Sermon Tone Analysis

*A High View of Scripture**                  *

* *

*Ephesians 2:19-22*

*Sunday PM Service **5-27-07*

 

*Text*

*Ephesians 2:19-22 */19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

/NASB

 

*Introduction*

Tonight I won’t be talking about anything you don’t already know but as Peter said, “/I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them./”

And as the Apostle Paul told the Philippians, “/To say the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you./”

So tonight, I want to renew our minds to some things that we already know but which are absolutely essential for progress and growth.

I believe there are two foundational and essential things that must be present in order for a church or an individual to grow spiritually, those two things are: “*A High View of God*” and “*A High View of Scripture*”.

Tonight I want us to consider the second of these, the need for “*A High View of Scripture*”.

As the passage we just read from Ephesians indicates the church is built on the foundation of Scripture.

This is what Paul means when he states that God’s household has, “/been built upon *the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone*, in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit/”.

(Expound – “*/the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone/*” = Scripture, particularly the N.T.).

* *

*In discussing a High View of Scripture there are many things we could talk about, this evening, however, I want us to focus our thoughts on obtaining a high view of Scripture by noting the *priority and authority that Scripture must have in our churches and our lives in order for genuine spiritual growth to take place.

If we are going to have and maintain a high and proper view of our God, the first essential for spiritual growth, then we are going to have to have an on going encounter with our God.

*So, how are we going to do that?*

How are we going to see our God and be brought into a continuing, ongoing, encounter with Him?

 

*– Are we going to see Him in a dream like Daniel? – I doubt it.*

*– Are we going to see Him in a vision like Isaiah did in Isaiah 6? – I doubt it.*

*– Are we going to come into His presence like the Apostle Paul on the road to **Damascus**?

– I doubt it.*

* *

–* How then?

How or where are we going to meet our God and come into His living presence?

Where does our God confront us today?

It is in His living Word as we prayerfully meditate on it.*

* *

*Remember how the author of Hebrews describes God’s Word –* *Hebrews 4:12 */For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

/*Scripture is not just written words in a book like a novel or a textbook.

Scripture is alive and active, it is powerful, and God speaks in a personal and lively way to His people through His Holy Word.*

Through God’s Word we can come face-to-face with our God.

This is why His Word must have priority and authority in our lives.

So, what do I mean by priority and authority?

By “*/priority/*” I am referring to the level of importance which we place on God’s Word.

How important God’s word is in our lives.

Another way to say this would be *how important is it for us to know God’s Word in detail?

That is what I mean by “/priority/”.*

By “authority” I am referring to our level of acceptance of God’s Word.

To what degree do we believe and obey God’s Word?

To what degree do we really believe that God’s word is */sufficient/*?

Another way to say this would be *how much are we willing to let God’s Word be the sole rule in our lives?

**Both things, /priority/ & /authority/, must be present for growth to take place.

For growth to take place God’s Word has to be important enough to us to find out what God has said, and then once we find out, we must be willing to obey.*

This evening we will briefly discuss both of these matters beginning with:

 

*The Priority of Scripture*

Just how important should Scripture be to us?

Or, said another way, just how important is it for us to know God’s Word in detail?

Well, the first thing I would say about this matter is that we can’t believe or obey God’s Word if we don’t know it.

That’s just common sense.

So common sense tells us that it is of utmost importance for us to know God’s Word in detail.

Second, Scripture itself commands us to know God’s Word and it commands us to know it for several specific reasons.

Note the several reasons that Scripture commands us to know God’s Word.

We are commanded to know it for:

 

*Spiritual Success*

Note, *Joshua 1:8 */“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.

/Knowing and keeping God’s Word results in spiritual success.

Next note that we are commanded to know God’s Word for:

 

*Spiritual Growth*

Note, *1 Peter 2:1-2 */1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.

/In these verses Peter commands us to start desiring the word if we want to grow.

*It is the Word of God that is the food of Spiritual growth.*

After all he had been through, note how Job expressed this necessity, *Job **23:12** */I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

/(Expound and note we have to start eating to grow).

Next note that we are commanded to know God’s Word for:

 

*Spiritual Service*

Note, *Colossians 3:16 */Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. /The Greek construction that Paul uses in this verse commands us to continually, “/Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you/”.

The point is this, in order for the spiritual service commanded in Col. 3:16 to take place, the Word of God must continuously dwell in us, or literally, */continuously fill us up/*.

It is being continually filled up with the Word of God that enables us for Spiritual service.

Next note that we are instructed to know God’s Word to:

 

*Protect Us From Sin*

Note, *Psalm 119:9-11 */9 How can a young man keep his way pure?

By keeping it according to Thy word. 10 With all my heart I have sought Thee; Do not let me wander from Thy commandments.

11 Thy word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against Thee.

/It is God’s Word that identifies sin for us and works within us through God’s power to enable us to resist the sin which continuously entices us.

Next note that we are instructed to know God’s Word because:

 

*It Is the Only Objective Source of Absolute Truth*

This is Paul’s point in *Romans 3:3-4 */3 What then?

If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?

4 May it never be!

Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “That Thou mightest be justified in Thy words, And mightest prevail when Thou art judged.”

/Every person, and anything a person may say is subject to error.

But God’s Word is always true, always right, always 100% reliable.

Proverbs makes this same point in:

 

*Proverbs 30:5-6 */5 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

6 Do not add to His words Lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar.

/Every Word of God is tested and proven true, and if we try to add to it or take away from it, we are going to be wrong and subject to God’s chastening.

That God’s Word is the only objective source of absolute truth is stated clearly by the Apostle Paul in *1 Corinthians 2:9-13 */9 but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him?

Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

/(Expound).

Another important reason for knowing God’s Word is that:

 

*It Is A Source of Joy*

*Jeremiah **15:16** */Thy words were found and I ate them, And Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts.

/There is great joy in knowing God’s Word.

His Word provides us with a source of Joy that can be found no where else.

 

*Ignorance Is No Excuse*

The final point I would make concerning our need and obligation to know God’s Word is that we must know it because *God does not allow the excuse of ignorance*.

You have probably heard the old saying, “/Ignorance of the law is no excuse/”, which demonstrates that even man’s law does not allow ignorance as an excuse for lawbreaking.

*Ignorance of God’s Word is not an acceptable excuse for not obeying it because God has made it available to us and expects us to search it out and know it*.

The Scripture makes it clear that we are responsible and accountable for knowing God’s Word.