|
Articles > Systematic
Theology > The
Self-Attesting Word of God < The Biblical Case
Part XVII: The Biblical Case of the Self-Attesting Word
I. Introduction
a. This outline is a continuation of what has been set in Part
I.
i. Hence, this outline will serve as the Scriptural reference
for this doctrine.
ii. Philosophical objections to this doctrine has been addressed
in Part I and will not be dealt with here.
II. His Words are so obvious that believers recognizes it right
away
a. "When he has brought out all his own, he goes on
ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his
voice." (John 10:4)
i. If you are a follower of Jesus, you would recognize or
"know" His voice!
ii. The self-attesting Word of God is a pre-requisite for
true saving faith of believers.
III. His Word is so obvious that people instantly recognizes
the radical authority of the Word of God
a. "When Jesus had finished saying these things, the
crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who
had authority, and not as their teachers of the law."
(Matthew 7:28-29)
i. The context was after Jesus publically preached to the
crowd for the first time.
ii. Even with the mass, the crowd knew that there was something
obviously different in how Jesus taught as an authority.
IV. God's own words and testimony is greater than man's words
and testimony
a. "We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is
greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given
about His Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this
testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believes in the Son
of God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed
the testimony God has given about his Son." (1John 5:9-10)
i. Notice that God's testimony is mentioned as greater than
man's testimony simply because it comes from God.
ii. Verse 10 goes further to say that God's testimony has
been given concerning His Son.
V. The Word of God's own evidence is greater than any other evidence
a. "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses
and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 'No father Abraham,'
he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them they will
repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the
Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from
the dead.'" (Luke 16:29-31)
i. This is the end of the Parable of Lazarus and the rich
man
ii. Notice that Scripture itself is a greater evidence of
Biblical truths than someone one who comes back to Earth from
hell!
b. "I have testimony weightier than that of John. For
the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which
I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me…You diligently
study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess
eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me"
(John 5:36, 39)
i. Evidence for Jesus claim include John the Baptist's testimony,
but Jesus have even better testimony than John the Baptist himself.
1. This testimony is from Scriptures
VI. The testimony of God's own Words are valid even without any
other evidences
a. "Jesus answered, 'Even if I testify on my own behalf,
my testimony is valid, for I know where I cam from and where I
am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am
going." (John 8:14)
i. If Jesus testify about himself, his testimony is already
valid.
1. Yet, for our sake God has been so gracious as to provide
further testimony (Scriptures, John the Baptist testimony,
etc)
VII. The self-evidencing in the Word of God is sufficient enough
that rejecting it will result in God's judgment
a. Read John 12:48
VIII. Application
a. If the Word of God is self-evidencing, one ought to believe
and trust in the contents revealed in the Word of God.
b. Believers ought to seek assurance of one's salvation and
the truthfulness of the Christian faith and doctrines in the pages
of Scriptures itself!
c. Believers should be encouraged to know more fully that the
Word of God should be used during evangelism, encouragement, preaching
and counseling because of its self-evidencing power!
|
