“When Truth and Tradition Collide”
Selected Scriptures
Question: Given that Jesus never wrote anything down or commanded anything to be written down, but did instruct and establish His apostles as leaders of His church, how can we be confident in the authority of Scripture without first being confident in His church’s authority?
1. Did Jesus write or command to write?
2. What is the Church?
- Promised by Jesus – Matt. 16:18
- Refers to a gathering of people
- Synonymous with the “body of Christ” – Eph. 1:22-23
- Made up of individuals who trust in Jesus – I Cor. 12:27
- Local gatherings are called churches
- Not a what but a who
3. What is Authority and Who Has It?
- Authority is the unlimited right to act as one pleases
- Jesus alone has authority – Matt. 28:18
- Any human authority is limited and delegated
4. What Authority does Scripture Have?
- The written word reveals the Living Word
- The written word was given directly by God
- We answer to the word, the word does not answer to us
- Statements made about God’s Word are unparalleled
- Ps. 119:89, Ps. 119:160, Prov. 30:5-6, Matt. 24:35, II Tim. 3:16-17, II Pet. 1:20-21
5. Final Thoughts
- The Bible is given to us by God
- The Bible will always lead us to God
- The Bible will never be contradicted by God
- The Bible must be obeyed as the word from God
"Your eternal word, O LORD, stands firm in heaven.” (Ps 119:89 NLT)
