Queen's Road Cell

We considered the idea of the authority of Scripture – by which we mean the right of Scripture to command us to obedience to its standards. Christians believe that Scripture faithfully conveys the words of God through the writings of men   (cf. 2 Ti 3:16, 2 Pe 1:21). As such, it is infallible, inerrant in the original writings and fully authoritative for all of our life.    But, I asked: is it not a circular argument to say, "The Bible is the Word of God" -> "So it is authoritative and infallible" -> "Based on that authority it claims to be the Word of God" -> "So the Bible is the Word of God"? There are a number of responses to this allegation: 1.        A circular argument is inevitable when one appeals to ultimate authority. If you say, “I believe only in the evidence of my senses from scientific experimentation as a measure of truth”, when asked “Why?” the only possible response would be, “Because I believe that ...

We began by noting that the Acts 1 keynote passage for today is another way of expressing the Great Commission (Mt 28:18-20). Other places where the Great commission is expressed include John 20:21-23 and Mark 16:15-18. So the Great Commission is not a peripheral matter - it is the heart of what Christ wants His Church to be and to do in expanding missionary effort. The version in Matthew emphasizes the way in which disciples are to be made. The Acts version emphasizes the empowering of the Spirit. We noted that the purpose of the Great Commission is to save souls. We believe then, that if we do not go, that salvation does not ensue. (Ro 10:9-15). Notwithstanding stories of special revelation of Christ to individuals, we are not taught in Scripture that God saves through individual revelation. Instead, preaching is His chosen way of saving the world. Accounts we hear of Jesus' self-revelation to others more closely parallel the story of Cornelius in Acts 10, where divine revelati...