Sermon Text: Various Passages

Below is a sermon manuscript from May 18, 2025. Watch the sermon here.

Introduction

Have you ever had a bad boss? One that may be demanding without proper explanation and guidance, or perhaps just incompetent. We can develop a negative perception of authority due to our past experiences with it. But this doesn’t make the concept wrong or harmful. Authority, when exercised well, is a tremendous good. We think of a parent who warns and instructs a child, or a medical professional whose knowledge and expertise save lives. Thankfully, we have an authority who knows all things and desires the best for us. Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t recognize it for what it is. 

Mike Wittmer writes,

For a joke that cuts a little too close to home, here is the functional order of authority found in a few evangelical churches: (1) red letters, (2) C. S. Lewis, (3) black letters, (4) Chris Tomlin, (5) the Apostles’ Creed.^[1]

The Bible Is Our Ultimate Authority

John 17:17

¹⁷ Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth

1 Peter 1:23

, ²³ since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God

Psalm 119:44, 45, 165

⁴⁵  and I shall walk in a wide place,

for I have sought your precepts.

⁴⁶    I will also speak of your testimonies before kings

and shall not be put to shame,

¹⁶⁵   Great peace have those who love your law;

nothing can make them stumble.

The Bible is Authoritative Because It’s God’s Words

The authority of the Bible incorporates the other attributes we have already discussed. It’s one thing to believe the Bible is God’s Word, to believe it is inerrant and sufficient, but we might ask – what does that have to do with me. Even some of the things we discussed last week – like seeing how it could speak to a variety of ethical issues – it’s one thing to see that and know how it works, But we are not called to be knowers only, but doers of the Word. God’s word is not only inerrant and sufficient, it is an inerrant authority and a sufficient authority in the life of a Christian. It both shows us our shortcomings so that we trust in Christ and now as those who are indwelled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to live godly lives it instructs us. Jesus taught his disciples to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey all that he commanded.

This is why we can commend and champion the Thessalonians for receiving the Word of God as they did in 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.^[2]

The Bible Is Authoritative In Every Area of Human Life

We have already mentioned that all of the Bible is inspired and inerrant. It is also all authoritative. The Bible points us to our need for salvation and that salvation is in Christ. But it includes more than that. Sometimes people take the objective of the Bible as a way to limit its authority. But we can’t break the Bible up in that way. 

Scripture itself does not limit its authority the way [some] seek to limit it. It claims, rather, (1) that God is the author of the whole biblical canon, (2) that we live by all of it (Matt. 4:4), (3) that God has the right to speak to us about anything at all, (4) that the purpose of Scripture is redemptive in a broad sense, not a narrow sense, and (5) that the redemptive purpose of Scripture is so broad that no area of human life is excluded from its concern.^[3]

The Bible is Authoritative in What We Believe

^{Matthew 22:29}

But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.

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.

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Scripture stands above tradition

Scripture has authority over tradition, which may err. The protestant reformation is an example of the reformers, armed with the Greek text, able to push back on abuses within the church. The protestant cry of Sola Scriptura, meaning Scripture Alone. It meant that Scripture alone is the authoritative rule in the Christian life. Everything else was under the authority. Think of it like Scripture as the measuring stick or maybe like a square tool to make sure that the framing is in place and not out of align. 

In our day and age it is common to rebel or buck against the concept of tradition. Sometimes we also fall into the error of thinking that something is only genuine if we do the research and construct it ourselves. But this places us as the arbiter of truth. It turns the Bible into a data set instead of God’s revelation to us. It also hyper-individualizes the faith. The Bible was given to the community of faith. It was accompanied by teachers. Even the Bereans who judged Paul’s teaching did so by collectively consulting the scrolls. It’s not as if they each had a Bible at home.

Caveat

What this idea does not mean is that there are no authorities outside the Bible. This would be something like nuda scriptura or solo scriptura. Instead, this means that the Bible is the ultimate standard by which all other things are judged. Still, practically speaking, creeds and confessions are vital for the life of the church. These are documents that help us understand the main teachings of the Bible and where Christians have agreed throughout the centuries. They safeguard us from erroneous interpretations. Throughout Scripture, we see the language of receiving and passing along. This is in terms of the message of Scripture, but it’s also helpful to note that Scripture did not appear one day. It was taught in the community. There are traditions around it and how to properly understand it. This is not a bad thing. It’s not the same as the words of Scripture. But we also need to be careful of lone wolf Christianity as well. We do not need to reconstruct our faith from the ground up anymore than we need to reinvent the wheel or figure out a field of study without the help of those who have come before. Sure their views can be challenged according to the data, but we don’t need a blank slate.

Scripture stands above personal experience

The reformers not only stood against those who elevated tradition to an improper level but also against those who elevated personal experience. These were the radical reformers or enthusiasts. We might say the radical charismatics of their day. They accepted immediate prophetic utterances of the Spirit as messages equal in authority to Scripture.

We looked at this briefly last week and saw how some of these experiences might find a place within the realm of general revelation and still maintain the sufficiency of Scripture. It’s true that there are different perspectives on personal experience, even within our local church. Some might lean more charismatic while others believe that supernatural experiences like this have ceased or should not be expected because we have the completed Scriptures.

Still it is clear what Scripture teaches about the primacy of authority, 

³⁶ Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? ³⁷ If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. ³⁸ If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.^[4]

Experience does have a role to play in theology and how we understand truth. It is naive to dismiss experience outright or claim that we are unaffected by our experiences. Of course we are. And sometimes theology is formed to rightly counter wrong conclusions people have come to based on their experiences. The question is: what gets the final word? What is the determining factor? 

Scripture stands above contemporary consensus

Scripture also stands above the consensus of the day. Remember that Scripture is not opposed to reason. God is the author of reason. But because of the fall we are prone to reject the truth in our will and the fall has impacted even how we receive and interpret various aspects of life. The closer this gets to ultimate things, the more prone we are to distort. Let me explain in terms of Science. There is not a lot at stake when it comes to whether or not there is gravity. Further, this is observable. But think about the origin of the universe. This starts to get at ultimate questions. If we start with the idea that there is no God, that will change how the data is interpreted. If we are prone, as Romans 1 tells us, to suppress the truth in unrighteousness, then there will be motivation for interpreting the data so that we don’t need to be accountable to God.

The early church often did not go along with modern consensus, to great cost. Christians would adopt and raise babies who were left in the open to die because of birth defects. The Roman Empire was tolerant to many religious views but not to the Christians. Why? Because the Christians refused to merely add Jesus to the pantheon of gods and goddesses. They also would not bow down and worship before the Roman image. The idea of “just give a little pinch of incense” and put it in the fire that burned before the image of the Roman Caesar. They didn’t and were killed. 

If you never feel tension between the Bible’s message and the spirit of the age, perhaps you are misunderstanding one or the other or both. Many lament the cultural decay of society. There are certainly elements that are worth lamenting. But the benefits of common grace, by this I mean how Christian influence can benefit society for the better, can also obscure how Christians are called to be distinct. This creates a problem for many today. For many cultural Christians they have grown up so accustomed to certain things being agreed upon or accepted by the culture that they have never had to train themselves to stand firm. Christianity was a set of doctrines to believe and trust but the way of life may not have changed a lot. Now, Jesus always calls us to die to ourselves. And some may simply have been going through the motions. But when there are external issues then it brings the internal realities to the forefront. 

The Bible is Authoritative in How We Behave

Matthew 28:20

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

2 Thessalonians 3:14

If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.

1 John 2:4-6

Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, ⁵ but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: ⁶ whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Following Jesus means following His way, not ours

Just as we can set ourselves up as the determiners of truth, we can do the same thing for the way that we live and behave. Following Jesus isn’t just an intellectual pursuit; it affects every aspect of life. We trust him with our souls and with our lives. There is a tendency to reduce Christianity to a set of propositions that we assent to, but this overlooks the true nature of faith. It’s trust. It’s reliance. God’s commands are for his glory and our good. Too often we get that wrong. Like Eve in the garden, we can evaluate something based on how it appears to us instead of what God has said. God’s direction is not arbitrary; it’s grounded in his goodness, but we don’t need to understand it fully to benefit from it. Just as a child doesn’t need to understand why a parent tells them not to play with the stove, listening to the command will benefit them whether they comprehend all the ramifications or not. 

Be careful of placing extra-Biblical commands on par with Scripture

We touched on this briefly last week, but one implication is that we do not need to submit to extra-Biblical injunctions that are placed upon us. It is true that there are certain practices that will characterize communities of faith. Some of this is done with prudence for the particular moment. But there is great danger when these commands take on an authority they were never meant to have. It is one thing to say, “This is a wise practice,” or “Here is how it looks in our family.” It’s another entirely to equate a particular application with Biblical truth. We talked last week about how there can be real implications that carry Biblical weight and authority in a Christian’s life. This is absolutely true. But there are other things that are not direct implications but ways that we live it out that we have to be careful about.

Be careful of human teachers softening the commands of Scripture

Just this week, there was a pastor who said that sex outside of marriage is no problem and that people have gotten this wrong the whole time. Here is someone who has authority in the church but he is only authoritative so long as his teaching aligns with the word of God. The article went on to describe how a couple who were living contrary to the Bible’s commands changed his opinion. This kind of temptation comes along all the time. Many come to church leaders in order to get permission to do what they already want to do. They are not concerned with what the Bible actually says but want someone to put a stamp of approval on their lifestyle. Unfortunately, instead of having the mindset of Paul, who says in Galatians 1, he would rather seek God’s approval than man’s. In fact, he says that if he wanted to please people, then he wouldn’t be a servant of Christ. Here is the truth. No one has the right to make the Bible say what others want it to say. It is not loving to say “yeah, the Bible really doesn’t say that” when it actually does say that. Imagine someone going to a doctor and saying, “Doc, I really don’t have cancer, do I? Tell me I don’t.” And the doctor, not wanting to hurt their feelings, said, “nah, you’re all good. Some doctors would look at the medical evidence and say that’s cancer, but not me, I’m a gracious doctor.” 

Contrast this with the apostle Paul’s charge to young pastor Timothy,

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: ² preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. ³ For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, ⁴ and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. ⁵ As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. ^[5]

EFCA Resolution on Marriage

Maybe another example will be helpful to bring many of these threads together. Greg Strand who heads up the theology and board of ministerial standing for the EFCA recently quoted Daniel Strange at the EFCA theology conference. Strange was responding to a question about what would be the biggest issues facing the church today. He said, the first Millennia was focused on ‘Who is Jesus?’ Or Christology. The second centered on salvation and the Solas of the Reformation and the question “how are we saved.” The third, being 25 years in, seems to be focused on “What or who is a human being?” This is what the whole EFCA conference was about. But it is an issue that brings to bear our personal experience, the spirit of the age, and other issues. But it’s one that I am thankful our association is not shy to address. 

On June 17, 2017, the EFCA Conference approved the Resolution on Biblical Sexuality and the Covenant of Marriage which was unanimously recommended by the EFCA Board of Directors.(B0D) 

Background

Due to cultural and legal changes and challenges, especially after the decision of Obergefell v. Hodges (June 26, 2015), in which the Supreme Court of the United States determined it is a fundamental right for same-sex couples to marry, the Spiritual Heritage Committee (SHC) was asked by many pastors and leaders of local EFCA churches for help and guidance in making a statement affirming the biblical teaching on marriage. Added to this is the cultural normalizing of sexual fluidity. These two issues are connected in that the biblical teaching on marriage between a man and a woman, is grounded in God’s prior creation of humans as male and female. This led to the SHC’s presentation of the Resolution to the board with the recommendation it be brought to the Conference. 

Rationale

The BOD brought this Resolution to the Conference for approval for the following reasons: 

The needs and requests of pastors and local churches, along with legal and cultural changes prompt a need for a Denominational Resolution. 

The EFCA has a history of making statements as a Conference through Resolutions on important issues that affect the church. 

This Resolution is grounded in the Bible, given expression in our Statement of Faith and expounded in Evangelical Convictions. 

Although these issues are not the gospel, they are connected to the gospel, and they are critical issues to address as the EFCA stands on the inerrant, sufficient and authoritative Scriptures. 

Two Key Biblical Truths 

This Resolution consists of two key biblical truths. First, God created human beings uniquely in his image as male and female, which addresses God’s biologically sexed creation which is “very good,” and which grounds the truth we affirm about marriage. Second, God has designed marriage to be a covenantal relationship between one man and one woman. 

Resolution

EFCA Conference Resolution Biblical Sexuality and the Covenant of Marriage June 2017

WHEREAS, the EFCA Statement of Faith affirms that “God created Adam and Eve in His image” (Article III.3);and 

WHEREAS, when God created Adam and Eve, He said, “‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness’… . So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them” (Genesis 1:26-28a); and 

WHEREAS, this means that God has created human beings uniquely as male and female as part of the divinely created order, and that this biologically sexed difference is foundational for human identity and ought to be recognized and valued; and 

WHEREAS, Jesus refers to this difference in describing God’s design for marriage by declaring, “But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh” (Mark 10:6-8; cf. Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6; Eph. 5:31); and

WHEREAS, God’s creation of human beings as male and female provides a biologically sexed identity grounded in God’s good design; 

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS: The Evangelical Free Church of America affirms that God created human beings uniquely in His image as male and female, and He has designed marriage to be a covenantal relationship between one man and one woman.

Adopted this 21st day of June 2017 by the EFCA Conference in Austin, Texas. 

This Resolution on Biblical Sexuality and the Covenant of Marriage is an important affirmation of the truth of the Bible, as articulated in the EFCA Statement of Faith.

Conclusion

Our hope doesn’t come from shirking the authority of Scripture but rightfully recognizing it. The uncompromising Word of God shows us our sin and guilt before a Holy God. But this same Word shows us that this God provided a way for all who fall short of His standard. He provided a way through Jesus, who the Word points to. It was on the cross that we see the heart of God, who gave us this authoritative Word. It’s a heart of love for sinners. It’s a willingness to suffer in the person of Jesus Christ so that we might not face the judgment that our sins deserve. The Word of God can be sharp at times; it stands as a judge over us. But we can rest in the forgiveness that is given in Jesus. And, because of his work, we can walk in obedience, not in our own power but because he is at work in and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit who testifies to us that this book does matter, that obedience does matter, that Jesus is our only Hope for life and death.

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^[1] Michael Wittmer, Urban Legends of Theology: 40 Common Misconceptions (Brentwood, TN: B&H Academic, 2023), 37.

^[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Th 2:13.

^[3] John M. Frame, The Doctrine of the Word of God, A Theology of Lordship (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2010), 166.

^[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Co 14:36–38.

^[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ti 4:1–5.