THE WORD OF GOD (Kent Smith Notes 10/8/23)
THE BIBLE
THE SUPREME AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH AND LIFE
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The exercise of influence:
Declaration
Exhortation
Encouragement
Pleading
Bargaining
Threatening
The exercise of Authority
“Because I said so.”
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It is The Authority because of The Author
2 Tim 3:16a
All scripture is God-breathed
2 Peter 1:20-21
No prophecy of scripture is the product of a man’s thoughts or will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
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It is The Authority because of its Authenticity
Psalm 12:6 The words of the Lord are pure.
Proverbs 30:5 The words of the Lord have been tested.
Heb 6:13-18 Bod swore by Himself and gave His oath.
It is impossible for God to lie.
The Bible has stood the test of time, opposition, and oppression, and still remains the Word of God.
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Psalm 12:6 The words of the Lord are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is tested. He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Hebrews 6:13-18 For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.” 15 And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. 16 For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. 17 In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.
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The Practical Application of Authority:
BELIEF
Why do we believe what the Bible says?
It was written by the inspiration of the Spirit
God authenticated His work with signs and wonders
The historical events were recorded from personal testimonies, or by relating their own eyewitness accounts of the facts
The Bible is our sole authority on what to believe
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Authenticated by signs
Moses: Exodus 4 1-9 When Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’” 2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.” 3 Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. 4 But the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand and grasp it by its tail”—so he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— 5 “that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”
6 The Lord furthermore said to him, “Now put your hand into your bosom.” So he put his hand into his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. 7 Then He said, “Put your hand into your bosom again.” So he put his hand into his bosom again, and when he took it out of his bosom, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. 8 “If they will not believe you or heed the witness of the first sign, they may believe the witness of the last sign. 9 But if they will not believe even these two signs or heed what you say, then you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water which you take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”
Jesus: Peter preaches at Pentecost (Acts 2:22-24) “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 24 But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.
Apostles: (Acts 2:43) Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
(Acts 5:12) At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico.
(Acts 6:8) And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
The historical accounts
The virgin birth
A sinless life
The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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The Practical Application of Authority:
Obedience
The Bible is God’s Word to govern our actions.
The Old Testament Law
Religious Laws
Moral Laws
Civil Law
The New Testament Grace
Religious Laws fulfilled in Christ
Moral Laws affirmed and strengthened
Civil Laws observed
The Supreme Law: Love
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Jesus “you have heard it said…But I say unto you…” (Mt 5:27, 38, 43)
2 Tim 3:16b All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
Teaching – What to believe
Reproof – What not to believe
Correction – What not to do
Training in Righteousness – What to do
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Every decision, direction, plan and endeavor should be motivated by, and justified by, the clear teachings of the Bible.
THIS MUST BE TRUE IN THE CHURCH!
This should be true in our homes and lives.
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