Originally posted 11/19/24
This is a continuation of a series on Theology in the Church.
Theology Part 5
Theology Part 4
Theology Part 3
Theology Part 2
Theology Part 1
The Bible has the authority to tell us what we must do.
Ninety-four percent of Evangelicals believe this statement. I am a little concerned about six percent think that the Bible doesn’t have the authority to tell us what we must do.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work”
1 Thessalonians 2:13, “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”
Psalm 119:137-138, “Righteous are you, O LORD, and right are your rules. You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness.”
Romans 15:4, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
1 Timothy 4:13, “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.”
Religious belief is a matter of personal opinion; it is not about objective truth.
Evangelicals seem to be divided on this issue. Fifty-six percent of them believe that this statement is false. Forty-four believe this statement is true. I sincerely hope this was a question that people did not understand. How can we share the Gospel with people if we don’t believe it is based on truth?
I feel it is safe to say that religious belief is based on a person’s belief in a particular text. Christians base their beliefs on the Bible. If you believe the BIble to be true, then religious belief cannot be merely an opinion.
There has been a tremendous amount of research to prove and/or disprove the Bible. Www.got.questions.org says, “Where we can check biblical claims against verifiable truth, the Bible proves itself accurate. History, archaeology, science, and philosophy have shown Scripture to be factual and consistent. This correspondence between various forms of evidence is a major advantage the Bible has over the scriptures of any other faith system. In many cases, it has been the deciding factor in converting skeptics and nonbelievers to faith in Christ.”
The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe.
Eighty-seven percent of people attend church believe this statement. Thirteen percent who do not believe this to be true. What do they consider the highest authority if it isn’t the Bible? I want to talk to these people and find out their reasoning. As always we need to look to Scripture for our answers.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, ”All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
Acts 17:11, “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”
Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
Ephesians 4:14, “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”
Psalm 119:89, “Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.”
Psalm 19:7 “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;”
It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Eighty-three percent believe this statement. If we believe that Jesus is the only way, why would be not want this for others? Do we love others enough to share the Gospel with them?
The Great Commission states in Matthew 28:16-20, “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.
Eighty-seven percent of Evangelicals believe this. Thirteen percent believe that there is another way besides the cross. I find this statistic terribly troubling. This belief is in our churches. There is no way to salvation except through the cross. Many people teach that its all about the love and acceptance of everyone. Scripture does not confirm that. It clearly states that the work of the cross is the only thing that covers our sin. If you do not believe this, heaven is not your destination.
John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Ephesians 1:7, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,”
John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Romans 3:21-26, “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it–the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.
Eighty-four percent of Americans who attend a religious service at least once or twice a month are more likely to agree. This statistic raises lots of questions for me. Did people misunderstand the question? Do people think they need Christ and works? Do people think they need Christ and church membership? Is it something else?
Scripture is clear:
Genesis 3:15, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Matthew 1:21, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
John 5:39, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,”
Luke 24:27, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”
1 Peter 1:10-12, “Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.”
John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 16:8-14, “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
#faith, #Bible, #Scriptures, #Christian Women, #Discipleship, #womenintheBible, #Theology