The sermon by Eric Bechler focuses on the authority and characteristics of the Holy Scriptures, emphasizing their description as a complete, sufficient, and infallible system of truth. It contrasts the Protestant view of sola scriptura, where the Bible is the sole authority, with the Roman Catholic view, which includes tradition and the magisterium as part of its authority structure. The sermon argues that the authority of the Scriptures is derived directly from God, not man or church, citing biblical passages from 2 Timothy and 2 Peter to support this claim. It discusses the exclusion of the Apocrypha from the Protestant canon, emphasizing the divine inspiration of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. The sermon also reflects on the importance of receiving the Scriptures joyfully and thoughtfully, encouraging listeners to evaluate their personal engagement with God's Word.

Again, the focus of chapter one is the Holy Scriptures. In the first paragraph, we believe and they are described as a closed system of truth, complete, sufficient, certain and infallible for all saving knowledge, faith and obedience. The second paragraph that we covered lists out the 39 books in the Old Testament and the 27 books in the New Testament. 66 books total given by the inspiration of God, God breathed to be the true rule of faith and life. Last week we concluded that the Apocrypha is not divinely inspired, it's not God-breathed, and thus should not be part of the canon of Scripture.

This week we turn our focus on the authority of the Holy Scriptures. This section teaches us that the authority of the Scriptures depends not upon any man or church, but wholly upon God who is the author. Who gives us the holy Scriptures? They are given by inspiration of God as we see in 2 Timothy. They are written by holy men of God who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost as written in 2nd Peter.

Let's look quickly at those. We just read 2nd Timothy 3.16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. In 2 Peter, we have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do dwell that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn. And the day star rise in your hearts, knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but by holy men of God, spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." But why is this paragraph in the confession? Surely we can all agree that the Word of God comes from God and is authoritative. There are so many verses that we find in the Bible to support this. Well, this paragraph was included to address the differences between the Protestant churches coming out of the Reformation and the Roman Catholic Church regarding the authority of the Scriptures. The Roman Catholic Church claims that the authority of Scripture is derived from the church.

Their church has a threefold authority structure, scriptures, tradition, and magisterium, which in Latin means teacher. The scriptures, though different of ours due to the inclusion of the Apocrypha we have, we touched on the scriptures last week a tradition here is associated with the oral teachings of Christ Passed on to the Apostles and their subsequent passing on of these teachings. This comes from second Thessalonians 215 therefore brethren stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, that is spoken word, or our epistle. The magisterium is a body of people, specifically the Pope and the bishops, who have the responsibility for the determination of the canon of scripture, the interpretation of scripture and of tradition, and the pronouncement and interpretation of tradition. For the Protestant churches, there is sola scriptura.

The Scriptures alone is the church's authority, not scripture plus tradition plus magisterium. Paragraph expresses our confession that the scriptures are not dependent on the testimony of any man or any church. To have the authority of the Bible dependent on the church is to say that the church has a higher authority than the Bible, that the church is the ultimate standard. It doesn't make sense to say the church is a higher authority than Scripture. The Church is comprised of sinners, fallible and people prone to error.

There's a Latin phrase, semper reformanda, and this means reformed and always reforming. How does the church know that what it teaches and how it operates is in accordance with God's wishes? It must refer to God's Word, His infallible Word, His inerrant Word. The church should be looking to Scripture and scripture alone as the ultimate standard, the final authority and rule of all faith and obedience. Scripture is the Word of God and its authority is dependent on God himself, not a man, not a church.

2nd Peter 1 19 through 21, I think I read this just a few minutes ago. We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt and you will do well to pay attention to it as a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your heart. Above all you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one's own interpretation, for no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." Looking back to our paragraph this morning, the phrase who is truth itself, God who is truth itself was used. Why do they include that? When we know when someone is truthful, his writings also will be truthful.

And what does God's word say about truth and about God? Let's look at a few verses. From Psalm 31 verse 5, into thy hand I commit my spirit thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. Isaiah 65 16, that he who blessed himself in the earth shall bless himself in The God of truth and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth Because the former troubles are forgotten and because they are hid from mine eyes." In John 7, 28, then Jesus cried in the temple as he taught saying, "'You both know me and know whence I came, and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.'" John 14, 6, Jesus sayeth unto him, "'I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me. From 1st John 5 verse 6, second half of that verse, and it is the spirit that beareth witness because the spirit is truth.

We see that God is true. He is the God of truth and thus we know what he writes. We can trust. We can believe. We can believe in the Holy Scriptures.

Let's look at the last phrase in this paragraph. Therefore it is to be received because it is the word of God. From Jeremiah 15-16, the words were found and I did eat them, and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart, for I am called by thy name. Oh Lord God of hosts from Colossians 316 let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And in 1st Thessalonians 2 13, for this cause also, thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." The Holy Scriptures are the word of God.

They should be A joy and rejoicing of mine heart, as Jeremiah says. What is your response to the word of God? Do you ignore it? Are you indifferent? Are you too busy to look at it?

Or do you receive it? Do you receive it as the words from the King of the universe, the King of Kings, the creator God? Do you receive it with joy and thanksgiving as we just read? Think about it this week if you have a chance reflect upon What your perception is of God's Word? Look at how you treat it.

Do you read it? Do not read it. Something to reflect on. Amen.