I AM CONCERNED ...
January 9, 2000 AM
Sermon Outline
ABOUT A LOSS OF REGARD FOR BIBLICAL AUTHORITY
2 Pet 1:10-15
INTRO: Long years ago the apostle Paul wrote that he daily felt the care of all the churches. (2 Cor 11:28). He had concerns of various sorts, and those concerns weighed upon him. Certainly Im not the apostle Paul ... indeed, I am not an apostle ... period. But I have lived a fairly long while and have worked daily in the Lords kingdom much of my life. And I do have some concerns. With the greatest of love and tenderness I want to tell you of my concerns. I hope and pray you will accept my concerns as sincere; from my heart. I am concerned about a loss of regard for Biblical authority.
I. SOME THINGS LEADING TO THIS?
A. Ignorance of the scriptures
1. people propose and do all sorts of things in ignorance
2. people accept things in ignorance
3. and it seems there is little inclination to become better informed ... so almost anything goes
4. consider 2 Pet 1:15 and 1 Cor 15:2 ... knowledge implied
B. Lack of interest in matters Biblical
1. social things, charitable things, societal things, entertainment are the points of interest
2. but there isnt much time for serious study
3. perhaps study of the word just isnt seen as urgent
4. Jno 5:39 and 2 Tim 3:15-17 ... without the scriptures we may enjoy many things social, etc. but without the scriptures we cannot know what we must know both to be growing, mature Christians and to please God!
C. Through selective binding of Biblical information
1. much is dismissed with thats not important to salvation
2. how do we come to such conclusions? how do mere mortals know so they can reach such conclusions?
3. a statement of core doctrines which is primary and all else is secondary is arbitrary, but devastating to concept of Biblical authority
4. Jno 17:17 - Jno 14:26 - Acts 2:42should one not be seeking all truth and responding obediently in simple faith
D. Through relativism
1. liberal theologians and philosophers have declared there is no absolute truth
2. so, truth is defined by the individual and circumstance
3. simply said, God didnt mean what He said.
4. Jno 8:32 question? whose truth?
E. Through something called deconstruction
1. this approach says words spoken by God and revealed in scripture do not have the same definition now as then
2. and each person may define those words for himself!
3. do you see what happens? man becomes god
4. Jno 6:63 and 1 Cor 2:12,13 ... words - His definition, or ours?
II. WITHOUT BIBLICAL AUTHORITY ...
A. There is no divine standard
1. thus, chaos and confusion result
2. I am reminded of Judges 21:25
3. religion becomes what a person wants it to be - Rom 1:21-23
4. morality becomes desire/lust driven - Rom 1:28,ff
5. indeed, what is now so prevalent in human, social experience is evidence of no acceptance of the divine standard
B. There is just no way to eternal security
1. Jno 12:48-50 and Rev 20:12
2. clearly, there is a revealed standard
3. and that standard is undergirded by the authority of God Himself ... He before Whom we must stand to be judged
4. we may choose how to live - but we are accountable to Him for the choice we make!
CLOSE: On every side, within and without, Biblical authority is under attack. My plea to you is to acknowledge, accept and enjoy the authority of Gods written word.
Cecil A. Hutson
09 January 2000