Understanding Scriptural Authority

Have you ever wondered what it truly means to live under the authority of Scripture? With 
life being chaotic and filled with trials, Psalm 119:105 reminds us, "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." In this episode, we learn about how a renewed understanding of how Scripture isn't just a book but the ultimate guide offering structure, accountability, and a divine framework for resolving life's conflicts. Don't miss the chance to be uplifted and guided by divine wisdom—tune in, follow our podcast, and leave a review to help us spread the word!

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Transcript

Scripture in Christian Faith

Speaker 1 0:05

Welcome to Faithfully Living , the Podcast , where we learn how to live for Christ in our daily lives . I am Dwan , your host , and I would like to invite you on a journey with me to explore and learn how to be a faithful follower of Christ . Hi everyone , welcome to Faithfully Living , the Podcast , where we strive to encourage you to live for Christ faithfully by offering guidance on studying the Bible , how to understand the Bible better and how to remain faithful to historic Christianity in a contemporary society . Let us therefore yield ourselves and bow to the authority of the Holy Scripture , which can neither err or deceive . St Augustine , you know , as a people , the concept of authority can be beneficial in our lives . So authority brings or provides a framework for establishing order and stability within societies , organizations and relationships , and authority can set boundaries , rules and expectations to help prevent chaos and confusions . It could also facilitate decision making , providing guidance or , you know , a source of expertise and leadership , and it can help individuals and groups make informed choices and be decisive in situations and knowing which direction to go . Another thing that when I think about authority , it establishes accountability . You're assigned certain projects , you're holding people accountable for their actions , decisions , their performance in certain tasks that they have to do each day . And then authority can also play a role in resolving conflicts and disputes . It can offer kind of like guidance or framework for resolving conflicts or disagreements , reinforcing agreements , and then hopefully , can restore harmony to relationships of of people and community . So in the same way , the Bible provides authority for our lives . So you know , as believers , um , it's our guide and the bible should be our authority , because god has set forth his truth about life , how we're all to live godly . So I guess one thing you want to think about is how does your belief about truth measure alongside God's Like ? God is the ultimate authority . When we bow to scripture , we are bowing to God's authority , john Stout .

Speaker 1 3:35

So what does it mean for scripture to be the authority ? As always , let's look at a definition of authority from Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology . He says the authority of Scripture means that all the words in Scripture are God's words In such a way . To disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God . Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God . So the authority of Scripture depends on the power and supremacy of its author , which is God . So Scripture is God breathed . We've heard the verse in 2 Timothy 3 , 16 , that says all Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching , for proof , for correction and for training in righteousness . So scripture is God speaking , so it's the final say for all matters , whether we want to or do submit to it or not to or do submit to it or not . So when we look for where the authority of the Bible comes from , you know it's determined by scripture itself . So the authority of the Bible holds true because it is true .

Speaker 1 4:59

The scriptures record , you know , fulfillment of prophecy from . You know , beginning from genesis all the way to the end , in revelation . For example , you know , around 500 years before king cyrus of persia to live , god called him by name through the prophet isaiah . Long before jesus was born in a manger , the old testament prophets spoke of his earthly ministry in more than 300 prophecies and christ fulfilled them . All these prophecies , along with many others in the bible , testify of the trustworthiness and the right to be authoritative in our lives . So the Old Testament foretold that Jesus was coming and that he would save his people and the world from their sins . So when we think about the Bible , don't forget that scripture is a unified story and that God directed each of the authors of the Bible by his spirit . You know there are more than there were 440 men that wrote the message without contradiction or error . And you know God worked through the author's personalities , their experiences , their writing styles , but the word was his own and not theirs .

Speaker 1 6:31

The authority of scripture is in the Bible itself . It's divine , aw Pink . So I guess you have to think about who is really in control . So we know , or should know , that God has supreme authority and power above all . And God is the author of the Bible , so his word carries authority . Scripture is God speaking , so he has a final authority on all matters . God is true , so his word is true . So remember I said that God inspired every author of the Bible , over 40 , to write down his words . And they wrote it exactly what God wanted them to say , without error or contradiction .

Speaker 1 7:22

In 2 Peter 1 , 22-21 says Know first of all that no prophecy of scripture comes from one's own interpretation , for no prophecy ever produced by the will of men . But men spoke from God as they are carried about by the Holy Spirit . So God moved through the Holy Spirit to have men write his holy word . So , as a follower of Christ , god has given . God , has and can give you the faith to believe in him If you're willing to surrender your life to Christ . So when you surrender to God and Christ , you should surrender to his authority in your life . So if you trust God , that means you should trust his word also .

Speaker 1 8:15

So our Christian faith stands or falls upon the foundation of the scriptures and we can't pick and choose what to believe in in the Bible . If we don't believe certain parts or obey certain commandments , you know we disbelieve and disobey God . So you know , we often say that we want God to be in control of our lives and you know , yet a lot of times we don't obey or believe his word . So the doctrine of scripture's authority reminds us that God's word stands above all earthly powers , because God is God . If we don't trust the scriptures to be authoritative , you know , how can we say that we trust God ? We owe to the scriptures the same reverence which we owe to God , because it has proceeded from him alone and has nothing belonging to men , to man . Mix with it , john Calvin .

Speaker 1 9:23

So why is the authority of scriptures so important to our Christian faith ? As a follower of Christ , we should choose to believe what God says in his word If you surrender your life to Christ , then God is the authority in your life and the Bible is God's word . So if you trust God , you should also trust his word . So remember , like I said , our Christian faith stands or falls upon the foundation of scripture , and this foundation is that of the living god who has spoken to humanity , and his word has been recorded in the bible . We can't pick and choose what we we want to believe in the bible . You know , if we don't believe certain parts of it or we don't obey certain commandments , we disbelieve and disobey God . We should do our best to obey things God has commanded us . This is how we show him , honor and glorify him .

Speaker 1 10:28

Ultimately , the scriptures are authoritative because God is the author . Scriptures are authoritative because God is the author . He's the divine creator and ruler of everything , and so he's the ultimate authority . The Bible is authoritative in everything of which it speaks . Moreover , it speaks of everything , francis Shaver , shaver . Okay , so to recap and provide further insight , the authority of scripture finds its roots in the belief that god has spoken to humanity through the written word and , as I read earlier , second timothy 316 , this is all . Scripture is breath , breathe out and is useful for teaching , rebuking , correcting and training in righteousness .

Speaker 1 11:18

So the divine inspiration of the Bible is as unparalleled significance to guide us as leaders in all matters of faith , doctrine and in conduct , how we live in this life . So the authority of scripture provides , or can provide , provide us a solid foundation on which we build our faith . So the world , you know it shifts , you know conflicting voices , but we can be assured that the unchanging truth , the god's word , serves as a reliable anchor for us as believers . And then it offers us wisdom and guidance where we experience trials in our life . We also have to believe that the authority of scripture established boundaries for our beliefs and our practices . It is the ultimate standard by which all you know , the teachings we have and traditions are measured by , to ensure the truthfulness of the core tenets of our faith handed down through generations , and we can see this throughout church history .

Speaker 1 12:34

And then also the authority of scripture . It nourishes and deepens our reverence for God and his word . So when we approach the bible with humility and openness , we we encounter the living god who speaks to his word , and we could hope and pray that god's word transforms our hearts and minds in the process . So , you know , in culture , you know , often questions or rejects the idea of absolute truth , but scripture , it , remains a light of hope and a gives us certainty as christians in our world today . It guides us , it's kind of like a road map on our journey called life and it gives us a glimpse of the sovereignty and lovingness of god as he has revealed himself to us through his word .

Navigating Life Through God's Word

Speaker 1 13:38

You know , as we navigate through , you know , all of the trials , the complexities of living in this fallen world . We can hold fast to the authority of scripture and allow the truth of God's word and its authority to , you know , guide our path and to shape how we need to live in God's perfect world for our lives . Psalms 119.05 says your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path . So hopefully this provides you with some encouragement to know and receive the authority of God's word in in your life . So I hope this episode was helpful and until next time , remember God is always good and he's always faithful . Thank you for listening to the podcast . Do me a favor by following the podcast and leaving a review to help spread the word . I look forward to hearing from you .