Live Out Truth

Truth of Ultimate Authority

How to Subtly Abandon the Bibles Authority

Christians in the West, face a number of explicit threats to the authority of Scripture. But explicit threats alone don’t weaken our trust in the Bible. Subtle threats—those that creep in unnoticed—also foster skepticism.

Danger of appealing to selective evidence - The most severe form of this is found in the HWPG. Link together some verses about God sending prosperity to the land and others about being a child of the king, provided of course you dismiss the many verses that speak to taking up your cross and suffering with Christ and rejoicing that we are privileged to suffer with Christ. The subtler thinking simply refuses to talk about disputed matters in order to sidestep controversy in the church. This also includes avoiding embarrassing passages and issues.

Misappropriating Scripture to legitimize an orthodox position - Recently Zondervan published Two Views on Homosexuality, the Bible, and the Church; this book bills these two views as “affirming” and “non-affirming,” and two authors support each side. Both sides, we are told, argue “from Scripture.” If the “affirming” side was once viewed as a stance that could not be held by confessional evangelicals, this book declares that not only the non-affirming stance but the affirming stance are represented within the evangelical camp, so the effect of this book is to present alternative evangelical positions, one that thinks the Bible prohibits homosexual marriage, and the other that embraces it.

Failure of to little reading especially of older works - We need to read older confessional material like the Nicene Creed, Johnathan Edwards, Jon Calvin, Augustine’s Confession. If we just read modern contemporary work then that’s what we will get.

Losing Awe before the word of God - The things that may sap our ability to tremble before God’s Word are many. Common to all of them is arrogance, arrogance that blinds us to our need to keep reading and re-reading and meditating upon the Bible if we are truly to think God’s thoughts after him, for otherwise the endless hours of data input from the world around us swamp our minds, hearts, and imaginations.

The Art of imperious ignorance - [“Imperious ignorance”] is the stance that insists that all the relevant biblical passages on a stated subject are exegetically confusing and unclear, and therefore we cannot know (hence “imperious”) the mind of God on that subject. . . . This art of imperious ignorance is not unknown or unpracticed today. For example, both in a recent book and in an article, David Gushee argues that homosexual marriage should be placed among the things over which we aIgree to disagree, what used to be called adiaphora, indifferent things. He predicts that “conservatives” and “progressives” are heading for an unfortunate porce over this and a handful of other issues, precisely because they cannot agree to disagree. He may be right. In all fairness, however, in addition to the question of whether one’s behavior in the domain of sexuality has eternal consequences, it must be said, gently but firmly, that the unified voice of both Scripture and tradition on homosexuality has not been on the side of the “progressives”:

It all comes down to this.......

*We have a tendency to believe what we have been conditioned by society to believe.

All truth is culturally conditioned - we still have to call truth - truth.

How is the word of God to be read?

“New City Catechism”

With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

BIG IDEA: God is our authority in every area because He is the Father of mankind.

Opening Up 2 Peter Chapter 6: True Words (1:16–18)

Peter gave his readers his own personal testimony. What he was writing to them was absolutely true: He and his fellow disciples had seen Jesus in all his glory and majesty.

The truth of Jesus coming is based on eyewitness accounts.

Peter confirms that his preaching is not based on something he made up, but on both his firsthand experience of Jesus and the truth of Scripture.

1. True Words

Litmus test of Scripture Included

The Bible is composed of 66 books by 40 different writers over 1,500 years and one consistent story line running through it all - God.

66 Books known as the Canon of Scripture. (Hebrew Kaneh “a rod” or “a reed”, measuring rod of the carpenter, became common word for anything by which someone was to be judged or measured.

WHAT MADE A BOOK SCRIPTURE

Apostolic - Did it come from an apostle or someone who was close to an Apostle.

Authentic - does it have the ring of truth

Accepted - are most of the churches using it?

Accurate - does it conform to the orthodox and doctrinal teaching of the church?

The idea of the final canon being an accident, and that any number of books could have ended up in the Bible, ignores the evident unity and provable accuracy of the whole collection of 27 books.

Peter in a few words begins to describe the events that took place on the mountain of transfiguration.

1st reminds readers of the events of Jesus earthly life. 2nd recounts the splendor of God that was revealed to three chosen disciples. He is not writing about stories made up by spin doctors following their own agenda; rather he is recording actual historical eyewitness accounts of the first readers of this letter could have verified by consulting those who either had been with jesus, or had lived or travelled to Israel during his ministry.

“The apostle Paul highlighted this when he said to King Agrippa, what I am saying is true and reasonable.”

The disciples witnessed the performance of the miracles of jesus (v. 16a) but the greatest thing that they were confronted with was the incarnation: God becoming a man. When his glory was shown to them it left a lasting impression of this great fact.

Fables are not to be found in the Bible.

16b we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

When Peter preached powerfully at Pentecost, he said that the Scriptures were fulfilled, and that “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.” ()

*In a court of law this question is often asked of a witness by the prosecution or defence: ‘What did you see?’ Eyewitnesses are key in any case.

The disciples witnessed the testimony of the Father about Jesus. (vv. 17,18)

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: Wake up and Remember! (2 Peter 1:12–21)

Note the repetition of the pronoun we in 2 Peter 1:16–19. It refers to Peter, James, and John—the only Apostles with the Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration. (John referred to this experience in John 1:14—“We beheld His glory.”) These three men had to keep silent about their experience until after the Lord was raised from the dead (Matt. 17:9); then they told the other believers what had happened on the mountain.

The prophecies about Jesus and the miracles performed by Jesus should have been enough to convince Peter, James and John that here with them was the long expected Messiah. But God allowed them to witness something spectacular.

WHY? So that it would be forever burned into their memory banks.

What should be done with this overwhelming evidence?

Peter was so overcome by the scene he had just experienced that he blurted out, ‘Lord it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters - one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ At that very moment the divine presence of God spread over them and the great King, the Lord of Glory, and a majestic voice said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’

The vibrant testimony of Peter and the other two was that they heard the very voice of God the Father, Maker of heaven and earth. It was the voice of the Almighty so full of majesty, and authority, that it made the disciples cower in the dust.

Overwhelming evidence leads to Ultimate Authority.

Do not be afraid of the opinions of man or science, for science, however wonderful, can never remove the fact; it can never alter events which have taken place in history. Do not be foolish enough to listen to error.

Listen to the Clear Voice of God and the testimony he gives.

Illustration:

The postmodern mind sees man as reaching upward for truth. The idea is that while truth may be there it is impossible for man to get outside of himself and reach it.

The Christian Theist view say’s that man is not reaching upward for truth, but rather truth is reaching down to man. Are you listening to the clear voice of God’s revelation.

The question is whether we truly believe that God is able to reveal His truth as He so desires.

2. God’s Words

Opening Up 2 Peter Chapter 7: God’s Words (1:19–21)

At the end of the nineteenth century, the German philosopher Nietzsche made the provocative statement: ‘God is dead’. Countless people do not know anything about philosophy in general or Nietzsche in particular, but as far as they are concerned, God may as well be dead.

If you are a Christian think about the way you live your life. Does it prove that, apart from in times of stress, God does not come into your mind? Or do you live in close fellowship with him all of the time?

The Scriptures shine in dark places (v. 19)

Light is always a priceless commodity. In the ancient world in which Peter lived, olive oil lamps were often the main source of light for people and travelling in the dark or at night was full of danger. For the most part in many placed in our western world the easy access to light is often taken for granted. But when Peter lived an effort had to be made to provide illumination: in oil lamps, wicks had to be trimmed and oil placed in the reservoir to enable light to shine.

Illustration: Think of the darkest places that you have ever been in your life not just physically speaking but spiritually, and emotionally. Now consider how God has gone to a great deal of trouble to enable the light of his Son to shine in those places.

John 8:12 ESV

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

*The bible is where the reader is confronted with the central figure of Jesus Christ, these inspired records tell us about his life, his coming again and what will take place after that.

Jesus came to the earth as the light of the world and will return to the earth as the morning star rising. The word translated ‘morning star’ is phosphorous, which means ‘light-bringer’.

“May the word of God be a light unto my path and a lamp unto my feet that I might not sin against God.”

The Authority of Gods’ word illuminates our life......

The truth of Christianity is not man-made (v. 20)

In the ancient world many documents were produced. Some of the writers claimed that the gods were inspiring them to record significant things. Peter is telling his readers that the trustworthiness of the authority of Scripture is proved by the fulfillment in time and history of the Old Testament prophets’ writings. If they had just made things up out of their own imaginations, subsequent events would have found them out, and their writings would have been forgotten long ago.

*WARNING: Anyone who teaches the Bible must remember that it is God’s special word to the world; therefore it must not be interpreted falsely or casually.

Revelation 22:18–19 ESV

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

v. 21

Opening Up 2 Peter The Holy Spirit Inspired the Scriptures (v. 21)

How tempting it must have been for Peter to write whatever he wanted. He had lived with Jesus for three years and saw many things that we have no knowledge about. But he didn’t yield to this temptation; this is the way it had to be, because no man produced Scripture in and of himself.

Peter the fisherman: uses a familiar picture of a vessel being blown along as the wind fills it’s sails. Even through each author of a book or letter used his own individual style of recording and writing, the finished product was not an invention or creation of that particular individual. Although the authors may not have realized it at the time, God the Holy Spirit was working through their minds and personalities as he carried them along to produce the unique word of God.

3. False Words

v. 2:1-3

Opening Up 2 Peter Chapter 8: False Words (2:1–3)

In this chapter, Peter deliberately contrasts the prophets of God, God’s true mouthpieces, with false prophets and teachers. He says, ‘Watch out!’ lest you get caught up in dangerous heresies.

Many have become anesthetized to the facts of life and death, truth and error, God and Satan, heaven and hell, for there are so many other things that crowd into life and the big issues can so easily be sidelined.

Christians live in Enemy Territory

Opening Up 2 Peter False Words Are Used by False Teachers to Destroy Themselves (vv. 1,3b)

In the original Greek, there is no break between the chapters, so 1:21 (‘but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit’) is immediately followed by 2:1 (‘But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you’). These two opposite truths are placed side by side.

A PROBLEM TO FACE

even denying the sovereign Lord who brought them shows that false teachers will infiltrate our midst with destructive heresies, even to the point of denying the Master who brought them.

THOSE REFERRED TO HERE ARE THOSE WHO WERE NEVER TRUE CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS.

*The sword of God’s justice that hangs over false teachers will fall when the thread of a longsuffering God’s patience snaps. Those who have been warned will run out of time and there will be no second opportunity for them to repent of their sin.

*Conterfeits are nothing new. Satan is the “great imitator.” and he has been hard at word ever since he deceived Eve in the Garden.

FALSE TEACHERS ARE DESCRIBE IN 3 WAYS

DECEPTION: Peter called what they were teaching deceptive heresies. The word heresy originally meant simply “to make a choice,” but then it came to mean “a sect, a party.” Promoting a party spirit in a church is one of the works of the flesh.

DENIAL: False teachers are better known for what they deny than what they affirm. They deny the inspiration of the Bible, the sinfulness of man, the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross, salvation by faith alone, and even the reality of eternal judgment. They especially deny the deity of Jesus Christ, for they know that if they can do away with His deity they can destroy the entire body of Christian truth.

SENSUALITY: Pernicious ways simply means “licentious conduct.” Jude accused the false teachers of “turning the grace of God into lasciviousness”. These people give Christianity a bad name. They profess that they know God but in their works they deny Him.

GREED: False teachers are interested in one thing: making money and exploiting the ignorance of people using religion as a a cloak. They use plastic words as well as great swelling words to fascinate and influence their victims. They flatter sinners and tell them the kind of ego building words they want to hear. They will scratch the itching ears of people who reject the truth of the Bible and turn to fables. Religion can be a tremendous tool for exploiting weak people, and these false teachers use religion just to get what they can.

*The true minister of Christ has nothing to hide: his life and ministry are an open book. He preaches the truth in love and does not twist the Scriptures for his own gain. He does not flatter the rich or minister only to make money. Paul describes the true minister in:

2 Corinthians 4:2 ESV

But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

How we need to be alert and refuse to support ministries that exploit people and deny the Saviour.

Isaiah 45:18 ESV

For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): “I am the Lord, and there is no other.

God is the ultimate authority simply because He is “the LORD, and there is no other.” It is He who created everything, including mankind. God is the Father of mankind, and as such, He has authority over us.

The serpent questioned God’s authority back in the Garden of Eden, and deceived Eve (). Then Adam ate the fruit (), despite what God had told him (). Adam ignored God’s authority by doing what God told him not to do. Consequently, sin entered the world, and each of us is born with a rebellious nature.

Because God is our authority in every area, we need to make sure that we know what His Word says, and strive to make it our authority in every area of life. We need to recognize when the beliefs and philosophies of men are contrary to God’s Word (; ), bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” (), and respond by “speaking the truth in love” () to a world that has tried to deny the authority of the Father.