Why I believe the Bible #4

Why I believe the Bile #4

Why I believe the Bible #4

Psalm 19:1-14

September 24, 2023

READ Text

Introduction:

There are regrets in my life but I am thinking of one particular regret that has caused me to appreciate some small blessings God has given me over the years. I remember where I grew up there was little to no artificial light. We lived in the country, down a long dirt road and back in the trees. Our house was far enough from others that the only competing artificial light was our single barn light. When you walked away from that light, it was like God was showing off. The heavens truly declared His handy work. The stars were the most amazing display of something far bigger. You could see every star, every constellation in full vivid clarity.

I do remember times when it was just Dad and me. When I was young, my dad was not a believer. Oh, he knew there was a God, but he did not recognize that he needed salvation. But, even for a nonbeliever, I remember long talks with Dad and looking up and seeing the billions of small lights reminding us how small we really are. Even for a nonbeliever, Dad would say, Man, God knows what he was doing. Unfortunately, that was the end of the conversation about God. As a little guy, God had called my heart. I was saved and Dad was not. The very sad truth was that we were looking at the same landscape and message from God but hearing two different messages.

This is the last of four messages on Why I Believe The Bible. We have covered many objections and concerns but this last one will serve to close us out. The objection is around the sufficiency of the God’s Word.

The objection: “I don’t believe the Bible because it was written by a bunch of old guys in a time that does not apply to me.”

Before I get into what that objection is really saying, let me handle the objection of authorship here in the introduction. The Word of God has two authors:

The man whom God called to write it (we see the man’s personality but God’s content

a. This is the primary author.

God the HS carrying the author (we see God’s work to unify the 66 books in the same content and core theme which is Christ.

b. This is the secondary author.

2 Peter 1:21 “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

The problem is that critics stop at the “but men spoke from God” and forget about the second half of the verse. “Carried along by the Holy Spirit”. Carried actually means:

Phero: move; progress; carry; bring; drive along; guide; lead into; bring about;

The Holy Spirit pushed and carried along the authors in the direction they should go. That is why the Word of God is not contradictory, or misaligned. The Holy Spirit was actively guiding these men along. You may ask, well what proof do you have? I guess I can’t say this any more clearly. I have proven how it is divine in the last three sermons and today, you will see the final argument, it is 100% sufficient for the believer.

Psalm 19 is the best way to that the Word of God describes its sufficiency. We will be using that word a lot so let’s define what it means to be sufficient.

Sufficient means: “adequate to accomplish a purpose or meet a need”

But what is it sufficient for? What need is it answering?

1. It’s sufficient for knowledge.

Man’s pursuit of knowledge is like a fire. It is never satisfied with burning the status quo. The quest to know has brought some of the most amazing advancements in human history. When a man looks up at the stars, they receive a message.

Psalm 19:1-6

1 The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

2 Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.

3 There is no speech, nor are there words,

whose voice is not heard.

4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun,

5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,

and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,

and its circuit to the end of them,

and there is nothing hidden from its heat. [1]

In this section of the Psalm, there is a specific message being given. It is a message that is made with no words but is very complete. The heavens declare the glory of God. Look at verse 2. Day-to-day pours out speech. David is writing of a beautiful exchange of communication from the author of creation to mankind. The message is screamed and echoed throughout all eternity. It goes through all the earth.

Look closely at verse 4-6. It is interesting how David could write with such amazing planetary accuracy. Kids, what does the earth orbit? Does the sun move? Or, do we move around it? Why does David say, that the sun comes out and is on a circuit? It is an amazing insight for a man who was not blessed with our modern technology! But, I’m not sure we understand how amazing it is.

David, in his writing, is actually showing us that the sun is in it’s own orbit. Did you all know that the sun is in it’s own orbit and it is dragging us (the earth and all the other planets) with it through a larger solar system called the milky way? The sun’s orbit (and ours) is such a huge rotation that it would take 250 million years to complete. But it is in an orbit. Now, when we read these verses, we can see the detail of knowledge that God’s Word possesses.

These are interesting facts, but David’s point in these first 6 verses actually points to another author:

Romans 1:18-20

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

As I sat with my unsaved dad looking at the stars, little did I know that the message he recognized was actually enough to condemn him. You see, verses 1-6 of Psalm 19 are a message that screams at those who are not saved. It is enough to condemn. So, that pigmy in the middle of the Amazon jungle, the message of God’s handy work is enough to recognize the magnitude of God, and the sin of man. No person ever born after Adam was ever born innocent or a state of neutrality. David records that "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me" Psalm 51:5. The Pigmy is not condemned because he never heard the name of Jesus Christ the Son, He is condemned because he rejected the Father. If he never hears of Christ, his stripes in Hell will be fewer for him than the one who tramples the blood of Jesus under foot.

2. It is sufficient for salvation.

You have heard me say, “The Word of God is for the child of God.” Meaning, it revives, makes wise, makes right, makes joy, enlightens, makes clean endures forever.

Psalm 19:12-14

7 The law of the Lord is perfect,

reviving the soul;

the testimony of the Lord is sure,

making wise the simple;

8 the precepts of the Lord are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is pure,

enlightening the eyes;

9 the fear of the Lord is clean,

enduring forever;

the rules of the Lord are true,

and righteous altogether. [2]

This passage can be broken up in 6’s.

Six times we see David write: “OF the Lord”.

Six times we see David make reference to the: Law, Testimony, Precepts, Commandment, Fear (obedience), and the rules.

Six times David shows how it is active: “perfect, making wise, rejoicing, enlightening, enduring, and righteous altogether.”

Six times there is a direct result: “reviving, make wise, creates joy, enlightens, makes clean, provides truth.

Church this is more than just a cool coincidence. There is a very clear application. It is the Word of God hemming in the soul of the child of God. Imagine a sheep pen with six perfectly sealed sides. No wolves to come in and no way sheep get out. The Law of the Lord seals in, revives, makes wise, creates joy, enlightens, endures, and makes righteous throughout eternity. It is perfect, sure, right, pure, clean and right.

For the believer, it is beyond sufficient. Do you want the meaning of your life? It is there. If you want an explanation on how to handle brothers and sisters you disagree with, it’s there. You want an answer to how you handle your kids, it’s there. You want to know the most important answer of all human existence, eternity, it’s there. It’s all here and it’s completely sufficient.

It is sufficiently pointing us all in the same direction.

3. It’s sufficient for conviction.

Going back to sitting in the dark with my dad, he had no conviction at that time. There was no visibility of sin or conviction that something was amiss. But, for me as a child, I recognized that something was off. There was a distance between me and God that I knew needed fixing. You see, when a child of God comes in contact with God’s law, and His message, we become keenly aware of our sin.

Psalm 19:12-14

12 Who can discern his errors?

Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;

let them not have dominion over me!

Then I shall be blameless,

and innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. [3]

David comes face to face with his sin. And when we read these words and walk outside and fill our lungs with GOD’s air, we too must recognize what David does. David recognized even before the time of Christ, the need for Christ. The need for an answer to his sin. This recognition is a true gift from God. It is NOT because of David! If we think that David came to this conclusion on his own, we have missed a vital understanding of the scriptures (and the doctrines of Grace).

1 Corinthians 2:6-8

6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written, [4]

The mature is the one who is God has revealed the need for salvation. The wisdom that Paul is referring to is NOT of man because that wisdom passes away. That secret that Paul is talking about is the GOSPEL. Referring to the Gospel, no man could have ever come up with this on their own! God makes it so simple, that the proud can’t step over this. This message destroys the pride of life and reveals that no think tank, no expert, no ruler, no president, congress or state can understand. But it is given to whom God has chosen, the simple.

And verse 14&15

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.[5]

The natural person is the one who is not born of God. Their conscience may convict them that I shouldn’t rob Jacksons today, but that is as far as it goes. God actually suppresses the sin of th wicked. It’s hard to imagine, but Hitler could have been worse. This is God’s sovereign love demonstrated on the wicked. Spiritually, that person does the societal minimum. It is the Spiritual man who understands the weight, gravity, and impact of their sin. This is where David was spiritually.

Psalm 51, listen to the desperation of a contrite heart.

Written right after Nathan calls David out for committing adultery, and murder, David pours out his heart in one of the most powerful writings to ever be put in a book. Written from a man whom God had shown the gravity of his sin:

Psalm 51:1-12

Key points:

a. Have mercy: underserved, unwarranted (vs 10)

b. Calls out God’s mercy (your abundant mercy) (vs 1)

c. Wash me: Recognizes that it’s only God that can take the stench of sin from him (vs 2)

d. He is aware of His sin (vs3)

e. God is 100% justified to be angry with David (vs 4)

f. God has full authority to execute judgment (vs 4) David recognized that he sinned against a Holy God. “Against you alone”.

g. Purge me, wash me, let me hear joy, let the bones (vs 7-9)

We cannot miss this desperation. Our sin, if we are a child of God, should be that shocking, that concerning and that heavy. Our own sin should paint us in a corner of desperation and dismay. The way out is what God Himself provides.

h. Create in me a clean heart (vs 10)

How does God, create a clean heart from a totally depraved heart?

Go back to Psalm 19:12-13 but in the NASB:

12: Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.

13: Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; then I will be blameless, and I shall be acquitted of great transgression.

Look at the legal terms:

a. Who can discern: David is saying, it’s time to look at yourself in the mirror. There are so many sins, it’s time to look close at them.

b. Acquit: means to pronounce not guilt

c. Presumptuous sins: By presumptuous sins he means known and evident transgressions, accompanied with proud contempt and obstinacy[6]

d. Rule over: have no authority, David knows that we wrestle against our flesh daily. (Paul we must put to death the flesh daily).

e. Blameless: no one can make another blameless. Not even a judge in a court of law can make a person blameless. You are lucky to make it back to the filthy sinner that you were before you made it to court. Blameless? Who has that power?

Great transgression: We see exactly what David is now saying. When we understand the words of these two verses, David is saying, that unless God, acquits us of all our hidden sin, and unless He keeps us back from further sin, and unless God keeps that sin from having power over us, we will utterly fall into great transgression. In short, unless God, we are doomed to fail.

I am hoping that you are seeing where we are going. The Word of God is sufficient to convict. It shows us, like a clean and clear mirror exactly who we are. We are sinners that under the weight of sin will be subject to the penalty of great transgressions.

Church, this is a horrible position to be in by ourselves. It is like having pitch on your hands, clothes and in your arm hair. It will never come out unless you take drastic efforts. Sin is worse though. We can never attain perfection and cleanliness unless someone who is PERFECT makes it happen. We are utterly un able to attain righteousness unless it be given to us!

Here is the answer to this problem:

2 Cor 5:17-21:

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. [7]

Church, I can’t make the gospel any clearer. Apart from Christ, we are on our own for our sins. We can never clean ourselves, make clean, make righteous, make pure apart from what is given to us. It is God who provides this righteousness through Christ Jesus.

Now, we can go out in the middle of the night and respond one of two ways. We can look up and say, Yeah cool stars, and walk into the house. Or, we can stand and recognize that the hand that made all that has given you and me a way to answer one of the biggest questions for all mankind. How do I get right with God? It’s Christ!

4. Believe the Bible.

Week #1: We covered the common objections that believers experience including:, science vs history, hypocrites and Biblical accuracies.

Week #2 We discussed canon and how it is defined and sealed. We covered how we got it and who recognized it.

Week #3 We discussed authorship and the last will and testament of the men who have gone before us.

This week we have finished on the fact that God’s Word is 100% sufficient for the believer. It is the source of life. It is the answer to all of man’s hardest questions. Will it tell you what job to take? What car to buy and what shirt to wear? No, it will not. Will it tell you about your purpose in life, your value in life, your eternal destination, how to handle conflict, how to provide for your family, how to make use of the few minutes you have in this life.

CONCLUSION:

Church, the Word of God is completely sufficient for the child of God. I choose to believe the Bible because it is a collection of historical documents written down by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. They report to us supernatural events that took place in the fulfillment of certain prophecies and claim that their writings are divine rather than human in origin”.

We have covered every part of that quote. The Word of God is so complete, so applicable, so valuable and so accurate that we must make a choice today, is it sufficient to you? Does it meet the standard in your mind or, are you going to be like my dad, look at the stars, recognize that there must be a God but not care about what He expects? Or, are you going to look at His handy work and recognize the need for His salvation?

If the Bible is sufficient, it demands a response. Choose this day, to trust His Word.