The Bible's Authority and the Centrality of Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Bible as Divine Revelation

The Bible is not just a collection of human wisdom but is the inspired Word of God, taught by the Spirit and authoritative for the church. The writings of the apostles, such as Paul, are considered divine revelation, standing alongside the prophets of the Old Testament. This understanding is foundational for the church's teaching and preaching, emphasizing the importance of believing in the Bible as the Word of God. The authority of scripture is crucial for spiritual growth and understanding God's will. [12:17]

"For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:21, ESV)

Reflection: How does your view of the Bible influence your daily decisions and actions? What steps can you take to deepen your engagement with scripture this week?

Day 2: Transformative Power of Scripture

The story of W.A. Criswell illustrates the transformative power of preaching through the entire Bible. Despite initial skepticism, his congregation grew as they engaged deeply with the scriptures. This narrative serves as a reminder of the importance of engaging deeply with scripture for spiritual growth. The Bible's teachings have the power to transform lives and communities when approached with an open heart and mind. [16:16]

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16, ESV)

Reflection: What specific part of the Bible have you been avoiding or neglecting? How can you commit to studying it more deeply this week?

Day 3: The Planned Gospel

The gospel of God is a planned gospel, promised beforehand through the prophets and centered on Jesus Christ. The Son of God existed before becoming a man, emphasizing the doctrine of the incarnation. This truth highlights the intentionality of God's plan for salvation and the centrality of Jesus in the gospel message. Understanding the pre-existence and divinity of Christ is crucial for grasping the depth of the gospel. [18:12]

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." (Galatians 4:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: How does knowing that the gospel was planned from the beginning of time impact your understanding of God's love for you? How can you live in response to this truth today?

Day 4: The Divinity of Christ

Jesus Christ is not merely a man chosen by God but is God Himself, pre-existent and divine. This underscores the mystery of the Trinity—one God in three persons, each fully God. The divinity of Christ is a foundational truth of the Christian faith, emphasizing the unique nature of Jesus as both fully God and fully man. This understanding is essential for a deeper relationship with Christ and a fuller appreciation of the gospel. [20:22]

"For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority." (Colossians 2:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways do you struggle to comprehend the divinity of Christ? How can you seek a deeper understanding of this mystery in your spiritual journey?

Day 5: Embracing a God-Centered Life

The profound truths of the gospel should rest upon us, preventing us from trivializing God's revelation. This is a call to embrace a God-centered life, seeing Christ clearly and treasuring Him truly. The weight of these truths encourages believers to live with a focus on God's eternal nature and glorious reality. By prioritizing a God-centered life, we can ensure that we do not take lightly the magnificence of God's revelation. [22:54]

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: What distractions in your life are preventing you from living a God-centered life? How can you refocus your priorities to treasure Christ more fully today?

Sermon Summary

The essence of the message today is the profound significance of the Bible as the inspired Word of God and the centrality of Jesus Christ in the gospel. The apostle Paul, as an authoritative spokesman for the New Testament Church, stands alongside the prophets of the Old Testament. His writings, like those in Romans, are not merely human wisdom but are taught by the Spirit, making them a divine revelation. This underscores the importance of believing that the Bible is the Word of God, a foundation upon which our church is built.

The story of W.A. Criswell, who preached through the entire Bible over many years, illustrates the transformative power of God's Word. Despite initial skepticism, his congregation grew as they engaged deeply with the scriptures. This narrative serves as a reminder that our church is built on the teachings of the apostles and prophets, and we must hold fast to this foundation.

The gospel of God, as Paul describes, is a planned gospel, promised beforehand through the prophets and centered on Jesus Christ. The Son of God existed before becoming a man, emphasizing the doctrine of the incarnation. Jesus is not just a man chosen by God but is God Himself, pre-existent and divine. This truth is crucial as we delve into the book of Romans, highlighting the mystery of the Trinity—one God in three persons, each fully God.

The weight of these truths should rest upon us, preventing us from trivializing the gospel. The gospel is about God, His eternal nature, and His glorious reality. It is essential to pause and let these profound realities impact us deeply, ensuring that we do not become a people who take lightly the magnificence of God's revelation. This is a call to embrace a God-centered life, seeing Christ clearly and treasuring Him truly.

Key Takeaways

1. taught and authoritative. This foundation is crucial for the church's teaching and preaching. [12:17]
2. The story of W.A. Criswell demonstrates the transformative power of preaching through the entire Bible, emphasizing the importance of engaging deeply with scripture for spiritual growth.

3. The gospel of God is a planned gospel, promised through the prophets and centered on Jesus Christ, who existed before becoming a man, highlighting the doctrine of the incarnation.

4. Jesus Christ is not merely a man chosen by God but is God Himself, pre-existent and divine, underscoring the mystery of the Trinity—one God in three persons.

5. The profound truths of the gospel should rest upon us, preventing us from trivializing God's revelation and encouraging us to live a God-centered life, seeing and treasuring Christ truly.

** [12:17]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[11:29] - The Authority of Paul
[12:17] - Spirit-Taught Writings
[13:01] - The Unchanging Word
[14:11] - The Bible as God's Word
[14:42] - W.A. Criswell's Journey
[15:58] - Preaching Through the Bible
[16:47] - Growth Through Scripture
[17:18] - A Church Built on the Book
[18:12] - The Planned Gospel
[19:05] - The Pre-Existence of Christ
[20:22] - The Divinity of Christ
[21:00] - The Mystery of the Trinity
[22:16] - The Weight of the Gospel
[23:13] - Conclusion and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Romans 1:1-4
1 Corinthians 2:13
2 Peter 3:16

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Observation Questions:

According to Romans 1:1-4, what are the key elements of the gospel as described by Paul? How does this passage emphasize the pre-existence and divinity of Jesus Christ?
In 1 Corinthians 2:13, Paul mentions that the apostles speak in words taught by the Spirit. How does this relate to the authority of the Bible as the Word of God? [12:17]
How does 2 Peter 3:16 support the idea that Paul's writings are considered scripture, and what implications does this have for the authority of the New Testament? [13:50]
What was the reaction of W.A. Criswell's congregation when he announced he would preach through the entire Bible, and what was the eventual outcome? [16:16]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of the Bible being Spirit-taught, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 2:13, influence our understanding of its authority and reliability? [12:17]
In what ways does the story of W.A. Criswell illustrate the transformative power of engaging deeply with scripture? How might this story encourage us to prioritize Bible study in our own lives? [16:16]
The sermon emphasizes the pre-existence and divinity of Jesus Christ. How does this understanding of Jesus shape our view of the gospel and its significance? [19:05]
The sermon calls us to let the weight of the gospel rest upon us. What does it mean to live a God-centered life, and how can this perspective impact our daily decisions and actions? [22:54]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your current approach to reading the Bible. How can you deepen your engagement with scripture to experience its transformative power, similar to the story of W.A. Criswell's congregation? [16:16]
The sermon highlights the importance of recognizing the Bible as the inspired Word of God. How does this belief influence your trust in scripture, and how can you strengthen this foundation in your faith journey? [14:11]
Consider the doctrine of the incarnation and the pre-existence of Christ. How does this understanding of Jesus challenge or affirm your current beliefs about His nature and role in the gospel? [19:05]
The sermon encourages us to avoid trivializing the gospel. What are some practical steps you can take to ensure that you are living a life that truly treasures and reflects the magnificence of God's revelation? [22:54]
Identify a specific area in your life where you can shift your focus to be more God-centered. What changes can you make this week to prioritize seeing and treasuring Christ in that area? [22:54]
How can you incorporate the truths of the gospel into your daily conversations and interactions with others, ensuring that you are sharing the weight and significance of God's message? [22:54]
Reflect on a time when you may have taken the gospel lightly. What did you learn from that experience, and how can you use that insight to deepen your commitment to living out the gospel in your life? [22:54]

Sermon Clips

This book called Romans is a spirit taught book not a man wrought book. That's why I preached from it that's why I preach the way I preach that's why I'm in people's face with its truth that's why I really don't care, and I stopped here in the first service and qualified this but I'll finish the sentence anyway I really don't care whether you like it or not. [00:12:33]

It is a big deal to believe the Bible is the word of God, that's what our church is built on. I told you last week, I did in one service and I don't remember which service it was that I was going to tell you a funny story this week so I brought along the story. [00:14:18]

W.A Criswell was the pastor until a few years ago at First Baptist Church Dallas for 40 plus years. He came to that church when he was 34, the same age I was when I came to this church, and I said last week that I've got 12 years to go to put in my 30 years here, but when I read this I thought maybe they'll give me 40. [00:14:42]

When I made the announcement that I was proposing to preach Through the Bible an obvious foreboding fell on part of the congregation, they were afraid that the church would be ruined. What actually happened however was as If Heaven came down to attend church with us, as I continued to preach through the word of God the congregation continued to grow. [00:16:16]

We are a church built on a book, the apostles and Prophets, whose writings have come down to us Faithfully we believe in a book, and if I ever depart from this book or ever misstate anything in the Book of Romans, call me to account, because this is our only warrant to preach with authority. [00:17:18]

The gospel of God which he promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy scriptures, concerning his son, now let's just stop right there, concerning his son the gospel of God is about the son of God. Two things about the son number one the son was existent before he became a man. [00:18:12]

So there it is crystal clear the Son of God existed to be sent into the likeness of sinful flesh God did not in looking for a messiah choose a man, he chose his son to become a man, so get that very clear as we move into this book The Son of God is pre-existent and that's where we get the word incarnation. [00:19:05]

Second thing to notice is that he is God in his pre-existent form, Romans 9 verse 5. Paul is celebrating the advantages that Israel had as the chosen people and he says whose that is Israel's are the fathers that is Abraham Isaac and Jacob and from whom from this people is the Christ according to the flesh. [00:20:22]

The fullness of the one deity dwells in another person, Christ, so there are three persons in the god head in the deity not deities, and one nature one substance one Essence God we are monotheists. I know that Muslims will say we're not, but we must try our best to take this mystery and be faithful to the sides. [00:21:00]

The son is God the spirit is God the father is God, Paul believed that and it comes out in various ways in the Book of Romans, so the second thing he says about the gospel of God is that it concerns his son and then we learn from the rest of the book that the son that he has in mind is the pre-existent Divine Son of God. [00:21:40]

The gospel is about God it's God's gospel, God is eternal God is infinite God is glorious God is the reality in the universe and he has a son who has always existed who has never come into being but has always been eternally begotten by the father's Imaging forth of himself these magnificent unspeakably great weighty realities are in the gospel. [00:22:16]

Just let it rest upon us lest we become a trivial people of flippant people, this is light and Truth god-centered preaching to help you see Christ clearly and treasure him truly. [00:22:54]

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The Bible's Authority and the Centrality of Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Bible as Divine Revelation

Day 2: Transformative Power of Scripture

Day 3: The Planned Gospel

Day 4: The Divinity of Christ

Day 5: Embracing a God-Centered Life

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

The Bible's Authority and the Centrality of Christ

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