It Is Written: The Only Infallible Authorities of God | Rom. 3:4, John 8:12-19

Go ahead and turn with me in your Bibles now to Romans chapter 3 verse

We'll start in verse 1 Romans chapter 3 verse 1 very important passage

That we've covered before That is also very relevant to today's message

Romans chapter 3 verse 1 God's Word says then what advantage has the

Jew or What that what is the value of circumcision Great in every respect

First of all that they were entrusted with the oracles of God What then if some did not believe does their unbelief abolish the faithfulness of God may it never be?

rather let God be true and every man a liar as It is written that you may be justified in your words and overcome when you are judged

This is God's Word. Amen I'm going to read the other passage later on but for now,

I want to focus on this passage, it's a very very important passage with respect to the doctrine of Scripture and Authority as you can see very clearly

We we see that the Jews first of all first and foremost

Were Entrusted with the oracles of God the Old Testament. That's something I've covered before in the previous sermons

But that's very important. This is in part why we as Protestants agree with their

Hebrew canon of the 22 books of the Old Testament or of the

Or the 24 depending on how they're counted of the Tanakh The the

Torah the Nevi 'im the Ketuvim the law the prophets and the writings so for today

You see from the sermon title. It is written the only infallible authorities of God we're gonna

Lord willing get a chance to Cover a few more sermons

Regarding that the only true the only true infallible authorities of God and on the use of the

Apocrypha in churches who claim to be the one true Church of Christ a Lot infallible

Church of Christ that is along with their other so -called infallible traditions now this passage fittingly addresses both sets of issues

So It's a it's a very important passage and these these verses along with several others as well teach us that there is no such thing as infallible human authority

There's no such thing as infallible human authority Why?

Because all men and women are corrupted fallen wretched sinners and in this case liars, right rather let

God alone be true and every single man a what a liar as it is written as It is written very important, that's a very important phrase that have obviously as the court is a

Highlight of what the Bible teaches about itself and what God teaches about his words That are written let

God alone be true and every man a liar and that is without exception

Every man means every man without exception The only true exception is

Christ because Christ is not a mere man. He is the God man. Amen the perfect God, man

Neither was there any deceit found in his mouth, but in ours is a different story

That's why we need to repent and Trust in Christ for his salvation because we are sinners.

We are liars and Liars cannot be trusted to be infallible

So and Even after God Regenerates us makes us born again and saves us.

We still sin and are tempted daily We sin daily and we are tempted daily by the world the flesh especially and the devil to sin

Right, so this doesn't go away If you have any doubts about that just read the

Bible for yourself Romans 3 Isaiah 53 all over the Bible Romans 8

Read the Bible study the doctrine of radical depravity The Protestant reform doctrine of radical depravity and I've Those of us who have been

With me from the beginning, you know preached many sermons before on sin even last week sin and righteousness according to God and Also the series on the world the flesh and the devil.

So it's very important that we have a biblical understanding of man and of sin

So that we do not deceive ourselves into thinking that Men can be infallible

Now before we keep continue we need to first understand

What does infallible mean? What does the word infallible mean?

And you'll find that there are two basic definitions of the word infallible

One of them from the Lexham glossary of theology says defines it this way

Infallibility is the idea that the Bible or other Christian teaching will not fail to accomplish

God's purpose for it for it This is not a very good definition

Not a good definition. That's not really what infallibility means So again, we have to we have to be mindful of the sources that we use and test them with the scripture carefully,

I Want to actually direct our attention to a more a far better Booklet and I brought some copies of it for you all to also take home

It's the free grace broadcaster edition of God breathe scripture. Very good booklet

There's another one here on the scriptures and the divine authority of the Bible by Benjamin Keech very excellent resources for you all to Dig further into this topic this subject matter of God's Word and scripture alone in the in this booklet

They quote L. Russ Bush and Tom Nettles in a book called

Baptist and the Bible they define infallible this way Not capable of erring

Not capable of erring of making errors at all at all

The word has communicated essentially the same meaning for at least five centuries from the 15th through the 20th

Infallible is far stronger than certain or unerring in that it communicates a theoretical

Impossibility of committing error of any kind a Person may score a hundred percent on an exam in English on that exam.

Particularly the person was certain or inerrant However, that does not indicate that the person is incapable of missing a question on an exam ever

Right thus some writing could be certain without necessarily being

Infallible but infallibility the inability to err does guarantee certainty

It infallibility the inability to err does guarantee

Certainty. Amen. This is what the word truly means and yet That's a high standard

That's a high bar incapable of erring Incapable of it sadly some so -called

Christian traditions dogmatically affirm That it is possible for some people to be infallible

You remember a couple weeks ago the chair of Moses The Roman Catholic belief in the

Pope that the Pope whenever he speaks Ex -cathedra Petri from the chair of Peter.

He does so infallibly and That dogma was not declared until the late the 1800s

But besides that point They believe that the Pope speaks infallibly regarding matters of morals and dogma

When he speaks from the chair of Peter Or also

That some people lived on the earth without ever committing any personal sin even while still suffering the other effects of the fall and that's what the

The Roman Catholic but especially the Eastern Orthodox tradition teaches as well But remember beloved that the chair of Moses Figuratively or symbolically represents teaching authority in synagogues in the synagogues which was derived from and based on the scriptures that were first read and proclaimed

Moses seat is not an extra biblical quote -unquote infallible

Tradition or authority that is outside of or independent of what is written by God Okay very important this is very dangerous to believe these things to ascribe infallibility to men who are liars in their nature liars infallible means incapable of Of deceiving or of erring and Humans by nature are the opposite Doesn't matter what you claim.

It does not matter what you claim. It doesn't make it true What does

God say? Let every man be a liar Every man

Now here's another quote from here's a quote from the Eastern Orthodox 1672

Council of Jerusalem, which condemned the Protestant Reformation and the teachings of sir

Lucaris Who was a patriarch who sympathized with the Reformation? Doctrines, it's also known as the confession of dos

Etheus. He was the patriarch of Jerusalem at that time Decree six says this listen carefully

We believe the first man created by God to have fallen in paradise when?

Disregarding the divine commandment. He yielded to the deceitful counsel of the serpent and as a result hereditary sin flow to his posterity

Not original sin hereditary sin is what they call it so that everyone who is born after the flesh bears this burden and Experiences the fruits of it in this present world

But by these fruits and this burden we do not Understand it to be sin to be actual sin or sin committed such as impiety blasphemy murder sodomy adultery fornication enmity and whatever else is by our depraved choice committed contrarily to the divine will

Not from nature not from human nature in other words they deny the doctrine of original sin of Imputed guilt that Adam sin is our sin and that of radical depravity that men are wretched sinners who can do nothing but sin

Unless and until the grace of God intervenes Graces them regenerates them and saves them

Right. So the Eastern Orthodox denies All of these things they deny all of it

And they continue for many both of the forefathers and of the prophets and vast numbers of others as well of as of those under the shadow of the law as well as under the truth of the gospel such as the divine

Precursor and especially the mother of God the word that's referring to Mary the ever -virgin

Mary did not experience these sins these personal sins or such like faults or Such like false disease.

So in other words, they're saying that they committed no personal sin. They were sinless.

They were personally sinless but only what the divine justice inflicted upon man as a punishment for the original transgression such as Sweats and labor afflictions bodily sicknesses pain and childbearing and Finally while on our pilgrimage to get live a laborious life and lastly bodily death

So what are they saying here beloved they are saying? they teach that Many others vast numbers of others have gone to live born to be born and live in this life sinless without ever committing personal sin

Wow So if that's the case, what did Jesus die for? So some for some people

I guess Jesus died in vain because They affirm that the prophets.

I mean, who are they talking about Moses? Moses sinned the Bible says he sinned

David sinned all of the patriarchs and the prophets sin All of them without exception

Mary sinned Mary proclaimed in her magnificat in Luke 1 my spirit rejoices in God my

Savior my Savior in The fullest sense of that word and she offered a sin offering when

After Christ had been born and was dedicated in the temple. So This is sadly the reality of what many falsely teach and believe to be the case

So much for what scripture says about all of Humanity that there is how many righteous how many righteous are there according to God?

There is none Righteous. No, not even a single one.

There is not a single righteous who does good and no evil

Please you ask these seven Romans 3 there is no one who does good.

There is not even one Not even one Not even one not

Mary not any other prophet Patriarch saint none of them Christ alone is good.

God alone. What did Jesus say? No one is good except who?

God alone This is unequivocally clear. This is one of the clearest teachings in the

Bible men are sinners and God alone is good God alone is perfect.

God alone is infallible Infallible now you might say that The Saints in heaven become infallible because they are glorified and their flesh is removed from them but That infallibility is derived from The source of infallibility which is

God alone. It is God that who is infallible now this

The so this these false traditions teach that humans can be infallible even in this life

Even without personal sin even without personal sin

They do not believe that infallibility is a divine attribute That belongs to God alone

God alone is perfect Man is not and he requires

God's grace That by definition means you are not infallible so so then and again

Saying that well, we suffer the consequences of the fall part of the consequences of the fall is that we are sinners we become wretched fallen sinners

That that's all part of the of the package of the curse of the fall of man's first disobedience in the words of John Milton now this reminds me of when the

Pharisees Claimed to be spiritually enlightened children of God and of Abraham While in reality in reality show themselves to be spiritually blind how

You know when when the Pharisees Answered and said to the healed man who was born blind.

You were born entirely in sins blind and You are teaching us

So they put him out They got rid of him. They put him out the blind man who was healed by Christ in John 9

So I that's the irony here that these men who claim to be enlightened and who see

God and speak for him are in fact the most spiritually blind and hypocritical of all and How common is this spirit today in our day?

You see men women Traditions that claim to see and speak for God you see many many of them and Who are so -called

Christians who call themselves Christians or the one true church all the while?

contradicting the Word of God Who do not think that they or their so -called infallible traditions need to be reformed or corrected?

Or even can be reformed or corrected because they are supposedly Infallible.

This is a dangerous position to be in or to put ourselves in Let it let any man take heed lest he fall as the

Bible repeatedly says beware beloved because this these beliefs always have and always will result in sinful prideful

Pharisaic arrogance and a systemic undermining nullifying going beyond and Contradicting what is written and taught by God himself

Just as the scribes and the Pharisees and the Sadducees who invalidated the

Word of God by your tradition Which you have handed down Which they claimed came from Moses and from God and you do many other

Things such as that in the words of Christ himself in the gospel of Mark 7 is there any wonder beloved is there any wonder?

Why a little event in church history happened Known as the

Protestant Reformation It was precisely belief in these types of things that the infallibility of certain men or churches or councils that led to the

Reformation Because the ref the reformers recognized that the church needed to be corrected reformed corrected and reformed because men churches institutions

Stray Why because men are sinners men are liars

They deviate they err they sin because the church is not infallible Councils are not infallible

Christians are not infallible apart from the glorification through God's grace

Not in this life not in this life, even though the church is the pillar that supports

Upholds the truth of God the church is not the infallible truth of God herself

They are distinct They are distinct Contrary then to these false traditions of men we believe as Protestants that the holy scriptures are the only sufficient certain and infallible rule or standard for Knowledge faith and obedience for Jesus was teaching the law and the prophets to the crowds as one having authority and not as their scribes

Like Matthew 7 says Right, you know some people think

Jesus wasn't teaching his own Doctrine that was removed from everything else that came before him

Jesus was expounding the law and the prophets and correcting he was correcting the elders of Israel the teachers of Israel he was correcting them and Surely, they believe that well, we are not born sinners like this blind man

We are enlightened. Our father is God. Our father is Abraham and yet they were

Buried in their own drowning in their own hypocrisy and sin and Deception the blind guides leading the blind like Jesus said

Let us be careful to not think that this cannot happen to us today beloved because it's everywhere around us sadly

So this when I was as I've been studying and meditating and praying on This sermon series and on the doctrines of Scripture alone and of ultimate authorities

It is something hit me something hit me that I began to realize

Now this brings us back to the sermon title. It is written the only infallible authorities of God Authorities of God plural why why plural?

Why would I say plural? when I just quoted from our confession from our

Baptist confession and many other Protestant confessions that affirm

Isn't there only one only one soul? sufficient certain and infallible rule for knowledge faith and obedience

That is Scripture alone According to our confessions, right?

Isn't there only one? So why would I seem authorities? Am I contradicting

Scripture itself and our Protestant faith and heritage by asserting? That there is actually more than one infallible authority

It's like oh Now I'm starting to sound like Rome or like Eastern Orthodox or something right

Isn't that what this entire sermon series is about that Scripture alone is the ultimate authority

Well, let's divvy. Let's dig dive into this more beloved. Now. Let's turn to our next sermon text

John chapter 8 verse 12 the gospel of John chapter 8 verse 12

John chapter 8 Will begin in verse 12 God's Word says

Then Jesus again spoke to them the crowd Saying I am the light of the world

He who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life

So the Pharisees said to him you are bearing witness about yourself your witness is not true

Jesus answered and said to them the Pharisees even if I bear witness about myself my witness is true

For I know where I came from and where I am going But you do not know where I come from or why I where I am going you judge according to the flesh superficially falsely

I Am NOT judging anyone, but even if I do judge my judgment is true

For I am NOT alone in it But I and the

Father who sent me Even in your law it has been written that the witness of two men is true.

I Am he who bears witness about myself and the father who sent me bears witness about?

me and What I say So they were saying to him the

Pharisees once again, where is your father and Jesus answered, you know

Neither me nor my father if you knew me you would know my father also

Amen Wow So, okay Let's dive into this beloved.

We know that the scriptures are infallible But that but is that the only infallible authority that we have is it the only one

Yes, no, maybe so Yes, and no think think with me here think carefully

Let we need to ask ourselves a question here Where did the scriptures come from?

Who who is the one who wrote the scriptures and gave them to us?

What is the source of? the sacred writings What about God?

Is not God Obviously infallible as well

Not a trick question, right? This is a rhetorical question and therefore he is also an infallible authority along with his words

Whether spoken or written They're all infallible and how many persons?

Beloved are equally God father son

Holy Ghost There's three right how many witnesses how many infallible witnesses of an authorities do we actually have then?

Right So then we as believers and as the Church of God in reality already have not one not two

Not even three but four infallible authorities

We have not one Not two not three, but four infallible authorities they are the

Word of God and Its author God Himself Father Son Holy Spirit.

Amen this is the bottom line and the

Spirit Himself the Spirit of God Testifies with our spirit that we are children of God Like the

Bible says all three persons of the Godhead are witnesses of their

Word Jesus Himself said so my father testifies of my words

Jesus is the Word the Logos, amen so even though according to our 1689

Baptist confession of faith in chapter 1 section 10 the Supreme Judge By which all religious controversies are to be settled and all decrees of counsels opinions of ancient writers doctrines of men and individual thinkers or private spirits are to be examined

Can be none other than the Holy Scriptures But delivered by who?

the Spirit of God Or like the Westminster Confession says can be none other but the

Holy Spirit speaking in and through the Scriptures right in the verdict of Scripture our fine our faith is finally determined and our confession of faith further states in chapter 1 section 4 that Holy Scripture demands belief

Yet its authority does not depend on the testimony of any person or Church, but entirely on whom on God its author on God Its author who is truth itself

Therefore it is to be received because it because it is the word of who beloved of God Amen, it is the

Word of God and We also believe in our one and only infallible infallible

Lord Savior Redeemer Reformer Jesus Christ the Word of God Enfleshed the

Logos of God enfleshed for he was teaching the crowds as one having authority Divine authority and not as their scribes that is

What the scriptures and our Reformation heritage teach us beloved

So then What does that mean? the concept of infallible authorities

Plural is not contrary to Scripture because it is scriptural and Neither is it anti -protestant?

It is what the Protestant faith teaches So long as the word infallible and infallible

Authorities are restricted to God and his word alone For they are all one and the same truth

They are all one in the same So there is a sense in which they're both one and four

Because the Father the Holy Spirit and the Son who is the divine word the

Logos of God who is God himself In John 1 1 right? So they're all one in that sense the scriptures are the mind of God and God is

Father Son and Holy Spirit and the sacred scriptures are likewise infallible

Because they are the spoken and especially written breathed -out words of God Amen, and for this reason we also thank

God without ceasing that when you received the Word of God Which you heard from us the Apostles you accepted it not as the word of men

Who are fallible liars and sinners? but for what it really is what the

Word of God which also is at work in you who believe

Amen, that's 1st Thessalonians 2 13. Let's turn there now to that chapter in 1st

Thessalonians 2. I Little more of that passage to get more context 1st

Thessalonians 2 verse 2 chapter 2 verse 2 This is a very important passage that I've covered before As well in this series the authority

The scriptures beloved while you're turning there We need to remember that Many people will claim.

Well, the scriptures are not sufficient because look look how much controversy there is Look how much disagreement there is over what the

Bible teaches or what the Bible is the scriptures alone are not sufficient and This beloved is a misunderstanding of the real problems

It's putting their finger on the wrong. It's misdiagnosing the problem. The scriptures are self attesting

Because they are breathed out by God The problem is that men are liars and sinners who are deceived by the world the flesh and the devil that is why

We require the grace of God and the conviction of the Holy Spirit to cause us to believe the truth because we are sinners

The problem is sin and deception not the scriptures and these people who say these things.

They really are Undermining God and his word When they say those things the problem is not

God in his word. It is men who are sinners Liars and deceivers and the devil always tries to Counterfeit the truth and We because we are not infallible.

We too are capable of being deceived even as believers But God will never allow us to be deceived to stay in that deception

Because we will hear his voice Through his words his true words now 1st

Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 2 But after we had already suffered in it and been mistreated in Philippi This is

Paul and his associates as you know We had the boldness the boldness in our

God to speak to you the gospel of God note that amid much struggle for our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit

Because it doesn't come from man But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel

So we speak Not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts now skip down to verse 8 in this way

Having fond affection for you. We were pleased to impart to you Not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives because you had become beloved to us

For you remember brothers our labor and hardship how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you

We proclaim to you the gospel of God notice the emphasis the gospel of God Third verse 13 and for this reason we also thank

God without ceasing that when you received the word of God Which you heard from us?

You accepted it not as the word of men Fallible flawed sinful lying men

But for what it really is the word of God which is at work in you who believe amen these words that they spoke did not come from error or impurity or deception they were breathed out words by God, and it's not that the

Apostles themselves were infallible or Inspired it was that the words that God gave them were breathed out

Given to them to speak on God's behalf just like the prophets much like the prophets of old

So in other words then beloved the traditions that Paul told the

Galatians to stand firm in and hold fast to whether by word or by letter in 2nd

Thessalonians 2 15 Which many other traditions abuse and claim well, this is we need other traditions outside of the

Bible These traditions that Paul was referring to were primarily the one in the same gospel messaged

Message both in preached and written form Right. What is

Paul telling the the Thessalonians that he's proclaiming to them the gospel the gospel the

Word of God Which was proclaimed to you It's the gospel preached and written

Not some extra biblical so -called infallible tradition, but the scriptures themselves the whole counsel of God or the

Word of God like Paul writes Not the word of men or the traditions of men

So now this brings us beloved to full circle to a parallel problem in many of these traditions

Remember that when Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and scribes he told them you are good at Breaking replacing

God's love with your traditions you you have become proficient at it Because and you also do many other things like these corruptions that you add to or replace the

Bible with There's a parallel problem. It doesn't just limit itself to these

This one thing this one issue regarding fallible mediators and authorities

Listen carefully, this is very important because in the same way that some churches like Roman Catholic Eastern Orthodox and many others other

Christian cults in the same way that they teach that we should pray to canonize

Saints or Mary as other mediators and intercessors who are in heaven

Even though the scriptures claim that we should pray to canonize Saints or Mary as other mediators and intercessors who are in heaven Deuteronomy 18 and so on First Timothy 2 5 there is only one mediator the man the man

Christ Jesus It is one thing now It's one thing for the

Saints on earth us believers to pray or intercede for each other on this earth

But it is a false teaching to ask people in heaven Who may not even be in heaven

Who are not God are not omniscient are not omnipresent and cannot hear us

Okay, that's why it is foolish and sinful and idolatrous to ask men in heaven to pray

To pray to them Prayer is something that belongs to God alone.

You should only be praying to God to God. You don't pray to men Again because scripture instead teaches us that there is only one

God and one Mediator between God and men the man

Christ Jesus first Timothy 2 5 Not only that But the

Holy Spirit and Christ are also our perfect divine

Advocates Paracletes and intercessors For we have an advocate with the

Father also Jesus Christ the righteous the only righteous one Amen, first John 2 2

Now turn with me beloved to Romans 8 23 Romans 8 23

Very important that we understand this Carefully so in Romans 8 23 and not only this

But we also also we ourselves Having the firstfruits of the

Spirit of God even we ourselves grown within ourselves eagerly waiting for our adoption as sons the redemption of our body our flesh verse 26 and in the same way the

Spirit himself I mean the Spirit also helps our weaknesses for we do not know how to pray as we should

But the Spirit himself what? intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words and he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the

Spirit is because he God intercedes for the

Saints according to the will of God Amen Romans 8 34

Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is he who died?

Yes, rather who was raised who is at the right hand of God who also what?

intercedes for us So then beloved therefore

We already have our divine Intercessors and mediators that God has freely given us by his grace

Christ himself and the Spirit of God the infallible persons of the

Godhead so then praying to other humans in heaven as mediators or intercessors is to undermine and replace

God for idols and Goes against his generous love and power and authority it undermines all of that Who supplies us with perfectly sufficient divine mediators and intercessors intercessors and advocates already in Himself in his son in his spirit

Christ the God man and the Holy Spirit Now here's the connection here's where we bring it to to this other subject matter of infallible authorities so likewise

Those who demand and impose other so -called infallible churches traditions authorities popes councils etc in reality

Undermine and replace the authority and power of God himself and his word.

It's the same problem Which are the only? infallible authorities that the church has and needs

The only authority infallible authorities that the church has and needs are

God and his word nothing else It's but it's the same problem

They undermine these traditions these churches undermine the fourfold divinely infallible witness and authority of God in three divine persons in his divine word

The sacred scriptures breathed out by God the word of God and that is the danger of Claiming these other infallible things

You cannot do that without Undermining God and his word turn with me now to 1st

John chapter 5 verse 6 beloved 1st John chapter 5 verse 6 in 1st

John Chapter 5 verse 6 we read This is the one

Christ who came by water and blood Jesus Christ Not with the water only but with the water and with the blood it is the spirit who bears witness testifies because The spirit is the truth the infallible truth you might say for there are three that bear witness the

Spirit and the water and the blood and the three are in agreement If we receive the witness of men the witness of God is far greater

For the witness of God is this that he has borne witness about his son about his son

Amen, so beloved We have to be careful because it is supremely supremely arrogant to claim what many of these churches claim

To be the one and only true Church of Christ whether it's Rome or Eastern Orthodoxy or other cults

Jehovah's Witnesses Mormons, whatever, etc and worse to be the infallible

Church of Christ that cannot err that's even worse and still worse There are many numerous competing opposing contradictory traditions

Internally contradictory all vying and striving for influence

Dominance and power and control of God's people to bind their consciences and lord it over them all throughout the church's history

Which in the words of Luther so aptly put so often have erred and Contradicted themselves

Because beloved they are not infallible God alone in his word is infallible.

I hope that's become abundantly clear and in the words of Christ Thus you invalidate the

Word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down and you do many other such things as that If you can't say amen you ought to say ouch like pastor vote he says used to say now why and then another obvious question that We can also use to confront those who hold to these lies and these false traditions

Why would you look to men for what God alone? can provide

Why do you look to men? For what God alone can provide and that is infallible authority and truth

God repeatedly warns us against making prideful presumptions like this repeatedly

Like the Jews and the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the scribes and others like diatrophies have done even in the scriptures

Turn back with me now beloved in 1st Corinthians 4 chapter 4 verse 6 which

I've preached on in another previous sermon 1st Corinthians chapter 4 verse 6

Here we find the Apostle Paul speaking God's infallible authoritative words of truth

Now these things brothers I have applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes

So that in us in us the Apostles How ironic the

Apostles themselves are saying that you may learn Not to go beyond what is written

Not to go beyond what is written So that why? None of you will become puffed up prideful arrogant pharisaical on behalf of one against the other

Lording it over each other for who regards you as superior What do you have that you did not receive from God?

And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? Wow verse 11 now these things happen to them to Israel as an example

And they were written for our instruction Upon whom the ends of the ages have arrived

Therefore let him who thinks he stands beloved take heed that he does not fall

This is God's Word Amen How clear is that could that be how much clearer can that be the

Apostles themselves said you may learn in us? Not to go beyond what is written by God That is why this passage and these other passages like Acts 17 11

Dictate what it is that the traditions that these Apostles handed down were They are not extra biblical

Traditions outside of what was written by God because the Apostle himself tells us you may learn in us to not go beyond what is written by God and Yet sadly, what are these religions claim?

Oh No, we have just like the Pharisees with that. No, we have these other traditions that came from Moses or from the

Apostles That were not written down That contradict or go beyond what is written

Even if they claim that it's not written or that it is written How can it how can it be when it contradicts or goes against or goes beyond what is written by God that is absolutely crystal clear

Turn with me now beloved to Romans chapter 11 verse 16 as we start tying things to a close here

Romans chapter 11 verse 16 a very important passage that many often overlook in Light of this subject matter of infallible authorities speaking of Israel Paul once again speaks of Israel here in Romans 11 6 verse 16

And if the first piece of dough is holy the lump is also and if the root is holy the branches are too

But if some of the original branches were broken off He's referring to the Jews and you being a wild olive

Gentiles non -jews Were grafted in among them and became a partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree

Do not boast once again do not boast against the branches

But if you do boast against them Remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root who supports you

You will say then Branches were broken off so that I may be grafted in quite right

They were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith

Do not be haughty prideful arrogant Pharisaical but fear for God did not spare the natural branches

He will not spare you either Behold then the kindness and severity of God to those who fell in their unbelief

Severity but to but to you God's kindness if you continue in his kindness

Otherwise you also will be cut off You also will be cut off And they also if they do not continue in their unbelief will be grafted in for God is able to graft them in again for if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree and You were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree

How much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

Amen This goes this ties into what I had previously warned us about that Even if a church starts off starts out as a good church

They can degenerate it into synagogues of Satan if they are not careful if they become prideful because pride cometh before a fall sin

Because men are still fallible and susceptible to sin. It doesn't matter what you claim to be

It doesn't matter what title you claim to have you can call yourself. Holy Father Vicar of Christ all you want

It doesn't change your human nature and the reality of what Scripture says

That God alone is true and every man a liar The takeaway then

Simply claiming to be part of the true Church of Christ does not exempt you from error or from damnation

Unless God has graced you to understand and believe his true gospel Salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone to the glory of God alone and based on the soul final ultimate infallible authorities of God and what is breathed out and written by God himself

Scripture alone They are one in the same God has already given us these four true infallible sufficient certain authorities who bear witness together

To assure that his church what his words are and to guide her into all truth

It's already there In him and his word and these infallible authorities are not human authorities

Not a church not councils, even though God also uses them to lead and guide his people by means of his infallible persons and words

The only soul infallible authorities of God are his final permanent written word the

Hebrew Old Testament of the Jews like Romans 3 says and the

Apostolic New Testament of the early church and God himself

Father Son Holy Spirit So in the words of Francis Schaeffer now, how should we then live?

How should we then live? How then do we determine the right church? councils traditions leaders to accept and to follow and to imitate and submit ourselves to Because there's all these false ones that we should not follow or submit ourselves to because they are in error

They claim ironically they claim to be infallible and yet they teach error that Contradicts the

Word of God and Remember we are all each and every one of us is personally commanded by God to understand

What Scripture is and what it teaches? And we are commanded by God in his word to judge and discern what a true church is and To join in and submit ourselves to a true local church

Which with lawfully ordained ministers of the word and to receive the means of grace including the faithful preaching and teaching and correction and discipline of God's written words

How? How do we do that by he who alone is?

faithful and what true Amen By he who is alone faithful and true

Christ his spirit and his father and his words by the

Protestant axiom beloved our first principle our first principle by the sole ultimate final sufficient certain infallible authorities of God and his words his words and Along with the help of the faithful Primarily local church

There is the historic church as well and other pastors and teachers, but primarily

Sound local church that will guide you in a proper understanding and application of God's Word with trustworthy pastors and teachers that both hold firmly they hold firmly to the trustworthy

Word of God as It was taught to them So that they will be able both to give accurate instruction and sound reliable error -free doctrine and to refute those who contradict sound doctrine like Titus 1 9 says that is what we need because men are fallible and men air and Men need correction both in their life and in their doctrine

So we start with and end with the right the only foundation we cannot be go

Beyond what is written? We cannot contradict what is written That is why we have the

Jesus test the scripture test the it is written test The logos test and the logic test beloved.

It is only by The only infallible authorities of God that we have that we have and that we need our

God and his Word Beloved it's that simple. It's that simple and that is what we must

Associate with and congregate ourselves with those who believe the true foundation and the true infallible authorities of God Amen, beloved.

Let us close now with a word of prayer Precious gracious Lord and Heavenly Father.

We thank you so much for helping us to to see the truth of Who you really are and what your word truly teaches father help us or to understand these things because and to and to take

Blessed grateful assurance and all that you have given us Far above exceedingly anything that we could ever want or need

Lord that you have given us Infallible authorities according to you and your word, which are you and your word alone?

We thank you for that father for supplying so abundantly That those means of grace that you have given us

Lord and you have given us to also not to just Exercise these things on our own

But also to practice them to apply them and to learn them in the local church in a true faithful local church that is the pillar and buttress of the truth because the church that is true and faithful is

The one that upholds that proclaims that teaches that believes that confesses and that lives your words are so infallible

Rule of faith and we thank you father for these Blessed truths we ask that you help us to internalize them to become doers of these words and to share the the truth of these words with others also who are who have strayed and erred and fallen from Your truth who have been deceived or have deceived themselves into thinking that there are such a thing as infallible men or councils or churches or traditions

Outside of what you yourself have spoken and written we thank you father and we ask these things in Jesus precious mighty infallible

Authority in name. Amen Amen beloved let us Thank you for listening to the sermons of thorn crown covenant

Baptist Church where the Bible alone and the Bible in its entirety Has applied to all of faith and life.

We strive to be biblical reformed historic Confessional loving discerning

Christians who evangelize stand firm in and earnestly contend for the Christian faith if you're looking for a church in the

El Paso, Texas area or for more information about our church sermons and ministries such as Semper Ephraim on the radio and thorn crown network podcasts

Please contact us at thorn crown ministries comm and may the mercy peace and love of our triune