1. The Letters (Epistles)
and the Authority
Letters
Behind Them
for
 The nature of the letters
Living
- Letters of instruction,
In
encouragement, and
Christ
correction
- To individual Christians or
groups (churches)
- What is behind the writing?
Letters
for
Living
In
Christ
John 14:25-27
"These things I have spoken to
you while being present with you.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in My
name, He will teach you all
things, and bring to your
remembrance all things that I
said to you.
Letters
for
Living
In
Christ
Hebrews 2:1-4
Therefore we must give the more
earnest heed to the things we have
heard, lest we drift away. For if the
word spoken through angels proved
steadfast, and every transgression
and disobedience received a just
reward, how shall we escape if we
neglect so great a salvation, which at
the first began to be spoken by the
Lord, and was confirmed to us by
those who heard Him, God also
bearing witness both with signs and
wonders, with various miracles, and
gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to
His own will?
Letters
for
Living
In
Christ
John 16:12-14
“I still have many things to say to
you, but you cannot bear them now.
However, when He, the Spirit of
truth, has come, He will guide you
into all truth; for He will not speak
on His own authority, but whatever
He hears He will speak; and He will
tell you things to come. He will
glorify Me, for He will take of what is
Mine and declare it to you.
Letters
for
Living
In
Christ
Ephesians 3:1-4
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner
of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles — if
indeed you have heard of the
dispensation of the grace of God
which was given to me for you, how
that by revelation He made
known to me the mystery (as I
have briefly written already, by
which, when you read, you may
understand my knowledge in the
mystery of Christ),
II Peter 3:14-16
Therefore, beloved, looking forward
Letters to these things, be diligent to be
found by Him in peace, without spot
for
and blameless; and consider that the
Living longsuffering of our Lord is salvation
In
— as also our beloved brother Paul,
Christ according to the wisdom given to
him, has written to you, as also in
all his epistles, speaking in them of
these things, in which are some
things hard to understand, which
untaught and unstable people twist
to their own destruction, as they do
also the rest of the Scriptures.
 Conclusion
Letters
for
Living
In
Christ
- Personal correspondence
but applicable to all
believers (Colossians 4:16)
- They carry the authority of
Jesus Christ (Colossians
1:1)
2. Sample – The Letter
from James
Letters
 Look for two things
for
- 1:2-20 = Teaching
Living
about God
In
- 1:21-27 = Teaching
Christ
about living
for God
Letters
for
Living
In
Christ
 James’ teaching on living
- Purity from the world
- Right treatment of
others
- Spiritual priorities
- Persevering in faith
James 2:14-26
If you truly believe
and you want to be
transformed in your
thinking and living,
the letters are the
place to go