Welcome to the
CHURCH OF CHRIST
ASHAIMAN
RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY
ASCERTAINING BIBLICAL AUTHORITY
2 Tim. 3:14-17
Purpose: To understand that the Bible is to be our authority.
I. Introduction
A. Def. Ascertain: to discover through examination and experimentation.
B. God established His authority. We do not establish it, but rather we ascertain it.
We discover, respect, respond and obey it.
C. 2 Tim. 3:14-17. Scriptures wise for salvation, doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction,
make us complete, ready to do God’s will.
D. 2 Cor. 5:7 we walk by faith. Rom. 10:17 faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of
God. So, we walk by faith/by the word of God. Heb. 11:6 w/o faith impossible to please
God. Impossible to ignore the word of God and be pleasing.
E. How do we understand the Bible and know if it applies to us as a standard today?
II. Focus on what God said
A. 1 Cor. 4:6. Not go beyond the written word.
B. Gal. 1:6-9. Beware of perverted/other gospels.
C. Rev. 22:18-19. Not to add to/take away from the word.
III. Learning to handle aright/divide the word
A. 2 Tim. 2:15. Handle correctly, divide the word.
B. Old vs. New Testaments
1. Mt. 26:28. Blood of the new covenant, shed for many/remission of sins.
2. Heb. 9:15-17. Death of testator necessary.
3. Heb. 10:9. Takes away 1st to establish the 2nd.
4. Heb. 8:13. Makes 1st old.
C. Dispensations
1. Patriarchal. Adam –> Sinai
2. Judaism/Moses. Sinai –> Cross
3. Christian. Pentecost –> now
D. Important to establish/distinguish what is applicable to us now. Not under system of
animal sacrifices, building arks, keeping Sabbaths, etc.
E. Understand faith vs. opinion, temporary vs. permanent, circumstance/condition,
means/principle, custom/law.
IV. Need to seek real authority and follow it
A. Word of God is truth. John 17:17. Scriptures cannot be broken. John. 10:35.
B. Jud. 21:25. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Seen today as well.
C. Authority today is not:
1. In others. Gal. 1:11-12.
2. In our own views/understanding. Prov. 3:5-6.
3. In what we think is right. Prov. 14:12; 16:25.