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The Bible is Authoritative! (Hebrews 4:12-13)

Dennis R. Wiles, February 12, 2012
Part of the Deepening Our Roots series, preached at a Sunday Morning service

Dennis R. Wiles
FBC Arlington
February 12, 2012

The Bible is Authoritative!
Hebrews 4:12-13

(Begin with “Deepening Our Roots” slide)

FASTING AND PRAYER FOCUS
FOCAL PASSAGE: Psalm 119:1-8
FASTING AND PRAYER GUIDE: Meditate on Psalm 119:1-8. Read it aloud. Thank God for His Word. Thank God for revealing Himself through His Word to you! Spend some time evaluating how you are integrating what you are learning into how you are actually living! Commit yourself to the regular practice of obeying God’s Word.

We believe the BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD! The human authors of the Bible were uniquely inspired by the Spirit of God. His guidance led them to record His truth. The Bible is authoritative for every believer and it provides the counsel of God for everyday life.

Sermon Plan
The Bible is Inspired!
The Bible is Authoritative!
The Bible is Our Guide!
The Bible is Useful!

FACTS ABOUT THE BIBLE
• AD 125 – oldest fragment of NT writing – John 18
• Codex Sinaiticus – oldest complete Bible in existence
• AD 367 – Easter Letter of Athanasius
• Vulgate – Latin translation – AD 400
• Middle Ages – copies, copies, copies!
• AD 1425 – Gutenberg Printing Press
• English Translations – Wycliffe, Tyndale, KJV
• Best Seller!

THEORIES OF BIBLE TRANSLATION
-Formal equivalence: word for word
-Functional equivalence: thought for thought
-Optimal equivalence: hybrid
-Paraphrase

Sermon Title Slide – The Bible is Authoritative!

TEXT: Hebrews 4:12-13

MATTERS OF AUTHORITY
-Reason or Revelation?
-Creeds and Confessions
-Canon Law of the Church
-Human Experience

THE BIBLE IS AUTHORITATIVE!
1. The authority of the Bible is derivative: God is the ultimate authority. He has revealed Himself in Christ. He has inspired people to record His Word.
2. The Bible is authoritative for doctrine.
3. The Bible is authoritative for life!

Hebrews 4:12-13

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (ESV)