Introduction: 1. Our aim is to be Baptists, not just carry the name. 2. A distinctive is a trait or a characteristic that distinguishes one thing from another. 3. Baptist distinctives are those doctrines or practices that distinguish Baptists from other Christian groups or denominations. 4. Baptists through the centuries have insisted that the Bible is the sole ultimate written authority for Christian faith and practice. a. They have resisted those who claimed otherwise, including popes, kings, bishops, pastors and teachers. b. Both religious and secular powers have persecuted Baptists for this commitment to the authority of the Bible. 5. The author of a book makes that book authoritative. a. If I wrote a book on the Theory of Relativity, it would not be nearly as authoritative as if Albert Einstein's book on the Theory of Relativity b. Since God is the author of His Word, it is authoritative. 6. Because of the very nature of the Bible, Baptists have considered the Bible as authoritative for faith and practice a. Baptists have insisted that the divine nature of the Bible is the basis of its authority. b. The Bible stands alone among all other writings in that it is uniquely from God and about God. c. Scriptures were quoted to validate Baptist beliefs and practices without much effort to “prove” the divine nature of the Bible. 7. The Bible is the sole written authority for Christian faith and practice and deny that other writings such as creeds, confessions of faith, traditions, the teachings of theologians and the statements by founders of denominations have such authority. a. Although Baptists may gain insight from and express appreciation for some of these documents, they refuse to accept them as authoritative. 8. Some have accused Baptists of worshipping the Bible because of their extraordinarily high regard for the Bible as authoritative. a. Of course, we do not worship the Bible; we worship the God of the Bible as ultimate authority. b. The Bible is authoritative for us because it is from God and about God. 9. If man wrote the Bible then…. a. It may have some good things in it b. It may contain some errors c. It would be limited in scope d. It couldn't deal with origins e. It couldn't tell much about God f. It couldn't deal with salvation 10. Since God wrote the Bible…. a. It is free from error b. It is authoritative for us c. We need to obey it. 11. As Baptists, we believe that the Bible is our sole authority in all areas which it covers.
I. Some Don't Accept the Bible as Their Sole Authority A. Some Use the Bible Plus Other Writings 1. Jehovah's Witnesses a) Charles T. Russell claimed that his writings were indispensable to the study of the Bible b) Studying the Bible apart from his inspired writings would lead one into spiritual darkness 2. Mormons a) Article of Faith #8 - "We believe the Bible to be the Word of God as far as it is correctly translated. We also believe the Book of Mormon to be the Word of God." 3. Christian Science a) The writings of Mary Baker Eddy are equal to the Bible - "Science and Health with a Key to the Scriptures" 4. Seventh Day Adventists a) Once held that the writings of Ellen G. White were inspired
B. Some Use the Bible Plus Tradition 1. "The Bible alone is not a safe and competent guide… it does not contain all the truths of the Christian religion." 2. "The Bible, like all dead letters, needs a living interpreter, the church." 3. Take away tradition and the Roman Catholic Church loses these teachings…. a) Priesthood of the clergy b) Infallibility of the pope c) Veneration of Mary and the saints d) Sacraments e) Purgatory f) Limbo, relics, beads g) Penance, candles h) Catholics also look to papal encyclicals and the edicts of the church councils
C. Some Use the Bible Plus Their Experience 1. Charismatics often do this 2. They still believe in the gift of prophecy and the gift of knowledge 3. They put these on an equal level with the Bible 4. They often say, "God spoke to me…."
II. The Authority of the Bible A. What the Bible Says of Itself 1. Bible writers claimed to be recording God's Word a) Ex 24:3-4 - Moses wrote God's words 3 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do. 4 And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. b) Jer 1:1-4 - Jeremiah wrote God's words 1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin: 2 To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month. 4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, c) 1Cor 14:37 - Paul wrote God's words 37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. d) Gal 1:11-12 - Paul received his teaching from God 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 2. During Jesus' times these writings were in existence and were called Scriptures a) Mt 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. b) Lu 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? c) Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
B. Theories of Inspiration 1. Ordinary or natural inspiration 2. Limited or partial inspiration 3. Degrees of inspiration 4. Dynamic or thought inspiration 5. Moral or spiritual inspiration 6. Mechanical or dictation inspiration 7. Verbal, plenary inspiration a) 2Tim 3:16 - Total inspiration 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: b) 1Cor 2:13 - the words are inspired 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. c) Matt 5:18 - the jots and tittles are inspired 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. d) Lu 1:3 - Perfectly inspired 3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, e) 2Pet 1:20-21 - the Holy Spirit bore the writers along ?
C. The Scriptures are Profitable - 2 Tim 3:16 1. For Doctrine - What is Right 2. For Reproof - What isn't Right 3. For Correction - How to Get Right 4. For Instruction - How to Stay Right
D. The Scriptures are Complete 1. We cannot add or subtract from them - Rev 22:18-19 a) Re 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. b) There is no new revelation 2. My Philosophy on the KJV Controversy a) The KJV Only Group says… (1) The KJV translators were inspired (2) The KJV can correct the Greek that it came from (3) The KJV has no mistakes and is perfect b) The liberal group (1) Reject the KJV and accept modern Bible versions (2) Dynamic translation not word by word translation is preferred c) My position (1) I prefer the KJV and use it only when preaching (2) There will probably never again be a group of men like the KJV translators (3) The KJV is not inspired (4) The texts behind the KJV are superior
III. Application A. We Should Study the Bible to Grow Spiritually 1. 1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 2. 2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
B. We Should Study the Bible to Rightly Divide It 2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
C. We Should Study the Bible to Know What We Believe 1. So we can help others 2. So we can teach our children
D. We Should Study the Bible to Be Thoroughly Furnished Unto Good Works