Heb. 1:1f – God speaks to us today BY / THROUGH Jesus
Matt. 28:18-19 – Christ has ALL authority –
‘authority’ – meaning “freedom of choice, right to act, decide… ability to do something, capability, might, power … authority, absolute power, warrant … the power exercised by rulers or others in high position by virtue of their office. (BAGD, 277-278)
His word will judge us in the last days …. John 12:48-50
“He who rejects Me, and does not
receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will
judge him in the last day. 49“For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I
should say and what I should speak. 50“And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I
speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”
Col. 3:16-17 - word of Christ to dwell in us, what ever we do we do by HIS authority, in HIS name.
Matt. 7:21 - the problem of ‘His name’ and ‘lawlessness’ –
a. lit. – anomia - without law
b. cp. 1 John 3:4 – such is SIN.
Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23 – Jesus is head over all things to the church…
SPOKE THROUGH THE
APOSTLES
1. to be guided into ALL truth - John 16:7-14; 14:26; 15:26
2. People to believe through THEIR word – John 17:8,14
3. They were commissioned to teach all things Jesus commanded – Matt. 28:18-20
4. They are the AMBASSADORS of Christ - 2 Cor. 5:20
5. To reject them is to reject Christ - Lk. 10:16
6. To receive them is to receive Christ – John 13:20
7. Such is seen has having the ‘keys to the kingdom’ - Mtt. 16:19; 18:18
a. Given to ALL of them –
b. bind = forbid, loose = permit or allow (according to Jewish usage)
c. NOT legislative authority –
d. rather REVELATION –
8. The early church ‘continued stedfastly in the APOSTLE’S doctrine’ – Acts 2:42
9. We are to follow the apostolic pattern - Phil. 4:9
10. To reject their word is to reject the inspired message – 1 Thess. 2:13, 4:8
11. To teach what the apostles not reveal is wrong - Acts 15:24
12. To teach DIFFERENTLY than what was revealed is condemned – Gal. 1:8-9
13. To go BEYOND their teaching is condemned – 2 John 9-10
14. We must ‘speak as the ORACLES of God’ - 1 Peter 4:11
a. NIV = ‘the very words of God’
b. Acts 7:38 – when God spoke by Moses, were ‘living oracles’.
15. Follow the pattern – Heb. 8:5
a. instructions for tabernacle - Ex. 25:40 (cp. Ex. 39:42-43).
b. OUR instructions are the teachings of the apostles
16. SCRIPTURES - 2 Tim. 3:16-17
a. ‘scripture’ = ‘oracles’ - sacred writings
b. used of NT - 1 Tim. 5:18; and 2 Pet. 3:
17. THE FAITH has been delivered -- Jude 3
18. There is to be ONE FAITH -- Eph. 4:4-6
19. Same thing to be taught in every church – 1 Cor. 4:16-17
20. We are to follow the apostolic pattern – Phil. 4:9
21. Keep the apostolic Traditions:
1 Cor. 11:2
2 Thess. 2:15
2 Thess. 3:6
2 Tim. 3:14 - continue in … KNOWING OF WHOM THOU HAST LEARNED THEM
cp. 1 Thess. 4:1-3, ‘received of US how to walk…
Eph. 3:3-5, whereby when you read, know….
Problem – traditions of MEN and NOT apostles…
Col. 2:8
1 Pet. 1:18
Matt. 15:1-9
1 John 4:1f, try the spirits….
Acts 20:29-32, even among elders some would fall away… stick with the word. -
1 Tim. 4:1-5, false teaching vs. the word of God…
LIVING AND ACTIVE By David J. Riggs - Web Page: http://www.public.usit.net/driggs
In order to sustain the claim that the Bible must have an infallible interpreter, Catholics officials argue that the Bible is a dead and speechless book. Please notice the following quotes from Catholicsources:
"The Scriptures indeed is a divine book but it is a dead letter, which has to be explained, and cannot exercise the acting which the preacher can obtain." (Our Priesthood, p. 155). "...A dead and speechless book." (Question Box, p. 67).
"The simple fact is that the Bible, like all dead letters, calls for a living interpreter." (The Faith of Millions, p. 155).
"Through Luther, although Calvin seems to have been the first to announce Monobiblicism clearly, the Bible became the arm of the Protestant revolt. A dumb and difficult book was substituted for the living voice of the Church, in order that each one should be able to make for himself the religion which suited his feelings. And the Bible open before every literate man and woman to interpret for themselves was the attractive bait to win adherents..." (A Catholic Commentary, p. 11).
As one can readily see, the above accusations against the Bible are made in effort to sustain the Catholic claim that the Bible needs a infallible interpreter. We have chosen to consider the arguments for the infallible interpreter under the heading, "Is the Catholic Church Infallible?" We wish to show here that the Bible is not a dead letter, a dead and speechless book, or a dumb and difficult book as Catholic officials claim. Such claims reveal their true attitude toward the Bible. It is one of utter disrespect for God's holy word. We quote the holy Scriptures to show that their claims amount to nothing more than man's word against God's word. We remind you that in spiritual matters, "God is true, and every man is a liar..." (Rom. 3:4).
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Heb. 4:12 Catholic Edition RSV). "You have been born anew, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God." (1 Pet. 1:23 Cath. Edition RSV) "Are not my words as a fire, saith the Lord; and as a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" (Jer. 23:29). "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to Jew first and then to the Greek." (Rom. 1:16).
From the above passages, does it appear that the Bible is a dumb, dead, speechless book? Various Catholic writers refer to Rom. 10:17 as proof that we must hear a living voice and not the Bible to obtain faith (See Question Box, p. 79; The Faith of Millions, pp. 155-156). Rom. 10: 17 says, "Faith then depends on hearing, and hearing on the word of Christ." They seem to think that hearing cannot come from the written word; hence, one must hear the living voice of the Catholic Church to receive faith. However, many years after Moses and Old Testament prophets were dead, the rich man was told that his brothers had Moses and the prophets and "let them hear them." (Luke 16:31). They were to hear Moses and the prophets by hearing the written word of Moses and the prophets. John the apostle wrote letters to the seven churches of Asia and said to them, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Rev. 2:7). They were to hear by reading what was written in the letters.
Consequently, acceptable faith comes by hearing the written word of God. Faith came by hearing the inspired men so long as the New Testament was in the inspired men, but it now comes by hearing the written word of the New Testament. The New Testament (the gospel) is the power of God unto salvation regardless if one receives it by hearing, or by personally reading it. It is living and active, quick and powerful, and needs only to be heard, learned and obeyed in order that one might come to Jesus (John 6:45), and be instructed to salvation (2 Tim. 3:15).