All talks » Scripture: The authority of scripture
Bible:
Speaker: Andrew Latimer
The Authority of Scripture
1. The Bible is God speaking
a. Jesus taught that the OT as a whole is the Word of God
3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?" 4 "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." (Matthew 19:3-6).
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.†(Matthew 5:17-18, cf. Matthew 12:40-42, Mark14:21).
b. Jesus’ made provision for the NT as the Word of God
Jesus authorised and equipped the apostles
25 "All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.â€â€¦
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (John 14:25-26, 16:13).
The apostles understood their writings as God’s Word
37 If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. 38 If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored. (1 Corinthians 14:37-38, cf. 1 Corinthians 2:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:15).
…and with equal authority to the OT
For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grainâ€, and, “The labourer deserves his wages.â€Â (1Timothy 5:18, quoting Deuteronomy 25:4, and Luke 10:7, cf. 2 Peter 3:16).
c. The Bible is self-authenticating
"Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid." 14 Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. (John 8:13-14).
2. Therefore…
 The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. (Psalm 19:9-10).
a. Trust
b. Value
c. Eat