The Word - Introduction

The Word
The Matter of Authority, Truth, and Standard

“The devil and his agents have been blowing
at Scripture Light but could never blow it out
– a clear sign that it was lighted by Heaven.”
- Thomas Watson

The Word – The Matter of Authority and Truth

3 Key Questions in Life…

The Word – The Matter of Authority and Truth

I. The Question of Authority – Says
Who?

II. The Question of Truth – From
Where?

III. The Question of a Standard – By
What?
Everyone must have an answer to these questions when it comes to morality and
where spiritual matters are concerned

The Word – The Matter of Authority ,Truth, and Standard

What is Authority?
The Right to Impose Obligation

The Word – The Matter of Authority , Truth, and Standard

Authority
Greek word - exousia
Literally means a state of control over; potential
or resource to command, control, or govern; right
of freedom of choice.


Why We Need Authority
During the trials at Nuremberg, the
Nazi defense attorneys argued that
Hitler’s soldiers who were on trial
were only following the orders of their
society and should therefore not be
held accountable.

A judge countered that argument with
the question, “But sir, is there not a
law above our laws?”

We need an ultimate authority to appeal to in
matters that transcend history and societies.


What is Truth?
That Which Corresponds to Reality


Truth
Greek word - alētheia
Literally means to “un-hide”; “hiding nothing”. Indicates
that truth is always there, but must be revealed or
discovered. It communicates the concept that truth is a
matter of revelation and that it speaks to how things
really are.

Why We Need Absolute Truth
A simple example:

• “Want to go ice skating tonight?”
• “Is the ice thick enough?”
• “Who cares?” (postmodern response)

You could die…

Consequences exist for ignoring truth,
whether it be health, finances, or
matters of religion.


What is a Standard?
That by which something is measured or judged


Standard
Greek word - metron
Literally means a measure or instrument of
measure; the rule or measure of judgment.


Why We Need a Standard
I. Before you can call something wrong, you must
know what is right
II. Before you can call something right, you must
have a framework to determine what’s right and
wrong
III. Before you can have a framework, you must have
a set of absolute standards to build the
framework; they must be absolute so you have
certainty
Without this, all matters of ethics become emotive – opinion and/or taste


A man does not call a line crooked unless he
has some idea of a straight line.”
– C. S. Lewis


To live properly and understand spiritual
truth, mankind needs to recognize and affirm
the proper authority, understand absolute
truth, and possess a standard by which to
measure right and wrong…

But where can man turn for help?


Where can Ultimate Authority,
Truth, and a Standard Come
From?
I. From Each Individual
II. From Culture/Society
III. From a Combined set of Cultures
IV. From a Naturalistic Universe
V. From an Immutable Sovereign Creator


I. From Each Individual – no, because different
individuals can disagree; no way to solve disputes
II. From Culture – no, because different cultures can
disagree ; no way to solve disputes
III. From a Combined set of Cultures – possible,
although this has never happened in human history,
plus they would be made by mutable humans so no
confidence they are ultimately correct
IV. From a Natural Universe – no, because impersonal
matter cannot impose obligation
V. From an Immutable, Sovereign Creator – yes,
because He created, understands, and sustains all
things, and will never change


But how does a Sovereign
God make Himself and His
Will Known?


Divine Revelation
The foundation of Authority, Truth, and Standard

General Special Ontological
Revelation Revelation Revelation
"For since the creation of "All Scripture is inspired "He [Jesus] is the image of
the world His invisible by God and profitable for the invisible God, the
attributes, His eternal teaching, for reproof, for firstborn of all creation …
power and divine nature, correction, for training in For in Him all the fullness
have been clearly seen, righteousness; so that the of Deity dwells in bodily
being understood through man of God may be form,“
what has been made, so adequate, equipped for (Colossians 1:15,2:9)
that they are without every good work.“
excuse.“ (Romans 1:20) (2 Timothy 3:16-17)


Special Apostles - New Testament
Scriptures

Original Order
Personal
Of Revelatory Jesus

Framework Revelation
Given by Special Prophets - Old Testament
God Scriptures

General Creation Truth Reason

God


Special Revelation
God’s communication of His authority, truth, and standards


“Surely, God will not act wickedly, And the Almighty will not pervert justice. “Who gave Him
authority over the earth? And who has laid on Him the whole world? “If He should determine
to do so, If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath, All flesh would perish
together, And man would return to dust."(Job 34:12-15)

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth."(John 17:17)

"Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and
love which are in Christ Jesus."(2 Timothy 1:13)


Challenges to Biblical
Authority, Truth, and
Standards


Divine Revelation
Each rejected by fallen mankind

General Special Ontological
Revelation Revelation Revelation
“For they exchanged the "For the time will come when "the wisdom which none of
they will not endure sound the rulers of this age has
truth of God for a lie, and
doctrine; but wanting to have understood; for if they had
worshiped and served the their ears tickled, they will
creature rather than the understood it they would
accumulate for themselves
Creator, who is blessed teachers in accordance to not have crucified the Lord
forever. Amen.” their own desires, and will turn of glory;“
(Romans 1:25) away their ears from the truth (1 Corinthians 2:8)
and will turn aside to myths.“
(2 Timothy 4:3-4)


Rebellion against God’s authority ultimately comes down to the assertion that an
individual’s authority reigns supreme; they refuse to affirm another authority other than
their own. The bottom line? Pride … and a mirroring of the first rebel to fall from God.


“Everyone is orthodox to
himself.”
- John Locke


“What do I care what
some Bronze Age text
says about
homosexuality?”
– Christopher Hitchens,
“God Bless Me, It's a
Best-Seller!”,
Vanity Fair, September
2007


“What then is truth? A
mobile army of metaphors,
metonyms, and
anthropomorphisms … truths
are illusions … coins which
have lost their pictures and
now matter only as metal, no
longer as coins”
- Frederick Nietzsche


"Stop looking for some
objective Truth that is
available when we delve into
the text of the Bible."
-Tony Jones
Emergent church leader


On All Saints Day in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis to the door of the
Castle Church in Wittenburg Germany in hopes of stirring an academic discussion
with church leaders. Most historians will say that the core issue was Luther’s
position of salvation by faith alone. But also at issue was something else – the
matter of ultimate authority.


Besides Martin Luther’s claim to salvation by
faith alone, just as scandalous to the Catholic
Church was Luther’s position that church
councils and even the pope himself could err.
This being the case, said Luther, the sole
authority in the life of the Christian believer
should be the Bible – alone.

At the Diet of Worms, Luther was commanded
by the church to recant, to which he replied:
"Unless I am convinced by the testimonies of the
Holy Scriptures or evident reason (for I believe
neither in the Pope nor councils alone, since it has
been established that they have often erred and
contradicted themselves), I am bound by the
Scriptures adduced by me, and my conscience
has been taken captive by the Word of God, and
I am neither able nor willing to recant, since it is
neither safe nor right to act against conscience.
God help me. Amen”


Luther was ultimately excommunicated by Pope
Leo X for his Biblical positions and condemned
as an outlaw by the emperor. He was then
basically kidnapped by his close friends and taken
to the Wartburg Castle where he translated the
Latin Scriptures into German.

The Catholic Church responded to the
reformation that had started by holding a counter
reformation with decrees being made at the
Council of Trent. There they voiced the opinion
that there are two ultimate authorities:

(1) The Bible
(2) Church Tradition

And since the Catholic Church believed it (the
church) decided what the composition of the
Bible was, it held the ultimate place of
authority and interpretation.


The Reformation’s cry of Sola Fide (Faith
Alone) was joined by a second declaration:

“Sola Scriptura!”

The Reformation said Scripture Alone is the
ultimate authority in life when it comes to
matters of God and ethics


What are the Spiritual
Reasons People Reject the
Bible?


The Bible Points to Christ
Authority
"And Jesus came up and spoke to them,
saying, “All authority has been given to
Me in heaven and on earth."(Matthew
28:18)

Truth
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the
truth, and the life; no one comes to the
Father but through Me."(John 14:6)

The Standard
" Be imitators of me, just as I also am of
Christ."(1 Corinthians 11:1)


The Bible Points Away From Us
Authority
"On the contrary, who are you, O man,
who answers back to God? The thing
molded will not say to the molder, “Why
did you make me like this,” will it?"
(Romans 9:20)

Truth
"I said in my alarm, “All men are liars.””
(Psalm 116:11)

The Standard
"as it is written, “There is none righteous,
not even one;" (Romans 3:10)


The Bible testifies that we don’t have
ultimate authority in life, that the truth
cant be found in us, and that we can’t
measure up to God’s standard.

The only one who possesses all these
things is God, and Christ. And this
causes a tension and anger that strikes
out against the one Book in the world
that speaks the truth about our rebellion.

"So have I become your enemy by telling
you the truth?"(Galatians 4:16)


"“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the
world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for
their deeds were evil. “For everyone who does evil hates the
Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his
deeds will be exposed. “But he who practices the truth
comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as
having been wrought in God.”"
(John 3:19-21)


"“The wise men are put to shame, They are
dismayed and caught; Behold, they have rejected
the word of the Lord, And what kind of wisdom do
they have?"
(Jeremiah 8:9)


I. The Question of Authority – Says
Who?

II. The Question of Truth – From
Where?

III. The Question of a Standard – By
What?
All are answered by an immutable, sovereign God Who has revealed
Himself in His Word


The Word - Introduction

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The Word - Introduction