Sola Scriptura

"The inspired writings - the New Testament of Jesus - claim for themselves

that they alone are the standard of authority in religion today."

TEXT1 Cor. 4:6

INTRODUCTION:

A.      NO PASSAGE SPECIFICALLY MAKES THAT CLAIM.

          1.       Apostles still alive and able to speak.

          2.       Scripture was not complete until 70 AD or 96 AD.

B.      THE SCRIPTURES POINT TO A TIME WHEN THEY ALONE MAY BE

          RELIED ON FOR AUTHORITY.

C.      WE NEED TO EXAMINE THE PROCESS OF REVELATION AND THE

          CLAIM OF THE SCRIPTURES TO ALL-SUFFICIENCY.

I.      THE PROCESS OF REVELATION THROUGH INSPIRATION.

A.      JESUS IS GOD'S SPOKESMAN IN THIS DISPENSATION( Heb. 1:1-2 ).

          1.       Jesus spoke not from himself, but from God( John 12:49-50 ).

          2.       His voice is to be heard, not Elijah or Moses( Matt. 17:1-8 )

          3.       He is the mediator of a New Covenant( Heb. 9:15-17 ).

          4.       Foretold by Moses( Deut. 18:15-19;  Acts 3:22-23 ).

          5.       Salvation is in the name of Jesus only( Acts 4:12;  John 14:6 ).

          6.       His word is the standard by which we will be judged( John 12:48 ).

B.      JESUS DOES NOT SPEAK TO US DIRECTLY TODAY.

          1.       He selected 12 men to be his ambassadors( John 17:6-7;  17:20 ).

          2.       He promised them the Holy Spirit who would direct them in their speech.

                   a.       He would remind them of what Jesus had already said

                             ( John 14:25-26;  Matt. 28:19-20 ).

                   b.       He would tell them things they weren't yet ready for( John 16:12-14 ).

          3.       This promise was made only to the apostles( John 15:26-27 ).

Not to the Church.

C.      THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS THE AGENT OF JESUS IN INSPIRATION.

          1.       They were to wait in Jerusalem for the Spirit( Luke 24:49;  Acts 1:4-5, 8 ).

          2.       This Holy Spirit came in Acts 2( Acts 2:1-4 ).

                   a.       A proclamation of the death, burial, and resurrection.

                   b.       A proclamation of the covenant law

                             ( Matt. 16:18-19;  18:18;  Acts 2:36, 38 ).

                   c.       But the authority rested in Jesus - Only he makes law( Jas. 4:12 ).

                   d.       His word is fixed in heaven Forever( Psa. 119:89 )

                   e.       Who received the Holy Spirit in Acts 2?

                             ( Acts 1:26;  2:1, 14, 43;  Heb. 2:3-4 ).  The Apostles.

D.      WERE THERE OTHER MEN INVOLVED?( Eph. 3:3-5 ).

          1.       What is a prophet?( Deut. 18:15f. ).

          2.       Who were some New Testament prophets?

                   a.       Stephen( Acts 6:8 ).

                   b.       Philip( Acts 8:5-6 ).

          3.       How were gifts imparted?( Acts 8:14-18;  6:5-6 ). The Apostles Hands.

                   a.       The only way NT prophets were made.  Philip couldn't do it.

                   b.       Paul as an exception:

                               i.  Jesus appeared so that he might be a witness

                                      ( 1 Cor. 15:7-11;  Acts 26:16 ).

                              ii.  Chosen before he was born( Gal. 1:15-16 ).

                             iii.  Teaching from God - Authoritative( Gal. 1:11-12;  Eph. 3:1-11 ).

                   c.       Cornelius as an exception( Acts 10:44-48;  11:14-18 ).

E.      POSSESSION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT A DETERMINATE FACTOR IN THE

          MATTER OF AUTHORITY.

          1.       God's law delivered by them because God was speaking through them

                   ( Luke 10:16 ).

          2.       God demonstrated his approval through miracles( Heb. 2:3-4 ).

          3.       Today, No One

                   a.       Can work miracles as they did.

                   b.       Is inspired of the Holy Spirit.

                   c.       Has the authority to reveal God's will.

          4.       Why can't the apostles pass on the power of prophecy today?

There Are No Apostles Today!

                   a.       Apostle - an ambassador or messenger - "one sent."

                   b.       Special men with a special job.  The 12, or the 11.

                             ( Matt. 26:14;  John 6:67;  20:24;  1 Cor. 15:5;  Acts 2:14 ).

                               i.      Witnesses( Acts 1:8;  1 John 1:1-4;  2 Pet. 1:16 ).

                              ii.      Proclaimers of the law( Matt. 16:19;  18:18 ).

Not Lawmakers!( James 4:12 ).

                             iii.      Bestowers of gifts( Acts 8:18 ).

                             iv.      Missionaries( Matt. 28:18-20;  Mark 16:15-16 ).

                   c.       Special men with special qualifications.

                               i.  Chosen by God, called by Jesus

                                      ( Gal. 1:1;  1 Cor. 15:7-9;  Luke 6:13 ).

                              ii.  Befitting their task

                                      ( Acts 1:21-22;  Luke 24:48;  1 Cor. 9:1-2;  1 John 1:1, 4 ).

                             iii.      2 exceptions:  Jesus appeared personally to Paul and James

                                      ( Rom. 1:1;  1 Cor. 1:1;  2 Cor. 12:12 ).

          d.       Distinguished from broader use of the term

                   ( 2 Cor. 8:23;  Acts 14:4, 14;  Phil. 2:25;  Heb. 3:1 ).

          e.       Who today is an eyewitness to the ministry or resurrection of Jesus? 

                    Who has the proof of his Apostleship in signs and miracles

                    Who can lay hands on one and produce a prophet? 

There is NO Inspiration Today!

F.      APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY WELL ESTABLISHED.

          1.       That authority is not vested in the church.  The church has no authority.

          2.       Jesus is the head of the church( Eph. 1:22-23;  Col. 1:18 ).

          3.       He speaks through the apostles and prophets of the New Testament

                   ( Matt. 18:18;  Luke 10:16 ).

II.     THE OUTCOME OF INSPIRATION - 3 STAGES OF TIME.

A.      A TIME WHEN ALL WAS ORAL - WORD OF MOUTH OF INSPIRED MEN.

          1.       Referenced in the NT( Acts 2;  8:1-4;  etc. ).

                   a.       Before the writing began.

                   b.       Evidenced by the signs that followed( Heb. 2:3-4;  Mark 16:20 ).

          2.       Emphasized by Paul in 1 Cor. 2:10-16.

                   a.       Mysteries revealed by the Spirit to Apostles and Prophets( Eph. 3:5 ).

                   b.       Revealed in words given by the Spirit( 1 Cor. 2:12-13 ).

B.      A TIME WHEN BOTH ORAL AND WRITTEN( 2 Thess. 2:15;  2 Pet. 3:1-2 ).

          1.       Paul spoke and Wrote( Eph. 3:3-5 ).

          2.       Peter recognizes authority of writings( 2 Pet. 3:15-16 ).

          3.       Traditions equated with gospel( 2 Thess. 2:14-15 ).

                   a.       Paul binds the commands of both( 2 Thess. 1:7-9;  3:6 ).

                   b.       "This epistle"( 2 Thess. 3:14 ).

          4.       Passages do not teach that the oral and written traditions were independent of

                             each other.  They Agree!

                   a.       These verses written the Thessalonian brethren.

                   b.       Not just any traditions - specific teachings - "received of us"( 3:6 ).

                   c.       Already received - already delivered either by word or letter( 2:15 ).

                   d.       They Do Not teach continued oral inspiration through the ages.

                   e.       They merely confirm the authority in the writings and the words

                             of the Apostles.

C.      THE SCRIPTURES ANTICIPATE Sola Sciptura.

          1.       Paul comments on his own writings( Eph. 3:3-5;  1 Cor. 14:37;  16:1-2 ).

                   a.       Explaining the mystery.

                   b.       Commands of the Lord.

          2.       John's references( John 20:30-31;  1 John 1:4;  5:13 ).

          3.       Peter's comments on Paul's writings( 2 Pet. 3:15-16 ).

          4.       The Scripture's claim( 2 Tim. 3:15-17 ).

                   a.       2 Pet. 1:3.  Through a knowledge of him.

                   b.       How do we know anything about Jesus?

                             ( Luke 1:1-4;  John 20:30-31;  21:24-25;  1 John 1:1-4 ).

          5.       The End of Prophecy!( Zech. 13:-1-8;  1 Cor. 13 ).

          6.       Jude's claim( Jude 3 ==> Heb. 7:27;  Heb. 10:10-12 ).

III.    THE IMPLICATIONS OF Sola Scriptura.

A.      THE SCRIPTURES AND THEIR TEACHINGS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED.

          1.       The things written were to be commanded

                   ( 2 Thess. 3:4, 6, 12;  1 Tim. 3:14-15;  4:6, 11;  5:7;  6:2 ).

          2.       They have authority( Titus 2:15 ).

                   a.       Commanded of the Lord( 1 Cor. 14:37;  Luke 10:16 ).

                   b.       Bound by Paul's epistle( 2 Thess. 2:15;  3:6, 14-15 ).

                   c.       As though Paul himself was present( 2 Cor. 10:7-11 ).

          3.       They have purpose( 2 Tim. 3:16-17;  2 Cor. 13:9-10 ).

B.      THE FAITH WAS ONCE DELIVERED( Jude 3 ).

C.      WE WILL BE JUDGE OUT OF THE BOOKS - WRITINGS( Rev. 20:12 ).

D.      WE ARE WARNED AGAINST DEVIATING.

          1.       Contrary to the doctrine which ye learned( Rom. 16:17-18 ).

          2.       A different doctrine than "these things"( 1 Tim. 6:2-5 ).

          3.       Loss of fellowship( 2 John 9 ).

          4.       Gal. 1:6-9.  A different gospel.  Though we, an angel, any man.

                   a.       Already started - already removed.

                   b.       Circumcision was the only offense at this time( Gal. 5:2-3 ).

                   c.       Deviation in instructions.

E.      AND SO ...( 1 Cor. 4:6 ).  NOT TO GO BEYOND WHAT?

THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN!

CONCLUSION:

A.      YOU HAVE A RIGHT AND A NEED TO DEMAND BOOK, CHAPTER AND VERSE.

B.      THAT MAY MAKE YOU LOOK NARROW-MINDED, BUT IT IS BETTER TO BE

          THAT THAN GULLIBLE AND DECEIVED.  DEMAND PROOF!

C.      HAVE YOU SUBMITTED TO THE WILL OF CHRIST REVEALED IN THE BIBLE?