Bible Study Part 1
Fundamentals • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
Over the last few weeks we have been studying through the theme entitled “Fundamentals” with the intended desire to be reminded of that “pure spiritual milk.”
2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
Last week we discussed “Bible Authority,” specifically what bible authority means.
It means the bible is the inspired word of God that is without error and thus the perfect source of authority.
It also means the bible is what creates faith (Romans 10:17) and considering we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) it is the bible that authorizes those things we must know to be saved and take hold of our inheritance.
With that said, over the next few weeks, we are going to be looking at “how we ascertain bible authority.”
By that I mean we are going to examine what we need to know to properly do “Bible Study.”
So, in today’s lesson we are going to focus on ways “God Does Not Authorize.”
God does not authorize based on…
Personal Like & Dislikes
Personal Like & Dislikes
I Like It.
I Like It.
God does not allow something just because someone likes something.
There were many worldly pleasures Solomon “liked” but in the end he said it was like “striving for the wind.”
16 I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.
Those that support homosexuality, abortion, gambling, drinking, fornicating, etc., will go to the bible and try to make it say what they want.
Human Rights Campaign “What Does the Bible Say About Homosexuality?” states…
“Each time the New Testament addresses the topic in a list of vices (1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Timothy 1:10), the argument being made is more than likely about the sexual exploitation of young men by older men” 1
The same thing applies to those things people don’t like.
I Don’t Like It.
I Don’t Like It.
God doesn’t stop something just because someone doesn’t like it.
Again people have abused this idea for years by going to the bible and “studying it” to find what they “don’t like.”
Top Knot Hairdo: Matthew 24:17
17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house,
Summary
Summary
Just because you and I like something or don’t like something doesn’t mean God is going to agree with either of us on it.
In fact God is only concerning with agreeing with himself not us.
God also doesn’t authorize based on…
Erroneous Conclusion
Erroneous Conclusion
I Have Reached It.
I Have Reached It.
God does not authorize based on erroneous conclusion that “I” may reach.
Just because someone says they have studied a subject for a long time doesn’t mean God has authorized what they are teaching.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Rick Atchley went to Abilene Christian University when he and the elders at the North Richland Hills were “studying” to determine if mechanical instruments were authorized in worship. After being there several days he talked about all the books he read on the subject over a three day period in the universities library. He said after much study and prayer me and the elders have decided there is nothing wrong with it biblically. Interestingly enough out of all the books mentioned he never mentioned any bible verses that “backed-up his claim.”
Summary
Summary
People can reach all sorts of conclusions concerning God’s word but that doesn’t make it biblically true or not.
Doctrine can only be found biblically true if it can be proved or authorized from God’s word.
Another popular way in which people think God authorizes is through…
People’s Opinions
People’s Opinions
Sincere Conviction.
Sincere Conviction.
God does not authorize based on my opinion or others opinions.
Just because a person is “sincerely convinced” their opinion is right concerning God’s word doesn’t make it so.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
The apostle Paul is a great illustration of such a reality.
He was convinced his opinion about Jesus as a “false Messiah” was right.
1 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”
Summary
Summary
There is no doubt we can “know” God’s word.
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
However, there is a big different between “knowing doctrine” based off of the non-contradicting evidence from within God’s word and basing it off of an opinion that cannot be substantiated.
Another preferred way in which some have been striving to authorize doctrine within God’s word is through…
Popularity
Popularity
The Favored.
The Favored.
God does not authorize based on what is popular or not.
Just because something is culturally acceptable or not doesn’t mean God authorizes base on that.
27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
Today it is popular to say “I’m spiritual not religious.” I understand what they are trying to say but this is a complete and utter unbiblical doctrine.
27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Summary
Summary
The reality is God doesn’t care about popular doctrines movements, people, or culture.
God only cares about what is righteous and what is not; what is right and what is wrong.
As we continue looking at ways God does not authorize I’m reminded of one of the great misfortunes concerning looking for bible authority in bible study.
It’s when people make decisions about their spiritual life or a congregations spiritual wellbeing but they have a…
Lack Of Foresight
Lack Of Foresight
This Isn’t Clairvoyance.
This Isn’t Clairvoyance.
What I’m talking about here is that God does not authorize something just because I can’t see any harm it will cause.
Satan is good at what he does and makes those things of darkness look like things of light.
14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
If we look at the verses before and after we see Satan has “his servants” being wolves in sheep’s clothing.
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Praise Teams: When praise teams were first introduced they were said to “just help the congregation” sing better by picking certain members in the audience that had good harmonizing voices. Then eventually those people “moved to the front” but were still sitting down. Lastly they were brought on stage to sing with the song leader and lastly they replaced the song leader with “men and women” leading from the front.
Summary
Summary
Many a person and congregation have made critical mistakes in the walk with God because they couldn’t see any harm in it.
Silence
Silence
God Didn’t Say I Couldn’t.
God Didn’t Say I Couldn’t.
God does not authorize anything by being silent on the matter.
In fact if God has to authorize something for us to be righteous in doing it.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Groceries Illustration: If you go to the store and grab 5 items and you check out but the clerk tells you that you must pay for everything in the store you might be a little mad and ask why. If they respond with “you didn’t tell me you didn’t want all those item” any of us would have to work hard not to get angry and would say “I told you what I wanted therefore that eliminates what I don’t want.”
Summary
Summary
Far too many in the church and of those that call themselves Christians seek “God’s authority” in their bible study based on these things we just mentioned.
Conclusion
Conclusion
When we study the bible and look for what God wants us to do or not do we are looking for authority from God.
We would do well to remember that God doesn’t authorize based on my personal like or dislikes, erroneous conclusions I come up with, mine or anyone else’s opinions, what’s popular, my inability to see the harm in something, or God’s silence.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Endnotes
Endnotes
https://www.hrc.org/resources/what-does-the-bible-say-about-homosexuality
