Biblical Authority

I wanted to post a brief outline of the Lesson from Wednesday's Youth Group. We started looking at what distinguishes us as Baptist's. Again, this is not an explanation of why we got it all right and everyone else is wrong. Baptist is a system of beliefs of what the new testament Church looks like.

The very foundation of our understanding of the Church is Biblical Authority. Keep in mind that this difers from inspiration (2 Tim 3:16,17). Many people believe that the Bible is inspired, but do not see it as having authority over them. Here is a brief outline and explanation of why the Bible is to have authority over us and what we are to do with it.



I. The Bible is not our only Authority

A. Parents - Our parents have authority over us when we are growing up.
B. Government - Law (speed limit, taxes, loiterning, littering and curfiews)

II. Why the Bible has authority over us

A. Example of Christ - Matthew 4:4 Christ has been fasting for 40 days and 40 nights. He is very hungry. Satan comes to tempt him. Satan tells him to turn the stones into bread. Christ quotes scripture from Deut. 8:3. At firt glance this seems like nothing. Christ is God and has all authority. It would have worked for Christ to simlply say no with the reason simply because he said so. Notice that is not what he did. By saying "it is written" he is submitting himself to the authority of Scripture. If Christ submitted himself to Scripture we as followers of Christ are to do the same

B. Because the Bible brought us to repentance - Romans 10:14-17 We read that through preaching the Word of God one is able to hear, with hearing one is able to believe and when one believes, they call on the Lord and are saved and are brought into the church.

C. Because the Bible Sanctifies us - John 17:17; 1 Peter 1:22-2:3 It is the Bible that calls us out of the world, therefore it is to govern the Church.

III. What are we to do? Matthew 28 18-20 The authority of our application is by the same authority that Christ submitted himself to. It is by the same authority that brough us to repentance and is causing us to be sanctified. Matthew tells us to disciple, teach and observe. We are unable to do these by our own authority. It is both because and by the authority of scripture (biblical authority) that we are to share the good news of Christ to our friends and the unknowing world.