2025-06-01 Sermon Notes

• What is the source? Why do Christians believe in these truths?
  • Did we come to these beliefs on our own? Then that means the source is ourself, we believe that we, ourselves are the authority. But if we honestly look at ourselves we see that we are an insufficient authority.
• Truly God is the only worthy source and we can find Him in the Bible.
  • See Westminster Shorter Catechism > Q 2. _What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?_

• Every Scripture is God-breathed: God-breathed is theopneuskos.
  • Some translations say all scripture is inspired by God. This is not a bad translation, but unfortunately it gives us the wrong impression today. Paul is not say merely that scripture is inspiring, i.e. motivational. He is saying the very word and breath of God is found in all scripture (and this is the original meaning of the word inspiring).
  • 2 Peter 1:20-21 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
• So then what is our role?
  • ⭐: God is pleased to use you and I in His plan and invite us into His story.

• profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness

• How much time are you spending in God's Word?
• Reading God's Word is an investment. It requires giving up time and effort.
  • But God's word is profitable.
    • Wisdom comes from God's Word.
    • But we simply cannot fix ourselves. Only God can, and wisdom tells us to go to Him who is the only solution.
      • ⭐ This Book, the Bible is not a self-help book, but it will give yourself all the help that it needs.

• For teaching and reproof and correction
  • It is vital that the truth is not corrupted by false teachings
• for sound teaching
  • Sound teaching not only teaches us what to believe but also teaches us what not to believe

    • "Prone to wander Lord I feel it"

      • We all have a strong tendency to look for what we want to hear rather than what God has planned for us.
      • ❓: Are you picking and choosing what Scripture you believe, read and follow?
        • We do not get to pick and choose the truth.
      • ⭐ The Christian does not get to change the Bible. The Christian is changed by the Bible.

• Scripture trains us in righteousness.
  • Training and discipline takes time.

    • We often over estimate what we can accomplish in the short run but under estimate what we can do in the long run.

    • Scripture says that the Christian is steadfast and perserverant.

so that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

• In the time of Jesus, those who knew the Word of God the most were the Pharisees.
• In general, Presbyterians have a tendency to place too much stock in their knowledge of God.
• But our true hope comes from the work of Christ.