The Bible as Authority

BIG IDEA:

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

What do we have to know?

Why do we need to know it?

What do we have to do?

Why do we have to do it?

ME

We are on our third part of our series on Embracing Tradition. What does it mean to be a Baptist? We have already explored through Pastor Ken what it means that Jesus is LORD, and also the Priesthood of all Believers, today, we are going to look at the Bible as Authority. Now what immediately jumps out is the two keywords, Bible, and Authority. Assuming we know what Bible means, and if not, here’s a really quick 2 minutes explanation of the Bible. The Bible is now binded as one book but it actually contains many books or genres of writings, largely narrative or stories, but also poetry, Greco-Roman style letters, oracles, historical records of dynasties and wars, legal documents. We separate them into two larger groups, the Old Testament, containing 39 books predominantly written in Hebrew language, with a bit of Aramaic, capturing from Genesis the creation of the cosmos and all that’s in it, including the origin of humanity, the fall or rebellion of human against his creator and the curse and punishment, then from the macro to the micro focusing on one family which will become the people of God, the Israelites through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You following me so far?! For the sake of time, this people became a nation which is repeatedly rescued by God and given its own land and identity through Moses and Joshua, and you can go to the sermon archive online and hear the series on Exodus: the Presence of God. Then as God formed a nation, the Israelites, his people rejected him as their king and asked for a king. And eventually King David established a dynasty through God for many years until Israelites rejected him not only as king, but as their one and only God. And with it cane corruption, assassinations, and eventually Israelites losing their land and blessing even as the prophets warned and foretold all this, they did not repent. Finally the Old Testament ends with a return from exile and a hope for God to claim kingship to his people. New testament, 27 books altogether begins with four biographies of the expected and anticipated king. Jesus, who came in order to save us from our sin and rebellion once and for all, and by his life, death and resurrection redeem his rebellious people and by extension all who had or will rebel against him. When he rose from the dead and he promise to send his Holy Spirit to be presence amongst his people, and the rest of New Testament are history and letters of how the people of God form the church who live under the Kingdom of God until one day when this king returns and establishes dominion in all creation. That’s salvation history in a very brief and truncated presentation.

What is authority? Authority has several meanings, 11 on my dictionary app. Of which most important to our discussion is a power or right, delegated or given, an accepted source of information, advice, etc. Persuasive force, conviction, a testimony and witness. In our denomination document ‘Why Baptist?’ Here’s a summary of this Authority:

Baptists believe that God communicates his will through the inspired Word of God. For Baptists, the Bible is the final authority in matters of faith and practice. It is to be interpreted responsibly under the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit within the community of faith.

WE

To break it down, the first sentence is already loaded with foundational truths. Baptists and I would say all churches believe this, that the quintessential characteristic of God is God speaks. God has a will and purpose for his creation, and chooses to use inspiration of human witnesses to be agents of this message. Further to that, it is not just the authority, but the final authority, meaning it has the last word when it comes to faith and practice. It is the first and final consultation in determining who God is and what God did and therefore who we are, how we ought to live and what we should do as God’s people. Not human wisdom, the latest philosophy or cultural or social studies, or family and traditions, when it comes to all things related to the Christian faith and life or practice, it is the definitive document. The statement goes on to say it is to be interpreted responsibly which means the meaning and truth behind these genres and passages require a level of training to comprehend, since these are ancient writings in one sense and we do not live in that time of history and culturally and contextually we are different, yet at the same time the human situation of life, death, joy, sorrow, loss, triumph is pretty universal. The human condition that we are dead in sin, rebellious to God and alienated can’t be deduced, only revealed by the Holy Spirit. Reason will never give us access to God’s revelation. Only by that Spirit which inspired the many writers to write down these truths and God using it to be his witnessing document are we given access to God’s will. The statement ends with within a community of faith. This means the work of interpretation is safe in the arms of the believers through checks and balances, because the same Spirit which speaks to one believer ought to also speak truth which is not contradictory to another!

So you can see authority of scripture is not a simple or simplistic task. But it is a wonderful task, a needed task, and can bring great joy. All throughout history God’s word is transmitted from one generation to the next.

GOD

Perhaps one of the most key text to understanding the authority of scripture is found in a letter written from the apostle Paul to his protege, his son of faith, Timothy. It’s one of the very last letter Paul wrote to Timothy before he stands trial under Nero when he appealed to stand before Caesar to testify to the gospel. In this extremely personal letter, Paul not only remind Timothy of the gospel he heard and was taught, but also how Paul’s life reflects the sacred writings and points them to the revelation of Jesus Christ for Timothy to plainly see, and the treatment he gets for being faithful to it is persecution. So turn with me to 2 Timothy, we will begin at 3:14. It is found in the pew bible on page 996.

I. Source, Transmission, and Authority of Scripture

14 But as for you (Timothy),

continue in what you have learned

and have firmly believed (persuaded or sure of truthfulness or validity),

knowing from whom (plural, inc. Paul) you learned it

15  and how from childhood

you have been acquainted () with the sacred writings (Old Testament),

which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

First, notice the 3 of the 5W1H. What? Whom? how? What has Timothy learned, and whom did he learn it from, and what is the origin of what he learned. We learn (no pun intended) from earlier on, Timothy learned the truth through his family.

[] I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

Not only so, the whom is plural, and definitely included Paul, perhaps Silas, in other words, a whole community of believers is required to be faithful so that successive transmission and constant refinement and correction of God’s word can occur. Notice here and also later in verse 15 there is a key ingredient to this transmission. By faith. Only by a Supernatural requirement can scripture become the word of God. By faith (supernatural). in Christ Jesus (revelation). wise for salvation (appropriation of the word of God's primary benefit). See many have approached the bible as many things. There are university degrees in religion which looks at these 66 books an analyze them as a historical document, a moral textbook, a philosophy treatise, but so long as we don’t have faith, we can’t have access to what this book is primarily and sufficiently for. To reveal who Jesus Christ is. In the area of systematic theology, the doctrine of Scripture is a subset of the doctrine of Revelation. In that order. That is because scripture can be controlled, manipulated, and used to teach all kinds of things by corrupted man and woman so long as we skip Jesus Christ and his life, death and resurrection. Except here’s another plot twist, these sacred writings only cover the Old Testament, because Paul himself is still writing his letters which would eventually be canonized (officially received) as the New Testament. Paul is saying to Timothy search the Old Testament and Jesus is in every page. Says who? Jesus himself says that.

In John [] You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life...

46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But iif you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” 

Here lies the truth of revelation. Because Jesus used the apostolic witness to be the revelation of his life, death, and resurrection as the Messiah, His authority has now been given to the scripture. Further, because Jesus claims Moses himself wrote about him in the Torah (Laws), and elsewhere Jesus also say the Law and the Prophets and the Psalms (, ) testify about him, God authenticates scripture as his way of revelation.

This family heirloom of transmitted truths from Eunice and Lois and Paul can make you wise for salvation.

Scripture itself does not bring salvation, but only Jesus Christ, who is revealed as God uses Scripture to reveal Himself does. In the Commentary by George Knight says : "Scripture’s instruction does not itself bring salvation but points “to” it or leads one toward it."

God did not reveal a book. God revealed a person, His son, Jesus Christ on Nazareth. That leads to the question, then how is

Scripture inspired?

Prelude of the use of scripture in 15b.

II. Function and Authority of Scripture

16 All Scripture (historically and contextually, O.T. plus sayings of Jesus)

is breathed out by God (theopneustos = only occurence, inspired and illumined)

Verse 16 uses a different word for altogether now, not sacred writings which is Old Testament, but all which means Old Testament and also the teachings which have yet to be written down or compiled but is already beginning to circulate about Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. The most curious word is found in the English translation God-breathed. In Greek it only occurs once in all of the Bible and literally is the combining of the word God and breath. What does it mean? Some translation use the word inspired. Notice how God inspires as you survey across the scripture. The Spirit is not holding his witnesses at gun point to write the perfect, morally correct content. Just look at David in the Psalms calling out against his enemies with vehement hatred, or Peter in the gospel kept misspeaking, boasting, and eventually denying Jesus, it’s all there, or Paul in his letter to Philippi was so angry he said if they love circumcision so much, why don’t they just emasculate themselves altogether! But inspiration means this: Scripture and Spirit (breath has the same word root as Spirit) becomes the word of God. Elsewhere, Paul says how this works.

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

Not only did Paul mention scripture is interpreted not by human wisdom and only those who are spiritual, who have a restored relationship with Jesus Christ can they be taught to obey its truths. The apostle Peter himself also echo the same sentiment:

, ... know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Our frustration with the ancient text is not only a comprehension and understanding issue, but it is primarily a spiritual issue. Do we already know, love, trust and obey Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour by His very Spirit’s revelation of who he is and what he did and how we ought to respond. But it also means believers are without excuse and are under Christ’s authority to be immersed in the word of God as the Spirit which dwells in us reveal more and more about Jesus, we are more and more like Him and it should guide our decisions and actions. Paul then list out the primary reason of scripture, for profit or benefit.

and profitable (beneficial, the focus of Reformation; not inerrancy or infallibility)

This may offend some of my more reformed friends, but the focus of the Reformation is much more tangible. Luther and Calvin focuses on how scripture is profitable, in helping us to become more and more christ-like as a people, and not modern categories of inerrancy and infallibility, which you won’t find in the Institute of Christian Religion written by Calvin or his sermons.

Inerrancy only became a thing and largely North American notion that there is no inconsistencies in scripture. I am always reminded of my professor Dr. Victor Shepherd who would immediately say Calvin himself had a list of inconsistencies in the bible. However, given the climate in the days of challenging the bible’s source and critically assessing its reliability from scholars like John Dominic Crossan and earlier liberal scholars like Friedrich Schliermacher and Rudolph Bultmann, I can sympathize with the reaction in America.

As for infallibility, The author who translated the Institute John McNeill in his preface says this about infallibility:

“Thus Christ, the Word, by whom all things were created (), is the Author of the written Word, by which the eternal Word is known. Holy Scripture, thus understood, assumes for Calvin unquestionable and infallible authority and is made his constant reliance and resource.”

Again, from Dr. Shepherd, the bible is infallible not in itself but in the purpose for which it is for: it is infallible as to “it’s speaking of the fact, nature, and offer of salvation.”

What then is God’s word profitable for?

for teaching (educating and instructing; impart knowledge or skill),

for reproof (rebuke, an act or expression of criticism or censure),

for correction (improvement and replace a mistake or correct conduct), and

for training in righteousness (whole education and instruction of a disciple),

These four uses or functions of scripture may seem obvious or onerous, or somewhat separated functions of scripture. I like how the late John Stott breaks it down: "Do we hope, either in our own lives or in our teaching ministry, to overcome error and grow in truth, to overcome evil and grow in holiness? Then it is to Scripture that we must … turn, for Scripture is ‘profitable’ for these things.”

He looked at them as two pairs, overcoming error (reproof) and grow in truth (teaching) is the first pair. Overcoming evil (correction) and growing in holiness (training in righteousness) is the second. And because Jesus is who scripture reveals this book is the Holy Word of God for which we all must obey. Grow by reading it regularly and instead of controlling it, allow it to search us and probe us, our motives, intentions, hidden sin and hidden secrets which only the light of God can expose and need to expose so there won’t be hindrance for us to become holy, that is, more like Jesus, the goal of scripture. Verse 17:

III. Goal of Scripture

17 that the man (messenger) of God

may be complete,

equipped (furnished and equipped with every component required for the task)

for every good work.

God uses scripture which speaks of himself to refine us through the pairs of benefits so that we can be complete and equipped. That is, we are ready for the task and the heart. The task to proclaim the gospel to all the nations, to correctly interpret scripture, and live amongst a world foreign to the knowledge and relationship with God with our relationship with Him clearly displayed before all. And the heart of Compassion, humility, gratefulness, service and mutual submission, and above all else, redefine what love means in the way we treat others, even our enemies. We are so full and overflowing with his truth we cannot but share it and praise Him for his goodness and mercy and love.

We are created for good works ()

(ESV): 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

We are called to do good works ()

(ESV): 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

We are equipped to do good works ()

God ever remains Lord or Master in every aspect of scripture. He is the LORD of scripture.

YOU

How will you respond? Having known the authority and benefits of scripture? Does it still remain a book dusted off once in a while when we are. If you are not a follower of Jesus, you can continue to analyze this book left right and center on the sidelines and you will still not be able to see it as more than a history or philosophy or moral book. If you have been coming for a while to MCBC, and your desire to search and know god is genuine (well as genuine as we can be as fallen creatures), would you consider to take a step of faith and believe in the Lord of the Scripture who has created you and loved you and died for your sins so as to reveal to you who He is and how you can have an eternal relation restored with Him again?

And for those who are followers and you may have stopped reading the Bible for the reason there is some tough issues in there, instead of skipping those parts or just stop altogether, would you once again commit to allow the Spirit to guide you through a healthy community of believers to at least give it a chance to wrestle with those difficult verses? This means of course you are invited and encouraged to join such a small group at MCBC and they meet from Thursday’s to Saturday, and you can ask me or the other pastors, deacons and ushers more.

Lastly, some of us (and I’ve been in your shoe many times in my Christian journey), where you either grew up Christian so you’ve been exposed to all these stories since children ministry (well maybe not all the stories, I don’t think they’ve ever dove into the Song of Solomon) and your ‘Devo time’ is just bland. May I humbly suggest the issue is not so much it’s boring and repetitive and I know this story already. But it is a spiritual issue and you need to give the Spirit access to your heart! Release the control to have scripture mastered and instead allow the Lord of scripture to master, overwhelm and wash you over with his abundant love, mercy and grace, correcting and rebuking you and exposing your sins to be repented of.

WE

The authority of scripture is not scripture itself, but the Author of scripture, who chose to use these written words interpreted by His Holy Spirit in the community of faith to profit us into maturity in Christ. May the words spoken of today be your challenge, comfort and restoration.

Let’s pray.

We will see you next week for part four of Embracing Tradition: Church Governance with Pastor Edward.

——

Calvin's Institute of Religion, Book I, Chapters VI to X

Scripture above natural revelation (Psalm moves from nature to word) (1.6.)

Scripture above judgment, opinion, use of the church (against Papacy) (1.7.; 4.9.14)

Scripture above human wisdom and reasoning (1.8.)

Scripture reveals Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ ever remains LORD of scripture

Spirit apart from Word is fanaticism (1.9.1)

Word and Spirit joined together (1.10.)

of Scripture, 1.6.1, 1.7, 1.7.1, 1.7.1n2, 1.8.1ff, 1.8.11, 4.9.14

    inspiration of, 1.6.2n5, 1.7.1n1, 4.8.8n7, 4.8.9n9

    and knowledge of the Creator, 1.2.1n2

                              1.13.7

                        1:21      1.13.15

                        1:21      1.13.18

                              2.9.2

                        4:6      3.2.6

                        4:6      3.2.13