These are questions I came up with years ago when meeting with people for pre-marital counseling. It doesn’t answer anything, but at least gives me a certain sense of where a couple is at:
What do you admire about your parents and their relationship?
What do you want to do differently than your parents?
What do you admire about your fiancee’s parents and their relationship?
What do you want to do differently than your fiancee’s parents?
How would you describe your relationship with your parents?
How would you describe your fiancee’s relationship with his/her parents?
Describe a situation where you could not get along with someone else: what was the issue?
What are your expectations for spending the holidays as a married couple?
Where do you envision living in the future? Why?
What are your thoughts on schooling for future children—public, private, home, other?
Describe one of the most trying times of your life. How did this change you positively and negatively?
List the 3 people you are closest to, then name 1 thing you admire about each person and 1 thing that you don’t want to copy in them.
List the 3 people your fiancée is closest with, then name 1 thing you admire about each person and 1 thing that you don’t want to copy in them.
How close would you want to live from your in-laws? Why or why not?
How close would you want to live from your parents? Why or why not?
When do you think it appropriate to defy/oppose your parents’ wishes? How about the wishes of your in-laws?
What are your current temptations?
What are the current temptations of your fiancée?
When you think over your dating/engaged relationship with your fiancée, how pure do you think it’s been? How does this make you feel? How would your fiancée answer this?
If you had disagreements on raising the kids, who would make the final decision and why? What would your fiancée say?
Define love.
What do you see as acceptable grounds for divorce? What would your fiancée say?
Why do you believe your marriage will not suffer divorce?
Where do you and your fiancée differ theologically?
What is/was your biggest disagreement with your fiancée?
How would you describe your relationship with Jesus right now?
How would you describe your fiancee’s relationship with Jesus right now?
Why do you want to marry your fiancée?
To you, what does it mean to submit to Christ and His word?
Adapted from Derek Prince’s outline on the subject
Nature of God’s Word
Heb. 4:12 – The Word of God is:
Alive, not dead
Energetic: beaming with divine energy, which penetrates every area of human personality – soul and spirit
Discerning: You read the Bible; the Bible reads you – It has the power to point out/discern/transform you
1 Thess. 2:13
Not word of men, but Word of God
“Effectively works in you who believe”
If we welcome and receive the Word of God in faith, the Word will do what it was intended to do
2 Pet. 1:3-4
God has already given us all things that relate to life and godliness
Where? Through the knowledge of Jesus…
By what do we know the knowledge of Jesus? By the “Exceeding great and precious promises” in the Word of God
Thus we become partakers of God’s own nature
How do we get this “divine nature” from the Bible?
Gen. 28:10-12 – mentions a ladder between earth and heaven
Jn. 1:51 – Jesus said He is the ladder
As we appropriate the promises of God, then we take on some of the “divine nature”
As we grab on to each “rung” of the ladder, we grab onto God’s promises
The Eight Effects of God’s Word
Produces faith
Rom. 10:17 – “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
We should read the Bible for faith’s sake!
Seed of new birth
James 1:18 – Word of God puts in us a seed of new birth
1 Pet. 1:22-23 – Word of God = incorruptible seed which produces incorruptible fruits (see also Luke 8:11)
WARNING: Deut. 22:9 – if your starting point (or seed) is anything outside of God’s word (i.e. psychology, philosophy, science, etc.), it will always corrupt any fruit you could produce.
Spiritual nourishment
1 Pet. 2:2 – Milk
Mt. 4:4 – Bread
Heb. 5:12-14 – Solid food
John 6:63 – It is the very sustenance of your life and spirit
Mental illumination
Ps. 119:130; Gen. 1:3-5
Education is not illumination/light (see 1 Cor. 1:19-20,25)
Wisdom and understanding come through God’s Word
Physical healing
Ps. 107:17-20 – God’s Word:
Saves
Heals
Delivers
Prov. 4:20-22 – “For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.”
See “Testimony of God’s Word as Healing” (below)
Victory over sin and Satan
Ps. 119:9, 11 – God’s Word in our heart helps to have victory over sin
Mt. 4:4, 7, 10 – God’s Word has victory over Satan
Cleansing and holiness
Eph. 5:25-27
The Church/body of believers cleansed by “the washing of water by the word”
This brings purity, sanctification, and holiness
A Spiritual Mirror
James 1:23-25; Heb. 4:12-13
The Bible is a Spiritual Mirror
When we want to see how we are doing spiritually, the Word will directly reflect it
Bible is also Judge.
“What God’s words are to me is the test of what He Himself is to me.” – Andrew Murray
“You do not love God more than you love His Word.” – Derek Prince
Testimony of God’s Word as Healing
During World War II, while working with the medical services in North Africa, I became sick with a condition of the skin and nerves for which medical science, in that climate and those conditions, could provide no cure. I spent more than one year in the hospital, receiving every kind of treatment available. For more than four months at a stretch I was confined to bed. Eventually, I was discharged from the hospital at my own request, uncured.
I decided to seek no further medical treatment but to put the promises of God in Proverbs 4:20-22 to the test in my own case. Three times a day I went apart by myself, shut myself in with God and His Word, prayed and asked God to make His Word to me what He had promised it should be – medicine to all my flesh.
The climate, the diet and all other external circumstances were as unfavorable as they could be. Indeed, many healthy men all around me were falling sick. Nevertheless, through God’s Word alone, without recourse to any other means of any kind, I received within a short time a complete and permanent cure.
From the Bible study entitled, “Is the Bible Reliable?”, we discover that we can be confident our current copies of the Bible accurately record what was written 2,000 years ago.
E.g. Dr. Norman Geisler and William Nix say: “The New Testament, then, has not only survived in more manuscripts than any other book from antiquity, but it has survived in a purer form than any other great book – a form that is 99.5% pure.” (A General Introduction to the Bible)
Matthew 5:17-18
Did these writers accurately record what they wrote?
Use of Primary Sources – Luke 1:1-3; 2 Peter 1:16; 1 John 1:3; Acts 2:22; John 19:35; Luke 3:1; Acts 26:24-26 are all claims to the writers’ being eyewitnesses or using firsthand information. Therefore, the New Testament must be regarded by scholars today as a competent primary source document from the first century. (Montgomery, HC)
Non-Christian Writers’ Confirmation – Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, Suetonius, Josephus, and other ancient non-Christian writers/historians confirm the facts of the New Testament
Early Creedal Confessions – Luke 24:34; Romans 1:3,4; Romans 4:24,25; Romans 10:9,10; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; Philippians 2:6-11; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Timothy 6:13; 2 Timothy 2:8; 1 Peter 3:18; and 1 John 4:2 affirm Christian creedal confessions that “preserve some of the earliest reports concerning Jesus from about 30-50 A.D. Therefore, in a real sense, the creeds preserve pre-New Testament material, and are our earliest sources for the life of Jesus.” (Habermas, VHCELJ)
Written within the lifetimes of eyewitnesses of Jesus – “Standard scholarly dating, even in very liberal circles, is Mark in the 70s, Matthew and Luke in the 80s, John in the 90s. But listen: that’s still within the lifetimes of various eyewitnesses of the life of Jesus, including hostile eyewitnesses who would have served as a corrective if false teachings about Jesus were going around…
“The two earliest biographies of Alexander the Great were written by Arrian and Plutarch more than four hundred years after Alexander’s death in 323 B.C., yet historians consider them trustworthy.” (Blomberg as quoted by Strobel, CC)
Checks and Balances – Since the N.T. was written within the lifetime of many eyewitnesses, we have a double corrective to ensure reliability. On one hand, the N.T. writers wanted to safeguard against Jews who were antagonistic to the gospel and would have gladly exposed any errors in the stories. On the other hand, Christians, who prided themselves in honesty, would have also corrected any errors in the writings, lest they be called dishonest.
Variations among the Gospels – “Ironically, if the gospels had been identical to each other, word for word, this would have raised charges that the authors had conspired among themselves to coordinate their stories in advance, and that would have cast doubt on them.” (Strobel, CC)…Also, Simon Greenleaf of Harvard Law School says about the gospels, “There is enough of a discrepancy to show that there could have been no previous concert among them; and at the same time such substantial agreement as to show that they all were independent narrators of the same great transaction.” (Greenleaf as quoted in Strobel, CC)
What does Jesus say about the Bible?
OLD TESTAMENT – John 10:34-35
“the word of God” (John 10:35)
What does this phrase mean?…An example: In O.T., “Thus says the Lord” appears hundreds of times. When prophets say this, they are claiming that their words are the absolutely authoritative words of God. God speaks “through” prophets (1 Kings 14:18; 16:12,34; 2 Kings 9:36; 14:25; Jer. 37:2; Zech. 7:7,12) in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey these prophets is to disbelieve or disobey God himself (Deut. 18:19; 1 Sam. 10:8; 13:13-14; 15:3,19,23; 1 Kings 20:35,36).
“your law” (John 10:34); “the Scripture” (John 10:35)
Refers to Old Testament Scriptures. Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6 and calls it “Law”, therefore, He is referring to the whole Old Testament here.
Luke 24:44 – O.T. Scriptures = Law + Prophets + Psalms/Writings
God first wrote His words on tablets given to Moses (Exodus 31:18; 32:16; 34:1,28). Further writing was done by Moses (see Deuteronomy 31:9-13). This book written by Moses was then deposited by the side of the ark of the covenant (Deut. 31:24-26). Further additions were made to this book of God’s words by authors such as Joshua (Josh. 24:26), Isaiah (Isa. 30:8), Jeremiah (Jer. 30:2; 36:2-4,27-31; 51:60), and the other Old Testament writers.
“the Scripture cannot be broken” (v. 35)
“Scripture” specifically means what is written down, and here refers to the Old Testament.
The only unshakable thing is the Word of God
Examples of Jesus treating Old Testament Scripture as God’s word
Mathew 4:4 – “every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” “In the context of Jesus’ repeated citations from Deuteronomy to answer every temptation, the words that proceed ‘from the mouth of God’ are the written Scriptures of the Old Testament.” (Grudem, Systematic Theology)
Matthew 19:4-5 – Jesus quotes from Genesis 2:24 by saying that “God said” this.
Matthew 22:29-32 – In quoting Exodus 3:6,15 (written roughly 1,500 years ago by Moses), Jesus says this text is “what was spoken to you [Jews living at the time of Jesus] by God” (Matt. 22:31).
Confirmation of Apostles
2 Tim. 3:16 – This word “Scripture” refers to the written Scripture in every one of its 51 occurrences in the New Testament.
breath = Holy Spirit; Scripture has authority because it “proceeds from its author,” the Holy Spirit
2 Peter 1:20-21 – the ultimate source of every prophecy was never man’s decision about what he wanted to write, but rather it is spoken “from God”: that is, they are God’s own words.
PICTURE: Psalm 12:6
Clay furnace = human element (see 2 Cor. 4:7)
Silver represents the divine message which comes through the human element
The purifying fire is the Holy Spirit
7 is the number of the Holy Spirit and also of perfection – The Word of God comes out perfect!
EXAMPLES:
Compare Hebrews 4:7 with 3:7 – God spoke through David
Matthew 1:22 quotes Isaiah 7:14, saying “what the Lord had spoken by the prophet.”
Acts 1:16 quotes Psalms 69 and 109 as the words which “the Holy Spirit spoke…by the mouth of David.”
Hebrews 3:7 and 4:7 show that what David wrote was really the words of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:16-17 – Peter says, “God declares,” when he quotes the words of Joel 2:28-32
Acts 3:18 – Indicates that God spoke through all the writers of the Old Testament.
Luke 1:70; 24:25; John 5:45-47; Acts 3:18,21; 4:25; 13:47; 28:25; Romans 1:2; 3:2; 9:17; 1 Corinthians 9:8-10; Hebrews 1:1-2,6-7
GOSPELS – John 14:25-26
The Holy Spirit is the agent by which the gospel writers remember the words and deeds of Jesus.
The Holy Spirit unfolds all truth: past, present and future
The Gospels must be included in the Scriptures that are called the Word of God.
1 Timothy 5:18 – Paul quotes Luke 10:7 alongside an Old Testament passage, and calls both “Scriptures”
REST OF NEW TESTAMENT – John 16:12-14
The things that Jesus was not able to teach during His earthly ministry were to be taught later by the apostles through whom the Holy Spirit would speak.
Jesus trusted the Holy Spirit to reveal all further truth
Acts 26:14-18 – Jesus Himself commissions Paul to teach what He would reveal to him.
Revelation 1:19; 2:1,8,12,18; 3:1,7,14 – Jesus commissions John to write what He reveals to him.
N.T. Confirmation
2 Peter 3:15-16 – Peter says that Paul’s writings have equal authority with the Old Testament Scriptures
1 Timothy 5:18 – Luke’s writings are called Scriptures
1 Corinthians 14:37 – Paul understood that his writings were God’s words/commands
2 Peter 3:2 – The words of the apostles are put on equal status with the Old Testament writings
1 Thess. 2:13 – the apostles’ words were God’s words, not man’s words
Acts 2:42; 1 Thess. 5:27, and related passages indicate that the apostles’ words were to be studied and spread abroad as the very commands of God.
See also 1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 Thess. 4:15; Revelation 22:18-19
HOW JESUS USED SCRIPTURE
Mt. 4:4,7,10
First temptation is to doubt
“It is written” means don’t argue with what the Bible says – it says so – done deal! This needs to be the power of dictating our life
If Jesus needed Scripture to combat Satan’s lies/doubts, we do too!
Also, Jesus used the Bible as His Authority, not his experience
Eph. 6:17 – The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God (the only offensive weapon, all others are defensive)
Mt. 5:17-18
“Jot” = smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet
“Tittle” = a little distinguishing curl
These are referring to the written text – it is sound
Also, the Bible will remain until all is fulfilled (v. 18)
Mt. 22:29-32
Jesus quoted what Moses wrote as spoken from God to the people of His day
God’s Word is eternal/timeless – it is not just a history book, but a present reality: “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living”
We cannot say, “That was only for the people at the time” – it is for us too!
HOW JESUS’ LIFE FULFILLED SCRIPTURE
Bible says 18 times: “That the Scripture might be fulfilled…”
Jesus’ whole life was known and controlled by Scripture
Birth
Life
Death
Resurrection, etc.
Jn. 1:14 – Jesus is the Word made flesh – He fulfills the OT prophecies, and His whole life and what he said IS the Bible
CONCLUSION
The Bible itself claims to be the very words of God. We can only ultimately be convinced of this fact by the work of God’s Holy Spirit in our hearts (see 1 Cor. 2:13-14). As we read the Bible more, we should be able to recognize that it is not the words of men, but the words of God (John 10:27).
Though the Holy Spirit’s testimony is the only sure way to be completely convinced of the Bible being God’s word, there are still other arguments that support this claim: its historical accuracy, internal consistency, fulfillment of prophecies hundreds of years after they were written, its influence in the course of human history, its power to change lives and lead to salvation, its literary beauty, profound teachings, and so forth.
What does all this mean for us?
John 12:48; Revelation 19:11-15 (compared with Ephesians 6:17 and Hebrews 4:12) – It is God’s Word that will ultimately judge us. Therefore, the Scriptures must become our final authority and the only basis and judge by which we build upon. Any other foundation will not measure up to God’s standard.
For further studies on this subject:
Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology,
Josh McDowell’s New Evidence That Demands a Verdict,
Kingdom of God – Turn from kingdom of darkness to kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13)
A Kingdom Depends on a King
God’s Kingdom depends on Christ’s Kingship (Rev. 1:5)
If you are a citizen of a kingdom, the king’s words carry power and authority
Ex. Esther 3:12-4:17 – the word of the king was greatly feared because they knew the authority and power behind the word
God’s Word sets the standard and precedent of His Kingdom
1 Cor. 4:6 – Don’t think beyond what is written
Experiences are fine, but they need to be rightly interpreted
Ex. Eve gave the fruit to Adam because she never “experienced” death, though God’s Word contradicted her interpretation of her experience. Note: Any interpretation of an experience that disregards God’s revealed Word will lead you away from God.
Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:18-19 – We can’t add or take away from God’s Word.
Examples:
Acts 17:11 – “searched the Scriptures daily” – the Bible was their measuring stick for truth
“Weirdness” can’t be our measuring stick (see Ezekiel)
Experience alone can’t be our measuring stick (see Eve)
Feelings can’t be our measuring stick (see Samson and Delilah)
Pastors/church leaders can’t be our measuring stick (see 2 Cor. 11)
Discomfort and offending others can’t be our measuring stick (see Jesus’ ministry)
2. Acts 15:1-22
15:7-11 – Peter’s experiences by the Holy Spirit was not enough affirmation
15:12 – Paul’s and Barnabas’s experiences by the Holy Spirit were not enough affirmation
15:14-21 – Only after James cited Scripture was the mattered settled to the early church
15:28 – The Spirit confirmed this. It wasn’t their own private interpretation of Scripture.
3. Deuteronomy 13:1-5
Even fulfilled prophecy is not sufficient to determine truth (see also Acts 16:16-19)
God’s Word is the ultimate standard of truth (compare Exodus 20:3 with Deut. 13:2)
Application:
2 Tim. 4:1-5
Rev. 11:1-2
“reed like a measuring rod” – represents canon
Temple, altar, and worshipers measured – true worshipers will live by the Word and have a proper understanding of the Cross
Final Authority:
We need whole counsel of God’s word (Acts 20:27)
Matt. 4:2; 2 Pet. 3:16 – Satan can twist and pull Scriptures out of context
1 Cor. 2:11 – The Author of the Bible (i.e. the Holy Spirit) is the only infallible and trustworthy Teacher/Interpreter of God’s Word. Submit to Him and teach others through this submission.
The following are biblical statements compiled that tell us things about the Bible and the power of God’s written word.
The Bible/Scriptures…
Gen. 1:3ff – was used to create light and the world
Deut. 6:6-9 – is meant to be in our heart, taught to children, talked about, and guide our work and our minds (bound on hand and forehead)
Deut. 10:13 – are to be known, are to be obeyed…for our good
Deuteronomy 17:18-20 – teaches us fear of God; teaches us to be careful to observe everything it says; keeps us humble; keeps us focused and obedient; gives life to us and those after us
Josh. 21:2 – Gives counsel and correction to leadership and actions
Josh. 23:6-13 – keeps us from mixing with world and being overcome by our enemies
Josh. 23:14 – never fails
Psalm 12:6 – Clay furnace = human element (see 2 Cor. 4:7); silver = divine message coming through human element; fire = Holy Spirit; 7 = perfection of God’s word
Psalm 19:7 – is perfect; converts our souls; makes the simple wise
Psalm 19:8 – is right; brings joy; is pure; brings light and understanding
Psalm 19:9 – true; righteous
Psalm 19:10 – more desirable than fine gold; sweeter than sweet honey
Psalm 19:11 – warns; brings rewards to those who keep it
Psalm 29:3-4 – powerful; full of majesty
Psalm 29:5 – breaks the tallest cedars
Psalm 29:6 – energizes
Psalm 29:7 – gives order to fire
Psalm 29:8 – overcomes forests
Psalm 29:9 – gives life; brings death
Psalm 107:17-20 – Saves, heals, delivers
Psalm 119:18 – has wonderful things
Psalm 119:9,11 – brings victory over sin
Psalm 119:24 – brings delight; gives counsel
Psalm 119:39 – is good
Psalm 119:49 – gives hope
Psalm 119:50 – gives comfort in affliction; gives life
Psalm 119:105 – reveals light and truth; gives perspective and guidance; helps us discern between truth and circumstance
Psalm 119:130 – brings light and mental illumination
Prov. 1:4 – gives wisdom, knowledge and discretion
Prov. 1:9 – gives us grace and beauty when we listen to them
Prov. 1:23 – if you heed them, you will receive God’s Spirit and He will make his words known to us
Prov. 1:33 – if we listen to them, we will dwell safe and secure and not fear evil
Proverbs 4:20-22 – brings physical healing
Isaiah 55:8-11 – reveals God’s thoughts; reveals God’s ways; does not return void; accomplishes what it sets out to do; prospers; brings fruit
Zech. 7:12-13 – God’s own words; we are judged by our obedience to them (even prayers withheld on account of disobedience)
Matt. 1:22 – God’s own words
Matt. 3:3 – is truthful; is predictive; will be fulfilled
Matt. 4:3-11 – Authoritative; nourishment – gives spiritual nourishment as we mature (= bread); God’s own words; brings victory over Satan
Matt. 5:17 – Christ fulfilled the O.T. Scriptures
Matt. 12:3 – Jesus expects us to read/know word
Matt. 15:1-9 – keeps us from becoming hypocritical; are expected to be obeyed; expose man’s wisdom
Matt. 19:4-5 – God’s own words; they hold authority
Matt. 21:42 – Jesus expects us to read/know word
Matt. 22:29-32 – God’s own words that rule us today
Mark 12:35-36 – is truthful; will be fulfilled
Luke 1:70 – God’s own words
Luke 4:16-21 – is truthful; will be fulfilled
Luke 7:24-28 – is truthful; will be fulfilled
Luke 11:29-32 – Jesus believes it to be literal and truthful
Luke 24:25-27 – Reveals Christ; is reliable; understanding of Scriptures gives you and understanding of God’s plan
Luke 24:32 – gives us burning in our hearts when it is understood
Luke 24:44 – “must be fulfilled”
John 1:1,14 – Christ is the Word personified
John 5:45-47 – God’s own words
John 6:63 – is the sustenance of your life and spirit
John 6:68 – brings eternal life and keeps us following Christ
John 10:27 – the more we read the Bible, the more we will recognize it is God’s Word, not man’s
John 10:34-35 – They are God’s own words
John 10:35 – holds authority
John 12:48 – God’s Word is our Ultimate Judge
John 12:50 – is everlasting life; comes from the Father
John 14:25-26 – Spirit is agent by which gospel writers remember the words and deeds of Jesus
John 16:12-14 – Things Jesus was not able to teach during His earthly ministry were to be taught later by apostles through Holy Spirit
Acts 1:16 – God’s (i.e. the Holy Spirit’s) own words
Acts 2:16-17 – God’s own words
Acts 2:42 – Apostles words were to be studied and spread as God’s words
Acts 3:18 – God spoke through writers of O.T.
Acts 3:21 – God’s own words
Acts 4:25 – God’s own words
Acts 13:47 – God’s own words
Acts 26:14-18 – Jesus commissions Paul to teach what He reveals
Acts 28:25 – God’s own words
Romans 1:2 – God’s own words
Romans 3:2 – God’s own words
Rom. 4:3 – source of truth
Romans 9:17 – God’s own words
Romans 10:17 – Produces faith
1 Cor. 2:13 – Apostles’ words came from Holy Spirit
1 Cor. 2:13-14 – We are convinced that the Bible is God’s Word because Holy Spirit reveals this to our hearts
1 Corinthians 9:8-10 – God’s own words
1 Cor. 14:37 – Paul recognized his words as God’s words
2 Cor. 7:1 – Understanding God’s word encourages and empowers us to live a holy life
2 Cor. 13:3 – Christ speaks in Paul
Eph. 5:25-27 – cleanses us
Eph. 6:17 – Bible is sword that comes from the Spirit; weapon against the enemy
1 Thes. 2:13 – the words of Paul are God’s words, and work effectively in those who believe
Hebrews 1:1-2 – God’s own words
Heb. 1:3 – upholds world
Hebrews 1:6-7 – God’s own words
Hebrews 3:7 and 4:7 – God’s (i.e. the Holy Spirit’s) own words
Hebrews 4:12-13 – is sharper than sword; living; powerful; exposes our hearts
Hebrews 5:12-14 – Gives spiritual nourishment at full maturity (= solid food)
Heb. 11:3 – created world
James 1:18 – puts a seed of new birth in us
James 1:23-25 – is a mirror that does not lie
1 Thess. 2:13 – the apostles’ words = God’s words, not man’s
1 Thess. 5:27 – Apostles words were to be studied and spread as God’s words
1 Timothy 5:18 – Luke’s gospel is called Scripture
2 Tim. 3:14-15 – can make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ
2 Tim. 3:16-17 – Comes from God; is useful to correct, instruct, equip, and Rebuke
1 Pet. 1:22-23 – incorruptible seed which produces incorruptible fruits (see also Luke 8:11)
Warning: Deut. 22:9 – having any starting point other than the Bible for your thoughts and actions will corrupt the fruit you could produce
1 Pet. 1:10-12 – the O.T. came from prophets who searched and inquired carefully through Christ’s Spirit upon them. They received revelation that their words served Christians hundreds of years later (instead of themselves). Likewise, the message of the N.T. has also been preached by the Holy Spirit through people.
1 Pet. 1:24-25 – is everlasting (does not fade with time); humbles us
1 Pet. 2:2 – Gives spiritual nourishment at beginning of maturity (= milk)
1 Pet. 2:2 – allows us to taste God’s goodness
2 Pet. 1:21 – Comes from God, not man
2 Pet. 3:2 – words of Apostles carry same authority as O.T.
2 Pet. 3:15-16 – Paul’s writings carry same authority as O.T.
Rev. 1:19; 2:1,8,12,18; 3:1,7,14 – Jesus commissions John to write what He reveals to him
Rev. 19:10 – the spirit of prophecy reveals Jesus
Rev. 19:11-15 – Christ Judges according to the words He speaks (compare with Eph. 6:17 and Heb. 4:12)
Rev. 22:18-19 – God endorses the words of Revelation (and by implication the other Scriptures too)
Audio of “Baptism (and New Life in Christ)” (1 hour)
Introduction
Some believe that water baptism (when mixed with faith) is God’s means for forgiving your sins, bringing regeneration, and eternally saving you. So, according to this belief, those who are not water baptized will be eternally condemned.
Their reasoning (as we understand it) centers largely around the following Scripture passages:
Mark 16:16 – “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
Acts 2:38 – “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”
Acts 22:16 – “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’”
1 Pet 3:21 – “and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ”
It is undeniable that these Scriptures teach:
Baptism relates to salvation, and
Baptism relates to the forgiveness/washing of sins.
But we must ask:
In what way does baptism relate to salvation and forgiveness?
What type of salvation does baptism give you?
Before answering these questions, consider:
Baptism as circumcision – confirmation of the covenant, not origin
Baptism as flood – salvation given by being inside boat, experience of salvation through water
Baptism as Red Sea – salvation happened at Passover, experience of salvation happened in Sea
Baptism as burial – happens to a dead person, but does not make them dead
John’s baptism – seal of repentance, not origin of repentance
Examples of people being believers before baptism: Acts 9 (Paul); Acts 10 (Cornelius’s household); 1 Cor. 10 (reference to Exod. 14 – baptism of cloud before baptism of sea)
Everything said of N.T. baptism happens in heart, first
Audio of “Luke 24 & The Revelation of Christ” (7 min)
Transcript (Auto-Generated through Microsoft Slack)
0:01I just wanted to share a quick thing from Luke chapter 24 that I saw.
0:05I was reading this with my family and it’s like, wow, this is worth sharing here On the road to amaze a lot of you guys know this.
0:15well, let me read this story to give some context.
0:1724 13, that very day two of them were going to a village named is about seven miles from Jerusalem and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened while they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him and he said to them, what is this conversation that you were holding with each other as you walk?
0:39And they stood still looking sad and one of them named Cleo Pests answered him.
0:44Are you the only visitor of Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?
0:48I love that question.
0:49By the way, Jesus, are you the only one who doesn’t know when?
0:53And of course, it’s the exact opposite.
0:54He’s the only one who does know but anyway, verse 19.
0:57And he said to them, what things have happened.
1:00And they said to him concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people in verse 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death and crucified him.
1:12But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.
1:15Yes.
1:16And besides all this is now the third day since these things happened.
1:19Moreover, some women of our company amazed us.
1:21They were at the tomb early in the morning.
1:23And when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.
1:30Some of those who were with us, went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said.
1:33But him, they did not see and he said to them and then Jesus and he said to them, oh foolish ones and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.
1:43Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory and beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures, the things concerning himself.
1:53So they drew near to the village to which they were going, he acted as if he were going farther.
1:57But they urged him strongly saying, stay with us for it.
2:00Is toward evening and the day is now far spent.
2:03So we went in to stay with him when he was at table with them.
2:05He took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them and their eyes were opened and they recognized him and he vanished from their sight.
2:13They said to each other did not.
2:15Our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures and they rose that same hour, return to Jerusalem.
2:21All right.
2:22So I want to show something here ready?
2:24Verse 16 says, their eyes were kept from recognizing Jesus as the two of them notice that, that they were kind of passive in a sense.
2:37Here they were, their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.
2:42So God was the one who was whole was kind of blinding their eyes if you will or, or keeping it from recognizing Him.
2:50But then if you skip down to verse Luke 24 verse 31, it says, and their eyes were opened and they recognized him again, noticed that it was someone, something else or someone else opened their eyes, they didn’t open their eyes themselves.
3:09It was God’s revelation that opened their eyes.
3:11So, my question is from 16 where their eyes were kept from recognizing Him to 31 their eyes were opened and they recognized him.
3:19What took place, what transpired?
3:22I want to submit to you.
3:24Three major things took place and possibly 1/4 if we, if we think through this.
3:32So here are the three major things that I do think this is part of what God’s impressing in this text for us is major thing.
3:40Number one verse in verse 27 Jesus opened up the Bible to them.
3:46He opened the scriptures concerning himself.
3:48He, he read the Bible to them and then later, it says their hearts burned when he was going through the Bible.
3:52So there was Bible study.
3:55Jesus led Bible study that happened.
3:58That was number one.
4:00Number two.
4:01Look at verse 28 29 Jesus acted as if he was going to go farther.
4:07Did you notice that there?
4:08He was kind of he’s walking with him and he’s like, okay, we’ll see you guys and or however, it would have gone, gone, gone on.
4:16And then it says, they urged him strongly saying, no, stay with us for its toward toward evening and the day is now far spent.
4:24So he’s looking like he’s going farther, but they said, no, no, stay with us, stay with us.
4:29They’re pleading with him, they’re urging him, they’re imploring him to stay.
4:34So I’m gonna submit.
4:35Number two is there’s a prayer, there’s aspect of prayer.
4:39You know, that’s how we do it today when we want the Lord, we stay.
4:42No, stay with us.
4:43You know, maybe he, the Lord’s even acting like he’s ready to move on in certain things and he’s waiting for someone to call and say no, stay with us, stay with us.
4:50So that’s number two.
4:52that, that they wanted the Lord to stay with him or they, I’m sorry, they prayed, they pleaded with the Lord to stay with them.
4:59So they pleaded with the Lord.
5:01Prayer is number two.
5:03And then number three, verse 30 when he was at the table and with them, he took bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.
5:12So now they’re sharing their breaking bread together and they’re sharing fellowship which you have throughout the whole thing.
5:21Those three things take place.
5:22Bible, study, prayer, fellowship, take place and then their eyes are open.
5:27Well, the same author, human and divine author Luke, who is a human author, then God wrote it, but the same author, his next book is the book of Acts, a lot of you would probably know that if you’re hearing this.
5:38And but in acts two, it says, verse 42 notice this, they devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching into the fellowship and the breaking of bread and the prayers.
5:51This is their, their devotion was to teaching from the apostles that’s really passing on what Jesus taught.
5:58And it’s really, it’s like reading The New Testament.
6:00And when they are in the Old Testament, it’s Bible study.
6:03So they have their devoted to teaching, to prayer and to fellowship.
6:08And that’s Luke writing by God’s spirit saying those things, well, how that was how he begins acts, but how he ends.
6:15Luke is this story in M A s, right?
6:18Where they, you have scripture, you have prayer, you have breaking bread and fellowship and their eyes are open to CGs.
6:25I think those are the three main things for us to consider.
6:28But I think there’s one other thing you can see that also transpired between verse 16 where their eyes were closed in verse in chapter 24 verse 31 when their eyes are open, They’re trying to explain the gospel.
6:43Now, they didn’t know it was the gospel.
6:44I don’t know if it’s good news.
6:45They just knew that something was happening, but they were trying to explain the best they knew of the events of Jesus to this stranger.
6:52And so I wonder if there’s maybe 1/4 thing to think about is us sharing the best we know in broken false.
7:00You know, it’s not false but like not quite connected thoughts of sharing the Lord with strangers or strange, whoever’s around us is sharing these things with them.
7:10Maybe that also is a thought in there again.
7:13I think there’s three main things, the word prayer and fellowship, but maybe 1/4 to consider is our witness.
7:19And how much that is part of our eyes being opened to the Lord.
Audio of “Who’s Worth? (considering Luke 17-18)” (8 min)
Who’s Worthy? (considering Luke 17-18) Transcript (Auto-Generated from MS Slack)
0:01Just wanted to take a moment to make a brief observation from Luke chapter 17 and 18, I was reading this and I was very struck that you have scenario after scenario after scenario that says the same thing in a lot of different ways.
0:17so, well, 18, I think is the most evident, but I think 17 leads into this.
0:24So let’s just start with 18.
0:25So the first thing you have is a widow.
0:29She is rejected initially by the judge, but then she gets his ear because she prays and pleads.
0:39But then after that, you have, you have two people, you have a pharisee and the tax collector and the pharisee says, I’m I deserve God.
0:49And the tax collector says, I’m, I’m unworthy.
0:52I’m a sinner.
0:52How could I deserve God?
0:54And it says the tax collector actually, the sinner is received by the Lord, not the pharisee.
1:03So you have the first scenario is a widow who gives him is a model for prayer.
1:08Second scenario is a tax collector sinner who has received not the pharisee who is the righteous will, self righteous one which I think is the key.
1:18And then the next scenario look 1815 through 17, it says they were bringing infants to Jesus to touch them.
1:24But when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
1:28So but then Jesus called to them saying, let the Children come to me.
1:32So now you have infants.
1:34The disciples thought no, they’re, they’re unworthy to come to Jesus now like us disciples, you know, we’re worthy.
1:43But these infants now they’re a little unworthy.
1:46And Jesus says, you got it all wrong.
1:48These are, these are the ones who he later says, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.
1:54Luke 1817.
1:56So now we have infants who are the ones received.
2:00And the disciples were the ones who disagreed with that judgment.
2:04And Jesus says you’re wrong.
2:06So, so far we have widows and then we have a tax collector center and then we have infants.
2:15These are the ones who were dismissed by the people in the world.
2:19The widow was dismissed by the judge.
2:20The the tax collector center was dismissed by the pharisee and then the infant was dismissed by the disciples.
2:31Well, then what’s next?
2:32Well, then you have a ruler, not only any ruler, he’s an extremely rich ruler.
2:37So surely, right?
2:39You see where this is going?
2:41Surely the rich, extremely rich young ruler.
2:44He’s so successful in this life.
2:46He will be accepted by the Lord.
2:48So he goes up to the Lord, right?
2:50And he, he says, well, what do I need to do to be saved?
2:52And I think it’s kind of like, look at me, I’ve been successful and everything, how can I be the success story of salvation?
3:00And Jesus said, we’ll get rid of everything, still, everything I’m looking for the poor, not the rich.
3:05And he went away, troubled, you probably know the story.
3:09And, and so Jesus flipped the script.
3:11So he here we have the one who surely the world has received very well, has had a lot of successes in the world.
3:19He’s actually rejected by the Lord.
3:22Again, I think there was a self righteousness playing out here.
3:27And then, and then I think another flip that again is showing the same thing from a different dimension is the next part is in Luke 18 31 through 34 this time as Jesus himself who is given over to others and to, to says he will be delivered over to the gentiles verse 32 of 18, Luke 18 and will be mocked and shamefully treated, spit upon and flogged and these okay.
3:54So now you have God himself in the flesh is going to be, he’s rejected.
4:00The world is in no way.
4:02That’s, that’s not our guy, that’s not our Messiah, that’s not our savior.
4:06And so he’s rejected.
4:08Well, this, this goes with everything, right.
4:10The world would have accepted the rich young ruler.
4:13He is the good one who had accepted the pharisee.
4:16He’s the righteous one.
4:17But, God is, maybe even the judge, the unrighteous judge.
4:23because at least he’s a judge.
4:24He’s important one.
4:25But God is like, no, I’m gonna choose the widow for my team.
4:29Right?
4:29I’m gonna choose the widow, the infants, the sin, tax collecting, sinner and, not the rich ruler.
4:38No, no.
4:40And so he goes on in this manner and then, but then the world says, okay, well, it’s our choice.
4:45Now we’re gonna choose the rich young ruler.
4:47Yeah, for sure.
4:47We’re gonna, we’re not gonna choose the son of man.
4:50We’re not gonna choose Jesus, we’re not gonna choose God.
4:54and that’s the point, by the way.
4:56and then the last, that’s at least what I’m seeing, right?
4:59Part of the point.
5:00The last paragraph of Luke 18 says, then it was a blind man.
5:05And what happens?
5:06The same thing blind man is calling out have mercy on me.
5:09Those who were in front, this is 1839, rebuked him, telling him to be silent.
5:16Notice that they are the ones rejecting him.
5:18Now, come on, Jesus has more important things than to deal with you.
5:22He likes to deal with us.
5:25Yes, but you’re blind.
5:26Remember?
5:27Well, and the same thing that Jesus comes and says, Jay says, Jesus stopped and commanded him and he was the one who said, recover your site, you recover your site, your faith has made you.
5:37Well.
5:39So Jesus receives a blind man.
5:41So I, I don’t know if you’re catching here.
5:42This is the, this is Jesus all star team.
5:45It’s a blind man.
5:48Not the rich ruler, it’s the infants, it’s the tax collecting center, not the pharisee, it’s the widow, not the judge.
5:59and he’s, and, he’s picking them because he himself is the one rejected by the world, right?
6:05So he’s like, I’m gonna pick the rejects.
6:06Yep.
6:07Yep.
6:07Yep.
6:08The ones who trust in the Lord.
6:09And I think, okay, I said at the beginning, I think it hearkens to something.
6:11Luke 17 that I think sets the stage.
6:14because if you go back to Luke 17 verses 11 through 19 here he’s talking about he cleansed 10 lepers and they’re healed.
6:22And I was thinking about this yesterday.
6:24Why was one?
6:25Why did only one out of 10 come back?
6:27Like this is an amazing miracle their whole life.
6:30They’ve been lepers like what, what gives and, and my conjecture is the one who came back was a Samaritan and they’re the ones who knew I’m unworthy.
6:41I’m unworthy.
6:42This, this happened out of mercy.
6:44But the other ones, I kind of wonder maybe they thought their sin was a judgment or something, but they’ve been extra righteous and that’s why they got healed.
6:51So they kind of deserved it.
6:52They kind of, they kind of deserved the healing.
6:54Right.
6:54They kind of worked it.
6:55They kinda did something.
6:56Right.
6:57so they’re looking at others, maybe even with their, they have their leprosy and this guy is more of a sinner than I am.
7:02And here I’m a leper.
7:03I deserve to be healed.
7:04God, I deserve to be healed.
7:06Maybe they’re praying that way.
7:07I don’t know.
7:07And Jesus by an act of mercy, I mean, I don’t know exactly but by an act of mercy healed them.
7:12But it explains why they didn’t come back, right?
7:14If they’re like, oh, finally the healing came.
7:17Well, they’re not gonna thank Jesus.
7:18They deserved it.
7:20But the Samaritan said, no, no, no, no, I don’t deserve this.
7:23This is a mercy gift.
7:25And I think again, hurricanes one last thing it sets at the stages in Luke 17 verses seven through 10.
7:33and Jesus talks about the relation between servants and masters and he says, does the master, this is 79, does the master think the servant because he did what was commanded?
7:48No.
7:50So you also when you have done all that you are commanded, say we are unworthy servants.
7:54We have only done what was our duty.
7:55So he’s saying there has to be an understanding in front of the Lord, your unworthy.
7:59You’re unworthy.
8:01Don’t look to say, you know, you’re looking for the master for God to thank you.
8:06Oh my goodness.
8:07I couldn’t have done this without you.
8:08I need to thank you.
8:09He said no, he’s not gonna thank him.
8:10Your, remember who you are?
8:12Remember who got us?
8:14I think that’s the point of the whole shebang.
Part of the Series: Learn Jesus & the Bible (For Kids…of all ages) (see fmi360 video)
The Bible is God’s Word
Matthew 4:4: “Jesus answered, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”‘”
Hebrews 3:7: “The Holy Spirit says, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…'”
The Bible is People’s Words
Hebrews 4:7: “[God] spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.'”
This Can Look Like
Moses (First 5 Books of Bible)
“God gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.” (Exodus 31:18)
“Then Moses wrote this law…” (Deut. 31:9)
The Rest of the Old Testament
“This word came to Jeremiah from the LORD: ‘Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you…” (Jer. 36:2)
The first 5 books of the New Testament
“Those who from the beginning [of Jesus’ ministry] were eyewitnesses…have delivered them to us, 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…” (Luke 1:2-4)
“In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealth with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up…” (Acts 1:1-2)
The Rest of the New Testament
“I, John, your brother…was on the island called Patmos…I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, ‘Write what you see in a book…'” (Rev. 1:9-11)
End of the Bible
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
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