The Authority of Scripture

"The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting."

-- Psalm 119:60 --

During the 2025 State of Theology Survey (https://thestateoftheology.com/), 100% of evangelicals agreed that the Bible is the highest authority for what they believe. This is amazing news! But wait, there is more.

This same survey reveals the following:

• 47% of evangelicals agree that God accepts the worship of all religions including Judaism and Islam.

• 28% of evangelicals agree that Jesus was a great teacher, but He is not God.

• 53% of evangelicals agree that the Holy Spirit is a force, not a personal being.

Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Jehovah's Witnesses, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) all have one thing in common: they deny the deity of Jesus Christ.

There is only one logical conclusion:

Many evangelicals embrace unbiblical beliefs regarding the worship that God accepts!

The Bible consistently teaches that true worship must be directed to the one true God as He has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, and that false worship is unacceptable to Him.

• “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24).

• "Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also" (1 John 2:23).

Enduring Sound Doctrine

Sound doctrine refers to teachings that align with the authoritative witness of Scripture and reflect the core truths that have been historically affirmed by the faithful community of believers. It encompasses essential beliefs about God’s nature, humanity’s need for redemption, and the salvation offered through Christ. Sound doctrine remains consistent with the whole of biblical testimony and leads believers toward a life that glorifies God (https://biblehub.com/q/what_defines_sound_doctrine.htm).

• We are to hold "fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict" (Titus 1:9).

• "But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1).

• We are instructed to accurately handle "the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).

We are living in times when many "will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths" (2 Tim. 4:3-4).

Many professing Christians today have turned away from truth as presented in the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments. Watching The Chosen has become a replacement for knowing who the real Jesus is through actual Bible study.

• In Season 1, Episode 7, Jesus asks Nicodemus, “what does your heart tell you?” The Jesus of the Bible knows that “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9).

• In Season 2, Episode 8, Jesus sought Matthew's advice on introducing the Sermon on the Mount. Imagine the eternal and sinless Son of God asking advice from a sinner! There is not a single shred of evidence in the Bible that Jesus consulted with any of His disciples concerning His sermons.

• Mormons were involved in the production of The Chosen. In Season 3, Episode 3, Jesus declared, “I am the Law of Moses.” Although this might sound like this is in the Bible, it is not. This was a direct quote from the Book of Mormon (3 Nephi 15:9). If you are truly a follower of Christ, this fact alone should convince you to never watch The Chosen.

Special Revelation

God progressively revealed specific truths about Himself to forty different men over a period of approximately fifteen hundred years (1446 B.C. - A.D. 95). This is called Special Revelation – God guided the authors of Scripture to accurately record His message to mankind while using their own styles and personalities.

• “All Scripture (Gen. 1:1 to Rev. 22:21) is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).

• “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world” (Heb. 1:1-2).

• “So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts” (1 Pet. 1:19).

Peter, James, and John witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus and saw Moses and Elijah on the high mountain. They literally saw “the Son of Man coming in His kingdom” (Matt. 16:28-17:1-3; 1 Pet. 1:16-18). Peter definitely had something to boast about! He turns our attention away from what he witnessed and toward “the prophetic word made more sure."

• "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Pet. 1:20-21).

Inerrancy and Infallibility

Because all Scripture is authored by God, the Bible is the inerrant and infallible written word of God. It is internally consistent because God cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18) nor can He contradict Himself and His word by changing His mind (1 Sam. 15:29).

Inerrant means that the Bible is without error or fault in all of its teachings.

• Everything recorded in the Bible is true because the author of Scripture is God (Isa. 66:2; John 5:24).

• “The words of the Lord are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times” (Ps. 12:6).

• “Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him” (Prov. 30:5).

Infallible means Scripture is never wrong. It is absolutely trustworthy because it was written by men who were moved by the Holy Spirit who spoke from God.

• God’s word is perfect and right (Ps. 19:7-8; 119:127-128).

• Scripture can never fail in its judgments and statements (1 Kings 8:56; Rom. 9:6).

• All that it teaches is unimpeachable, with absolute authority, and cannot be contravened, or contradicted (Num. 23:19; Ps. 12:6; 18:30; Prov. 30:5).

• Scripture is unfailing, incapable of proving false, erroneous or mistaken. The word of God stands forever (Isa. 40:8; Matt. 5:18).

The Scriptures...

• Are perfect and continue forever (Ps. 19:7; Isa. 40:8; Matt. 24:35).

• Are the living, active, and enduring “word of God” (Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12; 1 Pet. 1:23).

• Are “the word of truth” (Ps. 119:43, 151; 2 Cor. 6:7; Col. 1:5; 2 Tim. 2:15; James 1:18).

• Testify about Jesus Christ (Luke 24:25-27; John 5:39; 1 John 5:9).

The Ultimate Authority

Ultimate authority resides with God alone. No one gave Him this authority nor did He earn it. It already belongs to Him! He eternally existed before He created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them (Ps. 90:2; Gen. 1:1).

• “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God” (Rom. 13:1).

• And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18).

Since all authority resides with God alone, then the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments contain the absolute and authoritative words of God.

Extra-Biblical Revelation

Many voices proclaim that God still speaks today through self–proclaimed apostles, prophets, and other false teachers (2 Cor. 11:13; 2 Pet. 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1; Rev. 2:2). This should be of no surprise because Scripture gives us this warning: "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves" (2 Pet. 2:1).

• Moses warned the Israelites not to add or take away from the words given by God in His commandments (Deut. 4:2; 12:32). Anyone who adds to His words will be proven to be a liar (Prov. 30:6).

• Prophets who presumptuously spoke words in God’s name who were not commanded of them to speak were to die (Deut. 18:20).

• Revelation 22:18–19 warns us to not add to or take away from “the words of the book of this prophecy” without incurring the plagues described in this book or forfeiting the blessings of the tree of life and the holy city.

• The final statements from Jesus in Revelation 22 clearly indicate that His prophetic word, given to the churches, is complete because He is “coming quickly” (Rev. 22:7).

• Any prophecy or revelation given that is beyond what is written in the Old and New Testaments is not from God.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations cited in this post are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.