists - lean heavy on their rules and guidelines)
ALL commanded to repent and obey this Word - not some man, not some other book
EVERY aspect of life is covered
Challenges to Biblical Authority
Challenges to Biblical Authority
“New” translations - letting thoughts guide Scripture - WRONG
NIV post 1984 takes wrong liberties, e.g.
“Science” - Science allows us to view God’s amazing glory
Bible illiteracy - anyone can know it, IF they want to
There are no contradictions (e.g. how many women at the tomb…)
Challenge to authority started in Genesis 3 - “Did God really say…?”
PERSONALLY
When we do not know God’s Word - we do what we think is right, make our own decisions, and life looks just like those who are lost
When we do not know God’s Word - we tend to not be able to admit being wrong and not knowing
Decisions are made with our own best interest at heart
What about making decisions that please Jesus, edify the church?
Applying to Us - Today
Applying to Us - Today
Do you want to grow?
Where do you want to grow?
What’s your plan?
There is no growth apart from God’s Word
Marriage - when it’s good, when it’s tough - the WORD
Parenting - when it’s good, when it’s tough - the WORD
Friendship
Forgiveness
Peace
Work - important to do well, to learn, to maintain
Do you apply this mindset to your spiritual life?
Mental Health, Addiction, Physical health - not “have” depression, but can “feel” depressed, e.g.
Be identified as a believer knowing and living the Word
In culture
Here’s the thing
Why do we compartmentalize church vs life
The believer’s life IS life
The Word richly dwells - Col 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Believers are distinct because the Word dwells in them
Have you let the Word dwell, take up residence, in YOU?
Your impact on others
If you read the Word, get serious about it, studying it
People notice
Most will distance themselves from you
Some will encourage and embrace you
If you read the Word, get serious about it
Your priorities WILL shift
Your mind will be renewed - Rom 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
CHALLENGE
Bible reading - let’s do it together (handouts)
Start - let God work in you
Continue - find strength daily
Encourage - talk to others about what you read
Some here don’t want to do this…so find the ones who do
Maybe just 11% here will read the Word daily
If that’s you, I will love watching you grow and how the Lord will use you
In the end, we have John 12:48
“He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.
To the 11% - Isn’t it great to KNOW Yahweh?
To the 89% - What are you allowing to keep you from the Word?
