Biblical Authority: Why is the Bible the foundation for what we believe? In the Baptist Faith and Message, where our Southern Baptist beliefs are outlined, it starts not with what we believe to be true about God, what we believe about Jesus Christ, or what we believe about the Holy Spirit. It does not begin with what we believe about salvation and not what we believe about heaven or hell. The BF&M starts off with what we believe is true about Scripture, the Holy Bible. This is significant, because everything we believe is based solely and entirely on the very words of God which is the Bible.
Let me read Article 1, "The Scriptures," from the BF&M:
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation. [1]
The Bible that we hold in our hands does not merely contain the words of God, it is all the word of God, written by men divinely inspired and directed by God. Let me make this perfectly clear, we do not worship the Bible, we worship the Author of the Bible and our salvation come through Jesus Christ, who is the focus of the Bible.
As such, we regard only Scripture as our final, ultimate base of authority and truth. Anything less than this is deficient and opens the door to every conceivable kind of theological distortion. [2]
Over the next few weeks we will be exploring Biblical authority, the sufficiency of Scripture and what it means to us. Today, we will look at the practical reasons of "Why Biblical Authority?"
2 Timothy 3:10–17
“Why Biblical Authority?” the world may and does ask. The world says, “We are a people capable of reason and making sound judgement. We do not need God, we do not need some holy book to define morality to us.”
According to the worldview of the postmodernist, since there is no absolute truth, then there must be complete tolerance of all religious truth claims. In such a pluralistic framework, the only sin that still exists is “intolerance.” It is important for evangelicals to remember that the early Christians were not martyred simply for worshiping Jesus as Lord. The rulers of the Roman Empire prided themselves on their acceptance of all religions. Then why were the Christians persecuted? The early church was perceived as dangerous because it held that Jesus alone is Lord. In pluralistic Rome, such a belief was considered to be extreme, narrow-minded, and bigoted. In a word, the early Christians were persecuted for being “intolerant.” [3]
But does man make morally good laws apart from God? What happens when man assumes he is the highest authority?
If we do not have any moral absolutes, then we cannot establish that something is wrong. Some say we establish it by common consensus. But suppose the consensus changes, as it apparently did in Nazi Germany when it was considered proper to perpetrate the tragic massacre of the holocaust. All of this results from a lack of moral absolutes. [4]
At the end of WW2, from November 1945 to October 1946, there as the Nuremburg War Crime Trials. Considered the as “the greatest trials in history” the allied forces convened a military tribunal to prosecute the military and political leadership of Nazi Germany for war crimes. The defense of most of those prosecuted was simple: We were only following lawful orders and following the laws of the nation. In other words, no laws of Germany were broken. [5]
Here we have had in recent history, a whole nation whose laws allowed for mass atrocities. But look around the world today, this is nothing new, it is happening all over the world today, often times in the name of a religion. Who sets the standards? Who determines right from wrong? If we are just cosmic accident, evolving out of some primordial slime pit, who are you to tell what is right and what is moral and just?
This is why the Bible, the Holy Scriptures are needed more today than ever. At the end of time, God will judge all in accordance to His written word. To put today’s passage into perspective, or into context so that we can properly understand and grasp the significance of what is being said we must look at the first part 2 Timothy 3.
2 Timothy 3:1–6 (NKJV) But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
It doesn’t take a doctorate in theology to get the big picture of what is being said here. Look around, read the newspaper, watch the evening news, this is the world we live in.
2 Timothy 3:10–11 (NKJV) But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
“But you,” but you Timothy, you are not like the rest of the world, you were called out of that mess. Paul is giving young Timothy final instructions. This letter of 2 Timothy was the last thing Paul wrote (as far as we know) before his death at the hands of the Romans. Timothy had been with Paul and been mentored by him for many years. Paul list nine things describing the Paul’s convictions and afflictions for the cause of Christ. He mentions three places (Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, and Lystra) the area where Timothy grew up and he knows those areas well and Timothy knows well all the events that happen there. You can read about Paul journey there in Acts 13 and 14.
“And out of them all the Lord delivered me.” The Lord delivered Paul from all of those trials. The Bible does not promise us with health, wealth and prosperity by following the Lord, if fact Jesus tell us to pick up our cross and following Him. But Jesus did promise he would see us through all the trials. The last line of Matthew is one of my favorites, “For lo, I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20).
2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV) Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Persecution is what we are told to expect. If you are living your life in godly way as defined by the scriptures (and not by the world standards), we can expect trouble. If you are not receiving any hassle over your godly lifestyle, you might need to re-examine your life. Living by this book (the Bible) you will have trouble in the world, Jesus said as much (John 16:33). The reason for persecution is simple. A godly life exposes the evil and wickedness in others. People do not like their wickedness expose, so in their minds it is far easier to persecute the godly person than to come to grips with their own sin.
Here in the USA, we are only beginning to see the persecution that true Christians in many parts of the world have been experiencing for 2,000 years. But there is a promise:
Revelation 2:10b (NKJV) Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Now here is the problem:
2 Timothy 3:13 (NKJV) But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
This is the world in which we live. Growing worse and worse. Evil men and impostors are deceiving the world and being deceived themselves. It is a cycle that is impossible to break free without Jesus. what did Jesus say? "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." (John 8:32) At some point people have to wonder, what is the truth? We have been lied to by the those in the world for just about every subject imaginable. No one knows what the truth is anymore. What is the truth? this question is nothing new, even Pilate asked the same question to Jesus, "what is truth?" (John 18:38).
Our only hope is to turn the Word of God. Truth can be found and it can be found in Jesus. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and life.” (John 14:6). The Word of God plainly tells us what the truth is.
2 Timothy 3:14–15 (NKJV) But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
“But you Timothy, but you must continue," says Paul to young Timothy. The problem with Christians is we take our eyes off the truth, that is Jesus, we neglect the word of God, the Bible, and we fail to continue in those things we need to learn and relearn and grow in spiritual maturity. Paul is telling Timothy you know where you learn them. He has heard the gospel and learn the things of truth, since childhood.
I don’t know how many parents have told me that Sunday School is good for their kids but they have out grown it themselves. I got news for you, we never outgrow our need for Sunday School and Bible study.
“The Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Studying the Bible will not save you, but the Bible will take you to Jesus, and it is Jesus and Jesus alone that saves.
John 5:39 (NKJV) You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
There is no other book that will bring you to Jesus like the Bible, this includes books about the Bible. There is no substitute for reading the Bible itself. As nice as it is to read commentaries by well-respected scholars, there is no substitute for reading the Bible yourself. We need to busy hiding God’s word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11). What does Scripture tell us? The Bibles tells us:
1. Our need for Salvation. The Bible tells of God’s standards and how we missed the mark. “For all have sinned.” The Bible informs us the penalty for offenses against a holy God is death and eternal punishment. “For the wages of sin is death.”
2. Our inability to save ourselves. The Bible is very clear, there is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor, to cover our sins.
3. Reveals God plan for our Salvation. How the blood of Jesus covers our sin, and made atonement for us before a holy God. “But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”
4. God’s assurance to us for our Salvation. How being in the hands of God no one can ever pull us out. (John 19:28-29)
5. Of our Spiritual food to nourish us to Spiritual maturity. How we are to know Him and how to serve Him, what is right, moral, and just.
6. Of our Sword to fighting the Evil One, and overcoming temptation. We do not live this life which the scriptures calls us to defenseless.
And much more. Later we will deal with the sufficiency of Scripture, which means the ability of the Word of God to address every area of human existence.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
We will discuss this verse in greater detail next week. “Inspiration of God” is literally, in the Greek, “God breathed.” Every word was written without any error. There are no contradictions, only our lack of understanding. And for the Bible to speak, we must be in possession of the Holy Spirit who gives interpretation.
2 Peter 1:20–21 (NKJV) knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
We do not get to determined what the Scriptures says. The Holy Spirit moved men to write, the same Holy Spirit will move to give understanding. As we are given understanding, diligent study and absorption of the Word will see to it that “that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” God’s word is sufficient. God’s Word is our guide to live by every day. It is the sword of the Spirit.
Next week we will continue with part 2 of “Why Biblical Authority.” But what will you do with the knowledge of the Holy Scripture? Will you allow your Bible to collect dust and never be opened. The Word of God only accomplishes its work when it read and ingested.
Perhaps you don’t understand the Bible and it’s a big mystery to you. Perhaps its not understood because you lack the Holy Spirit that gives understanding.
What will you do with God’s word? Will you allow it to lead you to Jesus?
[1] Southern Baptist Convention, The Baptist Faith and Message, adopted June 14, 2000.
[2] James T. Draper Jr and Kenneth Keathley, Biblical Authority: The Critical Issue for the Body of Christ (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001), 9.
[3] Ibid., 31–32.
[4] Ibid., 41–42.
[5] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_trials and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superior_orders
