Exposition by Max A Forsythe
Question 2:
Last week I closed with the example of a grandmother's brag book of pictures of the
grandchildren to illustrate the type of joy we should have in sharing the faith once given to the
saints. In that illustration I think I stumbled upon the title that I should give to this two year series
over the questions of the Shorter Catechism. How about we call this A Reformer's Brag book on
the doctrines of Grace!
Q: What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
A: The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.
Catrina, a short time ago made this assessment of our Reformed faith: She observed that our doctrines of grace give us a wonderful freedom to enjoy our life of faith in God. Amen to that, and isn't it true, that of all congregations only Reformers really truly enjoy the doctrines taught in the scriptures? Think about that, how many other Christians go out of their way to even know the doctrinal standards of their church, let alone study, love and enjoy them? Don't we usually hear about doctrines being restrictive or divisive? I once preached at a church that avoided doctrine like the plague because no two people with an intellect and/or an imagination could possibly agree on anything beyond "Jesus is Lord". We should be careful in passing judgment because in many places doctrine is seen and used as a means of control or it is used as an overly strict limitation of enjoying life within the freedoms that God has given to us.
Now, what I am really trying to say is this, if we leave the complexities of our desires and imaginations aside when we come to God's Holy Scriptures, we are better able to learn what He has to say to us and what He wants us to do with the details of our life in pleasing and enjoying Him!
Martin Luther once observed that "Whom God intends to destroy, he gives them leave to play with scripture." A full playing field we do have in our time. Just a few weeks ago, all three of the major news magazines published creative pieces on what modern imaginations would make of God's one and only Son, Jesus Christ. There will be none of that here, if I and the session have any grasp of the essentials! Unlike the liberals who wanted to publish a third testament of scholarly assertions and observations in the fifties, we believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, as originally given, to be the inerrant word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice." And to the clear teachings of Scripture we are obligated to neither add nor subtract.
Now, how may we all know that God's Word is indeed revealed? And secondly, how may we all use this doctrine to glorify and enjoy the God revealed in the Word? To these ends we now turn our study.
For the first question, there are at least seven proofs that those filled by the Spirit may understand and comprehend. Thomas Watson outlines the seven arguments and A.A. Hodge emphasizes the need for a personal spiritual illumination by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us be careful, spiritual illumination differs from inspiration in that no new truths are conveyed, but our minds and hearts are simply opened to the truth already objectively presented in the Scriptures. So before we proceed to the Scriptural arguments for inspiration, let us briefly examine our hearts to see if we are open to hearing God's proofs.
If we are not, we must be pitied like the pagans in our society who will not allow any spiritual wisdom to be shared publicly. Just this week I read that a career teacher was asked to resign simply because she brought in some guests to school who spoke of spiritual things in public. Those who demanded her resignation would not believe God has spoken if they had heard and seen evidence of Him in the forty year desert journey with Moses. Neither would they believe the proofs here outlined, but we know that the whole purpose of the scriptures was to teach those who will listen about salvation and being with our Lord for ever and ever.
The first reason we should brag about the veracity of the Scriptures is its very antiquity. There is no other body of knowledge that has remained consistently written and translated for as long a period of time. Yes, there are very many other stories and fables about the great flood, they are found in the folklore of almost every people around the world. Yet, all of those other stories are to be noted for their inconsistencies and their fabled nonsense. All of the records that we have in the scriptural index from before the flood are reasonable, concise and verifiable with careful research.
The second reason we should respect the scriptures as the very word of God is the fact of its miraculous preservation in all ages. We have confirmed from ancient scraps dug up in many and varied places that aside from very minor copying errors that the whole teaching record is intact. We may certainly accept the Old Testament on the authority of Christ who told the Jews to search those same Scriptures. And the New Testament is affirmed for us by both Paul and Peter.
The third reason we should honor God's word is that the Scripture is so abstruse and profound that mere mortals could not have attained the prophetic accuracy and historical neatness that is entwined in the sacred record. There is no part of the Scriptures which is obviously flawed. The authors never asserted themselves but simply wrote of their heartfelt tendency to sin and how the God of heaven spoke clearly to them. The histories, the wisdom and poetry, the prophets, gospels and letters all testify to the glorious goodness and tender mercy of our loving Father in heaven who sent His only Son to satisfy the demands of His holiness.
The fourth reason we should not doubt the veracity of God's word is the fulfillment of the predictions contained therein. The absolutely amazing record of history which verifies the prophecy of Daniel is second only to the eighty some prophecies which were made about the Messiah to come.
A fifth observation may be made from the impartiality of the men of God who did not hold back the record of their own failings. In may area, one of the most respected local historians has gone on record that there are many facts and stories which must be hushed up because they might be an embarrassment to people now living. I'm glad he had no part in deciding what portions of the Scripture to make available! You see, that is human nature, to make the most of one's own place and roll. I am reminded of the rancorous arguments that ensued when Century Magazine began to print its "histories" of the American Civil War twenty years after the fact.
The sixth reason we should treasure the very Word of God is the mighty power and efficacy that it has had upon the souls and consciences of men. There is a new age printing called Everything I need to know, I learned in Kindergarten. We have a big poster of that "wisdom" posted in a central place in school. Every time I look at that, I can't help wondering why we even need to have a grade school, middle school, high school, trade school or even college? I don't know of too many people who are better off because they have read that nonsensical edition of new age knowledge. The standards there are low, they are cute and they are not too difficult for a diligent person to attain.
By contrast, the very holiness of the demands emphasized in Scripture is enough to make the heart of every saint melt in humility before the unattainable demands of a righteous and holy God. Everyone who reads aright and bows their heads to confess their sin and their desperate need for God's grace is affected in this matter. The God of heaven speaks and we His fallen creatures hear His voice and repent even as we believe in His merciful grace given to us through Jesus Christ.
The last reason we must confirm the truth of scripture is in knowing about the miracles performed through Moses and the prophets, by Jesus and through the apostles to confirm the the words spoken by those appointed to speak. These miracles were God's divine seal to the truth revealed. May this evidence be sufficient for all of those touched by the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit.
Our second purpose is to understand how may we all use this doctrine to glorify and enjoy our God revealed in this, His Word? There are seven uses of this doctrine that may help us to glorify and enjoy the God of heaven.
First, let us open and study the Scripture. Since it is a copy of God's will and wisdom to help us live a life pleasing to Him, let us know well the contents. Who of you would throw away an envelope with a hand written address on it? Might it not be from someone who loves and knows you? How much more precious should be our affection for these words written thousands of years before our time. Have you ever read a passage and knew that it applied directly to you? If so, when did God cause that to be written for your benefit. It wasn't yesterday or even last week. At the very least is was almost two and at most four to five millennia ago!
A second use is to prize the written Word. I have at home a worn and tattered copy of J.R.R. Tolkien's set of fantasy literature. I have read through them several times, so often that some pages are loose and the books have to be kept carefully closed so that those pages are not lost. I have also gone through at least seven copies of the Bible since I was a teenager. How many times have you worn out a Bible?
Third, in order to maximize the use of your most prized possession, believe it! If the Mormons have made such a wide impact because of their "golden tablets" why can we not have a greater impact from the very word of God?
Fourth, we should love the word written to us. "Sweeter than honey", David tells us is the Word of God. Jeremiah wrote that "When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty." Now, let me pause here a minute and apply these uses directly too your conscience. If you find reading and study to be more of a chore than a delight, if there are books more prized than God's precious word, if you doubt what you read, and if love is not a descriptive verb in your relationship to God's Word, do you in the words of Isaiah, bear God's Name? This has to be much more than a mere intellectual exercise, the faith once given to the saints is a difficult calling as we are about to see in the next two uses.
The fifth use is that we learn to conform our lives to the demands of Scripture in so far as we are enabled by the Holy Spirit. Our obedience is the most telling commentary that most people will ever see! I am satisfied that one reason the world pays so little attention to the Christian witness of the Church is the fact that the Church of Jesus Christ pays so little attention to God's Word!
The sixth use for the Scriptures is to use them in defense of the Gospel. We are to contend for our Christ in society by spreading God's word. Yes, we know that the public is so far closed off from Scripture that many cannot stand to hear it. So we should hide the light of His word under a bushel? No indeed, bill boards, television screens, net pages, newspapers and magazines should all be used to spread His word abroad! A few years ago, we called one radio station to ask about running a thirty second spot. We were told that they didn't do church commercials period! Boy did I wish we had had enough money to take them to court over that denial!
Our last use for scripture this morning is wrapped up in our attitude to our Father God for showing us our sinful nature and then introducing us to His very own Son. We should learn to be thankful to God for those Scriptures and we should adore Him whose very Word quickened our soul and brought us to Jesus Christ. May God's Holy Spirit fill our hearts to fully appreciate God's Word so that we may better learn to glorify and enjoy Him.
Resources Used:
Hodge, A.A. The Confession of Faith.
(PCA) The Confession of Faith: The Shorter Catechism.
Watson, Thomas. A Body of Divinity, 10 Commandments & Lord's Prayer
Places Preached:
Christ Covenant REFORMED (Presbyterian Church in America)
Box 132049 -- Columbus, OH 43213-8049
WSC002 21 April 96
- Table of Contents