Standing Firm on God’s Word

Acts 13:13-52

I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God to bring salvation to all who believe: first to the Jew, then to the gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “the righteous will live by faith.”

- Romans 1:16-17

I consider myself convicted by the testimony of Holy Scripture, which is my basis; my conscience is captive to the Word of God. Thus I cannot and will not recant, because acting against one's conscience is neither safe nor sound. Here I stand, I can do no other so help me God. Amen.

- Martin Luther

“the majority of Canadian Christians read the Bible either seldom or never. Only about one in seven Canadian Christians, or 14 percent, read the Bible at least once a week.”

- CBES Report

…since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

- Luke 1:3

We accept scriptures as the Word of God and as the fully reliable and trustworthy standard for Christian faith and life.

- Article 4, Confession of Faith

Acts 13 – Travel Map

Standing Firm on the Word of God

1. Confidence because of History

17 The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country; 18 for about forty years he endured their conduct[a] in the wilderness; 19 and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years.“After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

17 The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country; 18 for about forty years he endured their conduct in the wilderness; 19 and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years.“After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

The Most High is Sovereign over the kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes

- Daniel 4:25

16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

- Colossians 1:16-17

Standing Firm on the Word of God

1. Confidence because of History2. Confidence because of Jesus

Standing Firm on the Word of God

1. Confidence because of History2. Confidence because of Jesus3. Confidence because of Forgiveness

Take Care…

1. Read the Bible

It is not the things I don’t understand in Scripture that bother me, it is the things I do understand that bother me.

- Mark Twain

Take Care…

1. Read the Bible2. Trust the Bible

Biblical Basis of Understand

Scripture Reasoning Experience

The New Relativists

Experience Reasoning Scripture

The best words about who God is, is God’s own Word

We acknowledge the Scripture as the authoritative source and standard for preaching and teaching about faith and life, for distinguishing truth from error, for discerning between good and evil, and for guiding prayer and worship. Other claims on our understanding of Christian faith and life, such as tradition, culture, experience, reason, and political powers, need to be tested and corrected by the light of Holy Scripture.

- Article 4

Take Care…

1. Read the Bible2. Trust the Bible3. Obey the Bible

No one truly knows Christ unless he follows him in daily life. And no one can follow him without knowing him.

- Hans Denck

Standing Firm on God’s Word

Acts 13:13-52