Doctor Luke: The Gospel You Can Trust

A Doctor You Can Trust

A few years ago, I heard about a woman on a flight overseas. Midway through the journey, she grabbed her chest and told the flight attendant, “I think I’m having a heart attack!” Panic swept over the cabin. The attendant grabbed the intercom and said, “Is there a doctor on board?” Immediately, 67 cardiac surgeons stood up at once. As it turned out, the flight was headed to a heart surgeon’s conference. Imagine her relief! Surrounded by doctors, she had confidence that her life was in good hands.

A Doctor You Can Trust

Doctors are remarkable people. They are studious, methodical, caring, and people who give others hope. So I find it fitting that God would use a physician in first-century Israel to give an account of the life of Jesus. Because in a very real way, our world is on a flight in crisis. People are grasping for hope, wondering if there’s anyone who can diagnose the sickness of our hearts and offer a cure. And God, in His providence, gave us Doctor Luke – a physician, historian, and inspired writer – to give us an orderly, careful, Spirit-breathed account of the life of Jesus Christ.

Luke didn’t write for fame or recognition. He wrote so that you and I, living in an age of doubt and deception, might know for certain the truth of the Gospel. So today, we embark on a journey through this Gospel that could very well change your life forever. If the Lord should tarry and we’re still here, I estimate that we’ll be concluding this series around 2029. Yes, 4 years.

A Doctor You Can Trust

Here’s the big idea I want you to carry with you: Build your faith on the truth of Scripture; facts, not feelings. This is why it is imperative as a church, we spend time studying Scripture together. There are so many trends and teaching in the modern church that do no align with Scripture, but the only way you are going you have discernment on the times is if you know what the Scripture says.

I have one additional challenge for us as a church: bring your Bibles. Yes we put the words up on the screens for you, but let’s hold the Word in our hands. I preach from the English Standard Version. If you don’t have a Bible, let me know and we will get you a Bible. So with that, let’s turn to the opening verses of The Gospel of Luke and begin our study

Luke 1:1–4 ESV

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

I. Luke: The Beloved Physician

Luke doesn’t tell us much about himself in this Gospel or in Acts, his second volume. In fact, his name never appears in either book. But the New Testament gives us small windows into his life:

Colossians 4:14 calls him “Luke, the beloved physician.”

He was a Gentile, highly educated, and a close companion of Paul. From Acts 16 onward, Luke joins Paul’s missionary journeys, switching from “they” to “we” in the narrative.

In one of his last letters written, Paul tells Timothy that he is all alone in Jail. Everyone has gone - except for Luke. He writes, 2 Timothy 4:11 “11 Luke alone is with me”

Luke wrote more of the New Testament by volume than anyone else. Luke and Acts together make up 52 chapters—one-third of the New Testament.

I. Luke: The Beloved Physician

The prevailing theme in Luke’s Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles is that Christ came and made an atoning sacrifice for all the nations.

We can tell, by the way he writes that the stories of those who encountered Jesus mattered. It’s clear that he was personally acquainted with firsthand eyewitnesses, probably traveling all over Israel to hear their account

His prologue is written in the most polished Greek of the New Testament, which would make it appealing to the highly educated reader.

I. Luke: The Beloved Physician

Luke devotes more space to the birth and infancy of Jesus than any other gospel.

He goes out of his way to show the gospel is for every class, nation, race, generation, and gender.

Luke uses the word “sinners” 16 times, more than the other gospel writers combined

He refers to Jesus as “Savior” twice.

Yet this humble man never puts himself in the spotlight. He hides behind the majesty of Jesus Christ.

I. Luke: The Beloved Physician

Luke wasn’t just a doctor of the body; he was a physician of the soul. He took careful interest in people. In his Gospel, we see Jesus interacting with the poor, the outcasts, women, children, and sinners. Luke shows us the heart of Christ for all people. This makes sense—a doctor doesn’t see just conditions; he sees people. And Luke, the beloved physician, saw Jesus with a depth of compassion that few others could.

I. Luke: The Beloved Physician

Recently, a Nigerian mega-church pastor preached a sermon where is said, “Jesus hates poverty,”

“If I tell you something, it’ll baffle you; Jesus never visited any poor person in their house; check your bible. That means he hates poverty. Check. He visited Lazarus; they were not poor; they were giving food. He visited a sinner, called Zacchaeus, who was rich.

“Tell me one poor man Jesus entered his house. He hates poverty; that’s the meaning. He hates people who are poor. He died for you not to be poor. So how can you now come into a church having that mentality?”

Obviously, this man has never read Luke.

II. Luke the Historian: Fact Over Fiction

The opening that we read is literary excellence. It is one long, beautifully crafted sentence in classical Greek. Scholars call it one of the most polished pieces of Greek in the New Testament. Why? Luke wanted his Gospel to stand on the shelf with the classics of his day. This wasn’t thrown together. This was careful, thoughtful, and exact.

This story is called good news—and it’s not just good, it’s the greatest news the world has ever received. The word “gospel” literally means good news, but in truth, it’s more than a headline or a happy announcement. It is the ultimate proclamation of rescue for a world drowning in sin.

II. Luke the Historian: Fact Over Fiction

Why is it good news? Because it meets us at our greatest need. Humanity stands guilty before a holy God—broken, lost, and incapable of saving ourselves. Sin has wrecked every part of our existence: our hearts, our relationships, even creation itself. Left to ourselves, we are hopeless. But into our darkness, God sends a Savior—His own Son, Jesus Christ—to do what we could never do: to live a perfect life, to die a substitutionary death, and to rise victorious over sin and the grave.

This is not just good news in a generic sense, like winning the lottery or hearing a doctor say, “It’s benign.” This is good news of eternal consequence: “God has made a way for sinners to be reconciled to Him, forgiven, and given new life.”

II. Luke the Historian: Fact Over Fiction

Now, this flies in the face of a world that says sin is relative, irrelevant, or even nonexistent. Our culture laughs at the very notion of sin. It calls evil good and good evil. It whispers to us, “You’re fine just the way you are. You don’t need saving—you just need self-love and self-expression.” But the Gospel confronts that lie head-on. It declares that sin is not just a social construct or a private choice—it is rebellion against a holy God, and its wages are death.

And yet—here is the scandalous beauty of the Gospel: the God we sinned against has not left us to die in our guilt. He has come Himself in the person of Jesus Christ to bear the weight of our sin and offer us forgiveness, freedom, and eternal life. It is a gift of grace from God, for us, by faith.

II. Luke the Historian: Fact Over Fiction

This isn’t just good news; it’s the only news that can transform your life now and secure your eternity. This is why Paul could say in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” It’s not advice to follow. It’s not a philosophy to consider. It’s a declaration of divine victory over sin, death, and hell.

This is the Gospel Luke so carefully records. And this is why we must not only know this Gospel but build our lives upon it. In spite of this immense effort in writing the story of salvation, Luke never once refers to himself here or in Acts. He is content to be humbly hidden behind his massive and marvelous two-volume inspired writings and let the majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ take center stage

II. Luke the Historian: Fact Over Fiction

In verse 3, Luke says he "investigated everything carefully from the beginning." He interviewed eyewitnesses, verified facts, and compiled his Gospel in "orderly account." He approached this Gospel like a physician diagnosing a patient: thorough, precise, and intentional.

In the 19th century, critics mocked Luke as a poor historian. They said his details about rulers, cities, and events were inaccurate. But as archaeology advanced, Luke was vindicated time and time again. The Pilate stone, the census under Quirinius, the titles of local officials—all confirmed Luke’s accuracy. Otto Piper said, “Wherever modern scholarship has checked Luke’s work, the judgment has been unanimous: he is one of the finest historians of the ancient world.”

II. Luke the Historian: Fact Over Fiction

Christianity isn’t a blind leap into the dark. It’s faith built on facts. Christianity isn’t a blind leap into the dark. It’s not wishful thinking. It’s not a crutch for the weak-minded or a fairytale for the desperate. It is faith built on facts. Solid, unshakable, historically verified, Spirit-breathed facts.

This Gospel is not some man-made myth or ancient superstition. It stands on the bedrock of real events, real people, real places, and a real Savior who lived, died, and rose again in space and time. Luke the physician didn’t write down hearsay—he investigated, he interviewed eyewitnesses, he traced every detail carefully. Why? So you could know for sure.

II. Luke the Historian: Fact Over Fiction

And friend, if Jesus Christ really did rise from the dead—and He did—it changes everything. It means the cross wasn’t a tragedy; it was a triumph. It means sin doesn’t have the last word. It means death is not the end.

The world will tell you, “Trust in your hear. Believe what feels true for you.” But that’s not the Gospel. The Gospel doesn’t invite you to close your eyes and hope for the best. It invites you to open your eyes to the truth and stand firmly on it.

III. Luke’s Purpose: Certainty for the Seeker

Luke writes to a man named Theophilus, whose name means “lover of God.” Scholars have debated for centuries: Was he a Roman official? A wealthy patron funding Luke’s work? Or is his name symbolic—representing anyone and everyone who loves God or is seeking Him?

We don’t know for sure, but here’s what we do know: Luke wrote so Theophilus—and you—could have certainty. “It seemed good to me also… to write an orderly account for you… that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:3–4).

III. Luke’s Purpose: Certainty for the Seeker

In a world where truth is constantly questioned, where we’re told that morality is subjective and faith is nothing more than a personal preference, Luke cuts through the noise like a surgeon’s scalpel. He wants you to know:

Jesus really lived (John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”).

He really died (Romans 5:8 – “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”).

He really rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3–4 – “…that Christ died for our sins… that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”).

And because of that, you can stake your eternity on Him.

III. Luke’s Purpose: Certainty for the Seeker

C.S. Lewis once wrote: “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”

Luke’s Gospel is for skeptics who need evidence. It’s for saints who need assurance. It’s for sinners who need a Savior. Friend, are you a Theophilus? A lover of God searching for truth? Or are you running from the One who has been pursuing you all along?

III. Luke’s Purpose: Certainty for the Seeker

Luke wrote this Gospel not so you could admire Jesus from a distance but so you could come close and know Him personally. He wrote so that you could stop building your life on the shifting sands of opinion and stand firm on the rock of certainty.

Isaiah 55:6 says: “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.”

Today, God is near. He is calling your name. Will you answer Him?

Conclusion: Do You Know for Sure?

Luke wrote this Gospel so that you may have certainty. Not vague hope. Not cultural Christianity. Not secondhand faith. Certainty.

Friend, do you know Jesus—not in theory, not in tradition, not in the borrowed faith of your parents or grandparents—but for sure? Are you so anchored in Him that you can say with Paul, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21)?

Conclusion: Do You Know for Sure?

Because here’s the truth: in a world full of shifting opinions, hollow philosophies, and plastic religion, there is only one unshakable Rock. His name is Jesus Christ. And He isn’t calling you to be a casual admirer; He’s calling you to be a fully surrendered follower.

This Gospel isn’t just information; it’s an invitation. An invitation to trade your doubt for confidence, your fear for faith, your restlessness for peace.

Conclusion: Do You Know for Sure?

Isaiah 55:6 says: “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.” Right now—this moment—He is near. He’s speaking to your heart.

So I ask you:

Are you living on a secondhand faith or a firsthand encounter with the living God?

If you stood before Him today, would you know Him—or just know about Him?

This is your moment to come close. As we journey through Luke together, ask Him:

“Lord, open my eyes. Steady my heart. Anchor my soul in Your truth.”

Don’t settle for a faith that’s shallow and uncertain. Don’t drift another day. The Great Physician is calling you to come near—and He’s the only One who can heal what’s broken inside.

Will you come?