Progressive Christianity: Low View of Scripture
Notes
Transcript
Opening
Opening
Good morning! I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving!
Congratulations to the 21 people who were baptized last Sunday. It’s neat to see how God is working in and through your lives!
Well let’s dive into our topic for today.
During the Protestant Reformation in the 16th Century, a series of phrases were popularized called the five solas. These were statements clarifying the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sola is Latin for “only”
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Sola Scriptura “Scripture alone”
Sola Fide: “Faith alone”
Sola Gratia: “Grace alone”
Sola Christo: “Christ alone.”
Soli Deo Gloria: “To the Glory of God alone.”
These statements clarified the core of what we call the gospel (or good news) of Jesus Christ.
We are saved by (sola gratia) grace alone, through (sola fide) faith alone, in (Sola Christo) Christ alone, (soli deo gloria) to the glory of God alone.
Sola Scriptura, Scripture alone, is included because it is the final authority for truth. It trumps our emotions and wild ideas.
Series
Series
We are in a series called “No Other Gospel,” based on Paul’s statement in Galatians 1:6-7 where he says
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
This wasn’t just a problem in Paul’s day, but it was a problem in the 1500s during the Reformation, and guess what . . . it’s a problem today!
So we rely on the Bible as the source of authority for Christians.
If something contradicts what is in here, then it’s not from God.
Bible
Bible
Speaking of Bibles, I encourage you to follow along with me today. If you need a Bible an usher will bring you one. Just raise your hand until they hand you one.
We will be in the book of 2 Timothy, chapter 3 and 4 on page 1028
2 Timothy is a letter from the apostle Paul to a young church leader named Timothy, encouraging him (and us) to stay faithful to the true message of Christ.
Listen to Paul’s concern
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom [so a lot is at stake!], I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. [Why?] For the time will come [and it has!} when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
People have turned away from the truth of the Bible and into all kinds of false gospels. Especially in movements like progressive Christianity - which we’ve talked about this the last couple of weeks.
Maybe you are here today and you consider yourself a progressive Christian. I want you to know that we love you. We care about you. You are welcome here anytime. And our pastors are willing to meet with you if you have any questions or concerns.
But I hope you will also respect that we are unyielding in our convictions.
The concern I want to specifically address today is how progressive Christianity has taken a low view of Scripture. That means a failure to acknowledge the authority of God’s Word.
A question I want to ask each of you to reflect on today is this: Who or what is the final authority in your life? A Philosopher? A social movement? A political party? An online influencer? Google? Yourself?
For me, it is the Bible. And I hope it is for you as well. Today I want to give four reasons we can trust the Authority of the Bible as we work our way through 2 Timothy 3:14-17.
I trust the Bible’s Authority because of its . . .
1. Eye-Witness Accounts of the Gospel
1. Eye-Witness Accounts of the Gospel
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,
This has a few layers.
There is something to be said about the people that we have learned from. Some of us have had the privilege of having godly men and women in our lives who have taught us the gospel.
2 Timothy 1:5 tells us that Timothy’s faith first lived in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice.
I’ll recognize that a big factor in why I became a Christian and continue to follow Jesus is because of Christians in my life who have genuinely lived out their faith, starting with my parents. And I can go on all day talking about many of you whose faith has encouraged me.
But Paul is appealing to a deeper level - eye witnesses who saw the gospel of Jesus being fulfilled.
Remember that Paul himself, who is instructing Timothy, was an eye witness to Jesus.
One of the things we can be confident with our Bible is that there are well documented first hand reports of the events that took place.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
These very eye witnesses were willing to die for what they believed because they walked with Jesus. And in fact most of the apostles were killed for it.
J. Warner Wallace is an author and former homicide detective. He has a great book called Cold-Case Christianity that digs into the reliability of Scripture.
He said that there are four criteria by which he typically assesses eyewitness reliability and the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John pass the test in these important areas.
Here is why He says we can trust the Eye Witness Accounts of the Gospel
Slides for the four
1.) They were written early. All in the same generation as Jesus. Wallace says “the early dates make it highly unlikely they could have been written without vetting from those who were there and saw the truth about Jesus.” It would be very difficult to fabricate the story with so many people who knew the truth. And the authors were writing in the regions where Jesus’ ministry took place.
2) They are corroborated, meaning there is evidence giving confirmation or support to their claims. Wallace says, “From archaeology, to fulfilled prophecy, to the ancient statements of non-Christians, to the internal evidence of language, names and cultural details, the Gospels are corroborated better than any other ancient text.”
3) They haven’t changed over time. Thanks to preserved documents we are able to see that, as Wallace puts it, “the foundational claims related to Jesus have not changed at all from the first record to the last.”
4) They are not biased. Wallace said that “none of the Gospel authors gained anything from their testimony and instead suffered persecution and death for their claims. The authors lacked motive and bias.” They didn’t gain power or wealth in their lifetimes.
And the same really goes for all of Scripture, Genesis through Revelation. Even the Old Testament accounts are meticulously documented.
You know the parts you and I often skip over in our personal reading of Scripture, Leviticus and numbers, the genealogies and lists in books like Chronicles and Nehemiah, these “boring parts” are some of the most important for proving the trustworthiness of the Bible. The authors gave painstaking details so that we can trace back to the source.
Apply:
Apply:
Okay Jeff, that sounds nice, but what am I supposed to do with this information?
I encourage you to do two things here.
Investigate it for yourself. Do what I did and explore so that you can have confidence in how well verified our Bible actually is compared to any other religious or historical writings in the world. The more I explore, the more evidence I find that the Bible is solid. In your notes, there is a list of some helpful starting places for this research.
More importantly, I encourage you to go right to the primary source. We have access to the Author of creation, the One who is called “The Word,” the Holy Spirit who not only inspired Scripture, but who helps us to interpret it. Ask God to help you to see so that you too can be an eye witness (of sorts) to the Gospel that is still at work in 2025 and beyond.
I trust the Bible’s Authority because of its . . .
2. Wisdom for Grasping the Gospel
2. Wisdom for Grasping the Gospel
and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Timothy had the privilege of knowing Christ from a young age and growing up knowing Scripture. And good for him for taking it so seriously along the way.
I’m so thankful for our children in this church getting to hear the gospel. Not only in Christ-filled homes, but for the fact that Pastor Pam and the children’s and youth leaders are teaching truth from Scripture every time we meet.
The Holy Scriptures the kids are hearing and that you and I read together are able to make them (and us) wise for salvation.
When I say wisdom for grasping the gospel, I mean that the Bible gives us the whole story. How could we understand what sin is and how it entered the world, the remedy, Christ’s sacrifice, etc. if it were not passed down to us?
This book contains wisdom for grasping the Gospel, but only if we look intently.
We have to make sure that we know it!
Consider what Jesus says for those who do NOT know the word. In Matthew 22, Jesus called out the religious leaders of his day
Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.
Jesus was talking to well studied Jewish men, who probably read a lot of Scripture, but who gave more focus to man-made rules and traditions.
They didn’t approach God’s word prayerfully and with the right heart.
If they had they would have repented for how far they had fallen away from a perfect and Holy God.
There are many people today who believe there is a God, maybe even that his name is Jesus, but who do not really know Him or grasp the gospel because they have not read His Word.
Part of that is laziness.
A lot of that also has to do with pride.
There is a misconception that today’s generation is somehow smarter than people from the past or that we no longer have anything to learn from them.
But let me remind you that the people in the ancient world were not idiots!
Think of the wonders of the ancient world, like the pyramids that were built with crude tools and still standing today.
The Apostle Paul and others wrote letters from prison that became part of Scripture, that has been circulated to billions of people around the globe, and is still in circulation globally nearly 2 Millenia later.
Meanwhile our generation pats itself on the back for baking Artisan pizza and creating memes and TikToc dances.
It’s crazy to me that there are people today who somehow think they have unlocked a new “truth” about the Bible and God that was somehow everyone else missed over the past 2000 years.
Don’t buy the lie from these wolves in sheep's clothing.
Apply
Apply
Let us be people who avoid arrogance and look to the source that has been proven to impart wisdom. The time tested Scriptures.
How often do you spend time in the Word each day?
Now is as good a time as ever to begin a habit of daily study, so you might be able to truly grasp the gospel of Jesus Christ and what flows out of it.
I trust the Bible’s Authority because of its . . .
3. Usefulness for Applying the Gospel
3. Usefulness for Applying the Gospel
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
It is God-breathed, meaning God is the source and He inspired the human authors to record what was spoken to them.
This is no ordinary book. It is from God.
The King James Version of 2 Timothy uses slightly different words as it describes the Bible’s functions . . .
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Warren Wiersbe explained it like this: “Doctrine tells us what is right, reproof tells us what is not right, correction tells us how to get right, and instruction tells us how to stay right.”
And both the Old and New Testament are included when Paul says “All Scripture.” We don’t just throw out the Old. In fact, when Jesus and Paul talked about Scripture they were first speaking of the Old Testament . . . and then by extension the New Testament that was being written in their time.
One of the amazing things about the Bible is its ability to speak into every situation.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
And as we read, the Holy Spirit who inspired the original writers, also works in us to help us to understand and hear from God.
The fact that it is alive and active is why so often when we read the word, something jumps off the page that speaks to our immediate situation.
I like how apologist Frank Turek says that the Bible is both literally and literarily true. When we say literally true, we mean that every statement is factually accurate. By literarily true, he reminds us that there is figurative language and we need to understand the different literary styles and genres to accurately interpret the text.
When Jesus says that He is the gate in John 10:7, that is a metaphor. He doesn’t literally have hinges and a handle. But it is true that we must metaphorically enter through him to be saved.
Apply
Apply
The Bible is useful for applying the gospel.
What situations are you facing where you need guidance in your life? Have you consulted Scripture? Are there principles that you can take from God’s Word as you navigate this season?
If you are facing health issues, the Bible isn’t a medical guide, but it points us to our mighty God who has the power to heal and strengthen us. Consider reflecting on Isaiah 41:10
The Bible isn’t a nutrition or exercise book, but if you’re like me and can use a little more motivation here (especially after all the Thansgiving meal and leftovers); consider verses like 1 Corinthians 9:27 for self-control over your body
If you feel abandoned, reflect on Psalm 27:7-10
If you are doubting, reflect on Proverbs 3:5-8 and Mark 9:24
If you need wisdom about a major decision, reflect on James 1:5-8
If you wonder if God loves you, read any of the gospels
All these that I referenced are in your notes.
And of course the Bible speaks to much more. We can point you to more Scripture for your specific situation, but I encourage you to seek it out. Do your homework.
I trust the Bible’s Authority because of its . . .
4. Necessity for Preserving the Gospel
4. Necessity for Preserving the Gospel
so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
“Every good work” for us needs to include refuting false gospels. These other gospels are rampant and misleading many people, especially the ones under the label of Christianity.
I saw a video this week of a church in Dallas whose support of the pride community went so far that they pledged allegiance to drag. A group of men sat on their stage dressed in makeup and women’s clothing with a giant rainbow flag behind them as the congregation followed their pastors lead in affirming their lifestyle through a call and response reading (as is normally done with Scripture and confessions). That is a celebration of sin and Satan got his way at the Cathedral of Hope Church. I pray they’ll repent and turn back to the Truth.
Do you think they got to this point over night? One day they were solid in their doctrine and then suddenly they were way off base? Where do you think this started? That’s the scary part of progressive approaches. It sneaks in slowly.
Should we love all people? Of course. Should we practice gentleness and kindness wherever possible? Yes. Should we harass anyone? No
But we must stand for truth, protect the church, especially our Children!, and preserve the Gospel.
Be careful! Straying from the gospel is not always so obvious.
Alan Parr, apologist and author, says “A mistake that many well-meaning Christians make is picking and choosing which parts of the Bible they want to accept or reject. They treat the Bible like a buffet, taking what they want and leaving what doesn’t taste good to them. For instance, they may embrace the high biblical ideal of loving others but reject passages about sexual sin or repentance. Why? Because those passages force them to deal with their own sin.”
Think back to Adam and Eve. Picking and choosing is what got us into this mess in the first place!
They thought they knew better than God.
Listen, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is unchanging! And so is His word!
People will try to find loopholes.
I know I have. I like to think my sin isn’t that bad. My anger is justified or my gossip or my envy or . . . you fill in the blank.
The problem is when we start to lower our view of Scripture, not only do we fail to see it for what it is, but we also begin to cheapen the gospel of Jesus
And there is a price to pay for that. Jesus said,
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Apply
Apply
Church, we are called to preserve the Gospel of Jesus. That’s our role in being the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). And Scripture is going to be our best tool.
We need to yield to its authority.
It’s hard because our culture is out of alignment with God’s Word.
But so was Egypt, Babylon, Israel, Rome, Galatia, Ephesus, and every place mentioned in the Bible.
Many kingdoms have come and gone, but God’s Word is still standing today.
Do your part to preserve it, by sharing it with others and living out its instruction!
Closing
Closing
Again, I want to stress that everyone is welcome in this church. Our Mission begins with the phrase “because everyone matters to God” and we mean it. Everyone matters.
Jesus’ death on the cross is for all who will receive Him
We know some will leave the church for various reasons, including our emphasis on a truly biblical worldview
But our hope is that everyone will come to salvation in Jesus.
In order to do so we must stand upon the Word.
We exist to help you believe in Jesus. How can any of us know what to believe without the Bible?
We exist to help you belong to the family. Here are our family values . . . what unites us.
And we exist to help you become fully devoted. None of us are perfect, but here is our aim to live according to the will of God as presented in the Holy Scriptures.
Some have a low view of Scripture, but not us church. We keep it elevated to the appropriate place . . .Sola Scriptura . . . as our source of authority.
