How We Learn from Scripture

How We Learn from Scripture

2005030

Topic # 0154 (authority)

Introduction:

A. The Bible claims inspiration throughout its pages – 4000 times in OT & NT.

1. We need to immerse ourselves in the word of God.

2. It must become the authority for our life.

B. What is our attitude toward scripture?

1. Study a topic: if that’s what the bible says…that settles it. OR

2. Well I know the Bible says that….but...

a) then subjectivity takes over

b) Ones personal point of view takes over.

3. Submissively accepting what the Bible says must remain one of the fundamentals of who we are as a church and as individual Christians.

C. How do you view the bible?

1. As a devotional guide?

2. A source of comfort & consolation in times of sorrow/distress?

3. A collection of ancient literature “out of date” and/or irrelevant to modern man?

4. Or...as THE word of God? As THE revelation of God’s will to mankind.

I. God’s word is THE authority.

A. If the Bible is inspired of God – then it is HIS word. THE word of God.

1. That means the bible is authoritative.

2. The bible is from the One in whom all authority resides.

a) Who would argue that God could give His word & it be powerless?

B. 1 Cor. 2:13 – words of the apostles became the standard of authority.

1. Christians were to measure anything preached to them by what the apostles taught. We should do this too.

2. Gal. 1:8

3. 2 Jhn 9-11 – another indication of the authority of the word of God.

C. The doctrine of Christ is the standard by which we are to measure what is preached.

II. God’s word should be viewed as absolute truth.

A. Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2 – God cannot lie.

1. If God can’t lie – then the Bible can’t lie. It cannot teach that which is not true!

2. Whatever it teaches is absolutely true.

a) Bible says something happened – it happened.

b) 6 day creation; parting red sea; Jonah; resurrection

3. Why? What the Bible teaches to the case is the case because what the Bible says is what God says & what God says is truth.

a) John 17:17

b) Psa 19:7-9; 33:4; 119:104; 128

B. Truth of the Bible is absolute.

1. It is free from & independent of the conclusions of the reader/bible student.

2. Truth of the bible is truth regardless of what conclusions people reach.

a) This is in stark contrast to relativism – which holds to the idea that truth is dependent upon the conclusions that man reaches.

b) What is truth to you may not be truth to me.

c) The truth of a preposition is not changed by the conclusion someone reaches about a matter.

C. Hear about many who “rethink” matters.

1. Baptism; role of women; what to call the church.

2. May “rethink” these – may even change mind – but this doesn’t change what the Bible already teaches.

3. Plant/rock illustration.

4. So it is with the truth – man can say what he wants to about a bible matter, but that the bible says about it remains the same.

D. God’s word is constant.

1. Psa. 119:89 – what was truth 2000 years ago is still truth.

2. How many feel bible out of date – irrelevant to today’s culture?

a) How many believe bible does not address life of modern man?

3. We hear statements: what the HS told Paul may not be what the Spirit is saying to you and me.

a) Really? What does this imply?

b) That the all-knowing God incapable of writing a book that is relevant for all generations. Who will defend that statement?

c) It could imply that God chose not to make it relevant.

d) Wouldn’t this mean God lied in 2 Pet. 1:3; 2 Tim. 3:16-17?

4. The constant, unchanging truth of the bible is clearly affirmed in the scripture:

a) 1 Pet. 1:23, 25; Mt. 24:35

III. Men can learn the truth.

A. Many: we can never know for certain what is the truth of the Bible.

1. Follow to logical conclusion – we begin to decide no one has the right to make a determination another person is wrong.

B. John 8:31-32 – Jesus said…

1. Being a disciple depends upon abiding in His word.

2. Jesus: one must be able to learn & know the truth.

a) Impossible to abide in it unless we are first able to learn it.

C. Consider these scriptures:

1. Eph. 3:3-4; 5:17

2. 1 Tim. 2:4 – God wants all men to know the truth.

3. Things that are essential to salvation are, w/proper study, easily understandable.

IV. So how do we learn from scripture?

A. Once we understand the scriptures are authoritative, then we must apply it in our lives.

1. Mt. 7:21-27 – we must do the will of God.

2. The scriptures are the source for doctrine & conduct. 2 Tim. 3:16-17

3. 2 Cor. 13:5; 1 Thess. 5:21-22 – Christians are to examine themselves and hold fast to what is good.

B. So we examine the scriptures to see how we should proceed. We discern God’s will through:

1. Direct commands. (1 Cor. 11:24-25 – LS example).

2. Approved example. (Acts 20:7) WHEN the LS served – FD of the week.

a) To change the day – is to go where Bible authority does not go.

b) 1 Cor. 4:6; Gal. 1:8-9

3. Necessary inference – (Acts 20:7) FREQUENCY of the observance – EVERY Sunday.

C. To do the will of the Father- our authority must be ascertained this way.

1. To go out on our own – is to deny the all sufficiency of scripture & to trespass against Almighty God.

2. Col. 3:17

D. Legalistic? Patternistic?

1. Some may view it that way – but what has God said?

a) Is what He said true?

b) If so – it must become the standard for our lives.

2. We’re not worshipping the Bible here. We’re worshipping the God of the Bible.

3. Let’s reverence Him!

Conclusion:

A. Psa. 19:7-9

B. What is your view of the Bible?

C. Is it real to you?

D. I N V I T A T I O N



How We Learn from Scripture 2005030 Topic # 0154 (authority) Introduction: A. The Bible claims inspiration throughout its pages – 4000 times in OT & NT. 1. We need to immerse ourselves in the word of God. 2. It must become the authority for our life. B. What is our attitude toward scripture? 1. Study a topic: if that’s what the bible says…that settles it. OR 2. Well I know the Bible says that….but... a) then subjectivity takes over b) Ones personal point of view takes over. 3. Submissively accepting what the Bible says must remain one of the fundamentals of who we are as a church and as individual Christians. C. How do you view the bible? 1. As a devotional guide? 2. A source of comfort & consolation in times of sorrow/distress? 3. A collection of ancient literature “out of date” and/or irrelevant to modern man? 4. Or...as THE word of God? As THE revelation of God’s will to mankind. I. God’s word is THE authority. A. If the Bible is inspired of God – then it is HIS word. THE word of God. 1. That means the bible is authoritative. 2. The bible is from the One in whom all authority resides. a) Who would argue that God could give His word & it be powerless? B. 1 Cor. 2:13 – words of the apostles became the standard of authority. 1. Christians were to measure anything preached to them by what the apostles taught. We should do this too. 2. Gal. 1:8 3. 2 Jhn 9-11 – another indication of the authority of the word of God. C. The doctrine of Christ is the standard by which we are to measure what is preached. II. God’s word should be viewed as absolute truth. A. Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2 – God cannot lie. 1. If God can’t lie – then the Bible can’t lie. It cannot teach that which is not true! 2. Whatever it teaches is absolutely true. a) Bible says something happened – it happened. b) 6 day creation; parting red sea; Jonah; resurrection 3. Why? What the Bible teaches to the case is the case because what the Bible says is what God says & what God says is truth. a) John 17:17 b) Psa 19:7-9; 33:4; 119:104; 128 B. Truth of the Bible is absolute. 1. It is free from & independent of the conclusions of the reader/bible student. 2. Truth of the bible is truth regardless of what conclusions people reach. a) This is in stark contrast to relativism – which holds to the idea that truth is dependent upon the conclusions that man reaches. b) What is truth to you may not be truth to me. c) The truth of a preposition is not changed by the conclusion someone reaches about a matter. C. Hear about many who “rethink” matters. 1. Baptism; role of women; what to call the church. 2. May “rethink” these – may even change mind – but this doesn’t change what the Bible already teaches. 3. Plant/rock illustration. 4. So it is with the truth – man can say what he wants to about a bible matter, but that the bible says about it remains the same. D. God’s word is constant. 1. Psa. 119:89 – what was truth 2000 years ago is still truth. 2. How many feel bible out of date – irrelevant to today’s culture? a) How many believe bible does not address life of modern man? 3. We hear statements: what the HS told Paul may not be what the Spirit is saying to you and me. a) Really? What does this imply? b) That the all-knowing God incapable of writing a book that is relevant for all generations. *Who will defend that statement?* c) It could imply that God chose not to make it relevant. d) Wouldn’t this mean God lied in 2 Pet. 1:3; 2 Tim. 3:16-17? 4. The constant, unchanging truth of the bible is clearly affirmed in the scripture: a) 1 Pet. 1:23, 25; Mt. 24:35 III. Men can learn the truth. A. Many: we can never know for certain what is the truth of the Bible. 1. Follow to logical conclusion – we begin to decide no one has the right to make a determination another person is wrong. B. John 8:31-32 – Jesus said… 1. Being a disciple depends upon abiding in His word. 2. Jesus: one must be able to learn & know the truth. a) Impossible to abide in it unless we are first able to learn it. C. Consider these scriptures: 1. Eph. 3:3-4; 5:17 2. 1 Tim. 2:4 – God wants all men to know the truth. 3. Things that are essential to salvation are, w/proper study, easily understandable. IV. So how do we learn from scripture? A. Once we understand the scriptures are authoritative, then we must apply it in our lives. 1. Mt. 7:21-27 – we must do the will of God. 2. The scriptures are the source for doctrine & conduct. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 3. 2 Cor. 13:5; 1 Thess. 5:21-22 – Christians are to examine themselves and hold fast to what is good. B. So we examine the scriptures to see how we should proceed. We discern God’s will through: 1. Direct commands. (1 Cor. 11:24-25 – LS example). 2. Approved example. (Acts 20:7) WHEN the LS served – FD of the week. a) To change the day – is to go where Bible authority does not go. b) 1 Cor. 4:6; Gal. 1:8-9 3. Necessary inference – (Acts 20:7) FREQUENCY of the observance – EVERY Sunday. C. To do the will of the Father- our authority must be ascertained this way. 1. To go out on our own – is to deny the all sufficiency of scripture & to trespass against Almighty God. 2. Col. 3:17 D. Legalistic? Patternistic? 1. Some may view it that way – but what has God said? a) Is what He said true? b) If so – it must become the standard for our lives. 2. We’re not worshipping the Bible here. We’re worshipping the God of the Bible. 3. Let’s reverence Him! Conclusion: A. Psa. 19:7-9 B. What is your view of the Bible? C. Is it real to you? D. I N V I T A T I O N