Roger's Postings

Saturday, September 09, 2006

1 Thessalonians 2:13 The Authority of God’s Word! 10/9/06

And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

(John 17:17) Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
(John 10:35b) and the Scripture cannot be broken--
(2 Tim 3:16) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Today we look at an issue that is very important for the church at this time: the authority of God’s Word. The question that we face at this time is; to what extent is the Bible God’s Word? How much notice do we take of it? And how important is it that we hold firmly to it?

To begin with we need to recognise that sinful, selfish humanity does not like any form of authority. Even though we know that we need some authority in our lives, we rebel against it and seek to set ourselves up as our own authority. This happens across the board for us, whether it be in the family, the society, or the church, we struggle with this issue of authority. We long for authority so that we can have a measure of order, certainty and security. But at the same time we react against it, because we want our own way.

We also need to recognise that we have a similar approach to God and his Word. Even though we know deep down that God is the ultimate authority, we are so self-orientated, even as christians, that we don’t think of God anywhere near as much as we should. We, because by nature we are enemies of God, we resist his authority and ignore or downplay him. We look to him more as a ‘Santa’ figure than the ultimate authority that he is. We turn him into a God who should do and gives us as we see fit.

Then when it comes to his Word we do the same thing. We acknowledge that the Bible is God’s Word, but we do not read and listen to it anywhere near as much as we should. Instead we listen to what the world around us is saying, and why seek to elevate our ideas up as being important. And when we do look to the Bible we seek to use it to back up what we think or are looking for.
The history of the church is dotted with constant attempts to change, add to or take away from the Word and it’s authority. That was at the heart of the problem that Luther faced in his day, when the Catholic Church determined that it alone determined the meaning of God’s Word and it could add to it as it saw fit. Others sought to interpret it in light of human reason and thinking. Today we read God’s Word in light of our societal thinking and that which is popular thinking. Others seek to receive God’s revelations through other means: seeking the ‘spirit’ to lead them even, when it goes against the written Word that has been handed down to us.

This being the case, we need to look outside of ourselves, and humanity for the answer and for our guidance on this issue of the authority of God’s Word and its importance for our lives.

Here we start by looking firstly to Jesus Christ himself. He spoke with authority again and again throughout his ministry. He did so when he healed the sick and drove out demons. He controlled the forces of nature. He empowered his disciples to spread the Good News. Yes and he even raised the dead. Remember he also said, All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. He also said in his prayer to the Father, Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. Or again, the Scripture cannot be broken—

But even more so he proved the authority of the Scriptures in his life, death and resurrection. The Old Testament is full of promises with regard to the coming of the Messiah, all which were written hundreds of years before. His death on the cross and rising again three days later were all prophesied to happen, even though it does not in any way fit into normal experience or expectation. Again and again the reliability and authority of the Scriptures is revealed. Jesus’ fulfilment and use of the Scriptures testify to the authority that he knew was there in God’s Word.

It is strange therefore that in the last 150 years or so, that the Word of God has come under such intense scrutiny and criticism from within the church. As result many are becoming confused and uncertain as to what the truth really is. It would seem that our own church also, has succumbed to the same temptation to erode God’s Word more and more. The consequences are that we no longer are certain about some of the things that we have held to in the confessions of the church and our Thesis of Agreement. Things like God’s work of creation as opposed to the theory of evolution; the divinely instituted orders of creation [which have a clear bearing on the desire of some to ordain women]; and what are appropriate distinctions in human sexuality, with regard to homosexuality and same sex marriage; not to mention abortion and other ethical issues.

Secondly, our basic problem is that the authority of Scripture is no longer thought of as an article of faith. In the past the Word; the Scriptures attracted the same faith and the same obedience that is due to God. God and his Word, was accepted on the same level. It has traditionally been accepted that it is the Word of God that creates faith in the heart, and that it also bears witness to its divine authority. That is attested to in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians; And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. It is the Holy Spirit working through the Word that creates faith; not our decisions, or some extra experience outside of the Word, from the ‘spirit’.

On issues of understanding and interpretation at the present time it is human reason and secular culture that has pushed aside a clear Scripture interprets Scripture principle. Human reason has made itself the judge and interpreter of Scripture. Human reason has placed itself above, rather than under the authority of the Scriptures. This is clearly seen in the second CTICR paper entitled ‘The case for the ordination of women’.

Thirdly, it necessary for us to clearly understand the link between the authority of God’s Word and its inspiration through divinely selected writers. This means that the God is the author of the Scriptures. He designed its purpose and use, its perfection and sufficiency. The Bible itself contains evidence of this through passages like; All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. And, prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

As faithful Christians we know we need the authority of God’s Word. We know that it informs, sustains and under girds saving faith. It provides the church with order, certainty and a complete sense of security. We depend upon the authority of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We are dependent upon God’s authority for everything.

This issue of the importance of the authority of God’s Word is absolutely indispensable for us and for our church today. WE dare not seriously undermine or deny it or we cease to be the body of Christ. If we do then every teaching we’ve ever received and believed in becomes as best uncertain, including Jesus death on the cross and resurrection. Certainly God’s promises of salvation are left without substance and power. Then how can a pastor like myself, who depends on the Word for his preaching, continue to do his work? Furthermore, any church body that overrules or sets aside the authority of God’s Word and continues to exist must, logically, replace that authority with something else. That something else can only be corrupted human reason, fickle emotion, subjective experience, and the mores of culture.

Finally I will leave the last word on this matter of the authority of God’s Word, to our Lord Jesus. If his word is not good enough then nothing is. In John’s Gospel Jesus told a hostile crowd of Jews accusing him of blasphemy and preparing to stone him to death: Scripture cannot be broken. By using Scripture to defend himself, Jesus affirms that the entire text of the Old Testament is divinely inspired and infallible. Second Jesus says that no passage of Scripture can be robbed of its intended meaning simply because a situation arises that makes it inconvenient or hard to accept. Third Jesus guarantees to his faithful people that the teaching of Scripture is always and in all places absolutely correct, and will be clearly known at the end of time. This is Jesus’ view of Scriptures authority and surely must be ours also.

Through all things may the glory of our great God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be always upheld. AMEN

Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba