The Foundation of

The Faith
P a s t o r S l a t t e ry, r i c h i e B A t s o n ,
a n d E l d e r J a y Yo u n t s
 InTroduction

This is a class on the theological/doctrinal

foundation of the Faith.

Purpose—to reinforce the foundation of your

Christian faith or your doctrinal beliefs.

We will survey the basic doctrines of the

Bible—won’t be going in depth. We will in
future classes.
 The Survey
The Word

God

Man

Christ and Holy Spirit’s saving work

The Means of grace

The Church

The End times

 Why is this
important?

“... so that we may no longer be children,

tossed to and fro by the waves and carried
about by every wind of doctrine, by human
cunning, by craftiness in deceitful
schemes.”(Ephesians 4:14)
 The word of god

Attributes—

Authority

Clarity

Necessity

Sufficiency
The Authority of the
Word
The Bible is the very Word of God and must be
obeyed.

II Timothy 3:16-17—16 All Scripture is

breathed out by God and profitable for teaching,
for reproof, for correction, and for training in
righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be
competent, equipped for every good work.

The term “Scripture” refers to words from God.

It refers to the writings of the OT and NT.

It appears 51 times in reference to the

OT.

And two of those times in reference to the

NT.

I Timothy 5:17-18

II Peter 3:15-16
17 Let the elders who rule well be
considered worthy of double honor,
especially those who labor in preaching and
teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You
shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out
the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his
wages.”

The first scripture quote is from Dt. 25:4

The second is from Luke 10:7

15 And count the patience of our Lord as
salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul
also wrote to you according to the wisdom
given him, 16 as he does in all his letters
when he speaks in them of these matters.
There are some things in them that are hard
to understand, which the ignorant and
unstable twist to their own destruction, as
they do the other Scriptures. (2 Pt. 3:15-16)
Because the Bible is the Word of God, it must
be obeyed.

He is the Lord!

If you don’t, it is tantamount to or virtually

the same as disobeying God Himself.

Rest assured, you can fully trust and obey the

Word!
It is inerrant—in the original manuscripts
of the Bible, and for most practical
purposes, in it’s present day published
scholarly texts in the original languages,
nothing contrary to fact is asserted. The
Bible always tells the truth in what it
teaches.

It is also infallible—God’s Word cannot

lead you astray in matters of faith and
practice.

So you can trust and obey the Word with

complete confidence.
This is the message of God’s Word.

“The words of the Lord are pure words,

like silver refined in a furnace on the
ground purified seven times.” (Ps. 12:6)

“Every word of God proves true; He is a

shield to those who take refuge in
him.” (Prov. 30:5)
Inspiration is the process God used to bring
His words of men (II Timothy 3:16; 2 Pt.
1:21).

God carried along the writers of Scripture

as a leaf is carried by the wind.

The end result—these men wrote down

what God wanted written and at the same
time what they wanted to write using their
own personalities, backgrounds, gifts,
vocabularies.

It is a work of both God and man.

 The clarity of the
Word
The Bible clearly reveals what is necessary for
salvation and spiritual growth. It is able to be
understood by all who seek to understand and obey it
with God’s help.

God assumes that His people will understand the

Bible.

Jesus expected people to understand the OT—Lk.

24:25-26.

The NT letters were written not only to the leaders

but also to church members (Phil. 1:1).
The clarity of the Word doesn’t mean that that there aren’t
difficult passages and mysteries in the Bible (2 Pt.
3:15-16)

There are!

But much of the Word can be understood by the

believer.

If he or she is a serious student of the Word.

Asking God to open their eyes

And applying the principles of Bible interpretation.

And it doesn’t mean that there won’t be
differences of interpretation.

Differences exist because our minds are

fallible.

Some people are not serious students of

Bible interpretation.

And others don’t have the Holy Spirit.

The Necessity of the
Word
You need the Bible to know the way of
salvation (Ro. 10:13-17).

The Bible is also necessary for spiritual

growth and maturity (John17:17).

Finally, the Bible is necessary for certain

knowledge of God’s will.
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of
the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will
they call on him in whom they have not
believed? And how are they to believe in him
of whom they have never heard? And how
are they to hear without someone preaching?
15 And how are they to preach unless they
are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are
the feet of those who preach the good news!”
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel.
For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed
what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith
comes from hearing, and hearing through the
word of Christ. (Ro. 10:13-17)
The Necessity of the
Word
You need the Bible to know the way of
salvation (Ro. 10:13-17).

The Bible is also necessary for spiritual

growth and maturity (John17:17).

Finally, the Bible is necessary for certain

knowledge of God’s will.
The Sufficiency of
the word
The Bible contains all the words of God that
you need for salvation and spiritual growth.

II Timothy 3:15-17 is the key supporting

passage for this attribute. (see 2 Pt. 1:3)

Practically, this means that—

God’s Word is enough.

You should avoid legalism.

You have great incentive to study the Word!

“I will keep your law continually, for ever and
ever; and I shall walk at liberty, for I have
sought your precepts...Great peace have those
who love your law; nothing can make them
stumble. (Ps. 119:44-45, 165)
Thy Word