Scripture, Jesus, and Your Heart!

Luke 24:13-35

The Setting of Scripture

The events of the week

The events in Scripture - generations, millenia

400 years silence between Malachi & NT

~ 1,000 years back to David’s reign

~ 2,000 years back to Abraham

The Contemporary Application

The claim is not that the 66 books of the Bible are merely of such a higher quality literature so as to have the broadest ability to be a helpful lens through which life could be viewed.

The claim is that these writings are specifically and particularly inspired and preserved by the One True and Living God for no less purpose than the revelation of Himself, His creation, and His will, and as such can, has been, is, and should be applied to the lives and realities of this life in every generation since its writing.

The Subject of Scripture

Moses - Pentateuch

Prophets - (Joshua - 2 Kings, Isaiah - Malachi)

All Jesus all the time! - v27

John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

Colossians 1:16-18 “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”

If we are not reading Holy Scripture to be Christologically focused, it is like reading a cookbook and denying the subject is food.

This does take effort on our part.

It also takes God’s enabling / illumining (lighting the way)

The Effect of Scripture

Understanding - when illumined by Christ

Their Burning Hearts

Manifold Purpose

Isaiah 55:11 “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

And now a very curious thing happened. None of the children knew who Aslan was any more than you do; but the moment the Beaver had spoken [his name] everyone felt quite different.... At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its inside. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer. - C.S. Lewis Ch7 The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe

What effect is Scripture having on your heart right now?

None? You are unaware, or else avoiding it?

Are you gaining needed comfort and strength?

Are you gaining understanding of God, and your standing with Him?

Are you being corrected and convicted about things that need to change in your life?

Are you being drawn to a loving rescue; to forgiveness and acceptance?