Is the Word of God Reliable

Is the Word of God Reliable? Luke 1:26–38 A Physical Improbability (Genesis 18) • God increased the improbabilities (Rom 4:19–21). • God promises a son for at least the 7th time (10). • God confronts Sarah’s dismissive laughter (11– 15). “Is any word too wonderful for the Lord?” (i.e., “Is my word too good to be true?”) A Geopolitical Improbability (Jeremiah 32) • God has promised the certain exile of Judah. • God has promised the certain return of Judah. • God highlights the reliability of his “word” (1, 6, 8, 17, 24). • “Is any word too wonderful for me?” (17, 27) Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem…Thus says the LORD of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the LORD of hosts? Zechariah 8:4–8 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing… Ezra 1:1 A Messianic Impossibility (Luke 1) • God sends Gabriel with a message for Mary (26– 27) • Mary questions: “How…since I man a virgin?” (34) • The Holy Spirit will come upon you (35) • Your barren relative will conceive in her old age (36) • For “no word of God will be too wonderful” (37) • “Let it be according to your word” (38) Closing Applications 1. God protects his Word because it is his trustworthiness. 2. See God’s reliability in the impossibility of Christmas. 3. Bring your doubts about God to His Word.