That You May Know the Certainty of These Things

Luke 1:1–4 NKJV

1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

When considering which book that we would begin to study next after Ephesians the Gospel of Luke came to mind. I always ask for the Holy Spirit to lead me when I begin a new book and I trust that He does just that. But one of the things that drew me to the Gospels and ultimately Luke’s Gospel is one a love for Jesus. The life of Jesus is by far the most magnificent, inspirational, influential, and certainly the greatest story ever told. But also, when I consider why I’m a Christian, why do I believe in the God of the Bible when there are so many other religions out there? My answer has to be Jesus.

My belief in a deity can be based on the simple facts of the world around me. I can simply look at creation and conclude that there is a creator. Even if you say you believe all this started from a big bang you don’t answer the question of who was the big banger. They say that all the matter of the universe was condensed into a small ball which exploded. Where did the matter come from.

You herd the one about the scientist who challenged God?

He approaches God and says God we don’t need you anymore. These days we can clone people, transplant organs, and do all sorts of things that before were considered miraculous. So God says, you don’t need me huh? Ok lets put your theory to the test. Let’s see who can make a human being. The scientist agrees so God says ok but you have to do it the way that I did it originally when I made Adam. The scientist says fine and he reaches down and picks up a handful of dirt and God whoa, not so fast, you get your own dirt.

Atheism vs deism when you break it down come to just two possibilities. Either everything came from something we can’t see or everything came from nothing.

Since there is no example ever observed by anyone anywhere of something coming from nothing then the only logical rational conclusion is that everything came from something that we can’t see that exists outside of creation.

But why believe that the God of the Bible is that creator? There are so many other god’s and religions how do you know that the God of the Bible is the right one? My answer, Jesus. That Jesus existed is not disputed by any serious educated person. Although the Gospels in the Bible are our best sources for the life of Christ many would argue that they are bias because the New Testament is a collection of Christian writings. However, Christ is mentioned by several other 1st century writers who were not only not christian they could even be said to be anti- christian. Both Jewish and Roman historians have confirm that Christ existed, had many followers, did many unexplained wonders, and was executed by Pontus Pilate in Jerusalem. And that his followers claimed that He raised from the dead.

Of course that apostles all continued to preach and write about the resurrection of Christ until each one was eventually killed because they refused to renounce their claim. Their deaths also verified be extra biblical writings. So you tell me, how many reporters do you know that would be tortured, stoned, crucified, burned, cut in half, or boiled alive before they issued a retraction? Even if they knew it was true I don’t know anyone that wouldn’t just renounce if they had a gun to their head. But all these men were so convinced that they had seen the resurrected Christ that they said do what you will I know what I saw.

I can think of no other more compelling argument for the resurrection of Christ that the cruel deaths of the Apostles. Now if Christ rose from the dead then everything He said is verified true All His teachings true. Every time He quoted the Old Testament Scripture He validates them. So why the God of the Bible? because of Jesus. No other religion even comes close to this kind of evidence. Further more most other religions acknowledge Jesus as a great teacher or a prophet. And yet Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me. There simply can’t be any other.

So let look at this introduction to the Gospel According to Luke.

The Author

Although Luke does not mention in the gospel that he is the author it is widely accepted that He is. Earliest manuscripts finish with “The Gospel According to Luke. and although some believe this may have been added later we know from many first and second century writers that it was considered a given that Luke wrote both this Gospel and it’s sequel, yes this is the only Gospel with a sequel, the book of Acts.

Acts begins,

Acts 1:1 NKJV

1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

So Luke wrote the Gospel first and then Acts. It is believed that Luke was a physician. Both because of tradition and because Paul mentions Luke in Col 4:14

Colossians 4:14 NKJV

14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.

as being with him which is almost certainly the same Luke as we know that Luke travelled with Paul on many of his missionary journeys because of what have been called the “we” passages of Acts the first of which is found in chapter 16. Prior to ch 16 it was alway they and for a few time after 16 when it seems that Luke wasn’t with them.

Physician during this time were not like today. They were usually slaves who had been given training in medicine in order to be of good use to their masters. But they were also well educated. Which we can see from Lukes writings as his command of the Greek is greater than any other New Testament writer.

Luke was almost certainly a Gentile. 1st because of his Greek name, second because 1st century theologians called him a Gentile but mainly because prior to Paul mentioning that Luke was a with him in Col he had listed others with him of whom he had said these are the only fellow workers who are of the circumcision then he mentions Luke with the other gentiles with him.

But that Luke was almost certainly a gentile is very fascinating particularly because with the Gospel and the book Acts Luke has written more of the New Testament than any other writer.

We will also find that Luke Genealogy, unlike Mathews, goes back beyond Abraham all the way to Adam. And we will find stories omitted by the other gospel writers that are particularly appealing to gentile readers such as the story of the good Samaritan and the faithful Roman Centurion.

So it has been called the gospel by a gentile for gentiles.

The Recipient

Both the gospel of Luke and the book or Acts are address to most excellent Theophilus. We don’t know who this Theophilus is however there are a couple of things that we can consider about him. First he was probable a gentile with a name like Theophilus. His name means lover of God. The fact that Luke refers to him as most excellent would indicate that he either held an official office or he was from a prominent wealthy family.

He may have been a convert that Luke was discipling or an unbeliever that Luke was witnessing to. Some have suggested that he may have been the one who was helping Luke publish and distribute his writings to the churches. But mostly we can only speculate.

but …

The Purpose

Is what I find the most interesting.

Luke 1:1 NKJV

1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us,

There had been many who had written about Christ by this point which was about 60ad

Although we only have four gospels in the Bible there were others. Some more reliable than others but the point is that when someone like Christ lives on this earth there are going to be a lot of people writing about it.

So why would Luke write another Gospel? Especially since there were other writers who were eyewitnesses

and Luke says

Luke 1:2 NKJV

2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us,

so Luke says these things were delivered to “us” by the eyewitnesses which means he was not an eyewitness. So why did it seem good to him also write?

Luke 1:3 NKJV

3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus,

Luke had spent much time with Paul and others who were eyewitnesses like Peter and probably many others who he had been able to receive a very broad view of the life and works of Christ from. He said he had a perfect understanding. Further more he was well educated and had a fantastic grasp of the Greek language. So Luke even though he had not been an eyewitness he had the unique ability to acquire details of the life of Christ from many sources so that he could compile together which gives us a more complete overview than any of the other Gospels. The other Gospel writers wrote primarily from their own experiences although they also used other sources but Luke was more like an investigative journalist who was able to gather more details. So Luke is the longest of the four Gospels.

Then in verse 4 he tells us why he wrote these things to Theophilus.

Luke 1:4 NKJV

4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

That you may know.

Many have criticised Christianity by claiming that it is blind faith in fairytales. They would say like Mark Twain

“Having faith is believing in something you just know ain't true.”

Well thats not the kind of faith that the Bible speaks of.

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith looks the the evidence of things unobservable it considers the substance. But evidence can only take us so far in certain things.

I can look at the evidence of life, of the universe, the human body, the plant and animal life, how everything is order and designed to work in harmony. And that evidence can lead to the conclusion that this all has intelligent design. The evidence of the writings of and about the Apostles and their documented death takes me so far but faith concludes that what they wrote about Jesus is true and reliable. True faith is not blind thats why Luke wrote this Gospel to provide evidence to Theophilus so that his faith would have some evidence.

John wrote in his letter

1 John 1:1–3 NKJV

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

and at the end of the letter he said

1 John 5:13 NKJV

13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

John 10:36–38 NKJV

36 do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”

I hope you believe Jesus this morning, I hope you believe that He is the son of God, that He died for your sins of the cross and that He rose again on the third day. If you don’t then I hope that I given you some evidence this morning which will cause you to think.

Paul said in 1 Cor 15 that if Christ did not rise from the dead then we are of all people most miserable. Our preaching is pointless and empty if Jesus is still in the grave. But I believe that the evidence points to the resurrection being factual. I don’t think that you could find one person who would die for a lie for a hoax much less 12. They were there and they were eyewitnesses and they all agreed that yes Jesus rose from the grave so If Jesus rose from the grave thats all the evidence I need.