Non-Negotiable: The Word
2 Timothy 3:12-17
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (2 Ti 3:12–17). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
If you look at our values as Hub City Church on HCC.guide:
We have an unwavering commitment to Biblical Authority
This is a CORE VALUE
We say it like this:
We won’t stop short of our Biblical responsibility; We won’t push past Biblical authority.
What we do, what we say - HOW we do it are all shaped right here!
We refuse to crown tradition King
We refuse to crown preference King
We refuse to crown opinion King
WE WILL CROWN CHRIST KING
As we crown him king - we will uphold his word as true!
If we are going to establish a belief system we have to have some foundation of authority -
For the Christian believer, that foundation of authority is the Word of God.
So, this is the written revelation of God
Let's say this - you cannot have a working relationship with God and not have a working relationship with the Word!
Stats:
66 Books
1189 Chapters
At least 35 authors
INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE
We believe in the Plenary Inspiration of the Word of God
Absolute -
2 Timothy 3:16 says: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable.....
Inspired -
2 Peter 1:21 says:
for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
The New King James Version. (1982). (2 Pe 1:20–21). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Scripture Inspired vs Scripture Dictated
This means that God didn't grab their hand and scripture was written - they were moved by the Spirit
We see their personalities
We see their priorities
IT IS IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING
The problem of the circular argument:
Above we have used scripture to validate scripture
This would be the same as saying that something I say is correct because I say it is.
AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE
For this, we need:
NON-CIRCULAR ARGUMENT FOR SCRIPTURE
1. Jesus of Nazareth declared himself to be the Son of God (that he was from and was God).
2. God validated Jesus of Nazareth when he raised him from the dead.
3. Jesus of Nazareth taught that the scriptures were inspired of God.
He validated the OT and prepared the way for the NT; the NT is based off him.
4. Therefore, since Jesus of Nazareth was God, his validation of the OT and NT gives it authority that we call inspiration.
SO - THE SCRIPTURE IS VALIDATED BY JESUS' RESURRECTION (WHICH IS NOT ONLY CONFIRMED BY SCRIPTURE, BUT OTHER HISTORICAL EXTRA-BIBLICAL REFERENCES)
CONTEXT OF SCRIPTURE
The Bible says so much!
It is easy to find something that is so easy to take out of context - we want Scripture to be its own commentary.
The Bible seamlessly works together within itself -
Over hundreds of years
Dozens of authors
Miraculously, it was not it's own undoing through contradiction!
It will affirm itself!
A Biblical text outside of it's context is pretext!
Understanding cultural context will provide us the ability to create and appreciate it's relevancy.
THE USEFULNESS OF SCRIPTURE
The Word (Your Bible) is God's revelation to you personally.
When you invest time into the Word - you are investing time with God - it pays dividends spiritually, emotionally, tangibly
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
Useful for correction, teaching, training,
This Week’s Challenge::
Up your scripture intake
If it is currently 5 min, make it 6 min!
Begin praying scripture over your life
Colossians 1:9-14
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Col 1:9–14). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
Find ways to conform your life to the Word
This is the ultimate expression of obedience
