The Word of God-Overview

Sanctification & Spiritual Disciplines

Session 6: The Word of God as God’s Message

FOCUSING TONIGHT on QUALITIES & CONTENT—MORE THEOLOGICAL

NEXT SESSION on GOALS/RESULTS of BIBLE STUDY—MORE PRACTICAL

I. Introduction: The God-breathed Word and it’s Attributes

INTRO:

CONSIDER the WONDER/BLESSING it IS:

NOT ONLY DID GOD CREATE WORLD/UNIVERSE ETC.

BUT GOD DESIRED RELATIONSHIP

REACHING OUT to US...

GIVING US HIS WORD

KNOWING HIS WILL

ENTERING INTO COVENANT W/ HIM

**LET’S NEVER LOSE SIGHT of HOW AWESOME it is to BE ABLE to KNOW GOD.

1. Psalm 8—“What is man??”

2. The concept of grace—“who am I??”

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B. God’s Word is inspired/God-breathed and profitable:

TURN & READ: 1. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

HOW MUCH of IT is INSPIRED?

All Scripture is inspired or God-breathed, and it is profitable. (2 QUALITIES)

Inspired/God breathed

incredibly unique Greek word, Theopneustos

HAPAX

NOT FOUND ELSEWHERE in GK WRITINGS

PERHAPS PAUL COINED IT??

LITERALLY: “GOD-BREATHED”

SCRIPTURE = LIKE NO OTHER BOOK… “HOLY” BIBLE… WHY WE STAND in CHURCH FOR SCRIPTURE READING...

INSPIRATION…BUT NOT DICTATION.

GOD ENSURED the RIGHT WORDS CAME THROUGH,, BUT USED the PERSONALITY/EXPERIENCES of ORIGINAL WRITERS

SCRIPTURE HAS BOTH CAPITAL (A) AUTHOR & LOWER-CASE (a) AUTHOR...

TURN & READ: 2 Peter 1:19-21 ESV “And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 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.”

TRUE PROPHETS SPOKE,, CARRIED ALONG BY HOLY. SPIRIT...

FALSE PROPHETS,, SPEAKING of OWN ACCORD STOOD UNDER GOD’S JUDGMENT...

BACK to 2 Tim. 3:16-17..

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2.. SCRIPTURE = PROFITABLE.

o It is profitable for:

§ Teaching

§ Reproof

§ Correction

§ Training in righteousness.

· FOR the PURPOSE of EQUIPPING the MAN of GOD—FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.

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4. BECAUSE ALL SCRIPTURE HAS its SOURCE in GOD… ALL SCRIPTURE HAS BENEFIT FOR US!!

GOD’S WORD EQUIPS US (DIVINE PASSIVE) FOR EVERY GOOD WORK in THIS LIFE! IT’S SUFFICIENT!

ALL ANSWERS on RIGHT & WRONG—ARE FOUND in SCRIPTURE:

EITHER EXPLICITLY (DON’T KILL, STEAL, COMMIT ADULTERY, ETC.)

or IMPLICITLY (GLEANED THROUGH PRINCIPLES)

E.G.: LOVING NEIGHBOR as SELF TAKES MANY FORMS

NOT COVETING TAKES MANY FORMS.

GOD’S WORD MUST BE OUR AUTHORITY on MORALITY.

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C. God’s Word is effective:

1. Genesis 1: God creates.

1. 7 TIMES (ESSENTIALLY 8): CREATION ACCOUNT SHOWS US: “And God said,” ONCE “THEN GOD SAID”

EVERY INSTANCE,, IT HAPPENED.

“AND it WAS SO”

TURN & READ: Isaiah 55:10-11 ESV “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 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.”

1. JUST as SURELY as GOD SENDS HIS WORD… IT WILL SURELY ACCOMPLISH ALL THAT HE INTENDED FOR IT.... IT WON’T RETURN EMPTY or EMPTY-HANDED!

Note: IT’S SUCCESS ISN’T TIED to ANYTHING ELSE…BUT GOD… WHO is THE ACCOMPLISHER THE ONE WHO CAUSES the WORD to ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSE FOR IT...

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LEAVING “QUALITIES” & MOVING ONTO “CONTENT”

II. God’s Word encompasses Redemptive History

A. GOD’S WORD = BENEFICIAL… FOR it REVEALS HOW GOD HAS WORKED THROUGHOUT the AGES...

HELPFUL FRAMEWORK “REDEMPTIVE HISTORY”: (DR. HOCKMAN)— **WRITE on BOARD**

CREATION

FALL

REDEMPTION (COVENANTS)

RECREATION

**ALL SCRIPTURE WILL FIT SOMEWHERE INTO THIS FRAMEWORK or ON OUR RESPONSE to IT**

>> WE’RE GOING to SEE the CENTRALITY of GOD’S WORD in ALL of THIS (BELOW) <<

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B. CREATION CAME ABOUT THROUGH GOD’S SPOKEN WORD… SEE GEN. 1

C. THE FALL CAME ABOUT THROUGH DOUBT in GOD’S SPOKEN WORD...

TURN & READ: Genesis 3:1-5 ESV “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.

He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

NOTE: THE FALL CAME ABOUT THROUGH DOUBT in GOD’S SPOKEN WORD… && FAITH in the SERPENT’S WORD.

ALSO NOTE: SATAN’S TACTIC of DOUBT in JESUS’ TEMPTATION in MATT. 4

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D. REDEMPTION HAS COME ABOUT THROUGH a VARIETY of COVENANTS,,, SPOKEN PROMISES FROM GOD...

**LOOK FIRST @ GEN. 3:15

Genesis 3:15 (ESV)

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

HOPE FROM the VERY BEGINNING of the FALL...

1. We see throughout Scripture, how GOD WORKED…UNFOLDING HIS PLAN of REDEMPTION, especially through various covenants >> SPOKEN PROMISES to GOD’S PEOPLE <<

1. Noahic (Gen. 6:18; 9:8-17).

2. Abrahamic (Gen. 15:1-21; 17:1-27; 22:15-18; see also: Heb. 6:13-18).

3. Mosaic with all Israel (Ex. Chapters 19-24).

4. Davidic 2 Sam. 7:5-16; 23:5).

5. New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34; 33:14-26; Ezek. 36:26-27; 37:24-28; Luke 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25; Heb. 8:8-10).

F. All of this was in pursuit of God’s plan and a slow unfolding of redemptive history.

1. A helpful summary of the OT and redemptive history up until that point can be found in Stephen’s speech prior to his martyrdom in Acts 7:2-53).

G. All of these things led to the new covenant where God sent His own Son into the world.

TURN & READ: Gal. 4:4 ESV “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”

o I like how the CSB study bible explains some of the features that show the perfect timing of Jesus coming including:

§ “Factors that made this such a suitable time included widespread peace (Pax Romana), excellent Roman roads, and the dominance of one language (Koine Greek) across the empire. By these means the gospel spread in ways that would not have been possible in earlier times.”[1]

THERE is a PROMISE of RECREATION (NEW CREATION)

2 Peter 3:13 (ESV)

13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

ACCORDING to WHAT??

HIS PROMISE.

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III. God’s Word in the NT summarizes how God has finally spoken through His Son that will carry us on through the end of the age.

TURN & READ: Hebrews 1:1-4 ESV “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”

1. Question: Do you see the finishedness of all of this?

1. Past tense: God spoke to our fathers, by the prophets.

2. Past tense (W/ PRESENT REALITY): God has spoken to us by his Son.

3. Past tense: After Jesus finished His work, He sat down at the right hand of God.

PRESENT TENSE: HIS NATURE,, HIS CONTINUAL UPHOLDING of THIS UNIVERSE BY THE WORD of HIS POWER...

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MOST IMPORTANT THING: IN THESE LAST DAYS…GOD HAS a MESSAGE…AND THE MESSAGE is JESUS.

**NOTE: AUTHOR to HEBREWS SAYS,, HE SPOKE to US… FIRSTHAND.

DO WE NEED ANYTHING ELSE? —OBVIOUSLY NOT. GOD HAS SPOKEN FINALLY.

REDEMPTIVE HISTORY—MOVES ALONG a LINEAR TIMELINE

FROM CREATION to NEW CREATION

GOD HAS SPOKEN & GIVEN US ALL WE NEED to KNOW (SALVATION) THROUGH HIS SON

&& ALL of THIS = CONTAINED WITHIN the PAGES of SCRIPTURE...

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TURN & READ: John 1:1-5, 14, 18 ESV “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. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth… 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”

1. JESUS = THE EMBODIED WORD of GOD...

**HE’S the FINAL & ULTIMATE MESSAGE of GOD to HUMANITY!

MESSAGE: GOD SO LOVED…(JOHN 3:16;ROM. 5:8)

2. (V18) NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN GOD… BUT JESUS HAS MADE HIM KNOWN/DECLARED HIM...

HE CAME DOWN to REVEAL the FATHER to US

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C. CONSIDERING FINALITY of CHRIST’S WORK & MESSAGE....LET’S CONSIDER the FINAL THING HE SAID:

TURN & READ: Matthew 28:18-20 ESV “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

1. CHURCH GOES FORTH,, IN LIGHT of JESUS AUTHORITY

COMMAND = “GO & MAKE DISCIPLES (LEARNERS)…THE CHURCH’S MISSION

BY MEANS of:

BAPTIZING

TEACHING

TEACHING WHAT?

TO OBSERVE/TO OBEY,, ALL JESUS COMMANDED...

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THIS = OUR MISSION & IT ALL REVOLVES AROUND the WORD!

**NOTE the CHURCH’S ASSURANCE:

CHRIST GOES WITH US.

“EGO EIMI” THE GREAT I AM...

HE GOES WITH US as WE MAKE DISCIPLES,, BAPTIZE,, TEACH,, ETC...

o JESUS MESSAGE SUMMED UP: LOVE GOD & LOVE PEOPLE... (see Matt. 22:37-40).

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IV. God’s Word was preserved for us today to know His Will in Saving Us.

A. NT—TAKES the TEACHING of CHRIST & NEW COVENANT HOPE,, PUTTING IT INTO WORDS FOR GENERATIONS to COME...

B. Jesus (teaching and work)—> Apostles—> Scripture—>Original Audience/Us.

1. SCRIPTURE = CHURCH’S HIGHEST AUTHORITY,, IT’S GOD-BREATHED & INFALLIBLE…IT COMES FROM the SOURCE.

CHURCH CAN’T BE HIGHEST AUTHORITY…FOR CHURCH ONLY RECEIVES its AUTHORITY FROM the WORD...

THE N.T. SCRIPTURES = THE ENCAPSULATED TEACHING of the APOSTLES,, WHO RECEIVED EVERYTHING FIRSTHAND FROM CHRIST & WERE HIS WITNESSES...

TURN & READ: 2 Peter 2:16-18 ESV “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.”

IT WASN’T HEARSAY.... THEY SAW HIM… THEY WERE WITH HIM...

TURN & READ: 1 John:1-4 ESV “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”

·DID YOU NOTICE HOW JOHN DESCRIBES THEIR FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE?

WHAT DOES HE SAY?

HEARD

SEEN W/ EYES

LOOKED UPON

TOUCHED W/ HANDS

**DID EVERYTHING BUT TASTE IT!!**

LIFE WAS MADE MANIFEST…THEY SAW IT… AND THEY TESTIFIED TO IT & PROCLAIMED IT...

**JOHN = TAKING FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCES,, WRITING THEM DOWN FOR ORIGINAL AUDIENCE & ULTIMATELY US!!

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2. JESUS BEGAN in HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY.... TO TEACH & DO MANY THING....AND THEN HE PASSED the WORK ONTO HIS APOSTLES…

TURN & READ: Acts 1:1-3 ESV “In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.”

IMPLICATION: BOOK of ACTS ENCOMPASSES ALL THAT JESUS CONTINUES to DO & TEACH....

WE KNOW…APOSTLES & PROPHETS = FOUNDATION of N.T. CHURCH…WHICH GOD HAS BEEN BUILDING FOR MILLENIA...

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N.T. TAKES the TEACHING & TESTIMONY of JESUS...

ACCOMPANYING DOCTRINES

FROM FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS

TESTIFIES & MAKES RELEVANT for CHURCH ISSUES

COLLECTED as N.T.

COMES to US TODAY...

THE MESSAGE WE CONTAIN COMES FROM the SOURCE! NOT LIKE the TELEPHONE GAME...

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V. Takeaways:

1. GOD’S WORD = PROFITABLE BECAUSE GOD IS ITS SOURCE...

2. THE SCRIPTURES ARE NECESSARY BECAUSE THEY DETAIL REDEMPTIVE HISTORY

3. GOD HAS SPOKEN FINALLY THROUGH HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, THE EMBODIED WORD OF GOD.

4. GOD HAS PRESERVED HIS WORD FOR US TODAY.

N.T..,..FROM JESUS TO THE APOSTLES.....THROUGH THEIR LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES

......THAT WERE BOUND UP AND KEPT FOR US

THAT WE MIGHT KNOW THE WAY OF SALVATION TODAY.

CLOSE in PRAYER

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[1]Luter, A. B. (2017). Galatians. In E. A. Blum & T. Wax (Eds.), CSB Study Bible: Notes (p. 1863). Holman Bible Publishers.