Reading: 2 Timothy 3v1-17
Intro. A man spent the most of his life at a desk. Day in and day out he studiously applied himself to his work. Conditions were not always conducive to his task. Long winter days were not made easier by central heating, as there was none. There was time when some of the work he had done was lost and he had to start again. There was a day when he was arrested for the work he was doing and paid the ultimate price for his efforts.
The man was William Tyndale, and he gave himself to the translation of the scripture so that the, ‘plough boy” could understand it. His dying words, before being strangled and burnt were, ‘Lord, open the King of England’s eyes.’
A number of years later another man was at his desk. Days were also spent working longs hours at his task. He was far from home and had not seen the shores of Britain for many a year. The work was again long and hard. One night when much of it had been accomplished, the printing plant where everything was housed went on fire. He stood with tears in his eyes and said, ‘In one night the work of years is gone.’ Yet to the work he went again. The Indian people would then receive the scriptures as William Carey gave himself unstintingly to this work.
His dying words were to a young man called Alexander Duff, he said, ‘Mr Duff, you have been speaking about Mr Carey. When I am gone, say nothing about Mr Carey- speak about Mr Carey’s Saviour!’
These men and their life’s ambition were to give to their respective places the Word of God. They did so at great cost, but the importance of it overrode all other things. Why did they see it as such? What was it that drove them? I want us to think about the Bible today. Why is it different from the Koran, from any other so called, Holy Book?
1 Inspired of God 2Tim.3:16, 2Pet.1:20-21
The Bible is written by some forty authors spanning a period of 1,500 years. There are 66 separate books of two testaments with 1200 chapters. The authors come from a varied background, shepherds, kings, judges, young men, old men, fishermen, tax collectors, doctors.
All these are threaded together and have been fully recognised by the church from early times.
In the books there are unity and harmony, and a sense of one complimenting the other. (Those critical of scripture speak about the bible being full of mistakes-the question is, what? None that impinge on the major work of Christ).
As the narrative develops and unfolds it is held together by the principle of, 2Tim.3:16, 17. The original means an ‘out breathing’ as opposed to an ‘in breathing’. So, the Word is breathed out by God. The phrases, ‘God has spoken’ and ‘The Lord has said’, appear some 3,800 times.
He has spoken in a language we can understand. (Outer space-listening for some communication. Garbled message sends folks into great excitement. But God has declared himself in human language!)
-So, our word is not speculation but revelation. Men moved by God. Not their private understanding, nor thoughts determined by their culture, but Gods word channelled through human instrumentality. Not in a dictated manner but God moving the author to write what is right and certain The word has not been corrupted by man’s mind or ways. Our confidence is in the fact that God has spoken.
-Also, all the original words were equally inspired.
2 Revelation of God Jh.5:39
I have read the book, ‘The Long Walk to Freedom’, by Nelson Mandela. It is the story of a nations struggle for parity and equality of all peoples. It is the narrative which tells of the dismantling of Apartheid, the system of discrimination between black and white. But you also have insight into Mandela himself. His background, his weaknesses, his vision.
The Bible is a book which is a disclosure of God. It contains sixty-six books, and they are all within the Bible to declare to us what God is like. It is not telling us what he looks like, but opens to us his character, it states who he is. (Some of those elements we saw last time.)
There is a call to know God. We want to be acquainted with his ways that can only happen if we read his word. Yes, he has shown himself in creation, in Christ but this is his definitive statement about Him and how he sees us.
i) His law
The Bible tells us what he wants from people. How he wants us to live. It tells us that if we follow his ways then we will be in complete freedom, Ps.119:9. In the beginning that was the way. Adam and Eve were directed what they should do. They were free to do all they wanted except one thing. It was that very thing that Devil pointed up. He skilfully said they were not free and only would be if they ate the fruit, (not an apple!). The rest is history.
-If we walk in Gods ways, they truly are the best. Not the easiest but the best. The marathon runner training for the race knows there are easier ways to make a living, but such is the drive and desire they will stick at the task despite of the difficulties.
-We may not always see the way ahead, in fact we won’t, but we know that He is more than aware and if he has made us then he knows what is best for us.
ii) Love
It is a book of Gods Salvation. It tells us the greatest rescue story the world has ever heard. It tells us of all that he has done for us weak and helpless people. It is different from any other ‘Holy Book’ for it tells us of a Salvation that is God’s work and not ours. The difference between us and any other system is one letter, they are ‘doing’ we are ‘done’.
He shows his love, Jh.3:16, Rom.5:8. It is clearly demonstrated, and this is a book about such.
3 It is the Final word of God Heb.1:1
I saw a religious programme on the TV several years ago. A man was claiming that God has spoken directly to him and given him a message/s for this country. He read through one of these letters, which was fairly innocent stuff, at the end it was signed God! Then the man said, God added a PS. Oh yes there was something else!
The point is if people claim that God has said then it becomes something which is of equal value to this Bible. Let’s imagine that I preach from some scripture. Then after I finish someone stands up and says, “The Lord told me this morning….” Which is the most exciting? Surely it has to be the up to date, fresh off the press edition.
But if we claim such them, we have to say whatever is revealed today is good for all time, for all people, for all nations. The whole world needs to hear the statement and abide by it.
All we have and all we need to know are in the Bible. To look for something more is not a display of more faith but lack of faith in what we have. Somebody who says, ‘the Lord has told me’ is not more spiritual but less so.
Somebody that required visions and other things to supplement is not closer to God but less dependent on him.
The other issue with looking to other things rather than his word is that the other things will eventually fade. And we are left wondering, was that really what was intended etc.
-All we need to know about relationships, family, business, and lifestyle is given to us. And we need no more.
Con. The Bible is all important but unless we read it and attend to it then we can never expect to know God. If we neglect it then it will have a detrimental effect upon us, and our spiritual lives will suffer consequently.
(Mary Jones) May God help us to see the importance of God’s word and give our all?
Welcome
Reading 1Peter 1v22-25
Hymn You’re the word of god
Hymn Thine be the glory
Prayer
(Crèche)
Catechism Question 19
Q. Is there any way to escape punishment and be brought back into God’s favour?
A. Yes, to satisfy his justice, God himself, out of mere mercy, reconciles us to himself and delivers us from sin and from the punishment for sin, by a Redeemer.
Isaiah 53v10-11
‘Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.’
Hymn I lift my eyes
Notices
Hymn Show us Christ
Reading 2Timothy 3v1-17
Sermon
Hymn O church arise
Closing Prayer
Statement of Faith: About the Bible
‘God has revealed himself in the Bible, which consists of the Old and New Testaments alone. Every word was inspired by God through human authors, so that the Bible as originally given is in its entirety the word of God, without error and fully reliable in fact and doctrine. The Bible alone speaks with final authority and is always sufficient for all matters of belief and practise.’
Sermon Outline
Reading: 2 Timothy 3:1-17
Theme: ‘What we believe About the Bible’
1 Inspired of God 2Tim.3:16, 2Pet.1:20-21
2 Revelation of God Jh.5:39
3 It is the Final word of God Heb.1:1