The Word

1. The Word

2. The Word The Matter of Authority, Truth, and Standard

3. “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

4. 3 Key Questions in Life… The Word – The Matter of Authority and Truth

5. The Question of Authority – Says Who? The Question of Truth – From Where? 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

6. What is Authority? The Right to Impose Obligation The Word – The Matter of Authority , Truth, and Standard

7. Authority Greek word - exousia Literally means a state of control over; potential or resource to command, control, or govern; right of freedom of choice. The Word – The Matter of Authority , Truth, and Standard

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

9. What is Truth? That Which Corresponds to Reality The Word – The Matter of Authority , Truth, and Standard

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

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

12. What is a Standard? That by which something is measured or judged The Word – The Matter of Authority , Truth, and Standard

13. Standard Greek word - metron Literally means a measure or instrument of measure; the rule or measure of judgment. The Word – The Matter of Authority , Truth, and Standard

14. Why We Need a Standard Before you can call something wrong, you must know what is right Before you can call something right, you must have a framework to determine what’s right and wrong 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 The Word – The Matter of Authority , Truth, and Standard

15. A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line.” – C. S. Lewis The Word – The Matter of Authority ,Truth, and Standard

16. 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? The Word – The Matter of Authority ,Truth, and Standard

17. Where can Ultimate Authority, Truth, and a Standard Come From? From Each Individual From Culture/Society From a Combined set of Cultures From a Naturalistic Universe From an Immutable Sovereign Creator The Word – The Matter of Authority , Truth, and Standard

18. From Each Individual – no, because different individuals can disagree; no way to solve disputes From Culture – no, because different cultures can disagree ; no way to solve disputes 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 From a Natural Universe – no, because impersonal matter cannot impose obligation From an Immutable, Sovereign Creator – yes, because He created, understands, and sustains all things, and will never change The Word – The Matter of Authority , Truth, and Standard

19. But how does a Sovereign God make Himself and His Will Known? The Word – The Matter of Authority , Truth, and Standard

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

21. Apostles - New Testament Scriptures Special Original Order Of Revelatory Framework Given by God Jesus Personal Revelation Prophets - Old Testament Scriptures Special Creation Truth Reason General God The Word – The Matter of Authority , Truth, and Standard

22. Special Revelation God’s communication of His authority, truth, and standards The Word – The Matter of Authority ,Truth, and Standard

23. “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) The Word – The Matter of Authority ,Truth, and Standard

24. Challenges to Biblical Authority, Truth, and Standards The Word – The Matter of Authority , Truth, and Standard

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

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

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

28. “Everyone is orthodox to himself.” - John Locke The Word – The Matter of Authority , Truth, and Standard

29. “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 The Word – The Matter of Authority ,Truth, and Standard

30. “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 The Word – The Matter of Authority ,Truth, and Standard

31. "Stop looking for some objective Truth that is available when we delve into the text of the Bible." -Tony Jones Emergent church leader The Word – The Matter of Authority ,Truth, and Standard

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

33. 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” The Word – The Matter of Authority , Truth, and Standard

34. 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: The Bible 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 Word – The Matter of Authority , Truth, and Standard

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

36. What are the Spiritual Reasons People Reject the Bible? The Word – The Matter of Authority , Truth, and Standard

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

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

39. 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) The Word – The Matter of Authority , Truth, and Standard

40. "“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 Word – The Matter of Authority , Truth, and Standard

41. "“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) The Word – The Matter of Authority , Truth, and Standard

42. The Question of Authority – Says Who? The Question of Truth – From Where? The Question of a Standard – By What? All are answered by an immutable, sovereign God Who has revealed Himself in His Word The Word – The Matter of Authority ,Truth, and Standard

43. The Word The Matter of Authority, Truth, and Standard