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.
 &nb