"Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.
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Lesson 13: The Authority of God's Word
Review
Having discovered our relationship and identity as a sons of God with all the rights and privileges of heirs, now we turn to developing our responsibility as true family members and partners with the Father in the work He is doing.
In this lesson we will see...
1. that the Bible is the "God-breathed" revelation of His intentions and plans;
2. how Jesus used the written Word of the Father;
3. understand the Holy Spirit's involvement in the bringing of God's Word to us;
4. the nature of God's Word and how it works in our lives.
Our objective is...
to provide the necessary foundation for recognising the voice of God in our personal lives by having our minds renewed, so that the mind of Christ and our minds become one, in order to receive clearly all the dimensions of fellowship with Him.
A. The Scriptures are "God-breathed".
2 Timothy 3:16, 17 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
The fourfold purpose of the written Word of God
Teaching of doctrine
Reproof
Correction
Instruction in Righteousness.
2 Peter 1:19-21 "And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."
The prophetic word = the Old Testament = the light shining in the dark place.
The dark place = the human heart
The morning star = the presence of Christ in the believer by the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 12:6 "The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times."
The furnace of earth = the human agent to whom the Word comes.
Purified = the fire of tribulation purifying the agent (prophet).
Seven times = complete, total, perfect purification.
Psalms 119:130 "The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple."
B Jesus defines "the Scriptures".
John 10:34-36 "Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods"'? If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?"
Threefold definition - your Law = Word of God = the Scripture.
C. Jesus' use of the Scriptures.
Matthew 4:4, 7, 10
4 "But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' "
7 "Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' "
10 "Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "
His powerful weapon against the tempter.
Ephesians 6:17 "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;"
His sword in spiritual warfare.
Matthew 5:17-18 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfil. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."
His recognition of the Scriptures as being the foundation of heaven and earth.
D. God's Word working in the believer's life.
Romans 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
It brings faith.
James 1:18 "Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures."
It brought us to forth as firstfruits in His plan to restore all things.
1 Peter 1:22, 23 "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, "
It brought us to new birth.
1 Peter 2:2 "as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,"
It causes us to grow spiritually.
Matthew 4:4 "But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"
It is the ongoing source of strength for the believer.
Psalm 119:130 "The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple."
It brings light to the mind.
Psalm 107:17-20 "Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. "
It brings healing to distressed bodies.
Proverbs 4:20-22 "My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. "
It brings healing to diseased bodies.
Psalm 119:9 "How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. "
It cleanses from embedded sin.
Psalm 119:11 "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You! "
It is the soul's defence against temptation and sin.
James 1:23-25 "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. "
It is the mirror reflecting one's spiritual state.
Malcolm Vine, Cornerstone Ministries. September 2004.
To contact the Bible School email: bibleschool@cornerstoneministries.org.uk
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