Drummrguy, Please check this out. This is only a small portion of the lesson. You will have to go to thepreachersfiles.com to see the rest. Baerly
Our Standard for Authority
August 17, 2004 by
Kevin Cauley -
Berryville church of Christ, Berryville Arkansas
SUBJECT: Bible Authority
TITLE: Our Standard for Authority
PROPOSITION: The Bible and only the Bible must be our sole standard for spiritual authority today because 1) Only the Bible is Inspired of God, 2) Other standards are woefully inadequate, 3) The Bible is all sufficient to meet every spiritual need.
OBJECTIVES: The hearer should be able to state why other standards are lacking, understand Bible inspiration, and state why the Bible is all sufficient.
AIM: To establish in the mind of each hearer the importance of letting the Bible settle all spiritual questions today.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read:
2 Peter 1:16-21 "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice, which came from heaven, we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
2. About the Text:
1) Peter is writing to those who had obtained a like precious faith (
2 Peter 1:1).
2) He is trying to build up their faith by adding to it the Christian virtues (5-8).
3) He does not want to be negligent in ensuring that they are sure about the things upon which their faith is based (11-13).
4) The things that he taught were not fables.
5) He was an eyewitness of these things.
6) Additionally, we have "a more sure word of prophecy."
7) This prophecy is not of private origination.
8) This prophecy was originated from the Holy Spirit.
9) It is only by this authority that we can be "sure" of our calling and election.
3. Historically
1) In the early 19th century there was a man by the name of Thomas Campbell
2) He was very disenchanted with the great amount of religious division that resulted from the reformation.
3) He wrote a document called the "Declaration and Address."
4) This is NOT an inspired document.
5) In this document he wrote 13 propositions to which Christians must adhere to have religious unity. Proposition 2 and 3 are as follows: "That although the Church of Christ upon earth must necessarily exist in particular and distinct societies, locally separate one from another, yet there ought to be no schisms, no uncharitable divisions among them. They ought to receive each other as Christ Jesus hath also received them, to the glory of God. And for this purpose they ought all to walk by the same rule, to mind and speak the same thing; and to be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment. 3. That in order to do this, nothing ought to be inculcated upon Christians as articles of faith; nor required of them as terms of communion, but what is expressly taught and enjoined upon them in the word of God. Nor ought anything to be admitted, as of Divine obligation, in their Church constitution and managements, but what is expressly enjoined by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ and his apostles upon the New Testament Church; either in express terms or by approved precedent."
6) Campbell sought to make the Bible our only standard for faith and spiritual practice to gain religious unity.
7) The Bible claims to be the ONLY standard from God for man's spiritual practices while upon the earth.
4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.
DISCUSSION: The Bible and only the Bible must be our sole standard for spiritual authority today because . . .
I. Only the Bible is inspired of God
1. Only the words of God are authoritative and powerful.
1) God's words are always fulfilled; such cannot be said of other authorities.
Isaiah 55:10, 11 "For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, and giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
2)
Luke 1:37 ASV "For no word from God shall be void of power."
3)
Hebrews 4:12, 13 "For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do."
