The authority of Scripture is crucial Christian doctrine.

God’s intentions revealed in the Bible are the supreme and final authority in testing all claims about what is true and what is right. In matters not addressed by the Bible, what is true and right is assessed by the criteria consistent with the teachings of scripture. - Desiring God

We need a standard to tell us what is right and wrong.

Proverbs 21:2 ESV
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.

The Bible is true in all places, in all times, and for all people.

Matthew 15:1-9 ESV
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the wordof God.7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 8 “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

Tradition of the elders = Mishnah

Matthew 23:4 ESV
They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.

Jesus believed the Bible as the supreme standard.

The world tends to pull away // take away from the Bible, while religion tends to add to the Bible.

Revelation 22:18-19 ESV
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

The Bible is intrinsically authoritative.

We do not authorize the authority of Scripture; we recognize it.

Matthew 24:35 ESV
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

We must embrace the authority of God’s Word.

James 1:22 ESV
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Embracing = obeying

John 14:15 ESV
If you love me, you will keep my commandments

1 Peter 2:2 ESV
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation

Christians will develop a hunger for the Word of God.

Our world attempts to build on floating standards.

Matthew 28:18-20 ESV
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”