Lesson 6: Rational Reasoning & Authority Required

1.Every student of the Bible functions as either rational or irrational. a.To be rational is to: i.Gather all the relevant evidence. ii.Draw only such conclusions as are warranted by the evidence. iii.Say, “My conclusions cannot outrun the evidence.” b.To be irrational is to: i.Reject the proper roles of evidence, reason and conclusion. ii.Draw conclusions for which one does not have adequate evidence. iii.Hold that faith must involve the acceptance of some inadequately supported conclusion by some “leap in the dark” beyond the evidence. iv.Reject the Bible and deny that the Bible is the authoritative Word of God. Rational Reasoning Required

1.Every student of the Bible functions as either rational or irrational. c.There is not one thing which God expects men to hold as a constituent element of their faith except that for which He has provided adequate evidence. i.If faith is a “leap in the dark,” one would have as much grounds for “leaping” into Buddism, Islam or Atheism as he would for “leaping” into Christianity. ii.Such an irrational view of faith amounts to a rejection of Christianity, denying that one can know that Christianity is the one true religion of the one true God. Rational Reasoning Required

2.The Bible demands that men be rational. a.The Bible plainly teaches that we can prove and therefore know: i.That God exists. ii.That the Bible is the Word of God. iii.That Jesus Christ is the Son of God. iv.That, to be saved, one must believe in, love and obey Jesus Christ. Rational Reasoning Required

2.The Bible demands that men be rational. b.Men must recognize the proper role of reason…. i.The Bible not only demands that men reason but that they reason correctly in their study of the evidence which God has given them. 1)Men must be diligent in their search for & learning of the evidence. 2)Men must prove (put to the test, examine) all things. 3)Men must search the Scriptures to see if what men teach is true. 4)Men must be prepared to give a defense. ii.After gathering the evidence, men must hold only that which is true. c.Jesus is our perfect example of approaching the Bible rationally and providing a reasoned defense thereof. 3.Christianity is a religion of rational reasoning based upon Biblical authority. Rational Reasoning Required

1.It is imperative that we be concerned about Bible authority and how to ascertain it. a.Unless we know how God (or the Bible) authorizes, we cannot be sure about anything we do or say in the realm of religion. b.We must answer, “Is what we are doing from heaven or from men?” (cf. Matt. 21:23-27). Necessity for Authority in Religious Matters

2.Authority (an objective standard) is absolutely necessary in religious matters. a.There is an obvious need for an objective standard in ordinary affairs. i.If no objective standards were recognized, there would be chaos in ordinary affairs of everyday life. ii.In order to have an orderly, rather than chaotic society, we have need for objective standards in our daily lives… Necessity for Authority in Religious Matters