Revere the Word of God

Our topic today has to do with authority. Our topic has to do with humanity's regard for authority, and more specifically, for the authority of God. Of course, I think we all can quickly recall that human beings have been rejecting God's authority, oh, well, since when? Yeah, since the Garden of Eden, since the time of Adam and Eve, that humanity has been rather consistent in that, sad to say. They've been rejecting God's authority since the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve chose to do things their own way in disobedience to God. But those whom God has called salvation, we know that we must, we should, choose to submit to God.

To submit to God, also means, though, to respect the authority of the Bible, God's Holy Scripture, His Word. And to become more like Jesus Christ, we must be ever reverent toward God and His Word, ever believing and ever obeying Him. You know, when I say, revering God, it becomes easy when you get on the Internet and look around. We can see all sorts of people saying they believe the Bible.

The Bible is still the number one bestseller across the planet. But it becomes different when you begin to ask and see, well, how many actually believe what it says and not just believe it's the Word of God, but then follows through and actually does it. Then the numbers plummet. And that's where we need to be sure that we understand, when we revere the Word of God, it means we just don't believe it's God's Word, but we believe it's so much that we strive to do what it says. And we can only do what it says with the help of God and faith in Christ.

And so it is that to become more like Jesus Christ, we must be ever reverent toward God and His Word, ever believing and ever obeying Him. My purpose today is to affirm our need to revere God's Holy Scripture, the Bible, and to maintain the highest respect for it and so believe and follow its instruction.

The title of the sermon is, Revere the Word of God. Revere the Word of God. Now sadly, rejecting the authority of God's Holy Scripture is nothing new. It's nothing new. If we go back to Jesus' time, for example, the Sadducees only upheld the authority of the five books of Moses, the Torah, also known as the Pentateuch.

That's Genesis through Deuteronomy. The Encyclopedia Britannica states that the Sadducees refused to go beyond the written Torah, and thus continuing it says, thus unlike the Pharisees, the Sadducees denied the immortality of the soul, which is fine, but they also denied the bodily resurrection after death. They denied the existence of angels because they only kept to those first five books.

The Pentateuch, they did not believe. The rest of what we would call the Old Testament, the Psalms, many proverbs, they only looked primarily to the first five books. Now many centuries later, Martin Luther, the catalyst of the Protestant revelation, I guess it was for some, catalyst of the Protestant Reformation, in contrast to the Catholic Church, he had a very low view of the epistle of James. It was Martin Luther who famously called the epistle of James an epistle of straw.

Apparently, that was in reference to what he thought. He thought the epistle of James is far less important as compared to the epistles of Paul or Peter. The epistles of Paul are Peter like vessels of gold and silver, but James, that was like straw, according to Martin Luther. Now others contend that some Psalms, such as Psalms that are commonly called the imprecatory Psalms, should be ignored. And some of you are going to want to look that word up. And precatory is spelled I-M-P-R-E-C-A-T-O-R-Y. I-M-P-R-E-C-A-T-O-R-Y. And precatory. They claim those should be ignored. Well, an example of imprecatory Psalm appears in Psalm 58, and there are many others, but these Psalms are known for calling upon God to curse and to bring disaster upon others.

Psalm 58, if I recall, because I've been looking at a number of them, there it talks about breaking the teeth of the enemies. Destroy them! A number of people today feel that Christians shouldn't talk like that.

We shouldn't be doing that. We shouldn't think like that anymore. In fact, it was 50 years ago that Pope Pius VI, roughly before 1974, removed what they call the imprecatory Psalms from the Catholic Liturgy of the Hours. We might call that their daily book of prayer, and that's from catholiceducation.org. Now, more recently, some have argued that the Old Testament is not necessary for Christians.

Yeah, that's what I just said. Some have argued that the Old Testament is not necessary for Christians. Ken Ham reported in Answers in Genesis.org that in 2018, Andy Stanley, an evangelical pastor in Georgia, to be very clear, he is not associated with the United Church of God or any Church of God group that I'm aware of, Andy Stanley, an evangelical pastor in Georgia, stirred up controversy, and he declared, according to Ham, quote, that Christians need to unhit the Old Testament from their understanding of the faith. By this, Ken Ham states, Stanley means to instruct people to ignore the Old Testament and focus solely on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and especially in evangelicalism. Unhits the Old Testament. From the New. Still others object to certain parts of Paul's epistles, such as his instruction about legalism, or about homosexuality, or about the roles of men and women. Some actually argue that, quote, Paul invented Christian doctrine based on nothing but his imagination, unquote. That's from an article entitled, Paul is Wrong. It's actually, let's see, it's from a website by a misleading name. It's from a website called the Church of Truth.org, Church of Truth, TM, a trademark, and it, from what I could tell, it was an atheist group. No shock there. Now, the United Church of God believes and upholds the authority of God's Holy Scripture, and we have our fundamental beliefs in the United Church of God. We have a number of copies of this out in the lobby, but our book, in our booklet, our fundamental belief statement regarding the Word of God goes like this. We believe that Scripture, both the Old and New Testament, both the Old and the New Testament, is God's revelation and his complete expressed will to humanity. Scripture is inspired in thought and word, infallible in the original writings, is the supreme and final authority in faith and in life, and is the foundation of all truth. Again, our fundamental beliefs booklet, page 8. Now, this statement is expanded with many scriptural references, as you can see in the booklet, if you'd like to read that. In short, we do believe that through his Holy Scripture, again, the Old Testament and the New, God reveals his will, and his will is that humanity receives everlasting life as members of his eternal family. And from Genesis to Revelation, God makes known his desire that every human being choose salvation, which is only through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ for our sins.

Now, this fundamental belief statement also affirms our belief that Scripture is inspired by God, as we read in the verse of the day, Scripture of the Day, 2 Timothy 3.6, which does state, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction and righteousness. And if we also turn now to 2 Peter chapter 1, 2 Peter chapter 1, we also believe what Peter wrote here, that Scripture is not the mere words of fallible human beings. 2 Peter chapter 1, verse 20 through 21. Peter wrote, knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation. For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Of course, prophecy, and we easily expand that to other inspired preaching, teaching, the Word of God, all of it was inspired by God through His Holy Spirit. And so God's Word was written by holy people. God chose them and inspired them with His Holy Spirit. And these verses also tell us that with the help of God's Holy Spirit, only then can one fully grasp the meaning and truth of God's Word. God's Word, the Bible has been studied for centuries, of course, and there can be great wisdom, great moral instruction can be drawn from these words, and we know it. The Bible is foundational to our Western culture. But to fully grasp its deeper, more profound meaning, Scripture reveals that we need the indwelling of God's Holy Spirit, that Jesus Christ through the Spirit, God through Spirit, has to open our understanding to comprehend these Scriptures. More on that in a bit. And so we believe then that God's Holy Word is infallible in the original writings. God's Word is reliable. It is sure. It is trustworthy. In John, chapter 35, let's, you can jot this down, you may turn there. We're going to be going to another verse in the book of John. John 10.35, just one little phrase here to take out from this statement Jesus said, but it's an important statement. In John 10.35, Jesus confirmed that, confirmed this infallible quality of God's Word. John 10.35, breaking into thought, Jesus said in parentheses in my Bible, it says, and the Scripture cannot be broken. Scripture cannot be broken. Other translations read, set aside. Scripture cannot be set aside. That's the New International Version, the NIV. New Living Translation says Scripture cannot be altered. The New American Standard Bible says Scripture cannot be nullified. In addition, John 17.17, a few pages over, Jesus also declared this as he is praying for his disciples, praying to his father for his disciples. And we know this verse, I'm sure even our children remember this verse. Jesus said to pray to his father, sanctify them, set them apart by your truth, and we know the rest, your Word is truth. Your Word, not man's Word, your Word is truth. And so again, God's Word is dependable. It's certain. And it's very important, vitally important, and for our very lives, vitally important, that we learn then not to doubt or to reject the authority of Scripture. Our human nature wants us to doubt God's Word. Our human nature wants us to ignore those things we maybe can't quite understand yet, or things our carnal selves don't really want to listen to. Part of our growth as followers of Jesus Christ, becoming more like Christ, is to learn not to doubt and to learn not to reject the authority of Scripture. It's vitally important. Now, Scripture, of course, in its original writings have been lost to time.

Have you ever owned a really old book or old magazines? What happens, especially in East Texas? The bugs get into it. mildew gets brittle, falls apart. These things, it happens. The original Scriptures were written on materials that do not last. But what's very inspiring, God nonetheless preserved His Word. He preserved His Word through faithful people who made copies of His Words in different languages, different generations, generation after generation.

Now, it is true, copious errors did slip in from time to time. Sometimes subscribes if you ever looked at some of these documents, there were no spacing like we would do today. There are no periods or commas. That's a rather new invention, a modern invention, punctuation. And it would be rather easy for a scribe to skip a word or skip a letter or miss a little diacritical mark of some sort. But what's interesting is that scholars now have found more and more copies of Scripture in bits and pieces all across different places of the world. And what they find is that they compare copies with copies from different generations. They are able to discern where mistakes happened, where copious made errors from previous copies, previous generations. And that's allowed scholars to detect most of those human errors. And we can now be aware of where human error has slipped in. But what's very encouraging that we should understand, although human error has slipped in in little tiny ways, really, the essential content, the essential meaning, the essential instruction of God's inspired word has not been lost. It's there. It is there. You know, Jesus said, let's look at Matthew 24 verse 35. Matthew 24 verse 35.

Jesus said this, and his words here help to give us assurance about the words of God's Scripture, the words we have to read today. Matthew 24 verse 35. Jesus said, heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. Of course, the meaning of his words, the words of prophecy, the things he said. But I think we can also fairly believe that his words, the word of God, the words that he was instructed to speak, will not pass away. And so God's word has been preserved in spite of human fallibility, in spite of human errors at times. And unlike the word of human beings, we have to believe, because if you don't want to believe this, you don't have to believe it. But if you want to believe in eternal life and faith in Christ, you need to believe. Unlike the word of human beings, God's word is, we believe, the supreme and final authority in matters of faith and life. Again, referring back to our statement of faith, our fundamental belief statement. And so we need to believe, and if we believe, then we need to submit to God's word.

Now, nowadays, I think you've been aware, nowadays questioning, doubting, and even rejecting authority has become prevalent in ways that, when we're all, all of us were younger, would not have imagined, even us younger ones can possibly see how things have changed in the last few years, even if we're young. And that certainly does include Scripture. People constantly doubt and question and even reject it. But a question we must consider is this. How did Jesus Christ and the apostles approach God's word? Where do we follow in Christ's example? Where do we follow in the apostles' example? Paul said, follow me as I follow Christ. Well, what was their approach to Scripture, to God's word? So we're here in the book of Matthew. Let's turn back a few chapters. Matthew 4. I just want to make a reference to what's commonly called the temptation of Christ. Matthew 4, verse 3 through 4, for example. We see that Jesus turned to Scripture very much, we would say, as his source of strength and conviction. It was his shield. It was his source of power in many ways. It's a source of conviction and strength. Matthew 4, verse 3 through 4, Jesus rebuffed Satan's temptations by quoting Scripture. We see the example, verse 3. Matthew 4. Now when the tempter, that's Satan, came to him, Jesus, excuse me, he said, the tempter said, if you are the son of God, command that these stones become bread. But he, Jesus, answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Now in this instance, Jesus was quoting what Moses said through Deuteronomy 8, verse 3. If you want to hold your place there, you can turn back with me. I'm just going to read it.

Here in Deuteronomy 8, verse 3, Moses had written, So he humbled you, he God humbled you, allowed you to hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone. But man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. Jesus quoted Scripture to avoid temptation, to resist temptation. Let's turn next to Matthew Mark 7, verse 6. Let's turn next to Mark 7, verse 6.

What we will find is you can do your own more thorough study of what Christ said and where he drew his Scriptures from, his word references, his references from. You'll see that time and again, Jesus used Scripture as his authority. And you will also see, if you pay attention closely, that he never questioned the authority of those who had written God's inspired words. He never questioned their authorship. Today, there are many critics out there that want to peel away the meaning of Scripture. They want to undermine it by saying, well, Paul, for example, Paul was, he's just a mean man. He says mean things about people. He can't have been inspired of God. Jesus never questioned who God chose to write down God's inspired word. Let's notice Mark 7, verse 6 then. Mark 7, verse 6, for example. Here, Jesus quotes from the inspired words of Isaiah. Verse 6. And he answered, Jesus answered and said to them, Well, did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites? As it is written, this people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. And in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. Jesus was quoting from what we now understand to be Isaiah 29, verse 13. That was his source. He's quoting Scripture. Then in verse 10, dropping down to verse 10, Jesus next quotes the words of Moses, verse 10. He says, For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother. That's Exodus 20, verse 12. And he who curses father or mother, let him be put to death. He's quoting Exodus 21, 17.

Jesus never questioned whether or not Moses' words were holy Scripture, inspired of God. They were Scripture. They were Scripture. Next, let's turn over a few pages. Mark 12, 35, 36. Mark 12, 35, 36. Here Jesus quotes from a Psalm of David. Every now and then I come across articles on the internet, on the web, that suggest that we don't really need the Psalms. The Psalms are just ancient poetry, old lyrics. We don't even know the music to anymore. That's true. But they are Scripture. Jesus Christ treated them, obviously, here as we see as Scripture. Mark 12, 35, 36, quoting from a Psalm of David. Jesus said, Then Jesus answered, Then Jesus answered, said, While he taught in the temple, How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? For David himself said, By the Holy Spirit, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, Till I make your enemies your footstool. And Jesus is quoting from Psalm 110 verse 1. Note here that Jesus states that David was inspired by God. He himself said, By the Holy Spirit, Jesus said. In fact, what we learn later, when we turn to Acts 2, 29, what we find later from Peter, Peter's words, David was a prophet. We might think of David as a shepherd boy. We might think of him as this great king who made mistakes. We might think of him as the young man, the young boy that was instrumental through God's hands of killing Goliath. But he was also a prophet. Acts 2, let's look there, Acts 2 verse 29 through 31.

Acts 2, 29. Here Peter is delivering the sermon on the day of Pentecost, that first Pentecost when they received God's Holy Spirit. Acts 2, 29. We'll receive God's Holy Spirit in a dramatic way. Verse 29. Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, of course, what's the reference to? The reference is to David. Therefore, being a prophet, in knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne. He foreseen this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul was not left in Hades, or we would say the grave, nor did his flesh see corruption. And then, Peter continuing on verses 34-35, there we can see that Peter quotes the very same words of David that Jesus had quoted himself. And so, yes, Jesus used Scripture. He used Scripture. He quoted from Scripture. He's our example. When men get up and speak from this pulpit, we do the same thing. We're following Christ's example. We try not to bring in our own ideas. We try not to bring in our own opinions. If we do, we stipulate it. We should stipulate it. But we try very hard to follow Christ's example, and the example of the apostles, of quoting from Scripture, of making our persuasive arguments to follow God, to be encouraged by quoting from Scripture. And so, Jesus Christ upheld the authority of Scripture. He never questioned the authorship of those who wrote God's words. And Christ's apostles followed His approach. As we can see, let's look. They followed His approach. Let's look at Romans 10, verse 18 through 20. Romans 10, verse 18 through 20. An example from Paul's writing, in this case. Romans 10, 18 through 20. In these few verses, Paul supports his point about Israel's, or rather, the Jews' lack of faith in God. They weren't faithful to God. His authority, Paul's authority that he's referring to here, the authority he's going to, is the supreme authority that of Scripture. In this case, again like Christ, he's going to use the authority of the inspired Scriptures written down by David, Moses, and Isaiah, just like we'd seen Christ doing previously. So, Romans 10, verse 18, Paul wrote, But I say, have they not heard? Yes, indeed, their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. Psalm 19, verse 4. But I say, did Israel not know? Well, 1st Moses says, I will provoke you to jealousy, Paul wrote. And by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation. He's quoting Deuteronomy 32, 21. You probably see that information in the footnotes or side margins of your own Bibles. Verse 20, now he quotes Isaiah, but Isaiah is very bold and says, I was found by those who did not seek me. I was made manifest to those who did not ask for me. Isaiah 65, verse 1. But to Israel, he says, all day long, I have stretched out my hands to a disabudent and contrary people. There he quotes Isaiah 65, verse 2. Now, again, the point we're emphasizing here is that Jesus Christ and the apostles never questioned the authority of God's Scripture. They didn't have that problem. They were men of faith and belief. They drew upon the authority of the Old Testament, because that was their Scripture back then. We call it the Old Testament now. They drew upon the authority of the Old Testament to reveal and explain God's way of life, to explain God's plan of salvation, and to explain all things pertaining to Christ's gospel, the kingdom of God.

Well, next, let's consider another question. How do we respond to those who doubt that the New Testament or any part of the New Testament is the inspired word of God? Again, how do we respond to those who doubt that the New Testament or any part of it is the inspired word of God? Because many do, as I already referenced at the beginning of the sermon. Well, again, we should realize that Jesus Christ—I shouldn't say again because I'm stressed at this point yet—but we should realize that Jesus Christ and the apostles professed that they were indeed speaking under the inspiration and authority of God. It's what they said. It's what Jesus said. Let's look at John verse 7 and 16. Jesus made very clear where his authority came from. John 7, 16.

This is part of the reason we should be very careful to revere God's word and to do what it says, to believe and do what it says. John 7 verse 16. Here's what Jesus said. Jesus answered them and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his who sent me. Jesus proclaimed here the didakk—that's the word translated as doctrine, didakk—D-I-D-A-C-H-E. It looks like did-akk. D-I-D-A-C-H-E, didakk, translated as doctrine. It can also be translated as teaching and instruction. He proclaimed that his teaching and instruction, his doctrine, was of God the Father. It came from God the Father. Let's also read a few chapters over John 12, 48 through 50. John 12, 48 through 50.

Did I say that right? John 12, 48 through 50. You're turning, so I must have said it wrong. John 12, 48 through 50. Jesus spoke these words as well. He said, Jesus said, He who rejects me and does not receive my words as that which judges him. The word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. You know, people will understand from prophecy that God will judge. Christ is the judge. And we will be judged. People will be judged.

Those called of God now who received his Spirit are being judged today, now. But those in the future who God will call, they will be taught the word of God so that they can be held accountable for it. They will be judged according to their reverence for God's word and for God and for whether or not they believe and are keeping it, obeying it, and striving to live the same way of life we're striving to live now. But here it says, continuing, He who rejects me and does not receive my words as that which judges him. The word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. Verse 49, For I have not spoken, Jesus said, on my own authority. But the Father who sent me gave me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know, verse 50, I know that his command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told me, so I speak.

Jesus Christ spoke. He understood. He was speaking with the authority of God the Father. That was his source, and he was very clear. Now, people didn't believe him. Back then, most didn't believe him. Hopefully, one day they will. And so again, Christ declared that the things he taught were by the authority of God the Father, not by his own authority. The apostles also declared that what they taught were the instruction of God and by the authority of God. Let's look at 1 Corinthians as an example. 1 Corinthians 14. 1 Corinthians 14, verse 37.

1 Corinthians 14, 37. Here Paul is writing, he states, if anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. The word for Greek for commandments here is entole, which can also be simply translated as commands. That's how the Revised Standard Version puts it, commands of the Lord. In this context, Paul was writing about the need for order in the church meanings and what we'd call church services for us today. He is speaking, though, with the authority of the words of God. With authority of God. Let's also turn to 2 Peter chapter 3. 2 Peter chapter 3, verse 1 through 2.

Peter equated the authority of his instruction and that of the other apostles with the authority of the prophets of the Old Testament. He's putting it on par with the inspired words of the prophets in the Old Testament. Let's read here. 2 Peter 3, verse 1 through 2.

He writes, Beloved, I now write you this second epistle, in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder, that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior. The commandment of us, again, it's that Greek word entolae, the commands, instruction. And so what we see then, again, is that the words and authority of the ancient prophets and the apostles came from God, not human beings. They were not speaking of their own resources, of their own knowledge, their own belief system or philosophy or anything like that. They spoke with the authority of God. Also, 1 Corinthians, we'll go back to 1 Corinthians chapter 2, 9 through 13. 1 Corinthians chapter 2, 9 through 13. Paul emphasizes that he and the other apostles spoke under the inspiration and power of God's Holy Spirit and by God's authority, even as did Christ.

1 Corinthians 2 verse 9. Paul writes, but as it is written, and anytime we see that phrase written, it's a reference from their time back to their scripture, which was the Old Testament, but as it is written, eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him. He's quoting Isaiah 64 verse 4. Verse 10. But God has revealed them to us through his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the Spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now, we have received not the Spirit of the world, not human wisdom, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. And again and again, Christ and then his apostles made very clear that they were inspired of the Word of God. They made it very clear they were not speaking of their own knowledge, their own power, but of the very power Spirit of God.

So what does this mean for you and me? What does this mean for you and me?

Well, if we truly revere God and desire to follow Christ unto salvation, then we should believe that the origin and authority of all Scripture, both the Old Testament and the New, is of God. These are the words of God, not cleverly crafted ideas and words of men. And so that means that we dare not ignore the Word of God, no matter who God chose to write his inspired Scriptures, his authoritative and life-giving truth. Now, the Old Testament and the New Testament together comprise God's holy Scriptures. And those who truly follow Christ, those who truly follow Christ would never unhitch the Old Testament from the New. We would never do that if we truly follow Christ. Let's look at Luke 24, verse 44 through 45. Luke 24, 44.

Christ's statement here, I should say, or cut through that argument that we somehow, those who are faithful to Christ, do not need the Old Testament. It's a terrible thing to say. Luke 24, 44 through 45. What we see in these verses is that Christ confirms that the Old Testament is absolutely essential to understanding who the Christ is and why he died and why he was resurrected. And Jesus Christ himself explains it here, his own words, his own words which we dare not ignore. Luke 24, 44. Then he said to them, These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you. By the way, Jesus is speaking this to his disciples. When? If he knows the context at the very end of Luke 24. This is after he was resurrected. He's proving to them, Here I am. Three days and three nights. And here I am. These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you that all things, all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms concerning me. Now, as reference to the law of the prophets and the Psalms, that was well understood at that time. And I believe most of us understand it. That's the three parts structure of what we now call the Old Testament. That's how they saw the the scripture at that time. Psalms actually is a code for the entire writings, the histories, the books of wisdom, and more. And it's interesting that he says Psalms because we hear more people. I've heard more people talk about how the Psalms, not in our, never from anybody I know, or in our congregations or church, but out there people suggesting the Psalms are not that important. They're wrong because Jesus said, makes it clear they're wrong. Verse 45, in Jesus' open their understanding, he had to open their understanding. Why? That they might comprehend the Scriptures. Without his help, without the help of God's Spirit, they could not really comprehend the Scriptures. There are things in the Scriptures they had not comprehended, had not perceived, and Christ was going to help them, just as he helps us today. Verse 46, then he said to them, Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. So when we look at what he says here in Luke 24, based on what he says or what we've just read, it seems rather clear that whoever seeks to enrich the Old Testament from the New Testament is just flat out wrong. They're wrong. They may be sincere in what they're thinking, but sometimes the most sincere people can be most wrong if you're not correct with what Scripture clearly states. And so Jesus Christ upheld the authority of the Old Testament, and so must we, and so we do as a church. Paul II Timothy 3. Let's go back now.

Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3 once more. 2 Timothy 3, 13 through 15. Paul, in agreement with Christ's instruction, he makes very clear, he explains that understanding the Old Testament does make us wise unto salvation. It's absolutely critical, vital to our faith. And so Paul explained to Timothy 2 Timothy 3.

Let's see, I said 13.

Why was I in the wrong place? I don't know.

Because I'm human. Is that what I said? 2 Timothy 3? Yeah, let's go to 14. Yeah, I have written it wrong on my notes. Okay, 2 Timothy 3, 14. Here he says, Paul said, but you, speaking to Timothy, must continue the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. That phrase, knowing from whom you have learned them, would seem to refer to Paul. Paul seemed to be referring to the instruction about Christ and the gospel of which Paul and others, other apostles, had taught him. And then continuing in verse 15, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able, together, their instruction and the Holy Scriptures, specifically Holy Scriptures here, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. So what we see, what we can see here, is that Paul's instruction, which did become part of the New Testament and the Old Testament, the Scriptures Timothy would have known since childhood, were both vital to Timothy's instruction for salvation through faith. And so they are for us today. Continuing in verse 16 through 17, then Paul says, those lines we are quite familiar with, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God. The NIV uses another way of saying it quite right, they are God-breathed. They come from God. By inspiration, God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction and righteousness, that the man of God, the person of God, may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. And here again, we see Paul affirms that all Scripture is given by God's inspiration, and we understand that as the Old and New Testaments today. And all Scripture is valuable for instruction and teaching, for refuting errors, for administering correction. It's also helpful for us in making course corrections in our own lives when we recognize we have sinned, gone contrary to God's instruction. And His Scripture is very important for training and righteousness, so that we could understand, can't understand, what good works are and how to do those to God's glory. Then in 2 Peter 3, we follow this, connect the dots, so to speak, here. 2 Peter 3, verses 14 through 16. It's interesting, of course, it seems we can see how God inspired Peter. Peter is inspired to write this epistle. God inspired Peter, as it were, to rebut those who want to reject or ignore Paul's writings. Peter, we can see, actually, is writing the defense of Paul, and those who would argue that Paul's words are somehow not Scripture.

God likely, and of course, I believe, God knew how some would respond to his God's instruction, which he inspired Paul to write. And so then we read 2 Peter 3, 14. Therefore, beloved Peter writes, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by him in peace, without spot and blameless, and consider that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation. And as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, according to the wisdom given to him, all true wisdom comes from.

And as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people, there are people like that in the world today, which untaught and unstable people twist, pervert to their own destruction, and this is a wonderful phrase, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

So people do this to the Scriptures, but what Peter is making clear here, the rest of the Scriptures in reference to Paul's epistles, he's making it clear that Paul's epistles are Scripture. They are Scripture. Peter knew it! Peter believed it. That's what Peter had been inspired to understand. Peter makes clear that Paul's epistles are holy Scripture inspired of God.

So no matter what critics, ages past, now and in the future, say about Paul's statements, and they're getting very angry about Paul, he's mean, they say, he cannot be Christian, as I read for that little article, he's just flat out wrong. They're actually criticizing God's statements. Those are God's words, not Paul's, but they don't believe that yet. Hopefully they will in time. Again, God is the supreme and final authority in faith and in life. And those who twist God's word or simply want to ignore what he instructs, including in Paul's epistles, are sinning, and unless they repent, those individuals and even nations will not go unpunished. God will punish them.

And so, what about us?

Well, we need to practice that right approach and attitude that Jesus Christ and his apostles had towards God's word. We need to have such high regard and reverence for the most supreme authority, which is God's scripture. So how can we better revere, believe, and obey God's word? How can we better revere, believe, and obey God's word? I have four things I believe we must be doing. Again, there can always be more things. I have four things to share with you. Four things I believe we must be doing. First of all, to better believe, revere, believe, and obey God's word, we need to pray for understanding. Number one, we need to pray for understanding. To grow an understanding of God and of how to live his way, we must study his word. His word, it comes from God, it is his word. And only by studying God's word can we grow an understanding. We really need to follow the example of the psalmist in Psalm 119. I'm going to turn back there. Psalm 119, verses 33 through 36.

Psalm 119, verses 33 through 36.

And here's what the psalmist prayed. He prayed for understanding from God, and he prayed that God would teach him. And that certainly is a prayer we need to be asking and making every day. Psalm 119, verses 33, the psalmist wrote, Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end, that way. Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law. Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart, and make me walk in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it, and incline my heart to your testimonies, and not covetousness. He wanted to follow God's ways. He don't want to get stuck on his own ways and his pursuits. He wanted to pursue what God wanted him to pursue, and don't we all? And so pray for God's guidance as we study and reflect on his word. Pray for understanding, and God will grant us the understanding we need.

I'm confident that God will gladly answer that prayer if we ask for understanding of his word. So, number one, pray for understanding. People of faith do.

Number two, be willing to admit and to change when wrong. Well, this one can be tough. Be willing to admit and to change when wrong.

If we want God's word to be in us, written on our hearts and minds, then we must be willing to accept what God's word reveals. Not what we read on the internet, not some old booklet or old book or other people's ideas. We need to believe God's word, what it reveals. And when we come to understand that we're wrong and sinful, then we must be willing to admit it and to change and repent. We mustn't ignore what God's word reveals to us, especially about our sins. Hold your place here, and Psalms will be coming back a bit. But let's turn now to 1 John, chapter 1 of proof scripture, 1 John, chapter 1, and verse 8 through 10. We really must put to heart what John wrote here, 1 John 1, verse 8 through 10. John wrote, if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. And again, what is truth? God's word is truth. Verse 9, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But if we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word, His word is not in us. We want His word in us. To revere God and His word truly, we must be willing to admit when we are wrong and to change. People of faith do.

Number three. Number three is have a teachable, humble attitude. Have a teachable, humble attitude. Scripture does indeed make us wise unto salvation. That is, it does if.

If we willingly submit to God. We must have a teachable, humble attitude. Back to Psalm 25 verse 4. Like David in Psalm 25 and verse 4 through 5, we must sincerely from the heart, with all our heart, and want to learn from God. Psalm 25 verse 4 through 5. David wrote, Show me your ways, O Lord. Teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation.

On you I wait all the day, all my life. In other words, I look to you. Let's also look at Psalm 34 verse 18. Psalm 34 verse 18. Again, this is another Psalm of David. From Psalm 34. 18, we need to draw the importance of having a contrite heart in our approach to God and His Word. Psalm 34. 18, David wrote, The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and save such as have a contrite spirit. Again, that spirit that is willing to hear and to respond in a positive, bright way to God. So submitting humbly and willingly to God's instruction leads us to know God better. It leads us to believe Him more and to be even more faithful in doing what He says. Not just to say, Yes, I believe in God. Yes, this is God's Word, but then to actually read it and live it because we believe it. So we need to teach full humble attitude. People of faith do.

Point number four, accept the inspiration of all of the Bible. Accept the inspiration of all of the Bible. God's Word provides us instruction unto eternal life in the kingdom and family of God. But we must so believe all of the Bible, especially those parts which our carnal selves would rather ignore, which you'd rather dance around and not really think too much about. We must believe all the Bible, even those parts. We must strive to live by every word of God, as Jesus said in Matthew 4.4. Also, Jesus' words from Luke 8, 21 emphasize that point. Luke 8, 21.

And here Jesus wrote, or excuse me, here He said to emphasize this point, living by every word of God, Jesus said, but He answered and said to them, My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it. You could put it this way, my family are those who hear the word of God and do it. We want to be members with Christ and the family of God.

Only Jesus Christ is the way to salvation. You might recall what Peter told Jesus when Jesus asked Peter, Do you want to leave me too? Do you want to turn away from me like others have done? Do you want to stop believing the words of life that I am speaking inspired by God our Father? Do you no longer want to believe that and go away? That's my paraphrase. My summary statements I've added. Those are not necessary scripture, but I think it gets the point. Peter told Jesus, John 668, he said, Lord, to whom shall we go?

That's our response, isn't it? Lord, to whom shall we go? You and I go. For you, Lord, have the words of eternal life.

And so we mustn't pick and choose what part of God's word we want to obey. We can't cherry pick the scriptures we want to really focus on and live by. We have to live by every word of God. Every word of God. And so it is we must accept the inspiration of all of the Bible.

People of faith do.

And so those are the four points, things we must should, must be doing. And you can add to the list, I'm sure.

And so God's Holy Scripture is inspired in thought and word. Again, reading our fundamental belief statement. It is inspired in thought and word, infallible in the original writings. It is the supreme and final authority in faith and in life, and is the foundation of all truth. Scripture provides the true, life-saving understanding and instruction we need. When we sincerely revere God's Word, we will be interested in what the Bible says, and not indifferent. We'll be striving to submit to Scripture's instruction and not be complacent about it. And we'll be seeking to understand Scripture better. We'll certainly not be forcing our own ideas and meanings into the Scripture. We must be drawing meaning out of God's Scripture. God is the one that inspired Scripture. We don't inspire Scripture. We don't put our meaning, forced meanings, they're not really there at all, into Scripture. We mustn't. And so will we truly revere God and His Word? That's a question we can ponder. Will we truly revere God and His Word? Will we strive against our carnal nature so that we would believe God and do what He says?

Now, I don't doubt that we all have room to improve on that. I certainly do myself. And so I encourage us, brethren, I encourage each of us to carefully evaluate our approach and attitude towards God's Holy Scripture. These are the words of eternal life right here.

And if your Bibles are a little worn out and written on and torn and tattered, good job. Keep at it. It's our book of life. It's our instruction book. And so let's truly revere the Word of God, being teachable and repentant, believing and obeying, and so be found worthy of receiving life everlasting in the kingdom and family of God.