The sufficient, Christ-centered Scriptures
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Title: the sufficient Christ-centered scriptures
Text:
Grudem's Seven Practical Applications of the Doctrine of the Sufficiency of Scriptures:
1. The sufficiency of Scripture should encourage us as we try to discover what God would have us to think (about a particular doctrinal issue) or to do (in a particular situation).
2. The sufficiency of Scripture reminds us that we are to add nothing to Scripture, and that we are to consider no other writings of equal value to Scripture.
3. The sufficiency of Scripture also tells us that God does not require us to believe anything about himself or his redemptive work that is not found in Scripture.
4. The sufficiency of Scripture shows us that no modern revelations from God are to be placed on a level equal to Scripture in authority.
5. With regard to living the Christian life, the sufficiency of Scripture reminds us that nothing is sin that is not forbidden by Scripture either explicitly or by implication.
6. The sufficiency of Scripture also tells us that nothing is required of us by God that is not commanded in Scripture either explicitly or by implication.
7. The sufficiency of Scripture reminds us that in our doctrinal and ethical teaching we should emphasize what Scripture emphasizes and be content with what God has told us in Scripture.
Illustration:
Imagine that you walk into Milton’s doughnuts and you request a custard-filled, chocolate glazed doughnut. As you take your first bite, you don’t get any of the custard filling. Instead, it is dough with chocolate. Bite after bite…no filling.
Now imagine the same scenario, but this time you bite into it, only to realize that there is lemon filling. It is something completely different.
On the one hand, one was empty. On the other hand, the other one was completely different.
What we are going to discuss tonight is not just something that is missing in the teaching of the false teachers, but it is something that is completely different.
Never let good books take the place of the Bible. Drink from the Well, not from the streams that flow from the Well .- Amy Carmichael
God is everywhere. However, He does not want you to reach out for Him everywhere but only in the Word. Reach out for it and you will grasp Him aright. Otherwise you are tempting God and setting up idolatry. That is why He has established a certain method for us. This teaches us how and where we are to look for Him and find Him, namely, in the Word. - Martin Luther
I was never out of my Bible. - John Bunyan
I am a man of one Book. - John Wesley
Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet-anchor of your liberties. Write its precepts in your hearts, and practice them in your lives. - U. S. Grant
What we must see is that for the scriptures to be powerful in our lives....for the scriptures to have enduring affect in our lives, we must submit to the centrality of Jesus Christ in our how view, interpret, perceive, and believe the scriptures.
Proposition:
Believe the God-breathed, Christ-centered scriptures!
(1) The Christian's godliness has certain expectations (v. 10 - 13)
(1) The Christian's godliness has certain expectations (v. 10 - 13)
it is expected that the Lord is always faithful (v. 10 - 11)
Defining and studying the list:
doctrine - didactic; intended to be taught, teachings
manner of life - way or course of life; conduct
purpose - a plan, a setting forth
faith - trust, assurance, pledge
longsuffering - forbearance, patience, self-restraint in the face of provocation
charity - agape
patience - a stronger form of the root word, steadfastness, to abide under, to bear up courageously under suffering - - endure; thus the difference between this and longsuffering is that this one shows a proactive nature of enduring boldly versus merely showing self-restraint as the word "longsuffering" means.
persecutions - chase
afflictions - suffering, misfortune, passions
it is expected that godliness is ONLY in Christ Jesus (v. 12)
Locations mentioned:
Antioch Pisidia - , ,
Iconium -
Lystra - ,
it is expected that this godliness will be increasingly persecuted (v. 12 - 13)
"evil" - worthless, bad, wicked
* in this context though, Paul is talking about what he suffered at the hands of religious people, who knew what the scriptures said.
This is important because it shows that "evil" is not merely a moral or sensual issue; but those who are considered godly are under this umbrella as well, since they are not "godly" in Christ Jesus.
Seducer
means imposter or cheat or swindler.
Consider the context of Paul's reference. These evil Jews are imposters, who claim the name of God but they reject Jesus Christ.
Note also that they are motivated by "envy". This reveals an inner quality of there character that is missing.
- points out our deception and our envy before Christ
Application:
Just because you know the scriptures does not mean that you belong to the Lord
Just because you belong to the Lord and know the scriptures does not mean you are godly
, True godliness flows out of faith in the fulfilled godliness of Jesus Christ. Our status, our identity, our name is tied to Jesus Christ - It is godliness ‘IN CHRIST JESUS’.
Godly in Christ Jesus means that we are living god-fearing lives because we are only and fully accepted with God in Christ Jesus.
(2) The Christian scriptures have a certain emphasis (v. 14 - 15)
(2) The Christian scriptures have a certain emphasis (v. 14 - 15)
The Christian scriptures are worthy of faith... (v. 14)
Because they call mankind to deliverance... (v. 15)
By faith exclusively in Jesus Christ (v. 15)
The emphasis of the OT scriptures is to have faith in Jesus Christ
Application:
If the scriptures will have life-giving meaning, and if they will sustain Timothy in the perilous times, then they must be received and believed in light of the completed, finished work of Jesus Christ.
This could be the difference between godly perseverance and evil seducing.
(3) The Christian's life has certain evidences (v. 16 - 17)
(3) The Christian's life has certain evidences (v. 16 - 17)
the evidences of the Christian life are based on the right belief about the origin of the scriptures (v. 16)
This word graphe includes the New Testament writings see this quote in NIVAC to help.
theopneustos, which is formed from theo (the root form of the word “God”) and pneustos (from a Greek root having to do with breathing).
Liefeld, W. L. (1999). 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus (p. 279). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
the evidences of the Christian life are good works (v. 17)
Good works are only good when they are flow out of our identity that is "in Christ" (v. 10 - 17)
The final item in the sequence is providing an ongoing “training in righteousness” (see the verbal form of the word “training” in and comments there). Structurally, “teaching” stands at the head of this series and the purpose of it all is expressed in verse 17, “for every good work.”
The importance of good works in the Pastoral Letters cannot be overemphasized. These are the marks of the genuine servants and people of God in contrast to the false teachers.
Conclusion:
Remember this evening, it is not mere belief in the scriptures that brings the perseverance necessary for perilous times; but rather it is belief in the sufficient, Christ-centered scriptures that leads to godliness in Christ Jesus and is productive of every good work.