RTBS: 09/23 | Q&A

1. Why did God speak through prophets instead of speaking directly to everyone?

God has always chosen to reveal Himself through appointed messengers.

The issue wasn't God's ability to speak, it was God's design for revealing truth.

Throughout Scripture, God works through representatives.

Prophets.

Priests.

Kings.

Apostles.

Ultimately, His Son.

This established authority, preserved truth, and required people to respond by faith.

Today, God speaks through His Word.

Hebrews 1:1–2 NKJV

1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

God has never promised to speak individually to every person.

And if you ask about the Holy Spirit - the Holy Spirit does not speak to us with any new information that was not already given to man, instead he guides through the word alone

Scriptures

Deuteronomy 18:18–19 “18 I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 19 And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.”

Amos 3:7 — God reveals His secrets through His servants the prophets.

Hebrews 1:1–2 — God spoke through the prophets... now through His Son.

2 Peter 1:20–21 — Holy men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Ephesians 2:20 “20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,”

2 Timothy 3:16–17 “16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

In the Old Testament...

God spoke through prophets.

Today...

God speaks through Scripture, illuminated by the Holy Spirit.

2. Why doesn't God remove our sin nature when we're saved?

Because salvation happens instantly.

Sanctification happens progressively.

God changes our position immediately.

He changes our character over time.

The Christian life is a battle.

Not because God failed.

Because God is forming us into Christ's image.

The struggle itself teaches dependence.

Overall - God is glorified in continually working to remove the presence of sin in our lives

EX: Imagine if every year at the beginning of the NBA season, all the coaches looked at the teams which had the best players, and then whoever got the highest ranking just immediately wins the championship

They don’t have to play, there is no building of character and work in the team

That championship wouldn’t mean as much

Now it would technically still be a championship

Just like we would technically still be saved = but God receives so much glory in continuing to work us closer to him

Another major reason is evangelism

Jesus became man and faced the same temptations we do, and that allows him to identify and understand all the things we face on a personal level

Hebrews 4:15 “15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

It would be very difficult for us to share the gospel with others when we are made perfect, with no sin or temptation to identify with where they are

Scriptures

Romans 7:15–25 “15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.”

Galatians 5:16–17 “16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” — Flesh against Spirit

Philippians 1:6 “6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

3. Why did Jesus spend thirty years in obscurity?

He was in preparation for him ministry

Luke 2:40 NKJV

40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

Luke 2:52 NKJV

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Jesus was not born with full knowledge of all things, and perfect wisdom

This doesn’t mean he was in sin, but rather that he still needed to grow before he was ready for his ministry

Needing to grow does not mean he was in sin

Jesus lived every year for 30 years, as everyone else does

And it is because of that we can identify with him, and glorify him for living a perfect life

The perfect life of Jesus would not have been special if he was born with the fullness of all the attributes of God on day 1

What made it special was that he lived the same life we do, but did it perfectly, and grew throughout it.

Hebrews 4:15 NKJV

15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Scriptures

Luke 2:40 “40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.” — Grew and became strong

Luke 2:52 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” — Increased in wisdom and stature

Hebrews 4:15 “15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” — Tempted in all points

John 2:4 “4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”” — "My hour has not yet come."

👉 Line: God spent thirty years preparing the greatest three-year ministry the world has ever known.

4. Why did miraculous gifts seem more common in Acts?

Miracles authenticated God's new revelation.

They confirmed Christ.

Then His apostles.

Signs pointed people to the message.

Not the messenger.

Once the foundation of the Church was laid and Scripture completed, the need for authenticating signs diminished.

The miracle was never the point.

The gospel was.

Mark 16:20 NKJV

20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

2 Corinthians 12:12 NKJV

12 Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.

Hebrews 2:3–4 NKJV

3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

Ephesians 2:20 NKJV

20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

Key Truths

Signs confirmed revelation.

Miracles authenticated the apostles.

Scripture became the Church's final authority.

Scriptures

Mark 16:20 — Signs confirming the Word

Acts 2:43 — Wonders by the apostles

Acts 5:12 — Many signs by the apostles

2 Corinthians 12:12 — Signs of an apostle

Hebrews 2:3–4 — God bearing witness with signs

Ephesians 2:20 — Foundation of apostles and prophets

👉 Line: God didn't give miracles to entertain the Church—He gave them to establish it.

5. Why did Jesus ascend into heaven instead of remaining on earth?

Jesus' work on earth was finished.

His work in heaven had just begun.

He ascended to....

intercede.

Hebrews 7:25 NKJV

25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

To prepare a place.

John 14:2–3 NKJV

2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

To send the Holy Spirit.

John 16:7 NKJV

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

To reign at the Father's right hand.

Ephesians 1:20–23 NKJV

20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

John 16:7 NKJV

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

It was actually for our benefit that Jesus left so that the Holy Spirit would dwell within us

Key Truths

The Ascension completed Christ's earthly ministry.

It began His heavenly ministry.

Christ now reigns and intercedes.

Scriptures

Acts 1:9–11 — The Ascension

John 16:7 — Better that I go away

Hebrews 7:25 — Ever lives to make intercession

Romans 8:34 — Christ intercedes

Ephesians 1:20–23 — Seated above all authority

John 14:2–3 — Preparing a place

👉 Line: Jesus didn't leave us alone—He ascended so He could minister to all His people everywhere.

6. Why did God choose baptism and the Lord's Supper as the two ordinances of the church?

God gave the church two visible ordinances that proclaim the gospel.

Baptism identifies the believer with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.

The Lord's Supper remembers Christ's sacrifice until He comes.

One marks the beginning of the Christian life.

The other continually points us back to the cross.

Neither saves.

Both preach the completeness of the gospel

These two acts are reminders and identifiers with the 2 aspects of the gospel

Jesus’s sacrifice

And our response to him

Key Truths

Baptism pictures new life.

The Lord's Supper proclaims Christ's death.

Scriptures

Matthew 28:19–20 — Baptize disciples

Romans 6:3–5 — Baptism pictures union with Christ

Acts 2:41–42 — Early church observed both

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 — Do this in remembrance of Me

Luke 22:19–20 — Institution of the Supper

👉 Line: God gave the church two ordinances because the gospel deserves to be both preached and pictured.

7. Why is preaching central to the church instead of drama, music, or miracles?

Because God chose His Word to transform people.

Music encourages.

Drama illustrates.

Miracles authenticate.

But preaching proclaims God's truth.

The Church is built by the Word.

Romans 10:17 “17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

2 Timothy 4:2 “2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”

Titus 1:3 “3 but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;”

Acts 2:42 “42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

Not entertainment.

Not spectacle.

God's primary means of changing lives has always been His Word.

And everything else that went along with it was only to support it, not take its place

Key Truths

The power is in the message.

Preaching feeds God's people.

The Word builds the Church.

Scriptures

Romans 10:17 — Faith comes by hearing

2 Timothy 4:2 — Preach the Word

1 Corinthians 1:21 — Foolishness of preaching

Acts 2:42 — Continued in the apostles' doctrine

Nehemiah 8:8 — Read and gave the sense

Titus 1:3 — Manifested His Word through preaching

👉 Line: God didn't promise to bless our creativity—He promised to bless His Word.