Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / Acts 17:10-15

Transcript

Acts 17:10-15 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

0:00
This is the Sunday that many call Palm Sunday, Sunday for preparation of the coming week, looking toward Good Friday, the celebration of the resurrection of Christ.
0:20
! If you've been here long, it may not surprise you that we're going to continue our verse-by-verse exposition today in the book of Acts.
0:28
But that's not because we don't find that there's value at times in taking some moments to prepare for things like Easter Sunday, that there's not value in stepping away from the normal plan at holidays.
0:44
Praise the Lord. Last year, we were able to be in the Gospel of Mark and actually preach the resurrection on Easter Sunday from Mark. The timing worked out wonderfully in that way.
0:56
Praise the Lord. If we stay on schedule in Acts, that next Sunday I'll be able to continue to preach in Acts on the resurrection because Paul's defense at the Oropagus, he brings up the resurrection and I can preach it from there.
1:11
So that's a wonderful thing and in part the reason that we're going to stay in Acts chapter 17 this morning.
1:18
Also, though, just as a maybe interesting side note to you, and as we established last year, that Palm Sunday was not a thing. It's actually Palm Monday.
1:29
There's no such thing as Silent Wednesday. If you ever care to have fun with that, I'd love to walk you through that timeline and show you that Jesus entered into Jerusalem on a Monday.
1:40
And then we see all of the activity that hastens to his crucifixion Friday and then his glorious resurrection on Sunday of the following week.
1:51
Before this morning, our text is Acts chapter 17, verses 10 through 15.
1:59
Before I read this, let me remind you, beloved, this is God's Word to us.
2:05
It was written for His glory and for our good.
2:09
We would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.
2:16
And I'll begin reading in verse 10.
2:18
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea.
2:23
And when they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
2:27
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica.
2:30
They received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
2:38
Many of them, therefore, believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.
2:44
But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also,
2:50
they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds.
2:54
Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea,
2:57
but Silas and Timothy remained there.
3:01
Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens.
3:04
And after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.
3:12
So last week, we looked at Paul and his missionary band's visit to the city of Thessalonica.
3:19
They're now in Macedonia.
3:21
They've crossed the Aegean Sea.
3:23
They're in for the first time.
3:24
And Europe, as we know it, the gospel has gone forth into that place.
3:29
And we structured our study last week of the first nine verses of Acts chapter 17 around four points.
3:37
And those points were as follows.
3:40
Gospel courage.
3:42
Number two, gospel clarity.
3:44
Number three, gospel conversion.
3:46
And number four, gospel conflict.
3:49
Now, many of those points could be reiterated today.
3:56
And I will reiterate them in brief.
3:59
Paul and his companions repeat the same activity with similar results as they saw in Thessalonica.
4:07
The texts are often taught together.
4:10
They parallel one another in many ways.
4:15
Note in our text today, number one, gospel courage.
4:18
Courage.
4:19
In verse 10, we see that the brothers, these are the brothers in Thessalonica,
4:24
immediately send Paul and Silas away by night to Berea.
4:29
There is no reason to believe that they did so out of fear.
4:34
But rather, it is right to assume that they did not want the advance of the gospel to be hindered by their arrest.
4:42
So they travel to Berea.
4:43
They leave behind those believers they've trained in Thessalonica to continue the advance of the gospel.
4:50
We see in 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 that they certainly do this by the power of the Spirit and by the Word of God.
4:56
And they move on to Berea.
5:00
Berea is a less significant town than Thessalonica.
5:03
It's about 45 miles southwest.
5:05
It's off the Ignatian Way, which is that Roman highway we've been talking about in weeks past.
5:13
And we can rightly assume that they did not escape Thessalonica out of fear
5:17
because we see a repeat of their exact courageous action back in Thessalonica.
5:24
What do they do?
5:25
And when they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
5:32
Luke's not very explicit here, but I like to apply a little pastoral imagination to the text
5:40
to say that when they arrived, they traveled through the night,
5:44
and the first thing they did is went to the Jewish synagogue.
5:48
Maybe not, but I like to conject in that direction.
5:51
They went immediately into the Jewish synagogue and once again with great courage preached the gospel.
6:01
So we see again this idea of gospel clarity in our text.
6:05
Verse 11, right?
6:07
We see that these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica.
6:10
They received the Word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
6:16
We know that Paul and his companions preached the gospel because the text says they received the Word.
6:25
Well, what Word, right?
6:26
We want to look at our text in its greater context.
6:30
Luke has been writing.
6:32
His pen has barely picked up off the page, even though it's been a whole week for us.
6:37
So what was the Word, right?
6:39
The very same Word that he preached to the Thessalonians.
6:43
Look back in chapter 17, verse 2 and 3.
6:48
He reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
6:52
explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead,
6:59
and saying, this Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ.
7:05
And so he's now in another synagogue, and he's once again speaking to Jewish worshipers of God,
7:13
as well as what would have been referred to as God-fearers, Gentiles, Greeks, our text says,
7:19
who would have been coming to the synagogue to try to walk in the ways of God.
7:23
And Paul is pointing out to them the insufficiency of the sacrificial system.
7:28
For them to be found righteous before Christ, the sacrificial system did not cut it.
7:34
It was meant to point to something greater.
7:37
All of the religious practice, all of the things prescribed by God for them to do,
7:42
was meant to point them to a more perfect sacrifice.
7:47
They were meant to look to the Christ.
7:50
Paul is likely correcting their misconceptions about who the Christ was.
7:55
The common belief in this day by Jews was that Jesus, the Messiah, the one who would come,
8:01
would be a deliverer in a political sense.
8:03
Would deliver them from Roman rule and restore Jerusalem back to its former glory.
8:09
And so he's correcting that thinking all along.
8:11
And he's saying to them, this Jesus, this humble Jesus,
8:15
the one who came and suffered and died, is the Christ.
8:20
He's pointing them rightly to the gospel of Jesus.
8:25
And there's a result from that.
8:26
We see, thirdly, gospel conversions.
8:30
Because of their receiving of the word and their careful study of the scripture,
8:36
Luke records for us,
8:37
many of them therefore believe, this is verse 12,
8:41
with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.
8:44
So both the Jews and some Greeks believed.
8:49
As is most often the case,
8:50
when the gospel, courageously proclaimed with clarity,
8:55
empowered by the Spirit, will yield conversions,
8:59
will see people turn from their wicked ways
9:02
and turn to righteousness in Christ.
9:06
But not for everyone.
9:09
Some will reject the gospel.
9:11
And we see this as well in our text.
9:13
Gospel conflict.
9:16
Please don't think this is a ten minute sermon.
9:18
I'm wrapping up from last week into this one.
9:21
And then we're going to draw back into it.
9:23
So gospel conflict we see as well.
9:25
So the very same Jews in Thessalonica
9:27
that were stirring up a crowd,
9:29
that were bringing about persecution,
9:31
that were seeking to arrest Paul and his companions,
9:33
that did arrest Jason who was housing him.
9:37
The very same Thessalonians.
9:39
Because of the jealousy produced within them,
9:42
they hear that the gospel is being proclaimed also at Berea,
9:45
and they come there and they do the very same thing.
9:50
So once again, not because they're fearful,
9:54
but because they don't want to impede the gospel going forth,
9:57
Paul now is sent off,
10:00
while Silas and Timothy remain behind.
10:03
They stay there to continue to instruct in the gospel.
10:07
And Paul is sent off.
10:11
Persecution.
10:12
I have posited this to you across our entire study of the book of Acts
10:17
and for many years before that.
10:19
Persecution is the norm for the devoted follower of Christ.
10:24
It is not the exception.
10:26
Persecution.
10:28
It will take various forms,
10:30
in various places,
10:32
at various times.
10:34
We are not likely to be imprisoned for our faith.
10:38
We're probably really doing something unfaithful if we're imprisoned
10:41
in the frame of our faith.
10:45
We will not be imprisoned in the U.S.,
10:47
at least not for now.
10:49
But persecution is still to be normative
10:52
for the devoted follower of Jesus Christ.
10:58
So in brief, we can see much of the same activity
11:00
and much of the same response, right?
11:03
It's like a repeat of what happened in Thessalonica.
11:06
But there is one extremely striking difference
11:09
between these two towns.
11:12
And it's a difference which is worth our noting at some length.
11:16
So please let me draw your attention back to verse 11.
11:20
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica.
11:28
They received the word with all eagerness,
11:31
examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
11:37
Luke records, for our benefit,
11:41
that the Berean Jews were more noble than the Thessalonian Jews.
11:47
Why?
11:47
First, let's take a look at the word here translated,
11:52
more noble.
11:53
That's a single word in the Greek.
11:57
The word is,
11:58
I've got to get ready for the pronunciation,
12:03
eugenesteroi,
12:05
I believe.
12:08
In a couple of other translations,
12:10
well-known translations,
12:12
the New American Standard Bible
12:13
translates that word,
12:14
more noble-minded.
12:17
The NIV translates it,
12:19
of more noble character.
12:22
And the Holman Christian Standard Bible,
12:25
which is Lifeways New translation,
12:27
it's a good one,
12:28
says more open-minded.
12:32
Now the ESV translators
12:33
have done well to just translate the word,
12:36
more noble.
12:37
It's the most straightforward understanding
12:40
of that word,
12:41
eugenesteroi,
12:43
the root of which is eugeness,
12:46
which means well-born.
12:48
It's the word that the English word eugenics
12:51
is derived from.
12:53
Sounds familiar to you.
12:56
While I believe that the ESV translators
12:58
are more faithful to the Greek language
13:01
in this case,
13:02
I think that the New American Standard Bible translators
13:06
are more faithful to the meaning
13:08
of the word,
13:09
more noble-minded.
13:12
And we can gather that
13:13
as we look to the reason why.
13:15
Luke tells us why
13:16
he's calling them more noble.
13:19
And NASB translators expand that idea
13:22
to be more noble-minded.
13:26
And the rest of verse 11.
13:29
The Bereans were more noble
13:32
than those in Thessalonica
13:34
for two reasons.
13:36
Number one,
13:38
they received the word
13:40
with all eagerness.
13:44
They received it with eagerness.
13:45
They were teachable.
13:48
They weren't closed off
13:49
to the idea of something new,
13:51
some explanation of
13:53
the word of God.
13:56
They weren't so trapped
13:57
in their form of thinking
13:59
about who the Messiah was
14:00
that they weren't willing
14:01
to hear an alternative explanation.
14:06
It is a great mark
14:08
of the Christian to be humble.
14:11
And a great mark of humility
14:13
is teachability.
14:15
To hear a case made.
14:16
And hear a case made from the Bible.
14:19
And to receive it with eagerness.
14:22
Not blindly,
14:23
to our second point,
14:25
but to receive it.
14:26
To hear what someone may have to say
14:28
to us from the Bible.
14:31
They were pleased
14:32
to have a case made to them
14:33
from the Scripture
14:35
as Paul surely did
14:37
just as we saw him do
14:39
in Thessalonica.
14:40
So they were more noble,
14:41
more noble-minded
14:42
because they received the word
14:44
with all eagerness.
14:46
And secondly,
14:47
because they examined
14:49
the Scriptures
14:50
to see if these things were so.
14:52
Not just that they examined them,
14:54
but they examined the Scriptures
14:55
daily
14:56
to see if these things were so.
14:58
They were diligent
15:00
to test
15:01
anything
15:02
that was taught
15:04
against,
15:05
tested against
15:06
the revelation
15:07
of God.
15:09
It's like they held up
15:10
the Holy Writ
15:11
and they held up
15:13
this teaching
15:14
that Paul brought to them
15:15
to see if the things
15:15
lined up together.
15:17
They examined it
15:19
very carefully
15:20
to see if what Paul
15:21
was saying
15:22
was so.
15:26
Beloved,
15:27
the exhortation
15:28
this morning for us
15:29
is that we
15:30
should be like
15:31
the Bereans.
15:33
We should diligently
15:35
examine
15:35
every teaching,
15:38
hold it up
15:38
against the Scripture
15:40
to see
15:41
if it
15:42
is so.
15:44
I am thankful
15:45
for a church
15:46
that does this
15:46
for me.
15:48
My teaching
15:48
is not
15:49
above
15:50
this kind
15:51
of scrutiny.
15:53
No one's is.
15:55
The Word of God
15:56
is authoritative.
15:57
It is His
15:58
Word.
16:00
And I can only
16:00
speak with authority
16:01
insofar
16:02
as I speak
16:03
consistent
16:04
with the Word
16:05
of God.
16:05
I tell you
16:06
what it
16:07
says.
16:09
I need you
16:11
to function
16:12
as a
16:14
God-fearing,
16:15
Bible-loving
16:16
congregation.
16:18
so that if
16:19
I err,
16:21
you will be
16:21
quick to catch
16:22
me.
16:24
It is my
16:25
desire to be
16:26
both true
16:27
and consistent,
16:30
but if pressed
16:30
to it,
16:31
I will choose
16:32
truth over
16:33
consistency.
16:35
I am glad
16:36
to get up here
16:37
if I have
16:37
erred and said
16:38
I screwed
16:39
it up.
16:40
I've been
16:41
shown my
16:42
error.
16:43
I taught
16:44
improperly
16:45
and I need
16:46
to make
16:46
correction.
16:50
But,
16:51
bring me
16:53
correction
16:54
with Scripture
16:56
and plain
16:58
logic.
16:59
You've got to
17:00
do somersaults
17:01
to convince me
17:01
of something.
17:02
I don't want
17:02
to hear it.
17:04
Bring me
17:04
correction with
17:05
Scripture
17:05
and plain
17:07
logic.
17:07
If you come
17:08
to me and
17:09
you say,
17:09
I don't feel
17:10
like what you
17:11
said is true,
17:12
I will go
17:13
figure out
17:14
why you
17:15
feel that
17:15
way.
17:16
And then
17:16
let's talk.
17:18
Scripture
17:18
and plain
17:19
logic.
17:20
Your feelings
17:21
do not
17:22
define the
17:23
truth and
17:25
neither do
17:25
mine.
17:27
I want to
17:27
give you a
17:27
good example
17:28
of this.
17:28
If you've
17:29
been here
17:29
for a while,
17:30
you have
17:30
heard me
17:30
talk about
17:31
this already,
17:31
but it's
17:32
too good
17:33
not to
17:34
talk about
17:34
again.
17:35
I'm going
17:36
to read
17:36
to you
17:36
from the
17:37
biography
17:38
written by
17:38
A.T.
17:39
Pearson
17:39
of George
17:39
Mueller.
17:40
It's called
17:40
George
17:40
Mueller of
17:40
Bristol.
17:41
Don't buy
17:41
this copy.
17:42
It's a
17:42
horrible
17:43
printing of
17:43
it.
17:44
But the
17:45
book is
17:45
wonderful.
17:48
This just
17:48
happens to
17:49
do with
17:49
believers
17:50
baptism,
17:50
but that's
17:51
not the
17:51
primary
17:51
point of
17:52
what I'm
17:52
reading to
17:53
you here.
17:54
But George
17:55
Mueller serving
17:56
as a
17:56
pastor was
17:57
corrected,
17:58
and this is
17:59
wonderful.
18:00
He says,
18:01
while at
18:01
Sidmouth
18:02
preaching
18:02
in April
18:03
1830,
18:05
three
18:05
believing
18:05
sisters
18:06
held in
18:06
his
18:07
presence
18:07
a
18:07
conversation
18:08
about
18:08
believers
18:09
baptism,
18:10
which
18:10
proved the
18:11
suggestion
18:11
of another
18:12
important step
18:13
in his
18:13
life,
18:14
which has
18:14
a wider
18:15
bearing
18:15
than at
18:16
first is
18:16
apparent.
18:17
They
18:18
naturally
18:18
asked his
18:19
opinion on
18:20
the subject
18:20
about which
18:21
they were
18:21
talking,
18:22
and he
18:22
replied that,
18:24
having been
18:24
baptized as a
18:25
child,
18:25
he saw no
18:26
need of being
18:27
baptized again.
18:28
being further
18:30
asked if he
18:31
had ever yet
18:32
prayerfully searched
18:33
the word of
18:33
God as to
18:34
its testimony
18:35
in this
18:36
matter,
18:36
he frankly
18:37
confessed that
18:38
he had not.
18:40
He's a
18:40
pastor,
18:40
they say,
18:41
they're talking
18:41
about believers
18:41
baptism,
18:42
what do you
18:42
think,
18:43
Pastor Mueller?
18:44
And he
18:44
says,
18:45
having been
18:45
baptized as
18:46
a child,
18:46
I see no
18:46
need to be
18:47
baptized as
18:47
an adult,
18:48
and one
18:48
of them
18:49
says,
18:49
have you
18:50
ever
18:50
prayerfully
18:50
searched
18:51
the word
18:51
of God
18:51
for that?
18:52
And he
18:52
said,
18:52
nope.
18:56
At
18:56
once,
18:57
with
18:57
unmistakable
18:58
plainness of
18:59
speech,
18:59
and with
19:00
rare fidelity,
19:01
one of
19:02
these sisters
19:02
in Christ
19:03
promptly
19:04
said,
19:05
I entreat
19:06
you then,
19:07
never again
19:07
to speak
19:08
any more
19:08
about it
19:09
till you
19:10
have done
19:10
so.
19:14
Isn't
19:15
that wonderful?
19:19
A bit
19:19
later on,
19:21
and again,
19:21
I commend
19:22
this particular
19:22
book to you.
19:23
A.T.
19:23
Pearson was a
19:23
pastor and
19:24
just a
19:25
wonderful
19:25
writer.
19:26
He says,
19:27
what radical
19:28
reforms would
19:29
be made in
19:29
modern worship,
19:31
teaching,
19:31
and practice?
19:32
In the
19:33
whole conduct
19:33
of disciples
19:34
and the
19:35
administration
19:35
of the
19:36
church of
19:37
God,
19:37
if the
19:37
one final
19:38
criterion
19:39
of all
19:39
judgment
19:40
were,
19:41
what do
19:42
the
19:42
scriptures
19:42
teach?
19:47
Recently,
19:48
at a
19:49
community
19:49
group meeting,
19:50
I had some
19:50
questions asked
19:51
of me about
19:52
why we do
19:53
music the
19:54
way we do
19:54
music here.
19:55
things.
19:56
And it
19:57
made me
19:57
realize that
19:58
time is
19:59
flying by for
20:00
me incredibly
20:01
quick because
20:02
with these
20:03
particular people,
20:03
I felt like I
20:04
had preached
20:05
on that
20:05
matter,
20:06
but then
20:07
realized it's
20:07
been half a
20:09
decade ago
20:10
that we
20:11
preached on
20:12
why we do
20:12
music the
20:13
way we do
20:14
music.
20:16
Everything we
20:17
do here,
20:17
at least in
20:18
our best
20:19
attempt,
20:20
has an
20:20
undergirding of
20:21
scripture for
20:21
why we do
20:22
things,
20:23
the way we
20:23
do things.
20:25
And it
20:25
caused me to
20:27
realize,
20:27
and then talking
20:28
with the
20:28
elders of our
20:28
church to
20:29
realize that
20:30
we need to
20:30
repeat and
20:32
talk about
20:33
some things
20:33
again and
20:34
explain why so
20:35
that you
20:36
understand.
20:37
I think for a
20:38
lot of you,
20:38
music is an
20:39
example.
20:39
You just enjoy
20:40
the way music
20:41
is done here,
20:41
but you don't
20:42
really know the
20:43
why behind why
20:45
we do music
20:47
or anything
20:47
else.
20:48
Verse by
20:49
verse exposition
20:49
as another
20:50
example in
20:51
our church.
20:52
And the
20:53
answer, we
20:54
hope, and I
20:56
don't know that
20:56
we do this for
20:56
perfection, but
20:57
we're trying, we
20:58
hope, is because
20:58
the Bible says
21:00
such and such
21:01
about such a
21:03
thing.
21:03
And so we're
21:04
going to, in
21:05
the years coming,
21:07
probably years,
21:08
take some time,
21:10
pause from time
21:11
to time, from
21:11
verse by verse
21:12
exposition, and
21:13
do like a
21:14
series across
21:15
time called
21:16
Why We Do
21:17
What We Do.
21:18
And fingers
21:19
crossed, Wes
21:20
is going to
21:20
help us produce
21:21
some short
21:21
videos with
21:22
the same, so
21:23
you can go
21:23
back and
21:23
reference those
21:24
things, and
21:24
that's a big
21:26
project in and
21:26
of itself.
21:29
But we want
21:29
you to understand
21:30
that as a
21:31
church, we
21:32
stand on the
21:33
foundation of
21:34
scripture.
21:35
And if you
21:36
can show me
21:37
that something
21:37
we're doing is
21:39
an error,
21:39
right, again,
21:40
by the Bible
21:41
and by plain
21:41
logging, we
21:42
will get it
21:43
out of our
21:44
meeting together
21:45
and our conduct
21:46
together as a
21:48
church.
21:49
We believe
21:50
that the
21:50
revelation of
21:51
God is
21:52
absolutely
21:53
foundational to
21:54
the way we
21:55
function together.
21:57
It's for your
21:57
good, it's for
21:58
our good, it's
21:59
for our
21:59
community's good
22:00
that we do
22:02
so.
22:03
We live in an
22:05
epistemologically
22:06
schismed society,
22:08
right?
22:09
No one seems to
22:10
be able to
22:10
arrive at the
22:11
truth, much
22:13
less how the
22:14
truth should be
22:15
arrived at,
22:17
right?
22:18
the New York
22:18
Times just
22:19
recently put out
22:20
an article
22:20
specifically in
22:21
regards to our
22:22
president, but
22:23
is the truth
22:24
dead?
22:26
Seems to be,
22:27
not in specific
22:28
to our
22:29
president, but
22:29
just generally
22:30
speaking, right?
22:31
We don't seem
22:32
to know what the
22:32
truth is or how
22:33
to arrive at it.
22:36
Some of you in
22:37
my hearing this
22:37
morning are
22:38
modernists.
22:40
It's from
22:41
modernist thinking
22:43
that we get
22:43
things like the
22:44
scientific method,
22:45
modernists want
22:47
to measure
22:48
things out, to
22:49
see the concrete
22:51
evidence for,
22:52
something we can
22:53
quantify to say,
22:55
and this is what
22:56
works.
22:57
This is the way
22:59
that we ought
22:59
to go.
23:01
Some of you in
23:01
my hearing this
23:02
morning are
23:03
postmodernists.
23:04
I tend to fall
23:05
into that category.
23:07
That category is
23:08
getting smaller and
23:09
smaller as our
23:10
church moves on.
23:11
postmodernists tend
23:14
to believe that
23:15
the truth is
23:16
defined by your
23:18
own experience of
23:19
the truth.
23:20
So I experience
23:21
something to be
23:21
true, therefore it
23:22
is true, and
23:23
nobody can debate
23:25
that with me.
23:26
And most of you
23:28
in my hearing this
23:29
morning are
23:30
post-postmodernists.
23:33
You need a much
23:34
more creative name
23:34
than that, but
23:36
you're currently
23:36
being called
23:37
post-postmodernists.
23:38
And here's the
23:39
frightening result of
23:40
postmodernity.
23:41
is that post-postmodernists
23:43
tend to believe that
23:45
the truth cannot be
23:46
arrived at at all.
23:49
Even your own
23:49
experience of the
23:50
truth may not be
23:51
true.
23:51
How can I possibly
23:53
know?
23:55
And all of these
23:56
have some strengths
23:57
and some weaknesses
23:58
to be sure.
23:59
I'm not trying to
24:00
dismiss any of them
24:01
entirely, but any
24:03
one of these
24:05
epistemological views
24:06
needs to be
24:08
anchored in the
24:09
unfailing reality
24:10
that the Bible
24:12
is God's
24:13
word and
24:14
therefore is
24:14
entirely true
24:16
and contains
24:17
within it
24:17
everything we
24:18
need to know
24:19
concerning the
24:21
worship of God.
24:22
Like, we need
24:23
to believe in
24:25
revelation.
24:26
I have to
24:27
believe in
24:27
something outside
24:28
of myself.
24:30
I know myself
24:31
too well to
24:32
think that I
24:33
can arrive as
24:34
a postmodern
24:35
thinker at the
24:36
truth for
24:37
myself.
24:37
I need to
24:38
believe that
24:39
God has spoken
24:40
and that I
24:41
have those very
24:42
words for my
24:43
benefit.
24:46
2 Timothy
24:46
chapter 3
24:47
verse 16
24:48
and 17
24:49
Paul writes,
24:50
all scripture
24:51
is breathed
24:52
out by God.
24:53
This idea of
24:54
being breathed
24:55
out is expired
24:57
by God.
24:58
Him as the
24:59
very source,
25:00
His very
25:01
breath.
25:02
We often talk
25:03
in the Bible
25:03
of being inspired,
25:04
spoken into
25:05
men who
25:06
penned it.
25:06
Paul is
25:07
upping that
25:08
idea by
25:08
saying it's
25:09
actually breathed
25:10
out.
25:10
He is the
25:10
very source
25:11
of it.
25:11
It's breathed
25:12
out by God
25:13
and it's
25:14
profitable.
25:15
It's profitable
25:16
for teaching,
25:17
for reproof,
25:17
for correction,
25:19
and for training
25:19
in righteousness.
25:21
That the man
25:21
of God may be
25:22
complete,
25:23
equipped for
25:24
every good
25:25
work.
25:26
We need to
25:27
believe in
25:28
these scriptures.
25:30
On your
25:30
bulletin this
25:31
morning, the
25:31
historical quote
25:33
for you,
25:34
Martin Lloyd
25:34
Jones said,
25:35
there can be
25:35
no doubt
25:36
whatsoever that
25:37
all the
25:37
troubles in
25:38
the church
25:38
today and
25:39
most of
25:39
the troubles
25:40
in the
25:40
world are
25:42
due to a
25:42
departure from
25:44
the authority
25:44
of the
25:46
Bible.
25:48
Now, for
25:48
your benefit,
25:49
I hope,
25:50
we're still
25:50
talking about
25:51
the Bereans,
25:51
we're talking
25:52
about how we
25:52
should be like
25:53
the Bereans,
25:54
but I want to
25:55
put up on the
25:56
screen for you
25:56
article one of
25:58
our church's
25:59
statement of
25:59
faith, which
26:00
is on the
26:00
scriptures.
26:02
So there it
26:03
is for you,
26:03
for you to
26:04
interact with it
26:05
visually as I
26:06
read it to
26:07
you.
26:09
We believe
26:10
that the
26:11
Holy Bible
26:12
was written
26:13
by men,
26:14
divinely
26:15
inspired,
26:17
and is a
26:18
perfect treasure
26:19
of heavenly
26:20
instruction.
26:21
That it has
26:22
gods for its
26:23
author,
26:23
he expired it,
26:25
salvation for
26:26
its end,
26:27
and truth
26:28
without any
26:29
mixture of
26:29
error for
26:30
its matter.
26:31
That it
26:32
reveals the
26:33
principles by
26:33
which God
26:34
will judge
26:35
us and
26:35
therefore is
26:36
and shall
26:37
remain to
26:38
the end of
26:38
the world
26:39
the true
26:40
center of
26:40
Christian union
26:42
and the
26:43
supreme
26:43
standard by
26:44
which all
26:44
human conduct,
26:46
creeds,
26:46
and opinions
26:47
should be
26:49
tried.
26:50
It's a
26:50
beautiful
26:51
statement,
26:51
isn't it?
26:51
We didn't
26:51
write it.
26:52
It's from the
26:53
New Hampshire
26:53
confession.
26:56
It is the
26:57
great standard
26:58
by which all
26:59
other truths
27:00
are tried.
27:02
And isn't
27:02
that what the
27:03
Bereans are
27:03
doing?
27:04
Searching the
27:05
scriptures
27:05
diligently to
27:08
that end.
27:09
This statement
27:10
speaks to the
27:11
authority,
27:13
the inerrancy,
27:14
the clarity,
27:16
the necessity,
27:17
and the
27:18
sufficiency of
27:19
the scriptures.
27:20
These are all
27:20
extremely important
27:22
Bible doctrines
27:24
or doctrines
27:26
of the
27:27
Bible.
27:28
What do we
27:28
believe is
27:29
true of
27:31
what we
27:31
call our
27:33
scripture?
27:34
And I want
27:35
to go through
27:35
those with
27:36
you.
27:36
Authority,
27:37
inerrancy,
27:37
clarity,
27:37
necessity,
27:39
sufficiency.
27:39
I just want
27:40
to lay out
27:40
some definitions
27:41
for you.
27:42
You will
27:42
not have
27:43
time to
27:43
write these
27:44
down,
27:44
but I am
27:45
taking these
27:45
directly from
27:46
Wayne Grudem's
27:47
Systematic Theology.
27:48
I figured it would
27:48
be best for
27:50
me to give
27:50
you someone
27:51
else's definition
27:51
you can go
27:52
to and study
27:53
more on
27:54
Wayne Grudem's
27:54
Systematic Theology.
27:55
It's a
27:55
wonderful book
27:56
which I would
27:57
have to lift
27:58
like this
27:58
this morning
27:59
to show
27:59
to you.
28:00
I've got a
28:01
copy you
28:01
can borrow
28:02
if you would
28:03
like to.
28:04
So the
28:04
authority of
28:05
scripture means
28:06
that all the
28:08
words in
28:08
scripture are
28:09
God's words
28:10
in such a
28:12
way that to
28:13
disbelieve or
28:14
disobey any
28:15
word of the
28:15
scripture is to
28:17
disbelieve or
28:18
disobey God.
28:20
They're God's
28:20
very words.
28:21
He has spoken
28:22
to us.
28:23
So they have
28:24
authority.
28:25
The Bible has
28:25
authority because
28:26
God has spoken
28:27
them.
28:27
To disbelieve
28:28
or disobey
28:29
is to
28:30
disbelieve or
28:30
disobey
28:31
God
28:31
himself.
28:34
The children
28:35
are memorizing
28:36
Psalm 1.
28:38
You would do
28:39
well to join
28:40
with us in
28:40
memorizing
28:41
Psalm 1.
28:42
If you
28:42
memorize no
28:44
other scripture
28:44
this year,
28:45
which I
28:45
encourage you
28:45
to do so,
28:46
but at least
28:47
participate.
28:48
Don't check
28:49
out when I'm
28:49
down here
28:50
reciting with
28:52
some level
28:53
of proficiency.
28:55
Psalm 1
28:57
which says
28:58
this,
28:59
Blessed is
29:00
the man
29:00
who walks
29:01
not in the
29:02
counsel of
29:02
the wicked,
29:03
nor stands
29:04
in the way
29:04
of sinners,
29:06
nor sits
29:06
in the seat
29:07
of scoffers,
29:08
but his
29:09
delight is
29:10
in the law
29:10
of the Lord,
29:11
and on his
29:12
law he
29:12
meditates
29:13
day and
29:14
night.
29:15
He is like
29:16
a tree
29:17
planted by
29:17
streams of
29:18
water that
29:19
yields its
29:20
fruit in
29:20
its season,
29:21
and its
29:21
leaf does
29:22
not wither.
29:23
In all
29:24
that he
29:24
does,
29:25
he prospers.
29:27
The wicked
29:28
are not so,
29:30
but are like
29:30
chaff that the
29:31
wind drives
29:31
away.
29:33
Therefore the
29:33
wicked will
29:34
not stand
29:34
in the
29:35
judgment,
29:36
nor sinners
29:36
in the
29:37
congregation
29:37
of the
29:38
righteous.
29:39
For the
29:39
Lord knows
29:40
the way
29:40
of the
29:41
righteous,
29:41
but the
29:41
way of
29:42
the wicked
29:43
will perish.
29:47
It was
29:48
laid before
29:48
us in
29:49
Psalm 1
29:49
a choice
29:51
to be
29:51
made.
29:51
It's
29:52
binary
29:53
in
29:53
nature.
29:54
You'll
29:55
find
29:55
yourself
29:55
wicked,
29:56
you're
29:56
way not
29:56
prospering,
29:57
final judgment
29:58
being yours,
30:00
or you'll
30:01
find yourself
30:01
prospering,
30:03
being righteous,
30:05
by doing
30:06
what?
30:08
Meditating
30:08
in the
30:09
law of
30:10
God.
30:11
We get
30:11
such
30:11
clear,
30:12
more
30:12
beautiful
30:13
gospel
30:14
understanding
30:14
of this
30:15
when we
30:16
know that
30:16
we are
30:16
found
30:17
righteous
30:17
in
30:18
Christ.
30:20
And that
30:20
being found
30:21
righteous,
30:22
being accepted
30:23
by God
30:23
in Christ,
30:24
what we
30:25
now do
30:26
is we
30:26
turn to
30:26
Him
30:27
in
30:28
His
30:28
Word.
30:29
We look
30:30
for the
30:30
good
30:30
instruction
30:31
of our
30:31
loving
30:32
Father.
30:34
Beloved,
30:34
this is
30:34
God's
30:35
Word for
30:35
us,
30:36
written
30:36
for His
30:36
glory
30:36
and for
30:37
our
30:37
good.
30:39
We would
30:39
all do
30:39
well to
30:39
listen to
30:40
it,
30:41
to believe
30:41
its promises,
30:43
and obey
30:43
its commands.
30:45
I mentioned
30:46
to you
30:46
earlier in
30:47
our
30:47
announcements,
30:48
talking about
30:48
having a
30:49
Bible-centered,
30:51
gospel-saturated
30:53
counseling center
30:54
in our
30:55
area.
30:56
Our
30:56
church needs
30:57
this,
30:58
our community
30:58
needs this,
31:00
because most
31:01
of our
31:01
problems,
31:02
most of
31:03
them are
31:04
spiritual
31:04
problems,
31:05
and they
31:06
need a
31:06
gospel
31:07
answer.
31:08
We need
31:09
to pick
31:09
up the
31:09
Word and
31:10
be instructed
31:11
by it,
31:11
and meditate
31:12
on it,
31:12
and memorize
31:13
it,
31:13
and apply
31:14
it to
31:14
all the
31:15
intricacies,
31:16
all the
31:16
little
31:17
challenges
31:17
of our
31:17
life.
31:18
The
31:18
Bible
31:18
speaks to
31:19
every
31:19
single
31:20
one of
31:21
them.
31:22
Spiritual
31:22
problems
31:23
always
31:23
have
31:24
gospel
31:25
answers.
31:28
So that's
31:29
the authority
31:29
of the
31:30
Scripture.
31:32
The
31:32
inerrancy
31:33
of Scripture
31:33
is the
31:33
next one.
31:34
The
31:34
inerrancy
31:34
of Scripture
31:35
means that
31:35
Scripture
31:36
in the
31:37
original
31:37
manuscripts,
31:39
we're
31:39
removing
31:39
translation
31:41
problems,
31:42
right?
31:42
Not
31:43
inspired,
31:44
right?
31:44
The
31:45
ESV,
31:45
not
31:46
inspired.
31:47
The
31:48
NASB,
31:48
not
31:49
inspired.
31:50
I get
31:51
some
31:51
debates
31:51
with
31:52
people
31:52
about
31:52
those
31:52
two
31:52
translations.
31:53
It's a
31:53
little
31:53
fun.
31:55
The
31:55
King
31:55
James
31:56
Version,
31:56
not
31:56
inspired.
31:58
The
31:59
original
31:59
manuscript,
32:00
okay?
32:01
The
32:01
inerrancy
32:01
of Scripture
32:01
means that
32:02
Scripture
32:02
in the
32:02
original
32:03
manuscripts
32:03
does not
32:04
affirm
32:05
anything
32:05
that is
32:06
contrary
32:07
to
32:07
fact.
32:08
Proverbs
32:10
35,
32:11
35,
32:12
every
32:13
word of
32:13
God
32:13
proves
32:14
true.
32:15
He is
32:15
a shield
32:16
to those
32:16
who take
32:17
refuge
32:17
in Him.
32:20
The
32:20
clarity
32:21
of Scripture.
32:22
The
32:22
clarity
32:22
of Scripture
32:23
means that
32:23
the Bible
32:24
is written
32:24
in such
32:24
a way
32:25
that its
32:25
teachings
32:26
are able
32:26
to be
32:27
understood
32:27
by all
32:29
who will
32:29
read it,
32:30
seeking
32:31
God's
32:31
help,
32:32
and being
32:32
willing
32:33
to follow
32:34
it.
32:36
I'll read
32:37
that one
32:37
again to
32:37
you.
32:37
The
32:40
clarity
32:40
of Scripture
32:38
means,
32:39
and I hope
32:40
this is a
32:40
comfort to
32:41
some of
32:41
you who
32:42
are daunted
32:42
by the
32:43
study of
32:43
the Bible.
32:43
The
32:44
clarity
32:44
of Scripture
32:44
means that
32:44
the Bible
32:45
is written
32:45
in such
32:45
a way
32:46
that its
32:46
teachings
32:47
are able
32:47
to be
32:48
understood
32:48
by all
32:49
who will
32:49
read it,
32:49
seeking
32:50
God's
32:50
help,
32:51
and being
32:51
willing
32:52
to follow
32:53
it.
32:54
Psalm
32:55
19,
32:55
7 reads,
32:56
The
32:56
law of
32:56
the Lord
32:56
is perfect,
32:57
reviving
32:58
the soul.
32:59
The
32:59
testimony
33:00
of the
33:00
Lord
33:00
is sure,
33:01
making
33:02
wise
33:03
the
33:04
simple.
33:05
I am
33:06
so
33:07
encouraged
33:07
by the
33:08
doctrine
33:08
of
33:08
the
33:08
clarity
33:09
of
33:10
Scripture.
33:11
It
33:11
presses
33:11
me
33:12
to
33:12
teach
33:13
the
33:13
Bible
33:13
to
33:13
my
33:14
children.
33:15
It
33:15
amazes
33:16
me
33:16
already
33:17
some of
33:17
the
33:17
concepts
33:18
that
33:18
they
33:18
are
33:18
wrapping
33:18
their
33:19
minds
33:19
around,
33:19
that I
33:20
am
33:20
fumbling
33:21
through.
33:22
How do I
33:22
teach this
33:23
to a
33:23
five-year-old?
33:25
That they
33:25
seem to be
33:26
already
33:26
picking up
33:28
some of
33:28
these
33:28
glorious
33:29
truths.
33:30
it
33:32
means
33:33
that the
33:33
person
33:33
who
33:33
has
33:34
just
33:34
come
33:35
out
33:35
from
33:35
underneath
33:36
a
33:36
bridge
33:36
in
33:36
Atlanta
33:37
and
33:37
is
33:37
still
33:38
going
33:39
through
33:39
drug
33:39
addiction
33:40
withdrawals
33:41
can pick
33:41
up the
33:41
Bible
33:42
and have
33:43
it
33:43
speak
33:43
to his
33:44
heart
33:44
and he
33:45
can
33:45
respond
33:45
in
33:45
faith
33:46
to it.
33:49
Now,
33:49
as we
33:50
consider
33:50
the
33:51
clarity
33:51
of
33:51
Scripture,
33:52
some of
33:52
your
33:52
minds
33:52
may
33:53
think,
33:53
then why
33:53
do
33:54
so many
33:54
people
33:54
think
33:54
so
33:55
many
33:55
different
33:55
things
33:56
about
33:56
the
33:57
Bible?
34:00
Simply,
34:01
we could
34:01
take a
34:02
bunch of
34:02
the
34:02
errors
34:02
of
34:02
the
34:03
Bible
34:03
and
34:03
just
34:03
say
34:03
they're
34:03
errors.
34:04
People
34:05
don't
34:05
translate
34:05
the
34:06
Bible.
34:06
They
34:06
don't
34:06
understand
34:07
it.
34:07
They
34:08
may
34:08
not
34:08
be
34:08
in
34:08
the
34:08
faith.
34:09
They're
34:09
not
34:09
faithful
34:10
readers
34:11
of
34:11
their
34:11
Bible.
34:12
They're
34:12
not
34:12
obedient
34:12
to
34:13
the
34:13
call
34:13
of
34:14
the
34:14
Bible.
34:14
But
34:14
some
34:15
of
34:15
the
34:15
nuances,
34:16
some
34:16
of
34:16
us
34:17
denominationally
34:18
!
34:18
We're
34:18
so
34:19
close
34:19
in
34:19
so
34:19
many
34:20
ways,
34:20
yet
34:26
one
34:26
thing,
34:27
and
34:28
our
34:28
translative
34:29
errors
34:29
are
34:29
ours,
34:30
not
34:30
the
34:30
Bible's.
34:33
So
34:33
the
34:33
problem
34:34
is that
34:34
we're
34:34
humans,
34:35
and
34:35
we're
34:35
working
34:36
out
34:36
some
34:37
of
34:37
the
34:37
complexities
34:38
of
34:38
the
34:38
Scripture,
34:39
but
34:40
still the
34:40
clarity
34:40
of
34:41
Scripture
34:41
as a
34:42
doctrine
34:43
stands.
34:44
We
34:44
can
34:44
know
34:45
how
34:45
it
34:45
is
34:46
where
34:46
to
34:46
be
34:46
saved,
34:47
how
34:47
it
34:47
is
34:48
where
34:48
to
34:48
follow
34:48
God.
34:50
The
34:51
necessity
34:51
of
34:51
Scripture.
34:53
The
34:53
necessity
34:53
of
34:54
Scripture
34:54
means that
34:54
the Bible
34:54
is
34:55
necessary
34:55
for
34:55
knowing
34:56
the
34:56
gospel,
34:57
for
34:58
maintaining
34:58
spiritual
34:59
life,
35:00
and for
35:00
knowing
35:01
God's
35:01
will,
35:02
but
35:03
is not
35:04
necessary
35:04
for
35:05
knowing
35:05
that
35:05
God
35:05
exists,
35:06
or for
35:07
knowing
35:07
something
35:08
about
35:08
God's
35:09
character
35:09
and
35:10
moral
35:10
laws.
35:11
These
35:11
things
35:11
can be
35:11
observed
35:12
in the
35:12
world
35:12
around
35:13
us,
35:13
but
35:13
it
35:14
is
35:14
necessary
35:14
for
35:15
knowing
35:15
the
35:15
gospel,
35:17
for
35:17
maintaining
35:17
spiritual
35:18
life,
35:18
and for
35:19
knowing
35:19
God's
35:20
will.
35:21
So
35:21
for
35:21
practices
35:21
of
35:22
faith,
35:22
the
35:22
Bible
35:23
is
35:23
necessary.
35:25
Romans
35:26
10,
35:26
17,
35:26
so faith
35:27
comes from
35:28
hearing,
35:29
and hearing
35:29
through the
35:31
word of
35:31
Christ,
35:31
either spoken
35:32
or picked
35:33
up and
35:34
read.
35:34
This is the
35:35
way that
35:35
faith is
35:36
produced in
35:36
us,
35:37
both saving
35:37
faith and
35:38
continuing
35:38
faith.
35:40
Scripture
35:40
is necessary
35:41
for that.
35:43
The
35:44
sufficiency
35:44
of Scripture,
35:45
this is one
35:46
of my
35:46
favorites,
35:47
the
35:49
sufficiency
35:49
of Scripture
35:50
means
35:50
that
35:51
Scripture
35:51
contained
35:52
all the
35:53
words of
35:54
God
35:54
He
35:55
intended
35:55
His
35:55
people
35:56
to
35:56
have
35:57
at
35:57
each
35:58
stage
35:58
of
35:59
redemptive
35:59
history,
36:01
and that
36:01
it now
36:02
contains
36:02
all the
36:03
words of
36:04
God
36:04
we need
36:05
for
36:05
salvation,
36:06
for
36:07
trusting
36:07
Him
36:07
perfectly,
36:08
and for
36:09
obeying
36:09
Him
36:09
perfectly.
36:11
So,
36:11
the
36:11
revelation
36:12
unfolded
36:13
to
36:13
God's
36:14
people,
36:15
and it
36:15
was
36:15
sufficient
36:16
at
36:16
each
36:16
of
36:17
those
36:17
stages
36:17
of
36:18
its
36:18
unfolding,
36:20
as it
36:20
was
36:20
delivered
36:20
across
36:21
time.
36:22
But now,
36:23
we find
36:24
ourselves
36:24
with a
36:25
clothed
36:25
canon,
36:26
right?
36:26
The
36:27
Scriptures
36:27
have been
36:27
clothed,
36:28
66
36:28
books,
36:29
this is
36:29
the
36:29
canonized
36:30
Bible
36:30
of the
36:30
Christian
36:31
church,
36:31
I'm
36:31
going to
36:31
make a
36:31
case
36:32
for that
36:32
to you
36:32
in brief
36:33
in a
36:34
moment.
36:35
But this
36:36
is ours,
36:36
we pick
36:36
it up,
36:37
it gives
36:37
us
36:37
everything
36:37
we need,
36:38
it's
36:38
sufficient
36:39
in every
36:39
way for
36:40
salvation,
36:41
for trusting
36:42
Him
36:42
perfectly,
36:42
and for
36:45
God.
36:46
And beloved,
36:46
I say too
36:47
often in
36:48
our church
36:49
leadership,
36:50
and in our
36:50
church
36:50
membership,
36:52
in a
36:53
general way,
36:54
that this
36:54
just gets put
36:55
up on the
36:55
shelf as
36:55
another
36:56
book,
36:57
just gets
36:58
slid up
36:58
on the
36:58
shelf,
36:59
and there's
36:59
so many
37:00
books that
37:00
tell you
37:01
how things
37:01
ought to
37:02
be done,
37:02
what it
37:03
looks like
37:03
to follow
37:04
Christ,
37:06
and so
37:06
many of
37:07
those
37:07
err.
37:09
Now,
37:09
I am a
37:09
reader of
37:10
books,
37:10
I love
37:12
books,
37:13
my goal
37:14
every year
37:14
is to read
37:15
50 books,
37:16
which means
37:17
I think my
37:18
high score
37:19
is 32
37:20
right now,
37:21
I am not
37:22
on track to
37:22
meet that
37:23
this year,
37:23
but maybe
37:24
I'll be
37:24
able to
37:24
do some
37:25
catching up
37:25
this summer,
37:26
I love
37:27
to read,
37:29
the only
37:30
books worth
37:30
reading are
37:32
rich in
37:33
scripture,
37:33
they point
37:34
us back
37:35
to the
37:35
Bible,
37:36
they're just
37:36
helping us
37:37
better comprehend
37:38
what the
37:39
Bible has
37:39
to say,
37:40
right?
37:41
Topically,
37:41
specifically,
37:42
you pick up a
37:43
book on a
37:43
good topic,
37:44
and it's
37:44
pulling together
37:45
the scripture
37:45
for you,
37:46
and laying
37:47
out the
37:47
theme for
37:47
you,
37:48
as is
37:48
presented in
37:49
all of
37:50
the Bible.
37:52
But the
37:52
scripture
37:53
itself is
37:54
sufficient.
37:56
I am
37:56
thankful that
37:58
I,
37:58
and this is
37:59
not an
37:59
anti-seminary
38:00
pitch,
38:01
but I'm
38:01
thankful that
38:01
I didn't
38:02
go to
38:02
seminary,
38:03
because it
38:03
made me
38:04
really desperate
38:05
to know
38:06
what the
38:06
Bible said.
38:07
I just
38:07
had no
38:08
clue what
38:08
we were
38:08
doing when
38:09
we started
38:09
this,
38:10
but I
38:10
had this
38:10
great manual,
38:11
and it
38:13
had all
38:14
the answers
38:14
in it
38:14
for how
38:15
we needed
38:15
to conduct
38:16
ourselves
38:16
as a
38:17
church,
38:18
and for
38:18
myself as
38:19
a pastor.
38:21
So the
38:21
sufficiency of
38:22
scripture is
38:22
extremely
38:23
precious to
38:25
me.
38:27
Revelation
38:27
chapter 22,
38:29
verses 18
38:30
and 19,
38:31
this is the
38:31
very end
38:32
of the
38:33
canon,
38:33
the last
38:33
chapter of
38:34
the book
38:34
of Revelation.
38:35
I warn
38:38
everyone who
38:39
hears the
38:39
words of
38:40
the
38:40
prophecy
38:40
of this
38:41
book,
38:42
if anyone
38:42
adds to
38:43
them,
38:43
God will
38:43
add to
38:44
him the
38:44
plagues
38:44
described
38:45
in this
38:45
book.
38:46
And if
38:46
anyone
38:47
takes away
38:47
from the
38:47
words of
38:48
the book
38:48
of this
38:48
prophecy,
38:49
God will
38:50
take away
38:50
his share
38:51
in the
38:51
tree of
38:52
life and
38:52
in the
38:52
holy city,
38:53
which are
38:54
described
38:54
in this
38:55
book.
38:56
Now,
38:56
of course,
38:57
the primary
38:58
reference of
38:58
these two
38:59
verses is to
39:00
the book
39:00
of Revelation.
39:02
But its
39:02
placement at
39:03
the end of
39:04
the canon
39:04
I think
39:05
is incredibly
39:06
significant.
39:07
And the
39:08
placement of
39:08
these two
39:09
verses in
39:09
the last
39:10
chapter of
39:10
our
39:11
scripture is
39:12
significant.
39:14
And I
39:14
think that it
39:15
yields a
39:15
second application
39:16
to the
39:18
whole of
39:19
the Christian
39:20
Bible.
39:21
So the
39:22
Bereans
39:22
received the
39:24
word with
39:24
all eagerness,
39:25
right?
39:25
They were
39:25
teachable and
39:27
they were
39:27
examining the
39:28
scriptures daily
39:29
to see if
39:30
these things
39:30
were so.
39:33
So what
39:34
is Luke
39:34
referring to
39:35
when he
39:36
says the
39:36
scriptures?
39:37
They were
39:37
examining the
39:39
scriptures.
39:39
What does
39:40
he mean?
39:41
He is
39:42
referring to
39:43
the Jewish
39:44
canon,
39:45
right?
39:46
What is
39:47
called the
39:47
Tanakh.
39:49
If you're
39:49
meeting with
39:50
an unbelieving
39:51
Jew,
39:52
don't call it
39:53
the Old
39:53
Testament.
39:53
That's super
39:54
offensive to
39:54
them.
39:56
Call it the
39:56
Tanakh.
39:58
The 39
39:59
books of
40:00
our Old
40:00
Testament.
40:01
So it's our
40:01
Old Testament,
40:02
39 books.
40:03
this is what
40:04
he's referring
40:05
to.
40:06
Turn with me,
40:07
if you will,
40:07
to your table
40:08
of contents
40:09
in your
40:09
copy of
40:10
God's
40:10
Word.
40:11
If you were
40:12
doing this
40:12
digitally,
40:13
I don't
40:13
know if
40:14
you have a
40:14
table of
40:14
contents on
40:16
your digital
40:17
Bible.
40:17
I'm not
40:17
sure.
40:18
sure.
40:18
I'm not
40:18
sure.
40:18
I'm not
40:18
sure.
40:18
I'm not
40:18
sure.
40:18
I'm not
40:18
sure.
40:18
I'm not
40:18
sure.
40:18
I'm not
40:18
sure.
40:18
I'm not
40:18
sure.
40:20
So you'll
40:36
see in your
40:37
table of
40:37
contents,
40:38
the Old
40:38
Testament,
40:38
the New
40:39
Testament,
40:39
the Old
40:39
Testament.
40:40
They're not
40:41
numbered for
40:41
you,
40:41
but there
40:42
are 39
40:42
books in
40:43
the Old
40:43
Testament.
40:44
If you do
40:45
a quick
40:45
count and
40:46
you have
40:46
more than
40:46
39 books
40:47
in your
40:47
Old
40:47
Testament,
40:48
you need
40:48
to get a
40:49
new copy
40:49
of the
40:49
Bible,
40:51
it's possible,
40:52
it is possible
40:52
that you would
40:53
have a whole
40:54
set of books
40:55
we won't talk
40:56
about right
40:56
now,
40:56
but they
40:57
don't belong
40:57
in the
40:58
canon of
40:59
Christian
40:59
Scripture.
41:00
39 is
41:01
going to
41:01
begin with
41:02
Genesis
41:02
and end
41:04
with the
41:04
book of
41:05
Malachi.
41:08
So that
41:08
should be
41:09
the way,
41:10
just out of
41:10
curiosity,
41:11
this is
41:12
getting very
41:12
lecturing,
41:12
I'm sorry,
41:13
anybody have
41:14
something that's
41:14
different?
41:15
Are you willing
41:15
to put your
41:15
hand up?
41:17
I'd probably
41:17
not,
41:17
I'd probably
41:17
just made
41:18
you unwilling
41:18
to put
41:19
your hand
41:19
up.
41:20
Okay,
41:21
come tell
41:22
me later
41:22
if you
41:22
do,
41:22
I'd love
41:23
to see
41:23
what you've
41:24
got going
41:25
on there.
41:26
Okay,
41:26
so this is
41:27
the order
41:28
of our
41:29
Old
41:29
Testament.
41:30
Many
41:30
people don't
41:31
know this,
41:31
it's not
41:32
chronological,
41:33
it's ordered
41:35
by types
41:35
of book,
41:36
and the
41:36
way we
41:37
got this
41:37
order was
41:38
from the
41:38
Septuagint,
41:39
which was
41:39
the Greek
41:40
translation of
41:41
the Old
41:41
Testament,
41:42
which is
41:43
carried into
41:44
our day
41:45
because in
41:46
the early
41:46
church,
41:47
they were
41:47
primarily
41:48
using the
41:48
Septuagint as
41:50
their copy of
41:50
the Old
41:51
Testament
41:51
scriptures.
41:52
So that's
41:52
why we end
41:53
up with
41:53
this order.
41:55
But this was
41:55
not the order
41:56
of the canon
41:57
in Jesus'
41:58
day.
41:59
You may not
42:00
be aware of
42:01
that.
42:01
I wasn't
42:02
until some
42:03
years ago.
42:06
Jesus'
42:06
Bible,
42:07
Jesus'
42:07
Old Testament
42:08
was divided
42:08
up into
42:09
three sections.
42:10
Torah,
42:12
which was
42:12
the law,
42:13
Genesis,
42:13
Exodus,
42:14
Leviticus,
42:14
Numbers,
42:15
Deuteronomy,
42:16
the Nebaim,
42:17
which is the
42:17
prophets,
42:19
Joshua,
42:19
Judges,
42:20
1 and 2 Samuel,
42:21
1 and 2 Kings,
42:23
Isaiah,
42:24
Jeremiah,
42:25
Ezekiel,
42:26
and then the
42:26
minor prophets,
42:27
which were
42:27
treated as
42:28
one book,
42:29
which in
42:30
our Old
42:31
Testament are
42:32
twelve,
42:33
Hosea,
42:33
Joel,
42:34
Amos,
42:34
Obadiah,
42:35
Jonah,
42:35
Micah,
42:36
Nahum,
42:36
Habakkuk,
42:37
Zephaniah,
42:38
Haggai,
42:38
Zechariah,
42:39
Malachi,
42:41
okay,
42:41
and then
42:42
the Chetuvim,
42:44
or the
42:44
writings,
42:44
which is called
42:45
the writings,
42:46
and this is
42:47
in the order
42:48
that it would
42:48
have been,
42:49
Psalms,
42:50
Job,
42:50
Proverbs,
42:51
Ruth,
42:51
Song of
42:52
Solomon,
42:52
Ecclesiastics,
42:53
!
43:09
would have began
43:09
with Genesis,
43:11
and would have
43:12
ended with
43:13
2 Chronicles,
43:15
okay,
43:15
you're tracking
43:15
my logic,
43:16
just a different
43:16
order,
43:17
same 39 books,
43:18
but in a different
43:19
order,
43:20
okay,
43:20
and here's where
43:21
it gets really
43:21
good,
43:22
turn to Luke
43:22
chapter 11,
43:24
verse 49,
43:25
and the case
43:41
I'm making
43:41
in summary
43:42
is this was
43:42
the scriptures,
43:45
now our Old
43:45
Testament,
43:46
that the Bereans
43:47
used,
43:48
and this is why
43:48
we still use
43:49
these 39 books,
43:51
in a different
43:51
order,
43:52
right,
43:52
but that's okay,
43:53
that's not
43:54
significant,
43:55
but these are
43:55
the 39 that
43:57
are canonized
43:58
in our Old
43:59
Testament,
43:59
this is wonderful,
44:00
Luke 11,
44:01
verse 49
44:01
through 51,
44:04
Jesus speaking,
44:05
therefore also
44:05
the wisdom
44:06
of God said,
44:08
I will send
44:08
them prophets
44:09
and apostles,
44:11
some of whom
44:12
they will kill
44:12
and persecute,
44:14
so that the
44:14
blood of all
44:15
the prophets
44:15
shed from the
44:16
foundation of
44:17
the world
44:17
may be charged
44:18
against this
44:19
generation,
44:20
here's the
44:20
significant
44:21
statement,
44:22
from the
44:22
blood of
44:23
Abel,
44:23
to the
44:24
blood of
44:25
Zechariah,
44:26
who perished
44:27
between the
44:27
altar and
44:27
the sanctuary,
44:28
yes,
44:29
I tell you,
44:29
it will be
44:30
required of
44:30
this generation,
44:32
so Jesus
44:33
references two
44:34
prophets who
44:35
were martyred,
44:37
right,
44:37
he starts with
44:38
Abel,
44:39
this is of
44:39
Cain and
44:40
Abel,
44:40
and it's
44:41
likely that
44:42
the explanation
44:43
of why he'd
44:44
be calling him
44:45
a prophet,
44:46
right,
44:47
would be
44:47
Genesis 4,
44:47
10,
44:48
and the
44:48
Lord said,
44:48
what have
44:49
you done?
44:50
The voice
44:51
of your
44:51
brother's blood
44:52
is crying
44:53
to me
44:53
from the
44:54
ground,
44:55
right,
44:55
so there's
44:56
a proclamation
44:57
being made
44:58
against Cain
44:59
by the blood
45:01
of Abel,
45:01
right,
45:01
so it's likely
45:02
this is why
45:02
Jesus is
45:03
referring to
45:03
him as a
45:05
prophet,
45:06
Genesis 4,
45:07
verse 10,
45:09
okay,
45:11
chronologically,
45:12
the last
45:13
prophet martyred
45:14
was Uriah,
45:17
some 200 years
45:19
after the
45:20
Zechariah that
45:21
Jesus refers
45:21
to here,
45:22
chronologically,
45:24
it's Uriah,
45:25
you can read
45:26
about that in
45:26
Jeremiah chapter
45:27
26,
45:28
right,
45:29
Jesus instead
45:30
talks about
45:31
Zechariah who's
45:32
different than
45:32
the prophet who
45:33
wrote the book
45:34
Zechariah,
45:35
it's a different
45:35
Zechariah,
45:36
in 2nd
45:37
Chronicles 24,
45:39
verse 20 and
45:40
21,
45:41
then the spirit
45:41
of God
45:41
clothed
45:42
Zechariah the
45:43
son of
45:43
Jehoiada the
45:44
priest,
45:45
and he stood
45:45
above the people
45:46
and said to
45:46
them,
45:47
thus says God,
45:48
why do you
45:48
break the
45:49
commandments of
45:49
the Lord so
45:50
that you
45:50
cannot prosper?
45:52
Because you
45:52
have forsaken
45:53
the Lord,
45:53
he has forsaken
45:54
you,
45:55
but they
45:55
conspired against
45:56
him and by
45:57
command of the
45:57
king they
45:58
stoned him
45:59
with stones
46:00
in the court
46:01
of the house
46:01
of the Lord.
46:02
So Zechariah
46:03
is stoned to
46:04
death in 2nd
46:05
Chronicles 24,
46:06
verse 21.
46:09
So the
46:10
significance of
46:10
that is that
46:12
Jesus' Bible,
46:13
remember the
46:14
order is
46:14
different,
46:15
it starts with
46:15
the book of
46:15
Genesis,
46:16
it ends with
46:17
the book of
46:18
2nd
46:19
Chronicles.
46:21
So he's not
46:21
speaking in a
46:23
timeline in
46:23
chronological terms,
46:24
he's speaking in
46:25
their Bible.
46:26
It would be like
46:27
if we said from
46:28
Genesis to
46:30
Revelation,
46:30
the entire book
46:31
is true,
46:32
right?
46:33
He's bookending
46:34
it, right,
46:35
for their
46:35
understanding and
46:36
we lose that
46:37
because we don't
46:38
have the Jewish
46:39
canon in that
46:41
order in our
46:42
hands any longer.
46:43
So Jesus'
46:44
scripture,
46:45
the scripture of
46:46
his day,
46:47
now our
46:48
Old Testament,
46:49
right?
46:49
It's why we
46:50
take it as the
46:50
Old Testament
46:51
Bible.
46:52
So that's
46:52
incredible,
46:53
right?
46:53
I mean,
46:53
it's an amazing
46:54
proof.
46:56
A Peculiar
46:57
Glory is a
46:57
John Piper book
46:58
you should read
46:59
if you're
46:59
interested.
47:00
You should
47:01
just read it,
47:01
whether you're
47:02
interested or
47:02
not,
47:02
it'd be good
47:02
for you to
47:04
do that.
47:06
Really wonderful
47:07
he makes that
47:07
case in longer
47:08
form than I
47:09
just did for
47:10
you, right?
47:10
So we have
47:11
the Old
47:11
Testament,
47:12
it was Jesus'
47:13
Old Testament,
47:14
that's good
47:14
enough for me,
47:15
not what of
47:17
the New Testament.
47:17
It gets a little
47:18
more complicated
47:18
and I can't
47:19
make the full
47:20
case to you
47:20
this morning,
47:22
both for the
47:22
sake of time
47:23
and preparation,
47:24
but in brief
47:26
I want to give
47:26
you this,
47:27
the additional
47:27
27 books,
47:29
the 27 books
47:29
of our New
47:30
Testament,
47:31
right,
47:31
that we accept
47:33
into the canon,
47:34
right?
47:35
How do we
47:35
know,
47:35
right?
47:37
Too much to
47:37
say,
47:38
so let me
47:39
give you this
47:39
single affirmation
47:40
and commend
47:41
to you
47:42
some further
47:42
study on
47:43
it.
47:45
We accept
47:46
the canonicity
47:48
of the New
47:48
Testament,
47:49
right?
47:49
We accept
47:49
the 27 books
47:51
as the Word
47:51
of God
47:52
because of
47:52
their
47:53
apostolicity,
47:55
apostolicity,
47:57
right?
47:58
Not simply
47:58
meaning written
47:59
by an
48:00
apostle or
48:02
in close
48:03
association
48:04
with an
48:04
apostle,
48:05
although it
48:05
does mean
48:06
those things,
48:06
right?
48:07
The book
48:07
was either
48:07
written by
48:08
an apostle
48:08
or in
48:10
close
48:11
association
48:11
with an
48:12
apostle
48:12
like Luke,
48:13
right?
48:13
Wrote the
48:13
Gospel of
48:14
Luke and
48:14
the book
48:15
of Acts.
48:15
Not an
48:16
apostle,
48:17
but in
48:17
close
48:18
association.
48:19
Was getting
48:19
first-hand
48:20
information
48:21
from an
48:22
apostle.
48:23
But it
48:23
doesn't just
48:24
mean that,
48:25
but the
48:25
words of
48:25
God
48:26
written by
48:27
inspired
48:28
men.
48:29
So,
48:29
we're trying
48:30
to understand
48:30
how is it
48:31
that we
48:31
figure out
48:33
apostolicity?
48:34
Like,
48:34
how do we
48:34
know that
48:35
God inspired
48:36
these men
48:36
that wrote
48:37
these
48:38
books?
48:38
Paul writes
48:39
this in
48:39
1 Corinthians
48:40
chapter 2
48:41
verses 11
48:42
through 13.
48:44
For who
48:44
knows a
48:45
person's
48:45
thoughts
48:45
except the
48:46
spirit of
48:46
that person
48:47
which is
48:47
in him?
48:49
So,
48:49
also,
48:49
no one
48:49
comprehends
48:50
the thoughts
48:51
of God
48:51
except the
48:52
spirit of
48:52
God.
48:53
Now,
48:54
we have
48:54
received
48:55
not the
48:55
spirit of
48:56
the world,
48:56
but the
48:57
spirit who
48:57
is from
48:58
God,
48:59
that we
48:59
might
48:59
understand
49:00
the things
49:01
freely
49:01
given us
49:02
by
49:03
God.
49:04
So,
49:05
we,
49:06
he's talking
49:06
about the
49:06
apostles,
49:08
have received
49:08
the spirit
49:09
of God
49:09
so that
49:10
we can
49:11
understand
49:11
the things
49:12
given to
49:12
us by
49:13
God.
49:13
Verse 13,
49:14
and we
49:15
impart this,
49:17
we teach
49:17
this,
49:19
in words,
49:20
not taught
49:21
by human
49:21
wisdom,
49:22
but taught
49:22
by the
49:23
spirit,
49:24
interpreting
49:24
spiritual truths
49:26
to those
49:27
who are
49:28
spiritual.
49:29
spiritual.
49:30
So,
49:30
there's a
49:31
spiritual
49:31
activity
49:32
happening,
49:33
this double
49:34
miracle of
49:35
the inspiration
49:36
in the
49:36
writing as
49:37
well as
49:38
in the
49:39
understanding.
49:42
So,
49:42
how do we
49:42
know that
49:42
our New
49:43
Testament
49:43
canon is
49:44
the words
49:45
of God?
49:47
The process
49:48
of canonization
49:49
was governed
49:50
by
49:52
spiritual
49:54
reality
49:54
being
49:55
spiritually
49:56
discerned
49:57
by the
49:58
church.
49:59
Again,
50:00
I'm going to
50:00
read to you
50:00
from A Peculiar
50:01
Glory,
50:02
and just see
50:02
if you can
50:02
track me
50:03
here.
50:04
Michael Kruger
50:05
wrote a book
50:05
recently called
50:06
Canon Revisited,
50:07
Establishing the
50:08
Origins and
50:08
Authority of
50:09
the New
50:09
Testament
50:09
books,
50:11
wrote this,
50:13
The apostles
50:14
were mouthpieces
50:15
of Christ
50:16
and were given
50:16
the task of
50:17
delivering and
50:18
preserving this
50:19
redemptive
50:19
message,
50:20
which was
50:21
originally delivered
50:21
orally,
50:22
but eventually
50:22
was embodied
50:23
in a more
50:24
permanent
50:24
written form.
50:26
The New
50:26
Testament books
50:27
were considered
50:28
authoritative
50:29
not because
50:30
the church
50:30
declared them
50:31
to be so,
50:33
or even
50:33
because they
50:34
were written
50:34
directly by
50:35
an apostle,
50:36
but because
50:37
they were
50:37
understood
50:38
to bear
50:39
the essential
50:40
apostolic
50:41
deposit.
50:44
For this
50:44
reason,
50:45
Ritterbos,
50:46
who was a
50:47
Dutch
50:47
theologian,
50:48
died in
50:49
2007,
50:50
is able to
50:51
assert,
50:51
and I love
50:52
this,
50:52
in its
50:53
redemptive
50:53
historical sense,
50:54
the canon
50:55
is not the
50:55
product of
50:56
the church,
50:57
rather,
50:58
the church
50:59
is the
51:00
product of
51:01
the canon.
51:03
Or as the
51:03
New Testament
51:04
scholar F.F.
51:04
Bruce said
51:05
a generation
51:06
earlier,
51:07
the New Testament
51:08
canon was not
51:09
demarcated by
51:10
the arbitrary
51:11
degree of any
51:12
church council.
51:14
When at last
51:15
a church council,
51:16
the Senate of
51:16
Hippo in
51:17
AD 393 listed
51:18
the 27 books
51:19
of the New
51:20
Testament,
51:21
it did not
51:21
confer upon
51:22
them any
51:23
authority which
51:24
they did not
51:25
already possess,
51:26
but simply
51:27
recorded their
51:28
previously
51:28
established
51:29
canonicity.
51:31
So the
51:32
letters of
51:32
the apostles
51:33
and those
51:33
who were
51:34
close to
51:34
the apostles
51:34
had been
51:35
active in
51:36
the lives
51:36
of the
51:37
church.
51:37
Here's Nathan's
51:38
simple summary
51:38
of everything
51:39
I just said.
51:41
It had
51:42
proved out
51:43
its God
51:44
inspiration.
51:46
It had been
51:46
at work
51:47
in the
51:48
church.
51:49
And Piper's
51:50
book,
51:51
A Peculiar
51:51
Glory,
51:52
is titled
51:52
That because
51:53
of the
51:53
way that
51:54
the scriptures
51:54
are affirmed
51:55
to those
51:55
who believe
51:55
in Christ.
51:56
That we
51:57
see it
51:57
living and
51:58
active in
51:59
our own
51:59
lives.
52:00
That we
52:00
pick it
52:01
up and
52:01
it causes
52:02
us to
52:03
magnify
52:03
this Jesus
52:04
who we
52:04
cannot
52:05
tangibly
52:06
touch and
52:07
see.
52:08
A Peculiar
52:08
Glory,
52:09
that this
52:10
book comes
52:11
to life
52:11
to those
52:12
who are
52:13
gods.
52:16
And so
52:16
we trust
52:17
that process
52:18
as much,
52:20
much later
52:20
New Testament
52:21
followers.
52:23
And so
52:23
we have
52:24
the closed
52:25
canon,
52:25
the 49
52:26
books of
52:26
the Old
52:27
Testaments
52:27
and 27
52:28
books of
52:29
the New
52:30
Testament.
52:30
And beloved,
52:31
we should
52:32
know them.
52:34
We should
52:35
read them
52:35
and we
52:36
should meditate
52:37
upon them
52:38
and we
52:38
should
52:39
memorize
52:40
them.
52:41
We should
52:41
have our
52:42
lives
52:42
and our
52:43
church
52:44
and our
52:45
community
52:45
and our
52:46
world
52:47
shaped by
52:48
them.
52:49
Let us
52:49
love
52:50
this
52:51
treasure.
52:52
This is
52:52
a gift.
52:53
It's been
52:53
so generously
52:55
given to
52:56
this generation.
52:57
We have
52:58
ample
52:59
resources
53:00
to know
53:01
God
53:02
by His
53:03
Word.
53:04
And let us
53:05
be like the
53:06
Bereans,
53:07
receiving the
53:07
Word with
53:08
all eagerness
53:08
and examining
53:10
the Scriptures
53:10
daily to see
53:11
if these
53:12
things are
53:13
so.
53:14
Let's pray
53:14
together.
53:14
Let's pray
53:14
together.