A COLLECTION OF SERMONS AND ARTICLES
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A COLLECTION OF SERMONS AND ARTICLES
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Bible Study IThe Word of God
Sermon Phil Hopwood,July 9th 1994, July 18th 1998
SCRIPTURE READING:2 Timothy 3:14-17
There is a story about a …teacher who quizzed a group of college-bound high-school [students]… on the Bible. The quiz preceded a "Bible as Literature" class he planned to teach at … one of the better public schools in the nation. Among the most unusual answers from his students were: "Sodom and Gomorrah were lovers" and "Jezebel was Ahab’s donkey." Other students thought that the four horsemen appeared "on the Acropolis," that the New Testament Gospels were written by Matthew, Mark, "Luther," and John, that Eve was created "from an apple,"and that Jesus was "baptized by Moses." The answer that took the misinformation prize was given by a fello who was accacemically in the top 5 percent of the graduating class. The question "What was Golgotha?" The answer: "Golgotha was the name of the giant who slew the apostle David." 1 During the trial, one thought he would make a great impresion on the jury by quoting from the Bible. So he said, concerning his opponent’s client, "We have it on the highest authority that ‘All that a man has will he give for his skin.’" The other lawyer knew the Bible better. He said, "I am very much impresed by the fact that my distinguished colleague here regards as the highest authority the one who said, ‘All that a man has will he give for his skin.’ You will find that this saying comes from the Book of Job and the one who utters it is the devil. And that is who he regards as the highest authority!" 3 "They exchanged gifts and made merry… (Rev. 11:10)." The context of the verse, which describes anything but what it appeared to mean on the Christmas greeting, is rejoicing over the death of God’s two witnesses at the hand of the beast. 4 The story is told of a small fishing village where, for many years, a flock of sea gulls fed on the scraps the fishermen left. All was fine and good for the seagulls until evenutally the fishing became poor and the villagers moved down the coast to a location where fish were plentiful. The sea gulls did not follow the fishermen and--because they had lived off the scraps of the fishermen and had never learned to feed themselves—the entire flock of birds died. Believers who feed only on what others teach them are like these foolish see gulls. 5 Over the series I’d like to discuss
BODY:First we ought to sort out some things about the book we are talking about... The hiddenness of a transcendant God can be broken only if He chooses to reveal Himself to mankind. God is not accessible to the sight or understanding of...man, so far is He above man in His essential being. Moreover, man’s inability to attain the knowedge of God by his unaided powers is reinforced in the effects of sin, which have rendered him unable to recognize and acknowledge God even when He does reveal Himself, unless at the same time God enlightens his mind to a true perception of divine realities. Furthermore it is...likely, if there is a supreme personal God upon whom the world depends for its existence, that He will make Himself known to men rather than leave them to search vainly in the dark. Revelation then is by definition, the opposite of gaining knowledge by scientific experiment, or philosophic speculation. 6 The term "revelation" means intrinsically the disclosure of what was previously unknown. In Judeo-Christian theology the term is used primarily of God’s communication to man of divine truth, that is, his manifestation of himself or of his will. 7
Psalm 19:1 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (NIV) Job 36 & 37 Romans 1:18-21 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -- his eternal power and divine nature -- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (NIV) 15 "Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. 16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." (NIV) 24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 `For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, `We are his offspring.' (NIV) Romans 2:14-15 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) (NIV) By special revelation we mean God’s manifestation of himself to particular persons at definite times and places, enabling those persons to enter into a redemptive relationship with him. 8 The essentials of the biblical view are that the Logos is the divine agent in all revelation. ...The special revelation in sacred history is crowned by the incarnation of the living Word and the inscripturation of the spoken word. 9
The Holy Scriptures comprise the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments. They are the inspired Word of God, the foundation of truth, and the accurate record of God’s revelation to humanity. The Holy Scriptures constitute ultimate authority in all matters of doctrine, and embody the infallible principles that govern all facets of Christian living. 10 ...biblical inspiration is verbal, i.e., the ‘God-breathed’ message of the writer is presented in words, words that were approved by the Holy spirit as they were expressed by the writer. This is not the same as saying that each word was dictated mechanically. The author described in human language what he saw of God’s message, consciously applying his mind to the description and exhortations. The Holy Spirit, however, being the Revealer and motive Force in the process saw to it that adequate words were found by the author. 11 2 Timothy 3:14-17 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NIV)
The special revelation in sacred history is crowned by the incarnation of the living Word... Isaiah 61:1-3 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, {Hebrew; Septuagint the blind} 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion -- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. (NIV) Hebrews 1:1-3 1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (NIV) John 14:6-9 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know {Some early manuscripts If you really have known me, you will know} my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." 8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." 9 Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father'? (NIV) 1 Timothy 2:5 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (NIV)
Special revelation is redemptive revelation. It publishes good tidings that the Holy, merciful God promises salvation as a divine gift to man who cannot save himself (OT) and that he has now fulfilled that promise in the gift of his Son in whom all men are called to believe (NT). The gospel is news that the incarnate Logos has borne the sins of doomed men, has died in their stead, and has risen for their justification. This is the fixed centre of special redemptive revelation.
WHY DO WE STUDY THE BIBLE?Lets look at the key points we read back in 2 Timothy 3:14-17 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NIV)
CONCLUSION: SO WHY STUDY THE BIBLE?
Endnotes: 1 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, Edited by Michael P. Green, 1989, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, p.30 2 Green, p. 28. 3 Green, p. 28-29. 4 Green, p. 32. 5 T.C. Hammond, In Understanding Be Men, revised and edited by David F. Wright, 1968, Inter-Varsity Press, Leicester, England, p. 25. 6 Hammond, p. 25. 7 C.F.H. Henry, article; Revelation, Special, in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, edited by Walter. A Elwell, 1984, Baker Bookhouse Co., Grand Rapids, Mich, p. 946. 8 Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, 1985, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Mich., p. 175. 9 Henry, p. 946. 10 Statement of Beliefs of the Worldwide Church of God, 1993, Worldwide Church of God, p.3 11 Hammond, p. 33. 12 Henry, p. 946. |
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